AnA92212

Had my first baby at 38. Had WLS 6 weeks later. My surgeon recommended 18 months because OBs recommended 18 months between children anyway. Also, my body has went through a crazy transition. Being pregnant, surgery, and then rapid weight loss. Ideally, the 18 months to 2 years gives you 12 to 18 months to get to goal weight and then 6 months of maintaining goal weight. That helps your body stabilize. I met goal at 8 months. Doctor says we can start the 6 month of maintenance and then start trying for number 2. We didn't have to have IVF before so hopefully it will happen naturally again (but quicker) this time as I will be 39.

We were told no alcohol for at least a year. I am just staying away. I do not want to drink any calories except my Protein shake. I don't tend to have a lot of variety in my meals. I just don't have the room in my stomach. I am 9 months out and at goal weight (over 150 pounds lost). I work out 6 days a week. Just to get that out there. I typically eat around 800 to 1400 calories a day. It really depends on the day! For Breakfast it is usually a Protein Shake and a turkey sausage patty. Some days it is eggs and turkey sausage. Some days it is sugar free oatmeal. Those are my 3 to-gos for breakfast. For lunch, I either have zoodles with sauce and turkey meatballs, chicken and a green vegetable, Soup. dinner...we do "dump meals" that I prepare ahead of time and then freeze and then heat in crockpot. So, salsa chicken, orange chicken, bbq chicken, etc. Also fish, shrimp, or whatever we what on the grill. We usually have a green veggie with it. Snacks are usually greek yogurt, turkey, cheese, etc. Since I am in maintenance, my surgeon and NUT says I can have whatever I want in limited portions. I stay away from any trigger foods from my past. I still limit sugar and fried foods. I say all of that to say this: in losing mode, you have to be super strict. I see maintenance mode as just a modified version of that. Doc says to eat clean 5 to 6 days a week. That's pretty much how we operate. I do get carbs like brown rice, oatmeal, carrots. I eat air popped popcorn as a snack sometimes. Going out is hard. I can make wings at home that are baked without the skin so the calories are very minimal. I can only eat one wing though and some veggies. I still portion out my food on regular basis. I know my stomach can handle a half cup of regular food or almost a full cup of soup. If that is what it takes, then carry around measuring cups. I do!

I eat the light n fit by dannon Greek yogurt. 12 g Protein. Not sure on the carbs.

I met my husband on eHarmony about 5 years ago. This was pre-surgery for both of us. I previously used match, okcupid, christiansingles, plentyofish, etc. Some people were creepy and some were nice. You really just never know what you are going to get. My hubby is amazing and would never have met him without the internet. Good luck to you!

This surgery is LIFE CHANGING! Before surgery I never thought I would see "one" derland again. It just hasn't been possible in the past 15 years or so. I kept telling myself, "if you get below 225 you will feel so much better". My doctor said, You will be between 135 and 145. I did NOT believe him. Nine months later, here I am at 136 wearing a size 6! However, surgery is only a tool. It is up to you. I take my health very seriously now. People ask me how I can stay dedicated...well, every morning I look at 4 small scars. Those are my reminder. That's what I did to save my LIFE!!! I also keep a "fat" picture on my fridge. It's to remind me of what can happen if I start to be nonchalant about my eating and exercising. I also look into the beautiful eyes of my baby and remember that I will be her role model. Weight loss patients tend to keep their weight off better than those that have lost with just diet and exercise. It is all up to you. You have to remember why you did this. You have to stay motivated. Some days, it is hard. I bought a t shirt that says, "excuses don't burn calories". It is a motivator for me. Good luck in your journey!

Yay! We are going to Universal Studios and I am so excited to shop for summer clothes. Bring on the shorts and tees!

I used to think "how am I ever going to get all this in". Here's my eating routine: 8oz coffee on my ride into work. Protein shake and turkey sausage patty when I get to work (or sugar free oatmeal, eggs, etc) at 9 am. 10 am I start Water in take. I drink 16 oz of water. Sometime between 11 and 12 I have a snack. usually a piece of turkey deli meat and a piece of cheese or greek yogurt, etc. Then more water. Around 2 or 3 I have my lunch. Then more water. Then at 4-ish I have a snack before I go work out at 5. During work out I drink water. When I get home I drink water. Then around 8 we eat dinner. So, yeah, it pretty much revolves around food and water.

It depends on what stage after surgery you are talking about. Two weeks after surgery was Mother's Day. All of the mothers and grandmothers were in town. It was my very FIRST mother's day. I could not eat anything because even the soup where we went was not a good option. I sat at the table and cried. I sat there and drank Water. Then later that week two co workers invited me to lunch. There was nothing at the restaurant they selected that I could eat. I sat there and drank water, but i was better. I am now 9 months out and going out can be awkward, but not for me. People in social situations tend to pace their eating/drinking with those around them. I eat extremely slowly and eat a small amount. People often try to match my pace. It can be humorous. I tell people to eat what they want and how much they want and to not go by me. You will eat less and sometimes different foods. But after awhile it is just a way of life.

I've long since thought that being fat was the last great "taboo" in our society. We don't talk about it, but it is there. I used to be self conscious when I went to the grocery store or ate in restaurants. I thought people were probably judging me and because I was fat. I don't think you should be ashamed to be overweight. Some people are very confident and overweight. I never was. I am still not confident. Oh yeah, and people still look at me crazy when I order at a restaurant, eat a few bites and ask for a to go box. To me, fat acceptance is about being accepting of others. I think we should be.

food just doesn't hold the same comfort for me that it once did. I used food for all things before...happy, sad, up, down, and inbetween. I don't really have a to-go food, because I don't go to food any more. I eat food that tastes good, but it is merely fuel so I can do things I want to do. I stay extremely busy though. I work full time, I am in grad school, I have an 11 month old baby, family commitments, church, etc. Do you have a friend or family member to talk to? To go shopping with? Get a pedicure?

I am 9 months out and get about 1000 to 1200 a day. I work out 6 days a week. At my check up my doc said I should never be below 800 and on the days I train hard up to 1600.

I have PCOS and my cycles were super long and super gross and super painful. I am sure you get the picture. I had my baby on 3/10/15 then surgery on 4/27/15. They were actually pretty normal (every 35 days for the first few months). I went on birth control after that. I am hoping that when we start trying for our next baby things will be smooth sailing.

It's possible. My girls went from a 48 DD to a 36 C. My bra size has stabilized so I am stocked up, but at first I was just buying one at a time. Now, I have a drawer full of beautiful bras and panties!

Youth is on your side, my friend. You are not vain. This is a life changing journey and to me, surgery is the sprinkles on the cupcake! I was obese/morbidly obese for the past 15 years. I have what my doctor calls "very minimal excess skin". You cannot tell I have excess skin unless I am naked. This is a good thing, but still.... I work really hard and I want a body that completely reflects that. A lot of things play into how much skin you will have: where you fat is now, how much muscle you have now, your age, etc. Don't be tempted to just do cardio after surgery. You need to do weights as well. I have been doing Body Pump twice a week since a month out from surgery. Even the weeks I didn't lose weight I would lose inches. From December to January I lost 6 pounds, but lost 12 inches. 5 of those were on my waist!

We have an 11 month old baby so nothing special for us. Last Valentine's Day I was pregnant and felt awful. At least this year I am in shape!

Some of my milestones were: no longer being morbidly obese according to BMI chart no longer being obese according to BMI chart no longer being overweight according to BMI chart no longer shopping in plus size department shopping in Junior's department wearing a belt shopping in Victoria's Secret getting clothes from my skinny friends that are too small for them riding a roller coaster people not recognizing me being called "in shape" being able to do push ups being able to run 3 miles without stopping being able to do tricep dips

I never had the burning. I was just nervous about eating and drinking. I took a zofran a day for about 2 months for the nausea. I have never regretted my surgery. I've had my ups and then my downs with the stalls but I am so happy I did it. I am nine months out. Just had my 9 month check up today. I have lost 91% of my excess body weight. Doctor is extremely pleased with the loss and considers me at a goal weight. My absorption tests are normal. My lipid panel blood pressure, and insulin are all normal.

Yay!

Hey, I have PCOS as well. I had my baby 6 weeks prior to surgery (after a year and a half of trying) I had to quit Metformin 2 weeks before surgery. I forgot why now. I was never put back on it. I had to do a 2 month testing of my insulin (3 times a day). It has been normal since surgery. I've lost over half my body weight and everything is normal...insulin, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. My 6 month absorption labs were good too. I was deficient in Iron which I was prior to surgery so nothing new. I have to be about 18 months out from surgery to begin trying again. I plan on getting some labs ran at the end of the year to see where my levels are (hormonally speaking). Some doctors require 2 years after surgery, but my doctor is ok with 18 months since I am older and I got to goal before a year. So, most likely it will be discontinued for good. Talk to your Primary care doctor about it. They will probably have you test for awhile without it and see where you are.

I had the sleeve and I can pretty much eat anything I want. There are things I choose to stay away from because they are trigger foods. I don't eat bread much because it fills me up so quickly and then I am hungry again in an hour. It's just not worth it. I do eat in moderation. My NUT taught us to always eat your Protein source first. Well, I hit a 5 week long stall so I met with her again. She told me I needed to add some carbs! She actually told me to eat a potato. I almost fell in the floor. I added some carbs in and low and behold I started losing weight again. Now, if I get a baked potato I have maybe 3 or 4 bites with spray butter only. I used to be a big Pasta fan. Well, pasta is not all that great for you. Now I use zucchini noodles and it is amazing! You adapt. On my birthday, I had a cupcake from the bakery. It took both my husband and I 3 nights to finish one cupcake between us, but I ate it. I have 1/2 cup homemade ice cream on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. I don't feel guilty for it either. Life is about balance. You cannot out exercise a horrible diet. You just can't. I stay away from things like Cheez Its because I love them, but I will eat them until I am sick. I pre-portion my foods so I know what I am getting.

My NUT actually want us to get our Protein from our food sources. The protein powder is good if you are in a pinch and need something, but it is not recommended for long term use.

Only so much can be done. A lot depends on how you were "made up" pre-surgery. I started working out 3 weeks after surgery. I have consistently worked out 5 to 6 days a week since then. I have some excess skin on my stomach, arms, and thighs. Mine has been called "minimal" by my doctor though. I would suggest working out with weights twice a week along with cardio, hydration, making sure you get your Protein (otherwise you will just lose muscle), and moisturizer.

I second the walking. We had to walk 2 miles in the hospital (20 laps) before we could go home. Walking will help so much. Glad you are doing well!

Oh man, I felt full so quick in the beginning. But it is different than the "full" feeling before surgery so I know what you mean. I am 9 months out and still use measuring cups on a regular basis. I can eat about a half cup of "normal" food or about a cup of Soup (if it is mostly liquid).

Pre op diet is typically only for 2 weeks. I think i ate about 600 calories for those 2 weeks, but it sucked...bad!