favoredone

Hello!! Welcome!!!! Congrats on your awesome weight loss so far!!!!

Well, I am an obssessive every day scale stander!!! LOL... I need to stop because my mood changes depending on what I see.. That's getting better.. but up until a month ago... not seeing the scale move used to ruin my day!! Now I have a better grasp on the fact that the scale is only ONE tool to measure my progress and success...

Welcome and Congrats!!!! I'm so excited for you.. Seems like yesterday when I was preparing everything for surgery.... I believe you are making one of the best decisions in your life, I know it was for me!!!! Please use this forum, trust me... I've found listening ears, inspiration and a wealth of information.. That little search bar has been my friend since June!!!

I have a pair of size 24 jeans, that are hanging off.. but, a pair of 26s that are tight on me.. It depends on the designer, stretch, material and cut... Heck, girl I say you are the smallest size you can wear!!!

I didn't have the band to sleeve revision, but I was in the hospital for 3 days (standard per insurance)... When I got home, I didn't use my pain meds at all.. I was off work for 6 weeks, my PCP thought I should just rest and adjust... I think you will be fine.. you should also trying looking at some of the groups on here.. I think there is one for band to sleeve revisions..

Awesome!!! I love shopping!!!

Awesome job!!!.. I'm having height envy right now!!! 5'6 and a half....

My back was hurting a lot... but, ... I was constipated!!! Some unfiltered apple juice and water.. now I'm 100% better!!!

You guys are so WONDERFUL!!!! Thanks so much!!!! I'm having a rough day at work.. but just reading your posts made me smile!!!!Hugs and Love!!!

Per request (LOL)... I've attached pictures from last night's event (I don't know how to make them small.. SORRY)... I had sooo much fun!!! These are my NSVs from last night... My dress is 3 sizes smaller that what I would have purchased in November!! I did not struggle to put on "cheap" pantyhose for the first time in my life!!! I bought them from Walgreens.. 3 bucks!!! Not 20!!! I wore my heels for over 6 hours... (They are too big... they 2" peep toe slings... in the last hole!!) I wasn't dropped off at the door, we parked towards the back of this huge lot and I walked to the place and then to the car afterwards I was complimented all night about my dress and personality... I didn't try to diminish it or find something wrong with myself... Is said Thank You and kept is moving (this is HUGE for me!!) The photographer there told my BFF, "This girl is something else I was okay w/ not choosing to eat what was placed before me.. The conversation and interaction was so engaging, that I literally forgot to eat... (I did have fish and broccoli) I saw my WL doctor, my surgeon and nurse practitioner... They all talked about how good I looked and that I look happy... This encouraged me a lot.. I've been struggling w/ submitting to the journey and not trying to win a race!! It was nice to see a lot of people from my support group.. And to just enjoy the evening... I'm looking forward to next year's Dinner/Dance so I can take plenty of comparison shots!!!! Thanks guys for all of your support and encouragement.. I truly appreciate it!!

Okay.. My favorite restuarant is the Grand Lux Cafe downtown Chicago... I had a friend visit from MN, so we went to dinner... I ate 2 chocolate chip pecan cookies!!! I've had one as a snack each night since Tuesday!!! (The server gave another half dozen as a birthday present!!)...

Congrats!! Welcome to the Loser's Bench!!!

I have a "Celebration of Life" formal dinner and dance to attend tonight given by my surgeon... I bought 2 new dresses last week.. went by the store to get pantyhose... saw a black dress that I HAD to have... along w/ a new bra, spanx and jewelry!!! And $250 later... I forgot my hose!!! LOL I probably won't be able to wear this dress next week, but Imma wear the heck out of it tonight!!! (And it's 2 sizes smaller that what I normally have to buy in formalwear!!!)

So... I have had about 4 NSVs in the last week.... Last night I went to the Grand Lux Cafe.. When we were taken to our BOOTH, I just slid right in and my tummy didn't touch the table!!!! (I almost cried!! My best friend was smiling so hard I thought she was gonna have a coronary!!) On Saturday, I was sitting on my sofa and without thinking and much effort.... I crossed my legs!!!!! Comfortably!!! My bariatric center has a yearly celebration of life dinner/dance.. It's tomorrow.. and I haven't been able to wear heels for 2/3 years (and I have over 20 pairs).... anyway, I was like..let me just try these on and see if I can walk in them... Well, I tried on a pair of black 2 inch, brown 3 inch, silver and a few others... I walked around in them for a while without pain, stumbling or anything!!!! Finally, due to a back injury and left side nerve damage, I've walked w/ a very noticeable limp... I happened to look at myself walking down the hall at school today... and it's almost gone!!! This is the best NSV I've had to date!!!! Stay encouraged guys and appreciate every step of this journey to wellness, wholeness and the revelation of a new and improved you!!!

Happened to me too!!! I couldn't believe it!!! LOL

How do you guys make the side by side pictures??

Great job ladies!!!!

WOW!! Totally amazing!!!

My biggest change in myself is my true inner self is being revealed each day!!! I've always been a bubbly, positive person... but it was a little forced.. NOW, I'm just ME!!! One of my friends put this way last night... "You walk into a room and command it... You just are... And people respond!"... Most of this has to do w/ just the process of choosing to have surgery and realization that I deserve to live my BEST life now... and i must take steps to preserve my life as an act of gratitude.... I'm enjoying my life, now I'm trying to find a balance between my career (that causes me major frustration, but I need the money) and my passion (music and art)...

I bought some calcium citrate petites... very small and I can swallow them... When I switched to gummy vits, it made taking my other supplements easier.

Well, I had a Mirena prior to surgery, got it taken out a week before surgery... I haven't had my period yet... I'm so afraid that when it comes, it's gonna COME with a vengeance!!!

You guys are so great and encouraging!!!! Writing is therapeutic for me... I'm thinking about actually blogging my journey for real...

Awww thanks Melanie!!! I really appreciate that!! How are things going w/ you??

Thanks!! I am happy, for the most part... Just been having a very insteresting week... I'm grateful for all my blessings and this new life!!!

I'm a little over 10 weeks out from surgery... I have to say, I've never done anything so physically, emotionally and mentally engaging as this sleeve journey.... Early out, the physical part of the journey was the most difficult for me.. but, learning to navigate my life and social interactions by listening to Sleevina and the rest of my body, has allowed me to release the anxiety of eating... (still there sometimes, but it was crazy at first!!! OMG!!)... Lately, the emotional and mental challenges of this journey have weighed me down some.. I guess, I expected to do what I'm supposed to and the weight will fall off and everything will be great!! NOT TRUE!!! Yes, the weight is coming off, but I don't know if my mind and body are in sync...I started not taking my vits and supps on time or at all (changed that yesterday!!).... Many days I only eat once (I know... that's crazy and can be dangerous.. I won't do this EVER again!)... When I look in the mirror, I still see a 382 pound woman.. I haven't gotten rid of all of my "big" clothes... I'm trying to figure out if it's because subconsciously I feel that I will wear them again!! I find myself using the word.. ONLY when talking about my weight loss... sometimes I feel that I haven't done enough... I've lost about 33 pounds since surgery (54 lbs total), but people think I've lost tons more because I'm losing lots of inches!! I am grateful.. I'm grateful because I can run around w/ my niece and nephew... I can cross my legs (I haven't done that in 8+ years)... I can walk around a store or my house for hours w/o sitting down or my back hurting... I can wear HEELS again!!!... (I'm a shoe freak.. this makes me sooo happy!!).. I'm comfortable in chairs, desks and my car... I haven't used my inhaler in over 3/4 weeks... I don't have to roll around in my chair at work for half of the period.. I can stand and walk around ALL day!!... So, through it all the crying, complaining, ups, downs, EVERYTHING... I don't regret a thing!!! These are my lessons I will not compare myself or my journey to anyone else's... Our journies are as different as we as individuals are.. Yes, we have similarities, but no body's exactly the same I will not beat myself up for making an unwise decision... it happens, take a breath and make a better decision next time.. I will not just focus on weight loss... I am in the midst of a total life make over... It will not happen overnight... I will not diminish my strength, hard work or successes to appease people... I've lost friends... but I've gained a new lease on life... I think I've come out ahead I WILL NOT STOP!!! I am determined to live my BEST life, EVERYDAY!!!!