emily_0192010

Breath! Smile! Think about how you are giving yourself the best gift ever. You are taking care of your health and your body and your mind and your spirit and the rest of your family (because they can't function properly without you!). You are going to do great! I'll start warming up your seat on the loser's bench

That was one of my favorites as well!! I think I walked around in my towel for a few hours after that happened for the first time!!! Congrats

As my surgeon says to all of my questions "if it hurts, don't do it" lol! I slept on my bed from night one home I had no problems. I even slept on my side (with a pillow). I think if you feel up to it, then why not give it a go?

Lol! I am 21 now, I was sleeved when I was 20. But really, supposedly there are sooo many factors that age is only a small one. And my skin very well could shrink back... but right now it doesn't feel like it ever will! Everything is easily hidden with a spanx "thing" (I call them my "things"... always have lol!) that I got from target. So it really isn't that much of a big deal.

I'm curious about this too! I was hoping being young would help with the skin.. but it truly hasn't. I am not at goal yet, and I plan to wait awhile to see what happens naturally (and ignore the fact that there is no way I could ever afford it in the first place..).

I'm slightly jealous that you are able to get in 95 grams of protein BEFORE your shakes!! That is awesome! If I was able to get there without the supplements, I wouldn't take them at all! I get in about 75 a day, and that is with a shake. I was never given an exact number either so I just do what I can.

It's great to have a tool like this at your disposal! It is an awesome motivator and a great way to keep track of where you are! Keep up the great job!

Please just either call your surgeons office or go somewhere to be seen... doesn't even have to be an er it could be a walk in clinic. Better to be safe than sorry! And please update us to let us know how you are doing now!

Fear not! Bacon is not too far away! You'll be able to have some before you know it! LOL. Unless you are watching your fat... bacon was actually one of the first foods I could tolerate! I eat it a couple times a week now

I enjoy milk I don't drink it every day but once in awhile I will!

NO. They make them for bariatric patients as well! They will be slightly tight, but that is how they are supposed to be!

Stress most certainly WILL hold back your weight loss!! I was in a very stressful situation for a few months and my weight loss plummeted. Since removing myself from that situation and being home... I've lost about 10 lbs in 3 weeks. I don't expect this to keep up, I just think my body physically relaxed enough to finally let go of the weight. The only thing that changed was the situation.

Well your happiness certainly shines through loud and clear!!!! It is awesome to read about how wonderful other sleevers are doing. My favorites are the posts like your's... the ones that are not about the numbers or the sizes (though, those rock too!). It's the ones about how we FEEL physically and emotionally and psychologically that make me truly smile and be so grateful to be able to know these people and experience it with them! Thanks for sharing! Keep up that amazing attitude!

Also, I just wanted to say that I only eat 600-800 calories a day. I would either have to eat the wrong things to up it (carbs, fast food, etc) or drink my calories... and I don't want to do either. I do eat on the higher side on the days I'm exercising though.

Well, you said it! Truly, stalls are completely normal and I dare say even an important part of this journey! I have gone through several myself. You're body needs this pause to catch up! The gain is just Water weight, I guarantee you! It is incredibly frustrating and emotionally it sucks!!! Instead of focusing on the numbers, take this time to monitor yourself in other ways. Make sure you are getting in your Protein and water and vitmains. Feel how your clothes are getting looser. Feel how you can walk further and faster and how you hold your head up a little higher every day. Look at pictures of where you were and see how far you've come already. Avoid the scale for a little while. You cannot let it get you down. This sleeve is NOT a diet. It is not going to fail you. You are taking care of it by following your diet and it will take care of you! It will move, just be patient. I bet as soon as you accept that you are in a stall and relax and stop worrying about it... the scale will move lol!

I did not have to wear them that long, but I had to in the hospital (2 nights). They also asked me to wear them "on and off" for a couple weeks after. So I would wear them around the house. They didn't bother me. I'm not sure why you need them for four weeks though. Better safe than sorry though. Maybe ask your doctor to explain why?

Welcome Good luck on your pre-req's. In the meantime I'll save you a spot on the loser's bench! As someone else said recently (I wish I could remember where/who exactly)... the loser's bench keeps on growing because the people keep on shrinking! Keep us updated please!

I am 8 months out. At this point I am capable of eating just about anything except bread... bread hits me like a rock with anything more than a tiny bite. But I don't mind since I really was never a huge bread eater (pasta was my kryptonite...) My daily foods include -chicken -pork -ground meat (hamburger or turkey or sausage) -eggs -plain greek yogurt (with flavored syrups or splenda to sweeten, normally add Protein as well) -cheese! -tuna -shrimp -lunch meat -protein shakes I cook these in a variety of ways, but grilling (on my counter top grill) is my favorite. It is quick and since I have lots of experience with it I have no trouble timing it so that the meat comes out tender every time. With the ground meat I either eat it out of a bowl with cheese on top or I make meatballs of some sort. As you can tell... I am definitely NOT a vegetarian! LOL I also am not all that creative with it. But I like simple food the best so I'm not missing anything!

I've just started to add in exercise as well and I was wondering this. I am between 600 and 800 as well... and that is with a Protein shake. Not sure how I could add much more right now, I still have a lot of restriction. So far I haven't had any issues being lightheaded or dizzy, etc. When I no I am going to exercise I drink half of my protein shake about 30 minutes before I go and then I sip it afterwards as well. So far it seems to be working Next time I talk to my surgeon I'm going to ask him for a more specific plan.

I was the exact same way!! I had a very difficult time with Protein until I was on mushies... protein shakes just wouldn't stay down and I was full after a few sips of anything! To get it down I sipped, sipped, sipped, just a little at a time. I would get in what I could and try again the next day. Great job on the Water and vitamins!

I just went to the store today to buy splenda so that I could make this... didn't realize I needed the gelatin lol! Oh well, i'll make it over the weekend! Thanks for sharing!

I don't know, but I kinda doubt it. That part is our responsibility, to make sure that we follow the diets and shrink our livers as much as possible. I think it depends on the surgeon. They won't know the true condition of you liver until they are in the operating room... this doesn't happen often then. As long as you are losing, your liver should be shrinking.

I didn't read all of the posts above so hopefully i'm repeating anything. I don't think it really matters. Every surgeon is different. Say you have two surgeons who both use the 32. One surgeon might make it a "tight" 32 where he staples as close to the bougie as he can, while the other uses it more as a guide. The size of your stomach also depends on YOU. If you are tall you're stomach is more likely to be longer... so you're sleeve will be a bit bigger. Also, the difference between them is literally millimeters. Someone posted a picture a long time ago that showed the size, and it was the difference between a pencil, a pen, and a thin highlighter or something like that. My surgeon used a 42. He explained though that he makes a "tight" 42 where he goes right up against the bougie and then he over-sews as well. I am 8 months out and I can eat 2-3 oz of Protein. I don't think it makes a significant when it comes to the amount you lose. Each person is individual. I highly suggest you go with your gut. Go with the surgeon that makes you feel the most safe and comfortable.