Christinamo7

what a great NSV. buying off the rack in a pinch.

doesn't it feel wonderful!

I love to sew my own clothes. alterations? not so much. but I have done a fair amount of it as the weight has gone down, because for one I didn't want to have to buy new undies at every size. or have to get rid of things so quickly. it has been a real pocketbook saver. Also surprisingly I had to hem a lot of things as my butt went away. I even took in my swimsuit this summer so I could hold off on buying one until next spring. you may find this book helpful https://www.amazon.com/Refashion-Handbook-Refit-Redesign-Remake-ebook/dp/B00MEWK980/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472485467&sr=1-4&keywords=alterations#nav-subnav

I am glad you are going to see the GYN. I know there are things they can do to help you, supplements etc. and also lubricants. You shouldn't have to put up with having no desire.

between 4-6 months - so just about a week shy of a two month STALL. back to loosing slowly now. who knows, my body needed a rest. My doctor says I am right on track also, and all my labs came back healthy except my b Vitamins which were too high (no more Vitamin Water zero for me for a while) I am happy. I know I will continue to loose if I continue to follow a healthy lifestyle.

drink small sips as whatever is comfortable. it probably has a lot more to do with the swelling going down than what size they used.

the only thing that comes to mind is not having carbonated beverages - they are everywhere and tempting and while I believe I could handle a little without problem, I don't want to use the artificial sweeteners typically used in them. so I have Water instead.

Yes, yes, and yes! It's like there is a cult of the almighty Sleeve and any negative talk is met with, "Give it time!" and "You'll feel differently later." I have even met people who say they love their sleeve and talk about how wonderful it is and then later will tell you about their complications - acid reflux, food aversions, vomiting, and then when I say, "woah! Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?!!?" and they will just say it's no big deal and change the subject. I know someone that I talked to before surgery. After I had the VSG she told me she has an atrophied kidney - (probably because of more than 9 years on PPIs that she's been taking for reflux.) I said that would have been nice to know before surgery. She said she wasn't sure it was the PPIs that caused the kidney damage. Oh, and she only throws up once a week because of reflux - it's not that bad. That's right - she didn't tell me that last part until after I got a sleeve. [ btw, "ad nauseum" - nice choice of words, Gina] I went to a post-op support group last week and met a woman who had a VSG 7 years ago. During the support group, she was talking about the joys of having a sleeve and she brought a friend who is planning to get one in October. But... on the way out the door to our cars I asked her about her reflux: "worse than ever" she said. She is on more medication than she was before the sleeve. Sleeve groupies. It's the cult of the sleeved. I swear if I end up liking this sleeve later - not sure I will - but if I do, I will never be a sleeve groupie. I will be honest with the pre-ops. When I b*tch about my reflux, I get "didn't you know that was a complication of the sleeve?" Well, yes, but I didn't know it was a permanent one, or that I was likely to develop it forever if I didn't have it already. but I don't have reflux, food aversions, vomiting or any of that mess. I am OFF all prescription medications. my diabetes is resolved or in remission. so you know - these things do not happen for everyone. I *can* eat anything - in small amounts - and I have the sleeve which makes it possible for me to follow a healthy diet without being hangry. it has been nothing but wonderful for me, and I'd say probably for the vast majority who do not even post on boards but go on with their new normal lives. if I had developed reflux I would have sought out revision to bypass. I wouldn't want to have to deal with daily reflux.

we all had some sort of bad eating habits. the question is, with the sleeve to help you how willing are you to make changes? secondly, many to most people have regrets in the first few weeks. you are healing and nothing seems right. six months out, fully healed, eating well, weight down, diabetes gone I am happy as a clam. some who are unhappy have had complications. some were not ready to make changes to their lives. your BMI is on the lower side so your loss will likely be slower, but you will get there. only you know if it is right for you.

That would mean you have lost about 8 pounds each month. That's not very slow, actually. It's about normal for women over 30. But, it probably is seen as slow considering you've had the surgery. But who cares since you're under 200! You're already doing so well! Proud of you!! except I lost most of it in 3 months, had a 2 month stall and have just started loosing again. but yes, I am pleased as punch with my results. and YES. it is much easier to be patient from this side of 200.

I did not have to loose weight or have a pre op diet, until, of course, the night before surgery. it will depend on your health concerns, your surgeon, the practice and your insurance plan. I did however wean off caffeine in the pre op period so I wouldn't have those headaches at the same time as post op recovery. I ate a lot of green veg since I knew I wouldn't have room for them for a while, and they are chock full of good stuff your body needs, but those were my own choices.

highest weight was 267 - at surgery I was 238. I am six months out and right around 190. which is slow compared to others, but I have had some unique stresses in my life this summer (both of which are not things that are going to go away, or resolve) and quite frankly I am not in a hurry. I know it's going down. I know it will continue to go down in these first 18-24 months, I know I am making good habits and so I am fine with my weight loss process. my personal goal is 160 or less - normal BMI would be 129 - we'll see where it all settles in the end. anywhere between 125 and 160 I will be happy with.

I would not use baby powder there, as that can cause problems. there are some anti-fungal powders that may be used at times, but what has always helped me is to use coconut oil as a skin barrier after shower/bath. it will keep that smell and associated problems at bay. I am around 190 - and my belly is not just skin yet. but it is a whole lot smaller than it used to be! like about 1/3 of what it was.

I would not make my first try in public. I plan to try wine at the holidays, so my *first* sip of wine will be sometime in November when it is just me and the hubs. if that goes well then I will feel more comfortable to have a small glass at Thanksgiving or some such event.

I have a dog to go walking with me...... I live in a suburban area and it's usually walking before work or after work which depending on the time of year can be dark thirty. but then, I like to go out walking after midnight......... when I have the opportunity to do so. I've never seen bear here where I live now, but back where I came up at yes, often. but they just want to be left alone, so I quietly go about my way. it's never been a problem. I've never shot a pistol - just rifles. but if you are trained and it makes you feel safer, then why not? better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

I never use the fridge, I have an ice pack I put in my lunch box, but I usually do have foods for reheating. some I put in a ceramic ramekin that I heat on a cup warmer. so - you're probably not interested in my lunch selections. sometimes for snack I take half a cup of low fat cottage cheese and some sort of fruit (a few apple slices - or some cherries - or part of a pear - or some blueberries - a small peach) sometimes I take half an ounce of roasted almonds and a few dried cherries.

I had bought some opurity chewables for right after - but once they were gone I take a once a day women's Vitamin from garden of life.

I had an open hysterectomy about 6 months before the sleeve. the sleeve is easy compared to that. recovery much shorter. hardest part is the important liquid diet afterwards. it's a toss up which surgery is my favorite though, as both were life changing in good ways.

I applied when I was approved - ask your bariatric team, they process this paperwork all the time.

the brain uses glucose. your heart and other necessary organs are Protein and need you to be eating at least your minimum amount of protein.

@@nakole73 one of my favorite foods that I could have after one month is a "big mac salad" so, a wee amount of chopped lettuce a wee amount of ground beef cooked with salt pepper and garlic (I do a mix of ground sirloin and ground turkey breast, but you could do just ground beef) some shredded cheddar 1 pickle slice chopped one green onion chopped and a couple of drops of thousand island dressing a few sesame seeds totally scratches the cheeseburger itch! sometimes now I have a small regular cheeseburger without the bun. life will be more normal in a couple of months, I promise. then some of those regrets fade as your benefits increase.

no cheating here. any modifications to my teams plan in the first weeks came through conversation with doctor or NUT. not taking any chances on my healing stomach! I felt I was ready for soft foods a bit early and doctor decided that yes, my post op swelling had likely gone down enough to allow it. moved me forward a few days. then, because I don't eat fish they allowed me to try slow cooker chicken - and I did fine with it. but, not cheating - I talked to my team before going ahead, even though I was fairly confident I was ready. it's major surgery inside there! after I was judged to be healed and cleared for any food I have had a chocolate chip cookie, a cinnamon roll and a small ice cream. not on a regular basis, but I have had those foods once or twice. 90% of the time if I want a sweet it is fruit or a sugar free fruit popsicle. probably more like 95% of the time.

just eat them SLOWLY. it might take a couple of bites to find out if they sit well or not.

I'd just buy a size down and two sizes down if you see great sales. by the time you get below that, there will be new sales.

interesting article. I have been concerned about a guy in my local group who had surgery and has lost his weight but works out a LOT. he works nights and all the time he and his wife (who also had surgery) are posting about biking and other activities. the other day I asked him if he sleeps and he said he had only slept 2 hours that day. I think that's a problem. but everyone in the group holds him up as some kind of example for how we should be doing. I love to walk. I love to hike and swimming is my absolute favorite. I really enjoy unwinding with yoga type stretching - which has been so beneficial for sciatic nerve pain. but I don't ever want to feel like I *have* to exercise -