ShannonK

SO I am going to try and attach a recent pic of me here...and update my photo album. I can see a drastic change in my face - but of course, I see it every day and I have to look at older pics of myself to really notice.....

Isn't it strange how our eyes take so much longer to catch up to our reality??

I will most likely need ANOTHER knee surgery - just putting it off. I am active though - I teach all day (rarely sit), we camp and I walk, my kids are in 4H and gymnastics, and I go, go, go......

I love to go walking - and I take my 5 year old (whoch is great for her!) - but her pace is not so good for me for a cardio work out. SO I guess what I am saying is, while I am not setting a time aside for some sweat dripping exercise, it sometimes just happens with my life......My knee feels a little better, but there was no miraculous cure.

I am also fortunate for my height.....however, it hid SOME Of my fat well, and now I have to lose quite a bit to go down an actual size.

Thanks for all the great comments - I hope I am encouraging to others. I love this site!

October 2nd......3 months since I hand my sleeve done. I do believe I am a poster child for this procedure, as I have yet to be in pain or puke one time since my procedure. I am utilizing my new stomach as a great tool to lose weight - and I believe I have been successful - I am over halfway to my goal. In fact, I am almost "worried" my goal is not low enough.

I have caught flack on here for some of my meal choices - Oh No!! A Crispy taco!!! - but I am very proud of both the choices and portions I am eating. I was 307 at my heaviest, and 292 day of surgery. I was wearing a 3x top and tight sze 24 pants. Today I am rocking and XL top and 16 bottoms. It is working for me.

I still struggle to get my liquids in.....40oz is about average, and I KNOW I need more than that. I need to quit putting off dealing with my knee so I can start exercising....I haven't done any yet.

To anyone considering this surgery - research and research. Talk to those that have had it. Bad things CAN happen, however....Great things can happen too!!

I will try and update soem recent pics soon.....

The two week safter my surgery were the worse part of the whole thing! I DREAMED about food! I watched the foodnetwork A LOT - and that actually seemed to help. It gets SOO much better - I promise! Tomorrow is my 3 month date for my surgery - and I am doing great! I eat well,I am losing, I feel great. However - the postop liquid diet is just something we have ALL had to endure - and while I have no tips other than to grin and bear it, know that it shall pass and life really begins again!

It is amazing how this surgery can really mess with your mind! One minute, I worry I am not losing fast enough. The next - I worry I am losing too fast! One week I can eat 4-6 oz at a meal no problem, then the next, 4 bites and I am full. I am rarely hungry, and still enjoy eating when I am. I have no pain - just very full feeling.....

Can your tummy shrink even after surgery?

What I am eating:

Breakfast - a Fage yogurt or an egg and peice of bacon or a muscle milk

lunch - a deerburger patty with cheese (4oz) or a tuna kit or piece of fish with a little broccoli

dinner - just the Protein part and maybe a bite of veggies for whatever we are having for dinner.< /p>

On the days I am hungry - I will eat baby bel cheese or string cheese in betwen my meals.

I feel like I am doing well - except for liquids. I am way under what I should be drinking....happy if I get 40oz a day. I keep trying to work on it!

No real exercise yet....knee still acting up. Lots of walking. San Antonio Zoo - 2 miles on our nature trail here in town, that kind of stuff.

Losing some hair - I am lucky - have LOTS of it. Went and had some long layers put in. My hairdresser said anytime you are eating under 1200 calories, you will lose hair.

Anyway - just a quick check in. This site has been a lifesaver for me, I hope it is helping others....

Oh - and went from a 3x and size 24 pants to an XL top and 16/18 bottoms in less than 3 months. Yay me....now why am I so scared???

Awesome for you!! I feel like you - my eyes haven't adjusted yet though! My friends dog me for wearing baggy clothes - but it's a weird thing going from a 3x shirt to an XL and 24 pants to 16-18. Congrats!

This may sound REALLY strange.....but I put a few more carbs into my diet, and the pounds started melting off again! I was eating 60g of Protein, a day, but very few carbs...and stalled at 253-255 for 10 days! I made some broccolo, rice, cheese casserole for a friend, and kept back a few servings for myself. 1/4 to 1/2 a cup with my turkey steaks, chicken or shrimp and voila! I was 248 this morning! Now - I used LOTS of broccoli - so I am betting about half of the above portion was actual rice.....

Maybe we have to have more carbs to kickstart it back?

Anyway - school year is going great. Very busy......

Good luck everyone!

Yummo!

You can check out my signature below to see how I am doing...pretty good I think! I have not been able to start any exercise yet (I had PLANNED on walking daily as well as a free areobics class offered at my school) - but I have a very bad knee! I had hoped the weight loss would have helped improved this problem, but I was dancing in the sand at the beach in June, and reinjured an already bonky knee. I have already had surgery on it once - and it is very frustrating. I am going to go to the doctor this week - hope to get some relief!

Anyway - at 2 months out, I pretty much CAN eat whatever I want, so there is definetly the need for making good choices. I am back at work now - (I am a teacher) - and the regular schedule is helpful. I try to get my prottein in, and limit my carbs! A typical day for me is a greek yogurt for Breakfast (15g protein), a tuna kit for lunch with only 3 of the crackers (19g protein), a string cheese for snack (4g protein), then Protein and veggie for dinner....I am loving Boarshead Bratwurst (18g protein) or Turrkey meatballs. I also LOVE shrimp and fish - so I have a lot of choices.....

Going out is still a little of a challenge - my family went to a chinese buffet - and I ate some chicken and broccoli, a few spicy shrimp and one crab ragoon. ABout 4-5 oz total......I was stuffed! WAY different that what I used to eat! Had about 1/3 of an omelet at Ihop the other day - the spinach, mushroom cheese one - yummy! My friend ate the rest!

I DO struggle to get liquids in - and I make myself drink at least ONE G2 gatorade each day - I think that helps. I take a sublingual B12 once a day and a Multivitamin.....I sometimes forget, but do good most of the time.

I started this journey in tight 22/24 clothes - I am now in an 18. This weekend I cleaned out my closet - and it was amazing to try on some old favorites and have them HANG on me. New underwear are in my future! I have lost over 27 inches all around (neck, waist, thighs, arms) and am looking forward to more.

This surgery can seem so sureal. I never imagined I would wear an 18 again. I did not think it would work for me. I am making good food choices and I am ot starving. I feel good (except for the dang knee) and am so glad I chose this for myself. Prior to the surgery, I would get on this forum and read everyone's experiences - so I wanted to make sure and add mine. I am not on here near as much as before due to work - but if anyone has any questions - I will answer them as I check back in.

God Bless!

Sept 2nd will be two months - I am trucking along. I love it - love the way I feel and the lost pounds!!

I was so worried I would have horrible fatigue...I watched a friend have it, and I am sooo busy, I couldn't even imagine. I hope I am not jinxing myself.....but no fatigue at all ......

I am busier than ever, a new school year has started, 3 kids...I just keep going.

I feel even better -

Haven't puked ONCE!! (another huge worry!)

So glad I did this -

DOwn 50+ pounds since July 2nd -

It is a good thing!

Oysters are one of my favorites!!!

I dived off a diving board for the first time in over a decade - 3 times!

I fit in theater seats - comfortably!

My boobs stick out more than my gut!

I cross my legs easier!

My dimples (on my face!) are more pronounced!

I weigh less than my husband!

I mean no disrespect here at all. I am going to ask the question though! Do you feel your coworkers offered her money because aides make significantly less money than teachers do? Are you an Aide or a teacher? Also, her weight loss was very gradual..as a sleeve patient, ours happens in a matter of months for some..I am 82# down and reaching for that 100# club..in a short 4 months. I am not saying that you shouldn't be treated the same in turn, but their reasoning may be you make more money..and anything they give you now and you bought would only be worn for a short time?? Perhaps they are waiting until you level off? Or they could just simply not want to give that to you. Either way..be proud of your personal accomplishments! Besides, statistically speaking your coworker if she didn't have surgery has a greater chance of gaining the weight back ( lord I hope she doesn't) and you will not have as great of a statistical chance of gaining it back! Hang in there. People are resistant to things they don't understand!

Hi! I am a teacher, so yes, my income is more.....My comment wasn't made in jealousy (as I contributed to her gift card with gladness in my heart!!) It was more in reference to the comments people made when it was presented to her - that she did it all on her own, not the easy way with surgery! I am not in need of assistance with clothes - just noticed the prejudice with which many view having bariatric surgery. Sorry if that wasn't clear....

I can't say it doesn't twinge a bit when people view my choice as an easy way out....That was my point!

I am a teacher - and they can be the best support group in the world - and the most critical! I told my team I was having the surgery this summer - and they are 100% supportive. There are also others who were not so supportive - calling it a crutch, easy way out, etc.... We had an aid that lost 100 pounds over 2 years, they all got together and gave her a $100 gift certificate for new clothes....I have a feeling that won't be the case for me

I just remind myself that I did it for me and my family - not anyone else

So glad you are here! This forum has been an excellent resource for me - both before and after surgery! Good Luck!!

I am soooo glad I had my sleeve done! I am like so many others - my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!!

I am LOVING my food - shrimp, salmon patties and crab are my favorites - but have also enjoyed baked chicken and taco meat! I love how my clothes are fitting me and how I fit in the theater and stadium seats without my butt touching the sides!

My dimples (on my face) are more pronounced, my jaw line and chin are more defined...and I have my cheek bones again. I can definitely tell I am losing from the top down!!

My sleeve puts up with my love of spicy stuff - haven't puked once or been in pain. I know my breakfasts are small, but I can get 3-4oz at lunch and dinner no problem. I haven't had a nasty shake/ Protein Drink in a month and I pray I never have to again.....

Any doubters out there, all I can say is it has been wonderful for me!!!

Read the first one - her writing is awful! Every time she referred to her vagina as "down there", I cringed.... It was repetitive and made the Twilight books seem they were cerebral! (and I LIKED the story behind the Twilight series!).

I agree with the poster up above -this book has just crossed over into the socially acceptable realm - and it is unfortunate, because it really is a poor example of erotica. However - if women like it, and look for more - they will find it! It's a gateway book!!

I was sleeved July 2nd - and I LOVE to read about what people are eating on e a regular day. I am horrible about counting calories....but my goal is 60g-70g of Protein a day! I also despise most Protein shakes, and only grab one if rushed or can't be avoided! So please share what you had today - I would love it!!

Breakfast -

one scrambled egg, slice of canadian bacon

lunch -

3 oz crab cake (recipe has been posted in the recipe section) with tablespoon of guacamole

dinner -

3 oz roasted chicken breast with Thai green sauce (blended pablano and jalapeno peppers)

Lots of Water and 12 oz G2 grape gatorade!

snack - one jalapeno string cheese

I am loving this life!!!!

YOu go girl!! Love your haircut too!!

been there, done that, we should all buy the t-shirt!!

it will get better................

I understand your frustration! I think of how MUCH I ate before - and when I stalled at 2 weeks out for 10 DAYS!! - it felt unbearable!! I think we just have to look at the NSV - how do you feel? Look at your Water intake and know you ARE doing better than before. I think I am like you, I sometimes can't believe this is ACTUALLY going to work for me....because I failed at everything else concerning my weight! I am TRYING to weigh only once a week, and be thankful for the weight I have lost and how much better I feel.....you will be fine.....good luck!

My first trip to the store hurt my checkbook! I was shopping for "soft foods" and bought crab. lobster bisque, gournet cheeses, 3 types of fish, Fage yogurt..... it was insane! Keep in my mind, I still cook for a family of five...and 3 and half weeks later, I STILL have foods from that trip!! I didn't "mourn" - I was excited to see all the wonderful stuff I COULD eat

YOu can go to HEB plus and buy a beautiful tuna steak....last one I bought was 6 oz and cost $6.50. I brought it home and marinated it with soy, seasoned with my fave spices, and threw it on a hot grill - about 4-6 minutes per side (depends on how rare you like it....could be less.....

Took it off, let it rest a few minutes, then sliced into my beautiful fish -

SO GOOD!!!!

I'm not sure this is really a good thing.

Please read my other responses/ rest of this post + then tell me why this wasn't a good thing?