SKCUNNINGHAM

This is great news - congratulations! Not only are you healthy - think of the $$$ you are going to save! I was able to get off my cholesterol meds at 3 months. My total cholesterol was normal, as were the HDL and LDL levels. First time in A LONG TIME. All 3 of those had been normal. I go on Friday to see what my 6 months labs say - I hope I get to stay off the meds and it isn't hereditary. I wish you continued success on your journey.

Going back to JUNIOR High - Dr.Stillman's Water diet Then, moving into college - Weight Watchers (for the first time) and joined a gym (for the first time) Then since college: Weight watchers (multiple times - lost the same 30-50 pounds for years) Scarsdale diet Atkins diet A diet where I did Protein packages twice/day and 1 sensible meal - went to a doctor each week and had to pee on a stick to prove I was in ketosis - did this two different time - lost about 50 pounds each time Diet pills - lasted less than a week on these - couldn't handle them - some quack doctor - I thnk they were pure speed - the john got high when I flushed the d**n things down it Modifast - the first time, I lost 100 pounds and kept it off for about a year - to 18 months Phen Fen - couldn't handle this more than about a month - one of the pills conflicted with another med I was on Modifast - the second time - lost 80 pounds to get ready for surgery and kep it off about a year. A doctor supervised diet where it basically Atkins and a whole bunch of supplements. I was taking 80 pills a day. He would have your hair analyzed and build you a unique program based on what you needed. I lost 100 pounds on it - but got sick of taking all the pills, and quit taking them cold turkey. BAD IDEA. Hypnosis combined with basically Atkins. This worked great - I lost over 100 pounds and was maintaining. Then I took a job where I traveled all the time, that didn't allow me to exercise 6 days out of 7. I quit listening to the hypnosis CDs and the weight gradually came back. Can't list all the gym memberships I have had. I do like to exercise when I am the size I am now or smaller. Hate it when I am larger. This is a fun thread!

First of all, make sure you are drinking 60-80 ounces of Fluid each day. Water is the first thing you need to be regular. Second - you need to make sure you are getting Fiber. Fiber comes from veggies and fruits and, for me, benefiber packets. You can take up to three a day, and the disolve into water with no problems. The other thing I do to keep things moving is to use Miralax. I add a capful of Miralax into my diet almost every day. Either in my Breakfast smoothie or in my water that I drink. If I skip the miralax for a couple of days, my system blocks up. Also - the more you exercise, the more likely you are to stay regular. If you are doing all of this and still stay constipated, go see your doc, something may be wrong. You are driving yourself crazy weighing multiple times per day and it is serving NO PURPOSE. Don't weigh more than once per day. Your weight fluctuates throughout the day for a variety of reasons. The only reason you want to weigh each day is to be accountable for monitoring your weight. After you weigh first thing in the morning, HIDE YOUR scale so you won't be tempted to torment yourself with it during the day. I hope you get better soon!

What a wonderful accomplishment! 229 pounds gone! Congratulations! Enjoy those new clothes - you earned them.

My doctor told me to plan on two nights - I went home after only one (my request). I was having no problems, and wanted to recover at home. I don't have any small children to take care of, my husband was there to take care of me, and he drove me home.

The primary reason for the pre-op diet is to reduce the fat layer surrounding your liver. Your doctor is going to move the liver during your surgery and the less fat around it, the easier it is to handle. You do not want the liver to be inadvertently nicked or torn during your surgery. That is an undesirable side effect. Some doctors, if they see there is too much fat around the liver will stop the surgery. After the patient wakes up, he / she finds out they didn't have surgery and they have to do more of a diet to further shrink the fat layer. Smkeller is correct - pre-op diets differ by person, due to your BMI and overall health conditions. Another benefit of the pre-op diet - it allows you to start changing your relationship with food. And- some people lose a good number of pounds during the pre-op - to jumpstart their loss.

WAY TO GO! You Look GREAT!

Congratulations! You have done great! You were sleeved the day after I was, we have similar starting weights, and the same weight target. Good luck on the rest of your way to goal.

Tomorrow is my Six-month sleeve surgiversary. I have lost 83 pounds! This is 3 pounds less than the goal I set for myself (as part of the Labor Day challenge) - but I sprained an ankle badly two weeks ago and haven't been able to exercise. Once I get this dratted boot of my foot and ankle, I will get back to regular exercise and break of of this stall I am experiencing. Even with that annoyance - LIFE IS GOOD. I have dropped from a 24 Womens to a 14 Petite. I am enjoying shopping in regular stores. I treated myself to a little shopping spree today, and I didn't feel like a freak from the circus wondering into the store (like I normally would pre sleeve). I have dropped 8 1/2 inches from bust, waist and belly; 9 1/2 inches from my hips; 2 1/2 inches from my neck and 5-6 inches off of each thigh. I have gotten off of all cholesterol meds; 3/4 of my BP meds; my anti depression meds; and retired my hated CPAP machine. YEA! It took me a long time to research WLS and make up my mind to have the surgery. I am SO GLAD I did. Attached are pictures from before and today. I still have 36 more pounds to go to reach goal - and I feel certain I will get there. Thanks to all of you on this forum for your wisdom, you humour and your unflagging support.

Congratulations on becoming a mom! And way to go to keep the weight off!

Almost six months since surgery. I realize I now am no longer dependent on food for emotional comfort - just nourishment (most of the time). Here is a my top five things I have realized. Rather than mindlessly putting food into my mouth to meet my every need (or potential need) - have learned: 1. I would much rather have a good time in bed with my DH than think about what is for dinner or desert. 2. I would rather than a bite or two of something really good then stop, than stuff myself and feel miseable. 3. If I am at loose ends and restless - I go try on clothes that fit - rather than graze in the fridge (zipping my size 14's feel better than fritos taste) 4. Eating does not help me feel better if I am sad or mad - I have found doing something physical helps. (Take a walk - pound my fist on my desk, you name it) 5. Physical exercise can actually be fun and it can feel good. I actually LIKE to do Zumba and work out on my elliptical. Anyone want to add to the list?

ChunkyandFluffy - if your clothers aren't organized by size - do it before the surgery. Dig up all your smaller clothers and go through them. After the surgery, you are going to be passing through sizes rapidly - so you need to have a good idea of what you have in each size. Also - develop your strategy as to what you are going to do when you shrink out of your clothes. You will want to "burn the bridge" and get rid of them as you shrink out of them. Keep one "fat outfit" that you can try on and remember (and inspire yourself to never go back). Good Luck.

Anyone doing anything special to mark their 6 month surgiversary? I am pleased with my results, but don't have anything special planned - do you / did you?

It seems like my entire life, when it came to food, my brain was not piloting the plane - my stomach was in the pilot seat with my mouth as co-pilot. The two of them had me eating too fast, too much, and forcing the brain into a state of unconsciousness when I ate. In reality - the brain is and always should be the pilot of the plane.Here is an exercise to help you get closer to that point. I am not suggesting this for every meal - but it will help you change your habits if you practice this exercise. Measure out your serving of whatever. Put it in a small plate or bowl. Leave it on the counter. Get a second small plate or bowl. Take 3-4 bites of whatever from the first plate and put it on the second plate (spread away from each other). Take the plate or bowl to the table, place it there next two your fork/spoon and napking. Sit down - put napkin in lap. Take a deep breath, smile, and tell yourself - "I am going to enjoy each bit of this food to the fullest." Place the first bite in your mouth and start chewing. Continue to say the line about enjoying each bite to the fullest in your head as you chew. Say it to yourself ten times (slowly) for EACH BITE OF FOOD. Once the food is in your mouth, PUT THE FORK DOWN (the other food isn't going to run away from you.) The first bite - focus on the TASTE of the food. Think about the spices - preparation - etc. (Is it sweet? Sour? Salty? Spicy? ) After you have swallowed, take another breath and look at the plate. Pick up the fork - and put the second bite in your mouth. Repeat the steps from before with the mantra about enjoying each bite and setting the fork down. The second bite - focus on the TEXTURE of the food and how it feels in your mouth. Is is smooth and slippery? Chewy? Tough? Repeat the process for each bite of food until the bites of food on the plate are gone. When that is done, go back to your first plate or bowl and serve yourself another 3-4 bites, and repeat the entire process again (and again) until you are full and have gotten in your Protein. Surpisingly - there are many facets of enjoying food that I never took the time to think of, including: Taste; Texture and Feel; Smell: What type of food it is (Mexican, Italian); How it was prepared; Where the food originated (Much of our food in the US comes to us from outside the US); How the food is going to benefit my body, etc. Now, I don't think thinking of these is something you routinely need to do - but the point is to focus on the food when you are eating. Before my sleeve, I know I would rapidly eat until I reached a point of uncomfortableness and mental stupor. I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to unconsciously eat - even if it is four bites of something. I don't want to eat until my new smaller stomach hurts (or slimes, or sends it back up). I want to eat until I am satisfied (not painfully full) - Tiffany calls this undereating her sleeve. Good luck with slowing down the pace of your eating - it is a hard habit to break.

I am days away from my six month surgiversary. The only carbs I get are from dairy (yogurt and cottage cheese), veggies, fruit (in my smoothies) and the occasional piece of flatbread/cracker or melba toast with cheese. On special occaisions, I may have 1-2 T of rice or mashed potatoes. I also have indulged in fried hushpuppies once in six months (just a couple). I do not eat white carbs (rice, noodles or bread(white or wheat)). Carbs are what I ate mindlessly before - I would anesthesize myself with them. It is better for me to stay away from them.

LMD - this is an outstanding post - thank you so much. I would add: DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week. DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. Thanks again LMD - you are awe-inspiring.

Tex - Glad to hear you are having such great results. Now that the surgery is behind you and you are doing great, what does your wife think? I imagine she and the kids are enjoying the smaller, healthier version of you.

Congratulations on your impressive achievements. If you can't contact the man - just include him in your prayers - sound like he will need them. It is so interesting to think of the effects people have on each others' lives - unknowingly. That man is oblivious to the profound impact he had in your decision to change your life. What encountes have each of us had with someone else where we were the impetus for change in their lives? Makes you stop and think. I think this forum is a wonderful (and for me, a new) way to interact with people. I know there are people on this forum that have inspired me in ways to successfully use my sleeve to change my life and achieve my goals. Thank you for a thought-provoking post. Good luck to you in your journey.

I plan on "losing" my work ID and my drivers license so I can get ones with new pictures and keep the old ones (once I get to my goal). The teller could have said "sorry for the delay - we had to verify your identity - you don't look much like your photo anymore" Along the same lines - the phlebotomist at the blood bank could have said "you might consider getting a new ID - you don't look much like your picture anymore." Then they needed to STOP TALKING. That is hard to do - to know when to put the period at the end of a verbal sentence - and to DO IT.

:cheer2: :cheer2: Here's your dancing girls - celebrate that victory!

BEFORE Clothes Size - 24W (suits - top and bottom) Or 3X in tops Size 10 undies Bra 46/48 C/D Size 8 1/2 medium shoes Size 8 ring NOW Clothes Size - Size 14 (regular, not womens) in clothes or size 16 depends on jacket and waist of trousers Size 8 undies Bra 42 B Size 8 medium shoes Ring size - 8 falls off - need to size the one I'm wearing

You are a beautiful young woman! Congratulations on your accomplishment.

And make sure you are drinking sufficient amounts of fluid if you take Miralax. If you take a packet and put it in a full glass of water, it dissolves easily. If you take a packet, put it in a dish and let is get slightly wet - it turns into Miralax concrete. Don't forget to drink your water!

I have discovered there is a side effect of TOO MUCH Miralax. My system responds to a Miralax packet and a Benefiber packet every morning with more "enthusiasm" than I prefer. Unless you never pass gas anywhere other than being perched in position on the throne - it can cause awkward problems. (Depends on your individual system) I recommend gradually increasing your Miralax until you hit the right amount/frequency/results balance point.