njlimmer

For about 6 months prior to surgery, I was on these forums A LOT. I read about all the things... the highs and low, and honestly, I felt really prepared afterwards. Not that these forums replace your doctor, but hearing about people challenges, what worked, what didn't work... It really helped me to not stress out over the stuff that is really pretty normal.

Hi All! So a little over two years, and it's mostly all good news! I've run like 6 5k races now, but I hurt my knew in April and haven't run for 2 months. Started running again this week, but it's amazing how hard it is to get back into that mindset. I'm 10lbs up from my goal weight that I had hit and maintained for a year so that's a little frustrating. I know I need to get back to basics, but that sugar craving is ROUGH! I also find that I'm mindlessly eating so that is part of what I need to nip in the bud before 10 becomes 20 and so on. It's so weird though... before I wouldn't have even noticed gaining 10lbs. Now I can FEEL it. Hope everyone else is doing well!

It took 65 pounds for me to really see the difference in my clothes and then it was like overnight, I burned through all the available clothes in my closet. Unfortunately, when you're bigger, it seems to take longer to feel the results. Now that I've lost 140, when I gain 5, I can FEEL it whereas before 5lbs was not even a blip on my radar. Give yourself some grace and stay the course.

No lie... my mind went to a different type of "activities";)

I was amazed by how much of our time together revolved around food so that was different in the very beginning, but you can always find something at restaurants and whatnot. If your partner is willing and able though, you can all kinds of activities that were hard before like hiking, go carts, amusement parks, travel in general....

I had complete input. They suggested a date, but I asked for another - further out - that worked better with my schedule. They didn't have a problem with it. I would think the only problem might be if they were already booked, or the Doc/hospital wasn't available for some reason.

I changed my habits in the 6 months leading to surgery and lost 45lbs, but RIGHT before my pre-op diet started, I did have a little bit of a food funeral. Luckily, or unluckily depending on your POV, I can have pretty much anything I want - I just do it in moderation now.

I was diagnosed with diabetes and told that if I didn't do something in 5 years I was going to have some serious issues. Cured of diabetes and 140 lbs later, I also wish I would have done it sooner. I know you don't have any health problems, but the keyword is YET. You don't have them YET.

When I was your age, I didn't seriously contemplate the surgery because back then it was too new (I'm 48 now) and it was the full open you from stem to stern unlike the 5 little incisions now. You have to weigh all your options and do what works for you, but if I were your age with today's surgery and knowing what I know now... I'd do it.

16 hours ago, mi75 said:

Hi all- I'm almost EIGHT years out VSG! I can't believe how time has flown by. I have some regain and have been refocused to get it off.

I joined CrossFit several years ago and really enjoyed it but I'll be honest, I suffer gym anxiety so bad that I avoid going at all. The anxiety has gotten progressively worse over the last 3 years of attending. I changed gyms and even got my husband to join but I'm suffering bad. I literally have panic attacks. The irony in this is that I'm a psych nurse practitioner and spend my days treating folks with the same sorts of issues. So I know this is actually legit.

I was on YouTube one day looking at some random video, and an ad came up showing this at-home dance program that involved a group of people, and they were doing these dance/exercise routines to multiple genres of music. I sadly don't remember what the heck it was called but wondering if anyone here knows, or knows of something similar??

I'm going to be likely leaving my CrossFit gym and since I'm really trying to get back to more of a bariatric-focused program, trying to increase my aerobic activity at home. I thought something like this might be a fun option. I hope someone can direct me...

Thanks!

Is it Body Groove?

It's a bunch of people in what looks like a dance studio... the leaders has long dark hair, I think. I've done some of them on YouTube and I like them. I also found a guy who does Zumba on YouTube, and I like his stuff. He's Zumba Sulu.

Not sure this qualifies as a "victory" but it's weird!!

I have a movable, interlocking partition wall in my library. You have to fit each piece together, go to the edge of it and PUSH to get the pieces to interlock. I used to be able to push it together will minimal effort. Now, I can't get it together without almost slipping on the carpet and wiping out. Last time, some of the other teachers had to help. I figured out that it's because I have 140lbs less force behind me!

Smooth Move tea worked gently for me.

You'll be able to get drinks and stuff out again. I don't know about Smoothie King though. I'd check the menus like others have suggested. If you have a Sonic, the unsweetened iced tea with SF Rasberry is AMAZING!

If they won't let you do an Uber, can you find someone on Care.com who could pick you up? Might even be able to have them stay with you for the day if you're concerned.

I'm sorry they're not supportive. Even if they disapprove, not being there to help you out sucks.

I am feeling this post so hard. SO HARD!!!!

Same. It took me a while to understand what "full" meant. You're doing the right thing by keeping to portion sizes, and as you get farther out and start on more solid foods, you'll figure it out. Just make sure you're eating slowly so your body has a chance to send that signal to you. Sometimes that last bite is the difference between feeling full and feeling nauseous for me.

17 hours ago, JessiPhoenix said:

Thanks! I wanted the sleeve because it wasn't as complicated as the bypass. I guess I'm just nervous that something is going to go wrong. When it comes down to "that 1% of people have this or that happen", I usually have it happen. I hear all the time from my doctors "it's rare but we'll check to make sure". Then I'm diagnosed with that "rare" thing.

I understand. I said the same thing to my doc, and he said that on our end, it was the same. It's more technically complicated on his end and it takes about 45min longer, but other than that there's no real change. I really do understand about the fear. I was the same, and not trying to freak you out, but I had a complication the next day that my doctor says there's not even a percentage for. I had a freak reaction to the Levonox shot and started bleeding. I ended up back in surgery, but by then I had stopped bleeding but they didn't know that till they went in. No lie - it was scary, but I was in amazing hands. The nurses and staff were unreal. AND... knowing what I know now... and knowing what would happen the next day, I'd still do it. I'm down 139lbs, but more importantly, I'm diabetes-free. I have been able to do more with my kids in the last year than I have in the past several. I've been fortunate (or unfortunate depending on my mood) that I don't have problems with any foods. Even though I had that bobble the second day, my recovery was so easy that I asked the clinic staff if he'd actually done anything. They laughed. The nutritionist said 90% of people have no problems - that's how it should be. You hear most about the problems because of people posting and looking for advice/help but most people have little to no issues.

Ultimately, you have to do what works for you, but if bypass is what they've told you is your only choice because of physical issues, then you have to decide if it's worth it or not. Honestly, something could just as easily have gone wrong with the sleeve. I get it though. I was scared poopless. I think the great majority of us were. Good luck!!!

I love orzo!! I made a really good Tuscan orzo with mushrooms and sundried tomatoes. It was so yummy. I bought some whole wheat orzo but I haven't tried it yet.

Yes to all that! I would also add that I have the Renpho scale and SMART measuring tape. There are bunch of different SMART tools out there, so you don't have to get that one, but I absolutely agree with starting the documentation now. If/When you get down, you can look back at all the progress you made. It's really inspiring!

I also joined here 6 months before my surgery and I think that was one of the reasons I've been successful. I felt really prepared for anything that might happen after surgery so when I had gas, felt pain, stalled, etc... I knew what to do. Good luck!!

I set the timer on my Apple watch and took sips every 3 min. I would do that for about 30 min and then I'd come back in 30 and do it again. It's a PITA right at first, but staying hydrated is critical in those first few weeks. Once you can have more than a sip at time, you can back that off. Even almost a year later, if I feel like I'm not drinking enough, I'll set my watch and have like 2-3 swallows every 3 minutes while I'm sitting at my desk.

Honestly, other than the Vitamin regimen being slightly different, it's pretty much the same. I went in asking about the sleeve but my doctor suggested the bypass. As I asked questions - now that it's done laparoscopically, there's not a ton of difference in the recovery. I think the Vitamins are probably the biggest difference and your doctor should be able to give you that info. I love my bypass. My surgery was 3/3/2021 so I'm almost a year out and down 139lbs. In fact, tomorrow a year ago is when I started my pre-op diet. It is mentally challenging though when you're all prepped for one thing but then it gets changed to something else. You've got time to do some more research:)

18 hours ago, njlimmer said:

Ran my first 5K on Saturday, and while it took almost an hour, I actually ran the whole way. It was amazing. When I started getting tired, I just remembered when I first started and how I died just running a minute, but now I ran for 55 minutes!

Also... came out of the shower this morning, and realized I could actually wrap the towel around me without that wedge of skin showing!!

Got some pics!! Of the race... not the towel wrapping!!

I take two Fiber pills a day and it helps to keep me regular. Try Smooth Move or rooibos tea to help too. Those two always work for me. The smooth move is a little gentler than the rooibos, but it gets things moving!

11 months out and haven't thrown up once. I've made myself nauseous a few times when I've eaten too fast or REALLY overdid it on sweets, but both of those are my fault and helped to remind me to do better.

I loved the ricotta bake. It's super easy with little prep other than opening some packages and heating it up. I can't remember if that was soft food or pureed food, but I ate it a lot because it was so yummy.

Ran my first 5K on Saturday, and while it took almost an hour, I actually ran the whole way. It was amazing. When I started getting tired, I just remembered when I first started and how I died just running a minute, but now I ran for 55 minutes!

Also... came out of the shower this morning, and realized I could actually wrap the towel around me without that wedge of skin showing!!

On 11/18/2021 at 7:50 PM, vikingbeast said:

Congratulations! I'm in the middle (literally) of Couch-to-5K right now, so at the sort of 8 minutes 5 minutes 8 minutes bit. But my pace is getting better and better and I'm confident I'll break a 10-minute mile once I can run ten minutes all at once. And, like you, I never thought I'd be a runner, but here we are!

It's so crazy how it works!! I actually ran 5k in my neighborhood last weekend and felt like I pushed it, but didn't feel like I was going to die so it works!