SKCUNNINGHAM

Let's see - "Downside" of the sleeve: - You will be tempted to spend $$$ buying a wardrobe of new, sexy clothes once you get to goal (in additon to all of the in between sizes) - You will spend a bunch of time going through your old clothes to find what fits, and getting rid of "fat" clothes and you shrink out of them - You will get LOTS OF ATTENTION as you are shrinking (and when you are at goal - I'm not there yet). - You will be COLD - but sweaters look really nice on thin people! I think these are the "worst" of it. I LOVE MY SLEEVE.

I wish all of us could get together in a stadium somewhere, and have a superbowl half time spectacle - dancers, airialists, bands, and each of us that reached goal could run through the giant hoop and break through the image of our fat selves as we run into the center of the celebration. Reaching goal is AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT as playing the superbowl. You WON the rest of your life back - as a healthy person. Congrats on enjoying the fruits of your labor. You look GREAT.

I have been shrinking back through stored clothing, and have recently discovered some pretty camisoles I don't even remember having. I like them enough I ordered a couple of more. I like them because: They are pretty Some are shape-wear, and help hold in the jiggly middle Even if they are not shape wear, the cami keeps me from having to look at the jiggly middle The extra layer is nice to wear, since I am ALWAYS COLD. Thought someone else might like to give camisoles a try. And, since this post is about undergarments (yes, I know all camis aren't always "under" garments - but bear with me here) - I am celebrating an NSV about underwear - I dropped another size in briefs! Finally back in 7's. YEA!

Years ago, I did the Modifast program and lost significant amount of weight with it - using 5 packets of the powdered Protein spread throughout the day mixed into shakes. I drank the shakes, broth and no cal liquids for 9 months and lost 100 pounds. By the end of that time I was SICK of the Protein Shakes. This is what I would do. I would get a packet of protein and shake the powder into a bowl. I would mix two packages of fiber with the Protein Powder with one to two tablespoons of salsa and Water (I don't remember the exact proportions) and make the mix into a dough consistency. I would pat the dough into a tortilla type patty and cook it in the micro. I would eat the tortilla to get my protein. You might play around with this for variety. Good Luck. Sharon

I measure once a month. This morning, for the first time I can remember, my BELLY measurement (the biggest part of my lower abdomen) is not larger than my HIP meaurement (the biggest part of the hip area including my butt)! Yea! It measured the same. Maybe next month it will even get to be smaller than my hips (here's hoping!). No wonder my pants are fitting better. My belly measurement started out a whopping 49.5". Now it is 36" - not tiny by any means, but getting there. My hip measurement started out at 48". Now they are at the same 36". Since I am in my last 13 pounds, I am really starting to focus on doing toning / firming exercises, and will be trying to whittle my waist down. Since my ankle is stronger now after recovering from the bad sprain, I am going back to Zumba - that should get my waist smaller. For you new folks, take your measurements before you start losing. Sometimes, the measuring tape can really show your loss better than the scale does.

I agree with you on the taste of some of the chewable Vitamins. I ended up with the Gummies - either Costco's (I take two to help the fact its not the most complete) or One a Day gummies for WalMart. The only Iron chewable I found I like is Bariatric Advantage chewable lemon lime flavored. It is really pleasant. I get a good sublingual B12 from WalMart. Can't stand the liquid multi's - have tried a couple. It certainly is a matter of personal taste.

You are doing all of the right things - getting in your Protein and your liquids. The suggestions for vitamis, Iron and B12 are all good ones. Also, forcing yourself to get up and walk is the right thing to do - keep your system working well to get up and walk. In addition to the things mentioned in other posts, you could just be taking some time for the effects of the anasthesia to leave your system. I know it normally takes a couple of weeks and maybe a little longer than that for me to recover fully from anasthesia. I fall asleep at random times throughout the day until it is totally gone. If you add in the iron and b12 and still aren't feeling better in a week, call the surgeon and or your PCP. I buy a good sublingual Iron at Walmart - the brand is Nature's Bounty. I buy my chewable Iron online from Bariatric Advantabe - my favorite is Lemon-Lime flavored. They also make a strawberry one, but I like LL better. I take my Multivitamin and B12 in the morning along with Calcium, and my iron and Vitamin C (chewable from WalMart) in the evening. Iron is absorbed best with Vitamin C, and shouldn't be taken within an hour or two of taking calcium.

Kaitlyn, you look beautiful. Welcome to the "Century Club". I think your plan to up the exercise to push towards goal is a good one - I plan to do the same thing to lose the last of mine. Good luck the rest of the way to goal. Sharon

I, too, hope your recovery is quick, and you are soon off of the prednisone. If it effects you like it does me, you will get your house cleaned and decorated for Christmas while you are on it. I turn into a whirling dervish of activity when I am on steroids - along with rapid mood swings. Good luck with your recovery. Sharon

Sorry about the lack of formatting - couldn't get it to work out right.

I am just short of 9 months since surgery. Here is my weight lost history Monthly Loss Tme frame Cumulative Loss 13 2 wk preop 13 18.5 Month 1 31.5 12 Month 2 43.5 11.5 Month 3 55 12 Month 4 67 10 Month 5 77 7 Month 6 84 9 Month 7 93 6 Month 8 99 5 Month 9 104 Minimum - it might be one or two more. I started out for the first 3 weeks just trying to get in my fluids and as much Protein as possible - I was probably managing maybe 40 grams of protein. After that, until about 6 months, I was as 60 grams of protein, and 60 minimum ounces of Water, and about 500 calories. I didn't eat bread, Pasta, rice or potatoes and didn't drink alcohol. I also stayed away from sugar. At 6 months I upped the protein to about 80 grams, and the calorie count to around 800. Same thing with the carbs and sugar. I have pretty much held there, except it doesn't bother me if I exceed the protein count occaisionaly, and the calories flex up to 1000 now. For the past three days, I have exceeded that and have been eating more of my restricted carbs and sugar. Today I am getting back to normal and will be strict again starting tomorrow and stay strict until I give myself a break for Christmas. I didn't do much exercise to start, just lite walking. Then I bought an elliptical and started Zumba, and was doing both. But, I sprained my ankle badly cleaning a closet, which put most exercise on hold for me. I really haven't started back, but will resume my exercise next week. I plan on hitting it hard to help me get the last 15 pounds off, and to firm up my saggy jiggly self. And, my goal is to make exercise a part of my normal routine, to help me maintain my goal weight. This is what works for me. I wish you good luck on your journey. Sharon

I can totally relate to this post. This holiday season is the first one I don't mind being in pictures - in fact I tried to get a formal family portrait taken when the kids were here, but couldn't get it scheduled. I will get that done Christmas! BTW - even though I am 100 pounds down and within 15 pounds of my goal, I don't feel or describe myself as "skinny". Skinny to me is model-thin, and I am nowhere near that - and I won't be at goal weight, either. I am still about 8 pounds from hitting a "normal" BMI. I sort of mentally think of myself as normal now.

S O T V A A N T D I I O I N N ! G ! Excellent Results! Congratulations

S O T A N D I N G

I just read your blog. What a wonderful experience you are having. Good luck with your "sleeve journey" (Yours REALLY IS a JOURNEY) I will check out your blog each week.

I think what you are feeling is the effects of the surgery and excess acid in the stomach. Are you on meds for acid? The thing that made my hungry feeling go away was warm liquids (broth or tea) and a GASX strip along with the warm beverage. I was taking Famotidine (Pepcid) morning and evening and a prilosec at night. If you work to get your liquids in (64) and try to get your grams of protein (60) in, and you get your acid under control your hungry feelings should subside. I think the acidy/ crampy feeling, combined with head-hunger is what you are experiencing. ,

Wow - so close! You have done an amazing job with your weight loss. Congrats!

Wow! Impressive results! Congratulations!

CT - you are a great guy to think of doing this. I hope she enjoys her evening!

Your mirror does not lie! I see a beautifully thin woman - so vibrant you are about to pop through the pictures. And I agree with Diva - if you had told us 34, I would have believed you with no questions asked. Belated happy birthday!

I agree 100%. This is the first year I wasn't scared of Thanksgiving - scared that I would eat myself sick. I just returned from my first of two THanksgiving feasts (today and tomorrow). I did fine. I am full - won't eat again for hours. Had two bites of buttermilk pie at the end of the meal. Sugar overload - made me kind of queasy. Hope everyone here on th forum had a great celebration.

Make sure you are drinking a minimum of 60 oz of Fluid each day. Without proper fluid, nothing will move through your system. I take metamucil and benefiber most every day in a Protein smoothie. If I don't have a smoothie, they are fine mixed in Water. I can tell a difference if I miss two days of metamucil/benefiber. BTW, you can take up to 3 packets of benefiber a day. I also take about a tablespoon of flax oil in my smoothie each day. THis works for me. If you have really gotten yourself packed up, you may need something more harsh than what I recommend. Good luck.

This is how I address this issue. I try to stay on top of the acid, and not wait to treat it after it is there. I take Pepcid (Famotadine) morning and evening (just morning after about 7 months) and a Prilosec every evening. I count my Protein grams - early on I tried for 40 a day, but by the end of the first month I tried for 60 as day - split pretty evenly in 3 meals or 3 meals and two small protein Snacks. I am now at a minimum of 80 grams per day. The amount of protein is important to track, so you can have a clue if your body is telling you it is truly hungry, or if it is just "stomach music". If I split my protein that way, I know I am getting appropriate nourishment. Hunger to me is a true "empty feeling". If I had a gas gauge, it is the feeling I get when the needle of the gauge is on empty. This happens if it has been 4 hours since I have put protein in my stomach. So if I get that feeling, I look at the clock. If it has been four hours, I eat either a meal or a protein snack (baby bell cheese or Jerky are my go to protein snacks). If I don't have one of those with me, I go in search of protein to eat. Gas / acid is anything my stomach is telling me except that empty feeling after four hours. If I was exercising heavily, it may happen sooner, but that exception aside, anything else is gas or acid. It doesn't happen often, as long as I stay on my meds, chew my food really well, don't eat spicy foods, don't eat sugar, and don't eat white carbs. (all of those things cause my stomach to react) I swear my stomach has tried every sound, every feeling I can imagine to try to convince me I was hungry. My standard response is to drink something - preferable warm (broth or hot tea are my go-to things) but if warm isn't available, I will drink something else. I also put a GASX dissolving strip in my mouth to help with the supposed acid. If I don't have one of those, any antacid will do. Then I quit worrying about it and quit wondering if I am hungry. People's signals for hunger differ, like the signals for being full. That is another reason to use the clock and how long it has been since you have had protein. You will need to learn what your signal is. Another thing about spreading out your protein. It isn't good to try to get all your daily protein in one part of the day. My nutritionist said I can't absorb more than 20-25 grams of protein, anything over that passes through and has to be dealt with by the kidneys (I think - maybe the liver). So I am not a fan of those 35-40 gram protein "shots". Good luck with this. It does get better, once you learn how to use and to communicate with your sleeve. I can't remember the last time I had a problem with the gassy/acidy stomach.

I agree with the above two posters. Discrimination against fat people is real. Some folks do it consciously and deliberately, others are probably not aware that they are descrimintating. I am currently conducting a job search. I am considering taking early retirement at the end of the year, but I want to continue working. So I am putting myself out there, competing against people half my age. At least I am not having to compete against people half my age AND half my size. I think I will be treated totally differently than if I had been doing this search pre-surgery and 104 pounds larger. I am worried I will be discounted for my age, but at least I don't have to worry that is my age and my weight. I will keep the forum updated on my progress. Interest thread!

Dr Nicholson was my sugeon. He heads up the bariatric practice at Baylor Plano. Plano is on the north side of Dallas and has easy acces to Interstate 35 and Highway 75 - the main arteries to Okalhoma. I recommend Dr. Nick highly. I couldn't be happier with both the surgeon and his entire staff. It took me a year of working at prep to get approved for my surgery - primarily because I was on four insurance programs during a 12 month period (my employers were sold twice and I got laid off once). Dr. Nick was a 'Center of Excellence' with all the carriers (I think that's the term). His staff person that works to identify and ensure you meet the insurance requirements was OUTSTANDING. Each of the four carriers had different requirements, and she kept me up to date with what I had to do. With her guidance, I didn't have to re-do anything for any of the insurance carriers. When I met with Dr. Nick, I was asking him the risks of problems with the surgery, and asked him to tell me in plain English what I could tell my mother so she wouldn't worry. He told me he would be happy to call my mother with me and talk to her, if I wanted him to do that. And, he let me go home after one night in the hospital.And, he didn't nickle and dime me for money over what my insurance paid. Obviously, I am a happy client of his.