MrsSugarbabe

I'm in! Goal - 197 I'll post my starting weight on Monday when the challenge begins. I missed my goal in the Memorial Day Challenge and am still striving for Onederland. Thanks for doing these challenges, @@stephh!!

@@CanyonBaby I just saw your thread today. My heart is heavy with the news about Dave's diagnosis. I will be praying for you both and for his medical team. Like you, I do not believe in coincidences. You are where you are for a reason as is the surgeon. It sounds like a very aggressive treatment plan with hope for a future mixed in. Our Great Physician knows His plan for your and Dave. Rest in Him and let Him carry you through this. Prayers & Blessings!!

That I can do this new lifestyle. That I do much better with my eating when I drink at least 2 Protein shakes a day. I can't get all my protein in without them and still stay within my calorie range. That even with the restriction of my sleeve, I still battle with head hunger and stress eating at work; fortunately, it's not every day or even every week, but it still crops up. I know, that's more than one thing , but they're the things foremost in my mind right now.

@@Queen of Crop - Thank you for starting this topic. It has proved to be very interesting and informative reading. I appreciate all posts from everyone and their candor about their individual journeys. I want to be successful in my journey and knowing about others' struggles and successes helps keep me motivated (although still being a newbie, my motivational level is still high, but I have discovered that it is a challenge to not let old habits creep back in). Thank you! @@VSGAnn2014 @@Rogofulm @@CowgirlJane I just finished reading this article which might be of some encouragement to others: http://www.bariatricpal.com/page/articles.html/_/plateaus-and-regain/you-gained-some-weight-four-simple-ways-to-get-back-on-track-r502

I wasn't an insulin dependent diabetic pre-surgery, but I was taking Metformin and controlling my BS with diet and exercise in addition. Post-surgery I have come off the Metformin completely as well as my blood pressure medicine. My last A1C was 5.7 and I'm now considered a very well controlled diabetic.

203.5 Didn't make my goal for this challenge, but at least I'm headed in the right direction. @@stephh

I've noticed this as well. When I get too full I usually sit back some so I don't feel so uncomfortable. Still working on not eating those last 2-3 bites at meals. It's so hard not to sometimes.

@@liannatx - I've been wearing Cacique bras for years, too, but it was only recently I had to switch to the balconette because the back smoother bra was no longer available. I really loved that bra! It never fails, though, when you find something you really love, it's eventually discontinued, i.e. make-up, lipstick color, nail color, BRA.......

I'm a fan of Cacique at Lane Bryant. Ask for an associate experienced in bra fitting. I've lost enough inches that I had to down size my bra recently by one size. The girls are happy once again. Because the balconette style gives me good support, I don't feel the need for a sports bra for the gym; besides those things hurt my shoulders because of the way the straps lay across the neck/shoulder muscles.

I have not tried this brand yet, but found that you can order a sample pack. http://www.chikenutrition.com/chike-variety-pack.html

No guilt about anything I CHOOSE to eat or drink. Anything is worth 2 bites. One of my most favorite splurges is a skinny caramel macchiato sweetened with Splenda. Love these!!

For me, full still equates to 1/2 cup for comfortable; much over that and I FEEL like I'm stuffed. And it happens quickly.....NOT 20 minutes later. Also, as I eat, my tummy begins making all kinds of lovely noises (normal, and sometimes entertaining ). All you have to do is eat 2 bites too many a couple times and you'll learn how it feels for you. Everyone's feeling of fullness is a little bit different.

Terrific!!!! You CAN do this!!!

203.9 slow going, but better than backing up

@@madferitchick - Hopefully, post-surgically, you won't find being sleeved difficult at all. I'm about 6 months out and love being sleeved!!! Wish my PCP had suggested WLS years ago, but then, I probably wouldn't have done it because I kept thinking I can lose this weight on my own (and how many times have I lost that weight over the years only to regain it and more). Why do I love being sleeved? It's a hard "stop" to overeating. Plus, because I am so limited in how much I can eat, I am making more healthy choices than not, focusing on getting all my Protein in, which hasn't always been the case. My husband and I still go out to eat, I just eat from his plate or will order a child's portion or will only eat part of what I order and take the rest home for another meal or two. Most servers are happy to accommodate my requests. Needless to say, we don't spend as much on eating out as we used to. The best thing I can suggest to you right now is to DEFINITELY follow your surgeon's/NUT's food plan. Early on it will be difficult to get all your liquids and protein in, so just do the best you can. In time it will get better. Go into surgery with a positive attitude - I can do this!!! - and don't look back. Even though I experienced complications 7 days post-op and had to be admitted to the hospital again - this time for 13 days and then 6 more days in inpatient rehab for intensive physical therapy, the way I'm feeling and living today makes it all worth it. Having the sleeve surgery is one of the best health decisions I have made for myself in years. I would do it again despite the complications.

Fantastic!!! Congratulations on your success!!! Love the photos! Very inspiring!

I concur with @@ShrinkingPeach and the others who are saying "do the research." I would also add to your research watching a YouTube video of each procedure. Those videos are very enlightening and helpful in understanding exactly what's taking place during the surgery. I considered all my options, ruled out lap band early on, my surgeon was strongly recommending RNY, but in the end the sleeve made the most sense to me and for me. I work with several people who have had WLS - band, RNY, & sleeve - and I spoke to all of them prior to making my decision. Every one of them said the same thing at the end of our conversations - regardless of any issues they had following surgery (some had some, others had none), they all said they would do it all over again. My surgeon felt the RNY was the better option because he felt I'd have a better chance at losing the 100 lbs. with it than with the sleeve. Fortunately, I found BP sometime before surgery and discovered a world of people who have been sleeved who have lost 100 plus pounds so I'm planning to prove my surgeon wrong on that topic. Good luck to you and we'll see you on the losers bench!!

Congratulations!!! You're doing great and I applaud you! Enjoy your resort vacation! It's wonderful to hear that you're avoiding the alcohol since your new tummy is still healing.

I'm right there with you @@Babbs, @@LipstickLady, and @@Slimsoon1988 - you all made excellent points worthy of serious consideration. I've had maybe 3 sips of wine post-surgery, but not before month 4. I felt fine, too, but the affect of the alcohol was different and more immediate post-surgery than it was pre-surgery-yes, with just a sip or two. Farther down the road I'm sure I'll have a sip or two again with a meal, but I seriously doubt it'll be a full 5 oz. glass like pre-surgery.

As a result of my surgery and increase in exercise, my husband has started walking on the treadmill again. Since he's an insulin-dependent diabetic, we have measured/weighed our food, counted the carbs, used smaller plates, cooked only 1 serving a piece for dinner so we can't go back for seconds, and similar habit changes for YEARS. His weight loss has been very slow, but he's working on it. I just have to do what I can to help him not get so frustrated with the slowness of the weight loss. I love him no matter what, and I love that he's been so supportive of me and is trying to change his habits. Post surgery, when we go out to eat, we order only one dinner and I eat off of his plate. Our dining out spending has decreased considerably

My surgeon told me the extreme hair loss was due to my rapid weight loss. I lost about 32 lbs. the first two weeks following surgery, mainly due to the complications I had starting 6 days after surgery. He told me to keep up with my Protein, Vitamins, and Biotin which I do. Fortunately, I started with a lot of hair, thick and healthy, and about shoulder length. My hair loss story: I started shedding more hair than usual about 2 mos. post-surgery. Then my hair started coming out in clumps (Yikes!!!) about week 13. Depending on how you track "months out since surgery," I'm at the 6th month mark. The clump loss lasted about 4 weeks. I started seeing noticeable regrowth in the 5th month. I knew the hair loss would happen, and was continually reassured by my surgeon and folks on BP that IT DOES GROW BACK Just don't freak out when/if it starts coming out in clumps; I wasn't expecting that to happen. Currently, my hair loss seems to have returned to pre-surgery amounts; nothing concerning. My hair loss was all over my head, especially just above the temples and at the crown in back, so most folks have not noticed the hair loss like I, my husband, and my hairdresser have.

They are my choices, not cheats. I'm not perfect, but I am progressing.....one day at a time, one choice at a time. And I will live with the consequences of my choices - good or bad. Thanks for initiating this conversation @@LipstickLady Great conversation!

204.8

There was a sign posted by the scale in a doctor's office that read... "This scale can only give you a numeric reflection of your relationship with gravity. That's it. It cannot measure character, beauty, talent, purpose, personality, strength or love." Wow! I think this is a powerful message reminding us that the scale is just a number that we can use to track our progress, and not something we should use to measure our self-worth on a daily basis.