gastricsleever

Thanks I have 4 kids, 4 hearts. The kids initials are also in the feather with the bible verse. The butterfly is made up of a yellow ribbon because my husband is in the Army.

Very cool!

I have 4 for now

Very nice! Do they have any special meaning? What is the ribbon for?

I'm 5 months out and happily down 85lbs! Current weight is 203...soooo close to onderland! Hoping to hit it soon, but trying to just enjoy the journey and not focus so much on the scale too.

A few of mine, waiting to lose a lot to get some bigger piecesď

Beautiful tats! Do they all have special meaning?

Obviously I'm a little late to the party LOL. I forgot post that I made my Fourth of July goal!! My goal was 205, and I passed it by 2lbs!

Surgery 2/17/14 I'm almost 5 months out

Left is 288, today I am 205... Not where I want to be but much closer than I was!

Anyone experience dumping after VSG? I'm 5 months out- I decided to go back to a liquid diet for 5 day to kick start my weight loss again and get me back on track. Yesterday I had Premier Protein for breakfast/lunch. dinner was Unjury Protein Shake. I felt lousy last night, thought it was just cause I wanted food by liquids. My stomach hurt and I got really hot and sweaty, I went to the bathroom but not like diarrhea. Today I had Unjury again for breakfast- only drank half of it- I'm sitting in church and get intense intestine pain and gurgling! Bad cramps, I get hot and sweaty and shaky, same as last night. I'm wondering if my body can't handle Unjury anymore? I just had it last week with no problems!! Any insight?

Forgot to enter my weight last week- it was the same, 208 and this week I'm 206. 1lb away from my goal for the 4th. Don't think I'm gonna make it but I'm ok with that because I've been in a stall for 2 weeks and I worked hard just to break it and lose those 2lbs. Thanks for doing these challenges they've been much appreciated!

Not much a secret, really. I keep my caloric intake low - I rarely ever hit 700 calories. I work out almost everyday even if some days are just a walk, other days are elliptical and treadmill and I also do some strength training - mostly my arms and abs. The last two weeks have been rough, work out-wise. But I keep pushing through - pushing Water and fluids as much as I possibly can and upping my Protein intake - both seem to be keys to keeping the weight coming off - at least in my experience.

When was your surgery?

My next one

Nice tats! My next one is a quote and I will be getting it once I hit my 100lb weight loss mark, which is in about another 15-20lbs!

217.4 213.8 Today's weight: 212, lost 1.8lbs

Today's weight: lost 3.8lbs! 208.2! I am only 3.2lbs away from my 4th of July goal wait, I can't even believe it!

All I have to say is when u follow the correct process and do the work, the sleeve really does work!!

Also one more question, how is your follow-up and with the OCC? Are used to get emails every week asking me about my weight loss and any health problems and they stopped a couple weeks ago… I'm about 3-4 months out.

Hey guys,

So I am doing fantastic.... I am down 78lbs. I do a 5k at least 2-3 times a month, I'm working on improving my speed right now! Since I bought my fitbit in January about a month before surgery, I've walked 500 miles! Crazy how active I am now, and I love it. I used to hate exercising outside because I didn't want people to see me...now I hate being in the gym! I love being outdoors. I have been experiencing the crazy Hair loss. I knew it was gonna happen, so I've accepted it....but I don't like it! lol

Anyway, so my real reason for posting today. i was never a big soda drinker before surgery, once it a while when I went out I would have a soda. I've been drinking tea, Water, crystal light and Protein Shakes since surgery. I haven't had any alcohol since July 2013, and I don't plan on starting that up again. But I have to say...I am DYING for a diet coke lately!

So I'm not really clear on why they said no soda - is it because it can open up the cravings and addictions? Or is it because it can actually harm your stomach? Has anyone had a soda or a few sips here or there?

I really like the tattoo you've got for your brother. My younger brother died July 3, 2012. I was devasted for a long time, but am now in the process of designing his tattoo. I know it's going right over my heart.

I know what you mean...it was quite a rough patch for me- brother died in August 2012, grandfather was diagnosed with cancer the day after my brother died and then my grandfather died 6 weeks later in September and then my grandmother passes away in January... For months I felt like I couldn't go on any more...but people were right, time does help. It doesn't heal, but it helps. I miss him every single day, he was taken off this earth way too young and id trade my own life to have him back on earth if only for a day...but god had other plans for his life, and mine. Sorry for the rambling, but I'm sorry for your loss! Can't wait to see the memorial tattoo

I also have a breast cancer ribbon on my foot, for my grandfather who was diagnosed with it and then I have this ribbon star on my back left shoulder. I was a cutter for 7 years, so I got this when I had gone 5 years since the last time I injured myself. Self injury awareness ribbons are orange in color so I had my artist do 5 ribbons and then fill in the inside to look like a star. Reminds me that I have friends and family who love me, and like stars in the sky, even if I don't always see them, I know they are always there for me!

This one is on my upper right back. My 19 y/O brother was killed in August 2012 so this was for him. He loved skating, and always wore a blue Plan B skater tshirt so my tattoo artist incorporated all that plus the angel wings into this broken skateboard heart.

The first one is on my lower back, so it was a little hard to take a picture without being able to see where I was aiming. The second is a wraparound on my forearm.

love that forearm one!!!

Starting weight 217.4 Current weight: 213.8 Lost 3.6lbs! Walked/jogged/ran 49.8 miles this week....I think the extra exercise definitely helped bump up my weight loss. I just might have a chance at hitting my goal!

217.4

213.8

Today's weight: 212, lost 1.8lbs

To be honest, a lot of why I didn't want to tell people IS because I'm ashamed. I'm embarrassed in the first place that I ever got so big and out of control and I'm annoyed at my body that no matter what diet or nutritionist I followed, the weight wouldn't stay off. I knew people would talk about me when the weight started coming off (had surgery 2/17, I'm down 75lbs right now)...part of the reason is because it's none of their freakin business. I did tell my closest friends and coworkers and they love and support me and tell me I have nothing to be ashamed about....I guess I just have to get over the guilt that I have...I've done what I've done and I'm happy with my results so far! Best decision I've ever made!

Ok- starting weight 217.4 Goal weight for 4th of July: 205 It's a lot for me, asking for 12lbs in a month as I am a very slow loser but that's what my goal is...honestly, as Long as the number goes down, I am happy

Starting weight 217.4

Current weight: 213.8

Lost 3.6lbs! Walked/jogged/ran 49.8 miles this week....I think the extra exercise definitely helped bump up my weight loss. I just might have a chance at hitting my goal!

I finished my first 5k today in 35 minutes, no walking. It was totally amazing given that this time last year I could barely walk a block, let alone run 3.1 miles! On to 10k and a 1/2 marathon next!! :-) Here are a couple pics of me & my daughters who ran with me (the 2 older ones)

That's awesome! I just finished another 5k in 41:30...not where I wanna be but still less than it used to be

Great pics ladies. Keep going. Anyone starting to experience Hair loss?

Yes!!! Exactly 3 months out the hair starting falling out in clumps. My brother almost died in August and it was a traumatic experience- in November an December my hair was talking out like crazy...it JUST started growing back, and now it's all falling out again. Sigh. At least I know it will come back.

So I managed to adjust to the gross heat & humidity & I finally feel ready for my 5k on Sunday :-) How's everyone else doing??

I got my mile down to 12:34 minutes! Did 3 miles in 40:04 on Mother's Day. Finished a 5k on Sunday in 42:35- but when I track it on my nike run app it said The run was actually 3.24 miles, not 3.1?

Doing another 5k on Sunday, hoping for a better time!

So how many pounds did we lose altogether for this group?

Ok- starting weight 217.4

Goal weight for 4th of July: 205

It's a lot for me, asking for 12lbs in a month as I am a very slow loser but that's what my goal is...honestly, as Long as the number goes down, I am happy