kristinalynne

I am almost 8 months out from surgery. Went from 258 to 177.4. 80 pounds lost! I have about 25 pounds to get to a healthy weight, but now focusing on exercise so I can tone up and gain back some muscles!

I am almost 8 months out from surgery. Went from 258 to 177.4. 80 pounds lost! I have about 25 pounds to get to a healthy weight, but now focusing on exercise so I can tone up and gain back some muscles!

I am almost 8 months out from surgery. Went from 258 to 177.4. 80 pounds lost! I have about 25 pounds to get to a healthy weight, but now focusing on exercise so I can tone up and gain back some muscles!

I am down 78 pounds and about 20 to go. My mind has not comprehended that I have lost weight. Most of the time I still see the morbidly obese girl in the mirror. Hopefully I will start to see what I really look like more soon.

So, after having a lovely afternoon with a fabulous friend, who had managed to rationalise and put into perspective a work problem I've been enduring since 2008. To Celebrate, as I finally felt free of this burden, I decided to drag my man out for an evenings entertainment.
We went and had a few drinkies and then decided to go dancing at the local 80's nightclub. I love 80's music, me.
So, the club was jumping and I, was having a wonderful time bopping around. My man doesn't like to dance, so he stood on the sidelines - effectively on guard!
Apart from the fact two drunk males who had decided to use the dance floor as a race track and knocked me flying, which resulted in a considerably bruised hip bone today and a fiance who wanted to literally kill these two youths; something very nice happened.
We'd been standing near a group of more mature Polish males, who were a jolly nice bunch. Who, too, were bopping around and having a good time. One of them asked of my man 'is that your wife?' to which he replied 'yes, sir'. The Polish blokes all said 'You are a very very lucky man'. He replied 'I know'. <raises an eyebrow at how men can be sometimes!>
A bit later, a, well, how would you refer to him as? A bit of a geeky looking/studious male, approached me whilst dancing. Nervously he said 'I am really sorry to disturb you. I am with a group of blokes who think you are gorgeous. We've been talking about it and they reckon that I would never be able to approach someone like you. (Someone like you?!!!) Would you mind if I just stood here for a bit, because I want to prove them wrong.'
Feeling taken aback, I replied 'Aww, thank you! But of course! In fact I can go one better than that. Would you like to dance with me?' His young bespectacled face lit up as I grabbed his hand and dragged him onto the dance floor. (My man didn't mind as he clearly didn't feel threatened by it). This young lad's mates were left open-mouthed at the bar and I got such an effusive 'thank you!' when our dance was concluded.
Towards the end of the night, as the Polish men were leaving, one of them approached me to say goodbye. With his thick accent and courteous demeanor, he leant forward and said 'I just want to say, your husband is one very very lucky man. You are a beautiful woman. Have a good evening.' At which point he kissed me on the cheek and left.
Now, I have been excited about inches disappearing, I have been shocked by the scale dropping, I have been bemused by all my new found bones - I have also been devastated at the Hair loss, but nothing. Nothing, compared to how last night made me feel.
I am normal again. I am a 'someone like you'. I am humbled, slightly embarrassed - but elated.
And you know what's even better? I logged my three hours of dancing on MyFitnessPal and I'd burnt up 1,293 calories! (Which more than offset the 5 pints of Guinness and the couple of vodka and red bulls I'd consumed!)
Yay, me!

I am 6 months out and my hair was falling out like crazy. Luckily I had a large amount of hair but seeing so much fall out was depressing so I got it all cut off and am now sporting a pixie cut. The hair falling out is hardly noticeable with it this short

Has anyone tried Protein NRG? It's protein flavored water - I just saw it on Shark Tank. It's sold at Walgreens. Has anyone tried it? I'm going to go get some tomorrow. I'm hopeful. I do NOT like Crystal Light. I had one flavor I liked (Raspberry Peach Fiber) but it's discontinued! This company makes watermelon flavored Water. Yum!
Check it out. I'll report back tomorrow.
http://www.pronrgusa.com/

omg i must know!!! following this

Okay here's a pic. no makeup and hair looks like crap after walking for hours so I chopped my head off
Be gentle! I haven't worn a dress in a while.
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Gamer girl did you say dance with happiness???
Let's celebrate!!
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As a stylist, I am going to try to answer the why's to your question. First, hair is fed by the blood supply at the very bottom of the root bulb. It is a little more than 90% Protein, that is the excess that your body doesn't need. That protein makes up your hair and nails. When you have surgery or when you are ill, your body needs all the protein it can get for healing and often times there just isn't any left over for hair. Have you ever noticed how someone who is anorexic often times has very dry thin and brittle hair, that's because the body is starving for protein and needs what little bit it gets to protect itself as in the internal organs, skin and brain function. Vertical sleeve surgery removes 80-85% of the stomach, and it take the body some time to adjust to this, that is why Protein Shakes are so important. Therefore, even with consuming the suggested amount, it is unlikely that there will be enough left over for the hair. With time you will be able to absorb more and there will eventually be extra available for your hair once again.

Me in my wedding dress today. Size 16 fits perfect.

Suggestion: more sex! The more often you have sex the smaller amount of ...er..."liquid" will be available. If you do it daily, it will only be a small amount that will fit nicely into your sleeve

I had gotten coleslaw as a starter at a diner made me vomit, had to run out of the diner before my son even got his meal. Luckily I made it home before I started vomiting and got the spins.

I was having head hunger all day yesterday. About noon I gave up the fight and told myself to just do what you want to the rest of the day, and get it out of your system. The result of that decision was by 5 or 6 I was tired, grumpy, no energy, and sitting on the sofa eating goldfish ( I dont even really love goldfish, I mean theyre OK, but I dont love them). The old me really came out yesterday, and I did not like it! My 12 year old said, "Mom whats wrong with you"? Yes, a 12 year old noticed the mood change due to food before I did. It reminded me how good I am at ignoring myself. One good thing did come out of yesterday though, I got a glimpse of my past, and without a doubt can say "I WILL NOT GO BACK". I can't believe I used to be that miserable most of the time. I homeschool my 4 kids, and I don't think I have adjusted well to the schedule changes we have instituted in the past couple of weeks. Did I mention in the past couple of weeks I have only went to the gym once or twice a week? So, today is a new day. Ive got a great eating plan for today. I am going shopping later so I can be prepared for myself, because the last time I shopped I really think I had my family in mind and not myself. Lastly, I will go to the gym today and WORK! I'm looking forward to today and reaquainting myself with the new me!

Im in love with my sleeve....
Today makes 2 months since my VSG. I am so happy with the changes so far. As of today, I haven't had any complications and can tolerate every food I've tried.
Here's progress pics!
(I also have photos of what I eat in my gallery)
 

Wow, time flies! I am 2 years post op... My story: I started in the 260's..... made my very modest weight loss goal (170lbs) in 9 months and have been maintaining fairly easily since, (a few ups and downs!) At one point I was up 7-8 pounds but I am currently holding within 2 pounds of my low weight. I was eating sliders for sure, I caught myself and got back on track with normal eating. I still have hunger, I only lost it for about 4 months. I still have fair restriction, but sliders are almost as easy to eat as before. I eat anywhere between 1500-2000 calories a day to maintain. I don't eat low carb, but I try to fuel my body healthily. Don't get me wrong, I still eat cheezits and cookie dough for dinner sometimes! I drink 2-3 beers per week, and drink sparkling Water everyday, no troubles with carbonation. I bike or slowly jog/ walk a few days a week. Nothing crazy. I have a fairly active job as a RN. I have ZERO loose skin BUT I am 170 pounds, so if i wanted to see 130 pounds I might run into that problem. I wear as size 12 and mediums and some larges. (pre-op I was 2x and 24 easy) I would like to maintain my weight for another year then try to lose 10 more pounds. I am super happy, best decision I have ever made to get the sleeve. I am 30 years old and weigh less today then I did when I was 12 years old!
I am very grateful for this website, I have been on nearly everyday for the past 2 1/2 years, and I will keep coming back to help keep me in track!

... to be wasteful.
I was never a member of the Clean Your Plate club, that was never enforced in my family growing up, though at the same time food was considered the only justifiable expense. But I was admonished/critisized/guilted for any act of wastefulness, to the point of being denied access to many things because it was deemed a wasteful expense (including being seen by a doctor but that's another can of worms).
So, as part of my WLS journey, I am learning to give myself permission to be "wasteful". Spending 10 dollars on cheap cosmetics at Walgreen's, instead of a trip to Burger King - that's okay!! So I "wasted" my money and an antire can of Coke because all I wanted was that first frosty bubbly sip - so what, it's my money and a small sip is better than 8 oz! It's okay!! It's not as easy as it may seem, the indoctrination of youth is difficult to shake, last year I was unemployed for a few months and had to be on a budget and I found myself reverting to self-abusing habits: Not going out because that would mean a couple of dollars cover charge, but spending that same money on food - because it is justifiable. My enjoyment wasn't justifiable, isn't that just sad? I'm sad -and embarrassed- as I type this.
A new lipgloss or bottle of nailpolish from Rite-Aid costs about the same as a fast food meal or drink at a bar, with much more positive results. I struggle to believe that my desires matter, that my having ANY desire for self-care or tenderness is NOT a sign of ego or a$$holery. It is time to wash myself clean of my parent's toxins.

I can't believe I'm doing this and the reason my before photo is so horrible is because honestly I don't have many before photos. The first picture is of me five years ago soon after I had my son. I believe I was around 310 pounds. You can see my poor husband can barely put his arm around me. I sure do love that man. He's always loved me unconditionally. The second photo is of me today trying on dresses at Kohl's. I really loved this dress and should have bought it, but I was looking for something specific and this dress was left in the dressing room by someone else trying on clothes. Today the scale read 203 pounds! That's 107 pounds down from my highest and 93 from when I had surgery 9 months ago!
Happy Friday everyone!

82 pounds lost...
I'm a slow loser, but I am very happy with my success!
I weight 158 now... And my Dr wants my at 145 by November.
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Five months post op...
Highest weight: 227
Current weight: 159

I'm 6 weeks and 2 days out. Started working out 3 weeks ago when I finally felt like myself, and as of this morning...199!!!!!!! I have not been in the 100's since my 1st child's first year of infancy (and she's 10 1/2)! Super excited and happy

Please stop and do the math.
People get completely freaked out by what I feel are unreasonable expectations. They fly into a panic. They assume that the first time they don't lose on the scale that their loss is done. They think that two weeks at one weight is a massive stall. They look at other people's large losses and forget that we don't all lose at the same rate.
First - if you did a pre-op diet you are not going to have the same loss your first month as someone who didn't do one. Your pre-op loss should get counted into your loss calculation if you did a pre-op diet.
Second - a stall is three weeks or more at the same weight with no fluctuation. Are you panicked after that? Well, my friend coops once spent twenty one MONTHS at the same weight. She finally broke through and never regained during that time, and even lost two sizes while not budging on the scale. Is it the miracle cure you may have been hoping for on the scale? No. But stalls are not the end of the world. They are certainly more normal that flying to goal in six weeks, I promise you.
Third - losing anything more than a pound a week is good. Are you eating less than ever before? Yes. Does that guarantee you'll lose faster than ever before? No. I had two nine week stalls - no movement except upwards for my monthly cycle. I had months where I lost but only in the tenths of a pound. It's not normal to expect a big loss every time you step on the scale. It's setting yourself up for disappointment.
Fourth - your pattern is your pattern. You can compare yourself to other people sleeved the same day or with the same stats but it doesn't matter. So much of this is individual. So if you're constantly seeking out other people and comparing your losses to theirs, you are eventually going to discourage and frustrate yourself.
Fifth - are you closing in on goal? We all lose even more slowly the less weight we have to lose. So if you only have sixty pounds to lose but shed thirty in your first three months, please don't be hysterical because you're "only" losing a pound a week now that you're past the halfway point. It's normal.
Stop. Breathe. Do the math. Adjust your expectations. This is not a race. You do not get a special award for reaching goal more quickly. Your surgery was not pointless or worthless if you manage to get to goal in two years instead of six months. The real goal is not losing the weight. It's keeping the weight off. That's real success - that's what we're here to do. It does not matter if you hit goal in nine months or two years - the real challenge and the real journey begins with maintenance. How quickly or slowly you lost does nothing to change the challenges you'll encounter there.
I am not ranting at anyone in particular. I just feel that this is an issue that comes up constantly and it's actually pretty silly for people to fly into such a panic without really thinking. I've seen folks upset when they're logging losses of upwards of four pounds a week. Point to the diet that helped you accomplish that and was easy to maintain prior to surgery.
~Cheri

This is my latest before/during.
Down about 65 lbs in almost 5 months. Sleeved March 13. I am now a 34.6 BMI. started at over 44. I am "simply" Obese now! 33 lbs till overweight.

105 pound loss 7 months