jess9395

Lucerne also does a version called Protein Plus milk. Same product if you shop at Safeway/Vons/Pavillions. Great stuff and I agree, wish I had known about it sooner!

My friend had it done outpatient and was just fine. I could have gone home same day and been fine. Everyone's experience is different.

Just over two years out and at goal for a year. No long term side effects except a very few foods/drinks that don't agree with me--carbonation, rice, soft bread and Pasta...and occasionally cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower) if they aren't cooked completely. Then I get an upset stomach. I never experienced ANY of the side effects you mention honestly.

Ooh the NYC marathon is on my bucket list! I did my first one last May and I think I prefer the half and trail runs...BUT I know I will do another full someday, if only to earn my "s" (you know, I do marathonS instead of marathon). Did you get into NYC via the lottery? Or run for a charity? How was it?!?!?

Thrift stores. Leggings. Dresses or tunics. A dress clip (mitten clips work too) to cinch in the backs of dresses or tops to keep them fitting longer! I used the heck outa mine--got it on Amazon!

I see this is an older post but I just saw it--CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I just saw this and hope someone with a bypass offers ideas! I have a sleeve and I can tolerate all the normal fueling options--gu's and such (jelly belly even makes Beans specific for race fuel)--but prefer to use whole foods. I like the cliff pouches that are sweet potatoes or mango. I also use bonk breakers (hey have a high Protein version) and the fruit/applesauce pouches marketed for kids lunches (horizon has one with Greek yogurt in it and no added sugar). They I also make some fueling balls myself with 1c dates, 1c nuts, 1c dried fruit and 1T vanilla--process in food processor till the consistency of the inside of a fig Newton and then roll into balls and coat with coconut flour or unsweetened coconut flakes. I also use bananas or oatmeal prior to a race. You need some carbs for quick fuel if you are running more than half an hour at a time, so don't be too afraid of the carbs, just use in moderation and make sure they aren't sweet enough to cause you to dump!

It's kinda funny where we end up sometimes compared to where we started. I always figured I had a "sturdy" build underneath. When I did the fingers around the wrist test it said I had a large frame. Yet when I got there I found I was more petite (even as athletic as I am--I run 20 or so miles a week and race distance races--half and full marathon and trails; yoga and TRX classes). I have lots of muscle, but just a petite frame and yes, you see my bones. Strangely that fingers around the wrist test that's supposed to stay the same now puts me just borderline small/medium frame. I guess I had a chubby wrist and sausage fingers that couldn't reach around! My sister who lost 85lbs without surgery is sturdy--she has the same athletic pursuits as I do plus a very active job as a paramedic, but she is broad shouldered and has legs of solid muscle. Strangely we wear almost the same size bra, LOL! Course I had help getting to cup size. We talk sometimes about our two other sisters who are still obese and wonder which they would end up as! Would be interesting to see--I hope that day comes!

I'm telling you right now.....right here......that would be a blast for me. One funny aspect to the event.........it would be more of a meal of appetizers due to our low food intake. Works for me.....already got a menu in mind. All appetizers. Also some skinny B.L.D.'s (big liquor dranks for those who partake........don't worry....there will be strong coffee brewing when the sun comes up). How ironic....a meal for bariatric friends that I could go all out on. I'm so down with this. Be right back......busting out a few walls and doing some sheetrock work to add more sleeping space and getting day passes at my gym for everyone 'cause ya'll are some active folks who I have to keep busy while I fire up dem coals. Just kidding....I'd hire somebody that can actually BBQ & cook and leave me outa of it......I'll tend the bar and enjoy every minute of it !!!!!!!!!!!!! Count me in!

It may be more slender that your preference, but I wouldn't call it gross. Different people have different builds. We can work to maximize our build to fit our aesthetic desires, but we have to work within our genetic makeup. Health is the most important thing anyway. Good luck with achieving your goal!

Wow, that's harsh! I am two years out--been at goal for over a year. Had my sagging skin removed by plastics. Lost a ton of hair and had it grow back in. I think what he has to say is great! I can take away some lessons from it as well as any newbie. That's what I like about these boards, we can all learn from each other. Now if he'd been one of those people less than six months out spouting one "truth" and slamming those who disagree I would feel differently, but he merely posted a "this is something that works for me, your mileage may vary" and even said "I'm no doctor.." Thank you for the post! Please don't stop!

That's me exactly too!

I am sure there are increased risks with the smaller size, but it's what my surgeon uses and has worked very well for me

Exactly my experience. Neither my surgeon nor my GP ever wanted to set a goal weigh--instead stressing the health benefits of losing even 10% of body weight and focusing on the "40-60% of excess body weight" idea. I lost easily to 135 and here I sit. My goal chose me. I had some vague idea of being happy at 165 (the lowest weight I maintained for a period of time as an adult) or even 155 (lowest adult weight ever).

I started couch to 5k about four weeks after surgery and added yoga classes about three months later and the occasional TRX class for strength. Now two years post op I run 4-5x per week (about 15-20miles a week) and do yoga classes 3-4x per week for strength and flexibility

I got a DEXA scan (similar to bod pod) pre op and then a year post when I reached goal. I truly loved having that info and would totally recommend! It also gave me insight into how accurate my scale that gives body fat % is (good for spotting trends, but not fully accurate it's a Fitbit Aria and is about 5% off on average compared to the DEXA). My goal is to be better about my VITAMINS!!!!

Hey I have that same swimsuit! Love it! You look great!

How soon after surgery did you start running? I used to run 5ks and am planning on running my first half in March and I'd like to start training asap. So you had surgery 12/16 and are planning a half marathon at about four months out? How much did you run before surgery? You said you used to run 5k's, how long ago? That seems super fast to me, but if you have been a runner for a while it might be possible. I was only getting about 400-500 calories a day at four months out so no way could I have done that!

How soon after surgery did you start running? I used to run 5ks and am planning on running my first half in March and I'd like to start training asap. I had never run before surgery and started couch to 5k at about three or four weeks out. I had surgery in early December, did my first 5k in April, 10k in August and half marathon in October.

I'm with ya! Only time I ever puked after drinking was w tequila

Scientists say so: http://www.buzzhearts.com/en/blog/drinking-tequila-could-help-you-lose-weight-according-to-scientists/101/ Seriously though, the article does show some scientific evidence for Agavins lowering blood sugar and helping with type 2 diabeties, so I hope that leads to more follow up studies on Agave sweeteners! I may have to switch over.

That was my experience too. Couldn't take anything I brought. They had to get a doctor's order to let me have cough drops/throat lozenges.

I had the sleeve because I liked not having the malabsorption and liked having the fundus gone (the stretchy part that produces a lot of the hunger hormone ghrelin). Never thought it was any less invasive--I agree it's totally invasive and non reversible! However I think it has a long enough history to not be the "flavor of the month" either. It has its own pros and cons. Member @bellablooom is a bypass to sleeve revision and talks about it freely. Check out her posts.

Yeah and smaller too. Only about a 10lb difference between 0/2/4/6 oh my experience, but it's probably a good rule of thumb esp for sizes 6/8/10/12 (again in my experience) and more like 40 for 14/16/18 and maybe even more above that and in the W sizes--again that was my experience. Also varies by brand of course!

OMG I have to laugh, I was reading this as a recipie rather than a list of different suggestions and was taken aback--Was considering maybe trying the odd combination but the volume of it all know you added the egg AND the chicken...LOL...and now on early could all that together be termed a chicken salad? I think I need some sleep!