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I'm sitting here, working in my home office, dressed in jeans and a soft, thin, brushed red sweater. Why is that such a big deal? Well, because the jeans are size 16 and the sweater is from American Eagle, size XL. These are normal sized clothes and they aren't binding or pinching or look gross. I look normal. I'm still 200+ pounds and have more to lose than I have thus far, but this is just so awesome. This is the first time in 15+ years I've worn normal clothes and felt so comfortable. I love my sleeve. I love my surgeon...........and I love my hubby most of all, because thru thin, emaciatedly thin, thick, thicker and thickest this man has loved me for me. When I was so uncomfortable in my own skin, when I was a younger me, angry with myself for what I felt I had done to myself..........this man loved me. And I sit here now, happy as can be, sipping tea, wearing jeans with a soft red sweater...............enjoying the little things...........and the littler me.

Girl, I was sleeved back in June, and after about 5-7 days I was hungry....I swore I could just run a tube down my throat and pump those liquids in cause my arm was so sore from lifting the cup ALL THE TIME! I'd take 2-3 sips, be full as a tick on a fat dog........and then 5 minutes later starving to death!!! My surgeon laughed at me (for some reason, I get that response a lot) but encouraged me to keep drinking and sipping, things would even out........and they did. And maybe all that lifting toned up my biceps a little too.

Today is 3 months post sleeve. I was in the surgeon's office yesterday to check in .......40 pounds down from pre-op weight. I quit weighing at home. It was too damned stressful and just not good for me. I knew my weight was at the lowest it has been in the past 13 years because my clothes look really pitiful on me. In fact, I'd gone shopping to the local outlet mall over the weekend to buy some pants because I'd seen some photographs taken recently and refused to put those pants back on.......they were too baggy!! And I knew my weight was down because when I look in the mirror, I'm beginning to resemble something that got left out in the sun too long!! Time to go to the gym! Which leads me to this funny story...... So, after the surgeon check in, I head off to my local Curves to sign up. I like Curves. It is good for a beginner. I'm a beginner.......again......I'm an experienced beginner. The lady checking me in does her questionnaire....."Have you lost or gained weight recently?" I smile, "Yes, I've lost 40 pounds in the past 3 months." Her eyes get big, "Really, how?" "I had a gastric sleeve procedure"......she looks confused....I clarify "I had weight loss surgery." Ding Ding Ding......she gets it! So along with the measurements, weight, etc........then she asks, "What do you want to gain from this?" I answer "I don't want to look like a record that's been left in the sun too long?"......She laughs, but I didn't give the answer she was looking for, so she tries again, "Ok, what else are you hoping to accomplish?"........I answer "Well, my 2 month old grandson weighs 15 pounds and I need more muscle to bounce that kid to sleep.".......another chuckle, but not the answer she was looking for..........she tries AGAIN "What do you want for yourself from the exercise program?".........my answer "Well, you see, I need to create a muscular core so when the plastic surgeon goes to reconstruct my abdomen, he'll have something to work with." I'm laughing my fat butt off, and she's chuckling, but I'm still failing the Curves admission test...........finally she just asks the question "Do you want to lose more weight?" Then I do bust a gut laughing.......... "Of course I do, ma'am........that's why I had the surgery 3 months ago. I'm gonna keep losing weight, regardless of whether I work out here or not. I want to work out so that I look GOOD and FIRM as the weight comes off.........not sick and saggy."

I had my psych appointment today...one more thing checked off. It was a good appointment and I was given some very good advice for long term success. Should be getting submitted to insurance very soon!!! I hope it gets approved. I also attended my first support group tonight. So many helpful people. I love to hear everyones stories.

Take some Vick's VapoRub for under your nose. No cadaver smells!

I have learned that the weight loss journey is very personal. Yes, we can glean support and some answers from people on this sight, but what works for them may not be for you. Each of us has our own issues with food that lead to us becoming obese and each must deal with those issues inside of us. That is so hard, especially if those issues have been there for many years. We can go through all the psych evals in the world, but nothing will prepare us for the journey - the ups and downs. It's human nature to compare ourselves to others, so then the question and frustration start - well so and so lost dat-ta-dat in 3 months why haven't I. Weight loss is dependant on so many things and I have studied and googled every thing I can to learn. Basically what I have learn is what I have always known in order to lose weight I must have a calorie deficit. That being said I never really knew how many calories I needed a day. Through research I found that you need to know your BMR- they amount of calories you would burn if you just stayed in the bed all day long. I always make sure my calories are below my BMR. But because the BMR is based on your height, age, weight each persons will be different. So I have started to look more at me, not everyone else. I have stopped compairing myself with others. I look to me, what me I do, what must KIM do to succeed. I am the only one who can be successful for me, I must take responsiblity for my actions or lack there of. If I fail, I fail- not my doctor, not this site, not my nutritionist, but me because I failed to take responsibility for me. So today I take resposibility for myself and I will be accountable for what I do or don't do. I will celebrate my success and I will look at my failures as a learning tool. Support is awesome, but we must look at ourselves and into ourselves to make the changes we must to be succesful on this journey! I wish you success on your Journey and I hope that I can help you on your road.

Thank you so much for your honesty! I haven't even called the doctor yet, too scared I will fail like I did with other plans. The head hunger you spoke of is what scares me. Example of my head hunger= my daughter rattled a bag of chips last night and it was like someone rung the dinner bell for me to grab something to eat. I am so ashamed. But saw that sometimes it's in my head. Calling the doc tommorow. but I would love to get a hold on this before surgery. Again Thank You

Well,complex carbs are more than just bread.The thing about the losing phase at least is this.You have about 6 months to maximize your weight loss.After that it slows down sooo much.To use those six months optimally you have to cut your carbs a lot.Bread is one thing that doesnt sit that well in the sleeve anyway in the beginning.Yam,sweet potato (those orange ones) they are great complex carbs.But do let go of the feelings about the bread.60g of protein is the minimum anyone should have per day.How much do you have at the moment?Have you tried tracking to see? My friend had a kidney transplant and she is diabetic.She still loves food and she doesnt do so much proteins but she doesnt do a lot of carbs either. (I can see when her sugar is about to crash,thats when she will grab these slices of bread and db jam..lol) she loves making salad with qinoa or couscous with feta cheese and lettuce with sweetpotato,olives tomatoes....that type of thing was my staples for the first few months after my surgery.However,I had to cut carbs more now as the weight loss have slowed down.Do discuss this with your NUT. But you cannot have an emosional attatchment to bread.Thats the type of thing that got us overweight in the first place.And you will be able to eat bread again.In controlled portions every now and then.It cannot be your "go to" thing in the future though. Does this make sense to you?I was such a bread lover.All kinds of wonderful bread.And I loved butter..still do.But the bread doesnt do it for me anymore and I would rather have a melba toast with a little butter once in a blue moon now. Good luxk on your journey.

Its no secret if you talk to me that i have a hard time making choices. Like buying toothpaste or choosing new foods to try, it takes time for me to make a decision. Lots of Googling and comparison. I've been looking up VSG guides from different hospitals to see what each says in regards to Foods, times and supplements. Here is what I've found after i broke down the charts and guides: (BTW I am not God, nor do i pretend to be, so please don't take this as THE word. Its just a guide-line cheat sheet i re-made for myself) (( Also, i am just 31 days post op, so this is tailored for my stage)) Breakfast *should be at 8am *(earlier then that if you have an early day, but it should be within 1 hour of waking up) *1/4 - 1/2 C of Fiber, fruit, OR Calcium * AND 1/4 - 1/2 C of protein or good carbohydrate (ex: yogurt, cottage cheese, apple sauce, soft eggs, cooked cereal) Supplements/ Vitamins *10 AM! * PLUS 1/2 c Protein Shake (or 25 g) * Some vitamins need FAT to be soluble (vitamins A D E K) If your taking these, use 1% milk or check your Protein drink labels! Lunch *12 pm *1/4 - 1/2 C soup or calcium * AND 1/4 C Protein ( ex: yogurt, cheese, egg/tuna/chicken salad, pureed fruit/veg) Snack *2 pm *1/4 - 1/2 C calcium or fiber *1 Sugar free treat (ex: cottage cheese, ricotta, pureed fruit or Veg, SF Popsicle, sf Jello, sf Pudding) Dinner *6 pm 1/4 - 1/2 C protein (or 1-2 oz) 1/4 C Fruit or Veg That's it. If you feel like you need more, eat more. If you can't eat quite this much yet, chill out and do your best! But make sure you get your liquids in each day!! If you need a reminder for that, drink 1/2 hour before each 'meal' You need to stay hydrated or your body will not operate, or heal, like it should. I like to add generic crystal light (walmart or target brands!), but i choose the sugar free, caffeine free ones that have vitamins included in powder ( ex: Kiwi-Strawberry or Grape from walmart) These are just suggestions, But are mainly for WHEN I have a brain power-outage and need some help! For easy food choices always get low/fat free food mind the sodium and the carbs Some little kid pre packaged foods are great! like pureed fruits (in little foil sacks, no spoon needed) fruits in light syrup or water deli turkey and ricotta cheese Go-gurt ect... Making this list has made me hungry! lol will have a 1/4 c OJ then off to bed. (didn't realize how much i missed OJ until i had some the other day!)

all good suggestions. My only note would be to watch out for the "fat free" items. For a food to be tasty and fat-free, many manufacturers will load it with sugar to make up for the loss of taste from the missing fat. Suger is the DEVIL. What your body doesn't need to use for insulin, it will store in your fat cells to use later, which in turn defeats the whole purpose of us going through this. A little fat is better for you than the sugar to avoid the fat.