deedee

Whenever I throw up my back hurts both before and after surgery. I've only thrown up twice post-op (once from the barium swallow test 1 day post-op and once 3-4 months out from eating too fast/much when in a restaurant).

Welcome to VST! You are not crazy at all. Shopping is one thing I replaced eating with. I loved buying "goal" outfits along the way and wearing them kept me super motivated throughout the process. Just be careful about how much you buy. I didn't realize how quickly you can outgrow (undergrow?) clothes the smaller you become and now I'm down to the minimum for a wardrobe (that fits without me looking dumpy) when I could have saved quite a bit of money on the larger sizes to spend now. Good luck and keep us updated on how you're doing!

From everything I've read and talked with my surgeon about, I'd have to agree with Shontel. BUT I do think skin can bounce back somewhat. The other night I glanced in the mirror when bending over and the skin on my tummy is looking awful and hanging everywhere. I had an open abdominal surgery last January and you can really tell. I even called and showed my husband and he agreed it was pretty bad, but a small price to pay...he mentioned some kind of electronic jiggly belt I could wear??? I told him I might just need plastics down the road and he smiled at that and walked away. At the beginning of this process we agreed there would be no plastic surgery, but I'm thinking I want to reopen that discussion. Good luck, and I think all the exercise you are doing will help you look smokin' hot in clothing (at least that's what I'm telling myself;-) and make you super healthy.

Congratulations on your date!

The waiting period was excruciating for me as well. The office manager/scheduler at my surgeon's office even made a comment how everyone wants it scheduled and done yesterday. You're on your way. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll get your date soon.

I did it, I made it to my goal weight! The first time EVER in my life that I actually have reached a goal weight I've set...never with Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Bootcamp and dieting, weight loss dvd's, etc., but the sleeve actually was the tool for me. I feel like one of those silly informercials when I'm sharing with people about my success, "if I can do it, then anybody can do it." I want to thank all the people I've "met" through this site, because the support I've received here and continue to receive has been invaluable. I LOVE MY SLEEVE :001_tongue:

Phatman, thank you! I think that will be my theme song all day;-)

Thank you both! I have to remember that I still have my tool and it make it so much easier to get back on track. Tiff, I'm so glad you are doing okay...are you completely out of pain now? I totally understand about your husband driving you bonkers, good luck on your recovery! Coopersmama, this SUCKS!!! I find myself constantly snapping at my husband and most people that call me are getting it too because I'm just so annoyed at mother nature. You seem to have such a great attitude...please send some my way:-)

Over the last couple of days I've done nothing but graze on food on and off all day long between my bouts of productivity. I don't know what it is about snowy, wintery weather, but it seems to make me feel like I have to shovel as much food in as possible. We've been out of school since last Friday and it looks like we might be out for a couple more days (new storm due to come in tomorrow afternoon) and I really need to get it together. If the food intake wasn't bad enough, I'm hardly getting in any exercise. Last week we only had Jazzercise 1 day due to snow from the previous weekend. I did manage to get out and take a 45 minute walk this morning and shoveled for an hour Saturday and an hour Sunday, but it doesn't compare to my normal level of daily activity. Tomorrow I plan on going to the gym with my husband in the AM and then practice my audition routines in the PM. Hopefully this helps, but I don't think it can counteract the horrific eating I've allowed myself to do. Guess I just needed to vent about my lack of willpower:-(

Good luck! You CAN do this.

Carolyn- CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Twobluecats- you're rocking that sleeve, great job! Bella-welcome to our weekly weigh-in (sometimes Mondays, Sundays, Tuesdays, whenever;-) Nana-I'm sure the constipation has a lot to do with your stall, I am the same exact way. Good luck on getting things moving again!

Congratulations on your date! I had to do a modified Atkins diet for the month prior to surgery and 2 days of Clear liquids before surgery. For the high protein/low carb diet, I purchased a South Beach manual from Target (I think it was the induction phase or phase 1) and kept my carbs under 30 grams per day. Good luck!

It really will end, but I know that doesn't help you right now. My stall began at 2.5 weeks out and lasted 13 days. I bounced between 1-1.5 pounds up and down, but couldn't break below 202 pounds. You are doing FANTASTIC with your weight loss!

Hi, I had my sleeve surgery on 8/4/09, weighing in at 222 lbs. (I did a month long pre-op diet during July losing 16 pounds before surgery). I never really set a goal initially, just wanted a normal bmi, and fluctuated between wanting to lose 90-100 pounds. In the end I set my goal for a 90 pound loss, which would put me at 148 pounds. As of today I am 0.5 pounds away from this goal, taking me from a bmi of 39.6 to 24.7 today. Good luck on your research!

Great idea Tiff! Thanks for sharing them.

Okay, I'm an idiot. It's not Monday:-)

Okay, this morning I weighed in at 148.5. I will definitely take it!!! Half a pound to go to reach my goal. Really going to work hard at limiting carbs this week and hopefully shed this last pound, but if not this week, I know it will happen eventually!

This is one of my favorite WLS cookbooks! It's great for every stage because it has a little key next to each recipe and even gives variations of how you can use the recipes in different stages.

I loved it! The song was fantastic, thank you for sharing. My husband has bugged me this whole process to make a vlog, but I just never got it together. Excellent job on the weight loss!

Not really at this point, but I did mourn it some the first 3-4 months when I'd sit down with a plate and start in on the meat and realize I was absolutely stuffed with a couple of oz. I can now eat more and I just think my brain is used to it more, so it's not such a big deal. Like Oregondaisy wrote, I eat what I want and get full, there's really not more I can do about it.

I have always been lactose intolerant so I use Lactaid fat free milk. For my Chike protein drink I used milk and ice (heck I even used 1/2 cup of no sugar added vanilla ice cream when I got desperate). For the sangria flavored one, it is more like crystal light so I used water, milk would have made it really gross. Looking back, people were right, that stage doesn't last too long in the whole scheme of things. Good luck!

I think it is totally doable. At 3 months and 1 week out I was 51 pounds down. I am now 1 pound away from my goal weight and with a normal bmi at 6 months out.

Great news, glad you're on the move again!

Woohoo Judy!!!!!!! I'm so excited for you, excellent job!

I'm so sorry about the party...but maybe you and your husband can plan a date out (maybe Valentine's) so the great dress doesn't go to waste??