S(he) be(lie)ve(d)

I have used them. It was about 4 weeks after surgery. They were a lot more gentle on my stomach, than taking anything else. But, do get your doctor's opinion on it.

Today, it's been exactly 1 year for me, since I began my 6 month supervised diet. I've lost a total of 73 lbs. During the 6 month diet, I lost 23 lbs. I'm aiming to hit my goal weight by early summer. Don't worry too much! Keep going! You can do it! Everyone is different with losing weight. If you feel you need to revamp your eating or exercising, just do it. Sometimes, our bodies just need some change to kick itself back into gear again. You got this!

A year ago today, March 5th, was the date that I began my 6 month medically supervised diet. I thought it was a pain and hated the thought of having to go through 6 months of waiting, and recording everything I ate and did. It was actually a good thing though. I learned so much during that time period about myself, triggers and preparing myself for what was lying ahead of me. It is crazy to think that I have been on this journey for a year and my surgery was just about 6 months ago. I'm down a total of 73 lbs, with only 20-25 lbs left!!! When I look in the mirror, I see ME again. Not the stranger that I didn't recognize anymore. Who was she? I have my confidence and health back again. Really, the list goes on and on. Oh. My. Gosh. I feel so amazing!!!!

Exactly like a nap! If you are a mommy, it is a well deserved nap! I slept through my anesthesia and then some. I didn't wake up until 6 hours after surgery. My surgery was a day surgery. It didn't take long at all. My nap took the most amount of time. I didn't complain at all. It was nice to get caught up!

Once you have the sleeve done, you know that you have to have mindful eating habits. You only get so much room with your new stomach and have to eat in a specific order. You will notice that certain foods will make you feel horrible and eating properly will give you good energy and feel good too. I thought that too, at first. After my 6 month supervised diet, I had more understanding of what I was getting myself into. The 1st 3-4 months were the hardest. Then once a strict routine was put in place, I did great! I lost 23 lbs during my supervised diet. My surgery was almost 6 months ago. I've lost a total of 73 lbs, so far. I have 20-25 to go before I hit my goal weight! Don't doubt yourself. You can do it. You and your health are worth making healthy, stronger and happier. We've all been in your position and had your thoughts. You are not alone at all. You got this!!!

You are at a plateau. Don't stress to much. My longest plateau was a month long. They happen. You are only 3 months into it. The good old saying...."Trust the process". Your body is adjusting to it's current loss. During this time, even though you won't notice lbs disappearing, the inches will be. Hang in there!

I think the hair loss from losing weight amplifies the hair issue. It's really fine and brittle. So, it breaks off, giving the appearance that I am losing A LOT of hair. It is horrible. So much so, that I actually wear a wig now. My levels have been checked for the last 3 years and have been fine so far. But last week, my thyroxine free was flagged high. It's just weird.

Some of my blood work came back yesterday. My Thyroxine Free level came back flagged high. It was fine prior to surgery. This would explain my extreme amount of hair loss, other than the sleeve, in general and not being able to tolerate heat at all. My doctor is thinking possibly hyperthyroidism. I am hoping that my body is just adjusting from everything that goes along with the sleeve. Has anyone else experienced this post-op, while not having any issues with it prior to surgery?

My surgery was Sept 8, 2014. The shedding hit big time. I'm hoping it ends soon. However, I've had 2 surgeries relatively close together. About 3 months after each, I lose hair from the anesthesia and now from weight loss. So, with that said, I've lost A LOT of hair, but also have a lot of new growth coming in that is about an inch and a 1/2 long. It's had to be cut really short and is to the point that I can't even style it. Because of dramatic hair loss, I wear a wig. Nobody even knows it's a wig at all. My hair was really fine to begin with. I've done all the "to do's" to help my hair, but it's going to react the way it is going to react. It's life.

There have been a few shows on the "latest" diet fads. I've watched a few of them, including brain stimulation. I think I am more amused knowing that I have tried and failed so many diet fads. When they are over, I just shake my head and laugh. It's been 3 months since watching them. Before, I would hang on every word and think maybe it would be worth trying. Now, I can't stand to watch them, let alone hear people talk about them.

Surgery was Sept 8th, 2014. Can't believe it has almost 5 months ago! I usually get on here at least every other day, if not every day.

I'm sorry you have to deal with comments like that from her. That is awful! Over the years, I have learned that I need to depend on myself for getting my exercise in for the day. I used to workout with friends. Then eventually, excuses seem to rule the workout time for everyone. So, now, I have my own time that I workout with my music. Nothing interrupts me and there are no excuses and no comments from the peanut gallery. Keep going! You can do it! You are doing amazing! Go with what you are comfortable with and avoid the peanut gallery's unwanted comments.

I can't even fathom the idea of wanting to drink soda. The carbonation alone would give horrendous gas pains. I'm 4 months out and don't even miss it. But, I never was a big pop drinker. Just knowing the pain and amount of gas it would cause, I steer clear of anything that fizzes.

I've been told that I look younger now. I'm chalking it up to drinking nothing but water.

I have a whole container of the Chike Mocha. I had one scoop of it a few months ago and it made me feel horrible for a whole day. I am too scared to try it again.

Thank you for the warning. Last year I had a cancer scare. They thought it was Lymphoma. But after numerous tests, an inconclusive fine needle biopsy and finally removing a lymph node in my neck, it came back negative. It turns out that after I took a heavy duty medication, it messed up my lymph system and it wasn't draining fluids properly. The doctor told my that in all his years of practice, that he has never seen one as large as that one was and have it come back as benign. It was one of the most scary times in my life. I brought my tests to the attention of my primary care doctor as well. She didn't seem to be concerned about the results even though over the last year and a half, they have gone from 380 to 1026 and now >1500 (they didn't put down a specific #). She thinks it is all because of my diet. Could be, but I don't exactly know. I will talk to Dr. Billings as well about these results and see what he thinks as well. I would rather be safe than sorry.

I just had my blood work done for the 3 month checkup. My b12 level came back >1500 and was flagged as high. I was taking a sublingual, but now I am no longer advised to take it. It is interesting how everyone is different with how their bodies respond to the sleeve.

Aww! Thank you!!!

Samples came to me a while back. The orange is really good! Not a fan of their chocolate though. Premier Protein's chocolate shakes are so much better.

I was sleeved outpatient on Sept 8, 2014. Then stayed overnight in the hotel, went back in the morning for fluids and a recheck and my hubby drove me home. I did great and still am doing great! I never 2nd guessed my doctors capabilities. Dr. Billings is amazing and I trust him 100%. I've also had several other surgeries that were day surgeries. So, it really wasn't an issue with me at all. I checked in at 6 am and was released by 7 pm. The only reason I stayed so late was because I always tend to over sleep the anesthesia. It was a great nap. Ha ha!

I am doing my elliptical 3 days a week for 20 mins, plus I am also doing PIYO 5-6 days a week following their workout program, but not their diet. My eating style is Paleo. I'm doing great and feel amazing!

This crosses my mind on a daily basis. My journey started like yours did with a low BMI. My surgery was Sept 8th. I have 43lbs left before I hit my goal weight! So excited to get the old me back again, FINALLY!!! By my 6 month mark, I am guessing that I will have hit my goal weight. I'm doing everything by the book from vitamins, protein, fluid intake, do my elliptical 3 days a week and PIYO 6 days a week. I feel amazing!!! I just hope that I can stop losing when I hit my target weight too.

BCBS took 48 hours. I called my insurance to check on the approval because I couldn't wait for the doctor's office to call me and tell me. I was just a tad impatient and excited!

Two weeks after surgery, I ended up sick with a horrible cold. That was after overdoing it big time, when all 3 of my girls acquired head lice. Not fun. Now the flu is going through the elementary school that my kids attend. One child down from Thanksgiving until this last Friday. It was awful. I ended up catching it from her and was down for the count for about 11 days. Now my other 2 kids are sick with it, as of today. The 1st child that brought home the cooties, has now been home since Monday with a stomach virus, throwing up. I hope to God that I don't get the stomach virus now. Honestly, I think it all depends on what you are exposed to or not. Small children + elementary schools = a petri dish/cesspool cootie infestation. Before my kids entered elementary school, I never got sick. Your immune system has to build some how, either by being exposed and your body building the immunities via contracting the illness or by vaccine. Gotta love it! Not.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous beings though I haven't told my extended family about my surgery. But, it was a success!!! I started off my day normal with my Protein shake. We headed over after lunch. This year I did make healthier choices about what I put on my plate and my portions were small, but I did great! Nobody said anything. They noticed some more weight loss and knew I have been actively working on losing weight since last March. However, they did give my hubby a hard time since he didn't eat very much at all for dinner. He just ate to many appetizers. Ha ha! There was a veggie tray that I snacked on prior and had eaten a yogurt before arriving. When desert time rolled around, I knew there was no way that I would be able to down any of it, so I took it home. Later that evening, I ate half of my little piece of apple pie. Suffering didn't happen at all! When I weighed myself this morning, I didn't even gain an ounce! Woo hoo!!! It feels good to eat to live, rather than live to eat! We all bring dishes so, it isn't just on one person to cook. This year, I made 3 dishes. Little did they know, they were all sugar free! Yep, I wanted to be able to have some of my own dishes too. I used Stevia. Everyone raved about how good they were and nobody noticed that the sugar was gone! The one thing that stood out bigger than life to me, was how HUGE everyone else's servings actually were! And people went back for seconds!!! It just blew me away to think that used to be how I ate. To have a Bentley (sleeve) as a tummy, was still the best decision I have ever made for myself! Today I feel AMAZING vs sluggish feeling of the day after Thanksgiving Feast! What a huge difference! For that, I feel thankful!!! P.S. This morning, on the 29th, I dropped 2 lbs!!! Even after eating half of my little piece of apple pie and half of my piece of cheesecake the next night. Who does that after Thanksgiving and yummy desert?!?! I was shocked beyond belief! Dang!