Tracytma

I'm still losing but I love my new outfit!

@@bellabloom - the last one was hot, just saying

I hear a lot of us saying we don't know what to wear now in our new bodies! Let's share what we are wearing and give each other some ideas for what works at goal and on the way down!!!
Montage ladies!!

For me, it's all about pretty dresses!

Skinny jeans!!

And something a little sexy!!

I've posted something similar to what I'm about to write elsewhere on here, but I'll keep posting it when I see one of these posts come up:
I loved smoking. I started when I was 15 and smoked through the next couple of decades without quitting for any real length of time. I enjoyed it, and I was pretty pissed at the idea of quitting for this surgery. I only smoked around 6-8 cigs a day, and technically was a light smoker... but after so many years, even light smokers experience issues with tiny capillaries dying off, cold fingers and toes and weird nerve issues, wheezing and coughing and are more prone to colds and flu and all the other horrible things that come with smoking ~any~ cigarettes.
So I quit.
Here is what I realized: I'm having this surgery to make my life better, to be healthy, to live longer and really enjoy the time I have left on this planet. Smoking is in direct opposition to all of those goals. Smoking - and I count vaping in there too since the early results on vaping are not looking good for long term health - is one of the few things that is guaranteed to do major harm to your body and kill you in the end if you use the product as intended. Think about that for a minute.
There is no reason to smoke. It is bad for you, it hurts your lungs, your circulation and hampers healing. Smoking before or after having major surgery is beyond stupid (I'm saying this as part of my own self talk, not calling you specifically stupid).
The ONLY reason any one smokes is because it is addictive. If you smoke or vape - you are an addict, same as an alcoholic or a drug user. Quitting is the only smart, rational option ESPECIALLY before having a serious, life altering surgery like a sleeve or bypass.
I miss it almost every single day, and I just celebrated (yesterday!) my one year quit anniversary. I tell myself that I can always smoke again someday, just not right now... and hope that I can keep telling myself "maybe tomorrow" for the rest of my life. But I am damned proud I took my life back and no longer depend on those evil things, even if I still miss them. It's part of being an addict. I know what I am, and admit I'm probably always going to have that struggle, but I'll be damned if they'll ever control my life that way again.
You are doing this to improve your life, so take that step further and really commit to giving your body the best possible chance, and quit smoking as well. You deserve to be the best you that you can be, and smoking should not be a part of that.

I smoked 5 packs a week until a week ago. It is a requirement with my surgeon. I got Patches and a Nicotrol inhaler to help, but I haven't used any of the patches and I hardly use the Nicotrol. It's not easy. Being on the phone and driving are the hardest for me, but today is Day 8 for me as a non-smoker. The whole idea of having WLS was to be healthier, so quitting seemed like a natural step in the process. I have only gained a pound. I gave myself a little leeway on the food this past week. My surgeon said since I'm pre-op AND quitting smoking, he'd just be happy if I didn't gain weight, but I'm still down a few pounds with about 80-90 days before surgery. I have already set up a weekly automatic withdrawal from my checking into savings that equals what I spent on cigarettes. That extra $$$ will add up quickly and I'm really stoked about it! Find a motivation that will keep you inspired, consider nicotine replacement, and good luck to you. You can do it!

Mine says 6 weeks smoke free and I'm working on quitting now....it's tough!

Today I got the call. I'm Aetna approved for adjustable band removal next week, and a new sleeve to finish off 2015. I am still in shock to be over this hurdle, but very excited!
My desk/computer job gets very busy at the end of the year. I'm slating Wednesday sleeve surgery and time off through the following full week for recovery. However band removal I have only put in for Thursday removal and back to work Monday. I'm hoping that short of time off works out. Any insight from those who have gone before me is appreciated.

@@dalaneys_mommy and @@pimmar - welcome to the family and all I can suggest is follow your doctors orders and walk, walk, walk and later sip, sip, sip.

I'm having my sleeve this am too I am at the hospital so I will be right there with ya.

I start my purée phase in 2 days. I wonder why there is no thread for recipes? You would think that there would be tons of recipes here.

sugar free fat free puddings helped me with my sweet tooth. I don't crave sugary things anymore. I think I got all the sugar out of my system and that helped the cravings

Awesome post. #thanks

Number wise idk lol i just try to get Protein at each meal. I can give u example of one of my days lol each day is different. But heres yesterday.
Breakfast- wheat toast & Peanut Butter <-- good Protein
Lunch- cheese steak without roll with mushrooms,onions,hot peppers and green peppers. (Had maybe a cup of this)
Dinner- half chicken breast with string Beans.
I still allow myself a snack a day but i use to snack all day long because like you i thought i had too. But one or two Snacks wont hurt u. But i switched my snack to like carrots and guacamole or a cheese stick rather than popcorn & such

Nah , my surgeon said all i needed was three meals a day with Protein. And your liquids of course..i use to have so many low calorie Snacks all through out the day an then when i stopped i started losing lol

I was at a stall four weeks out and then before i knew it weight started falling again. They say when you have only 100 lbs or less to lose, the weight loss will happen at a slower pace

Getting some sunshine helped my fatigue as well as making sure I was getting my Protein in. Good luck

@@emalou47 It's a shame you aren't able to go to your car for 20 minutes at lunch for a power nap. I swear by those!

I like those flavored salmon packets, I find them where I find the tuna, as well as tuna salad, chicken salad, or light thin sliced deli meat with a laughing cow wedge. I eat them all with a portion (5) of whole wheat crackers (crackers were approved by my nut). I also pack snack things like the light baby bell cheese, no sugar added fruit cups, boiled eggs, greek yogurt, cottage cheese with sugar free jelly, hummus, Protein drinks/bars, low fat Jerky.
Good luck going back to work! I went back at 4 weeks and was still feeling extra fatigued and was not ready to go back mentally at all. I deal with chronic fatigue anyways though so it wasn't anything new. =) But it didn't take me long to get back into the groove of things. You will do great!

Wow! You had a nice long time at home! Just be thankful that you were allowed that long at home to heal! I went back to work after a week!
You are a couple of weeks ahead of me, but I usually take some chicken salad or hummus for lunch, and cheese and Protein shakes and bars for snack!
Going back to work really helped me get back on track and start to feel somewhat normal again! Good luck!

I had Basil he is an amazing man honestly you can ask him anything he was very honest open and his team are excellent

Hi @@Tracytma, i did not have GERD prior to having the vertical sleeve. I developed this soon after surgery and it was absolutely awful! I was on rapreprozole 20mg a day which controlled it. I currently do not take meds daily for this anymore, however, on the odd occasion that i feel that burning sensation travelling up my oesophagus i just have a pill and I'm all good.

Sorry im new to this site and tryin to get my head around it. Im jusy button bashing at the mo lol. Apologies. X

Hi Sugarbabe
Ditto regarding English sleevers. Though site and its members are great regardless which part of the world you come from.
Thank you for your good wishes and I hope everything goes well for you too.