emily_0192010

This was really difficult for me as well, especially since I ended up having a bad reaction to the tape... i literally just sat there and picked at it and used whatever I had around (lotion, conditioner, rubbing alcohol, etc) to try to get it off. I was really careful and only used tiny amounts since my skin was already so sensitive, but I had to get it off! Honestly in the end all I did was pick it off and then gently washed my skin after. I actually liked when the lint/etc stuck to it because it made it easier to see and to pull off. Good luck!

Hmmm.... I know for myself that my cravings have generally been stronger (but that's just me, everyone is different). The awesome thing about the sleeve? You CAN'T eat that much! So for you, it would maybe be just a couple mms or a couple pretzels. I'm not sure what diet you plan on following, but I found that the harder I stayed away from it, the more I wanted it. I am not terribly strict with myself, just as long as I don't go overboard on anything and I always have my Protein first (which means I don't really eat anything bad since I don't have much time). But, I also try to take my mind off of it. I distract myself. I try going out for a walk or listen to my music or just stay busy in general. It doesn't last long and it's not that bad. Plus, if you do overeat... well you learn not to really quick! I hope some other people with more experience chime in as well. You may want to browse the "powder room- ladies gone wild" for some more insight.

Congrats I'm so glad to hear that you had such a positive experience! My surgeon was okay, but doesn't have the bedside manner I was hoping for He didn't actually do rounds, he only swung by because I was having an issue with the pain meds. Because of VST I have also met two people in RL that are good friends One of them actually used the same surgeon at the same hospital with the same insurance and is right around the same age as well! This really is an awesome resource Also, congrats on fulfilling your promise. I bet you can't beat that feeling!

Hey I am 11 weeks out tomorrow and it does get better! I can take normal sized drinks, but I can't take more than three in a row without a little break. So i'm not sip sip sipping anymore but it is definitely better. It takes me an hour to get my 14 oz Protein drink down. For me that is really good since Protein shakes have always sat very heavily for me. I don't time Water since I rarely can have it next to me to do so, but I can get 30 oz down during work (say 6 hours) and I do NOT have constant access to it. Bottom line is, it does get better!

WOW!! You seriously look amazing! Congrats on how far you've come I'm looking forward to seeing pictures when you get to goal!

My sleeve loves steak. My sleeve hates hamburger. My sleeve loves pork. My sleeve hates chicken. My sleeve also hates anything even remotely spicy

I've heard this too, however don't forget that we can't drink the shakes as fast as most people can. If we could chug a shake that had 60 grams of protein, maybe then it wouldn't get absorbed. But with the way we drink it over a length of time I would think this wouldn't really have an influence. It would be no different than waiting a couple hours before having a second shake or a meal for a regular person.

Hello everyone I am two months out and I was wondering how much other people could eat (at one sitting) at this point? I can barely eat anything! I am not complaining, but there are times where I wish I could just a tiny bit more that I could eat something other than Protein. I love veggies and would like to incorporate those in at some point. But when I do I don't get enough protein in. I have trouble with the shakes so I try to eat all of my protein. At this point I can eat about 1.5 oz of chicken, 2 of pork, 1 of tuna and about 1/4 of a sausage. This is within 30 minutes of sitting down. I know most people stop after 15-20, but I have found that that is too short of a time to get my food down, even with the minimal amounts.

If you really want to hit the high Protein, go with Isopure. It isn't a "shake" as it is a clear, flavored liquid. It has 40 grams of protein in 20 oz. I couldn't handle it for some reason, but I seem to be sensitive to a lot of the whey protein products out there. Good luck!

The protein comes from the milk! I normally have a few glasses of milk a week, for the protein but also for the Vitamin d and Calcium. And I can't finish a tall either! Did you know that you can get them in a "shorty" version? It is their kid cup, but they can make any of their drinks that size.

You're welcome As for the ticker... I just click on me and it brings me to the correct place to update. Also, when you first make the ticker it gives you a link you can save (the same place clicking on your current ticker will take you). I bookmarked that link and put it as a tab so it is right there for me when I open up google chrome. As for the amount of weight loss, I haven't officially picked a goal. For my ticker I picked a number that was right in the middle of the "normal" BMI range, but I know that between any extra skin I may have and just where my body evens out I may not hit that. I am not bothered by numbers. It may be because I was never little in my adult life (i'm only 20) to begin with, so if I look back to the last time I was "normal" I was just a kid, so I am really facing the unknown. But I'm happy about that. It also means I can set a new standard for myself.

Just imagine how awesome it will be at 8 weeks out, 9 weeks out!! (that's about where I am!) It seriously does get easier every day. You get all the benefits of the weight loss and the restriction. At this point I pretty much have my limitations down, though I do experiment every so often to see what I can tolerate. At this point just about everything except hamburger is fine for me. I can't wait to see where the following months bring me! Congrats on getting through the hard part! You said you wanted to lose 90 pounds, and you've already lost 1/3 of your excess weight!! That is amazing!

I had something similar that ended up going away, however I DID contact my surgeon and he checked it out. At the very least call them and see what they say. Hopefully it is nothing, but if it's not it is better to bring attention to it early than late! Good luck

I'm so sorry to hear this!! I am 2 months out as well. Please please don't give up! Stay positive. Are you taking a PPI?? My surgeon put me on one from day one. It helped keep the nausea down and helped me keep liquids down. That is the hardest part, the liquids. For the first few weeks I literally kept my bottle next to me constantly and I made sure to sip sip sip every few minutes through the straw. My bottle is 30 oz, so I aimed to drink one before "lunch" and one before bed. It also sounds like all the other problems could stem from the dehydration. Good luck and please keep us updated!

DARE you say thin??? DARE you to say anything but!! You look amazing! Congrats

I love these! I love layering clothes, and the extra layer is very nice when I am soo cold! I hate that I actually get cold now. I NEVER used to get cold. I was always the one out in the snow with short sleeves and I was always the one who wanted to turn the air down or the fan on. Definitely not true anymore!

I saw this and I thought you were talking about the chicken crispers from Chili's... which I just had (well I had one lol!) a few minutes ago!! I love these because, even though they are battered and fried... they go down so well. I don't eat the majority of the batter, just the chicken. It is so juicy and moist and easy to go down. I get it and "share" with my little sister. Between the two of us we normally bring home two or three! Your recipe sounds yummy! I'll have to try it one day.

You are definitely not alone! Even though I have come quite a ways, it is sooo hard to see because all I can think of is how far I still have to go. I still have so far to go. In fact I would still qualify for surgery even! So I see all the posts of people with lower bmi's (low to mid 30's) saying how they are fighting for their surgeries and it always reminds me of how bad I let it get and how much more I have to go. I avoid pictures. I have a few that i'll use as my "before's and during's" but at this point they are not positive reinforcements for me. Just ugly reminders.

Hello! I am just about nine weeks out now and recently I have noticed that I am craving salt... big time!! This is very odd for me as I have never been big on salt. I don't add it to my food (except some while I cook, never after) and whenever I go to restaurants etc I always ask for them not to add it. I always chose the "lightly salted" chips and stuff if I bought them. So for me to crave salt is very very odd. At first I thought it was tied in with my monthly curse, but then I noticed that it is not connected. Any ideas? Thanks!

Wow! Those are amazing I can't wait until I can take those pictures myself! Congrats

I knew before having surgery that I would need new clothes. What I did not realize was that I would need new shoes as well!!! NONE of my shoes fit me now!! I have never had "large" feet (i'm a size 6.5/7... or was...) and I had not anticipated this! Anyone else go through this? In some ways I'm glad, simply because it is like losing sizes in clothes, it feels good to see physical proof that I'm losing weight. BUT, I will wear used clothes and I will buy cheap "unmentionables" while i'm losing... but shoes?? I cannot do used shoes and there is no such thing as a cheap shoe you can wear all day. I'm staying positive by thinking that there is no way my shoe size can change THAT drastically, since my bones can't shrink. I just thought I'd share this... it definitely was not something I had anticipated.

I have a pretty one that I had bought at dressbarn two years ago... I wore it once. It is an emerald green color and layered... but it is an 18. I noticed that their sizes can run large (they can also run really small too... no middle ground). Maybe if you go there and try their sizes out and if an 18 would work I will try to send it to you. Where do you live? The dress is similar to this one, except no sleeves, the neckline is V shaped and the bottom isn't tapered, it is straight. My dress is much younger looking and the layers are a bit wider. http://www.dressbarn.com/detail/iridescent-shutter-pleat-sheath-with-rosette/100902131/301 It is the same color as this dress. Or at least very very close. http://www.dressbarn.com/detail/iridescent-tiered-dress-and-bolero/100731972/800 Let me know If you are interested, cool. If not, not a big deal.