foxgirl74

I have been on the gummies for the Multi-Vitamin and the Calcium a few weeks now, and I just got my blood drawn for a full Vitamin levels evaluation. I will post my results in a couple weeks soon as I get them. So far I take them everyday and love them. As long as my vitamin levels come back fine I am not gonna stress about this whole "not equal to other vitamins" stuff.

<font face="Garamond"><font color="#800080">Wow! You are so close it is inspiring. But, I do completely<font size="5"> understand how hard it is. We set ourselves up fail sometimes, but with you being so close you need to hear the things that can push you through to goal!! If nothing else in life, know you can look back and know you did this and made it. So work for it, lose those ten freaking stupid pounds and feel the pride you have worked this hard to achieve on the scale. Even if you do not see it in your body, your clothes, or whatever, push yourself to a limit you have never felt before just for that few moments of satisfaction of knowing it was for something.

All types of things don't taste the same to me as they used to. Which makes me happy because I am less inclined to eat things! In fact, I wish more things tasted strange so I would have an even more limited ability or desire to eat! I noticed when I tried to take a sip of my husband's Dr. Pepper the other day how chemical tasting it was. I am so thankful it tastes so bad and that the carbonation is too much for me, because it was a huge problem for me pre-surgery.

Oops, I actually got THIS one, with the sleeves!

This is the one I got, but I think it must have been on sale, and I am pretty sure I ordered it through somewhere else. I would keep checking because I'm sure it will come up again somewhere, but if not $65 is very reasonable for a compression suit. If you want to spend less and still get a compression top or bottom, you might actually wanna check Dillard's, or even a place like Ross or Marshalls. I have found them there before very cheap and usually in the bra and underwear departments.

Thanks foxgirl. Do you have a link to where you got your compression suit for $50?

You can get a wrap around band, they sell them in the work out sections of stores. Sometimes they call them lift belts, or belly/stomach belts, or bands. They are about 10 or so inches wide and stretch around your stomach and just velcro attach. I love them. I use two because I like the added support, but having it on helps me work out so much more comfortably. Another idea is a compression top. I invested in a compression suit for $50 bucks, and I love it, but when I buy my next one when I need a smaller size I will just be buying a compression top. They work wonders!!

Something like this!

I do use a scale for some things so I can count my calories better. Like meat, I had no idea I was way over estimating how many ounces I was eating and starting freaking out. As for the scale, I just bought the cheap 5 dollar one from Target and it works just fine. I don't use it or rely on it enough to invest in anything more then what I have, but I do like knowing I have it when I need it and keeping my calories and intake more accurate.

Same exact thing happened with me without fail with the Bariatric Advantage multi-vitamins and the Calcium. So I spoke with my surgeon and he said just get a chewy Vitamin it will be fine. I went to Target and they have their Up & Up brand of a chewy Multi-Vitamin and a chewy calcium. Both do just fine on my stomach. I don't love the taste of them, but at least I am not barfing them and now I am getting the Vitamins I need. You will want to check with your surgeon to make sure it is ok, and to check to see how many you need to take because you might take more then the bottle recommends for a day. Good luck!!

Target Multi

Calcium

Please do not even stress the Protein yet!!! You'll get to it, for now, just worry about the Water. Sip sip sip all day long. Your stomach will adjust then you can focus on protein. I know they try and tell you to work it in for that first week, but it's so much more important to worry about your water intake. You will begin to start fitting in some protein after the first week I am sure, so don't worry. But if you are feeling nauseous anyway, then the protein just might make it worst and the last thing you want is to get dehydrated from throwing up and not drinking enough water! I really didn't start on any protein until at least 5-7 days after getting sleeved. And I started very slow, maybe got 25 to 55 a day depending how hard I tried. You're gonna get there, but for now, just worry about the water! It really won't hurt your weight loss by not getting in the protein, but you will probably just be extra tired. So take it easy and one day and one ounce of water at a time!

I am with you 100%. It's like if I am not fat, then I have to figure out why I will still not like myself, but since I am fat, it gives me the perfect reason. I too have sabotaged myself once I get to a certain weight, and that is the only reason I can think of, so I can keep hating myself but have a valid reason. What can I blame it on if I am skinny and cute? If I do happen to fail at things now, I can just say, "well, it's because I'm fat". I have so much ambition for a future law enforcement career, but afraid if I get into it I will fail, so by staying fat I can keep putting it off and not have to fail at it, but rather just fail at losing weight. Wow, weird to be saying this "out loud". I am tired of that person. I know the confident, never failing person is in me. I am ready to pull her out and get this other person gone forever. And if I don't like something about myself again, then it's a head thing, not a body thing. Also, this might sound strange, but I don't want to not like who I become if I am skinny. I feel like I have to be the funny, joking, bubbly personality since I am fat so people will like me. Once skinny, what if I think I am too good, judgmental and bitchy? It's all in my control, but for some reason the thought of becoming like that is one more thing that I use as an excuse to fail.

Aww! Your post made me smile! Congrats! It sure does feel good to be losing weight, get under 200 and know it's only going to get better! Very nice NSV's!! I was told I am disappearing! LOL I said for the price of surgery I better be! Keep up the great work!! (And the dance moves)

Lol, well either way, I weighed at 198 today and that is good enough for me!!

Bwahahaha - No real words are needed

Ok, been trying to upload pic, thought I was more computer savvy then I apparently am, oh well

Are you on Vitamins yet? I know mine make me vomit just about every time I take them no matter what I have to eat prior to taking them, and I am almost two months out!

If not, it's still just your new little tummy being irritated I'm sure. My surgeon recommended anti-nausea pills for the first month while the new stomach gets used to itself and all the things you try and put in it while it's still so irritated. Hope it passes quickly for you!

Ok, hopefully I can explain without confusing you, it makes sense in my head!! lol

My body, at my weight, age and hight, burns 2230 calories a day. I am fairly active throughout the day, but not exceptionally so. So, just in case I rounded down to the average 2000 calories burned in a day. Which is why they say if you are normal and eat a normal 2000 calories a day you will maintain weight.

Use this website to calculate how many calories you burn in the day - http://caloriecount....ries-burned.php

So if I am naturally burning 2000 calories a day, but am only eating, let's say 700, which is normal for me, then I should be physically losing 1,300 calories worth of weight. Well, since we know it takes 3,500 calories burned to lose just one pound I know that if I add some exercise and burn an extra 450 calories each day that will bring my total of burned calories per day to 1,750, which equals 1/2 pound of weight lose per day. Does this make sense?

If you divide 3,500 in 16 ounces, which is 1 lb, it equals a round 219 calories per ounce. So think for every 219 calories you burn or prevent yourself from eating, you should be burning an ounce. It's hard to have an exact science because we all metabolize food differently, Protein digestions burns more calories then other foods, and we all burn calories at a different rate.

Oh, and your body will stop losing weight if you eat too little calories because it goes into self-preservation mood eventually. Which is why I found it works for me to fluctuate the amount of calories I consume. So I never go below 600, but some days I do push it up to 1000 to remind my body I am by no means starving! LOL You would think it would know by the years of stored fat!

How did you figure the math on how much you are burning without exercise? That is something I have been wondering about as well. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!

Ok, quick rant - This morning I decided to weigh myself since tomorrow I meet with my surgeon and will be weighed, and I didn't want any nasty surprises. Well, I stepped on and low and behold 199.3! Woohoo!! I stepped off and back on like 4 times just to make sure it wasn't some weird fluke and sure enough each time 199.3. So because I am a nerd and love this site a little too much I figured, hey let me grab my phone and take a pic, proof! So I jump back on the scale and WTF 200.2??!? How the hell did I gain a pound in under 20 seconds?!? Ok, so I know I didn't really gain and pound, but it wasn't the phone weight either because I chucked it quick and tried again. Oh well....so close. Under 200 isn't as much of a mental block for me like 180lbs is so I am not actually that upset about it. It was just a quick rush of emotions all changing in less then a minute. I'm sure I'll be at it tomorrow, but if not that's ok, it means it's still right around the corner which means all that much closer to 180. But hey, still two pounds down for my 4th of July Challenge!! And two more pounds down for the rest of my life!!!

I had help the next few days, but ONLY because I have two young children and was told not to lift over ten pounds. I ended up lifting them anyways sometimes out of necessity, and I didn't need any pain medication since the day after surgery. I personally think you'll be fine, just don't try driving anywhere if you are still on any meds!

For me, I never factor in any exercise burned. The calories are always counted for what I put into my mouth, never what I burned off. I do add all my exercise, but never compare it against my calories eaten. I did also do the math on how much my body is burning per day without any exercise, took into account my calories, and was able to figure out the amount of weight I should be loosing per week, then was able to decide how much exercise to add to burn the little bit extra weight I wanted. So far, my math is right!

My question that kind of goes along with this is, if you are eating 6-800/days are you factoring in calories burned through exercise? Let's say you eat a total of 800 cals in a day but then burn 300 through exercise, do you count that as a day of eating 800 cals or 500 cals? What are people's thoughts on how this works?

Well, I am going to be 8 week post-op on Wednesday, and I would say I have had tortillas for about....two weeks now, possibly three. I eat them soft, had not even thought of crunchy, guess I figured the softer it is the easier it is on my tummy.

Same here, 600-800. Very few days do I reach 800. I keep Protein around 70-90, and carbs below 30. I know I could eat more if I had Snacks in the day, but that is not the plan the surgeon gave me to follow so I have no snacks. Just 200-250 calories per meal. Sometimes I have a hard time fitting that many per meal depending on what I am eating. I will be 8 weeks post-op on Wednesday.

Your scars look excellent! Mine are a little darker red, and I seem to have more? How many incisions did you have in all? I also have the belly piercing scaring LOL but hey there was a time it was....no, there really never was an acceptable stomach for it! Now I might have to post pics of my scars for feedback, but for sure I am going to try out some of this Mederma stuff.

Don't pack your tortilla's suitcase yet!! There are these incredible Carb Balance Tortillas by Mission, they are delish, and I do not get the stuck feeling with them. They only have 18 cabrs per tortilla, which trust me is more then what fits, I think 11 grams of Fiber, and 5 grams of protein!!! Trust me, they are a great alternative that is not actually an alternative.

Try uploading to your profile gallery at least maybe?? I need to compare, and I don't have to guts to post a pic of mine of here yet

I am 7 weeks post-op and that knot feeling is still with me. And it's very uncomfortable if I over eat! Feels like a softball or something between my stomach and ribcage. Sounds like you are having head hunger. Your tummy is satisfied and full, but your head and mouth are demanding more. It does get better when you can fit a littler more, but for my I still struggle a LOT with it. My head is still trying to comprehend the tiny portions, and I am rarely satisfied mentally with the portions I consume despite the fullness of my stomach. But that is what got me fat in the first place, listening to my head and not my stomach being full.

I have always paid attention to "fat" people. Constantly comparing myself to other's sizes, and now I think I notice even more. It's not hard to do when there are so many people overweight and the problem it's becoming for so many in this country. I tell people my goal weight and they tell me I am crazy, but I think because so many people are overweight now we don't think of lower weights being ok. I feel bad for the people I see with such huge amounts of fat they need to loose, because I know how they feel! Wish I could help more people with this struggle!