Forsythia

Sometimes it is nice to buy something new and fabulous - I got this Kensie dress that makes me so happy. Enjoy it while you can and move on. But yeah, I get what you mean. Normally everything I get is from Ross or the clearance rack (Like, $95 pants for $16 clearance). Or basics from Old Navy.

Congrats on crossing the century mark in weight lost!

I feel your pain girl. I've lost over 100 lbs in seven months and I'm still a size 18 in pants. But keep things in perspective. I was 312 lbs. A size 28 before. And I'm still losing. Able to do so much more. Diabetes is in remission. And I no longer feel like the fattest fat person riding the CTA here in Chicago. So every time you feel like comparing, take a mental list of all your accomplishments from big like your 5k to small like needing to get your rings sized - or whatever they may be! Your journey is your own, your body is your own. Learn to love both of them!

Are you logging your food intake in a program like My Fitness Pal? If not, start. You might be cheating your sleeve by overeating. Do you go to the gym or workout at all? If you don't go to a gym, you might sign up for one. Start slow if you haven't been working out. Ease into things by doing 20 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical. I personally find that I am more likely to workout if I am paying for it. Are you getting enough protein, calories and water. On the flip side of overeating, you might not be getting enough calories. If you are only eating 500 calories a day, you might need to up your caloric intake to 800 or 900 to begin losing again.

Ah the endoscopy. The doctor who did mine was so jovial. I think he really likes scoping people. I remember being told to turn onto my side then waking up in the recovery room humming. I don't remember what song I was humming but I was humming. Then they gave me cookies and a ginger ale! Tee hee!

You are in the home stretch now, girl!

I swear to god the weird thing with undies is that they all still seem to fit. I mean, 86 lbs since surgery and I can still put on a pair of size 12 panties and they fit relatively okay. I have bought some new size 9 panties. But they are the one item of clothing I put off buying!

Oh, I swore up and down that I would never run. The last time I legit ran was Junior High (think 1990). And when I did that, I fell into a mole hole and sprained my ankle pretty darn badly. So I'm already predisposed to be wary about it! So the fact that I am doing it is just bizarre to me!

Scales are cruel, evil things. For awhile the scale was stuck at like 240. But I took some measurements and noticed my under bust measurement shrunk to 38. So I went to the store and fit into a 14/16 top - with room! So even though the scale was stuck, I was still shrinking. So the moral of this is when my scale sticks I like to take my measurement to gauge where I am. Usually if the scale is stuck the tape measure has gone down. So if you find yourself stuck, take weekly measurements of your bust/waist/hips/biceps/thighs to see how things have changed.

Good luck!

It sucks that you are getting keloids. I'm not prone to them, but all my scars heal really dark compared to my skin tone. I've noticed a lot of drapey saggy skin on my thighs as well, as well as my arms. Proportionally those areas have more weight on them than some of my other areas. Grr.

Thank you.

Oh wow! That is crazy scary! I hope you are feeling better. And take it easy!!

so sorry to hear that. that happened to me once, I was all dressed up and trucking across a busy intersection downtown, just left an interview and twisted my ankle and went down hard. scraped my knee pretty bad. one person got out of his car to make sure I was ok. I was ok, but humiliated. I think I was pretty chunky then too. maybe you can run on the treadmill or ride the bike while your hand heals. good luck.

My hands even get sweaty while I am on the treadmill. I guess I am going to have to do the treadmill flat until the thing heals up a bit better - when I work at an incline I hold on for dear life. LOL! I can still use the bike though. It's recumbent and I don't keep my hands on the grips much at all!

Try wrapping your hand or wearing a glove to protect the injury or use a lighter weight and the other hand?

I like using barbells for a lot of exercises. I can use dumbbells I suppose, but I don't want to be lopsided. LOL!

Congrats! Purging a closet must be an awesome feeling...I can't wait to get there!

I just don't want to have those clothes to fall back on. Before I would always have bigger clothes in my closet when I regained weight previously lost. I don't think I am going to fail at this, but at the same time, I don't want the emotional crutch of keeping my 26Ws "just in case".

If it makes you feel better, you can probably go back to spicy foods once you are on a general diet. My nutritionist encourages spices and seasoning over frying.

I think we all have a food funeral before we have the surgery. My hospital did not require a pre-op liquid diet, just a high protein low carb diet (an Atkins like diet) beforehand. I went out with my family and got the most expensive steak and had two martinis.

Mu husband worries about everything, but I had to tell him. I really needed the support post op. I just hope your wife understands and doesn't feel.. betrayed by you not telling her beforehand.

I love swimming and I guess it's because I'm old (haha) but I could give a blank, blank, what anyone thinks, I love swimming and I am going to enjoy the pool. I think the thing that got me over feeling self conscious is the fact that I like to cruise, and boy you should see the people on those cruises and the bathing suits they wear,they don't seem to care. I had no idea they made bikinis in size XX6 but apparently they do.

I envy the people who can just walk around half naked and just not give a holy frijole. I'm not that person. I don't know that I will ever be! I wore a tank top to the gym today and I felt overly exposed.

It'll get better. I was so elated when I could eat soft solids and get off the purees/liquids. Purees made me so crabby! It'll get better!

You may know this already, but I learned only last week from my surgeon that ghrelin (which is greatly reduced, at least temporarily, through the VSG) not only prompts one's appetite for food -- but also one's thirst.

I had no idea!

So waiting for thirst to hit you probably won't happen.

Very best wishes on getting some more water in your tummy throughout the day.

I never really was a thirsty person. Even before, I was hungry, but never very thirsty. I do have to make a conscious effort to get all the drinks in. But no one said everything was going to be easy. I'm almost done with my second 25 oz today though.

Congrats! Keep up the good work!

Thank you McLuvin. Your name makes me giggle.

Congratulations! I haven't even thought of exercising...I plan on starting soon though. Keep up the good work.

Oddly, I've always been okay with exercising. a decade ago I lost 70 lbs just exercising. But unfortunately I did not keep it up. I'd rather exercise than diet! You can get into a zone and just spend an hour or two on yourself and it's nice.

Congratulations! You are doing awesome! And what a great way to celebrate what you've lost so far, by going out and buying new clothes!

I do love to shop. I'm going to be doing a lot of TJ Maxx/Marshall's/Ross shopping until I get to goal!

How long since you had surgery? How long before you where able to drink and eat food without pain, nausea and struggle? I am pre op and still very anious. What have your lows been and what have the highs been? Would you do it again? Congrats on your success.

I never had any pain, nausea or issues eating. I have been lucky in that regard. I had virtually no side effects at all. I didn't even have any pain after the first day or so after the surgery. I don't get sick from sweets or nauseated when I go for longer than 4-5 hours without eating. In all regards my post op experience has been ideal. I do realize that this is not necessarily the norm. A lot of people have some issues post op. I have yet to experience any hair loss but most people say that takes several months to begin.

I am exactly 2 months post op as of this past Monday. Would I do it again? Yes, and I would go in a time machine and do it 10 years ago.

I don't even have big boobs, really, but yeah, I hate when they bounce! The Yoga tank definitely will be worn with a sports bra underneath!

Welcome aboard, Hector!

Wedding season is tough. But the thing is, even if you don't tell them you had a sleeve, you can just say you are cutting back on alcohol or watching carbs, or whatever. Heck you could even say you were trying to loose a couple of lbs to fit into the dress. Really you do not owe your friends an explanation about what you do and don't drink or eat either.

Thats Crazy weight loss for one month!! I am proud of you!! Congratulations. Go You Go!!!

I know, right?! I have slowed down from that pace. But it was just bizarre. I would go to bed and wake up the next day 7lbs lighter. I'm hoping for a more modest 15 to 20 lbs this month.