CheleLynn45

I am 5'4" and originally my doc said around 135-140. I explained to him that I would be more comfortable with 175 he settled for 165. So right now I am shooting for 175lbs, and anything below that will be Great!! I just like that right now my tickers reads that I have lost MORE weight than I have left to lose.

I feel pretty much the same most on this thread do. I had surgery to use this tool to help me live a healthy, happy ,well balanced life. I will be 4 months out on Monday and I have had bites of sweets. I'm not much of a sweets person but every once in awhile something just looks good, so I take a bite. I can do this because I know (1) I can't eat more than that and (2) I don't want to eat more than that. Don't beat yourself up about it, you have to learn how to balance your eating. Don't feel like you have to deprive yourself of anything, unless your new tummy doesn't like it.

Congrats on your surgery date and kudos for rewarding yourself with a cool new tool!!! I don't have a fit bit but my mom has one and LOVES LOVES it. I'm not sure what hers is called, she attaches it to her bra strap to wear it all day long and then downloads the information right into her MyFitnessPal program. I started pretty much where you are weight wise and my journey has been pretty good. Way way better than I expected on every level. Even my bumps in the road weren't as bad as I thought. Just work your program, follow your surgeons advice and post here when you can and you will be successful!! Good Luck!!

Oh yuck.....there is no way I could do a chewable. I have always had trouble swallowing any size pill. My thyroid med is so tiny I almost lose it when I try to take it. LOL My Bariatric Advantage Vitamins are huge to me but I just take my time and get them down. I agree with blerdgirl.....check with your doc and see what else you can do. These are something that you have to take forever I hope you can find an easier way to get them down.

As of this morning I can say I am more than halfway to my goal. I was so happy I literally jumped off the scale yelling!! LOL I started this journey in January of 2014 at my highest weight ever of 324, but my pre op weight was 314 and today I was 243. I will be 15 weeks post op on Monday the 9th. I could not wait to get on here to change my ticker since I knew the weight lost would be greater than the weight to lose. :D At almost 4 months post op I find that I can eat a little bit more of some foods, and that my tummy tolerates pretty much anything I have tried. I like that I am not afraid to eat out anymore, and that my family is more than willing to let me pick the entrée and share with me. Like last night we ate out, me and my hubby ordered the pork shoulder plate. It came with two sides we got French fries (gasp!) and cottage cheese. When it came I took about 2oz of meat off the plate moved it to mine and took the cottage cheese. I ended up eating all the pork (Protein first) about 4 bites of the cottage cheese, (not a big fan but know it is good for me) and I had 5 French fries. YUM!! No one ordered drinks just Water and our bill was only 20.15. You have to love that!! I have found no matter where we go I am fine picking something to eat, in the beginning I would panic wondering what could I eat, what would Sherman tolerate?? It was kinda stressful. But now it's just like any other time except I am not eating everything in sight. Well after sharing my accomplishment with my daughter, hubby and my mom this morning I couldn't wait to get on here and share with you guys!! Here's to heading into the second phase of my weight loss!! I hope this encourages anyone who may be struggling or just starting off! Please Please remember if we work this tool like we should we will get results!! Oh and my arms are a bit sore from my hubby working me out at the gym yesterday, good thing I can still type, just don't ask me to reach up for anything. LOL

Thanks so much everyone!!

I walked every day. It was kinda funny, my hubby took 10 days off after my surgery and my mom flew in for two weeks also. So everyday I would announce......"who wants to take me for my walk?" LOL I'm in AZ so the weather was perfect for walking outside. So in the very beginning I broke it up in 20 min intervals to get in my hour a day the doc wanted. Once I was feeling better and started having more energy we would do more. Go by how your body feels, but make sure you are moving!!

@sukik Glad to hear your scale is working! WOO HOO!! I am almost 4 months post op on Monday, and I have lost consistently every week. Now I know I started higher than some but knock on wood I hope it continues!! Celebrate your loss and keep doing whatever you are doing, it's working!!

I am not a hot sauce fan, but I do use mustard and med salsa. Probably started around 3 weeks or so. Can't quite remember? The best is to follow docs orders, and just be careful, little at a time. Your new tummy will definitely let you know what it likes and what it doesn't.

Not sappy......TRUE!!! This site is really great! I am lucky and have a ton of support, but I still come here too cause the wealth of knowledge, advice, and oh I didn't think of that moments are great!! Continue to post you never know who you may be helping at any given time!! Good luck on your journey!!

I had my surgery on Oct 27th, was 14 weeks post this past Monday and am down 69lbs, 9.5lbs from my pre op diet I was on for a week.

Definitely check with your doc, but you should be good to go by now. I was walking since day one and back in the gym, on the treadmill about 9 days out. I would definitely talk with your bariatric team to see why your energy feels so low. I remember being amazed at my energy levels and still am to this day.

I am down 63lbs and need to get new bras and decided to look into sports bras too. I am going to have to get measured for my exact size but I am about a 42D or 44C ish. What sports bras do you guys like the best and where do you get them? Which ones are easiest to get on and off, I guess if it is a struggle to get it on and off I can just add those calories burned to my workout. I am wearing an old bra to the gym and it is doing me no favors. LOL Any help would be greatly appreciated with this!!!

I was very worried about this at first. While I was going thru the 6 month diet and getting all my requirements done I only talked to my husband, daughter, parents, two friends at work, and my very close friends. Everyone was VERY supportive. As time got closer to my surgery date I did share that I was going to have WLS with most of my department and few others I work with since I would be gone for 5 weeks and they would wonder where I was. I was extremely nervous to go back to work after all that time, I was afraid how people other than I had told would react to my weight loss and how it happened. Well as people started asking where I had been, commenting on how I looked, it got easier and easier to talk about it. I truly didn't know what I was going to say until the words were coming out of my mouth. Once I started sharing I felt so good about it that I have not not shared how I am doing this with anyone who asks. I am proud of my accomplishment, I am proud of how I am working this sleeve. Also it is amazing how many people know someone who has gone thru this. I have not encountered any negative comments, at least face to face. Who knows what people might be saying behind my back. But I don't care cause I KNOW how much work I am putting into this. The support I have received has been so motivating and keeps me moving forward. It saddens me when I read posts where people do not have the support especially of their immediate family. That's why this site is so important Sometimes it is the only support people get. In the end you must do what feels right for you. This is your journey no one elses!!!

@amponder I didn't realize you had had the lap band. I missed that. I know Dr's vary with their requirements but I hadn't heard of anyone with the sleeve not having to drink Protein drinks so I was curious. I hope your grocery shopping with your hubby goes well tomorrow!!

Why are you not suppose to drink protein shakes anymore???

You look great!!!!!!! I love your black top with the belt!!

@kikicoates78 How are things going for you????

I would have to say in one word..........AWESOME!! I will be 14 weeks post op tomorrow and have lost weight (knock on wood) so far every week. So far I have gone from a super tight 26/28, 30/32 to a size 20 in pants. I have no problem being around food and not eating what others are. I have eaten out with my family and friends and done just fine, sometimes sharing sometimes ordering my own stuff and taking home leftovers. I now go and enjoy the company not just going to eat. And fitting into booths, I still do a little Woo Hoo when I slide right in, my family has come to expect this. LOL I am exercising every week, some weeks I know I could do better but I am doing it. Trying to push myself to better my time and reps everytime I go. I am sometimes lazy with my food when I don't want to think about what to eat, and will have a shake or a Protein bar, but I am still within my limits and meeting my protein goals (usually exceeding) and my liquid intake. We are going to Disney in March and I am SOOOOOO excited to be able to go on ANY ride I choose to go on, not just the ones I think I will fit into. We were at Universal three years ago and I sat while my hubby and daughter went on everything. Not this time!! One of main motivators for having this surgery was to be able to participate in my life again, not just be sitting on the sidelines. And even at my weight I am at now I am doing that, I am enjoying my life!! I cannot imagine how I feel after losing another 60-70lbs. But I am pretty sure it will feel great!! Now before anyone thinks it has been all roses for me let me tell you it has not. But I do believe I have had an easier time than some that I have read about on here and for that I am eternally grateful. My recovery went really well and most everything I have eaten has agreed with me. I did throw up once just last week but I believe it was because I ate way to fast, and will not be doing that again. I had some awful constipation (sorry TMI) the week after Thanksgiving where I thought/wished I would die. But that is all fixed now. I have a ventral hernia that could not be taken out during my VSG surgery and now with my weight loss you can see it protruding more on my lower right abdomen side. This I will have removed probably around summertime, still discussing that with my surgeon. I am not looking forward to that surgery. I am seeing some of my skin start to be loose, but that is small price to pay for feeling the way I do. I still cannot believe it has been as long as it has, it's weird how time is flying. I can't wait to hear from the rest of you on how you are all doing, I hope this post finds you doing great!!

I have Aetna also, but I had to do a 6 month doc supervised diet as one of my requirements. I started seeing my PCP in Feb 2014 and saw her every month for 6 months to have my weight checked. My bariatric office had given me forms which they said the doc could use or she could use something of her own. We used the forms. So she would weigh me and then talk to me about what I had/had not done that month, recommend changes and then document. I then took all the forms to my bariatric office the day I had my last weigh in and that is what they used to submit to my insurance. They never said I had a required amount of weight to lose or anything.

I knew I would succeed at this once I got my head on straight as to why I was eating the way I was. I had to do a pre op 6 month diet actually thrilled when I found out about that requirement. I was not someone who had researched and thought about this surgery for years and years before I did anything so I needed that time to wrap my head around and understand all the changes that would be taking place after the surgery. Once I did I felt armed and ready. Grant it I was still scared, but I was ready and determined. I decided I could do this and I was going to do this. I was not going to have 85% of my stomach removed and then not do the work that was/is required to succeed. I am going to work this tool for all it is worth during these early stages to get my money (or my insurances) out of it. I will be 14 weeks post op tomorrow, as of today I am down 68lbs and knock on wood I have lost every week so far. I feel great. And that is good motivator. Good Luck with your journey, and to anyone reading this. Remember to follow your docs orders and do the best that you can, you don't have to be perfect, you just have to do it!!

@Idonerds I love to see this! Good for you, that support will be so helpful once you are post op!!! I have similar support and when you have people in your corner routing you on it feels fantastic!! When I was waiting to get my 6 months done and I was wrapping my head around stuff I didn't think I would share what I was doing. But as I did I found such support I wondered why I didn't do it sooner. I know on these boards I read sometimes how peoples immediate family members are not supportive and sometimes downright horrible, it breaks my heart. This is a HUGE journey we are on, there are ton of roller coaster emotions you will go thru, having someone to share it with to support you is awesome. Good luck with your journey, cherish those that are supporting and loving you!! You got this girl!!!

I wasn't taking anything until my after my two week follow up with the surgeon. That's where I got my list of stuff. I only take my thyroid meds, my bariatric Vitamin (capsule I swallow 2x a day), my Vitamin D, and my Calcium chews three times a day. I do thyroid, vitamin d, one vitamin and one calcium chew in the a.m. with my Protein tea. I have a timer set on my phone for 2:30pm for my second vitamin, I was horrible at remembering it early on, now no problem. And I take my other two calcium chews during the day when I remember.

I don't know why but getting on the scale this morning and seeing 248 made me so happy!! For me starting this journey at 314, 240 just seems so little to me. I know that it isn't and I know I still have a ways to go, but I am trying to enjoy the journey and my little victories. Especially that at one point in my life my highest weight was 324. Someone posted in a youtube video to "Trust the Process" That is what I am trying to do. Trying to do everything I can to be successful at this. I am perfect....Oh Hell NO! But my main focus is getting in my protein, my liquids and my exercise. Besides all the positives that I have seen in me the other great thing is my mom, who lives in NY but visits regularly, has been doing a great job of losing her weight too. She wants to get off another 15lbs to get back to where she was when she had her first knee surgery and she is well on her way. We have been encouraging each other and I am so proud of her. Just wanted to share on this beautiful Tucson morning! Hope this post finds you all having a great day!!

Congrats on your sugiversary!!! I know the feeling I have been saying since about a month out, if I feel this good now how will I feel in 6 months?? Keep up the good work!!!