Eaumond

I got my very first high waisted bikini from Amazon on Monday, so y'all know I had to do a before and after! Can't wait for the beach in September
HW: 330
SW: 323
CW: 155
(Sleeve, 18 months out on the 20th, no plastic surgery...yet, lol).

My normal gym has the weight room closed for remodeling so I have taken a break from weight lifting and started focusing on cardio. Averaging about 8 miles on my lunch hour. I usually leave the cardio room looking like this:

The good news is that with the extra cardio I've been doing, I'm down to a size medium shirt... It sounds weird even typing that.

I'm even in a size medium underwear, but I shall spare you all those pictures!
Sent from my phone, please forgive brevity and misspelling

Not the best of pics but here we go...

July 2010 304lbs

May 26th, 2016 285lbs (night before surgery)



09/29/16 213lbs *28 more to go!* (my daughter said the last one is my best)

So this was me, circa November 2015, picture taken against my will by a friend, he sent this to me this morning, had no clue it existed.

And this is me this morning. I have lost 105pounds so far.

pre-surg nsv: I can actually see my belly button! :sad0::thumbup1::thumbup1:

Don't worry about these few short weeks. They suck - - but it is for a good reason and you can get through anything when when you know it is temporary. After a few days, your body will settle down a bit and adapt. It doesn't get easy, but you wont be so on edge. The key for me was to let go and roll with it.
And don't worry... post-surgery is totally different. Just keep reminding yourself that your goal is to reduce your surgery risks and make the procedure easy for the surgeon.
You got this.

Honestly, I'm not much of a fish eater. But I CAN say that seasoning is key-- for both chicken and fish. Do cajun tilapia, chicken with chile powder and lime, stuff like that. Make it new every night.
Also, when you're hungry, CHUG Water. It helps. Really.
I was successful on my pre-op diet. Just do your best, be kind to yourself, and remember the goal.

Mahi-Mahi isn't really in season right now but if you can find it, it is delicious. Marinade it for 30 minutes in a bath of lemon juice, lime juice, olive oil, white wine and a touch of garlic, salt and pepper.
Broil or better yet grill it. It's fantastic and doesn't require sauces to be fully enjoyable!

I think more people post who may have issues (vomitting), those of us who do not have any side effects do not post as much.
I've never vomited, no complications, pretty easy peasy and I'm 62. I'm just melting away.
Like theantichick said, if I eat too fast or try for that one more bite, I may get a tad nauseus; but if you listen to your body, you really will know when to stop eating. We need to have that limit, that is how we lose the weight. I love being restricted.
As it was mentioned, this is a tool. You still need to remind yourself that your EYES are bigger than your belly. Even now 17 weeks out, I may put more on my plate thinking its a small amount yet I only eat half. It doesn't affect me at all. If I'm eating out, I just take leftovers home, and I may sit there while the rest of my family/friends finish up.

I was sleeved in May 2014 and converted to RNY in July of this year because of severe GERD. While I was sleeved, I never vomited. Not once. I've thrown up once since my conversion surgery and it was when I tried to introduce a new food (quinoa, although I ate it all the time with my sleeve). Nausea and vomiting is very individual and there's no guarantee that you will ever have either.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by what affect the reduced portion size has. For me, it has allowed me to lose weight at a relatively slow but steady pace. I'm maintaining a 133lb loss 2 years and 7 months post surgery. Also, a forced reduced portion size has allowed me to change my relationship to food and to understand what a proper portion size is. Being 2 years 7 mos post surgery, I can eat a relatively normal portion size. 3-4 oz of Protein and about 1 oz of a vegetable. I now know, and more importantly understand how food is fuel and what the appropriate amount is to fuel my body. If you had something else in mind by your question, let me know and I'll try and clarify my answer.
My advice would be to work on your head. Realize the the surgery is just a tool to help you keep weight off. You're not going to wake up skinny and you shouldn't let that discourage you. This process takes hard work. So work on your self and commit to doing the work. Finally, I would recommend choosing a surgeon and team that you trust and then following your plan. I see so many people challenging their doctor's plan because "they know what's best for their body." If you are at the point where you need surgery, somewhere along the line, your way has failed. I decided at the beginning to put my faith in my surgeon and follow what he tells me to do. You know what? It's worked. I never could have lost the weight . . . and more importantly kept it off, by straying from plan.
Good luck and feel free to ask if you have other questions.

Vomiting is cited as the most common side effect/adverse effect after sleeve surgery. But it's not a given. I have not vomited once since surgery. I did have one episode of heaving on Thanksgiving but nothing came up, and while walking down to the car after discharge had a horrible attack of hiccups that felt like I was about to start heaving, but caught my breath and it was okay. The hiccups were because I tried to grab one last swallow of Protein shake before leaving my room, took way too big of a sip and immediately started walking -- BIG MISTAKE. The Thanksgiving day episode was because I'd eaten several things I hadn't tried before at my sister's house, and then needed to visit the bathroom but didn't want an extended visit at my sis's house so we drove home (30 min) while I was having stomach distress, and so it magnified. All on me.
I have had a lot of nausea and discomfort, but it has been because of eating/drinking too much or too fast or choosing the wrong things (too much sugar or fat). It's taken me a bit to learn what my sleeve thinks is appropriate food in both selection and quantity, but when I pay attention it goes pretty good. Right now my biggest challenge is learning to slow down.

Thx for sharing
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Thank you!!
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Thank you everyone. I'm hoping mine is no longer then an hour since I have to do 2 of them. I know my program has a letter I have to give him telling him the questions they want asked which he is well aware of since he's the one everyone in my area uses. I've never met him but when I spoke to him on the phone, he seemed kind of "cold" towards me. Idk hopefully he's better in person lol.

Mine was no more than 30 minutes, asking various questions about why you want the surgery, how you may have gotten to the weight you are, the questions are not to judge or fix you, they are there to see if you are ready to get this and succeed, they want you to have a support system too. Hope it goes well!
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Here are some drink recipes my dietitian gave me, these are for pre-op and post op stage (full liquids), you can always try talking with your dietitian as well, it's their job to help!!

chocolate chiller:
1 cup skim milk
1 pack no-sugar added hot chocolate mix
1 scoop Protein powder
Mix well, option: add 4 ice cubes and blend.
Pina Colada:
1 cup skim milk
1 scoop Protein Powder
1/2 packet sugar free vanilla pudding mix
1-2 drop pineapple extract
1-2 drops coconut extract
Mix well, server over ice.
Creamsicle:
1 cup crystal light or sugar free Tang
1/2-1 scoop of Protein Powder
1 sugar free creamsicle (any flavor)
mix well.

Hello,
Just hoping for some tips on post op day 1 or 1st week out, I will be following dr's orders, but any tips will be considered!
I will be getting VSG surgery DEC 30th as an out patient, getting it done at a center of excellence in Arizona, Phoenix area, so far I know that I will be going back a day later to get my drain removed. post op diet is looking like 1 week clear, 1 week full liquids, 3 weeks puree'd and so forth. I'm nervous and excited.
Not excited for 14 days of lovenox...