Sandy GlueStick

Here my one year progress photo!

Highest weight: 294
Day of surgery: 252 (10/19/15)
Current: 150
Total loss: 144
February 27, 2016--199.8 onederland
March 16, 2016--100.6 total lost
May 17, 2016--174.8 mini goal reached
July 23, 2016--165 mini goal reached
October 16, 2016--150 ultimate goal weight
Progress:
October (252) - November (232): -20
November (232) - December (222): -10
December (222) - January (214): -8
January (214) - February (203): -11
February (203) - March (191): -12
March (191) - April (183): -8
April (183) - May (175): -8
May (175) - June (168): -7
June (168) - July (166): -2
July (166) - August (162): -4
August (162) - Sept (157): -5
Sept (157) - Oct (150): -7

I've discovered my pattern is lose 3-5 lbs, gain 2, lose 3-5, gain 2...which is interesting/frustrating at the same time...so I signed up for membership at an "orange theory" studio that is opening 5 min from my house. I have 3 weeks until that opens up and I will be working out regularly. Until then I've just been walking...i feel like that's my main problem: not enough exercise! I'm just about exactly 40lbs lost, give or take a lb.
Also, my husband and I are going on our first solo vacay since having kids (6 years ago!) and I made resos for Vegas in mid-October! Definitely a trip that i am looking forward to, but I'm also nervous about food/drink/travel etc etc...
Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I'm so glad I read this cuz I had forgotten about the "just eat the toppings" thing. Thanks for the reminder. I'm starting it today. Bye bye lettuce [emoji13]

Hello, did anyone here have to check-in alone? Drive to surgery, check themselves in, wake up, everything else, alone, without someone with them?
My husband won't be in town in time and I absolutely don't want to ask any of his family to take me. They would in a heart beat for sure if I asked but I'm the kind of person who hates to inconvenience others. I kind of think I'd be okay being alone?
I just wondered if anyone here was alone for surgery experience, or thoughts on not asking anyone to accompany me.

It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall?
I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea.
Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.
For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response:
What can you do to "break" a stall?
1) STAY OFF THE SCALE
Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale.
2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE
In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck.
3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY
As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do.
If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall).
4) EXERCISE
If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle.
5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT
If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall).
6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE
About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics.
7) JOURNAL
One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil.
-- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general.
-- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place.
-- Write about what life was like before surgery.
-- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future.
-- Write about your fears.
-- Write about your NSVs.
-- Make a gratitude list.
-- Make a bucket list.
-- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self.
Just write.
8) SEEK HELP
Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous.
The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them.
The last, and most important thing you can DO is:
9) EMBRACE THE STALL
Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process.
Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines.
Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss.
If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

I'm 7/13 and feeling great. Down 15 pounds since surgery (230 to 215). No pain except when I try to get up from a laying position. sleeping is so uncomfortable because I can only sleep on my back and it hurts my back!
My main issue is HUNGER. I am so hungry all the time and cannot focus on other things. Watching people eat makes me so mad/sad.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You definitely need to eat more. I'm 5 months post op and I gained 3 weeks ago. I immediately increased my calories from 600-700 a day to 800-900 a day. I lost the 2lb I gained plus 2 more the next week. You need to drink 2 litres a day. Don't be down. You're doing great. Each food stage change makes our bodies react. You'll stabilise when you're on solids. Are you in the UK?
Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

Not all surgeons have as strict of stages. After hospital discharge I had no liquid stage. I was (on plan) eating yogurt and cottage cheese 3 days post op, scrambled eggs, ground beef, Beans, etc 4 or 5 days post op, and professed quickly from there to no restrictions on texture. I had no nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or any other complications. I'm down 111 pounds and approaching 11 months post op, and 9 pounds to goal.
I don't share this to encourage anyone to not follow their surgeons plan- I absolutely believe everyone should follow their instructions as given. I just find it very interesting how varied post op plans are, from what I followed to 3 solid weeks of liquids immediately post op.
Good luck to you in your journey!!

Bottoms up, friend! I love a Bloody Mary!
Good luck with your procedure.

@@higher
Maybe. I did a lot at first from elation at not being dead. Then like a week later it all caught up with me. If I had it to do over I would just walk and take it easy and rest.

July 11!!! In 3 days!!!! Actually sitting in waiting area for my preop appt right now...

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

Doing great now--it was certainly a good reminder of how important it is to follow instructions!!
-Crystal Ball

July 11!!! In 3 days!!!! Actually sitting in waiting area for my preop appt right now...

Okay cool!

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

I went on a cruise for 2 weeks preop. I didn't have to follow a strict preop diet apart from the day before. I drank until 2 days before. I was absolutely fine. There is no evidence to suggest alcohol affects anaesthetic or recovery (apart from 24 hours preop). You'll be fine. Don't worry. I am a preop nurse and we ask patients not to drink for 24 hours preop only. Good luck.
Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

Hi, wanted to let you know I appreciated everyone's thoughts on this. I had my preop appointment this morning and asked about partaking in a celebratory drink or 3 this weekend. She said no problem whatsoever, just NOT on SUNDAY. I asked a few times just to be sure. Lol
So, I'm here, at the weekend event. Had a cocktail after we unpacked the trailer and set everything up. Tried to have another and just wasn't "feeling it."
Will I drink tomorrow? Most likely not. I'm too excited for Monday anyway. But it was interesting to get the all-clear at my preop, and everyone's answers here were also very interesting!!! Thank you!

July 11!!! In 3 days!!!! Actually sitting in waiting area for my preop appt right now...

July 11!!! In 3 days!!!! Actually sitting in waiting area for my preop appt right now...

July 11!!! In 3 days!!!! Actually sitting in waiting area for my preop appt right now...