Tiffykins

Whew ! ! ! Where has the time gone? ? ? It's hard to believe that this time last year I was still recovering from my revision, waiting for my husband's return from Afghanistan and gearing up for my son to start school. Life is great, and I am just living. Y'all have probably noticed I'm really not around as much, and I have no excuse other than I am just living, and I kind of feel like I've put out enough information out here that can sifted through. BUT, I log on once or twice a day, check my messages, and check in with everyone. For anyone that has questions, feel free to message me. Especially if you ask me a question in a topic started and I don't reply, it's because that topic gets lost and I don't see it. Weight wise, I'm doing great with maintenance. I'm still clucking along at 120-125 on any given day. I do bloat up around my ovulation and period weeks. It's probably because I carb load those weeks, but I lose it and I'm not sweating a couple of pounds here and there. I'm still eating about 6 times a day. Protein focused meals for 4-5 of those meals, and one meal of veggies usually. It's what is working for me. I feel amazing, and couldn't be happier. For those of you freaking out about surgery, or wondering "hmm, should I do this?" just do it, stop freaking out, and let go ! ! ! I never miss huge portions, I am still never hungry, and I live a very social, active life. Nothing stops me and nothing holds me back. I only wish everyone that is considering this surgery could believe me when I tell them just how "normal" my life is day in and day out. I get asked a lot "what do you eat, how much do you eat?" This is lunch from yesterday. Skirt steak fajita meat rice, Beans, sauteed onions with a bunch of queso poured all over it, and I ate a total of 3 tortilla chips with salsa, guac and queso. I did eat 6 more onions from the fajitas that I didn't picture here. So, you can all see that I eat literally anything and everything I want. I was not stuffed, or over full, but satisfied. It took me 30 minutes to eat what is on the plate. I ate 2 chips with salsa and queso before my meal was served, and took a few sips of Water because the salsa was spicy and salty. For those not on my friend's list, here is the before and afters. Me and the mister pre-op 270lbs, size 22/24W After, Today at 121lbs, size 3/4 It's a beautiful ride, get in, hang on tight, and start living the life we were meant to live ! ! !

Which PPI are you on? Are your calories matching your activity level? As stupid as it sounds, GasX strips contain some sugar alcohol which triggers some funky hunger like feelings for me. It's not hunger really, it's just this funky strange feeling I get. I was able to isolate it when I was snacking on Protein bars. On the PPI, are you taking it on an empty stomach and waiting a minimum of 30-60 minutes before eating? This is on my RX of Prilosec, and I have a girlfriend down here that went on Protonix (generic) and her bottle reads the same.

Eat some green beans as long as you're cleared per your surgeon's guidelines. I firmly believe that our bodies tell us what we need. I eat an entire meal of veggies for one of my meals. It's different me at goal, I know, but a few tablespoons of greens won't hurt you, and your colon will thank you ! ! !

Awww okay, I'll still keep you in my thoughts.

One year ago today, I took the plunge and revised from the band to the sleeve. Everyone knows my story, and most of y'all have followed me for the last year. There really aren't enough words that can even remotely explain just how fabulous life is post-op, and just how amazing all the little victories make me feel day in and day out. As I've gotten further out, I noticed I started taking for granted the little things. Ya know, walking around the mall for hours without hurting or huffing and puffing, doing 4 hours of yardwork without a break and not having a coronary, sitting in the floor and not having to waddle my way up grasping for anything to support myself. All of these things are day in and day out activities that I found difficult, or completely avoided before surgery. I've lost a total of 148 pounds since my journey began with the band, and with the sleeve alone I've dropped 141 pounds in less than a year. Maintenance is now easier, and I'm assuming my body is content with 121-125 pounds. I'll not complain, and realize that this is where it needs to be. This year, my focus is going to turn to toning up, getting in better shape, and making a baby with my fabulous husband. I celebrated today by shopping (you didn't expect anything less did you?). I stopped by Ross with a girlfriend, and after she had to leave, I just kind of browsed. I ran across a pair of Calvin Klein crop pants, size 4. I thought to myself should I be brazen enough to even think I could squeeze into these. Should I even bother? I took them and a few other items into the fitting room. The shirts fit perfectly, and with slight trepidation I slid my pants off, and sucked in my everything with all my might in hopes of squeezing into them. Well, low and behold, they fit, and I had room in the waist. Not having to suck anything in, not having to hold my breath, not feeling like I was being squeezed into a sausage casing. The best part of the entire situation is that they are STARK WHITE! ! ! I can't count how many times I've wanted to wear white pants especially in the Spring/Summer, but didn't because light colors make us look bigger, and they aren't very forgiving. I absolutely love this outfit, the little brown shirt/jacket thing is new as well size small ! ! ! I can't wait to see what the next year brings me. If you are contemplating the sleeve, stop thinking about it, just do it. If you think for one minute that you won't succeed, please get rid of the negativity. All of the bad thoughts, and self-doubt are not going to give you the results you want in the end. Remember, the sleeve will give you exactly what you put into it. Work your sleeve, but do not beat yourself up if you decide to have an Oreo cookie. 1-2 Oreo Cookies didn't make us fat, the entire package of Oreos with a half gallon of milk made us fat. And, the obligatory, side by side, before/after 1 year out pic ! ! ! Cheers to every single one of you regardless of where you are in the journey. Hang on tight, it's a wild ride, enjoy every minute, cherish the victories, move past the struggles, and come out on the other side BIG WINNERS ! ! !

You're doing really great, and with being so close to goal, it's going to be an up and down ride. Can you try the shake things up thing again? Maybe add 50-100 calories a day for say a week, then drop again. You might have already tried that, but that's the only thing I can think of hun. . . You've done great, maybe your body needs more calories on the days that you're working so hard. Also, have you measured lately, clothes fitting differently? Remember, that even though you might not be losing pounds, a pound a pound be it that it's a pound of fat or muscle. Big difference is that fat is bulky/bump, muscle lean/slim. Do you notice a pattern of gain a little on the days you work out hard, muscles are like 73% Water, and if you are building muscle, you retain water, when we build muscle, it tears down first, and needs water to repair and build good structure. I've lost inches without losing pounds, and have actually gained a few pounds, BUT my clothes fit better. Hang in there chickee ! ! !

I have 15 different scars on my abdomen from the 4 surgeries within 16 months, and 5 different drain placements. YAY for scars ha ha ha. NOT I applied Mederma for a couple of months, no change, they're fading, my stomach looks like a connect the dot puzzle book, but they are fading. I'm pastey white, tanning doesn't help my scar look better, they just glow brighter white, and I have zero plans of being in a bikini regardless of how tiny I get so I just ignore them. . . With the scars and stretch marks(which are this pretty little pink color, not dark, just a pale pink color) my belly resembles a little piece of Texas road map, and my belly button would be the STAR for the capital city of Austin.

I'm only 5'2" on a good day ! ! ! Being short really has it's advantages once you lose your weight, seriously, people think I am so "petite and tiny". I've never been called tiny in my life, and it's kind of crazy when I look at my before pictures. . . Plus, being short makes buying jeans in smaller sizes so much easier. Skinny jeans come in the perfect length for us vertically challenged ! ! !

Cravings are mental. Hunger is physical. That being said they operate on our stomachs, not our brains. Now during my losing stage, I had zero true cravings and was so focused on getting Protein, I didn't have time to think about anything else. Now at goal, things are a little different. I still have cravings, the trick is to make the best decision as to what I put in my mouth. It's not always easy, and sometimes I don't make the best choice, but at the end of the day, I have to move forward with my life. I didn't snack during my losing stage. I ate 4 meals per day, focused on gettin 15grs of protein per meal and that allowed me to hit my protein goal. During that time, I didn't have room for anything else. Hunger was gone which helped me stay out of the kitchen. The thing I think what led to my success was replacing bad habits with good habits. Reach for beef Jerky instead of a cookie, go for a walk, write in my journal, anything that kept my mind occupied and off of the pantry. Not being hungry obviously helps, but it doesn't keep us for wanting certain foods. I know some people say that their cravings have stopped completely. I personally have cravings and think they are normal. I don't know one naturally thin person that doesn't have a crazy craving for Mexican food occasionally. I think the big difference after sleeve is finding the mental control to make the best choice out of what is offered. I was also a one big meal eater. I would not eat Breakfast (still hate breakfast foods), eat a light lunch, typically fast food, and then a huge dinner. I changed all that, set a schedule and meal plan. This became a habit, and replaced the old habits of not eating on a regular basis. I did love that stuffed, button popping feeling after my big meals. Now, I just can't stand it. I get this "food baby belly" if I eat too much, and in a size 4, it isn't attractive ha ha ha. If I overeat, I can physically feel and see it. When I was fat, I didn't "see" any change in my body because literally all of my belly fat hid it. Now, when my "food belly baby" pops out, it pisses me off and I find myself "suckin it in". This journey is far more mental and emotional than it is physical, and really none of us can tell you how you will react, but I can tell you that I still have cravings, I still want a bag of Funyuns, I still want a Snickers bar occasionally, I still want to stop off at Marble Slab for a scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a waffle cone, BUT, I've learned with the sleeve's assistance, that I have to make the best choice. If I want some funyuns, I have 5-6 chips and put them away, if I want a Snickers, I have 2 miniatures, and walk away, if I want Marble Slab, I tell myself to suck it up and picture myself at 270lbs again. Ice cream goes down all too easily, I do steer clear of it because I can eat a lot of it without consequence. I'm by no means perfect. If I were, I'd never had surgery. But, I don't believe in depriving myself of food. I eat it, I own it, and I move forward. It's harder the further out you get. Your stomach relaxes, you can eat more food, you can eat around the sleeve several ways, so at the end of the day, you have to engage your brain before your stomach takes over.

I struggled with the same issues before I went for my band. I even did the "weigh down workshop" for 2 years in attempts to lose weight, and asked God to free from the food demons. People reading this probably thinks this is insane, but gluttony is a sin, and I punished myself long enough. I prayed, I meditated, I followed the plan, I lost, then life would happen, and I would start in again with old habits. I prayed for guidance, I prayed for peace. I went through a literal hell on Earth experience with both surgeries, but God brought me through all of that, I truly believe it's made me a better woman because of it. I don't believe God let me suffer because of my choice to have weight loss surgery. I don't believe that I landed on life support for 5 days, that my husband wasn't allowed to come home, or anything else that transpired during my revision and recovery because I couldn't lose weight on my own. Do I feel guilty now? No, and because of that, I thank Jesus for pulling me through, for bringing my husband home safely, and for sending angels to watch over and protect me and my son through a very difficult, and draining recovery. I cherish each day given to me because last year I almost lost everything.

I'm with you Sassie. . . I had a very long, tiring, body wrenching recovery. I didn't get released for regular activity for 3.5 months, and stress definitely didn't help. I also do this little trick to help with making it look like I have more hair. I'll try to give you a mental picture with words. I part my hair to the right normally. I part my hair evenly, then with the pointy end of a comb, I "draw" a zig zag pattern along the part that makes the hair criss cross itself. This gives the illusion of more hair on the crown, and part, and also gives a little lift. I'm from Texas, we like big hair LOL. Anyways, this always does the trick for me. I also tease the hair right at my crown then comb the top to smooth over, use a little spritzing spray just enough to set it a little, and let it dry. This little trick really, really helps hide all the chia pet hairs that start popping up once you get 1-4inches of new growth. My hair texture has changed as well. I had uber wavy hair. If I "scrunched" my hair and applied mousse, I would have pretty curly hair. Now, my hair is stick straight, the new growth is super stick straight, and I try to curl, flip it out, but to no avail, it falls flat regardless of what type of product I use. Between hair and face stuff, my bathroom counter looks like a hot mess of beauty supplies. The root lifter by Garnier works pretty good as well, but I'm battling 90-100% humidity here in Florida. Least to say, me and my flat Iron have a great relationship these days. :thumbup1:

It starts around 3-5 months out typically, and can last for several months. I used Folicure extra care shampoo that I picked up at Sally's beauty supply. It can also be found on amazon.com Also, massaging the scalp, no overprocessing your hair, and use a good conditioner will help. The Nioxin will dry your hair out so be careful as it may dry your scalp causing more breakage. It's only temporary, and the hair grows back. I promise :thumbup1:

Hey there, we're stationed in the NW panhandle area of Florida. I had my revision at a military hospital so I can't help you there. But, if you haven't already checked out Dr. Althar in Milton, he is amazing ! ! ! I almost used him for my revision, but he had never removed a band. I needed someone with revision experience as my band screwed the pooch and destroyed my stomach tissue. I don't know if you'd be willing to travel up here, but, he has a fabulous rep, great stats, and his office staff is top notch. I spoke with them for well over a month during my research phase. If you need anything, please feel free to contact me. Get off the stinkin' fence ! ! ! Seriously, you won't regret it, and believe me if I can do this, anyone can ! ! ! I'm living proof this works, and transforms your life. . .

Yes, my surgeon told me the same thing. Any type of revision the risks triple. If you aren't eroded, or had any other complications, obviously the risks aren't as high. I did have a leak with my revision, BUT my band had destroyed my stomach tissue because of scar tissue, and adhesions all over the place. I knew it going in, and was prepared. You're in great hands. Dr. Aceves hasn't had any leaks, and have done hundreds of revisions. Even more complicated revisions than band to sleeve, so you have an amazing surgeon.

Sadly, my cravings for salty/sweet things are worse. I blame it on hormones, and I carb load during my ovulation week. It's like my body is preparing for a baby, and it wants to stock up on the "good stuff" LOL. Cravings are normal. Thin people have cravings, and the sleeve isn't going to change that. It does reduce hunger, but they've operated on our stomach and our brains control cravings. The one thing I've found that gives me that salty/sweet craving are Nature Valley sweet/salty granola bars. I know they are not the best option, but it's better than funyuns and a snickers which is what I usually want. And, yes, I love to eat them simultaneously. 2 funyuns, a bite of snickers, and so on, it's gross, but it's what I crave. I've only given in once, and I felt like crap after I ate it. At least with the granola bar, I'm getting a little Fiber.

Highest allowed was 40gr during the losing stage, and that is total carb. We didn't do that net carb crap. LOL In all seriousness, I stuck to about 30gr of carbs per day total. I lost 115lbs in 6.5 months that got me to goal. I added in more and more carbs and it did slow my loss down significantly. I went from dropping 15-20lbs a month to about 5-6lbs per month until my body finally settled where I'm at currently.

I lost half of my hair volume-wise. It does grow back. I did chop my hair off right to the collar and had major layers cut into it to add depth and the even colored the back and underneath dark, while keeping the top blonde to make it look thicker. It worked great for me. My hair fell out for 3 solid months, but I had new growth coming in before the shedding stopped. I have major new growth all over my head, but my stylist says that it'll be a full 12-18 months before my hair recovers. Sadly, I had gallbladder surgery in February, and I started shedding again in May. It wasn't as severe as with my revision, but I lost again. So, I think my 12-18 months is going to be prolonged. You can check out my pics of my hair as it has changed since surgery in my photo album. . .I change the color frequently, and am currently trying to let it grow out. . .

To post a picture that shows up with your posts, go to USER CP, edit avatar and upload a picture. To post in a thread, go to a hosting site such as photobucket.com upload your pictures there. You will then see several codes, copy the Direct Link code, come back here and in a new topic, hit the little button at the top of the message box that looks like a little stamp with 2 mountain peaks. On my screen, it's a yellow box with 2 grey mountain peaks one is dark grey, one is light grey. A hyperlink box will pop up when you hit that little box. Paste that link in the hyperlink, and your picture will appear in the message box. You can resize, crop, edit pictures in photobucket.com Thank you for the sweet comments ! ! !

Here is a sample I had saved, it's for band, but you can change the wording to accommodate your needs. Also, include your weight loss attempts, behavioral changes you've made (parking further from the door, workout/exercise regimens, and other things that you've done to lose the weight on your own). PCP Letter Head DATE: Dr. Paul Guske ICO: Suburban Sergacal Care Specialists 4885 Hoffman Boulevard, Suite400 Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60192 RE: Patients Full Name Dear Dr. Guske; Currently, Mr. LAST NAME is a CURRENT AGE male who stands HIEGHT tall and weighs CURRENT WEIGHT giving him a BMI current BMI. MR. LAST NAME is diagnosed as morbidly obese and all though currently in good general health, LAST NAME is fully aware of the health concerns facing someone of his size and his family medical history of Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and other obesity related diseases. MR LAST NAME is concerned about his future as an obese adult. Over the years Mr. LAST NAME has made several attempts to loose his excess weight using traditional methods including; Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutri System, Susan powder, Richard Simmons, Slim Fast, Metabolife, Atkins, Scarsdale, Opti Fast and others. This patient has experienced varying degrees of success with each of these plans but, to date he has not found any sustainable results using these traditional methods. Mr. LAST NAME came to me in June of 2008 through a family referral seeking support as he was beginning the process of obtaining surgical intervention to aid him in his life long struggle over obesity. He was interested having the LaparoscopicBand procedure done and I offered my support. At the time of our first meeting Mr. LAST NAME weighed PRE DIET WEIGHT and had a BIM of PRE DIET. With the aid of a registered dietitian and Weight Watchers Mr. LAST NAME has made some notable strides in his latest weight loss effort. He and I agree that it is imperative that he continue on his current path of success. We also agree that in order for him to achieve sustainable results it is medically necessary for him to proceed with his original plan for surgery. He has expressed both a healthy knowledge of the Laparoscopic Band procedure and true expectations of what that procedure can offer him. Mr. LAST NAME has also demonstrates a knowledge of the weight loss process and seams committed to regaining control over his obesity. For these reasons I feel that Mr. LAST NAME is an excellent candidate for this surgery and could only benefit from the out come. I am referring FIRST & LAST NAME to your service and evaluation for weight loss surgery. Sincerely, Referring Physician

I started out as a heavyweight with a beginning weight of 263, and standing a mere 5'2". With the band I started at 270, and the day of my revision I was 263. So, my starting BMI was right at 50. . . I made it to and passed goal ! ! ! Total loss to date is 150, and I dropped 143lbs in about 10.5 months with VSG alone. . . It can be done, and is a great ride ! ! !

I thought the unflavored tasted the most disgusting. Just because they are unflavored doesn't mean tasteless. For me, the unflavored smelled and tasted like baby formula which is just repulsive. . .

Find a new PCM ASAP

My nurses let me urinate before going into surgery therefore there was no need for a catheter. For me, they are a big deal. They irritate my uretha, I always get some funky itch that I can't kick for a week, and overall, they are not pleasant. I didn't have one for the last 4 surgeries I've had (band, revision, leak repair, and gallbladder removal).