5BeautifulDays

I started at the gym (30 min 2-3 days a week) back in October when I was about 8 weeks out from surgery. Now I'm at 6.5 months and usually walk a mile or more a day outside and go to the gym 30-60 minutes 5 days a week. I love how exercise makes me feel, and like the poster above, I *love* seeing my new muscles! But. It has sure made loss slower (or at least feel that way). I don't know that I'm building muscle so much as strengthening what I have, but people seem to notice big differences in the way I look (and I notice my clothes getting bigger) even when the pounds aren't flying off like they used to. I tell you that I was super disappointed to slip down in to one-der-land only to bounce back up to 201 for going on a week and a half now. Arrrggghh. But, it's TOM and I know it's water/bm issues. It will drop down again and *stay there* next week. Anyway, I know we all did this to look good, but health is even more important than looks in my book, and exercise is such an important part of that. So good for you! PS: You mention that your body comp is different than when you were younger/pre-kids. Yeah. Me too. It's amazing what those adorable, lovely, wonderful, little @#@&(&$(#* do to your body! I've had 5 babies and wouldn't trade a one of them in, not even for my old hips. Probably.

Totally normal. *Most* people stall at 2-3 weeks. It has something to do with glycogen and how our bodies store our extra sugar and fluids. It's also why it's so easy to lose weight the first couple weeks of a diet and then it just stops for a while. Don't worry, just keep doing what you're doing. The pounds (real ones, not just water!) will be back to melting off soon!

I like Unjury. It blends really smoothly and is fairly low-calorie (100 for 21 g protein). I mix mine in my morning coffee with a 1/4 cup of milk. It tastes great in smoothies, too.

Well, you're probably already there and well on your way to a new life... But I wish I had known how *thirsty* I would be in the hours before my leak test. I also wish I had known how *cold* I would be after surgery. In August. In Virginia. I had to send my husband out to buy me like 3 different heating pads/warmers. I'm six months out and I'm still cold, lol! I wish I had known that weight loss and the attendant changes could trigger a sort of "mid-life crisis." Nothing major, I mean--I haven't wanted to have an affair or anything--but I suddenly find myself rethinking all sorts of things I've always taken for granted. And this cat-girl got a big, dumb dog who loves long walks!

I went on an anniversary trip to FL last month--I'm not at goal, but I have definitely shrunk out of last summer's suits. So I went to Kohls and found one (size 18--not 18 W--yeah!). It was fine for my trip. But yesterday I wore it to the pool for a lap swim...it was a nightmare! I guess I've gone down another size, because my boobages kept trying to make an escape! LOL. I need something that will hold.them.in.

I had a single glass of plum wine (it was iced, and not much wine--Mickey Mouse is stingy with the liquor!) with some teriyaki salmon. I did break the no eating/drinking together rule for this, because I feared alcohol on an empty stomach more than distention. I felt it, but not more than usual. It *was* out of my system really fast, though. I won't make a habit of drinking, for sure (I did feel a little bloated after), but it wasn't a bad experience.

I do mostly follow plan. I also track and measure every bite of food I eat, and exercise hard several days a week. Places I've varied from my nut's suggestions have been fairly small and infrequent. I've had some sweets, an adult beverage, and some bread/crackers--but they're rare treats and I make sure they fit into a day that is still around 900-1000 net calories. I'm still losing, although it has slowed a little. If I saw gains, I'd go back to the more extreme plan.

43. If I would have had the money and the confidence in the procedure, I would have done it when I was 35 and had my last baby for sure. Would I have done it in my 20s? I don't know, but I think so. I'd support my daughter if she decided to do it at your age.

I managed to choke down the shakes for the required week pre-op, but switched to Unjury post-op. I also only used one scoop of the B.A. soup. I used Unjury chicken broth instead for my "soup" portion.

Sorry you're having such a time of it. I haven't had any trouble with the office staff, but I don't recall having any interactions with Martha, either (I was self pay and didn't need to do any hoops other than what Dr. Moazzez requires.

The success rate for keeping it off without surgery is only about 5%. I'm taking my chances with the sleeve! Actually, I'm not taking any chances. I'm following my doctor's food recommendations, and I'm investing in my health with a gym membership and a personal trainer.

I was sleeved on 8/26 with Dr. Moazzez. I can't say enough good things about him--he's a fabulous surgeon. (And I'm 30 pounds down from my surgery weight today--44 pounds since the pre-op diet!) I had my EGD and colonoscopy with Dr. Blosser, and again, I was very pleased. One thing that the EGD didn't show, though, was a hiatal hernia that Dr. Moazzez fixed while he was operating. I guess it was small enough that the EGD didn't pick it up.

Look up BLIS. They actually insure your surgeon, so you have to use a surgeon who is part of their program. The good news is that they have a vested interest in only insuring surgeons with a very low complication rate.

I was self-pay (with insurance--Aetna PPO). They would cover any complications not *directly* related to the surgery. So if I had a stricture or a leak, that wasn't covered. If I had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, that was. They covered all my pre-op visits, testing and prescriptions (but not Vitamins and such) and will continue to pay for labs. My follow up with the surgeon's office for the next year is covered under his fee. I got complications coverage through BLIS for the portion that wasn't covered by Aetna.