blashlee

I was not a runner. A few months before surgery I had an epic meltdown on a jogging trail because I wasn't able to complete a half mile running interval. I didn't try to run again until about a month after surgery. I started couch to 5k and couch to 10k and I never finished them. I downloaded an app (13.one, made by the same developers as couch to 5k/10k) and I got started about 13 weeks before my race. It was intervals. Every week it would increase. Then finally it was all running. And tbh I didn't get to finish it either LOL the weather got too hot to run long runs, even getting up early on the weekends it was just too warm to go and run. Before my half marathon my longest run was 7.5 miles. It should have been 11 lol so I was very nervous the morning of the half.
It just takes patience and determination. And make sure you get yourself some good running shoes. Not all running shoes are created equal. Now I only run in Asics Gel kayano 20. They don't make them anymore so I'll have to switch to the newer version but that's my shoe.

Completed a half marathon last weekend!

Kept up with my Vitamins and Protein, used shampoos that are sulfate (foam) free, comb my hair out with a wide toothed comb in the shower with lots of conditioner. I thought about cutting it off or doing braids or a protective style, but decided against that. My hair isn't noticeably thinner until I have it straightened out. It's very thick and curly so while I've lost plenty, it isn't terribly noticable.
It's gonna fall out period. It will grow back. It is frustrating, but stressing about it makes it worse. Taking pills and things that are supposed to make your hair regrow are cool, but all that did for me was give me additional hair in places I didn't want it :-|
Good luck.

Other than Water
Iced coffee w/ half & half and SF sweeteners
Iced tea w/ SF sweetener
I brew my own Black and Passion Tea (saves money in Starbucks runs)
I cold steep tea bags and mix them with crystal light lemonade. Lipton peach green tea steeped in iced Water with crystal light lemonade is fantastic.
Sometimes I drink chocolate premier Protein when I'm replacing a meal.
Crystal Light
Trop50 orange juice diluted with water + a scoop of unflavored Protein is a pretty standard Breakfast drink for me.
But I still try to get in half a gallon or so of water. I usually can't but then some days I can.

I was not a runner. A few months before surgery I had an epic meltdown on a jogging trail because I wasn't able to complete a half mile running interval. I didn't try to run again until about a month after surgery. I started couch to 5k and couch to 10k and I never finished them. I downloaded an app (13.one, made by the same developers as couch to 5k/10k) and I got started about 13 weeks before my race. It was intervals. Every week it would increase. Then finally it was all running. And tbh I didn't get to finish it either LOL the weather got too hot to run long runs, even getting up early on the weekends it was just too warm to go and run. Before my half marathon my longest run was 7.5 miles. It should have been 11 lol so I was very nervous the morning of the half.
It just takes patience and determination. And make sure you get yourself some good running shoes. Not all running shoes are created equal. Now I only run in Asics Gel kayano 20. They don't make them anymore so I'll have to switch to the newer version but that's my shoe.

After having my sleeve I started the couch to 5k. There are various apps to get you started, but I thought that one was great. Good luck!

So an awesome accomplishment!

Good for you, running the marathon and losing all your weight. I'm still in my phase one post-op stage and very happy that today was the first day I could take my walks around the neighborhood without any stomach pain!

Wow what an inspiration! I am so excited to see posts like these because this is one of my goals. Congratulations! You look great!

Thanks for the clarification and you are still doing amazing. I feel a little better now lol

You look amazing !!!! So inspiring !!!! Thank you

Congrats! I hope to be in Onederland again real soon. I've started a 10-day pouch reset because I've gained weight and feel I'm able to eat a little too much. #Determined

My Stats
Surgery Date=4/8/15
SW=342
CW=266
GW=180 (doc's goal)
My GW=160

My stats
HW 252
SW 238
Surgery date 5/29/15
CW 190
GW 155
Live in northern Illinois

Hey!! Here are my stats...
SW=225
Surgery Date=04/27/2015
CW=178
GW=140
????

HW 332
SW 316
Surgery date 5/19/14
CW 208
GW 180
Live in MI

Hey! Originally from Atlanta, out of country now. My surgery was June 9, 2015.
HW: 299
SW: 276
CW: 219

I found a recipe for adding Protein to Jello and I've come up with some really good mixes but this one is my favorite. I'm on my preop liquid diet and my doctor said this was fine and would probably be fine post op as well.
You will need
sugar-free Orange Jello mix
Water
vanilla Protein Powder (I used Quest Vanilla Milkshake)
Fat-Free (sugar free if you can find it) cool whip or whipped topping (optional)
Prepare Jello as instructed on box. Whisk Gelatin completely. Add 2 scoops of protein powder and whisk thoroughly. The mix will thicken and look a bit milky. Don't whisk it so much that it's foamy. The protein will separate. Pour into container or individual containers for small servings. Refrigerate until set (I let mine set overnight). Top with a small spoonful of whipped topping when serving or eating (again, optional).
Tastes just like that classic Popsicle without the sugar .
I don't wanna give the macros on this because your protein might be different than mine.

Completed a half marathon last weekend!

Hey all. This past Sunday 9/6/15 was my 5 month surgiversary!! I have lost 90 lbs since starting my journey back in January. I've gone from a size 16/18 2XL to size 8/M.
To Celebrate my 5 month surgiversary, I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon! I completed 13.1 miles in 3:00:49 and smiled the entire course! It was incredible. I went from someone who once had a full blown meltdown trying to run a half mile exercise to someone who eats miles for Breakfast. I never ever thought I would see this day. So happy to have been granted this second chance at life and I'm glad to report I am using it to the fullest! I'm already registered for another run and contemplating two more.   

Hey all. This past Sunday 9/6/15 was my 5 month surgiversary!! I have lost 90 lbs since starting my journey back in January. I've gone from a size 16/18 2XL to size 8/M.
To Celebrate my 5 month surgiversary, I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon! I completed 13.1 miles in 3:00:49 and smiled the entire course! It was incredible. I went from someone who once had a full blown meltdown trying to run a half mile exercise to someone who eats miles for Breakfast. I never ever thought I would see this day. So happy to have been granted this second chance at life and I'm glad to report I am using it to the fullest! I'm already registered for another run and contemplating two more.   

Hey all. This past Sunday 9/6/15 was my 5 month surgiversary!! I have lost 90 lbs since starting my journey back in January. I've gone from a size 16/18 2XL to size 8/M.
To Celebrate my 5 month surgiversary, I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon! I completed 13.1 miles in 3:00:49 and smiled the entire course! It was incredible. I went from someone who once had a full blown meltdown trying to run a half mile exercise to someone who eats miles for Breakfast. I never ever thought I would see this day. So happy to have been granted this second chance at life and I'm glad to report I am using it to the fullest! I'm already registered for another run and contemplating two more.   

Don't hate me, because I certainly don't hate any of you. But it truly bothers me to see people on here complain about how little weight they've lost. Especially when it actually isn't a little bit of loss. "I've only lost 40 lbs in 2 months since surgery! What am I doing wrong??" Are you crazy? Do you know how amazing it is to lose 40 lbs PERIOD let alone in just 2 months?? Yes, WLS is a tool that is supposed to help weight loss occur a bit more quickly than if you were to do it on your own. But downplaying your losses, regardless of how slow they are, is doing a disservice to yourself and also to people who haven't undergone WLS yet and are here to get some insight and do research for their own possible surgical journey.
Stalls happen. Weight loss slows down. It seems the closer you are to whatever goal you're working towards, the more evasive it becomes.
I think it's really important to focus on what you HAVE accomplished rather than to let what you haven't done yet get you down. This isn't a race. The journey to health is just that: a Journey. There's no finish line. This is something we do as a lifestyle.
The next time you think you might be about to complain that you've "only" lost xx amount of weight, please stop for a second and think about how you might feel if you hadn't lost any of that at all. And think about what message you might be conveying to someone who hasn't had WLS yet and is looking for advice here. It gives newbies and pre-ops the idea that weight is supposed to just magically melt away and that 30 or 40 lbs in 2 months after surgery isn't an acceptable rate of weight loss.

Hey all. This past Sunday 9/6/15 was my 5 month surgiversary!! I have lost 90 lbs since starting my journey back in January. I've gone from a size 16/18 2XL to size 8/M.
To Celebrate my 5 month surgiversary, I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon! I completed 13.1 miles in 3:00:49 and smiled the entire course! It was incredible. I went from someone who once had a full blown meltdown trying to run a half mile exercise to someone who eats miles for Breakfast. I never ever thought I would see this day. So happy to have been granted this second chance at life and I'm glad to report I am using it to the fullest! I'm already registered for another run and contemplating two more.   

Completed a half marathon last weekend!