emily_0192010

Just wanted to share... I DID wait until very recently (so my 7-8 months out) before stepping into a gym... it is NOT all that much easier!! I've lost strength for sure. My endurance is a bit better (on the treadmill) but not by much. I wish that I had started working out earlier because then maybe I would have maintained my muscle, instead of now where I am working to build it back up.

He/She won't be!!! They do this all the time! My surgery was at 4:30 and didn't finish until close to 7 (it was long, I know)... I actually asked my mom if he looked tired after (he talked to her in the waiting room) and she said "no, not at all".. .and this was a while later so she wouldn't have sugar coated it for me. You are going to be on the loser's bench soon!!! I"m so excited for you! (((hugs))) You are doing to do great!

I am 8 months out now and my weight loss has slowed down but definitely not stopped!! For me, the first 5 months were the easiest... months 6 and 7 I stalled for most of it... but now I'm dropping 1.5-3 a week... I doubt that will keep up for long but I am definitely still losing! My surgeon told me that most of his patients lose a hundred pounds the first year... i've lost 118 so I'm happy!

Congratulations!!! "ONEderland" for me was really "WONDERland" because it took me sooo long to finally accept that I was ACTUALLY under 200. I was like "okay, i'm 198, but tomorrow i'm going to be 220 again, its just a fluke" of course that was silly, but it was how I felt. Once I finally realized it was "real" I was fantabulously happy!

Congrats!!! I think those are the best type of NSV's because they show how our day-to-day lives change after the weight loss. It's the little things that we deal with that were so challenging before. Its wonderful to realize you accomplished something that you couldn't before. As for the shoes... my shoe size dropped! I lost in width and technically length. I don't think my feet are actually shorter, but rather I was wearing them too long before instead of going up in width. I think many people who have "wide" feet actually have double or triple wide feet, and instead of going through the process of getting fitted properly and trying on dozens of shoes in the "correct" size and none of them ever fitting... we just go up a size in length to make up the difference. At least that's what I think happened with me.

I didn't read through all of the other posts (just short on time) but I wanted to chime in that YES!! May I dare say that the pre-op diet is the HARDEST part of the entire journey??? You are pretty much eating like you would post-sleeve, without the sleeve to help you out! Try having some motivational things around to help you stick to it. Pictures/quotes/surgery date/reminders etc. The LAST thing you want to happen is they get you on the table and have to cancel the surgery because they found that your liver in too bad shape to operate around it. That is the whole point of the pre-op diet... to shrink the liver! They have to work under and around it to get to our stomachs and that is just about one of the only reasons a surgery will be started, but not completed. Good luck! I know it is difficult but tough it out. You will be firmly seated on the loser's bench before you know it!

I decided before my surgery that I was only going to buy pants from the same store until I was at or close to my goal weight... the point being to avoid the up and down that sometimes happen when you shop in different stores (14 in one, 16 in another, etc). That always killed me!! I already had size 24's and 20's from old navy, so that's what i stuck to. My highest: size 24 My current: size 4 I could wear the size 4's on a regular basis, but I don't have the money to buy them so I'm stll wearing my sixes. I have to dry them on hot now though!!

Thanks for sharing!! I am currently doing something similar, went through a few months with very little loss but now I'm dropping fairly quickly. It is a GREAT feeling, especially after you've gone through the "what if this is it" thinking...

Awesome!! My sister (6) has said that I am skinny, but is glad that I still have big boobs :wub: ... brutally honest for sure!

This happens to me occasionally, not really sure why though Sorry I can't offer any suggestions. I've already planned to ask my dr. at my next visit.

I took 2 weeks, but I was ready to go back after 1. I was a bit tired and bit slower than usual, but not by much. Once I started it was much easier to keep going. Any way you can start back part-time? To ease yourself into it? It may also be helpful to start on weds or thurs instead, that way you won't have to work a full week. It would ease you back into it a little easier.

My lunches generally aren't foods that need to be prepared. My favorite is roast beef slices (lunch meat if I have too, but sometimes my mom spoils me and makes an actual roast) with a slice of cheddar melted on top. When I use deli meat it requires just enough time to put it into a container. Sometimes when I know my time is going to be cut short I will just make extra the night before, so that I can have the leftovers the next day. The george forman is my best friend though. If I cook a thin piece of chicken or pork it is literally done within 2-3 mins. MAX. And during the couple minutes it takes to heat up I am normally prepping whatever i'm cooking. My forman has the removable grilling element thingies, so I just pop them into the dishwasher (it said it was dishwasher safe!). Easy peasy for me! Another thing I sometimes make in bulk are meatballs. They freeze easily, re-heat easily and go down great! They take some prep work if you want to make them from scratch, or your can buy them pre-made. I personally am not fond of the pre-made, but you might find some you like. Sometimes I drizzle some tomato sauce and cheese over it for fake spaghetti. I just pretend that I already ate the spaghetti! A favorite "snack" of mine is pepperoni chips! You buy the pre-cut pepperoni, put them on a paper towel on a plate, stick them in the microwave for a minute and voila! Crispy chips! Sometimes I sprinkle cheese over them before microwaving them... very yummy! Not so great on cals, but okay on Protein and zero carbs!

I had a prescription PPI... the tablet was very small (smaller than tylenol) and I was allowed to swallow it from day 1. I'm not sure why you still have to. How far out are you? Are the capsules large-er then tylenol? Size could be a factor as you don't want the pill to get "stuck" at any point.

Visualizing the future is a great tool when it comes to weight loss! All of things you mentioned are true at the 3 month mark. You may still be obsessing over food, but only to the point of "did I get enough Protein in today" type of things. Congrats on getting so far in your pre-op diet. According to my surgeon, TONS of people never stick it out and either end up paying out of pocket or just never come back. I truly think it is one of the hardest parts of the journey. The hardest being waiting for your insurance approval, followed by waiting for you date! Be happy You are doing great and it is obvious in your post!

I have! Not that early, but still, I have. It SUCKS! Big time! For me the main problem ended up being stress. I was in a high stress situation and as soon as I left said situation I started losing again. During the stalls you have to focus on water, protein and vitamins. Get in some exercise. Move on. Pay attention to the way your clothes fit, I'm sure they will start to feel MUCH looser soon (if not already). The biggest factor for me, outside of stress, was water. If I wasn't drinking, I wasn't losing. Your body NEEDS water in order to dissolve that fat! Also, at 6 weeks out you are either starting to phase in regular foods or already have. You're body could just be freaking out over the change. Are your carbs high? If you are only drinking you could be drinking more than you think. You may be carb-sensitive. A lot of people can lose with a regular carb diet, but some people (like moi) are carb sensitive. Meaning, if I eat too many carbs I don't lose. Period. I'm planning on using this to my advantage when I hit maintenance. You should also contact your surgeon or your nutritionist or your weight loss counselor and ask them. Make sure that there isn't anything wrong physically. Good luck, chin up, you WILL LOSE!

It's interesting that you say this... for me its actually the opposite. I have a much easier time avoiding eating too quickly (and hence, too much) when I AM at the table. During the day, if i'm home, I weigh out my Protein and eat a bite here and there while I'm doing other things. I don't let myself space it out too much, but I give myself 30 mins. I used to try for less, but I either end up eating too little (and not hitting my protein goals) or too much (and being VERY uncomfortable). I guess having it in front of me makes me focus on it too much. It is much easier for me to do something else while I eat. When I was first sleeved (well, at the 2 month mark), we would go out to eat... I would end up sitting there all meal coloring in my sister's kid's meal menu/coloring book thing because it helped me not eat too fast. The waitress was awesome We know her outside of the restaurant, and she started bringing me a coloring packet of my own LOL! No more stealing from my 6 year old sister!

Hope your surgery went well! Please update when you feel up to it Sending you well wishes and hoping for a speedy and painless recovery for you!

Thanks for this thread! I gave the elliptical a shot a few months back... HATED it!! I am short, so I don't know if that makes a difference, but I felt like I was over-extending my legs, WAY too much, I felt like I was doing lunges on a machine. I'm going to ask one of the trainers at my gym (I just joined, I get a free hour!) to check if my form is right and if I'm doing it properly. I'm currently making my way thru the C25K program, after that my goal is to then add in the elliptical. I think both is too much for me! From reading this it seems like the long stride is normal, but geeze I could barely move!! Plus I think I ended up going backwards ?!????!?

For many of us sleevers, especially at the beginning, if you feel "hungry" it could actually be extra acid in your stomach that is causing the sensation, not actual hunger. Taking a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) can normally get rid of this! Come to think of it, I don't know if it has to be a PPI or if any acid reducer will help. Prilosec, prevacid, zegerid are all PPI's for example. They work really well for us sleevers It would at least be worth a shot. In the meantime, if you are stuck at home... try exercising?? Might as well do something extra productive to keep your mind off of it!

Congratulations! I am glad to hear that you are doing so well! Sip, sip, sip that water! Thank you for updating!

Congratulations on making the decision! Sometimes that is the hardest part. Admitting we have a problem and making an effort to fix it is never a bad thing though! Some people are worried about the risks of the surgery, but considering the risks that we put daily on our bodies by being obese... it is beyond worth it! I also wanted to say kudos to you for having your kids so young and being a great mom to them (its obvious because you want to take care of yourself so that you can be around longer for them). My mom had me young too, and I love her so much! We may have struggled at times but I always knew how much I was loved and cherished and that is the best possible knowledge a child can have! I love young and/or single moms Good luck and please keep us updated!

Sounds yummy!! Thanks for the idea

Well, it really depends on your insurance and/or if you are self-pay. I know self-pays at my surgeon's office go from first appt to surgery in about 2 months. I had insurance and I went from my info session (which I decided to go to on a whim) to surgery in 5 months. If the speed is bothering you, you can always slow it down. They may be pushing to get these tests done so that they can submit for insurance, which can take awhile. You ultimately control the entire process. I hated the waiting that I had to do, but I know that everyone is different. On another note, welcome And congrats on starting your journey!!

AWESOME! Doesn't it feel amazing when these things sorta sneak up on you?!?!?! Best feeling ever IMO. Great job!