KristenVSG2014

Dr. Lopez did my sleeve surgery when he was with a previous company then he started ALO. He is known for revisions. I had no issues with my surgery but I wasn't a revision patient. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

That's funny you're craving sweet. I was SO over sweet stuff because I had been drinking those dang Protein shakes for a month. I craved warm chicken broth so I would mix my Protein powder in some and drink it like tea. That early out I was allowed to have sugar-free Jello and ice pops. I wasn't a big fan of the Jello but I loved the ice pops because they were different flavors and helped me get fluids in. I only used them the first few weeks though. I got burnt out on artificial sweeteners after that. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

My Mexican surgeon's NUT told me I needed to start my pre-op diet "as soon as possible" when I was still months out from surgery. She also said I should never eat Peanut Butter again because it has too much fat so I decided to never speak to her again. I decided a month should be long enough for a pre-op diet. A week into I had a really bad blood sugar crash out of town so my friends (who didn't know I was having surgery) took me out to eat and I had some pad thai. That was the only time. After that I stuck with it and I had to do 3 days of Clear liquids only. That is really hard to do while traveling to Mexico...but I made it! I know it feels like forever but test that willpower and put that self-control to the test. You're going to need it if you're going to be successful. You've got this! HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

I'm a banker. I'm offended HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

I've had huge boobs my entire life. They got bigger and bigger. My back got worse and worse. I think my largest size was a 46H or something ridiculous. When I hit my goal weight my boobs looked exactly like that cartoon above. Like someone put a softball in a sock. They were so bad when I laid on my back they would fall into my armpits. I could stuff them into a 36DDD but there was nothing at the top of the bra. Just space. They pooled in the bra. If I bended over they would slip out. Not cute. I'm 3 weeks post breast lift and tummy tuck now. I am THRILLED with the results because the surgeon said I had plenty of breast tissue, I didn't need implants, I only needed skin removed and the tissue reconstructed to add upper fullness. He did an amazing job. They are so high and perky. I'm thrilled. I tried on a 36DD and it fit great. My band is 33 inches and breasts are a full, perky 41 inches ???? Start saving up. If you don't need the breasts lifted or augmented you might need a tummy tuck, arm lift or thigh lift. I would love to get my arms done eventually... HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

I guess it depends on what the underlying cause was for your regain. Is it behavioral/physical/combination? I was never able to lose weight (except that one time I was starving myself using Phentermine) even though I was really good at following rules and exercising, so maintaining is new territory for me. However, I would say it has to be easier if you are good at staying compliant and sticking to the basic rules. My biggest issue was part behavioral AND physical. My behavioral issue was using food as a coping mechanism, especially during times of stress. So I had to learn new non-food-related coping mechanisms. My physical issue was a hormone imbalance (PCOS) that made losing weight damn near impossible and a big ass stomach (it took massive quantities to fill me up). Surgery took care of the physical issues. I had to take care of the behavioral. You can do anything you set your mind to. I say you go for it! HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Yes. This did happen to me early on and occasionally still happens. My doctor and I found out it was when I had not eaten enough. So I started eating every 4-5 hours and that helped "cure" it. My doctor said because I'd been insulin resistant for so many years my sugar was bottoming out even though my blood work and A1C were normal. If I get out of my routine or do something extremely physical without eating I almost pass out. I try to eat the same times every day so my body knows it will get a steady source of calories. I don't mean grazing either. I mean planned out meals or Snacks that fit within your calorie and Protein requirements. I also always carry an emergency snack with me. Protein Bars or Jerky in my purse, glovebox and desk drawer. Hope this helps! It can be scary. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

This. And tapas. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Hello, i am 5'2 , and i take around 1600 caloriea sometimes a little less, and i get in at my 70 grams daily. I take all my Vitamins, i barely get exercise , i walk alot every day. Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App I'm 5'7 and I maintain at 1600 calories a day. My mom is 5'3 and cannot lose unless she eats less than 1000 calories a day. She maintains at 1200. Generally the smaller, shorter, older you are the less calories you need. You definitely need to lower those calories to continue losing. I would suggest trying nothing but lean meats and veggies until you kickstart the weight loss again. Stay away from any forms of sugar, even sweeteners, until you've reached goal. Then have sparingly. You've got this! HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

While I love Chinese food, I really struggled with finding something that didn't make me feel like crap. Chinese has so much dang sodium and sugar it made me feel awful every time I ate it, especially if there was any type of sauce. One day I scoured the menu and spotted "teriyaki chicken". I thought it would be covered with thick, sweet sauce. When I asked them how it was prepared they said they marinated the chicken on skewers and then grilled them. Score!! Now I order the teriyaki chicken over steamed broccoli and it lasts me three meals and I feel great after I eat it! While I avoid buffets as much as possible (total waste of money when you can only eat a few bites), there is a Chinese buffet an hour away my family loves and they do buffet take out by weight. Although my family was dining in, I asked if I could go ahead and put my food in a to go box, have it weighed and pay. I explained I had surgery and could not eat much. They have let me do it every time. My family likes to make bets on how much my food will cost based on weight. (It's usually $1.50-2.50). HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Congrats!!! It is a wonderful feeling, isn't it? HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Have you ever made a pot roast in the crock pot and your potatoes don't have much flavor in the middle? A pressure cooker pushes the flavor INTO the potatoes and they end up tasting like the meat. The same with the meat. It pushes the flavor of the vegetables into the meat. I will never go back to the crock pot. I'm giving it away to my mom so she can use it on camping trips. (It also makes rice and yogurt. I don't eat much rice since it swells and makes me miserable but that could be a useful feature for your other family members.) HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Incisions look great! HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

I started back at work part-time this week and I'm so glad I'm easing into it. While I have an office job, I have a stand-up desk so after 4 hours I can tell I'm tired and need to lay down and rest. I feel like a stuffed sausage after 4 hours of working. My glue FINALLY started falling off in some areas and I can see my incisions underneath and they look fantastic. I have an appointment with my surgeon this Friday and I'm hoping he has something that will take the rest of this glue and mesh off so I can see the rest of it. The area below my belly button is finally starting to heal. It was a scary dark olive green color but they assured me it was simply deep bruising. I still have bruising all over. While my body heals incisions like a champ, it has always bruised easily and takes forever to clear them. I can't complain. I just need to be patient. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

I have baby fine hair and I lost a LOT. Like...crying and using colored powder to cover my scalp. My sister is a cosmetologist and gave me all sorts of products (Nioxin/Toppix) and chopped my hair really short. I took Biotin and got my Protein in but nothing helped. I am now 2 years post op and my scalp has just gotten to the point where it was before surgery. It's a long road but it's worth it. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Funny because my original goal weight was 180 because I couldn't imagine being smaller than that but my doctor told me to shoot for 160 so I would no longer be overweight. I hit the goal in 1 year and 3 months. Stay fierce and focused and you can do anything!! HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Welcome back! The forums aren't the same as they were a year or two ago...which is why we have the private vet's forum now. A bit of a haven. I'm only 3 week post plastics and I'm fighting the swelling. Weight keeps swinging up and down. I'm not paying much mind to the scale since I can see and feel the swelling. Only time will help. I'm itching to get back to exercise but simply working 4 hours right now wears me out. I go back full-time next week which I'm sure will wipe me out. Entering this third year has been interesting. I noticed a few bad habits creeping back in so I'm trying to be more mindful. I used my plastic surgery as a "reset" time and went back to basics - even Protein shakes - because I was trying to get in as much protein as possible. I felt SO much better eating that way. No fast food. No junk. Just homemade meals and high-protein Snacks. My husband and I are hoping to do another Whole30 on January 1. It is a lot of work but always helps tame my Sugar Dragon when it gets out of hand. Thankfully I've been really good the last 3 weeks so it shouldn't be too difficult to cut Protein Shakes out since they are the only sweets I've been eating besides apples. What is your plan for getting back in control? HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

My insurance didn't cover anything. It didn't cover my sleeve surgery and it doesn't cover any plastic surgery besides mastectomy. Makes me mad. I'm saving them thousands of dollars because I no longer have the health issues I had before but they won't cover anything even after I've reached and maintained at my goal weight. I suggest you start saving or make sure your credit is good enough to finance the procedure. I went to Mexico for my sleeve and it was $4,500. I stayed local for my tummy tuck and breast lift and it was $8,400. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Try scheduling your meals and Snacks. I eat the same times every day so my body is in a routine. 8:00 am Breakfast, 12:00 pm lunch, 3:00 pm snack, 7:00 pm dinner. (If work is too crazy sometimes snack & lunch get swapped). Also track that Protein and those calories. Early on I had to eat often (and eat cheese and nuts) to hit my calories. Then I hit a point (I think around 7 months) my restriction magically loosened and hunger returned. I had to adjust by eating less cheese and nuts and more meat or veggies to get that same satisfied feeling without going over on calories. Even 2+ years out now I rarely snack on cheese or nuts because I'd rather eat food that will fill me up. If I need a snack I will have an apple and almond butter, jerky or an emergency Quest Protein Bar. Lots of good advice above! I hope you figure out what works for you. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

It sounds like you handled the party great! You were mindful and conscious. When I eat something "bad", I try not to do it mindlessly or attach any emotions to it. I don't think, "I deserve this" or "I need this because _______." Instead I simply make the conscious decision to eat it and ENJOY each tiny bite. I'm also a huge believer in the "one bite rule". If you decide to eat (or drink) something off-plan, take one bite and if it isn't worth the calories don't finish it. There have been MANY times something looked amazing and I took one bite and didn't take another because it just didn't blow my mind. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Yesterday's IP creation. Good, old fashion beef stew: HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

I find it funny that every time I eat a meal I get so tired I can't stay awake. I dealt with this for a long time after my sleeve surgery too. Every morning my eyes pop open at 4:30. I have coffee at 5:00, talk to my parents then get around to eating a meal around 8:00. Pass out at 8:30. Since I'm two weeks out today I'll take some pics after my shower this afternoon and post them. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

My post weight loss surgery life became my new normal. I laugh because even 2+ years post op my husband still says, "You didn't eat very much." And I always respond, "That's what I paid for!" My mom still asks, "What do you want to drink with dinner?" And I'll smile at her and she will say, "Oh yeah. I still forget you don't drink with meals!" I love my sleeve. It has given me what I feel is a normal way of eating. I used to need to eat so much to get full (think an entire sub and 3-4 chicken tenders in one sitting). So my little "differences" like eating small portions and not drinking with my meals are still there and will always be there but that is "normal" to me now. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Sounds like you're doing great. Just continue to follow your surgeon's instructions! HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

So happy to see your update!! I'm into my third year now and my years have gone somewhat similar to yours. I also finally got help with an antidepressant in my second year and it has made a world of difference. Life still happens. Sometimes life still sucks. It sucked really bad yesterday and I was crying to my mom and she says, "You want a doughnut, baby?" I laughed and said, "Mom, you can't eat your feelings. You have to sit with them, feel them and deal with them. Not cover them up with doughnuts." I love her so much but she didn't teach me the healthiest coping skills as a child. These are the habits that make or break us further on. Miss your posts. HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159