PamelaAM

Leslie, you look absolutely amazing! And to everyone else, you should see her in person. . .gorgeous! What a tremendous success story!

You first need to save the pictures on your computer in a file that you will remember where it is (don't laugh, can't tell you how many times I have saved something and then forgotten where I saved it to!). Then click on your screen name here and it will take you to your profile page. You should be able to click on the tab that says Gallery and then there should be an Add Images button (or something like that) I am totally trying to do this from memory. If someone has the exact process written down, please post for Dawn so we can see her amazing transformation!

Yep, me too. I used to drink a TON of water every day - loved it. Now I can barely do plain water. I drink at least 3 of my bottled every day mixed with the Kelloggs K20 in the lemonade flavor. That way I am getting the 5 grams of protein per packet every day too. Between the (3) K20 packets and a Kelloggs protein bar or two (they go down easy and aren't dense like other protein bars) I can get an extra 25 -35 grams of protein in every day plus it helps me get the extra calories I need to get to 1200 calories a day.

Just wanted to remind everyone that there is a Clothing Exchange forum on this site. I didn't even realize it until yesterday when someone pointed it out to me. Great way to *recycle* our clothes and also help everyone out so that they aren't buying a ton of clothes at every different weight level. Just scroll down way far on the main page of the site to find the Clothing Exchange.

I have a whole box of 18-20 and some 22-24 tops (because I always wore the tops bigger). Where are you located?

Dawn! Amazing, amazing, amazing!!! What an incredible inspiration to us all! Isn't it strange though how we don't see ourselves any smaller? That is the oddest thing to me :-) Keep up the fabulous work! Why don't you post some before and *now* pictures? We all love seeing pictures for inspiration.

I am having crazy wild dreams still. Never about eating food just really weird dreams that kind of freak me out. I've never had dreams like this before and I don't take anything stronger than Tylenol. Weird.

You look AMAZING!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!! congratulations!!!!!!!

You totally ROCK girl!!! You look fabulous and I think I could read your blog all day long :-) You have a true gift for writing and what an inspiration you are to the rest of us! I'm right there with you on the hair loss. I am just over 3 months out and didn't have a lot of hair to begin with. So I've been busily shopping for wigs (have bought 4 so far) and wore one for the first time to work the other day. Felt really self conscious but everyong said it looked good. . .hopefully they weren't just being nice! Would love to chop my hair off really short like yours but would be afraid you would see big holes of scalp! Yours looks fabulous! Your brain will catch up with the weight loss. I'm going through the same thing. I still see the same *me* in the mirror but everyone else's comments let me know that there is apparently a huge difference. Keep it up and we look forward to seeing less of you soon :-)

OMG! I didn't think it would happen! I have been at a stall for over a week and going up and down a pound during that time. I really wanted to get under 200 by New Year's day - I don't know, maybe psychological, but just wanted to start out the New Year in Onederland - a place I haven't seen for 10 years! Just wanted to share this success! Made my day! Hell, it made my YEAR!!!!

OMG! I have been teetering between 200 and 201 for over a week now. Really wanted to hit Onederland by tomorrow morning but this morning was at 200.5 once again. I know it will happen eventually but I really wanted to start the year out under 200. Anyone have any tricks up their sleeves? It's more just the psychological thing of getting under 200 for the New Year :-)

If you had already lost 50 lbs on your own prior to surgery, it is not uncommon for your body to "hold on" to weight before it decides to release it. Especially if you are on a low amount of calories, your body might have gone into starvation mode. I was sleeved on September 27th so a couple of weeks before you and hadn't really lost prior to surgery. But when I hit the 2 1/2 month mark I was definitely stalling. Saw the nutritionist and she said I had to get my calories up from 800-900 up to 1000-1200 because my body was hanging on to the weight for fear of never getting food again. Once I was able to up my calories I have started to lose again. Slow, but at least I am losing. It is hard to get in 1200 calories - I am literally eating something every 2-3 hours. And if you are working out alot you actually need MORE than 1200 calories to not starve your body. Seems weird but that is the science of how it works. I, too, would suggest that you meet with the nutritionist and get some additional guidance.

So I had to totaly laugh at myself! I was 199.5 yesterday morning and got so excited! Only to see the scale back at 200 this morning. It was totally a psychological thing for me to start out the New Year below 200 - and I did, so now I can just get on with what I need to do to get to my goal. A huge thanks to everyone for your great support, as always! I love it that we have a place to come where everyone "gets it"! Let kick some a$$ in 2011!

Congratulations on having your sleeve! You can look at other people's tickers and usually the website is listed with the ticker. I use two different ones because they show different information. See mine below. One is from tickerfactory.com and the other came from myfitnesspal.com.

Wow! Congratulations!!!! Doesn't it feel fabulous???

To make sure that I get all of my protein in, I mix Kelloggs K2o in all of my water all day. It has 5 grams of protein and only 30 calories. I usually drink 3-4 of those a day so while I'm getting my water in I am also getting in an extra 20 grams of protein. I like the lemonade flavor but it also comes in Strawberry-Kiwi and Iced Tea.

I would check into maybe another PPI for the heartburn. As far as the meat goes, are you allowed to have meat at only 2 weeks out??? I didn't have meat until 6 weeks. And I still have a bit of a problem with meat (as in beef). It just sits too heavy and doesn't feel like it goes all the way down.

Love your post! Glad that your illeus got resolved quickly! I had a friend who was in the hospital for 3 weeks with paralytic illeus. . .it was bad. You are going to love, love, love your sleeve! Happy New Year and welcome again!

My doc said that it was 2 oz in the beginning but I can eat more like 3-4 oz now - depending on what it is. You'd have to be eating literally ALL day long at 2 oz per sitting just to get your 1200 calories in so that your body doesn't go into starvation mode.