one_more_time

Very inspiring...you look great!!!

My mom absolutely loves Cato's.... I went in with her the other day and bought a few outfits from the "regular" size section as well. Prior to surgery I was 16w/18w depending on the material, cut, maker,etc. Bought a few size 16 pants and XL shirts and hoping to be in them by the end of the month. My NSV victory today was wearing my Old Navy (size 18 ) skinny jeans. They use to be SUPER tight...and I use to have a horrible muffin top when I put them on. Well today..I had to keep pulling them up because they are too big. Also can take them off without unbuttoning or unzipping. Looks like I am getting closer to a size 14...really hoping to be there before the end of April. My collar bone and jaw lines are becoming more pronounced. My neck is starting to look skinny.

Hey SandeeD... I was wandering how everything went and I came across this thread. :-) Glad to see that you are home and in "recovery" mode. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to ya!

Are you regular? I had a stall as well... it lasted about 2 weeks. It dawned upon me that I had not had a BM in about a week or so. I started Miralax (per doctor) and Fiber Gummers ( 2 twice a day) last Monday and once things got moving the scale started moving. I have lost 7 lbs in the last week. Prior to the Miralax and Fiber Gummies I was around 231... now I am 224. For ME... I believe my stall was due to constipation.. it may or may not be your case.

I started Fiber Gummies about a week ago. Hit a stall and realized that I hadn't had a movement. Also took Miralax for about 3-4 days and sure enough they got things moving and I've lost about 7 pounds in the last week. I will be taking 2 fiber gummies twice a day from now on. I chew them until they are liquid before I swallow and I always sip on Water afterwards to make sure I have washed them down real good.

Disclaimer: Might be TMI....but thought I would post this info just in case someone found it useful.. you never know right? At any rate... prior to surgery I had to do the "dreaded" bowel prep and it did it's job... thoroughly. Left the hospital on February 12th and my bowels were so loose I literally had to wear a pad every time when I left the house. So everything was moving right along...was passing gas... the whole nine. All of sudden about 4 or 5 days after I got home everything just STOPPED! Oh my! Called my doctor/went to see my PCP for a post surgery check up and both told me to use miralax. Everything else I was told would be to harsh for my new pouch. I complied and this past Monday started mixing Miralax with my crystal light and taking Fiber Gummies ( 2 twice a day). My weight had stalled out at about 230 lbs for almost 2 weeks, even went up to around 231. Yesterday things got moving and this morning I woke up and I'm down to 228 lbs. So that's about 2-3 lb lost over the last two days and I believe my stall was due to things "locking" up. I will be taking Fiber Gummies twice a day along with my Vitamin supplements ...just make sure that things stay "regular".

Hi... I had bypass surgery in 2005 and lost about 80-90 lbs. I didn't have too much excess skin...it was mostly cellulite that was abundant. I don't think there really is "too" much you can do to prevent sagging/excess skin. Once your weight levels off ( you reach goal) or you weight loss starts slowing down you can probably look into doing plastic surgery. With my first surgery I developed hernias near my incision so my surgeon went in to remove the hernias and in doing so she did a mini Tummy Tuck which helped to tighten my abs and flatten my stomach a bit. My current surgeon ( revised my bypass to a sleeve) offers a procedure called a Tummy Corset which is basically a tummy tuck as well. So you might want to check with your surgeon to see if he/she offers any procedures for post surgery that will help to eliminate skin or sagging. I know there are quite a few creams, etc. out there that claim to tighten the skin....but not sure if any of them work. I tried countless cellulite creams and none of them did anything for me. I would definitely sit down with a personal trainer and/or your doctor to come up with a work out regimen that is geared toward toning/tightening the areas that you feel you may have a bit of trouble with after you have reached goal. That is probably going to be the only thing that you can do to try and combat the issue before hand. I'm just 16 days post-op but once I am cleared for strength training... I am definitely going to start working out to tone as much as possible. I worked out a lot the first time... again didn't really have sagging skin... just a bulge from the hernias a lot of cellulite on my thighs and buttocks...that was it.

Some times it's hard for people to embrace change. We can become so complacent with our everyday lives that when there is even the slightest "ripple" or "wave" we panic or start opposing. I would have to agree with Recycled... when they see your health improving, self confidence, etc. etc. they will "get on board". They love you and I am sure they want the best for you. We fear the things that are unknown and maybe they don't know enough about the benefits yet and it kind of has them concerned...over time they will adjust. Wishing you the best...

You look great! Congratulations on your success...

Lose my back fat/love handles Incorporate jogging in my fitness regimen Walk without my thighs rubbing together Wear shorts and tank tops this summer Get down to a size 6/8 in jeans Be able to get off my blood pressure meds for good Wear sun dresses without looking pregnant Get rid of my muffin top when I wear pants Like someone said above....stop having to adjust my clothes because they are riding up my stomach or fitting too snug

And some people have the "nerve" to think weight loss surgery is an easy way out. They are totally uninformed... this is my "second" time around ( had a revision) and this is far from EASY. Not only do you have to deal with physically healing but emotionally and mentally you have to recondition your entire life and way of thinking ( well at least I did). When you think about all of the "social" interactions that we deal with daily...most of them are centered around food. I've gone through so many moments of "mourning" it is ridiculous. I've felt almost every emotion known to man... guilt, remorse, elation, confusion, anger. Our bodies go through a tremendous amount of stress from the surgery. I had a SEVERE anxiety attack my second day in the hospital after getting my sleeve. My blood pressure was like 200 over 120. My heart was racing and my heart was beating well over 100 beats per minute. The nurses started freaking out and even brought a crash cart into my room thinking I was going to have a cardiac arrest. I kept calm... prayed and allowed them to administer meds to get everything under control and within minutes my blood pressure came down and my heart rate slowed. The doctor said my body was stressed. I went from eating around 2,500 calories a day to absolutely nothing not mention I had just had major surgery that took 5 hours....it was a lot of change to endure in two days. My body was like WHOA!!! hold on... what in the world are you doing. Like I said this is not an easy thing to do. We have to recondition our minds and body and it can be difficult. What you are feeling is normal and like someone posted above... your body is having to readjust and level off. Give it some time and just take things slow. Focus on the positives and the great transformation that is slowly taking place. I do believe it is all worth it in the end... Oh and if your doctor has upset you or made you feel a certain type of way about your progress I believe you should express those feelings to him/her at your next visit and let them know how you feel. Hey, they get paid a lot of money for their services so you should be able to discuss ANY and EVERYTHING under the sun. Best wishes to you

I felt the exact same way. Not being in control... I'm a control freak myself and I felt so vulnerable thinking of others having control over me while I was under. I have had about 6 surgeries and I can honestly tell you.. each and every time ( all the surgeries were different/different surgeons/different hospitals) being "put to sleep" for me has been like blinking. Didn't realize I was even under anesthesia or the procedures were finished until I was awaken by the staff on hand. My "sleeve" took almost 5 hours ( revision) but to me it was like I closed my eyes really quick and then reopened them. You will be just fine... it happens so quick ( being put to sleep) that you won't even realize you have gone to sleep until after you awake.

I went to Sam's yesterday and they had the Premier Protein (snack size 8.25 oz) 18 grams Protein, 1 grams Sugar, 2 grams Fat, 100 calories and 24 Vitamins and minerals.... 18 pack was just $19.96. I got one box because this is my first time trying them...but if I like them I will be going back and stocking up. Got the chocolate flavor.

Still on the "Full" liquid stage of my post-op diet. Have another 2-3 weeks and then I will slowly start adding in soft veggies ( don't think that I can do "pureed" stuff...eeewwww). Trying to keep my carbs at about 50 grams per day ( if possible)...and the key word here is TRYING. Going to do my best to get in at least 40 oz. of pure Water. No teas..no Protein waters... just good ole H20. Started back using myfitness pal to keep track of my carbs/fat/sugar/sodium. I also am trying to get an idea of how many calories I eat on average. So what have some of you veterans/newbies had or will have for Breakfast today? For me an Atkins Cafe Caramel shake ... it doesn't taste all that great...not sure if I will buy them again.. but they have 15 grams of protein and about 4 grams of carbs so I might keep 'em around for a while. Especially when I return back to work.

I think it is absolutely ridiculous to put someone through a supervised diet prior to surgery for 3 or 6 months. I sort of understand the logic...wanting to see if you can adhere...follow rules...discipline yourself...see how serious you are. At the end of the day if dieting and working out alone worked....im sure none of us would be here. Ive personally struggled with my weight since I was 9 years old. My coworker had to do the exact same thing she chose a different insurance plan than I did. Thankfully all my doc needed to confirm was my BMI and that I was morbidly obese. Years ago I had a situation like yours and I became so frustrated I gave up. You have made it this far dont give up. Like some one mentioned above try cutting your carbs as low as you can go. If you can get your body in ketosis ( burning fat for fuel) you might be able to drop 5-10 pounds in the next week or two...just to get you over the hump so you can reach your target pre-surgery weight. I lost like 40 lbs in about 3 months doing south beach.

Before you know it you will be back here posting about your post surgery experiences. Best wishes and a speedy recover!

I bought a Ninja this summer and haven't used it since. When I move on to heavier foods I will definitely start experimenting with smoothie recipes. Really want to start juicing a bit as well to. Recently saw "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and was totally blown away by the experiment Joe Cross did with his 60 day juice fast. Won't be fasting...but would like to incorporate fresh juices in my daily diet. Breakfast for me today will either be Optisource Carmel shake or Atkins Carmel Cafe Shake. Didn't like the Atkins Carmel Cafe shake at first, but they are starting to grow on me...so will probably purchase a few more.

My surgery was actually a revision from a Gastric Bypass I had done about 9 years ago. My surgeon is Dr. John Alexander and my surgery was done at Forest Park Medical Center where The Alexander Center For Obesity Surgery is located. Yes, I'm 15 days out as of today and everything so far has been great. I chose Dr. Alexander because he specializes in revisions and does quite a few of lap band to Sleeve and Gastric Bypass to Sleeve surgeries. If you haven't added me as a friend... do so. For some reason when I try and add people I keep getting an error message. Would love to keep up with your progress and it's cool to have a Sleeve Buddy so close... :-)

Lol... "free morphine".... I recently saw my hospital/surgeon bill and that morphine was hardly free...

This is my second WLS..I had a revision because there were several things going on. The first surgeon made my original pouch larger than she should have therefore I didn't have "true" restriction. Over time pouches stretch... its a given fact..but I really didn't stand a chance because of her "measurements." There were quite a few other things going on that my current surgeon had to correct and so far my revision has been great. Comparing this procedure to the first I can say that there were a few things I did wrong. I was trying to "hold" on to former eating habits and in doing so... I believe I stretched my already over sized pouch. Even though I may be able to tolerate certain foods now( they go down without complication/don't feel the need to throw up or feel too full) I still don't want to "introduce" my stomach to those things so soon. I guess I have an extreme phobia when it comes to "stretching" my pouch. I will remain on a soft foods/full liquid diet for at least another 2-3 weeks. I think it will help with weight loss and it will also allow my pouch to heal better. I equate the new stomach to a balloon. It's small but elastic and if were to fill a balloon with Water it would stretch to 3 or 4 times its original size ( maybe more). At the end of the day everyone is different... and we all govern ourselves differently. Whatever works for you.. I say do it.. your success is just that your success. I know what works for me....and I am doing just that. Like I said.. I personally have a very real fear of stretching my pouch..so I am taking things VERY slowly one day at a time. There will be plenty of time to incorporate "new" foods later down the road. I am still having some separation anxieties with a few foods.. lol.. .so this time is really allowing me to get focused and kick some old eating habits.

Congrats on your surgery date gldnhoney523 :-) I have Anthem BC BS...my approval came back in two days. Right down the street from ya....im in Dallas!

The EXACT same thing happened to me. I think I mentally blocked it out of my mind....that and I got approved so fast I was still in shock. How you feel is very normal. In some cases the surgeon will allow you to get a shot for anxiety to help you relax. I got one with my first surgery. When I had my VSG done the thought of getting up and leaving the hospital ran through my mind non stop. I am SOOOOO happy I went through with it...my family can already tell that im losing and im just 13 days post op. Think post op thoughts...focus on accomplishing your goal. You will do just fine.Saving room for you on the losers bench. :-)

Awwww....my beloved Turkey Bacon... how I miss it so! I can't WAIT to get back to a normal diet... but gotta follow doctor's orders....Everyone's breakfast sounds so good... just a few more weeks and I will be able to have my egg whites, spinach and portabello mushroom omelet...my favorite breakast! In my Dory voice ( Finding Nemo)... "Just Keep Swimming"......3 weeks will come and go before I know it..

I think once you start losing and getting closer to goal... you are going to be SO elated that will want the world to know about your success. I watched videos for like 3 hours straight (been up since 5) and I was seriously considering starting a WLS channel. I have been SO inspired this morning by people who were larger than me or around my same weight that have reached their goal and most did it in under 12 months. This one lady was like 220 lbs.. a size 18 and she is now a size 2 ...and you would NEVER think she was ever larger than her current size. The changes are phenomenal... and if it can happen for them it can happen for you and me and any one else who is willing to commit and stay focused. One thing she did stress is her low carb way of eating. In all my years of dieting ( since I was 9 years old)..truly the only thing that has worked for me has been watching/counting carbs. I am going to be very mindful of the "kind" of carbs that I eat.... especially processed sugars. I think natural sugars (in moderation) are okay...... I digress.. again you will do fine! And if you do decide to do a channel... let me know so I can subscribe...

Morning... I was thinking your surgery was on the 24th for some reason :-) I've been up looking at some youtube videos and saw you comment on one.. I was like wow she's all over the place too! lol... that's what it is all about research, research, research. I don't really think you can compare your pre-op experience to your post-op. You have so many different factors going into play after the VSG. The "no" hunger issue, restriction... the possibility of your body going into ketosis..etc. etc. And you know as women our weight fluctuates so much due to nature. I lost 8 pounds prior to surgery and then 10 lbs the first week after...but haven't lost anything in a week... BUT I'm due this week (if you know what I mean) and I always get bloated and/or gain a about 2-3 pounds during that time. It's just my two cents...but I don't think you should worry about it. Just focus on getting through the surgery and back home to recover. I am sure you will do just fine with your weight loss... just don't allow it to consume you. A watched pot never boils... I'm just focused on truly reaching deep within to resolve my love/hate relationship with food. Not using food for recreation but for sustenance and fuel. And don't always look to the scale for your victories... focus on NSV (non-scale victories) as well. Case in point... my scale hasn't moved in a week....BUT my size 18's are very loose/baggy and my 16's are fitting me very comfortably. Not to mention my jawline is more pronounced.. so I know I am losing inches for sure. Best wishes and a speedy recovery !