oatmealgirl

Well, today is my one month surgiversary and I'm happy to say I made it! I'm down 36 pounds and am really just starting to feel like myself again. I've had my share of "WTF" moments but all in all, I do not regret, nor would I change the decision I made.
I feel great, I've gotten my life back. I jump up in the morning with so much energy and believe it or not, with just 36 pounds lost, I don't hate the way I look anymore so I can't wait until 80 pounds lost!
I will be honest and tell you that I never expected to do this much work though. This little stomach is like having a baby! You have to take great care regarding what you put in it, you have to feed it every 3 hours, you have to make sure it gets it's liquids, Vitamins, etc. I mean really, it doesn't sound like much but when you can only consume table spoons at a time, this is a full time job! LOL Thankfully, my sleevie is just like her mom was, she's cast iron! I have not thrown up or burped excessively or had heartburn or acid reflux so I know I'm really blessed in this area. But still, this is a newborn baby. It's the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of at night!
All in all, at one month, I'm optimistic and hoping that my exercise and good eating habits don't let me down. I can't wait to be a successful sleever. I guess that's my one fear right now. Patience, I know, and time are my friends.
Thank you for listening.

Well, today is my one month surgiversary and I'm happy to say I made it! I'm down 36 pounds and am really just starting to feel like myself again. I've had my share of "WTF" moments but all in all, I do not regret, nor would I change the decision I made.
I feel great, I've gotten my life back. I jump up in the morning with so much energy and believe it or not, with just 36 pounds lost, I don't hate the way I look anymore so I can't wait until 80 pounds lost!
I will be honest and tell you that I never expected to do this much work though. This little stomach is like having a baby! You have to take great care regarding what you put in it, you have to feed it every 3 hours, you have to make sure it gets it's liquids, Vitamins, etc. I mean really, it doesn't sound like much but when you can only consume table spoons at a time, this is a full time job! LOL Thankfully, my sleevie is just like her mom was, she's cast iron! I have not thrown up or burped excessively or had heartburn or acid reflux so I know I'm really blessed in this area. But still, this is a newborn baby. It's the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of at night!
All in all, at one month, I'm optimistic and hoping that my exercise and good eating habits don't let me down. I can't wait to be a successful sleever. I guess that's my one fear right now. Patience, I know, and time are my friends.
Thank you for listening.

Well, today is my one month surgiversary and I'm happy to say I made it! I'm down 36 pounds and am really just starting to feel like myself again. I've had my share of "WTF" moments but all in all, I do not regret, nor would I change the decision I made.
I feel great, I've gotten my life back. I jump up in the morning with so much energy and believe it or not, with just 36 pounds lost, I don't hate the way I look anymore so I can't wait until 80 pounds lost!
I will be honest and tell you that I never expected to do this much work though. This little stomach is like having a baby! You have to take great care regarding what you put in it, you have to feed it every 3 hours, you have to make sure it gets it's liquids, Vitamins, etc. I mean really, it doesn't sound like much but when you can only consume table spoons at a time, this is a full time job! LOL Thankfully, my sleevie is just like her mom was, she's cast iron! I have not thrown up or burped excessively or had heartburn or acid reflux so I know I'm really blessed in this area. But still, this is a newborn baby. It's the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of at night!
All in all, at one month, I'm optimistic and hoping that my exercise and good eating habits don't let me down. I can't wait to be a successful sleever. I guess that's my one fear right now. Patience, I know, and time are my friends.
Thank you for listening.

Well, today is my one month surgiversary and I'm happy to say I made it! I'm down 36 pounds and am really just starting to feel like myself again. I've had my share of "WTF" moments but all in all, I do not regret, nor would I change the decision I made.
I feel great, I've gotten my life back. I jump up in the morning with so much energy and believe it or not, with just 36 pounds lost, I don't hate the way I look anymore so I can't wait until 80 pounds lost!
I will be honest and tell you that I never expected to do this much work though. This little stomach is like having a baby! You have to take great care regarding what you put in it, you have to feed it every 3 hours, you have to make sure it gets it's liquids, Vitamins, etc. I mean really, it doesn't sound like much but when you can only consume table spoons at a time, this is a full time job! LOL Thankfully, my sleevie is just like her mom was, she's cast iron! I have not thrown up or burped excessively or had heartburn or acid reflux so I know I'm really blessed in this area. But still, this is a newborn baby. It's the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of at night!
All in all, at one month, I'm optimistic and hoping that my exercise and good eating habits don't let me down. I can't wait to be a successful sleever. I guess that's my one fear right now. Patience, I know, and time are my friends.
Thank you for listening.

Well, today is my one month surgiversary and I'm happy to say I made it! I'm down 36 pounds and am really just starting to feel like myself again. I've had my share of "WTF" moments but all in all, I do not regret, nor would I change the decision I made.
I feel great, I've gotten my life back. I jump up in the morning with so much energy and believe it or not, with just 36 pounds lost, I don't hate the way I look anymore so I can't wait until 80 pounds lost!
I will be honest and tell you that I never expected to do this much work though. This little stomach is like having a baby! You have to take great care regarding what you put in it, you have to feed it every 3 hours, you have to make sure it gets it's liquids, Vitamins, etc. I mean really, it doesn't sound like much but when you can only consume table spoons at a time, this is a full time job! LOL Thankfully, my sleevie is just like her mom was, she's cast iron! I have not thrown up or burped excessively or had heartburn or acid reflux so I know I'm really blessed in this area. But still, this is a newborn baby. It's the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing I think of at night!
All in all, at one month, I'm optimistic and hoping that my exercise and good eating habits don't let me down. I can't wait to be a successful sleever. I guess that's my one fear right now. Patience, I know, and time are my friends.
Thank you for listening.

You look fantastic!! Congratulations on a job well done!! You should be so proud of yourself.

Sometimes it's good to remind myself that even if I'm not exactly where I want to be, I will never go back.
I thought that reminder might be helped by trying on the 1 pair of pants I kept....a size 20, down to a 4.
So here's a visual of what it looks like to be literally less than half of yourself, given that I've lost more weight than I actually weigh now.
I have to say I quite enjoyed the reminder :-)  

When I came home from the hospital I was so worried about going poop my family said I was rather obsessed. Well I went 5 days after surgery and thought all was well.
Well about a month and half out, even though I was getting in all my Protein and Water things stopped. Oh man was I in so much pain. When I called my docs office they said to get Miralax and put some in my drink. So that is what I did and low and behold.......It worked!! Thank God!! I never ever want to go thru that again.
I now drink 24oz Decaf tea every night with my scoop of Miralax in it and things have smooth going since. My NP told me to go to only using a half serving of Miralax now, but I do one full serving one day and then 1/2 a serving the next day. I am just so afraid of that happening again.
Well anyway the reason I am sharing this lovely story is my husband and daughter almost bought me this tshirt for Christmas. I will post a pic down below. I laughed so hard when I saw it. I told the they should have, but I think my daughter was afraid I would wear it outside the house.
Thought it might bring a smile to someone's face who is struggling.

@@Nikkidoodlebug, It seemed that you were expressing surprise in your original post, and I feel that too. I am 3.5 weeks post sleeve. My sister is about 4 years out from RNY. She lost 150 lbs, and in the last year has put back on more than half of that. Over the months I have watched her eating things like ice cream with fruit and whip cream on top, pie, Cookies, high fat & carb meals, etc. She "beats the surgery" by eating slowly but continuously. Eg will eat steadily through out a movie, or keeps a plate and continues eating long after dinner is over. She runs to the bathroom to "dump" and then comes back for more.
It breaks my heart to observe because I know how hard it was for her to lose that initial weight, and how drastically the weight loss improved her health and confidence. It also scares me to observe it, because I know "that could be me". I make myself available if she wants to talk, but so far she hasn't wanted to, so don't know why she's making these choices now.
My surgeon told me that about 20% of people with WLS regain back to an obese level. So, I take my sister as a cautionary example to remind me that the surgery is not the final solution but rather a tool that I need to use effectively. And, I look for other examples of success -- there are many on this board which is encouraging. I try to learn from them, but it is clear that everyone's route to success is different, so I need to work out what will be successful for me. The odds are still much, much better than any other weight loss method I have seen.
You are smart to be considering such questions now, before surgery. Keep observing and contemplating and learning. Be sure to somehow record or retain these lessons so that you can draw upon them after surgery. That's your own personal plan for success. Good luck, and keep us posted on your journey!

Nikki, I don't think you were judging and are asking a very valid question. The sleeve is not magic to all, just some. I have been sleeved and suddenly I don't like coffee, sweets or anything for that matter. I realize I'm still in the early phases but there is a woman that goes to my doctor and she and I had surgery the same day in December. She has already blended a piece of pizza during her puree phase! I don't have those cravings so we're all different. As for exercising and eating right, if we could all do that, we wouldn't have had the sleeve. Being thinner makes it easer to move thus, exercise is not such a burden. But don't let these sleevers make you think that's the magic tool either. Your body will do what it will do. It may lose quickly without a day in the gym (I have two girlfriends that didn't do one bit of exercise and lost 120lbs each in 10 months) or it may lose slow and steady. All you need to do is focus on your journey and your journey only. Eat right, when you possibly can, but enjoy your life and you will be successful. I have not had a day where I craved any junk and I eat a low carb, high Protein diet when I eat. But, I don't eat a lot, I'm not interested. People here would like to give all kind of advice about that but, this is my journey, my body and my labs will tell me what I need to change, if anything. I'm having good success and I feel great. That's what you need to focus on. Get a plan for post surgery for successes and failures and keep moving forward. It doesn't matter if they paid for the surgery or if insurance paid for it, a craving is a craving is a craving and they are not wrong for eating what they want. You don't know what they ate or didn't eat the days before or after. This could have been their cheat days. At any rate, focus on your journey, they'll work theirs out in time. It won't be easy so be to them what you would want someone to be to you. I do not plan on going through life explaining my food choices to anyone, and I told everyone about my surgery. Best wishes to you!

Nikki, I don't think you were judging and are asking a very valid question. The sleeve is not magic to all, just some. I have been sleeved and suddenly I don't like coffee, sweets or anything for that matter. I realize I'm still in the early phases but there is a woman that goes to my doctor and she and I had surgery the same day in December. She has already blended a piece of pizza during her puree phase! I don't have those cravings so we're all different. As for exercising and eating right, if we could all do that, we wouldn't have had the sleeve. Being thinner makes it easer to move thus, exercise is not such a burden. But don't let these sleevers make you think that's the magic tool either. Your body will do what it will do. It may lose quickly without a day in the gym (I have two girlfriends that didn't do one bit of exercise and lost 120lbs each in 10 months) or it may lose slow and steady. All you need to do is focus on your journey and your journey only. Eat right, when you possibly can, but enjoy your life and you will be successful. I have not had a day where I craved any junk and I eat a low carb, high Protein diet when I eat. But, I don't eat a lot, I'm not interested. People here would like to give all kind of advice about that but, this is my journey, my body and my labs will tell me what I need to change, if anything. I'm having good success and I feel great. That's what you need to focus on. Get a plan for post surgery for successes and failures and keep moving forward. It doesn't matter if they paid for the surgery or if insurance paid for it, a craving is a craving is a craving and they are not wrong for eating what they want. You don't know what they ate or didn't eat the days before or after. This could have been their cheat days. At any rate, focus on your journey, they'll work theirs out in time. It won't be easy so be to them what you would want someone to be to you. I do not plan on going through life explaining my food choices to anyone, and I told everyone about my surgery. Best wishes to you!

Yay!! Congratulations, that wonderful. Save me a seat on that train!!! LOL

You both look fantastic! Fuzzymonkey, you have taken years off your face. Congratulations to you both, you should be proud.

Hilarious, that's a great idea Pac-Woman, I'm divorcing Avenue, Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart for good too! I too am too excited to be able to go into any store and shop. I had a NSV this weekend. I met one of my friends that I haven't seen since the day before surgery and she almost fell off her chair. I'm down 32 pounds now (I need to update my ticker) and she, and everyone else said they see it in my face. Me, I see it there, my boobs, my butt! Thank you Lord, my back no longer hurts. We walked the mall shopping for shoes and then went to see a movie and then went to lunch. It's so nice not to be consumed with food and what I'm going to eat. I rarely think about it between meals.

I was sleeved 12/29, days 1-3 clear liquid, days 4-7 full liquid, day 8-13 purees and day 14 (today!) I started soft foods. I'm feeling great, haven't thrown up. Can drink my two 30g Protein shakes a day and 64oz of Water. This morning I had two eggs muffins that were made with 1/4 cup of egg whites. You know they shrivel up to nothing and I was able to eat almost both of them. So far, my sleeve is such a good girl and she tolerates everything well.
The bad: I'm constipated and I haven't lost a pound since last Monday. I'm 11 pounds down post op but last week, nothing, I even went up two pounds. Now, I wasn't drinking my Water or eating much of anything because I don't have an appetite for anything. I met up with two of my friends, one has had gastric bypass and the other the sleeve surgery. The one that had the sleeve, who is 120 pounds down a year later, said she was the same way the first month. She said she questioned what she had done to her herself! LOL She also said to remember you've been on a liquid diet for three to four weeks and now when you introduce food or even thicker liquid, your body may hold on to it. She also cautioned me that everyone is different and not to compare my weight loss with anyone else's. She said to be patient, drink your water, because that can be the cause of your Constipation, and drink your Protein, as much as you can get in of each as that's what will burn the fat. And then, be patient. The weight loss will come once your body mends from this major surgery and you get in a routine and start to move a little more, she said the weight will start to just fall off.
I wanted to share this with you as so many of us are feeling the same way and it gave me such peace. We must remember that we just had major surgery just 14 short days ago and I'm back at work already!
I've decided to focus on the positives
1. The surgery is behind me now THANK God!!
2. I'm walking with no pain in my legs - Thank God!
3. I'm 28 pounds down (11 post op)
4. I've lost my fat face and neck
5. I can see changes in my body already
6. I have a plan for success
Be blessed and stay focused everyone and best wishes on your journey this week and always!

I was sleeved 12/29, days 1-3 clear liquid, days 4-7 full liquid, day 8-13 purees and day 14 (today!) I started soft foods. I'm feeling great, haven't thrown up. Can drink my two 30g Protein shakes a day and 64oz of Water. This morning I had two eggs muffins that were made with 1/4 cup of egg whites. You know they shrivel up to nothing and I was able to eat almost both of them. So far, my sleeve is such a good girl and she tolerates everything well.
The bad: I'm constipated and I haven't lost a pound since last Monday. I'm 11 pounds down post op but last week, nothing, I even went up two pounds. Now, I wasn't drinking my Water or eating much of anything because I don't have an appetite for anything. I met up with two of my friends, one has had gastric bypass and the other the sleeve surgery. The one that had the sleeve, who is 120 pounds down a year later, said she was the same way the first month. She said she questioned what she had done to her herself! LOL She also said to remember you've been on a liquid diet for three to four weeks and now when you introduce food or even thicker liquid, your body may hold on to it. She also cautioned me that everyone is different and not to compare my weight loss with anyone else's. She said to be patient, drink your water, because that can be the cause of your Constipation, and drink your Protein, as much as you can get in of each as that's what will burn the fat. And then, be patient. The weight loss will come once your body mends from this major surgery and you get in a routine and start to move a little more, she said the weight will start to just fall off.
I wanted to share this with you as so many of us are feeling the same way and it gave me such peace. We must remember that we just had major surgery just 14 short days ago and I'm back at work already!
I've decided to focus on the positives
1. The surgery is behind me now THANK God!!
2. I'm walking with no pain in my legs - Thank God!
3. I'm 28 pounds down (11 post op)
4. I've lost my fat face and neck
5. I can see changes in my body already
6. I have a plan for success
Be blessed and stay focused everyone and best wishes on your journey this week and always!

I was sleeved 12/29, days 1-3 clear liquid, days 4-7 full liquid, day 8-13 purees and day 14 (today!) I started soft foods. I'm feeling great, haven't thrown up. Can drink my two 30g Protein shakes a day and 64oz of Water. This morning I had two eggs muffins that were made with 1/4 cup of egg whites. You know they shrivel up to nothing and I was able to eat almost both of them. So far, my sleeve is such a good girl and she tolerates everything well.
The bad: I'm constipated and I haven't lost a pound since last Monday. I'm 11 pounds down post op but last week, nothing, I even went up two pounds. Now, I wasn't drinking my Water or eating much of anything because I don't have an appetite for anything. I met up with two of my friends, one has had gastric bypass and the other the sleeve surgery. The one that had the sleeve, who is 120 pounds down a year later, said she was the same way the first month. She said she questioned what she had done to her herself! LOL She also said to remember you've been on a liquid diet for three to four weeks and now when you introduce food or even thicker liquid, your body may hold on to it. She also cautioned me that everyone is different and not to compare my weight loss with anyone else's. She said to be patient, drink your water, because that can be the cause of your Constipation, and drink your Protein, as much as you can get in of each as that's what will burn the fat. And then, be patient. The weight loss will come once your body mends from this major surgery and you get in a routine and start to move a little more, she said the weight will start to just fall off.
I wanted to share this with you as so many of us are feeling the same way and it gave me such peace. We must remember that we just had major surgery just 14 short days ago and I'm back at work already!
I've decided to focus on the positives
1. The surgery is behind me now THANK God!!
2. I'm walking with no pain in my legs - Thank God!
3. I'm 28 pounds down (11 post op)
4. I've lost my fat face and neck
5. I can see changes in my body already
6. I have a plan for success
Be blessed and stay focused everyone and best wishes on your journey this week and always!

I was sleeved 12/29, days 1-3 clear liquid, days 4-7 full liquid, day 8-13 purees and day 14 (today!) I started soft foods. I'm feeling great, haven't thrown up. Can drink my two 30g Protein shakes a day and 64oz of Water. This morning I had two eggs muffins that were made with 1/4 cup of egg whites. You know they shrivel up to nothing and I was able to eat almost both of them. So far, my sleeve is such a good girl and she tolerates everything well.
The bad: I'm constipated and I haven't lost a pound since last Monday. I'm 11 pounds down post op but last week, nothing, I even went up two pounds. Now, I wasn't drinking my Water or eating much of anything because I don't have an appetite for anything. I met up with two of my friends, one has had gastric bypass and the other the sleeve surgery. The one that had the sleeve, who is 120 pounds down a year later, said she was the same way the first month. She said she questioned what she had done to her herself! LOL She also said to remember you've been on a liquid diet for three to four weeks and now when you introduce food or even thicker liquid, your body may hold on to it. She also cautioned me that everyone is different and not to compare my weight loss with anyone else's. She said to be patient, drink your water, because that can be the cause of your Constipation, and drink your Protein, as much as you can get in of each as that's what will burn the fat. And then, be patient. The weight loss will come once your body mends from this major surgery and you get in a routine and start to move a little more, she said the weight will start to just fall off.
I wanted to share this with you as so many of us are feeling the same way and it gave me such peace. We must remember that we just had major surgery just 14 short days ago and I'm back at work already!
I've decided to focus on the positives
1. The surgery is behind me now THANK God!!
2. I'm walking with no pain in my legs - Thank God!
3. I'm 28 pounds down (11 post op)
4. I've lost my fat face and neck
5. I can see changes in my body already
6. I have a plan for success
Be blessed and stay focused everyone and best wishes on your journey this week and always!

congratulations on your results and thanks for the wonderful reminder that the scale isn't the only tool for measuring success on this journey. I really appreciate that.

Congratulations! That is truly awesome!

HI all! Today is exactly 9 Weeks since I had my sleeve surgery. I have read a lot of post on here pre and post surgery about people being so dishearten over the numbers on the scale when they weigh. I told myself back before my surgery that I was NOT going to fall victim to the stinking scale! That hellacious thing has a way of ruining a persons whole day/week. Now I know some people can weigh everyday and whatever number pops up they can live with but I know me, I know my past, and I know how many times that Sucker has knocked the wind out of my sails and made me feel defeated. NOT this time honey! So what I did do with my daughter help (Partly to make sure I couldn't fudge on the numbers later) was measured every part of my body. Today is the first time we got the measuring tape out and revisited those numbers and I have to say I am astonished! These inches I have lost so far, far surpasses the feeling I got from any scale number! People are always asking me for recommendations of what they should do and my advice is to take your measurements because you can almost bet when that scale isn't moving but your following orders your probably still losing inches. I'm a open book so I will share my numbers with you...
Under bust - 3inches
Smallest part of waist -4 inches
Natural waist -6 inches
Buttock, booty, lovely lady lumps -10 inches!!!!! Yes -10 inches!! Crazy!!(Don't fret there's plenty more where that came from)
Upper arm -3inches
Thighs -6 inches (loving this)
Calves-1 1/2 inches.
Such a long way to go but I am so incredibly grateful for my sleeve and the help it has given me to finally be succeeding at something I've wanted for so long! Hey does this count as a NSV?? ( ps: I do weigh myself but only bi-weekly if I feel like it:)

You are such an inspiration! I love your spirit and also how encouraging you are to all who respond, and to all you respond to. Such a joy to have around! I would "like" you, but my computer won't let me like ANYONE! Sorry about that, but you are liked , anyway!

I did my hospital registration today and I'm done until my last weigh in on 12/26 and then surgery 12/29. For those of you struggling with the liquid diet, I don't know why some surgeons only require one day vs two weeks. My doctor said it's to shrink the fatty liver so that it's as small as possible. Maybe it shrinks enough in one day for some doctors. I wish mine felt that way! LOL Anyway, my struggle ended when the nurse told me he canceled four patients at the hospital before surgery that didn't follow the liquid diet for two weeks and lose, in his opinion, enough weight for him to be comfortable operating on them. Well, that sealed the deal for me, no food is tempting enough for me to jeopardize my surgery. Maybe this will help someone else struggling to kind of just dig in and get er' done! LOL
I tell you what though, when I'm driving I have started notice EVERY fast food restaurant or place that sells food now, gas stations included!! I am like wow, did I really eat that much or am I that darn hungry!! LOL But on the bright side, just three days in and my knees, ankles and legs feel like new. I'm so ashamed to realize that I caused this to my body and I apologized to my knees today and thanked them for all of the hard work they've put in. I also promised them that these are the last days they will carry what ever I weigh everyday! LOL It's the little things that get me through! Ha!
I hope everyone is doing well and staying focused on the reason we're on this journey, health ... and then our new bodies!
Have a great day!
Cynthia

Wait for me, my date is December 29th too! I'm so excited I can barely stand it. I will be starting my liquids on Monday, 12/15 until my surgery date, God help me! LOL But I would love to buddy up too.

I see you did use your insurance company. My apologies I missed this page! But I agree with VSG Ann, some things you just can't skimp on. But hey, you live and learn. I hope you're approval is on the way!