goodlife

I didn't include these things in this post as I think I did in my 1 month post but it bears repeating. In just two short months my blood pressure is completely perfect. My cholesterol is NORMAL and my sleep apnea is GONE. My feet and ankles no longer swell. Those things are MORE important to me than my physical appearance. Before this I was really getting scared that I was slowly dying and wouldn't be around to see my children marry and have kids of their own. I truly feel like I've been given a new lease on life!

Yesterday made 2 months since I had my surgery. As of this morning I'm down 34 lbs since surgery and 58 lbs since I started this journey back in the middle of March. I lost 20 lbs the first month and 14 the 2nd month. I was really hoping for 20 the 2nd month also but it just wasn't to be! At 1 month out I took measurements and I had lost 24.5 inches at that point. At 2 months out I've lost an additional 6.25 inches for a grand total of 30.75 inches. I love my sleeve and have had NO regrets whatsoever. There's definitely a learning curve and one thing I have to learn is to slow down when eating and learn where the overfull line is so I'll quit crossing it. Being overfull now is a different feeling than before. It can be quite uncomfortable for a bit. I've not ever had a single problem with nausea and I've never vomited. My stomach is pretty tough that way. I have to say it's been pretty easy so far. My husband and I just got back yesterday from an anniversary trip to Niagara Falls. I was worried about it a bit knowing I'd have to try to get all my Protein from food alone as I didn't bring any Protein drinks with me and there was no smoothie king there. I did fine. I made good choices and it wasn't hard at all. I didn't keep track though. I know I didn't get in enough fluids. Eating out for every meal for the last 4-5 days really hit home though just how little I could eat. I wasted a LOT of food. Foodwise I haven't cheated but I have had cocktails on occasion. I don't stress about it. I had this surgery to change my life and force a lifestyle change..I accept that and EMBRACE that but I plan to still enjoy the things I like and that means having a drink at dinner on occasion or when I'm vacationing at the beach with friends. Hey...I'm a coonass from South Louisiana....we drink. It's just part of who we are! lol A few observations I've made about how I've changed for the better so far. 1. When at the beach a few weekends ago, I could walk from the end of the walkway through the sand to the beach without having to stop and take a breather. 2. Hubby and I this past weekend in Niagara Falls walked a LOT...uphill and downhill...up and down steps and I handled it fine. If we had done that a year ago I would have had to stop and take breaks, my back would have been killing me and I would have hated it. 3. Sex is much more enjoyable now. I have way more energy, stamina, and uhh..mobility. We can do so much more than we could before and just feeling better about myself allows me to enjoy it more. We just "fit" better now! LOL 4. I've started trying on clothes in my closet that hasn't fit in a good long while and today I'm wearing a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to fit into in over 2 years. SCORE! 5. I was comfortable in the airplane seats and the seatbelt fit with room to spare! Things to work on and general observations. 1. Exercise. I'm barely doing any exercise but as I start to gain energy and feel better I'm finding a little more motivation to do some. Baby steps. 2. That time of the month. So I've noticed that my body seems to do better at losing weight the first two weeks of my cycle. From the time I ovulate until I'm finished my period, I pretty much stall out. Then I'll have a fairly big drop and then steady loss for the next two weeks....Weird huh? 3. I need to work on my Vitamins. All my Vitamin levels were good for my last bloodwork but I'm not so good at taking them consistently. I couldn't take those chewables anymore and my surgeon said I could start taking the regular vitamins as long as I could swallow them. Well hell yeah I can swallow them. I just forget to....sigh. It's on my needs improvement list. Well that's all I can think of right now. I was going to post a before pic and a now pic but we've misplaced the before pics. Don't ask...way too many cameras and computers. We'll find them eventually I suppose. Oh and I'm finally down to under 100 lbs to go...heehee. Thanks to all of you here for your support and friendship. I would be so lost without all of you guys!

Hiya Lis...just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you and I hope you get this resolved. Hopefully you will get some answers at your doctor's appointment. Congrats on being so close to your goal! That's wonderful.

Congrats Karen...glad you are doing so well!

It's probably water retention from being on your period. Your friend is right...put the scale away. It will drive you crazy! I try to force myself to weigh only once a week...yeah but what ends up happening is that as long as the scale's moving I get on it everyday..when it stops moving I stop getting on it and week for my weekly weigh in. LOL The mind games I play with myself! SHEEEESH! Stalls are very frustrating...I didn't lose anything between weeks 3 and 4 and then I didn't lose anything between weeks 6 and 8 either. But yesterday the scale moved and today it moved again. Hang in there...it'll move. I promise!

I haven't found any that aren't too high in carbs for me so I don't think protein bars will ever be on my menu!

Holy ****!! That's like a small child! LOL Keep up the great work...and btw, I still think it's totally unfair that men lose so much faster than us women! PFFFFTTTTTT!!!! :thumbup:

Good for you!

Holy Smokes! That's amazing! You rock...keep it up!

50 lbs is great!

You rock! I wanna be just like you! :001_wub:

Stacey...great post and nice job posting it in here for the pre-ops.

Congratulations! I love happy sleevers!

Wow...you are doing great! Good for you!

wow nina...no stretch marks??? Damn I want YOUR genes! lol I've got a million...but my kids were worth it. :thumbup:

I didn't lose anything between 3 and 4 and then I lost the next few weeks and then I didn't lose anything again between week 6 and 7. It's definitely frustrating! I am totally seeing a correlation too with my cycle. I guess I really retain a lot of fluid in the week leading up to my TOM.

Congratulations...I'm glad you came through without any complications! Welcome to the "other side".

I guess it's true what they say huh? Everything happens for a reason! On another note, I have a good friend who lives in Brooklyn and I went to NYC and visited her there. I went to her tree lighting ceremony and then a party at a local church there. She decorates a big tree every year with the lights set to music and stuff in one of the parks. Anyway, we went to eat dinner that night at a restaurant called Peaches. I absolutely LOVE that place. Have you ever been there?

Yes you can REALLY tell a big difference!

Hey sleeve buddy...you're looking great! I'm still 10 lbs behind you....no fair!

NtvTXN....I was told to not even worry about protein the first week. I wasn't allowed protein shakes until day 5 and they had to be mixed with water. In fact, at my one week post op appt. the nutritionist told me I was trying to be an over-achiever and that they do NOT expect you to get it all in while you're on clear liquids. I'd concentrate on staying hydrated and slowly work your way up to building your protein intake.

Zephra....congrats on a successful surgery. Sorry you weren't feeling so great...I hope you feel better soon!

Congratulations and I'm glad you're home safe and sound. I'll be looking for you in chat!

WOOHOO!!! Welcome to the "other side". See you in chat soon I hope!

oh Maddie...I'm so sorry about the trouble you've had! We were just talking about you in chat the other night. I'm glad you're ok! I'll be keeping you in my prayers.