lindz17

Surgery 5/29. 67 lbs gone forever. Would do it again in a heartbeat!

Best decision ever!!! Had surgery on 11/12/12!!!

Here's a more updated picture for everyone!!! #Lovingthenewme!!!

Starting 279.6
Current 199

Still not at goal. 4 years out. Was 278 I'm 196 now. My lowest was 189.

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I love my sleeve! Here I am wearing my fat clothes in both pictures.

I'll start the post off with my before and after pics. I was sleeved May 23 last year. We all love to see before and after pics as well as post them proudly. So post your pics proud sleevers. #Loving my sleeve #no regrets

This was what was written and it was directed towards pre-op patients who are new and just needed to understand what could possibly happen and things that may help. Literally just the bare basics. (At the class, i actually did bring in tools like portion containers, shaker cups etc to clarify the visual part of the comment.
It was so great to meet so many of you guys at wednesday's pre-op diet class. I met so many amazing people, and i know that all of you be successful with your journey. I got so many questions and we ran out of time. Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions or if you need additional support. I'm glad to help.
Just to recap for those who came, these were some of my key take aways for optimal success.
1. Realize that the signs of fullness are not at all what you're used to feeling prior to surgery. Everyone is different. Some people might hiccup, some might burp, some might feel like food is stuck, some people have runny noses. When any of these symptoms occur, stop eating immediately. You ARE full.
2. Pace yourself because eating to quickly can also cause many of those same symptoms. ( some people use baby spoons to help with that)
3. Visually understand how much food your new tummy will be able to take in at one sitting. Invest in small 4oz plastic containers to portion out your meals. And make that switch over from dinner size plates to appetizer sized plates and bowls. It is ok if you don't finish all of that and remember to go slow to avoid having food get stuck.
4. Conquer the emotional aspect of this process. Remember that all of the changes you're experiencing will get better in time. This whole entire process is all about mind over matter. Add additional support to your daily life. Follow up with Dr. Shauna Moore-Reynolds if you need to. Always focus on how far you've come, not how much further you need to go. Weight loss (even without surgery is not linear) you will get your goal at your own pace, so relax and enjoy it. There will be times where you may feel like you aren't losing weight, that time will pass. Don't give up. The weight will continue to fall off.
5. Invest in your tools for success. Get your stay cool Water bottles, or shaker cups, baby spoons, meal prep containers, slow cookers/ pressure cookers, air fryers, blender, lunch box, gym bag, shakes, supplement container, AND FOOD JOURNAL. (Whatever you need in order to stay on track and make life easy.)
6. Listen your body. There might be certain foods that no longer agree with you, sometimes it's temporary, sometimes it's permanent. Just avoid that food for the time being. It will get easier as time goes on. With these appetite changes you may discover new foods that you like. You may like certain foods and shakes now and hate the post surgery. It happens to all of us.
6. Start cooking all of your meals and plan ahead. I never worry about what i can't eat because i'm always eating delicious food, just made by me and made healthier. Learn to make your favorite take out meals. Use substitutions like greek yogurt, cauliflower rice, spaghetti squash etc., make sure that your pantry is full of all your favorite seasonings and sauces so you don't have to eat bland food.(Send me a message and i can share recipes)
7. Get used to shakes and water- it will be a huge part of the rest of your new life. Adjust the temp or stand up when drinking if you need to.
8. Try to avoid as much processed food as possible- avoid the frozen food isle at the grocery store (EXCEPT FOR FROZEN VEGGIES) and avoid the snack isle.
9. Read your labels because not all "healthy" food was created equal.
10. Stay off the scale. Don't stress over numbers. Take your initial measurements of various parts of your body. Take before and after selfies as motivation. Only weigh yourself either every two weeks or every month to avoid added stress. Remember it's about being healthier not about being a particular size or weight.
11. Avoid negative energy. We all have Debbie downer friends, we all have other overweight friends that aren't changing their lifestyles. Distance yourself from them and re-focus your energy.
12. Make your workouts fun. I personally refuse to do anything that i don't want to do, that's just me. So with that said, i will never be a marathon runner. But find things that you do like. Go for a walk on your lunch break, try swimming or tennis, or zumba, get a few workout buddies. Go at your own pace. Whatever your fitness level is at day 1, will not be where you are even a month later. Just keep going. Workouts definitely get easier with time because your body will adjust.
13. Encourage your family to eat healthy with you so you don't feel left out and temptations are left at the door.
14. Utilize other bariatric websites for your staple foods and shakes. Try bariatric pantry, Bariatric Choice, Bariatric Advantage, Amazon and bariatric food source. They sell tons of approved Protein drinks, shakes, Meal Replacement bars even Snacks.
15. If you experience pain or other health issues talk to your doctor about foods that fight inflammation like turmeric, garlic, green tea, and fish oil/ krill oil or anything with Omega 3.
SURGERY DAY AND POST OP RECOVERY:
What does surgery day feel like?
you will definitely be tired, and you will have lots of gas pain (it's more so annoying that painful), you will have absolutely no appetite what so ever and you will have to take baby sips of Water. Walk every hour like the dr. Says, it really will speed up your recovery time.
When you are able to do full liquids (you still won't have an appetite) but try wonton Soup without the wontons (just clear broth), low sugar keifer (it's high in Protein and probiotics) and sugar free popsicles to help with your hydration. Some people find RTD shakes easier during recovery. Most people (depending on your procedure) take anywhere from 5 days- two weeks before they feel good enough to go back to work. While your recovering go to wegmans or Walmart and walk around.
I hope this helps. Ignore anything that doesn't work for you.
Best Regards,
Jodi Wright
(202)812-8094
Jodiawright@gmail.com
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Omg thank you all so much. I hope you all know just how much you just made my day.
Fyi- i hiccup every single time i eat, it is the most annoying thing on earth. And i always burp after Water. I never used to do that lol.
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I just got sleeved on the 11th! So ready for this crazy ride! Pls add me to the FB page - my email is pandia17@sbcglobal.net. Thx!
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I just got sleeved on the 11th! So ready for this crazy ride! Pls add me to the FB page - my email is pandia17@sbcglobal.net. Thx!
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My name is Jennifer, I am 36, and I have 3 kids. It was so difficult to do things with my kids and I would struggle just trying to go on bike rides with them. I felt ashamed and ashamed for my kids. I couldn't even walk up stairs without taking a break halfway up. I couldn't stand for too long and had to sit down. I would breathe heavy. Oh and because I'm so short, I had to put my seat so close to my steering wheel in my car and my belly would hit it all the time, that was embarrassing. I wanted to show my kids that being healthy was important.
I made my life changing decision February of this year. I had my laparoscopic Gastric Bypass surgery April 19th 2016 and it's the best decision I ever made! On the day of my surgery, I weighed 244 pounds. Today, I weigh 169. My family and my neighbors tell me I'm melting away everytime they see me. Such an amazing feeling to hear them say that. I feel amazing! I know it's still going to be a long road but I am thankful to have this new start in my life.
I am now an ABA therapist for kids with Autism and a Distributor for Itworks! Global. Before I joined itworks!, I experimented with using their tummy wraps, greens and stretch mark cream because I had loose skin from losing so much weight. Let me tell you, best things I've ever used. I loved my results so much that I decided to become a distributor and help others who are going through the same thing as myself. Promoting products would be hard to do unless you actually use them yourself so I use my before and after pictures to show my progress.
I now can go on bike rides with my children and run up those stairs of mine and I feel great! If you are even just thinking about doing the surgery, I can just tell you that for me it's the best decision I've ever made. I know I have a long journey still to come and would love to share my journey with everyone along the way. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my journey.
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It's been one year today since I had my sleeve done. My life has changed in every aspect.
My start weight was 333.1lbs
My weight this morning was 137.8lbs
That's a total loss of 195.3lbs!!
I've also lost a total of 95 inches...I'm a size 6 now...used to be a size 30.
I have accomplished this by being very focused and strict with my eating and exercise.
I eat very low carb, and always get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water every day.
For all of you just starting out, just know that anything is possible, and if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything!! 
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Thru it all, the hunger, throwing up, heartburn,fright & frustration i was down 28lbs @ 29 days post opp , from 294 to 266 (im 5'10") @ my check up yesterday, SLEEVERS, its not easy but there is light @ the end of the tunnel! I show my Bariatric Pals, the good bad & ugly, not just b4 & after pics, after im down 100lb, making it seem like this surgery is some magic pill, cuz its NOT!!!!
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Im 9 weeks post op..feeling little tired some days..Im taking my Protein and liquids...plus Vitamins...I am noticing changes already!
HW 229
SW 212
CW 188
GW 140
11/08/2016 surgery day
VSG
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Im 22 i went in weighing 370 now im at 305 haven't reached my goal but im seeing progress really fast i go to the gym monday thru sunday for 2 hours everyday i recovered really fast after surgery most important is walking after surgery for 30 mins even if you feel pain and drink your Protein shake and your Multivitamins more progress to come ill keep yall posted about my progress hopefully it can motivate people

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