JanetPRN

It's a dubious distinction to those who have not travelled this road. I hit my "overweight" mark a few weeks ago and was thrilled but for the life of could not share the moment with anyone else besides others here on this forum. So happy for you and I share your enthusiasm!

Feb 6: 178

I looked at the choice between the band and the sleeve like this: 1) my age was 51 years when I made the decision for WLS. How long would a band last in me? 10 years? 15 yrs? 20 yrs? Nobody knows how long it will last but I had to take my age into consideration because the possibility for revision complications increase as we all age. Too big of a risk for me long term. 2) one of the arguments I hear in favor of the band is that it is reversible. As a nurse I will tell its a heck of lot harder coming out than going in. I wonder about the commitment of some people getting the band for this reason. I have never regretted my choice , even for a minute. As others will say, my only regret is not doing it sooner.

I swapped my first cup of coffee for a Protein drink - not a shake. I keep EAS Carb Advantage ( ready to drink) in my car . They stay nice and chilled in the car during the winter . I drink one every day on my way to work . And it gives me 17 grams of protein for only 100 calories. I find the brand more palatable because it not too thick or too artificial tasting. It has the consistently of whole milk. After that comes coffee and Breakfast about 1 hr later. Getting to 60-70 gr of protein is still a challenge, most days are about 55 or so. I am close to 5 months out and consistently lose an average of 2 lbs a week. hair loss has not been an issue to date ( knock on wood!) , so I guess I'm doing ok for me. Calorie counts are between 600 and 900 daily.

First of all, I am over 4 months out and I have never had food get stuck. Chew your food well ( don't rush it) and you should be fine. I have never thrown up but I have experienced one episode of over-eating. That was not fun and it was something i just had to wait out. Second question: My first restaurant trip with my husband was at 4.5 weeks out. We chose a tapas restaurant and it was great. Basically we chose several dishes and I sampled a little. I didn't have a more than a few bites total because my appetite still hadn't returned. The following week I went to a burger restaurant with some friends and I ate 1/2 a mini "slider" burger ( minus the bun). That broke the seal with eating in front of others. I am not sure why, but I was nervous about that. Third: after any abdominal surgery , it is reccommended that foods are not overly spicy for the first 4-6 weeks while healing.That being said, they don't have to be bland foods either. Guacamole and salsa were 2 of my early staples. Your body will tell you what is right or wrong, believe me. Make a plan to eat properly, drink properly and enjoy the ride!

Still 181 this week

Sleeved 9/24 Sw 234 CW 181 -53 lbs Pants went from 20 down to 14 Tops from 2xl to L

Sorry , no access to an accurate scale until today. Current weight is 182. week 1:188 week 2:183 week 3:182 Goal 175

Inspiring pictures! Did you have surgery together or at different times? I think it must have been amazing to go through this journey with your partner.

I also use My Fitness Pal and Fitbit. To me, they are 2 halves of a whole. I love them! It really helps me to see what constitutes a "good" and a "bad" day. The combination of the 2 proved to me that if I upped my calories occasionally, I often lose weight the next day. Interesting revelation to me. For the record , I was never able to keep with a food diary in the past but i wouldn't be without it now. They are great accountability tools.

Inspirational pics! Thanks for sharing

I joined the overweight realm this week also. It's hard to explain this milestone to people outside these forums though, isn't it?

Let me explain " the dogs". I have 2 dogs and they weigh five lbs . My very supportive husband never asks me how many pounds I have lost- he sweetly asks how many dogs have I lost? ( I never told him my starting weight due to my shame). So as of Wednesday, I have officially lost the equivalent of 10 of my dogs, or 50 lbs! The truth is i used to be able to hold both my pups on my lap at the same time . My lap has shrunk a lot and this is not so easy anymore, but that's a good thing. Now I look in the mirror and try to figure out where those "dogs" used to be. I know it's a weird visual , but that's just me!

Great lists of visuals! I think we all have to remember how far we have come.

Today I'm 183. Thanks for doing this for is!

CW 185 - 3 lbs

4 months ago I used fear putting my clothes into a hot dryer due to fears of my jeans, sweaters and shirts shrinking and getting too small. Flash forward and now I put everything into the dryer without any reservations and sometimes I actually try to shrink my stuff! It's a small NSV , but a victory none the less for me. From a size 2xl to L in 3 1/2 months feels surreal to me still.

Is it too late to join? Here's hoping not: CW 188, goal is 175.

In the beginning , I found the protein too heavy for me. What I did find as an emergency pick me up , was a spoonful of natural peanut butter on a plain cracker or two. Filling , tasty and nutritious , at least for me.

Once the liquid phase was complete, the sharts returned from whence they came! I haven't had any issues since the first 2-3 weekS.

My 3 month stats are 234 (sw) , now 189 (current weight). I still struggle with water intake, though.

I keep feeling like I am a slow loser , especially when I compare myself to others on this board . 2 things have helped me battle this mental hurdle; the first is Gamergirls " you might be more successful than you think " post about percentage of excess weight lost. I confess to be disappointed that I have "only" lost 45 lbs in 3 months , but then the reality is , I have lost 54% of my excess body weight in 3 months. That is a much kinder fact! The second barometer I use is an app called Get-2-goal. It is designed for WLS patients to track and graph progress over time. It plots out if you are "Above Average, Average, or Keep Working" . Personally , I fall on the average line consistently. Try it , let me know how do.

Surgical date was 9/24/13 SW- 234 CW - 192 42 lbs lost , or 53% EWL goal (155) I have gone from size 20-22 to a 14-16 . Top size went from 2x to L . I can eat virtually anything that I want , but I focus on doing the right thing. Drinking enough Water is still a challenge on some days but I have never been much of a water drinker. I am very happy to have had the sleeve!

Very impressive!

I just realized that my sleeve journey has been a bit like having a baby. My planning and preparations literally took 9 and 1/2 months. During this surgical "gestation" time, I had hopes , fantasies , fears and worries about how my life was going to change. I felt similarly before I had my daughter. I recall the day before she was born, a sense of panic set in. I feared that I wasn't prepared enough for the changes to come and what if I'm a failure? As I went into the OR for my VSG, I had very similar fears and a similar sense of panic. My surgery week remains a blurry memory even though it was less than 3 months ago. I honestly do not recall the bad parts, but I am aware that my first 7 days were uncomfortable; just like after my c-section. I focused on feeding my new stomach properly. I obsessively patrolled forums for advice and support to make sure everything I was feeling or doing was normal. New parents also often need this type of validation. That's why books such as "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" are bestsellers. The first month, I was extremely cautious and meticulous about everything I put into my new tummy. I was like that the first month with my daughter, also. Going into my 3rd month, I no longer fear that I will ruin my sleeve if I skip a vitamin for a day, or go off program every now and then. I am relaxed and I am thoroughly enjoying the ride. It's been a whirlwind year, and I am more confident than ever that my VSG choice was the right decision for me. It is wonderful that my now adult daughter has supported me during this journey. I must have done something right to deserve a girl like her !