Lee

Goodlife, I haven't posted my progression pics here yet, but today I did post them over at OH. If you friend me there, you'll have access.

Chancie, you really rock! You know we all want to grow up to be just like you.

I measured the day before surgery and do so each month. I track it in myfitnesspal . com. I'm only two months out but did measure yesterday. -4 hips -4 stomach -2 thigh -2 upper arm -2 waist -2 armpit -1 under bust -2 bust -1 neck I was really happy to see the loss on the tape measure because I only let go of 3 pounds for the entire 2nd month post-op. It reassured me that something is going on and things are shifting. I started in 22/24 dress slacks. The 18's that I was wearing to a business meeting on Friday were falling down. I had to run home and change clothes after the meeting. I'm also taking pictures once a month on surgery day. A friend came over last night to take pictures for me. I need to go load them on my mac and see how they turned out. At one month I couldn't see any changes but maybe I'll post those as well. Friends have access to my pics. I just don't want them out there for guests to the site.

Mini, here's a good website to check out. If you click on the picture of the exercise you want to see, you'll actually see it being done. It really helped me learn about form. Stretching Exercises I was lax with exercise in my first two months. I think that going back to work on day 7 just left me tired out, then I got lazy and only exercise 1 or 2 days a week. I have no excuse as I have a full gym and pool here at home and live on an urban lake with a 3.5 mile path around it. Yesterday was month 2 for me and I decided to step it up. Last week I walked to work 3x. It's only about 20 minutes each way, but better than driving. Yesterday morning I got out and walked the lake, then did it again this morning. I would much rather sit on the couch until the urge to exercise passes, but I know I can't and shouldn't. I have a good rebounder in my living room and try to remember to get on it. I put a set of 5 lb weights on the coffee table to remind me to work my arms while I watch tv and that in turn reminds me to get down and do some crunches and stretching. Again, I just got them out this week but we have to take baby steps so we don't give up. I joined a fitness challenge on the Lightweight board on OH that commits to 30 minutes of exercise a day. I want to do that and try to be accountable.

There are so many variables. While I haven't lost in pounds, this morning I had a meeting and had to dress up. I put on a pair of lined dress slacks with cute cuffs etc. I had them on about three weeks ago and they fit perfectly. This morning I was in a hurry to get to the office. I had to roll over the waistband because the pants were dragging on the floor. The butt and stomach were ridiculously baggy and gapping. Not the professional look I was going for. Needless to say I stayed seated in the conference room, then ran home to change the minute the meeting was over. GRRRR So whether the scale is moving, there are always changes happening post-op. We just need to look for the signs! I love that so many of us are post-op right around the same time. I don't use your stats to beat myself up, but to give me hope that things will speed up for me a bit. Today my hairdresser said that she can see my hairloss really starting. So sad. I think I'm going to add more Protein into my plan to see if it helps. She explained to me that our hair is protein and when we're lacking it, our hair shows it.

WTG girls, you are both doing terrific. Congratulations on surviving the earthquake! How fun to have met each other to share the journey.

Hey, I hit the same stall. I think both you and your wife are doing terrific. Congratulations on a great first month!

Youknowit, let's really celebrate the fact that you're out of the 180's forever! That must feel incredible to you! We're both going to get to our goals but the journey might not look like how we imagined. I think I'm going to learn a lot about patience and healthy expectations along the way. I haven't been under 189 in over 30 years. I'm excited to see what my body does and how I feel. I already have so much more energy when I'm out walking. How does it feel to be 179?

KZol, I think that having expectations can be really difficult. I read about so many people dropping 20 pounds a month and then I look at myself and want to compare but that's dangerous. Doing WW perfectly I'd drop 1 pound a month and the leaders were sure I was lying. Doing perfect Atkins I'd drop 10 pounds a year when others shed 100. I know my body which is why I had the WLS so that at least if it came off, it most likely would stay off if I stick to Protein first for the rest of my life. I think that there are so many factors like metabolism, age, previous history. But what I know for certain is that a positive attitude, program compliance and a healthy expectation can really make this work. I just keep visualizing myself in that little black dress at the end of the journey.

Hi Curves, welcome to VST. This is a great forum. I be you're going to be so darn happy with your revision!

Thanks cutie! My goal is by my birthday the first week of October. I'm upping my exercise to try to get there. I WILL make it!

KZol, I was a very healthy eater pre-op. Rarely ate sugar or any white carbs. Ate very low carb. Always small portions. dinner out was always a shared entree or a shared appetizer and salad but rarely an entree shared if there was an appetizer. One glass of wine about 4 times a year. Never soda or junk food. Rarely a dessert. Mostly organic foods. My splurges were with fresh fruit and big salads. I've been thinking it's more my age that has me losing slower than the young folks, but maybe it has something to do with how we ate pre-op as well. I'll be interested to see what people say.

Hey Anna, you're such a doll and such a delight to share this forum with. I wish I had shed all of those pounds in two month. I was 249 last year and had surgery at 229 so only 22 pounds have come off in two months. I try to remember that I'm one of the older ones and maybe it will just take a little longer, but I have complete confidence that it will all happen for me. :tongue_smilie:

Mistiblu, your post is so positive for me. It really resonates for me. I think I'm scared to up my calories because every diet has always stressed being as low cal/carb as possible. I'm going to go eat dinner and not worry if my calories are a little higher for the day than they've been. I'm not eating bad carbs, just the good ones so I'll relax if they go up to 40 and just see what happens. I've been keeping myself oh so positive about all this but today really started feeling a little demoralized. Thanks thanks thanks!

Swiftflow, I'm going to look to you for all the technical advice from now on. Thanks so much for posting all this great information! I'm really excited that you have a surgery date. You guys always rock the weight loss. I can't wait to follow your success story!

From what I've seen, men are less prone to the stalls. *sigh*

Heck, I gained 1/2 pound this week and only lost 4 pounds for Month 2 post-op. I keep my calories between 500 and 600, haven't eaten over 30 carbs a day since surgery and get most of my Protein from food sources with an occasional Protein shake thrown in. I haven't had rice, potatoes, bread, crackers, Pasta etc since pre-op. My meals are all chicken, turkey, shrimp or fish based. I also eat 1 Morningstar Veggie Sausage patty for Breakfast occasionally. Occasionally I eat 4-6 oz of plain greek yogurt for a meal, or 1/3 cup of cottage cheese. I rarely eat eggs as I'm allergic to them. I've had a tiny tangerine 3 times in the last month and a tablespoon of pineapple packed in it's own juice 3x. I eat three times a day and never snack as required by my program. I walk several times a week and swim 1x a week. When I used to do Atkins, eating the lower fat version, I'd have difficulty losing weight. I guess this is why my doc recommended the surgery. So folks, it's possible to track every bite of food, exercise and still gain weight post-op. I figure something has to give. I'm open to advice and suggestions to get this party started.

Wow wow wow! You continue to rock your Sleeve and look terrific!

I'm biting my tongue to not make comments about what our previous President did to get us into the mess we're currently in. Can we please keep politics out of our WLS support group. This is a thread to support Bernadette, not to President bash. (no harm meant to anyone)

Hey Ms. B~ How are you doing today?

KZol, this has only been for one day. It may not rear it's ugly little head again. I have no clue what was going on yesterday but I'm hoping not to feel it again today.

Good luck with your surgery. Check your bag. You'll be so happy you did. You won't be able to lift over 8-10 pounds post-op and it sounds like you are traveling with a lot of things. Fellow travelers get annoyed when someone brings a carry-on and can't handle it themselves. Waiting for a checked bag will give you time to walk around and stretch your legs after you get off the plane, which you'll need to do anyways. Use the time to stretch and sip and use the restroom. Let us know how it goes!

I haven't tried alcohol since surgery. I was never much of a drinker. An occasional glass of wine when out to dinner, so I don't miss the alcohol. So, i have no stories to report on how drunk or not drunk post-op.

Attagirl B~, great attitude!!

Wow! What a wonderful thing to look forward to. Stay focused on that and know that you're making a great decision towards better health!