January Sleevers ❄️

[Eli Alexander 316]

I asked about drinking, very important for me as I am going to go back to school in enology and viticulture (wine making and related areas). My doc said I should really try and go a full 3 months with none, and then I'll be able to drink again, but in great moderation. Not only because wine and alcohol are high in calories, but also because the portion of our stomach that was removed is responsible for producing the enzyme that breaks down alcohol. So instead, it will enter our blood stream at an increased strength. Add to that the fact that we will almost always be drinking on an empty stomach and we should be very cheap dates.

By the way redsalamander, where are you from? I only ask because I pass by the great wolf lodge often as I travel from portland, where I live, up to Seattle, where my brother lives. So I assume you are a from the northwest.

[Veronica Page 488]

@@Eli Alexander So with my knee I took advice from my trainer and to strengthen the muscles on the sides of my knees I got a step and just basically put one foot on it (bummed) knee side and push on and off of it for 15 reps then so the other side and it will slowly help out those muscles. I have noticed the difference when I walk up stairs and I used the bike at the gym cause yea its cold outside. Good Luck!

[Eli Alexander 316]

I went for a bike ride today, and no knee pain. It was so sunny and I was feeling so good I ended up going on a much longer bike ride than I planned. I'm tired now, but feel great.

One thing I have also done for my knees, which seems to be helping is I'm not using any of my old shoes. I'm bought some vivo barefoot, a Lems and a Patagonia shoe that all have no heel, very flexible soles and large toe boxes that allow the toes to spread out and grip more. My father had the same knee issue and after switching went from needing knee replacement surgery to being able to walk a couple miles. At home, I only go barefoot also. These differences seem to be helping, but doing tons of stairs still upsets my knees.

[Veronica Page 488]

Yea I don't do the barefoot thing. It is not good for every ones arch when working out. I guess it just depends on your foot. We aren't cavemen anymore so with this type of body weight my foot does not like that. I tend to rotate my ankle in an outward motion so I were a cross trainer that helps that issue. I worked out on the bike for 90 mins yesterday. I was tired but it was good. Glad you found something that works for you.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Veronica Page

[PamC0726 8]

I had an employee send a picture to me about an hour ago of me hosting a work event this time last year. I think I was in shock as I finally see how much weight I have lost already by what I looked like last year. It was a great lift to the day that it is working! I hope everyone is having these kinds of wonderful shocks!!

[amyecpa 33]

I have a question for my fellow January sleevers.... Do u still have discomfort when u eat? I'm a little over 5 weeks out and I still dread eating. It's so painful. I'm not sure if it's my reflux or what ????

[Veronica Page 488]

Yea I know I do at times and it is killer. If its not the air trapped in my stomach it is the reflux, if it is not that it is the fact I had one bite to many and I throw up. I basically have had to revert back to soft food cause I just can't always seem to handle solids or depends on the solid anyways. I guess it is really just a learning day by day kinda thing. Good luck and if it helps we no longer live to eat but eat to live!

[Veronica Page 488]

Had a lot of salt yesterday and it showed up on the scale today in a 4lbs difference. Well guess I need to flush it out and learn my lesson, ugh I feel bloated!

[Eli Alexander 316]

I've been having a mini-stall, stayed about the same for 5 days. There are a couple of reasons that I can think of, but it just may be a normal, everyone gets them, stall. But today I decided to do everything perfectly, no cut corners, burned 1700 calories exercising, and hopefully tomorrow I'll see a some movement. Though if I don't, it's no problem, I've been doing great and don't mind having an off week. I feel very confident that over the long run, everything will work out, and that's what I care about.

[Veronica Page 488]

Yea I can think of a couple of reasons myself and I too will try to def go back to basics and see where my problem is. I have stalled about for about 5-6 days myself. I hope it works out for you cause I'm ok right now if it does not move. Well kinda. I have no idea how I would even remotely burn 1700 calories working out but I do manage about 500. Since that is my daily intake caloric wise I think its enough for me otherwise I might pass out!

[bewell 222]

THE DREADED STALL at 8 weeks post-op. Had to come sometime.

Had my 2 month checkup and the nurse said to get off the scales so often. She said I'm losing even if the scales don't show it and try weighing once a month. Yikes!

Also noted that I am slow to heal and not to fuss about it. Everyone is different. My tiny-tummy takes a few hours to wake up each AM. I on liquids for the 1st 4 hours of the day. I'm still on soft food the rest of the day otherwise I'm pretty uncomfortable (not painful tho) and can still vomit introducing new foods. So I'm sticking to a small range of foods I know I can eat. Increasing exercise as I can.

The fantastic news is I can finally drink a glass of Water pretty much the same as pre-surgery. I sure missed that! And things are tasting close to normal.

The scary part is I think I'm starting to get tempted to eat carbs which to this point didn't interest me.

What a steep learning curve this sleeve is! I had no idea. (I'm a lap band to sleeve revision and this learning to eat is much harder. But the lap band hurt SO MUCH MORE. Nurse also told me that after the initial healing process there is a LOT LESS complications with sleeve, gastric bypass and other. Lap band has many more complications after healing cuz of foreign object which can erode, slip, break and just plain hurt. So happy to have that thing out of me.

Best to all of you January sleevers, we can DO THIS!

[Veronica Page 488]

My stall is killing me and my doctor told me the same thing once a month....I said HA yeah right. So I locked it up in a closet and gave the key to my hubby so every Monday I will weigh myself instead of daily. I have been working out and watching what I eat so I hope that it does move even if just a pound by next Monday!

[BloomingLotus 179]

Glad to hear everyone is doing so well! Sending all my strength and patience to those in stalls... It will break soon!

I had my one(ish) month appointment with my surgeon yesterday and he is very pleased with my progress. I was sleeved on Jan 29, and I am down 15 in the 5 weeks since surgery. From my very first appointment with him on Sept 24, I am down 43lbs! He said that I am losing at a good pace (I think it's a little slow, but hey, he's the professional) and to keep up the great work. Blood work was done so I should know soon if all my levels are where they should be.

I also got my first compliment, and it was genuine! No one knows about my surgery, so I was wondering when the comments would start. The answer: 41lbs lost. A woman I work with said "you know, I've been meaning to tell you, you look fantastic! You must feel so good, you can see it in the way you're carrying yourself. Good for you!" It was so genuine and not a backhanded compliment and it made me feel great!

I know I'm getting smaller but it's hard to conceptualize when you see yourself every day. I took pictures on the day of my first appointment, and I want to wait until 3 months to take new ones, so it's nice to hear that my changes are noticeable!

Have you started to notice the changes in yourself? What has been the most motivating to you so far?

[bewell 222]

@@Veronica Page

Great idea to lock up the scale. I think weighing once a week might be as hard as the pre-op diet!

[Swampdoggie 477]

In response to earlier post, I can eat any doggone thing, no problem and sometimes I want to. I feel very little restriction. Trying to really watch amounts and drink enough. Also former bander. Not really able to exercise yet (unrelated illness) but getting there. As for me, I just can't weigh so infrequently. I get bad habits without the accountability. Trying not to worry about the stalls. I mean it's one or the other, right? If you weigh every day you encounter the stalls. If you weigh less frequently you gotta be vigilent. So you pick your poison.