meggiep

It is so great to hear from everyone! Wow Michelle- 75 pounds? TWO MONTHS? AMAZING!!!!!!! It i hard to believe it will be 8 weeks on Monday- it seems like it just happened- eh? I had my lost weekend for my birthday (I gave it its own thread!) so that stalled me for that week- but I am losing again this week and have now lost 45 pounds since starting my two week pre-op on April 25th. I really do consider that my start0 two weeks of liquids- a tough two weeks indeed! One funny thing I notice is that when I feel full I sometimes have the same guilt as when I ate too much in the past- then I realize that having a sleev that holds 1/4 cup max will keep you pretty much feeling full all the time! Yeah Kelly- you are 30 lbs from goal- everyone is slow so close to goal- you are doing great! I have only lost 27 since actual surgery date and I am 75 from goal! And hooray we get to hug in person next week!

I do feel sometimes like I have taken a second job managing Thumbelina, my name for my sleeve! I just have to trust that it will get easier I post this article all the time because I think it is really reassuring and explains that you are losing weight during stalls- it is a natural chemical process when your body is rebuilding its glycogen store- I really recommend measuring yourself- I have never been one to do tha and did not do it until I was about three weeks along- and I am amazed at the inches I am losing- even, for example, last week when I lost ZERO. Last week, my sixt week, was my second week of 0 lost in my seven weeks, so you are not lone! As of today I have lost 45 pounds in the 9 weeks since my pre-op started . It will happen!!!!! Trust in the process and your tiny tummy. Really work on the Protein and the Water and know it will work. The article: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

Girl isn't it a mystery? I wish there was just a certain routine- and if you follow it- voila- the weight falls off. No such luck! One thing though- you have lost almost 80% of your excess weight! Though you lost much of it pre-surgery you are bound to slow down as you get closer to goal. Just do the principles as you know them and trust you will lose, even if a bit more slowly than you hoped- you are 30 odd pounds away from goal! I would love to be there! I just had a non losing week and the like you lost 2- go figure! Who knows why! I do think you should eat more, especially since you exercise every day. IMeanwhile PM me your address so I can do a Mapquest for you for next Saturday!

Are you a coffee drinker? I am able to tolerate my chocolate Protein powder mixed with 8 ounces of decaf and ice. I can hardly stand any others, though now that I can have things like banana and strawberries it can make some of the strawberry ones palatable. If you really can't make them work, you will need to really work to get food sources. Tofu is a great one- as are some of the other legumes. You are right to be concerned because getting the required amount is the lynchpin of making this surgery work for you and not losing muscle. My surgeon reiterated it again today at my 6 week appointment. The reason it is critical to find at least one drink you do like is that you don;t want to have to dedicate every bit of a meal to protein- you want to be able to get a variety of foods. I Have my coffee/choco protein in the morning and an Unjury chicken soup in the afternoon- with the 50 gams those provide i only need 20 from food and can have a few vegetables and fruits too. You have a lot to figure out! Good luck to you.

I had diarrhea for the first two weeks- my doc suggested diluting the Protein Drinks a bit more. It went away in week 3 (now the opposite!) So glad you are home!!!!

I would say the people who have the best results here follow the simple principles that most (not all of course) of use are given by our doctors. Mine are: 600-800 calories in the higher losing phase <= 40 carbs a day (many go for 30) daily exercise - i walk an hour a day and do Water aerobics- my knees can't handle everything at least 64 ounces water a day Vitamins Some people don't count carbs- for some low carbs does not work- you will need to figure out how YOUR body does best! It is best not to compare weight loss results- your body will do it the way your body will do it but if you follow the rules you WILL lose. As for loose skin- I think again that depends on your own physical makeup- some will bounce back quickly- others have lots of loose skin. For adding new foods, my doctor recommends you add one new food at a time and follow a process when you are first adding solids: take a bite, chew it very very well, swallow. wait 2 minutes- if it goes down well and feels ok take 2 bites- always chew very very well wait two minutes take three bites- chew very very well if this works well finish your portion. Chances are you may feel full already- which is in itself a learning thing. You will have to figure out when you are full if like most sleevers you do not have hunger to guide you! Good luck to all of you!!!

I have done the same thing will all my liquids since the first few days- set my alarm and drink 2 ounces, then set my phone alarm again (15 minutes at first). Now I can drink a lot more and I set it to 8 minutes but can get all my water and all my protein in this way! Good luck and full speed ahead! I love the strawberry chike with banana and strawberries added. (after you are allowed those).

WOW! Like a different person! I have loved watching this transformation!

While I was on full liquids, I could easily drink a cup of Soup. Now that I am on solid foods- my sleeve, Thumbelina, can hold 1/4 cup max. It will be very different so don't stress about taking more in right now. I have not been hungry since my surgery- and as a reply above mentioned- you should probably consider an acid reducer to see if it really is hunger you are feeling. As for liquids- drink drink drink- as much as you can! 2 Liters is the minimum and the more the better with all the waste products the fat burning will generate.

I think it is a mistake to set goals based on things you have seen others do , or things you hope for. You will find out what your particular body will do with this brand new tummy of yours. Meanwhile, 20 pounds in three weeks is amazing! Around this time in the process you may have your first slowdown as your body processes what has happened and gets into the losing chemistry rhythm . It is important to get the Protein in or your body will burn muscle instead of your fat cells. You may fall into the misconception that you should use this opportunity to just starve yourself without working to get your protein, your Water, etc. I think that would be a mistake. My research and the stories here have told me the things you can do to maximize your results 60-80 grams protein- EVERY day. In the absence of carbs, with lots of protein, the body turns to fat cells to burn- that is what we want! Hence the protein. 64 ounce plus water it is important to flush out the waste from all that burning < or = 30-40 grams carbs per day This makes your body turn to the fat cells Not everyone counts carbs but many people have great results in doing so. at least 30 minutes exercise per day Vitamins supplements So that is my advice to you- follow the rules, you will lose to your maximum. Don't compare yourself to anyone else- you are YOU! Good luck on this wonderful journey!

Your body relies on carbs for energy. In the absence of carbs it will usually burn muscle- but if you follow the high protein/low carb plan then it will have to turn to fat cells- yay! The by product of burning the fat is a substance called ketones- many ketones are used for energy but those that are not are excreted and create that weird fruity breath. Gross as it may make you feel- just know it means you are burning fat- yay!

This is probably the one area where still being hungry can serve you well! Without hunger you do not have the "satisfied hunger" feeling so you really have to figure it out another way! I am not hungry when I start eating so I had to really tune in to what is going on. 1\I always start with 1/4 cup- can often eat it all but sometimes cannot- and really need to identify those times or else....

I usually burp ;-P I found I need to pay attention to that or I will regret it. I ignored it once and everything came back up. Other report hiccuping, one person even sneezes! Not to be TMI nut it is not like a regular burp, it is a burp with a little of the flavor of what I am eating. It is so hard at frst1 you really have to listen to your body!

I saw an ad for a new treatment called ScarAway and decided to give it a try on my five little boo-boos . It is apparently similar to what they use in burn centers. There are scar sheets made of silicone, and also a serum. They were out of the serum at Walgreens (and it costs $30!) so I bought the sheets, which were on sale at $18 for two months supply. The sheets are large- I cut one into four pieces for my small scars. You apply them and keep them on for 12 hours, then actually wash and dry the little pieces with soap and water- it does not affect the adhesive- in fact helps it stay sticky- you can use each sheet five times. Since I had to use a second sheet for my fifth piece it wont be two months worth- but I can report after one night my scars are softer and actually a lighter color! I ws really surprised- even one that is angrier looking and quite red is completely changed. I have high hopes!

I am not sure if that is the same- I just know she said if I am eating 600-800 calories I WILL lose because my weight requires more than that to stay the same. She said the you will also by the same token gain and keep gaining until the weight you are is supported fully by the calories you eat. This means that if you are 200 pounds overweight you are eating a lot- enough to support that.

OK so tomorrow is my birthday and I plan to do some teensy bad girl things. I am ultra great on my routine- 60-80 grams of Protein and 64ounces plus Water every day since day 5, exercising at least an hour a day and often two times, and now even good on my supplements. And always less than 30 carbs a day. ALWAYS for 8 weeks (two weeks pre-op) However I am planning to have more carbs tomorrow and I feel fine about it. Just a little here and there- nothing too bad. One of thing I want a tiny taste of is the movie theater popcorn that my son used to bring me every day he worked- formerly huge bags of buttered popcorn, and now I want a little bit. (My husband and I watch Turner Movie Classics while we work on our wedding images and that popcorn was awesome!) HOwever I seem to remember popcorn being on a no-no list and want to be sure it wont hurt my sleeve- anyone know?

Thanks for the b'day wishes! Popcorn report- YUMMMM!!! I ate a few handfuls and stopped- now awaiting a half hour to drink some Water. I haven't actually eaten that much today at all- what with waiting in between for drinking and what was palatable I have probably eaten less than I usually do.

Good idea for you! FYI- most butchers and meat departments sell a meatloaf mix that you can just bake and eat- all you would need is probably some gravy for moistening. Maybe you can find a hofbrau that sells gravy (I have one near me).

I feel terrible for you Kelly! And anyone else with hunger- I have not had hunger since the surgery. Sometimes I feel a pang when I smell something delish but it is almost nostalgia because it disappears. I feel for you if you do have hunger as it seems it would make this journey more difficult! HUGS!

I wont be eating it normally- b'day only!

I missed this one but am thinking of attending one- is it across the street from Palo Alto Medical Foundation? I think I have seen it when I have gone there. The thing I am wondering is what is the format of the group? The one I attended here in PA was really disappointing as they had a speaker. I would much rather actually share, and support each other!

I am planning on the Hayward meet up for sure! I am excited! I want to meet as many of you as possible!

My doctor worked for several years with the man who developed the sleeve. He has done them for 9 years. We are to consume 600-800 calories a day throughout the losing phase to maximize weight loss-especially because we only have a 6-9 month weight loss "honeymoon". I can't imagine eating 1400 calories (of course I can only eat 1/4 cup at a meal and I am stuffed ) I actually would be hard pressed to eat 800. My doctor's gospel- and the one I will follow (and which has had such good results for Tiifykins, Little Miss Diva, Juliarh and the other mentors I want to emulate) 600-800 calories a day > or = 30 carbs a day at least 64 ounces of Water 60-80 grams of Protein a day 30 minute MINIMUM exercise a day supplements I have followed this to the letter since day 5 (couldn't get anything much down before then!) and so far am at 43 pounds lost at 6 weeks out. I am thrilled! I know it is not as much as some but I know better than to compare myself to others and I know my body will do what it does and as long as I follow the rules I will lose to MY maximum. I notice you still have quite a bit to lose-I am surprised your nutritionist would have you up your calories with that being the case! Do you count carbs? Do you have a good exercise habit in place? Good luck!

"The fact that my weight has stabilized clearly demonstrates that I'm not eating the way I once did. Otherwise, I'd have continued to gain weight rapidly. I didn't." My nutritioinist and I were talking about this the other day. You are not gaining weight because you are eating the amount that sustains your weight. She mentioned that that is what happens- you will gain gain gain until the amount you are eating is the amount that sustains that weight. She actually mentioned it when I was asking her about the theory that when you are in starvation mode you should eat more for a day or two to shock your system. She said that the amount I am eating (600-800 calories) will cause me to lose weight and if I was to continue- Ii would lose until the weight that THAT amount sustains- though of course I would not do that as I would be too thin. The reason I mention this, is that you are eating a great deal if you are maintaining 200 extra pounds, even taking in to account your medical issues. The tool you would have with the sleeve would change that a lot- and without hunger. I love my sleeve- it is everything I hoped for and more. However, I will never go years without weighing again because ultimately it cost me more emotionally than dieting and weighing had.

Eleven years ago I stopped weighing, with the help of my therapist. I had been delaying health care because of my fear of weighing and it was amazing when my therapist told me "you don't have to weigh- you are the client and you can decline". It was so wonderful! It set me free- I stopped the cycle of dieting, the fear, the pain. However, I was also able to exercise at the time and activity has always been the key to fitness for me. When I ended up with back surgery followed by three falls, fobromyalgia and became a near invalid I started to gain weight, though I did not really know how much. I met and married my soul mate during this time and he would love me no matter what- he adores me and found me sexy at my highest weight. My pain management doctor kept referring to my weight as being an issue with my fibro and my pain but I didn't let that penetrate or deter me. I honestly did not realize how heavy I had gotten, and I did not let the large sizes I was wearing affect my reality.But my life was becoming a smaller and smaller circle due to pain and I started thinking that I needed to lose some weight- not because I cared what the world thought of me- but for my health. I am too young to already live like an old person and I wanted my life back. When my doctor suggested WLS I thought she was on crack- because I was still in denial about my weight. ON a crazy impulse one day while she was out of the room I jumped on her scale. I think all the blood drained from my face- since my surgery, since the last time I weighed ten years before, I had gained 120 pounds. I was shocked to my senses because accepting as my darling husband is, as much peace as I may have made with it- that was simply not going to guarantee me a long life. And in my case- not weighing had not served me in the way I had hoped because of the loss of activity. I did the research and figured out the sleeve was ideal for me- the reasons have been discussed here a lot . I did the pre-op hurdles as quickly as I could manage and was sleeved on May 9th. From my 2 week pre-op on I have lost 43 pounds- and more importantly I am starting to feel good in my body again- alive, energetic- like the old Meggie with a sparkle and with my prana back. I have had ONE triggered fibro attack since my surgery. My whole body aches so much less I am amazed. My knees are much much better. The one area of great pain is still my nerve pain in my back- that is something I may have my whole life but I can move again- I am walking an hour a day and doing Water aerobics too. One thing you may have to confront is that you will ultimately suffer health wise at your weight- I have had to face that reality as fibro is musculoskeletal and it is really exacerbated by weight. That alone should motivate you to help yourself! Only you know what is right for you. I encourage you to consider doing this, for your health. Meanwhile- have you tried water aerobics? I have been doing it for two years and it is wonderful! NO PAIN IN THE WATER! No pressure on your aching body- and a kick butt workout to boot. Good luck to you.