katyh2015

Can't believe I'm 6 weeks pregnant after having my sleeve surgery almost 2 months ago. Saw my OB today scard to talk to my surgeon, they said wait until a year to conceive. Happy to know I'm not the only one. Just turned 40. Feeling terrified and stupid. Do people have ok pregnancies after getting pregnant so early? Will this mess up our sleeve surgery? Scared and confused!

I am right here with you all. I have a BMI of 30 but at almost 5'10" I tend to carry it well and most people don't see what I see. I've battled obesity for 25+ years and am ready to be happy and healthy in my body. Yes I have had some success with other weight loss programs but it always creeps back!

Agreed! Mine isn't as low as yours, but mine is 36.7 and have heard similar things from ppl. They don't understand, and I don't care! The person that is NY biggest supporter agrees with me, my husband, and that's all that matters to me. ☺

@jdillon Don't bother with what others think and say, know deep inside it's what you need to do for yourself to be healthy.
That's the biggest gift of love you can give yourself. Kindest wishes for a sucessful operation and the start of a life that YOU wish to lead, not others.
Hugs
Kate

Congrats everyone in getting to that side. Can't wait to be there too

Well I'm sleeved finally! About 36 hours out now. Passed the leak test and just got my drain out. Moving to hotel in about 3 hours and our driver is coming to take us to the beach and a little shopping later.

@@ronimom I had the surgery done in Tijuana with Dr.'s Cabrera and Camelo. I used Mexico Tourism Co. I had a great experience and would be happy to answer any questions you may have! I've had two girlfriends also go, I was the second of the three of us and everyone had a great experience.

Congrats! Where did you have your procedure & who was your surgeon?

Amazing, congrats!!!

Good morning. 6 weeks ago tomorrow, I started a journey that would change my life... I would like to thank everyone for their support, the wonderful staff at A Lighter Me, (for which I can not say enough and highly recommend them for anyone who struggles with their weight), my friends, neighbors, co-workers and my family. Well today I am glad to announce that I have passed my first goal... As of today, I have passed my 50 pound weight loss, the half way point to my ultimate goal. I know 6 weeks is a short time to have lost so much and know that the next 50 pounds will not be as fast or easy, but I didn't decide to go through all I have been through to give up now. So thank you all.

My new goal is too start with Protein, then veggies, skip the fruit for a little bit and then see if I have room for the carb/starch that is available. I tried this with Easter dinner last night and seriously if I hadn't made myself because it tasted so good, I wouldn't have even had room for those 3 bites of mashed potatoes I had. I also know I need to up my Water intake too but sometimes it feels so hard, like I'm eating or drinking something all day and how do I have time to do anything else!?!?!

My new goal is too start with Protein, then veggies, skip the fruit for a little bit and then see if I have room for the carb/starch that is available. I tried this with Easter dinner last night and seriously if I hadn't made myself because it tasted so good, I wouldn't have even had room for those 3 bites of mashed potatoes I had. I also know I need to up my Water intake too but sometimes it feels so hard, like I'm eating or drinking something all day and how do I have time to do anything else!?!?!

I have been stalled for 4 weeks. I think I have been doing the wrong things too. I am only getting about 800 calories but I often slip in a bite of something else here and there. I am starting this week on serious low carb. Protein first.

Hi katyh2015, unfortunately it's REALL Y boring!!
I have a hard boiled egg and 1/2 avocado for Breakfast. Or hard boiled with homemade refried or whole pinto Beans.
Mid morning is more Protein (hard boiled egg, or chicken, or protein bar)
lunch is more protein and vegetables (chicken or lean steak, whatever fresh or cooked vegetables, maybe the other half of avocado,
Mid afternoon snack is almonds and a baby bell, or Protein Bar (quest bar), or cottage cheese
dinner again is more protein - (chicken, steak, pork) vegetables again.
Evening snack - almonds, meat, baby bell, or Protein Shake, or boiled egg, or cottage cheese.
Now I only eat 1 Quest bar in a day. Sometimes I just eat half and eat the other half later. I will likely add a fruit back in at the end of my 4 weeks, but then again the weight is now melting off again - maybe I'll just wait.
I grilled up a whole bag of those chicken breast cutlets yesterday. That will last me a couple days. I cooked 5 of them in the crock pot with homemade salsa and had spicy shredded chicken. I rub olive oil on the meat before I cook it. And sometimes I put shredded cheese onto my vegetables (about 1 tablespoon)
I have just one crystal light caffeine pouch in the morning and Water with stevia lemon drops the rest of the day.
I lost another pound from yesterday. I'm only 6.5 months out. I only lost 3lbs in December, 2 in Jan, 1-2 in Feb, and 1 in March before I started. I've now lost 6 pounds since speaking with my NUT in the middle of March. And like I said, I'm working out much less, and actually consuming more calories.

Hi there everyone, I hope u all are doing well. I haven't posted in a while here but I just wanted to pass along some great info from my NUT. I have had some VERY slow weight loss. So I started tracking everything. My fitness pal for calories and food journal, heart rate monitor for exercise, polar loop for daily activity/calories burned. I gave it to my NUT, asked how I could be consuming 900-1000 calories a day, burning 400-600, and not be losing.
My NUT lectured me! My body is not a calorie counter, it's a chemistry lab! You see even though my calorie count was low, I wasn't making the best food choices. A bite of brownie here, a slice of bread there. Sugar here, carbs there.
On top of that I was doing lots of high intensity cardio. Run 3-4 miles then do weights. Or some kind of intense cardio for 40 - 50 min. Now running puts my heart rate into the 80% zone or more if I'm really going fast.
I was craving bad foods and sugar, I was super hungry and not losing weight.
Anyhoo... This is what I was told to do....
Protein first! (Duh) vegetables too.
No fruit for 4 weeks.
Start taking probiotic (I wasn't taking it)
stop counting calories.
No bites of anything. Just stop that now! No bread!!!
Eat more fats (healthy fats)
No more cardio - lifting weights only
She thinks I was having an overgrowth of yeast (because of the cravings and constant hunger, and lack of poo)
Also the intense cardio is stressing my body too much and I'm producing too much cortisol causing me to stall.
So now I lift weights, walk on the treadmill keeping my heart rate in the 60-75% range no higher. I'm keeping my sugar consumption to under 15 grams carbs are under 25 grams.
I'm pooing daily and the scale is moving again. Thank the lord!!! Oh and since I'm still tracking in my fitness pal I see that I'm actually eating more calories now 1200-1300 and burning less at the gym. But the scale is moving.
Boggles my mind!! But I just wanted to pass along this info. I know a lot of us lightweights are more prone to probably exercising too much like I was.

Right there with you both @@surreal2014 and @@Tamsboyd. Glad to know it's not just me!

Right there with you both @@surreal2014 and @@Tamsboyd. Glad to know it's not just me!

Still my favorite too and I've tried a lot! I also have bought a couple SF Torani syrups to mix in to my chocolate premier shakes to change up the taste. I love peppermint, salted caramel and Peanut Butter in them!

Good luck tomorrow, you got this! Just remember that each day it gets a little bit better. I am 4 weeks out tomorrow and I still think each day is easier than the last!

Thank you I believe I am going to go with him this May

Hi All,
I'm 3 weeks post-op from my sleeve surgery on March 4th. I wanted to pay-it-forward and share my detailed experience in Mexico. I can only hope that it will help at least one reader gain some additional insight on this experience. Besides, I was helped by so many with their stories. Here's mine... here goes...
(***** warning long post ******)
_______
Tuesday, March 3rd - Travel Day - It's really here!!!!!
I arrived in San Diego, CA airport; flight was delayed due to weather in Atlanta. Either way, I didn't get in until 7:00pm local. However, the driver, Ricardo, was at the airport and I Iiterally walked out of the airport and into the waiting van. Love the curbside service. His English was very good.
Arriving in Mexico was truly uneventful - only took 35 mins - until we came through the section where there were no real traffic lights and cars came out of every direction imaginable. I'm used to driving in New York and Europe so it didn't phase me, but my ex-police officer cousin was on edge. Imagine that! Got in late so the nurse had to come to my hotel room to take my blood. Didn't quite like that, but it would help with surgery the next day. The Tijuana Marriott was just like being in the states. Nothing at all any different. I travel a lot and felt quite at home.
Wednesday, March 4th - SURGERY DAY - My journey begins....
I met my sleeve buddy for the first time in the hotel lobby. My best-friend cancelled - she was not getting the support from her parents and couldn't mentally pull it off due to job demands. She says she will do it at a later day - hope she does.
We had to go to a separate location to have the EKG done. The office didn't look like a clinic, but some things are just different. EKG was fine even though the nerves reality kicked in and I felt my heart would jump out of my chest and do the EKG for me.They took my weight; elated to learn that I lost 20 pounds on the pre-op diet. Yippie.
We were taken straight to VIDA Hospital - beautiful, absolutely beautiful place. Dr. alejandro lopez was my surgeon. They prepped me for surgery, but couldn't get a vein because I was dehydrated - possibly from the flight. After getting stuck 3 times, I had to stop them and say a prayer. I knew I hadn't come this far to be rescheduled. A more experienced nurse, Fatima, came in and with some work was able to find a vein for the IV. I chatted with the anesthesiologist and was taken back for surgery. I remember singing a tune - "good-bye fat, hello health," and was completely out in seconds. The next memory is waking up in recovery. Man, that is some strong stuff.
I was up and walking within the first hour in the recovery room. My cousin states that I was so out of it that I was bossy and commanding the nurses to do stuff - bring me ice chips, check my temperature, take my blood pressure, etc. While they did it all, they probably had a few choice words for me - drugged, crazy lady from the states would be putting it mildly. LOL My cousin reports that I would not open my eyes while walking. I have no memory of this at all - drugged out of my head. LOL
I ate the ice chips and started dry heaving. It was an awful feeling. I had to pray that this would not be the norm for me. I went to sleep - slept a lot and slept well. I drank the leak test stuff and had no problem keeping it down. Tried ice chips again and it was better. Now I was ready to test my bodily functions - ability to pass urine - Bladder works A+; started belching and passing gas - bowel function B+; need to have a bowel movement before I could make it an A+. Mom is a retired nurse, so it's that part of her talking to me. My sleeve buddy was having a rough time was very nauseated. I had her get up and walk with me more. I think I slept for what felt like hours, but it was really for 40 minutes at a time and then I would walk more. I'm telling you the drugs are amazing.
Thursday, March 5th - Day 1 Post-Op
The next day was much better. I was handling the ice chips really well. The doctors came in and told me I had a hernia that had to be repaired. I didn't even know what a hernia was, let alone needing to have it repaired. I was thinking, I have some other things that needed repairing too, but you didn't fix them - breast lift would be nice.
We were taken to our recovery suites which were like hotel rooms. I slept a lot there and walked a lot without an IV pole, which helped. The drainage pump was still attached, but didn't bother me. I showered with this thing and had no problems. The five (5) incisions were much smaller than I imagined.
I was good - able to hold apple juice, Gatorade, Water with no problems. I had no sensation of hunger or thirst but drank because this is what I was supposed to do. And then I started hearing this growling noise. The doctor stated it was my "ghost stomach." Freaked me out for a minute. I ain't scared of no ghosts but definitely didn't want my body thinking I still had the old part of my stomach either. This lasted for a day and then went away. Whew. I couldn't take that. The rest of my time was truly uneventful. I was doing well with the liquids, taking showers, didn't feel any pain, even after the surgery. My issue was keeping the IV line open which failed when my vein completely collapsed. They ended up giving me meds through 2 shots in my butt. Hurt like the dickens but I was done with IVs. Hallelujah!!!
Friday, March 6th - Back to the hotel, my last night in Mexico
We had one stop by make before the hotel and that was the clinic for the 3rd and final Leak test - the first was during the surgery. The liquid was not as bad as I'd heard - perhaps that was because I probably liked anything at that point. The leak test was successful. It was really cool seeing the liquid flow all the way through my system. I actually saw my new tummy too. How cool - my new sleeve, my little angel that will help me reclaim my health through weight loss.
Fast-forward to week 3
I have had no problems with my sleeve. I tried a Gas-X one day and nearly threw up on the spot. My stomach hates that stuff. I decided to walk so the remaining gas away. I was amazed that I still had some gas lingering. I'm grateful I have not had the major pain it can bring, but walking, talking small sips, small bites, and chewing your food to a complete liquid substance is the key. Honestly after a few bites and long chewing times, you lose your appetite for much more - 4 bites is usually it for me. Amazing. I remember just a few weeks ago and I would devour everything on my plate - huge servings at that. Now 4 bites - really? Amazing indeed.
Since my pre-op weight loss and surgery on March 4th, I am down 34 pounds. I saw my PCP at 2-weeks post-op and she cut my blood pressure meds in half and stated she will most likely remove me altogether in May. Wonderful thing as I've been on blood pressure meds for 12 years. I've lost tons of inches - everywhere. I took my measurements in January and now showing a whopping 7 inches from my abs, 4 from my chest, and 4 from each thigh and 6 from my hips. Now that's amazing to me. I'll take every pound and every inch. I'll say to others, take your measurements; it's the truer test. :-)
HW: 300lbs
SW: 288lbs
CW: 254lbs
Overall weight loss - 46 lbs.
That's it. Hope this is helpful.

How are you feeling @@Para-thighs Lost ?

Good luck tomorrow @@txfirefly979 !!

Two weeks today and I am down 16 lbs! I am thrilled. Is anyone else nervous about transitioning back to solid food? I know I'm not there yet, but time is flying.

Hi Ladies, I am so glad i found this post. I was sleeved on 3/2. I have been great post op. Feel great...returned to work in 9 day. First time on the scale was 1 wk post op. I was down 10lb, within a few days i was down 4 more lbs. That was over a week ago and i have been driving myself crazy... I keep telling myself to be patient but it help to know i am not the only one.