Forsythia

Initially I was on a Centrum chewable. But two months out now, I've switched to a prenatal (I'm not pregnant, but my NUT recommended either one pre-natal or two normal Vitamins, so I opted for one pill rather than two). The prenatal Vitamin is huge. I swallow it fine. But I was on the chewables for months before my surgery and about 6 weeks after it. If you are worried, get a Flintstones kids chewable vitamin!

In a word, nope. I could die crossing the street tomorrow. I could trip down the steps and break my neck, forever altering my life. I could have a miserable life at 312 lbs or take the chance for a better life after surgery. I was diabetic and had high blood pressure at 37. I opted for the surgery. I trusted the anesthesiologist to do his job, just like I trusted my surgeon to do his job.

Slow is better than not moving down at all. Or going up. I think I must have gained and lost the same 20 lbs over and over again before I had my sleeve. Stay positive!

I used to think Greek yogurt was pretty vile. I eat a ton of the stuff now. Otherwise, I unfortunately still have my sweet tooth. Oh, the Protein powder I used to use pre-op ended up tasting thick and gross afterword. I haven't magically started liking cucumbers or anything post op.

Generally your surgeon will advise you wait 4 to 6 weeks before you lift weights. After that you are free to lift heavy, do vigorous cardio, etc. Plenty of people run post sleeve, or take high intensitity classes like cross fit or do high impact aerobics if they choose! I'm still working on the awesome shape part, but I go to the gym 4 days a week and generally squeeze in almost 2 hours there - close to an hour of cardio and 45 or so minutes of weights. I think eventually I will be doing more weights and less cardio as I get further along - I'm only two months out!

For me, I did not want to reroute my plumbing, as it were. I did not like the idea of messing with my digestion. So when I was looking into getting surgery the choice was easy. Even though long term stats are better for bigger people with the RNY, I just was not comfortable with rerouted intestines and malabsorption for the rest of my life. Like WhoKnows, I'm only 37, I didn't want to have to deal with malabsorption for another 30 or 40 plus years.

You are not your weight. Yes, you have excess weight on you right now, but you can't let your life be defined by it. You are an interesting person with hopes and dreams and family and friends. Don't let your weight crush you emotionally. Obsession just leads to crabbiness and possibly the psych telling you you need to come back for a repeat visit to work on your issues before your surgery.

I must be weird because I can eat yogurt and be full afterwards for several hours. So it is not a slider for me.

I still have boobs.. for now. I am down from a 44D to a 42C though. I never had giant boobs though (at least not for my weight - I feel like I was never a full D to begin with).

I'm a water retainer. It's the worst. Friday at work I was wearing shorts and I looked down at my ankles and it was swollen city down there (I have always had freakishly dainty, thin ankles). So I totally feel your pain. Just drink more water!.

I too, am a daily weigher, bu I do not log my weight daily on MFP, I only record the losses . LOL. I tend to retain Water so I know some days it's gonna be up. It's nice to see it go down though. Like Lipstick Lady said, it really is fascinating.

I've tried to be up near 1200 calories, especially on days when I am working out. I find that since I got up near 1200 calories, my weight loss has been much more consistent. I burn a lot of calories doing cardio. Of course, I could say this and just stall starting tomorrow out but hey

The good news is that your surgeon will want you walking and up and about ASAP after the surgery. So even if that walk is only 5 minutes before you feel exhausted you can start exercising via a walk, right away. Five days post op I was cleared for general cardio - treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical - nothing too robust. No high impact or anything. After 6 weeks you are clear to lift weights. If you are worried about skin, lifting weights is what you want to concentrate on. While it will not take care of all the loose skin, lifting weights will help build muscles and tighten up some of the loose skin. For everything else, well, that's why they make shapewear.

OMG.. did you guys know that Yoplait makes apple pie flavored Greek yogurt? It totes tastes like apple freakin pie. My mouth was rocked accordingly. If you like apple pie, yours will be too. Why was I not made aware of apple pie flavored yogurt sooner?? I like coconut, and they make a coconut flavor, but I suggest - why not coconut cream pie flavored? Come on Yoplait, you can do it. For me. (Honestly, I like coconut everything. Coconut water, coconut scented shampoo and conditioner, lotion... toasted coconut candles. Coconut lime reed diffusers.. I could go on). I've officially lost more than 40 lbs in the 8 weeks since my surgery. 40.5 to be exact. Last night I told my Dad that. They he had the nerve to ask me what I used to weigh. I'm a classy broad, and a classy broad never reveals her weight to people she knows, lest she have to kill them. Frankly murder is so messy what with all the blood and cleaning up afterward (For the record, I AM TOTALLY KIDDING AND AM NOT A KILLER). My husband doesn't even know my weight. I know my Dad is a big guy too but I'm pretty sure I'm fatter than him and I just cannot have him knowing that I am THAT heavy. I told him I would let him know once I was below 200 lbs what my weight is.

I was sleeved on Cinco de Mayo (that's the 5th of May if your Spanish is rusty)! Some people Celebrate with a taco and a margarita, I had surgery. LOL. I started at 312, got down to 294 pre surgery and am currently sitting at 267. My highest weight ever was 335.

You cannot compare yourself to others. Can't Can't Can't! You'll just end up frustrated. I think to think of what I am doing differently this time compared to last time I tried to lose weight. Am I going to the gym more, eating better choices? It sounds selfish but focus on you!

Here is how I would suggest you prepare yourself for your surgery. Start making changes now. Pop? Get rid of if now. Make your peace with water and crystal light or sugar free mixes. Start tasting protein shakes but don't buy a stockpile. Your tastes might change. Buy baby forks and spoons and bowls. Get a food scale (especially if you cook at home) - you will be shocked when you weigh out a portion size at how small 2oz really is. If you can, start walking around the neighborhood or a track to get used to doing some exercise. Your surgeon will want you walking EVERY day post-op. Track what you eat using myfitnesspal, either online or their app.

Stopped in at Target after work yesterday. Got a couple of new things to work out in. A new sports bra - its reversible. Workout capris - not reversible, and a tank top with built in support - which is not enough support for my girls. LOL. The tank top is a bit snug in the tummy, but the sports bra fits perfectly and the capris fit nicely too. I'm gonna have to double up on the bra with the tank top. Both are a Target XXL, which is an 18/20. I'm much more certain I'm an 18/20 on top than I am on the bottom. Although some of my 24s are now loose. I'd be willing to bet I'm nearing 22 territory in the bum area I also got in the mail via Amazon, a protective armband for my phone (a Galaxy S5) so that I can lift weights without sticking my phone down my sweaty gross bra (because I cannot workout without my music at the gym. Gym music is universally horrible - unless you go in the morning and then they play classic rock or 80s. Most of the time its all "EDM/technofest/I just took a Molly, yo" when I go in there after work). The armband fits around my arm (yay), and is blue with a reflective strip around it in case I ever exercise outside (which if you knew me you would know that this is laughable since I generally do not do nature because there are critters and bugs and hair frizzing humidity). I plan on really working on my arms tonight. I am wearing this woven top today and the arms on it are tight. Everywhere else on the top fits nicely. But my arms are going to be a real challenge. It seems a disproportionate amount of fat decided to deposit itself in my tricep area. So the more I can do to firm up the muscle and tighten the skin the better. As much as I contemplate plastics in the future, in the present, I am of no financial means to afford them. So rather than worry about financing them, I am just going to hit my tris hard with kickbacks and dips and whatnot.

Mine are fine. I'm a pretty fast healer in general though. Five days post op I saw the surgical team and they were quite happy with how mine healed up. But again, I don't know that I am typical. I come from a line of robust healers. LOL!

I was not interested in having my plumbing rerouted, even though I need to lose more than 100 lbs, so I chose a sleeve. So far it has been working out great. My diabetes is already in check and I've lost close to 40 lbs in seven weeks.

I was given the choice of taking two Multivitamins and a B-12 a day or one pre-natal and a B-12 (on top of the Vitamin D I have already been taking), so I bought the pre-natals. Those things are giant red horse pills. But, hey, one less pill. I don't have issues swallowing pills post surgery. You might try taking them with food if you can. Also, try a chewable like Flintstones. Might be less barfy?

Is your pre-op diet liquid only or can you have meat/dairy? If so, take advantage of that and get yourself a whole rotisserie chicken and a bunch of Greek yogurt. My pre-op diet was just low carb/high Protein. I did suck down a lot of shakes, but I also ate a lot of meat/dairy because I was allowed it.

I was allowed to have pureed fruit (think like baby food - applesauce, pureed mangoes etc) right away. Once on the softs I was allowed canned or frozen fruits. Canned fruit had to be packed in Water or juice (not syrup), but you should not drink the juice.

You are making the assumption that she has a separate Obgyn. I don't. I see a nurse practitioner who does everything for me.

Ditto on myfitnesspal.