AnA92212

Congrats! Amazing job!

Today was my one year check up with my surgeon. I have lost 95% of my excess body weight. He is super proud of my accomplishments. He said I am in the top 10% of surgery patients for weight loss in 1 year. I also got the speech about maintaining and keeping up my good habits ! I have never regretted my surgery. I have not had any complications and have had a great amount of support during the process. My stats: Weight: 294 Now: 135 Size: 4x/28 Now xs-s/4 I literally couldn't run to my mailbox this time last year and now I am training for a half marathon and compete at least once a month in a 5K or 10K. I do zumba, lift weights, and have energy to play with my daughter. Life is good!

Awesome. I was there a little over a year ago myself. Good luck!

ATTA GIRL! I was sleeved on 4/27/15, and my one year is tomorrow. It's been quite a year, but a good one. Well done!

I had my surgery on 4/27/15. Started working out 3 weeks after. Started running in December of 2015. Have ran 2 5Ks, signed up for another and a 10K in May. Also for a half marathon in November. I have a training plan and I am not worried about the actual running, its the fuel aspect of it. I can't "carb load" or whatever...lol. The trainer recommends the gel packets every 30 minutes to 1 hour of running. (my hubby is doing a marathon in December). I am concerned about the calories and if they will make me sick. I do have an appointment scheduled with out nutritionist but she is not a patient nor a distance runner. Just wanted some advice for week of race and race day nutrition.

First, congrats. You are NOT a fraud my dear. You deserve it! WLS is not a miracle drug, it takes work. My surgeon always says that he did his part on surgery day and it is my job to finish it. I will say that the fraud feeling has not left me. I still see myself as that 294 pound woman that had to shop in the plus size section. It is difficult for me to grasp that I am no longer overweight. I was super morbidly obese when I first started. Now, I am "normal". People tell me how thin I look and it is hard for me to even think that I am now thin. It's a change just realizing all that is possible now. Good luck in this journey.

It can be frustrating because you buy a size then when you want to wear the new item it is too big. It's great though. I've had to donate several new items to my mom (who actually weighs 30 pounds less than I do, but I am smaller). Love it. She can no longer wear her size 4 pants so I will gladly take those off her hands. She can have my medium tops because I need xsmall or small. For years she has criticized me about my weight so giving her my too big clothes is AWESOME!!

It sounds do-able, but just take it slowly. I did cto5K for my first 5K. Training for a half marathon now. When I started running, could only run 60 seconds without stopping.

You will get there! I still get frustrated but it is so worth it. This time last year I would never have dreamed that I would be a size 6! I am so much healthier than I was.

Oh my. I met a guy a long time ago. I had weighed 245 and was down to 213 so I was feeling decent about myself. We met online, chatted, and went on a few dates. I just was NOT that into him so I told him. He then starts telling me that he was the one doing me a favor because he normally dated thin, beautiful women. Dude, please. I met my hubby on eHarmony when I was at my heaviest. He loved me then at almost 300 pounds and loves me now.

I am trying to lose, but I have been in a stall for about 6 weeks. My NUT wants me to up my calories some more and add some more Protein. I am training for a half marathon too. Just started running in December. Started running 90 seconds at a time and up to 5 miles. Almost "half way" there!!

I eat about 800 to 1200 calories a day. I run 4 to 5 miles on 3 mornings a week, walk 3 to 4 miles on 3 mornings a week, do zumba for 1 hour on one night a week, and do body pump for an hour 2 nights a week. My go to foods are zoodles with homemade turkey meatballs, greek yogurt, Cracker Barrel 2% cheese sticks (only 60 calories), sliced turkey, shredded chicken that I made in a crockpot, the individual size frozen veggie steamers. I typically do not do Protein shakes or bars. The bars have way too many calories for my liking. The shakes do not really give me that "satisfied" feeling. I love tuna, but limit it due to mercury concerns. I eat chicken about a 100 different ways. I do eggs once a week. I also like sugar free oatmeal.

I went with sleeve. It was my doctor's recommendation for my situation. I am glad I don't have to really worry about the absorption issues and that my stomach is just super tiny. It is really what is best for your health.

I have a desk job and went back to work 3 days after surgery. I have the VSG on a Monday and was back to work on Thursday. Only took the pain meds once the first night home to help me sleep. I was walking 2 miles at a time on day 2. My hubby had the surgery 3 weeks before me. He took the day of surgery off and the next day. He worked from home the following day and was back in the office the next one. I was a little tired, but I had a baby 6 weeks prior to surgery so I was who could tell??? lol. I had some nausea but I took the little pill when it came on and was fine within minutes.

Take a breath and Celebrate your accomplishment. You are going to hit many, many, many stalls. I am currently in the middle of 6 week stall. Hoping it will pass soon. 30 pounds is great. Focus on eating your Protein and exercise. Do not become a slave to the scale. It's important to know where you are, but even when the scale isn't moving you could be losing inches. If you haven't already start taking your measurements at least once a month. Focus on your non-scale victories as well. If you only focus on the scale you will be disappointed often.

Yes. It is sad but true. We are judged for our outward appearance. I am sure people used to think I was fat and lazy. You know what? They were sort of right. Oh, I tried off and on to lose weight, but always gave up. That didn't mean I was any less capable as a person or any less important of a person.

I did the extreme calorie limit thing. It was horrible. My mother in law is currently on a diet where you cannot eat carbs and fats together. She uses nutritional yeast and a lot of STEVIA. It is very strange.

It gets better but still can only eat 1/2 cup at a time. I am 9 months out.

I definitely understand. I have been stalled for over a month now. I run 3-5 miles 3 mornings a week, walk 3 miles 3 mornings a week, do zumba one night a week, and do a class called body pump 2 nights a week. I eat about 800 to 1100 calories a day. Not sure what else I can do to lose weight. I just started the running right before Christmas. I work out about 10 hours a week so working out more is not an option for me. The cardio helped me to lose the pounds (at first) the body pump (weight lifting...think lighter weights of 5 to 40 pounds depending on the exercise and muscle group) and lots of reps (over 1000 reps in an hour) helped me slim the bulges. There would be months that I only lost 5 pounds, but lost 14 inches! I know the scale will eventually move, but it is so frustrating! Good luck.

I used to be a total pasta-holic. Nowdays I really cannot deal with it. I have a love of the ZOODLES. OMG this has changed my life!!! They are basically noodles made from zucchini. I have an awesome turkey meatball recipe that I got from my support group. Make a big batch and freeze them until time to eat. I eat zoodles about 3 times a week for lunch. I am in love. Turkey sausages in general are a great way to go. They also make chicken sausages.

I've had some discussions with my NUT, surgeon, and primary care physician about this. What they consider "grazing" is mindless eating. So, having a packet of crackers on your desk and work and eating when not hungry. I have dedicated Snacks and meals. I don't eat outside of these. The times may differ from day to day depending on my schedule, but I could not get enough in without the snacks. Typical day: coffee with stevia on the way into work (I have a 30 minute drive) 9:00 am breakfast (usually greek yogurt and turkey sausage or eggs and a Protein, or SF oatmeal and a protein, etc) 11:00 am snack (turkey, yogurt, cheese, just something) 1:00 or 2:00 pm lunch (zoodles with turkey meatballs or chicken and veggies--some type of protein and veggies) 4:00 snack (usually a protein before I go work out) 7:00 pm-ish dinner (protein and veggie or Soup or something) I get about 800 to 1100 calories a day. I run 3-5 miles 3 days a week. Walk 3-5 miles a week 3 days a week. Zumba once a week and weight training 2 times a week. I get between 60 and 80 g protein a day. Protein shake is up to you. There is NO way to get that much protein without shakes immediately after surgery. By a year out my doctor wants you to get 90% or more of your protein from food. It is good practice to have one available just in case you are stuck without a healthy food option or sometimes it is just impossible to get your protein in that day.

Oh my. I feel as if we share a very similar story. My mom told me in 8th grade that I need to lose weight because no boy wanted to go out with a fat girl. She told me when I was 30 that no man would marry a fat woman. (showed her, I got married to a wonderful man at age 35). My mom had me on a diet since the age of 10. In high school I became anorexic (got down to 83 pounds) and then when I went in for a check up the doctor put me in counseling and a "diet". Gained 40 pounds and my mom called me fat. I just went downhill from there. Ended up weighing almost 300 pounds. My mom was not really on board with me getting the surgery. I am now 9 months out and down 158 pounds. She has yet to say that I look good, or that I look better, etc. She has hurt me in many ways so it is just a way of life now. I am cordial to her, but i can't let her "in" anymore. It is just too much. I think the only reason she is nice to me is so she can see my daughter. I hope you can salvage your relationship with your mom. It is one of my biggest fears that my daughter will grow up and not want to be around me. My husband and others tell me that I am completely different than my mom. I hope so.

My surgeon said 800 to 1400. I am 5'4" and around 136 pounds. My hubby is 6' and weighs 190. Doctor told him 1400 to 1800.

Also remember that you typically have to work somewhere for at least a year before you get FMLA.

First, congrats on the loss! I think for for those who only see us occasionally, our loss is so dramatic that they don't know what to say. I will say that at least she said something to you. My own mother (who has berated me about my weight my entire life) did not say a word to me. I saw her for the first time since I had my baby (and the surgery) and said nothing. When I last saw her I weighed 290 pounds. When I saw her at Christmas I weighed 155. Not one word did she say. My own mother!! Keep up the good work. Ultimately, we are doing this to better ourselves.