2bslimkim

3 months this past monday and 44 lbs lost

First: Everyone (and I mean everyone) stalls around the 3rd week. Second: It is insane to think your body is able to lose a lb per day for 3 months. Average weight loss after the first month or so (depending on how much you weight starting off) should be around 1-3 lbs per week and stall WILL happen. Remember a pound is 3500 calories so to lose a lb per day your body must BURN 3500 per day. not possible if you are avg. It comes off quick in the beggining from Water weight etc.... but be prepared for the loss to slow to a normal healthy loss. I avg. 2 lbs per week with every 4th week slowing down to about a 1 lb loss. avg. 7 - 10 per month. Keep it real folk.... this is not the "big red easy button". You still have to work at it and result will not be magical. Also, keep in mind, the faster you lose the less time your skin has to shrink back creating that dreaded saggy skin... slower loss will allow the skin to slowly shrink..

One year ago come June 13th.... A Navy recruiter came to my house and took my oldest son off to Boot Camp. On August 13 I went to Great Lakes to see him graduate. He had 6 hrs with us before he was flown off to his Apprentice School. He is now stationed over seas... I swore to myself that the next time I see my son I would not look/feel like i did at his graduation.... See photo gallery. Well, in 12 more days i'm leaving to go visit him. My goal is to have lost 45 lbs since he last saw me (I was 215). I have 4 lbs to go and i'm working it! I want to weight less than 170 when I step off that plane. I want my son for the first time in 12 yrs to be able to put his arms around me.... He still might weight a few lbs less (The Navy keeps him in shape) 5'10" and weights all of 155-165. That is my first goal. I want him to be so proud of his mother when he introduces me around base. If he can serve his country... The least I can do for him is to get healthy.

Are you trying to go from a 18 W to a 16 misses? My BMI is 28 and I weight 174 and i'm just now leaving the size 16's for 14's. Maybe like a lot of use, we were a little poured into our old clothes. I remember I would never dry my clothes for fear they would shrink (I had those boogers nice and stretched out ). Now i'm trying to shrink stuff to get a little more wear out of them. I was "wearing" an 18W when i started my journey at 215. Then went to a reg. 18, then 16 and just now falling COMFORTABLY into size 14 misses. I work with a lady who is always telling us she wears a size 8 and weights 147 and is 5'9". First of all she is no taller than I am and i'm only 5'5 1/2". anyway, long story short. We finally got tired of her telling us this and I finally said "It's not about how much you weight or what size you are, It's about being healthy.... and at 174, i'm a lot healthier than you are at 147 (she doen't exercise). Not to mention, one of the other ladies is half her size and wears 10-12's Bottom line.... don't concentrate to much on size. Every manufacturer cuts differently. A size 16 at Talbots might be much larger than a size 16 at the Gap. another thing i've notice.... when my weight loss slows seems to be when I drop the most inches... I will get frustrated with slow weight loss one week and sure enough, I will put something on I wore the week before and it falls off of me. My normal weight before I turned 35 was 125..... I"m 5'5 1/2" tall and when I was 125 I could wear a sz 6, by the time I was around 140, I was a size 10, at 150-160 ish I was a 12, and in my low 170's i've been in size 14's but odly..... from 190 to 215 I was a 18... hummm Maybe a little denial on my part. Best of luck... and don't get stuck on the little stuff.

I love Tuna salad on a few healthy (small) crackers. I make a Mediterranean style tuna salad that has Olive oil with lemon juice instead of mayo. I include chopped black and green olives and capers. It is very light and refreshing. the tuna and olive mix is so dense that i fill up very quick. I rarely eat cheese.... the fat from calories scares me since i'm on reg. food now. Cheese is not something I want to learn to maintain on. I also like Pacific brand Beef and/or Turkey Jerkey. Becareful... onc ounce is 70 cals. So a quick Protein pick-me-up but not good filler food. I keep in my purse for emergencies... I've tried that whole "add more calories" to lose weight theory... Didn't work. Bottom line, it's calories in verus calories out. It's simple math. If you are eating plenty of protein and not losing you are probably taking in more calories than you are burning. AND keep in mind. It takes 3500 caloreis burned to lose a pound. So, one must burn in addition to what you body needs daily in caloric intake an additional 500 calories per day just to lose one pound per week. I put in about 5 hrs per week of exercise and i'm averaging about 2 lbs per week. Some weeks 1 lb, next week 3 lbs for example. I'm at week 12 (I think) and i've not yet had a week were I didn't lose something. The least amount (which has happened once) was 1/2 a pound. Good luck.... make sure you are keeping a food diary. (

This is what is wrong with our countries health care system. I was a cash pay and I paid TOTAL $12,500. and that included 2 nights stay at a lovely hospital in Dallas that specializes in WLS and my Dr.'s fees. Our insurance rep has always told us (if possible) negotiate surgical costs before hand to avoid hopital overages. This is how they make money (to pay for those who doen't/can't pay). It is also why so many americans can't afford insurance. The insurance companies must recoop the money somehow. Think about it..... if your bill is $44k (let say) and you owe 10% you are still paying 1/3 of what I spent and I was cash.... didn't have to deal with the BS before hand. No long waits etc. Decided in January I wanted surgery. Had surgery in February. $66k is rediculous

I had my surgery on 2/28 and my birthday was 3/29..... I just had to Celebrate with some wine. I drank very slowly and didn't really have any issues. Make sure you take something for acid that day. Wine is very acidic so if you are having issues with reflux (which i'm not) be careful. I had several glasses over a 5 hr period. I put in extra exercise that week and still managed to lose. Tonight (10 weeks post op) I had a client take me to dinner and I ordered a glass of wine, drank half then didn't want anymore. It can be managed if on occasion. Have fun....

I'm pretty much between 500-700 most days. 10 weeks post op

Yes... this makes me feel full. Like, if I eat anymore, i'd not be very comfortable. This is deli meat not the relly ultra thin slices that are prepackaged but it said 3 slices was 50 calories. I took a slice of cheese and cut about a fourth of it and laid it out onto the turkey and rolled it up. Also, I'm eating about every 3 hours when I eat that way. Today my husband and I are going to our favorite asian buffet. They sell me the kids meal.... it's so cute but I can't eat much and they've known us for a while. Here is what I will probably be able to eat (based on past experience) about 8 or 10 tiny shrimp. You know.... those itsy bitsy ones. I will have 2 ( at the most 3, but less shrimp) steamed (not fried) pork won tons, maybe a few pieces of steamed vegi's. I will be at that point totally full. I mean, one more bite and it's coming back up. Oddly, somethings go down better than others. I've noticed that carbs go down better than Protein. Maybe that is why they want us to fill up on protein first. Protein hits my stomach like a lead balloon. I could nibble on nuts (I know, its still a protein) all day long and never feel full. You know what i mean? some things just don't give me that full feeling but protein dense food does the trick.

Hip... I don't really know how to answer your question and i'd like to help. Here's the deal. I don't know if you are able to eat more because of the time frames in which you list. If I sat down for an hour I'd have no problems eating what you are listing. But within the time frame I have my meals i'm full after a couple onces. Here is what I ate yesterday.... maybe this will help you compare. I'm 10 weeks post op today and I lose 2-3 lbs per week with only one stall that lasted a week. Breakfast - 30 gram Protein shake = 160 cal. lunch - 2 slices of turkey rolled up with about a 1/4 slice cheese = about 75 cal Snack - One 120 cal pack of organic beef Jerky = 120 dinner - 1/2 smoked chicken breast = approx 142 cals Snack -40 pistachios = 80 cals Special Mothers Day Treat, One glass of white wine = 80 cals. Total Calories 657 had it not been for the wine I would have consumed no carbs. I always drink at least 100 onces of Water per day in some form or shape. I swam laps for 30 minutes and did light weight training for another 30 minutes I'm not sure what else to tell you. You keep telling everyone you know what you are doing so i'm not sure what you are hoping to read. Lets face it If I wanted to I could suck on a Milkshake all day long and not lose an once. I just think you need to measure and regulate the amount of time you allow yourself to eat.

Morning.... I start off with a glass of water while i'm getting ready for work and add my Vitamins... b-12, multi, Omega 3, Biotin, thyroid, Vitamin D (take Calcium and multi later in the day) about 10am I have my 30 gram Protein drink. I buy them at costco Premium brand. 160 cals. at noon I usually eat at work with some of the other gals. I eat things like boca burger, Tuna salad, meat loaf, meat balls, grilled chicken. It doesn't take much to fill me up. Some times I just eat the meat out of a Lean Cuisine. Like the Meat balls and Pasta minus the pasta... I leave work at 3pm to pick my son up from school. If I'm having a energy crash i will snack on pre-packaged beef Jerky. 120 cals. around 5-6 pm I have another snack of pistachios if needed to hold me over till dinner. Dinner will be another round of meat. Fish, Shrimp, chicken, beaf, Turkey, ground taco meat, etc.... I only add carbs if i'm out to eat. If we go to eat Mexican i will allow myself 2 chips with salsa. My husband and I share Fajita's minus the tortillas, & cheese etc. I drink at least 100 once's of water a day.... i'm always drinking something. The more i drink the more i want to drink. It is key... not only does our skin need it, it helps flush out our bodies. i also make sure the plumbing is clean... if i'm having problems by Friday I take a mild laxative like Delcolax and let it do its work overnight. I think what helps me is... i don't have issues with Protein drinks. I like water, and i'm not a sugar addict. If you want to know if you body is burning fat Ketosis strips help. The strips let You will know when you are in Ketosis (burning fat). I buy my strips at Target so i'm sure you can get them an any store that has diabetic supplies. I hope this helps.... Let me know if you need me to elaborate....

OK folks...... My stall lasted exactly one week. Here are my stats: pre op diet one week starting weight 215, - 8lbs Surgery date 2/28/11 wk 1 post op, - 5.5 wk 2 post op, - 4 wk 3 post op, - 0.5 wk 4 post op, - 5 wk 5 post op, - 2 wk 6 post op, - 3 wk 7 post op, - 2 wk 8 post op, - 3 wk 9 post op, - 3.5 So far this week, - 2lbs, my official weight in are on Mondays Total 38 lbs Here's my day.... rarely eat carbs. Always get tons of Water in each day (I'm drinking constantly). I get at least 3 hrs of cardio in per week (nothing overboard, swim laps and lite weights), Always eat my Protein first and i've never still been hungry for carbs afterwards (total full, no more room at the inn). I start everyday with a 30 gram Protein shake (no added sugar from fruit). I get most my protein from meat products and rarely from dairy. I keep my calories around 500-700 per day. My "rare" indulgances have been a glass or two of white wine but only on days I exercise. I have not ever gained or stalled during TOM (I think the extra water i'm drinking helps that). For a salty snack I eat Pistachios (20 = 80 cals). As you can see, i'm not pulling huge numbers (this isn't the biggest loser) but i'm somewhat consistant. If you have more specific questions like my actual daily diet let me know. At two months out its pretty simple. I like salt more than sugar so the high protein diet is easier for me than maybe if I was a sugar person. Even at 215, I rarely ate sweets CAUTION: TMI moment You must get Fiber in some how. Nothing will stall my weight loss quicker than stopped up plumbing. What ever works... please make sure you are having at least 2 or 3 BM's a week minimal. (I sound like my mother).

i'm 9 1/2 weeks post-op and I just had my highlights reversed so I wouldn't have to do root touch ups as often. Oddly, i've had more compliments on it than I did highlighted.... but that's another story. My first career was hair dresser and i can tell you there is no such thing as gently bleaching your hair. bleach is bleach. It's not the initial lightening that will be the problem (well not the biggest problem), it will be the maintenance..... lighter hair requires more frequent care (unless you are just a fan of dark roots). If you are hell bent on having summer kissed hair I would suggest partial highlights.... (notice my photo). the highlights are only in the front portion so you see it peeking thru my sunglasses. That has all been removed now and i'm going with a more natural color that won't be as hard to maintain. My hair has not started to shed yet but i'm trying my best to keep it in the best possible condition and making sure I get all my Protein and take all my Vitamins... I also take Biotin and fish oils. Also... keep in mind. Being a hair stylist is a FOR PROFIT business. the more you need her/him (up keep and maintenance on color treated hair) the more money she makes. I would be very skeptical of anyone who tells you color is safe while hair is obviously going thru a stress stage. Sorry... not going to hear me tell you to go for it. Do not know you but we are sisters by WLS and I would never tell a "Sister" to do something I know will be damaging. Not going to do it.

You and I have the same surgery date (I think, 2/28/11). Anyway, i do understand what you mean. while I do think about food I don't have this desire to obsess with it anymore. I think what we are experiencing is what normal thin people experience. I now eat when I need too, not when I want too. I now stop when i'm full, not when my plate is empty, I can watch others eat and think "OMG, how can they eat all that" not the old feeling of why am I the only one still eating. I have a friend that I have lunch with every now and then and she is maybe 110 at 5'5" tall. She would order the most expensive item on the menu (like grilled Salmon) and only eat a few bites and stop. I always wanted to have that will power. Now I do, and now I understand how she was able to stay slim in her mid 40's after two kids. She didn't feel the need to finish it off, she didn't feel the need to only order what she will eat (app menu), she didn't worry about how much she was spending and not able to eat. It always amazed me. I went to costco with my husband Sunday and they were sampling food. I took a sample of a 1/4 of a hamburger and only took one ity bity bite and handed the rest to my husband. He stuffed the whole thing in his mouth and it totally surprised me. I'd never noticed him eating such oversized bites before. I asked him...."do you realize you just shoved 1/4 of a burger in your mouth all at one time". "That should have been several small bites dude". He just looked at me and had this look like WTF. Well, we paid for change and now we are getting it. I'm trying to embrace it . Before my surgery I was a wine-o and I loved shrimp (I was like Bubba Gump... fried shrimp, broiled shrimp, steamed shrimp, etc etc etc). Now shrimp doesn't taste as good to me and I can have one glass of wine on occasion and not want any more. That would have never happend to old Kim. Some days, I just can't decide what to eat so I will just have a Protein shake and keep moving on...

I was 100% self pay. My Dr. is located in the DFW area of Texas. My beginning BMI was 35 but down to 34.4 on day of surgery. I had 90 lbs to lose. 215 beginning to 125 goal. 5' 5 1/2" Because i was self pay the whole precess was very quick. Went to first seminar in Jan. and was sleeved Feb. 28th. I'm now down to 178 and feeling great. I think it is rediculous to wait till a person is morbid to have this surgery (and so does my Dr.). I'm still 25 lbs away from a healthy weight according to BMI... I'm very greatful I made my choice and didn't wait. Good luck to you.

Finally made it out of the obese BMI.... first goal met What i've learned.... 1. You don't want to eat week one. 2. You will feel much better week two if you drink your Protein shakes 3. You will stall after large amounts of fast weight loss (for me week 3) 4. you will loss again after your stall 5. you will have the munchies around week 3 & 4 6. the munchies will go away after you start eating real food again 7. I can swallow whole pills again. week one i was able to take my thyroid. Week 8 I was able to swallow TWO caps at the same time 8. I must drink plenty of Water to keep from gaining water weight 9. i must exercise 10. i can go out and lose... even mexican 11. i can have a small indulgence every now and then and still lose. (glass of wine at dinner) 12. weight loss will be no faster than before... avg. 2 - 3 lbs per week with very controlled calorie intake. No big numbers after week 3. 13. I sleep better, I feel better, I look better, I'm more fun! 14. it doesn't bother me to tell people about my surgery. 15. i like swimming suits, shorts, short sleeved shirts, strapless bras, sexy sandals with red polish pedicures, nighties (no MooMoo's). My list will keep growing as I keep losing. Next goal 150 (healthy weight) final goal 120-125..... pre-age 35 weight I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.... or the two piece bikini (well maybe just for my back yard pool)

I've never had a problem getting my liquids in which I think is key to a successful recovery. I asked my surgeon "why" i'm not having any issues and he looked at me like I was crazy. I explained to him some of the problems i'd read about on line and he was really surprised. He said a normal recovery should be just that. NORMAL..... He said he could have made the restriction smaller for faster weight loss but the complications that arise are not worth it. I often feel guilty that i've had such an uneventful recovery. My weight loss has been consistent so far (avg. 2-3 per week) with the normal 3rd week stall. When I really started realizing my restriction was when I started eating solids. I love it.... I can go out with my friends and family to a restaurant and have a few bites of meat and "pow" i'm done. I love that i have no problems with liquids because drinking Water is such a key to successful weight loss. Considere it a good sign of things to come.

Hey Hip... I'm going to talk to you as if I was talking to my son. A little tough love. You don't need emotional support you need a good swift kick in the butt. First of all. Now that you are moving to solids your intestines are filling back up so that will add some weight. Once your bowels get moving on a regular basis you will level out with weight loss. If you are constipated take a Delcolax or something to help get the ol pluming moving again. Second of all.... love ya man but you're eating to much for 3rd week. Most of us are doing good to get 500 cals down by 3rd week. It's OK but if you are going to eat 1200 cals per day your weight loss will slow down compared to those of us who are on a lower than 800 cal per day. Try aiming for 800 or add at least enough cardio to burn 400 calories each and every day. Also, get off the imitation crab meat. I don't have any in my kitchen to do the math but I think it has more carbs and sugar than you think. Try canned tuna light in Water. Mix with a small amount of healthy low fat mayo and a dash or relish for flavor. Most of all..... Get off your @$$, stop with the whining, no more depression eating.... Next time you reach for a carb (no matter how small amount) go for a walk instead. Don't push it with heavy lifting. It will depress you because your body isn't ready or strong enough. I'm at week 9 and I still start every day with a 30 gram Protein drink. I'm avg. about 2-3 lbs lose per week. I'm had one stall at week 3 and lost 6 lbs the week after. After my 4 week my weight loss stabilized. I had a 4 lb loss this week but I did a ton of swimming (laps) and water resistant exercises. Now go get moving.... plan your weekly meals so you don't get off track. Go shop for your groceries. Pre-cook some chicken breast, Pre-cook some low fat ground beef (add some tomato sauce) etc etc.... Get off the creamed hi-calorie hi-carb soups. Love ya man.... GO KICK SOME BUTT! HOO YAH! (sorry my son's in the Navy)

you eat a gummy Vitamin and feel like you are cheating. Never knew Vitamins could taste so good . I feel like i'm having a treat.

This is going to sound totally rude, not meant to, just some tough love... but since a movie is only about 2 hrs long... Maybe we stop associating food with entertainment There is no rule that says a movie must be accompanied by food. I would suggest using your new tool to learn that not all functions need to come with food. I know it's hard but it can be done. I had to learn how to go hang out with my husband and friends, at their favorite BBQ place, for several hours at a time, at least once a week. I've managed with total success. I order my iced tea and sip on it while the boys chow down on BBQ and beer. I make sure i'm not hungry when I go (first rule) We must learn to think skinny...... My Dr. told me that if I want to have an indulgance (for me, it's a glass of wine at nice restaurants) that I need to make sure i've burned the extra calories thru addtitional exercise that day or by cuting calories out of my daily diet. "Make sure it's worth it" he said. Basically, going to the movies needs to be about the movie and not the food... enjoy the company, the movie, the people watching then go have yourself a healthy snack or meal afterwards (or before). Movies are just a beginning. It may be a trip to the zoo with the kids, a summer Cruise vacation with the family, a Baseball game, School candy fund raiser, Girl Scout Cookies etc etc etc...... these situations will not go away and we must use our new tool to impower us to make better and wiser choices. IT'S HARD...... I DO UNDERSTAND. I'm learning that myself. Best wishes at the movies...... you will do fine

Different point of view.... Remember, a lot of the restuarant/hotel foods you must eat at while traveling, are also higher in sodium which will temp. increase your Water weight. Everytime I travel I gain even when staying on my diet. The increased sodiums in restuarant foods (even when low cal) are often enough to put on a little water weight. Three lbs is nothing if you get a grip on it. Flying, and/or sitting in a car can also make us swell. Drink lots of water this week and I bet you flush your system out. Most of all... Don't beat yourself up. We all need to take a break from the diet every now and then... otherwise it consumes us. Most of all we must learn to live with splurges. It's like buying a expensive purse, you buy the purse then figure out where you will save to justify the cost. Occational indulging is the same. Once you've done it, it's now time to figure out ways to compensate... Example, extra day at the gym or a one day liquid diet (like pre-op). I'm also in Texas and wish you all the best.

It may be my age (48) but I just haven't had any issues telling people what i've done.... I guess I frankly don't give a rats @$ what they think about it. My body, My life. Anyone who knows me knows i've been yo-yo dieting for years. So far, all I've heard is huge support and how fantastic I look. My husband was so excited he told all his friends and i had no issues.... no different than any of them "buying their wifes/girlsfriends boob jobs..." sort of the male right of passage. He was very excited that I was going to try my best to get my old pre age 35 body back. We are starting to feel like we are dating again.... it's not only been great for my physical health but my overall mental well being. Also, If I can help (by telling on person my story) save their health or lessen the stigma than I feel like I've made a difference. And in the end.... that's all its about. Making a difference. Not exactly as glamorous as a community garden or fund raising for breast cancer but we all have different callings and you never know who's life you may touch by sharing your story (struggles and successes).

Not much to add other than make sure you are getting plenty of Fiber in your diet either with food or supplement. I will have a stall and then remember my Fiber and suddenly the pipes are working and the stall is over. We always worry about Water weight but our poo weights more than our pee..... Sorry for the bluntness I force myself to add 2 tea spoons full of fiber to one glass of water/non-caloried drink every evening to the keep the plumbing from backing up. I'm still mainly on Protein so this really helps. I use Benefiber.

So... before i had my surgery, my husband and i would frequent this little asian buffet for lunch at least once per week (we work together). I explained to the owner, the week before surgery, that he would sadly not see me for a while .... Well today I went back and this is what happened. First, I asked the Manager/Owner if he would sell me a smaller priced buffet and he asked me if I had my little card the surgeons gives you.. I proudly said "Yes I Do"... I picked up my buffet plate and proceeded to the food.... I ate 2 steamed dumpling, 6 steamed very small shrimp, one thin cut peice of beef about the size of 1/2 a stick of gum, and 4 or 5 sips of Soup broth. That was it..... could not handle any more. My big surprise, when I was only charged $4.15 for my buffet and my waitress gave me my tea (which comes with the buffet) to go. THANK YOU LITTLE CARD..... SUCCESS! I'm excited.... I can handle to buffet with ease and control. I feel so happy

I've lost 30 lbs (my bmi is now 30.8) I started feeling normal as soon as I was able to drink Protein... I can now eat whatever I want as long as the portion size is small and i don't eat to much.