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A day to celebrate!

I am celebrating 2 things today. First, I weighed in this morning and am now down 60 lbs! I weighed 214, down from 274. In not even 3 months! I can't believe it. Second, my doctor took me off of my blood pressure medication yesterday! This is huge! He had cut my dose in half a few weeks ago, and this visit was a follow-up to see how I was doing on the half dose. They took my blood pressure when I first got in, and it was 120/70. He was happy with that and was willing to keep me going on the half dose for now, until I mentioned that I've been getting light-headed when playing the trumpet while standing up. He had me stand up to take my blood pressure, and it was 108/70. So he told me to go ahead and stop taking it. He wants to see me again in another 3 weeks to see how I'm doing off of it.

BigDaddyJoe

BigDaddyJoe

 

SORENESS

I have had my Lap band since December. The past few weeks,I am sore where the Port is located in my Stomach. Has anyone had this happen to them?

RACAL

RACAL

 

I got my stitches out!

Oh itchy, uncomfortable and aggravating, those dang stitches are gone (May 29th). It was amazing how quickly they came out, and the only spot that bled of course was the big ole' frankenstein stitch, (the long one on my left side). They butterflied it and I am so happy!! Those things really tugged and made me uncomfortable, I guess I healed pretty well b/c they were happy with my progress. Only showers for 5 days, no pool, sauna, lakes etc.... as if I could be so lucky at the moment. I wouldn't hop into a pool if I were on fire b/c of having to wear a bathing suit, lol. Hopefully that will change soon. Yesterday was my post op nutrition appt. and it went well, I was encouraged by the weight loss, but not focused totally b/c I was more concerned re: the healing aspect. I mean this was rough, and my energy levels are still not to my liking. I go to bed earlier than my grandparents and they are in their 80's lol. Hubby has been good, I celebrated with some salmon and sweet potatoe dinner as I am on Stage 4 diet now. It feels good, and I am happy with my progress. But I am not going to compare myself with others and their losses. Why? b/c someone loses 15 - 20 lbs after surgey it might b/c they are not me, they are not my size, and they might be a man. Men lose faster, it's a fact, and they might have a higher weight, and lose quicker b/c of that. Since my surgery I lost 11 lbs. My real curiosity is how it will go until I have the fills. I wonder how it will be between the time for that. I had not alot of issues with the post op diet, (other than soups, gosh they were awful) I am not a cream of anything except in my crockpot or in a casserole. Now in stage four I can make some egg drop soup and some homemade turkey or chicken soup, which is more appealing. I do fill up though, which I am glad, eating the salmon and sweet potatoes was heaven but I filled up shortly, which was like "YES!" The second week after surgery I believe my body got used to the shakes, so I had to add some greek yogurt and nectresse to lessen the tartness, but that helped ALOT, and added to the protein instead of just adding whey all the time. I was told sternly by the NP no Mederma cream until six weeks, b/c of poss. infection, but my scars are freakin' me out I admit. I had gallbladder surgery before and my scars are nothing compared to these, I think b/c of the staples I look like I have poodle bite marks and the big one looks like a catepillar w/ lots of legs, this is the one I hate the most, mostly b/c I seriously did not expect it to be that big and for the fact they showed me a pic of a body w/ incisions but it was not a flesh real person, it was black and white picture w/ a drawn form. So this to me annoys me, but the scar is the side car to get to where I want to be, heck I was never one for bikini's anyway.

marnimae

marnimae

 

Introduction

Hello all, I figured I needed to start a blog to try and keep myself accountable for my goal of "wedding weight loss" in the next 5 months. That assumption comes from the fact that teh last time I actually set a weight loss goal (going on a cruise) I posted about it on this website regularly, and I accomplished my goal and I had people cheering me on.   So fast forward to now - I have been banded for 14 months, I have lost about 25 lbs (but more inches and toning) and I am getting married this October. I really expected to have greater weight loss at this point (maybe 50 lbs or so) but I know that everyone's journey is different.   I have a realize band (11cc) and I think I have about 4.75 cc in my band. I get regular fills/Dr Visits to monitor my progress ....   I am not on any real "diet" or nutrition regimine. I eat what I want, when I want (probably the reason for my extremely slow weight loss). I try to eat not more than 1.5 cups of food per meal, and I don't snack between meals unless I'm eating some fresh fruit. I am meeting with my surgeon's nutrition counselor in a few months (yea, she has a waiting list - SIGH) and hopefully I'll have some more guidance. What I like to do is eat noting solid before 11am, and TRY not to eat anything solid after 8pm. I also want to try and limit my carbs (atkins worked for me in the past - lost 80 lbs, but gained back 40 over a few yrs) but I havent found the will power to do it yet.   With trying on wedding dresses and going to fittings, I really just want to lose a few more pounds before our wedding in October (Las Vegas) but we are actually having a large local wedding in May and I want to look my best.   ALSO as a side note, I really want to get some of this weight down because me and the future husband want to have a baby and fertility is very much linked to having a healthy weight, so I just have soooooooooo many reasons why I need to get my body together in 2013.   Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

Sunshyne068

Sunshyne068

 

Getting Started with an Exercise Program

We spend a lot of our time focusing on eating the right foods, finding healthy recipes, and taking the right vitamins. These are very important parts of the weight loss process, but we also need to make sure we are incorporating the right exercise program into our lives. While some people already have an exercise program that works well for them, if you are one of those people who does not, hopefully this will provide some helpful information about starting a program or improving an existing exercise program. One of the questions that I am frequently asked is “what kind of exercises should I be doing?” In picking the right exercise routine it is important to remember that while the same exercise plan may not be appropriate for everyone, there are some fundamental principles that everyone should be working on in order to get the most out of their workouts. Principle 1: Set aside some dedicated time for exercise. Many of us do a lot of walking as part of our job or part of our daily routine. While being active is great, there is a difference between exercising and being active. In order to get the most out of your exercise time you need to set aside some sacred time designed just for your exercise. As a general rule of thumb this should be 30 minutes a day, 3 to 4 times a week. If you can do more than that, fantastic, but everyone should be aiming for at least 30 minutes every other day. You can choose to exercise alone, or with a group. Some people love to exercise with their family, some with a good friend, or some prefer to use their exercise time as personal time. Whatever your preference, make sure it is a regular routine that you can count on as part of your life. Principle 2: Mix it up Great athletes have repeatedly shown that the key to a successful exercise program is variety. The body adapts over time to the same exercises and routines. Over time muscle memory kicks in, and the body gets less out of a repeated exercise unless you mix up your workouts and introduce some new work outs as well. A good routine should incorporate some cardiovascular exercises, and some weight exercises. Make sure you work all your major muscle groups. Your cardiovascular exercises can be as simple as strenuous walking, jogging, running, elliptical training, swimming, dancing, or bicycling. The weight exercises can involve weight lifting, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups or crunches, or resistance bands. Find the combination that works for you. You can choose to do both cardio and weights in the same workout, or you can separate them to different days. If you are just starting out I recommend a day of cardio followed by a day of weights. When you do weights, don’t make the mistake of working every muscle group in the same work out. Do chest and shoulders one day, thighs and buttocks another. The one exception I recommend to this would be to incorporate a short abdominal routine with most of your workouts. The body’s core muscles which include the abs and back muscles are able to recover quicker than other muscle groups, and once you have gotten use to exercising them on a regular basis you will notice less back pain, and improved performance in your other exercises. Principle 3: Keep track of your progress As you get used to your exercise routine, you will notice it becomes easier, and may become too easy. That is the time to bump it up to the next level. That can involve increasing your time or distance if you are working on cardio, or increasing your weight if you are working on weights. Keeping a record of your progress will not only motivate you, but will also help you identify the workouts that work best for you. By keeping track of your progress you will be more likely to try to continually improve your workouts rather than fall into the rut of continuing an exercise that is not sufficiently challenging your body. Principle 4: Have fun Find a routine that you enjoy. Exercise does not have to be a painful or dreaded part of your day; on the contrary it should be a part of the day you look forward to. If you are not enjoying the exercise you are doing, look for a different one. It is very difficult to maintain a program long term if you do not enjoy it.   We have a lot of resources available to help if you need suggestions or examples of routines. Come by the gym at Foundation and talk with the trainers to get some additional workout ideas. We can also help you arrange a fitness evaluation to help determine your ideal heart rate during your exercise. While this isn’t a comprehensive guide to fitness, I hope it helps if you are looking for some direction on getting started.

Frank Duperier

Frank Duperier

 

Decisions.....

I had the lapband just a little over 11 months ago and have lost 58 lbs. Most within the 1st 6 months. I am glad I did it, it has change how I look at food and what I put in my mouth. I do feel healthier, just wish my weight loss was more.   I have made no secret about my anxiety disorder on this site. While I don't really like telling people around me about my disorder, I want this place to be my safe zone where I can discuss it.   I am currently taking Paxel, which has changed my life, in the fact that I hardly have any symptoms of my disorder now- which is AWESOME!!   I also, have discussed my difficulty in having a child. Prior to getting banded I had 3 miscarriages. The doctors never figured out the cause.   Now, I have been given the green light from my surgeon to try for a child, I have to stop my Paxel. This worries me, the last thing I needs is my anxiety returning during pregnancy. My OB/GYN has is trying to transition me for Paxil to a different SSRI that is ok during pregnancy. Once I have been ok on that for a month or two I can go ahead and try.   This being said, the hubs and I have decided to try one more time. With all the med stuff, we can't try until July or Aug, but we are going to try.   I am not sure if it will take this time around or not. Honestly, I some what fear getting pregnant, in that I know I will gain weight and I don't want to gain weight, but I must for a healthy baby. So to that end I must be very careful and take good care of myself to make sure I don't gain any more weight than I need to.   None the less I am excited about trying again and I know that with support and help whatever weight I do gain I can get back off once the little one is here.   So please send a prayer up for me!!

Kime-lou

Kime-lou

 

Beans Beans...The Musical Fruit...or Green Beans, Mother Nature's Broom

Ok, in the interest of full disclosure, the 1st part of the title isn't true about green beans - at least not in my case, they don't give me gas. But the good news is, they do make me "regular."   Garden season has sprung in Texas and my dad's green beans are coming up like weeds. As usual, he planted waaaaaaay too many green bean plants and is complaining about having to get out there and pick them. And when I say waaaay too many, I mean just that. He has 3 rows of green bean plants - each row about 40 feet long. That's a lot for just my mom and dad.   I know that he secretly loves the fact that he has too many. He enjoys giving away the extras. But is always complaining that no one wants to come and pick. I try to tell him, "Grow something that people want and they'll come. No one wants to come dig turnips!"   Now a normal person would just pick what they could use and let the rest rot on the vine. Not my dad. He grew up at the end of the Depression and can't let anything go to waste - even if he never uses it.   So they will pick and can fruit and vegetables until the garden dies. Then, a year later, he's throwing out the old canned and frozen stuff to make room for new.   Mom, dad, and me picked about 5 gallons of green beans off one row, and that was AFTER they had already picked the row two times previously! So, they gotta lotta beans left to pick on the other rows.   Now I have a freezer stocked with fresh green beans.   Cooking them is simple: put in water, bring to a boil, add garlic, salt, and onion to taste. Boil for about 15 minutes. Poke with fork to test tenderness. Grab one with tongs for taste test. Blow on green bean to cool it off. Taste. Hold ice cube on burned tongue. Eat meal with green beans - not being able to taste anything because of burned tongue.   I've eaten a cup or two every evening for the past 4 days and I've gone to the bathroom once a day since I started eating green beans. My normal schedule is once every 4 days, until now. So I'm crediting the fiber in the green beans.     A cup of green beans has about 40 calories - 2 grams of fiber - 2 grams of carbs.   All varieties of green beans are low in calories and contain healthy nutrients: dietary fiber, calcium and iron. One cup has 200 milligrams of potassium, plus beta carotene and vitamin A.   Next month: One potato...two tomatoes   Keep Pimpin that Sleeve!

joatsaint

joatsaint

 

Excited!

Hello Everyone! I'm very happy to report that I finally received my approval from insurance and have a surgery date...yea!! June 19th, 2013 for roux en y gastric bypass is the big day for me. This has been a long time coming as I started this process back in November of 2012. I won't bore you with the lengthy details that prolonged my getting to this point, however I will say that my general anxiety disorder was a concern that needed to be addressed before they would proceed with me. I'd like to say that I'm just naturally an intense and nervous nelly, however the psychiatrist opened my eyes to some things I didn't know about myself. Though I was not happy about not getting approved right away, the counseling was the best thing I could've done. As you can imagine, I'm both scared and happy! For all those that have gone before me, if you have any suggestions or advice I'd love to hear it. Feel free to comment, post , or just smile at me for that matter. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Take care! Kelly

lee47

lee47

 

Non-scale victories (NSV)

Prior to surgery I made a list of my non scale victories (NSV) on my iPhone but somehow erased them. So I decided to make a new list. I'll be adding to this as I come up with new ones.     Buy clothes from a non-plus size store Purchase bra/panty from Victoria Secret Get a makeover Take boudior photos for my honey Maybe wear a pair of heels Ride a roller coaster Walk/run in a marathon Not be considered obese Not be afraid to wear a bathing suit Fit comfortably in a booth at a restaurant Own and ride a bike (especially long distance) Go zip-lining Always use the stairs Go cart racing Dance in public Sit at a regular desk (in school) Finish my degree Go to law school Volunteer work Plant a garden/landscape yard Attend Zumba regularly Incorporate clean eating in my new lifestyle Stand on my feet longer than 30 minutes

starzee78

starzee78

 

Hmm.. yep.. its a Wednesday.. .

Not exactly sure how I am feeling today.. I'm thinking "blah" sums it up.. my tummy hasn't been feeling all that great.. nothing seems appetizing.. and well not much is staying down.. its not a band thing.. I'm thinking its more of a stomach flu kinda thing... grr..   As for the band? Well I had my appointment with Dr. Simpson last Thursday and - well I'm still sitting at 297.5.. bleh.. but at least I didn't gain.. he's pretty confident that I'm in my 'green zone'.. so there was no fill last week... and well he wants to see me yet again this week.. not exactly sure how I feel about that.. I mean that means I have to go through the anxiety that I ALWAYS go through right before a weigh in at the doc's office.. blah!! Of course mind you - I've been working out - and trying my best to eat right.. but still.. I HATE weighing in.. But its just a number right?   In meantime - I've been trying to get my world organized.. getting ready for my move to California.. and let me tell you.. talk about overwhelming.. I have half the mind to chuck everything and just pack the necessities!! But I gotta be smart about it right? Good lord.. change is challenging.. and time consuming..   Anywho - hope all of you out there are doing well and keeping up the good work!! Until next time my friends!

beabenitez1978

beabenitez1978

 

bcbs new jersey 35,7 bmi

anyone have bmi like mine? i really cant loose weight before surgery. they told me if i was under bmi and on the operating table they would not pay. catch 22 really. i have to do a 3 month program thru them and for insurance. its such a fine line to walk. excited and scared.

franklin fox

franklin fox

 

I have a date!

I got the call that I have been waiting on. My insurance has given their blessings for me to have sleeve surgery!!!   I'm so excited! I just can't hide it!   On June 11, 2013, I will begin a new and exciting chapter in my life.   Good bye Big Mama. Hello healthy mama.

judysbabies

judysbabies

 

My Consult

I went to my initial consult today. It took three and a half hours. I imagined it very different from what it really was. I was greeted by the receptionist and filled out some forms. She took my height and weight. ERGGGGGGGGGGGg that made me cry. Then a Physician's Assistant came in, took my blood pressure, and listened to my breathing with a stethoscope, which I don't think ever tells anyone anything. But at least she didn't take a little hammer and test my reflexes.   Next, I met with the surgeon. Who had kinda a pot belly. Which I thought was kind of funny ... No judgement, but just saying ...   I was so stunned and in shock and awe the whole that I just listened to everyone and didn't ask any of the thousand questions that I had ... dang it!   Then I met with a social worker. Which was really odd. I had to fill out all these questions about my personality, stress level, etc etc. But she was the most interesting part of the whole day. She had the lap band put in 14 months ago, she said. She has lost 80 pounds. She showed me her scars, and let me touch where her port thing is. SOOOOO creepy touching someone's tummy! But when I told her I didn't know anyone who had the lap band, she got excited and told me a bit of her story.   Then I met with a nutritionist. She asked me all sorts of questions about my current eating habits. Which were so hard to answer because I don't have a typical. Some days I eat healthy and normal, and some days I eat crazy, like I'm having my last meal.   I booked my surgery date for July 8th. I am going to have surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In like 6 weeks!!!!!!!!!

colorado_chick

colorado_chick

 

Beacon

In a landscape of shades of brown and muted greens, this little gem stood out like a beacon. I sat and watched it the bees gathering pollen, but it wasn't until I zoomed in that I saw the others...

Terry Poperszky

Terry Poperszky

 

Small Victories

So today was my 2nd day back at work. I went back yesterday and to prepare I brought: one 14 oz. GNC Lean Shake bottle, one thermos of chicken broth (halfway full), and one bottle of water). I almost finished the entire shake but it took me until the end of the work day to do it. The water intake went better and I took a few sips of the broth at lunch.

Today I took the same thing and wow! I finished the entire protein shake by 10:00 a.m. I drank all the chicken broth at lunch, and right now I'm drinking a mixture of light grape juice, water, and Isopure flavorless powder mixed in. I may just get in all my protein today!

Speaking of, I got the tub in the mail today. Well, a package didn't just randomly show up and I opened it. I ordered it off amazon.com because Isopure Flavorless Protein Powder was on sale and I read all the reviews and went for it. I went ahead and mixed it up and wow - I'm almost done with the glass of juice I'm having! Each scoop has 26 grams of protein! Can't wait to try it in soups, coffee, etc.

So every day it's getting better. I still get the anxiety in the mornings, the feeling of crying, but it's getting less and less frequent. BTW, I'm 6 days post-op and start thicker liquids Friday.

beli

beli

 

Fruit Punch Protein!

I decided to head out to find a new and different way of getting my protein. I stopped by GNC, they are having a big sale until June 22 with buy one get one half off on everything. I got myself a little blender bottle and some Amplified Wheybolic. I ended up getting the fruit punch flavored, though the guy helping me said that the vanilla with orange juice is a good way to go as well. Now to only find orange juice that won't have a high sugar content eh?   Tastes very good and is a welcome change from my chocolate-flavored protein. There's also a return policy so that if you don't like the taste of anything you buy there you can return it. I'm a happy customer!

lirri

lirri

 

You guys are going to be upset with me but lesson learned.

Now that I have your attention… so what did I do?   See what had happened was….. I over did it this past weekend. Not with eating but with my movements. It’s was graduation weekend was I got invited to so many parties and I wanted to show everyone my support. One thing about me I am always willing to help anyone out and I am stubborn! So I Saturday I was going a lot of lifting, carrying, and cleaning. Sunday I woke up and my main incision was swollen and it was hurting bad. It felt like the first 3 days after my surgery. So I toughen up and went to my last graduation party for the weekend. I really didn’t an appetite on Saturday and Sunday because I barely ate but I had plenty of water. Monday I just stayed home a relaxed. I talked to my dad and thank him for his service and we talk about the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks game. (Not only I am a St. Louis Blues fan but I am a Red Wings fan too) I did a 5 min workout and spent the rest of the day on my couch.   Yesterday I called my surgeon office and told them about how I over did it this past weekend and about the swelling on my main incision. They told me it was from me lifting and carrying things and I need to take it easy for the next 3 days. I told them I would and thank them. But around 5pm I noticed that had a stain on my shirt so I lift up my shirt and noticed that my main incision was leaking! I start freaking out because all my incision was healed! So I called my surgeon office again explain what was going on. The asked me a series of questions to make sure that I didn’t have an infection. Thankfully I didn’t my incision stop leaking about 7pm.   I hear some of you guys saying “didn’t I tell you to take it easy!” This is time I hear ya this scared the mess out of me. I don’t want to do the pre op diet ever again unless this band is getting removed!   On the plus side I heard from my Bestie Lesley this morning we talk for 15 minutes and it was worth it!   Thanks for reading.

LadyDiva618

LadyDiva618

 

UP, Down, All Around

I wonder when the mind games end, boy I hope they do end.   I know that we all have a problem when figuring out portion sizes, which is why measuring and weighing is so helpful.   But, what about our body.   My weight has bounced for months now. Up 2 lbs, down three, up 2, down 1, up 2, down 4- you get the picture. I slowly dropped from 199 in Dec. to the lowest I have seen 188 in May. I am currently doing the bounce thing still.   I haven't had a fill since Feb and have an appointment for one next week. My meals are no longer holding me 4 hours.   Any way with all the up down of the scale, what does that say for how I look? I look in the mirror and I see that my face is smaller, as is my body, but I still feel HUGE! I slide on one pair of 14 shorts and they fit perfect, then slide on another pair and they are loose.   Last night I went out for a Walk/Run with the hubs and 2 dogs. As I slipped on my 12/14 gym shorts that fit perfectly (last year they were like a 2nd skin), my sports bra and my old outer banks t-shirt. I realized that my boobs stick out further than my tummy now. I clearly see my feet.   All this is great, but I still feel like a walking Shamoo Show.   I am just getting so frustrated with all of it. It is like this process has become all consuming. Everything is about my band and my weight loss.   The doc said last time I have been successful, but I am still so big. I mean 188 is a lot less than 244, but still it's a long ways from the 125 the charts say I should be.   I by no means believe I will ever hit 125, but I would like to see the upper 130's- and low 140's. But, that is still 40+ pounds away.   I begin to wonder will I ever make it.   I am still very fatigued, which my OB/GYN attributes to my extremely low Vit D level, my mildly down B levels and my mildly low iron levels. I am currently work toward getting these up with insane regiment of pills.   Maybe, once my level get back in the homeostatic range with weight loss will continue.   Any one else feel like this sometimes?

Kime-lou

Kime-lou

 

Long Time

Okay so a month and a half after my surgery I found out my husband had been having an affair for 6 years. I was so depressed, angry, and my sleeve went on the backburner. I quit going on this website. I have been struggling just to get from day to day. I am so thankful that I had my sleeve as my confidence grew with every pound lost. Perfect timing. Now I am back a different person then before. I am going back to school, and am happy I have shown such strength. Yes we are still together and in therapy I don't know if we will survive this but I know I will. I am focused on me now, too long I focused on my husband that was lying to me for so long, now it's my turn to live a life i've been waiting for. World here I come!!!!!

reignoftara

reignoftara

 

ONEDERLAND!

So excited to share that I got on the scale this morning and I've hit ONEDERLAND! I was really getting frustrated, seems I've been fighting this same 5-10 pounds for what feels like forever. I know a lot of folks on here have been so supportive, and have tried to help keep me in the reality of "two pounds a week" is a great loss, and more than I'd have lost before-- but it's easy to get wrapped up in getting on the scale and not seeing what we deem a "significant" enough change. I guess that's part of my own downfall that I still need to work on. My sisters especially have mentioned it- seems I'm never happy with the way I look, that even after losing 56# (which is my total loss now ... 41 since surgyery) that I just find the next thing wrong. I've already talked a bit about this in my previous posts, so I'm not going to go on and on about it- but it kind of seems to stick in the back of my mind lately. I've also found myself having a hard time just saying, "Thank you, I've worked hard" when someone notices my loss- seems I'm always quick to be like "Oh tahnks, but I have a lot more to go", or "Oh thanks, but I still look terrible" I've been making an effort when someone notices my loss to simply tell them, Thank you mention that I've been working on it- etc, and take the compliment for what it is. It's weird to have to force yourself to think that way honestly. Started a new work out routine too- makes me feel a lot more accountable for my weight loss as well, it's the 30 day ab and 30 day squat challenge...it's no joke, and I've added my own arm work outs to it as well, hoping to tone up this lose skin. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress as I go, right now I'm only on day 7, but it feels good!!   Best of luck fellow sleevers, hope to hear back from you soon!!!

nygurl

nygurl

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

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