scoutmom

Way to go @@NoMoreWeightNJ + @@jbokla!!!
Interesting that we are all so close in the number on the scale. I will say, I have a super difficult time with Water and Protein. If I had been better about those two things I would be at least 5-7 pounds lighter. Each day I try to remember water, water and water.
I finally bought some Quest bars. I get really full on a half bar - but saw a recipe on pinterest where you cut the bars into 6 pieces and bake them for 5 minutes. They become Cookies and it is much easier to get them down!
My NUT really hammed at least 2 Protein Shakes (or bars) a day and water. It really does show results immediately.
People have really started commenting and noticing in the last 2 weeks.

Hi there!
I'd love to hear how everyone is doing....we are officially just over the 3 month mark! I am ecstatic with how I feel and how much my body has changed.......however, I can't help but wonder if it should't be more? I have had a complete turn in my life, my marriage is re-ignited and I feel fabulous!
As of this morning, I reached 50 pounds lost. Here is my stats:
Pre op diet 253
Day of surgery 243
Today 203

How are you???? Any lessons learned, big victories, downsides??????

My sleeve helps me to avoid over-eating in one sitting, otherwise Miss Tummy will punish me for hours. It's on me to decide what Miss Tummy gets to work with. It's on me to not graze all day. It's a forever deal, but the weight loss is worth it. No regrets.

@@Rogofulm ... I'm with you.
I intend to continue to rock this sleeve as completely and fully and for as long as I can.
And if they come up with a fecal transplant of skinnyfying gut flora that will make my job easier, I'm getting that, too.
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a f**k what that study says. I could drive a semi through the holes in its extrapolatability to anyone other than the patients of that surgical practice.

So @@scoutmom was absolutely correct all this time they said they didn't have it but now u at approved! So good to know!

Hi @Bs_Knees.....congrats on things moving forward. I can't believe it has already been 6 weeks since my surgery. I am doing great. I am 35 pounds down since May 1st - and 26 pounds down since surgery. I had a low BMI, so although that is a fast loss for me, I do read about others losing more - but I am thrilled with the progress and fell absolutely fabulous.
The first day and the third day in the hospital were the toughest. Not sure why, but I had heard the 3rd day after surgery is the toughest and it was true for me. However, I was up and walking within a couple of hours of surgery and the main pain was from the gas they put in your belly and not from the incisions. By second day I took a shower and was wearing my own clothes in the hospital. I hate hospital gowns! I had the option of going home the day after, but I knew I would not rest and over do it. So I stayed two nights in the hospital and I'm glad I did. It gives you time to get your pain meds in line before going home.
I am not good about getting the Water (64 oz) and Protein in and that is not good. You may experience a bit of panic as it feels like you will never eat real food again. Bu I have been on mushy food for the last 2 weeks and that helped a lot. The new way of eating takes a bit of getting used to - and eating out with my family is sometimes frustrating because of limited options.
Here is a bit of my advice based on 6 weeks:
1. do NOT buy the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins. they are gross and make me throw up. I would definitely start with liquid Multi Vitamins that you can get on Amazon. I have only thrown up twice and it is due to the chewable Multivitamins.
2. start the Vitamins and drinking at least 40 ounces of Water a month before your surgery. I did not and wish I had already instituted this change. I am not a big water drinker anyway.....and used to only drink bubbly water. So this has been one of the hardest things to conquer.
3. I did have head hunger - I thought I would not feel hungry at all, but I do get hungry. Not a big deal, but it threw me for a surprise.
4. Fill all of your prescriptions before surgery day. I didn't, and my mom and I had to stop on the way home from the hospital and it sucked.
5. They called in a prescription for syringes that you give yourself in your belly to keep from getting blood clots. No one at the docs office or the hospital told me this, so I was surprised when the guy at CVS gave them to me. Just be prepared. Doesn't hurt that much - but not fun either.
6. Schedule your surgery follow-up appointment before surgery day. The schedule was full, and I waited until 2 days after surgery. Made the staff cranky.
I was very lucky and healed super fast and was back to walking as soon as I got home. They were very happy at my 2 week follow-up. I was back to work at my office 6 days after surgery. I did get very tired by 7:30pm/8pm because of the drastic lack of calories - and I still get tired by 8:30pm. (highly unusual for me).
The good things:
1. I feel fantastic and in control of my own choices
2. I sleep SO much better and actually wake up rested
3. I have more patience for my children and my attitude in life is so much better
3. I'm having to dig through the attic to find old clothes to wear. It does feel like the weight falls off in the beginning. (although I know if I don't start getting more Protein that I will stall).
4. friends and colleagues have started to notice a big change
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have - keep 'em coming! It is one of the best decisions I ever made.
Seana

At the risk of a trainwreck, I'm going to use a phrase I used recently...
"beg your pardon?"

you are more than ok! For me, the most challenging part of the first 4-6 weeks was my head telling me that I should eat certain foods because of where we were. We have two children and food is our entertainment. Going out to eat or to fun activities ALWAYS has a fun food element tied to it.
I don't know about you - but one of the reasons I chose the sleeve was so I could still eat all types of food and could still eat for pleasure, just not 3,000 calories a day of pleasure! You are still in boot camp and re-training your brain and stomach. It is as much psychological as it is physical. the times I get the most irritated and frustrated are when I am starving and we are at a restaurant or place that has nothing for me to eat on the program. Now that I am on full solids, it is definitely easier.
Stay the course, you are doing great, and don't beat yourself up. Keep your eye on the prize!

I went to dinner this evening with family visiting from out of town and wound up sitting next to two cousins and a nephew who were second and fourth graders. I found it very interesting that I ate about the same as the second graders (except they filled up on chips, salsa, and queso before the entree and drank real pop). I even still had leftovers to bring home.
This post-surgery life really is amazing.

@
My thought exactly! I am cracking up.....know I shouldn't but just can't help it.

@
My thought exactly! I am cracking up.....know I shouldn't but just can't help it.

Is it bad that I am cracking up at this entire conversation....
Where is my popcorn? ??

@@lauraellen80
LOL!
*Backs out of thread slowly*

I am just here for the comments, please continue.....

Is English your first language? The phrase "I beg your pardon" or "beg your pardon" or "begging your pardon" means either you did not hear or you did not understand what someone said.
I could not discern if you were angry at people for being against you having weight loss surgery, or if you were angry at people for suggesting you have weight loss surgery, or something else.
I could not figure out if you thought people who needed insulin were defiling God's work, or if you thought they needed insulin because they didn't take care of themselves.
Your post was so confusing that I thought perhaps you were having a cerebral vascular accident.

Carin, I really respect your answer to the comments left here.
If I had a good amount of spare money to spend on clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories I'd do it!!
After being married to the meanest man for 25 years (I used to have to hide money for holidays so the kids could have ice cream) I am now married to a man who encourages me to spend and I'm not ashamed of that fact. We both work hard, the 3 older kids are independent and the last one is 17 now and off to university next year so now its MY time to spend on me. In some area's of our lives we live very cheaply. However, I might treat myself to a few pieces of timeless classics which will work well in he long term.
Kate

Thanks to all for comments on this article.
To those who asked if anyone should spend so much on clothes during and after weight loss surgery, the answer is that I do not recommend it!
Several factors contributed to my spending so much on my transition wardrobe. As a number of readers correctly guessed, where I lived (New York City) and the type of work I did (corporate executive type job in a well known financial services, think banking, company)during my weight loss period had a lot to do with it. We were expected to dress in a formal professional, very sophisticated style. The clothes I thought I needed in order to dress appropriately tended to expensive, and at the time, I thought I had to have a complete wardrobe each time I changed sizes. Now I know that with some planning it would have been possible to buy stylish clothing much less expensively, and by selecting the items with an eye toward versatility, fewer of them. As some of you have pointed out, shopping in thrift stores, and looking for sale items are ways to minimize the expense of adjusting your wardrobe during a major weight loss. Tailoring some of the more expensive items can also keep your costs down. Unfortunately, during my weight loss, I didn't have a workable strategy and it proved very costly.
These days, I take my own advice, considering my personal style, my lifestyle, and my budget as I plan my wardrobe.
Several people commented that they have their own personal styles and that they wouldn't want to change. Knowing what your fashion preferences are, and staying true to them are both essential to presenting your best self to the world. What image consultants can do is help you refine your style so that it remains consistent both with the person you are and the roles you need to play in your life, whether in your professional life or in social settings, all the while looking fabulous.
The very reasons I chose this career! I am interested in your comments, so keep the conversation going!

Depending on the industry she works in $30k might not be unreasonable for her to spend. I know in my previous life I was expected to look a certain way and that entailed $200+ suits. Now I can get by with Target $20 maxi skirts and various tees. ????

This question is a slippery slope. Some people are fast losers and some are slow losers. Some even gain weight in that first month. What often happens with post like this are the majority of the post are from people who experience big loses. If you aren't one of them you may be setting yourself up fro discouragement.
Take the responses here with a large grain of salt and NEVER compare your weight loss journey to someone else's. There are too many contributing factors to guarantee just because one person lost 30 pounds in one month that you will as well. If you are a slow loser and lose 10 lbs in that first month you may feel bad. Worse yet, if you are the random person who gains 5 lbs (it happens) you may really feel bad.

I used to hang dry everything because it would "shrink" in the dryer and no longer fit.
Little did I know it was just me getting bigger.
Now I can just wear everything right out of the dryer because it didn't magically shrink!

So this morning after taking a shower, and elbow deep in my usual routine of slathering on the lotion, and slapping on the baby powder, in hopes of reducing friction, I thought, I can't wait until I don't have to do this anymore after I lose the weight.
What fat related routines, patterns, or things are you hoping to leave behind after surgery?
PS: Johnson & Johnson stock is really going to take a plunge after I stop buying the lotion and powder.

@@jaterika
I am very sorry to hear you don't have the support you need - and you did the right thing to reach out here. Wishing you the very best during this difficult time. Having the surgery is plenty of emotional work already.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not to lash out at you. Take your time and continue to let your body and mind heal.

@@jaterika
I am very sorry to hear you don't have the support you need - and you did the right thing to reach out here. Wishing you the very best during this difficult time. Having the surgery is plenty of emotional work already.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not to lash out at you. Take your time and continue to let your body and mind heal.

@@jaterika
I am very sorry to hear you don't have the support you need - and you did the right thing to reach out here. Wishing you the very best during this difficult time. Having the surgery is plenty of emotional work already.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not to lash out at you. Take your time and continue to let your body and mind heal.

@@jaterika
I am very sorry to hear you don't have the support you need - and you did the right thing to reach out here. Wishing you the very best during this difficult time. Having the surgery is plenty of emotional work already.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not to lash out at you. Take your time and continue to let your body and mind heal.