Purdy in Pink

I made my goal today...... I want to thank each and everyone of you for all the encouragement and the very helpful posts that you all make and we get the pleasure of reading. If it was not for this site, I'm not sure I would have been as successful as i was. My weight loss journey has been a dream. No problem or complication. Most importantly....no hair loss either. (big woohoo) but I was expecting it to happen, so bonus that it didn't. I just had to share my excitement with all my new friends/family in here. Good luck to everyone, keep it up, it will happen for you too. Donna

Laura, Nope, i didnt do anything special to celebrate...just another day....lol Although I have been treating my self to lots of new clothes....so, I guess that's my celebration. That's the best part i suppose. Good luck! Donna

Thanks to everone for the kind words . no one understands what it really means like you in this site does... Thanks again!

ive been able to take large gulps since about 3 weeks out. I asked my nut, she said as long as it does not hurt, no harm. i was also told to chew, chew, chew.....and again, at my 4 week checkup, I asked, said as long as it didnt bother me, i was fine. I know every dr's different, so u may want to check w/ ur dr or nut. Good luck

I was sleeved on May 24th 2011. I made goal today 12/4/11 Took me 6 months and 10 days. I've lost 70 lbs. getting sleeved was the very best decision I've ever made for myself...no regrets.

I'd love any advice from you that have made goal..... I can't seem to get this last 2 lbs off...it's been 3 weeks, scale's not moving. HELP!! I'm not eating anything "bad" I'm eating same as i have for the last 6 months.... My goal was to lose all 70 lbs in 6 months....well, that goal came 2 days ago, and I missed it. What advice can you give me. Thanks

I eat out all the time w/ hubby or alone. I never seem to have any issues ordering. if I'm w/ hubby, we split a meal, I ask for my own plate. He lets me choose what were gonna eat, based on what i find that has the most Protein. i too find that the appetizers are not much in protein and are often deep fried. (I try to stay away from all fried foods and foods w/ sauces) If i'm out shopping and need to eat something, I often stop in at a taco place and get a chicken soft taco, ask for a fork, throw out the shell and just eat the inside. (it's like a cheap chicken salad) and I'm full when I'm done. or, if there is a subway in the area, i'll just ask for some tuna. Cost's me either $1.00 or $1.50 and that's a cheap lunch too, and I'm full from that lil cup of tuna. i try not to pay for things i'm not going to eat, so just ask and they will often accomodate you. When i was at a casino at the coast recently....i went to the restaurant and asked for a small side order of crab. I told them about 1/4 cup was all i wanted. They charged me $3.00 for the side of crab and it was loaded w/ protein. see what I mean....be creative....it works. you will lose the most amount of weight in your 1st 6 months.......so I am staying away from most all foods like sauces, potatoes, candy, chips, alcohol, beads, Pasta, (carbs in general) trying to mostly only eat protein foods. Best of luck to you.... It's not hard at all, you just need to be creative sometimes. just because it comes that way, you don't have to eat it. I also have a "medical card" issued from my surgon, allowing me to order 'child portions" from a menu. I've only had to pull it out once when they told me that was intended for children under 12.......lol ...... it worked!

I think I should own stock in those Crystal Light "On the go" packets....they are my lifesaver.. I'd never be able to drink the required amount of water/liquids on a daily basis. i know everyone's dr. tells us something a lil different, but my dr said it was fine to drink with my meals. THen I read on here that many are saying that's a no no...so I called my dr and asked again, just incase I missunderstood in the beginning of my journey, again, he said it was fine. so...i'm drinking Water w/ crystal lightwith all my meals. (my thinking on this is....If I get full faster because i'm drinking liquid with my meals, the more weight i'll lose) I'm thinking it's working, as i'm close to goal after 5 months. Try to stick to sugar free things.....and high Protein drinks. Try to eat only protein foods and veggies. you do this, and you will drop lbs like crazy. I don't eat anymore cause i'm hungry, I eat because I have to stay on track and feed my sleeve. (Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack) and no grazing in between. Keep a waterbottle with you from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed. Best of luck! Donna Just do as your Dr, instructs, that's gonna be best!

ooo, what a good post: I love that ppl call me tiny, skinny, and I'm melting b4 their eyes..... from shopping in only the plus size section size 16 pants and a 1x in tops..and now to a size 4 or 6 (depends on the maker of the pants) and either a small or med on the tops.... Seeing my bones in my hips, ribs, neck are awesome feeling too.

I have 1 regret....... I wish I had done this for myself 3 years ago. I had a few naysayers telliing me I wasent that "big" to have this surgery. but I knew this was gonna be the right decision for me, and I just ignored them. Like you, I did my research, i weighed the pro's and con's, and this was what I WANTED to do. I've raised 2 wonderful boys (now 19 and 21). It was time for ME to come 1st. I had 70 lbs I wanted to shed.....tired of the lose, gain, lose, gain....and all the $$ I've spent on the many diets....I figured over time, I'd be saving money..lol I was a self pay, as my insurance has a clause that declined weight loss surgery....but it was worth every penny having this surgery. I had my surgery on May 24th 2011...little over 5 months ago. I have 10 lbs to go to reach my goal. and I feel awesome! terriffic, great, even sexy again..hehehe Best of luck to you!

Congrats! you are doing fantastic. Keep it up!

Congrats! you are doing fantastic. Keep it up!

best of luck to you. and congrats, u will do great...

from what i was told, they have only been doingg the sleeve for a few years. but, stomach cancer patients have had this done many years ago. That being said....i'm almost 5 months. and no regrets at all.

Hi Kerri, first of all, congrats on your decision to take this journey. Looks like you have less t han 100 lbs to lose. A few things to remember as you go through this, and these were told to me by my dr, and nutritionist. I listened to EVERYTHING they told me to do......and I followed it to the letter. I'm losing like crazy..........I wanted to lose 70 lbs total. Next week on the 24th of October will be 5 months for me, and i'm down 60 lbs as off today, with 10 lbs to go. If you want this advise, read on.......I found it VERY helpful to keep me on track. ( It's not meant to critisize anyone.......) I was told that if I followed my dr's instructions i could lose the weight I wanted to lose in about 9 months to a year..... Maybe even sooner If I was real good and NO EATING BAD FOODS on the no no list they gave me....lol They also said that the 1st 6 months were going to be my fastest weight loss and I would never get that kind of a chance again, so don't screw it up. So i've been good as gold. Not eating breads, pasta's, sauces, candy, deserts, NO SODA, no potatoes, no alcohol,and everything they say is bad. I'm getting in lots of Protein. the more protein I eat, the faster i'm losing. I'm getting in at least 80 to 130 grams of protein per day, and drinking at least 80 ounces of Water everyday. (yes, I'm peeing all the time too!..lol) all I can say on the water thing is...... thank god for the crystal light "to go" packets for water....I'd never be able to drink that much per day, If you are real determined and want this bad enough, just do as your told to do by your dr.....sometimes i read postings on here from ppl, saying what they ate for dinner, or lunch, and i think to myself..........why in the world would they eat that........you are making a life chanding decision to have this surgery, and going back to old habbits are what got us overweight to begin with, so stay strong, follow your dr's orders and you will do great! I also DO drink water with my meals, some ppl on here say not to...I have done it since day one.....I asked my dr...he said it was no problem to drink w/ meals, and it appears to be working for me. but your dr may tell you something different. I weigh myself everyday...can't help it...lol..i have to know if I've lost another lb or not overnight.. when I reach goal, I was also told to continue to weigh myself everyday to make sure I'm not putting back on a few lbs, if I do, i can catch myself and fix it before it's out of controll. To be honest, I'm never hungry, but I know I have to eat my 3 meals a day plus a snack on the in between. (don't skip any meals even if you are not hungry) I don't miss anything from my old habbits, as this is the direction I'm going now for the rest of my life. I should be excersizing, but I'm not...shhhhh don't tell my dr...lol....I keep saying i'm going to start soon, I need to firm up some. I've gone from a size 14/16 to a size 5/6 right now.....hoping to be a 3/4 with my last 10 lbs to go. everyone loses weight at a different pace, try not to compair yourself to others, just pay attention to what YOU are eating, drinking, and it WILL melt away. I bought myself the cutest summer halter dress in a small.....hung it on my wall in my bedroom so i look at it everyday. (kinda like that yellow polka dot bikini idea) it's keeping me motivated. Have fun on that cruise Donna

The only cereal on my "approved" list from the dr, is the Koshi "go lean" cereal. but even so, I stay away from that and choose more Protein options for Breakfast. Good luck

2 days for me.........although I have to admit, I didnt put much effert into it for myself, was more for him...hehehe but it was no problem, he was gentle.

Ellie, Yes, Yes, Yes and omg yes! i would absolutley do it again, wished i'd done this 3 years ago. I was not as large as some, and my reasons were purley selfish...I did not wanna be "fat" anymore. I was pushing 200 lbs on a 5'3 body and I was so miserable and unhappy that i let myself get this far outta controll....I've dieted so many times, lost, gained, lost, gained, and I wanted a permanent sulution. Yes, it was drastic.....and i had to pay for it myself, but I wanted it soooo bad. I feel since I paid for it, by golly I was not gonna screw up and eat bad foods again. I'll never get this chance again in my life to lose weight this fast in 6 months. I'm 4 1/2 months out now, lost 50 lbs and i only have 20 to go. I feel so great, even sexy again and i havent felt that way in years....I have not had ANY...and i mean ANY complications or problems...It's been a piece of cake for me. best of luck in your journey, Donna

Hi Everyone, My nut told me it was ok to drink while i was eating, that it was more for band ppl then sleeved ppl. I'm just over 4 months out, and I have been drinking w/ all my meals. I've continued to lose weight, 3 to 5 lbs every 2 weeks or so. i have not had any alcohol since being sleeved, and NO soda...lol. I don't even miss that anymore. I'm 20 lbs to goal, and feel the drinking has not hindered me at all.......I have a dr appt at the end of this month tho, and I'll be sure to double check this question w/ her again, just to be sure....

Hi, I'm 3 months out, and for me, cooking is much easier......so much simplier........When i would make dinner in the past.....I always made way too much. now when I cook dinner, I cook a protien meat, such as fish or chicken, occasional beef, and a vegetable.........that's it! Even my husband has lost 15 lbs eating my healthier way..hehehe Gone forever is the Pasta, rice, potatoes, and most fruits and the soda w/ dinners. So, making dinners now is alot faster too. good luck w/ ur surgery!

Hi Sarah, I was going out to eat around 5 weeks out......choose soft foods that will go down easy tho......suggestions like...fish, chicken (must be tender tho). you basically want Protein foods, and you will have lots of choices in restaurants, you just need to remember to avoids foods that are breaded or in a creamy sauce..... When I would go out to dinner, my hubby and i would split. he lets me pick the meal, and I would take about 15% and leave him 85%. My dr. instructs me to eat protien first and veggie last. (protien is the most important) You wont have any room for anything more then that, and you may not even finnish, from my personal experience, stop b4 u get too full....it hurts....lol Best of luck Donna

Hi everyone, I'm kinda surprised that some of you are allowed to eat potatoes of any kind. I have a list of do's and don't. Potatoes are deffiantly on the don't list. I'm sure it's because they are a starch...... I am however to have a yam.......I hope all of your dr's gave you pages of the type of foods that are good to eat, and which foods you shouldnt eat any more.... I was not allowed to have mushy's until 4 weeks. (i was so sick of the liquids by that time..lol) i was also surprised to hear you say that on 11days out, you were eating mushy's, I imagine it might be hard to lose weight if you eat starchy foods like potatoes, but I know everyone dr. says something different, so, please double check, just because some things are a soft food, does not mean they they will be good for you to eat. The only foods that enter my mouth are high Protein foods and vegetables, ie...chicken, fish, string cheese, yam, green veggies, cottage cheese, greek yogurt etc...., there are so many choices of things to eat out there, im just suggesting that you make the smart choice, if this is something you truley want for yourself. Hope im not sounding too bossy, I just know there are alot of newly sleeved out there, maybe this post might make a difference on choices of foods good luck Donna

Hi, i'll tell u the thing i love the most and drank alot of...and still drink these.......and it's a Protein beverage. costco, I hope u have one of those near u, I love the muscle milk light, each 8oz has 20 gm protein, they also sell a premier Protein Drink there, 30 gm protein in that one. They both taste like choc milk to me, but w/ no chalky taste. I like the muscle milk light over the Premier Protein drink. The muscle milk actually contains no milk...(lol...go figure) I also went to the local GNC store in my area, i got tons of Protein drinks there, The Dr's office may sell protein foods there also, I know mine does. They have Soups, hot choc, beverages,all things are high in protein. If your dr office don't carry them, try on line. If your gonna be successful, you need to get in your 60 to 90 grams of protein per day along w/ ur water! I know its rough at 1st.......just do your best.....best of luck I need some suggestions for unflavored protein. I an almost 2 wks out and having a real hard time with protein. They taste so bad I can never keep them down. Maybe there is unflavored products that I may have better luck with.

Hey, you ARE going great, and there is no way u can eat as little as your eating and NOT lose weight. I am 5 1/2 weeks, i've lost 25 lbs, and I'm just now starting to notice that my clothes fit me better, even wearing 1 size smaller. None of my friends that havent seem me since b4 the surgery have even noticed that i've lost 25 lbs....hmmmm but oh well...soon it will be more evident. I lost 17 lbs in my 1st 6 days......now it seems to be going so slow. I was at a starting weight of 195.......and i know it will come off slower for me then most, based on my weight. but I also know, IT WILL COME OFF.... You may want to lower your calories some, that seems a little high. Eat more chicken & fish...that works well. sounds like you are doing great getting in at least your 60 grams Protein and drinking your Water..... hang in there, be patient and it WILL COME OFF.