mnbsleeve

The scars are generally very tiny! You can't see them much anyway... at least mine. For me it's been about ten months and they are not very vissible. It looks like I've had a few moles removed! :-)

I agree piper! Most don't realize how out of place they are when they ask others "how much weight have you lost?" or "what are you doing to lose it?" I've always equated that with asking someone how much money have you saved for retirement? or what is your salary? etc. Even pre-sleeve I've found that offensive, intrusive, and extreemely out of place. It's another example, I think, of how overweight people are seen as fair game in misstreatment and crossing boundaries. As a fat person I experience lots of other types of liberties, including rudeness, from others that I didn't experience when I was thin at that I am no longer experiencing now that I've lost weight. Isn't that something?!

Awesome!!! Good job! Holidays are always more challenging!!! You did a double good job! :-)

Wow! Congratulations!!! What a great feeling it must be. I love that he is using real life people that others can truly relate too. I think it's an awesome compliment to you and your success. Congratulations on all your accomplishments!!!!!!! Enjoy the experience!

Me too! I was given protein drinks hours after surgery. Also, sugar free popsicles, jello and of course, water. But like mrsteacher said above, different doctors give different instructions. So my bias is to always check with my surgeon before doing anything different. It is really interesing to me to read what others are doing. It's good to get ideas to take to your own doctor should things not be going as smoothly.

I was started on full liquids (protein drinks) immediately after surgery; within hours! HOWEVER, I was instructed to take very tiny sips! I had to drink one once in 8 to 10minutes, not faster! And my doctor gave instruction to the nurses that when they came to check on me I should have a Protein Drink or SF popsicle etc in my hands and working on it. Right from day one he wanted me to try to get at least 30 oz of fluids in! and 60 to 70 gms of protein! I don't think I made that but I had to work on it. For me what was really scary was moving to the mushies! LOL even though I was ready. That happend around week 5 or six, I believe. I know it's really scary, but I did fine. Just take your time and go very slow. It's all a process but we all get through it. Best of luck and sending good thoughts for a super speedy recovery!!!!

Congratulations Denise!!!! What a great story!!! Enjoy the new you!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!! What an awesome accomplishment!!!!

In the begining I struggled with this kind of "disgust" also. Eating was a chore. I called it "a feeding." Shakes made me sick. Smells often made me sick. But things got a lot better. I still have the restriction and I get full - which is great and why I did this! -- however, eating has become more normal again. Some foods still seem to "shut my stomach off" in one bite -- like eggs -- but for the most part I don't have so much of that disgust and repulsion I had in the begining. So overall I would have to say: hang in there! It's a process and it does get better!

I was instructed by my NUT to take 5000mcg (or 5mg) daily. I also take 60 mg of CoQ10.

Thanks for posting the clip!

Is "amazeballs" good?! (I'm such a square! - sorry). If it's good: awesome!!!!! Mine got dry and flaky. But it was short lived. It perked up as time went on! Now one of the comments I get a lot is that I look a lot younger. A lot of that is the weightloss but my skin is looking pretty good too. Congratulations on your surgery and glad you are feeling so good!!!!

Carbgrl! I always found that this kind of thinking makes my journey all the more enjoyable! There really are a lot of positives!!! Congratulations on all your progress!!!!! WTG!!!

Well if you ask me, I think you are both a couple of winning "losers"!!!! You are both going to kick some serious butt... I have my pom poms out! woo hoo!!! Go, go, go!!! What I am most intrigued by is what the grand prize will be!!!!! A hot weekend gettaway?! His & hers massages at a spa?! A new clothes shopping trip?! Inquiring minds want to know! :-) Good luck!!!!!!

Hey! I want some of those cupcakes!!!

Joiebean, I'm like that too! Stress has always affected my stomach and my bowels! Now it seems even more accute. When I stress out, I just can't eat! and whatever I eat... well, you know! Stress management seems to be one of the more challenging aspects of our physical and mental health - just overall, sleeve or no sleeve! Good luck with things kiddo! Your job sounds really cool, by the way! I have NO talent in that department and always admire people who do!

This is so difficult because we are all so different. Some of us are more muscular and some of us have bodies that are naturally more slender or "fine bones"... It's weird how some doctors really push to get us to a really low weight and others the opposite! My doctor wants me down to 125lb! Which is pretty low for me. I know I am about 5'4" but I'm built kinda of solid and I look really, really thin at that weight. I weighed that in highschool! So we'll see. I'm sorry I am no help! LOL I tend to agree with several on this board that we have to follow our bodies and not get fixated on a number. That's my plan. At this point -- 88 lbs down --- I intend on taking it 5 lbs at a time and see what my body is doing. I look and feel good so if my body stops losing, I'm not going to push to go lower. If I keep losing a pound here or there (because it has slowed down), then I will go with that. I'm still eating right and exercising and jut maintaining a healthy life style. The trick will be IF, like some on this board, the loss continues past a certain point. But I am not going to worry about that unless I get there. Best of luck Dori! I bet you are looking and feeling great!!!!! Congrats on all you have accomplished!

I know we are all different. It took me a long time before I could get to 1/4 cup. When I first started mushies I was lucky to get in a tablespoon in! Maybe two!!! Also, it depends on what I ate. I was allowed a scrambled egg at the mushie stage. Well, one bite and I was done!!! But it gets better and better week to week. Regarding the shakes, it took me a while to get those down too. In the very, very begining, I was instructed to get no more than one ounce every 8 to 10 minutes. Eventually, after a few weeks that got better. But it would still take me between 35 to 45 minutes to get 8 to 10 oz down. And it seems to vary day to day. Even now at 9 and half months I have days where I seem to be able to eat a little more, and then I have days that the restriction seems more intense. I still can't quite tell if it's related to the type of food or just my body "asking' for more or less food. Regarding the hair... bummer to say, I had quite a bit of hair loss! :-( BUT THE GOOD NEWS: It's coming back!!!!!! I have about an inch and a half of new growth!!!! Coming in strong too! I just keep it as healthy as I can. Best of luck with the process. It does get easier, especially as you learn more about your body and the new signals etc.

Woo hoo!!!!!! Congrats Lilee!!!! Good plan too! Keep up the good work!

Hang in there Lisa!!! Hope you feel better soon!!!!

Just wanted to clarify my post above: when I said we all seem to belong to one group or another, I meant there are groups of us that tend to have similar experience and others something different and others even more different still. That use to confuse me at times because I would wonder why so many experienced something I could not relate to. But I've learned they're all possibilities... oh boy, I hope this isn't more confusing! LOL

Hi Carly, I'm like Lissa in that I'm not that interested in sweets. Even when I "crave" them, say at TOM, a bit will sufice! Just a side effect from surgery for me. Everyone is different and responds differently. I've learned that we all struggle with different challenges and we all have some particular strength that helps us in this process. It was confusing for me in the begining till I got that everyone has different experiences -- although we seem to belong to one group or another. For me the trick was getting to know my new body and my reactions and work on those. Many I would not have guessed before surgery!!! Like the sugar issue! Best of luck on your upcoming surgery!!!!! Looking forward to your posts!!!!

Loved your post!!!!! I have similar feelings about this. I still need to lose some weight to get to "goal" -- whatever it should be. But if I don't lose another pound I am thrilled!!!! I don't gain and I can eat "normally." I do follow rules of getting protein in and generally eat healthy. But I don't crave sugar nor the large quantities of food I use to. I am no longer a slave to my hunger. I have lots of energy. I really enjoy excercise and a healthy life style... lots more. I just can't complain. I know the rest of the weigth will probably come off slowly. But I really am happy NOW! and the only "pain" is shopping for new clothes, shoes and styles! :-) I just feel really fortunate!!!

BellaTrix! Welcome to the board!!! I am in CA but I know there's several folks here from the UK. Best of luck on your upcoming surgery! Some exciting times ahead!!!! :-)

LOL! That's great! Actually, you and your mom must look pretty darn good!!!! Because if she is also passing for a much younger woman, married to a fifty something.. that's not bad ladies!!!!! Congrats you hottie!!!!! :-)