WickedBeauty

Hi!! I live in the Parma area and I work in Bedford. Going to the Clinic has been a pain because of the drive and the parking but I keep pushing myself. Nothing worth having is easy, right? I have 6 months preop so I will finish up in December. Approval is right after, takes about a month. Then surgery probably in January or February. Where are you from?

Hi Jen! Sorry I'm late. Didn't realize I've been logged out for a period of time. Smh. I'm from Cleveland, born and raised. Let me know if you need anything. I'd love to help in anyway that I can.

I agree wicked beauty weirdest feeling. I saw Dr. Today for 3 month check up received encouraging news that I am 5-10 pounds ahead of schedule! Yea me!! Plus talked about pushing myself more in exercise just to find my limits. He wants me to be able to see the changes my body has made and learn my own abilities. I am so afraid to hurt myself. How strong am I? What can I do? So tonight I tried to push some and didn't hit it... 6 miles walking on bike path and could still go..even was walking at a pretty good pace! Will see in morning how my knees handle it...before surgery I could not handle 1 mile on treadmill. Wow!!!! I am going to try treadmill tomorrow...

We've got to challenge ourselves. I'm going back to cardio Bootcamp in a week. I had to remind myself If I was pushing through the pain 50+ lbs ago, imagine what I'm capable of now.

I'm home for the first time in nearly a week. We did 3 days at Cedar Point amusement park. Sunday I walked 4.7 miles, Monday 9.04 miles, Tuesday 4.14. Then 2 days of college visits with my daughter (4.08 and 3.62 miles). It was great not having a scale around until this morning. I lost 1 stinking pound. 1. Really? I usually walk under 2 miles a day and I have been terrible about my exercise. So I was sure I was going to have this huge loss. NOPE. Not very happy this morning. That being said, I'm still farther than I thought I would be. My doctor told me realistically I could expect to lose 70 pounds. Anything more than that would be a bonus. Since surgery (4/15) I have lost 52.5. My BMI started at 40 and it's now 31.6. I had to buy all new clothes. So while that stinking scale really pissed me off this morning, it's progress.

Don't be discouraged!!!! You're making progress. Personally, I haven't been on my scale at home AT ALL SINCE BEFORE SURGERY. I knew I'd obsess and make myself bonkers. I only report a weight to you guys if I see a doc for something and they make me weigh in. Too many other things to focus on. Keep doing what you need to do. Stay hydrated, exercise and use your tool and the weight will keep coming off. STAY FOCUSED.

Jen-where are you at? I'm in cleveland also!!! My surgeon is Schauer. I am looking at December surgery. It's nice to meet people in the same area at the same hospital!! How many months of preop do you have?

Dr. Schauer was great!!!! Best of luck to you.

Currently at the doc for something unrelated....13 weeks post op and I'm down a total of -55 lbs. This has to be the weirdest feeling on earth for me, but I'm excited!!!!!

I'm in cleveland! Having my surgery at the clinic in early December. Would love to hear everyone's experience with the clinic staff and drs!! My surgeon is Schauer.

Hi kpenney727! I loved i and not because I'm an employee

The staff was great. I didn't experience any complications other than a gas attack. My surgery was on a Monday and that Friday evening prior to I came down with an awful cough. I was on my pre-op diet and didn't bother to ask if I could take anything for the cough. After the procedure the hardest part for me was the pain associated with my incisions and me coughing. Even though they were prescribed I didn't go home on pain meds. I didn't feel as though I needed them.

Dr. Schauer and his resident, Dr. Aminian were great and took great care of me. Dr. Schauer's nurse, Michael, is extremely helpful and full of knowledge. The team as a whole were wonderful IMO, from beginning to end.

Finally starting to see a little difference

Looking good girl! Keep up the good work.

I know I have been MIA for a little while. I am now almost 5 weeks post op and down 38lbs but I have a question, I was told that I shouldn't use straws, well I tried and it's MUCH easier to get my liquids in. It doesn't hurt. Is this weird?

Hey lady! Glad you're making such great progress!!!! Congrats!

I don't think it's weird. If I understand correctly, the issue with the straw was taking in extra air which can be not only uncomfortable, but even painful. Did it once. Didn't work so well for me.

Ok 4 weeks today since surgery. 30 pounds gone after surgery, 72 lbs gone since beginning of journey. I know we talk about all the food issues but I am struggling with clothing issues... I miss my clothes. I know sounds weird at least to my family.. But it was my comfort.. My whole closet is gone. All my dress clothing I worked so hard to find that I looked good in... All my comfortable clothes... I miss my jeans, bras, underwear... It is all gone... I started purchasing clothes but before I can break them in I am shrinking out of them... Don't get me wrong I love being 5 sizes smaller I love the new eating habits and how things fit and don't hurt but, I can't get dressed without going through 3-4 outfits.. And then still being worried how it looks... Anyone else mourning clothes?

That's perfectly normal. Definitely hard to dress a new body. Frustrating to try go get dressed when you used to know what options you had then suddenly those things are no longer an option.

I've invested in a few maxi skirts to go with a few smaller ones I had. This summer my wardrobe will consist of maxi skirts/dresses, oversized tees (so they don't look bad as I shrink) and yoga pants/capris with tanks and tees. I do have a few dress slacks and tops in smaller sizes that I never parted with so I will use those as needed as well.

I'll be 4 weeks post op tomorrow and my list of tolerable foods is short. I can count on two hands the number of food items I can tolerate. I can stomach the Protein Shakes, but hydrating with water/liquids is what troubles me the most.

Not to mention between the cold I had going in to surgery and my allergies these past few weeks, I can't seem to catch a break.

Most days I feel overall pretty good, but there are times during the day where I'm struggling to recognize these new weird feelings in my body, gas, hunger, needing hydration, fatigue and so forth.

I keep telling myself that this will all pass and I keep pressing on.

Hi ladies! So glad I found this post. I just found out my surgery day is June 18. Super excited.

Welcome and congratulations!!!! Definitely an exciting journey!

I always thought that we should have some sort of 'exchange forum' for clothing, since we're all going through the same basic deal...I have tons of clothing which are way too big for me, and I'm hoping to lose more so I don't want to invest too much in my 'in-between' size, so we should all try to exchange as we lose!!!

I don't remember where in the forums, but there was a clothing swap thread somewhere around here.

@@aimeelopez123 - I have a cream color size 16 dress slack from Ashley Stewart, brand new with tags. If you'd like I can try to private message you a pic when I get home. LMK if you think you're interested. I'd let them go for a reasonable amount.

@@msshellg - Thanks! That's how I always know when I'm crossing over into the danger zone...smh

I'd have multiole chins, my cheeks would look like a chipmunk and my stomach would expand. As much weight as I carried, I'd never had a large stomach until just recently.

I knew things were getting serious then. So glad I did this!

@@mcmedic13 - Thanks so much...I'm trying!!!

I promised progression pics, but I guess I'm tech challenged through the site....can't figure it out. I'll post them when I crack this code

This was about a month preop and the other one was last night... 39 pounds down 75 to go!

Congratulations!

I went back to work today,...17 days post op. I was approved for 30 days but truthfully I could have gone back after a week or so.

Okay, I hope this works this time (not technologically savvy, lol) here's a before pic when I was at my highest weight 305lbs, and here's a coule of pics I took on Mother's day. I can see a big difference and I'm so happy I made this descision.

You look amazing!!!! Get it girl!

I'm so grateful to have found this particular thread. This helps so much. I'm about 16 days post op and still learning what works, what doesn't and why. This is great.

I started doing this too. I posted a pic of me today on instagram that I took this weekend. I try to journal daily even if it is just a blurb. I even took an underwear pic to have a true pic of where I started. Well almost, because I took that pic recently. I was too ashamed when I was 305.

Come one come all @@MissTrish14!!!!!

Good for you! I felt the same way. Too ashamed at 298# but I'm going to start with photos and journal no layer than tomorrow.

Today makes 22 days post op. Not quiet a month yet and I see definite signs of weight loss. I can now fit comfortably in my size 22's with plenty of room. I do not like taking full body photos because I once did not like the image from the camera, a big fat swollen looking me. Havin WLS was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm able to walk two miles now without gettin winded and experiencing stabbing pain in my lower back and I'm also drinking the required amount of Protein every day. I feel that I am on my way to health and hapiness. My daughter's are so proud of me and my hubby does not say much he just smiles and beams with pride whenever he looks at me. Yes the road is still rough there are days when I am so tired that i have to force myself to exercise but I will persevere!!! Here are two pictures of me in december, 2013 sitting next to my slim, petite cousin, and a picture my hubby took of me today. I feel good and I know that there is a long road to travel before I reach my goal weight of 150lbs, but I am prepared to do this!!!

@@MrsGloMartin I challenge you to keeping progression photos! I too hated the camera and just today my hubby reminded me that I said i'd chronicle this wl journey with progression photos and a journal. Come on....won't you join me. Let's remember where we were emotionally and physically and watch as our lives transform and hopefully be encouraging and motivational to others. LOL

I'm enjoying my new food choices, I'm actually doing more soft foods than puréed. My problem is that I feel like I can eat more than I think I should. I know I don't do a good job of weighing my food. I just had a small Wendy's chili for lunch and I ate 1/2 of it... Is this to much?

It seems like that's a reasonable amount. My dr told me my pouch would be the size of an egg. In my mind as I prepare my food I try to get as close to what I think the egg is. I've yet to feel like I was still hungry after eating anything though.

I had my 3 week post op check up with the PA on Thursday. We spent a good deal of time talking about pouch management. The one thing she drilled in was my responsibility with regard to filling my pouch properly, hunger and pain. She said pain in my pouch occurs when I have done something wrong. It's not caused by food choices, but how the I manage the food. She said pain happens when either bites are too big, or when you eat too fast. She told me to focus on those 2 things and not on measuring and how much I think I should or should not eat. My instructions are to take bites no bigger than my thumb nail and chewed each and every one up well. These bites should be spaced out 45 to 60 seconds apart. Eat for for 25 minutes. She said 25 minutes = 5 hunger free. 20 minutes = 4 hours hunger free. 15 minutes = 3 hours free. I'm on a 3 meal a day no Snacks plan. So for now I sit at the table with my timer. I hope the pacing eventually becomes a habit and a natural occurrence. I also really need to run out and buy some adult looking "baby" spoons because my neon colored ones are not good for out of my house eating!!!

Thank you so much for sharing this info. This is one I can relate to.