SKCUNNINGHAM

Are you journaling your food? If not, I would start there - to make sure you are ingesting more on a daily basis than you think you are. Is your salt intake higher than normal?

My doc and nutritionist were way more concerned that I get in sufficient fluids to keep hydrated rather than worry about if I was getting in 60 grams of Protein. I tried to get in that much protein by drinking Protein drinks - but I don't think I got much higher than 40 something grams in on any given day. I had the best luck with Isopure PLUS - 8 oz bottles of lightly flavored drinks (think crystal lite with protein). Each 8 oz bottle has 15 grams of protein. I ordered mine from Amazon.com. I recommend you journal what you are eating and drinking - so you ensure you know how many ounces of Fluid you are successfully getting in your system. Good Luck!

I love to try on clothes that WERE too small and now fit me or are TOO BIG. I kept a belt that used to fit - I love putting it on now. I keep an excel log and chart of my weight, and I keep a log in excel of my measurements. I measure myself on the first of each month and take a picture. I get lots of satisfaction and can chase away the "I'm not doing good enough!" blues by studying this information and the pictures. I also envision things that weigh as much as I have lost. I have lost 73 pounds so far. That is almost 2 40 pound sacks of dog food. Pick up a 40 pound sack of dog foog (or put it in a backpack) and walk around with it for a while - see how much worse you feel walking around with it than you do walking around without it. I have a cleaning lady that weighs 93 pounds. We have a deal - when I reach a 93 pound loss, I am giving her a piggy back ride! I have a freezer that has quite a bit of meat in it. Each package has the weight written on it. I piled enough packages of meet on my bar to equal the amount of weight I have lost. (before you wonder why I have this much meat on hand, we bought a side of beef). If you don't have this much on hand at home, go to the grocery store and stack up that much meat in your cart. Look at it, think about how much that it is - the space it takes up in the cart - how much better it is to walk around without the burden of it. Then, just put it back in the shelf (wouldn't it be great if it was that easy to get rid of the extra pounds on our bodies?) I also try to realize I can physically do things now that I couldn't easily do before. Shaving my legs is SO MUCH easier. Tying my shoes! Bending over and touching the floor! I am taking Zumba! I DIDN"T NEED THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER THE LAST TIME I FLEW! I'm sure all of us have a list like this. These are great ways to recognize how far we have come.

Suzanna - you are an outstanding writer. I don't know what you do for a career, I hope it includes something that allows you to write. The world needs more people who can re-create an experience so viviidly, their readers wipe tears of laughter from their eyes. Your attitude is wonderful - I think that will really serve you well on this life change you have signed up for. Best wishes as you progress with your sleeve and your weight loss journey. If there is anything I can do to help you - I would be happy to. PS. If you happen to be a published writer - I want to know! You have a new fan.

I have a Nectar container of very high quality protein in a lemon tea flavor that I never used. I thought I would be drinking protein much longer than I have and never needed it. I will mail it to you if you would like it. Look on the UJURY site an see what I'm talking about. Let me know - send me a message. I only use protein drinks for breakfast and prefer chocolate, vanilla or fuzzy navel flavors (I use the nectar powder or the EAS pre-mixed.) I also like the ISOPURE PLUS pre-mixed and keep them on hand - both the punch and the grape frost flavor.

Right now, I count everything - total calories, and grams of protein, carbs (all of them) and fat. I have lost 73 pounds since I started the pre-surgery diet so I am going to stick with what I'm doing until my body puts me into a major stall. I have had a couple of small stalls, but it was related to being plugged up like a stopped-up drain. I am anemic and have been on a double dose of an iron supplement, and eating red meat often. I will be glad when my iron level gets into the normal range.

I used Dr. Nick Nicholson in Plano. He is the head of the bariatric center at Baylor Plano, and is also associated with the Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas. He does surgeries at both places. I was employed by four different businesses in 2010 while I was on my quest to get certified by WLS (sold twice, layed off once). Dr. Nick was considered a "CENTER OF EXCELLENCE" provider by all of the insurance plans I was working with. My surgery was as Forest Park. I can't say enough positive things about Dr Nick, his staff, or the people and facilities at Forest Park. Dr. Nick does regular information sessions about WLS, you may want to go give him a listen. He doesn't do a strong sales pitch - just lays out information and lets you make your decision.

You look awsome! Congratulations on your fantastic results!

I guess it depends on how many sizes you have on hand in your closet. I have been "shrinking through my closet" since my sleeve on 2/22. But I found I had some gaps - items I needed that I didn't have in a size (guess I gave the items away in the past). When I had a gap - I bought clothes. I also live in the middle of nowhere - and it is WAY TO EASY to shop online. When I do buy an item, I look at the style to see if it is going to be easy to take in a size when I shrink out of its original size - that way I get more good out of the item I purchased. I also have bought some of the Chico brand Travelers garments - because of their fabric and the way they are made - I can wear them a long time (a stretchy knit fabric). If you have trouble judging what size you are now - go by your measurements - waist, hips and bust. Check the store you are going to shop at, go to their website first, and look at their size guidelines. Find out the size you think you should be, then when you go to their store, try on that size first. Also try on the next smaller size, because unless you need to wear it right now, you will fit the next smaller size SOON. When underwear or bras get too big, I throw them out. I can't stand baggy undies. I have gone to wearing the bra from the informercials (genie bra) because it shrinks with me. I am not an overly endowed woman and they work great for me.

Tex - if your wife would like to talk to someone who has been recently sleeved, I would be happy to visit with her. I was sleeved on 2/22 by Dr. Nicholson at the Forest Park Medical Center. This is the best decision I ever made for my health. In 41/2 months I have lost 70 pounds, have gotten rid of my sleep apnea and my high cholesterol, and am off of 3/4 of my blood pressure meds. I work in Lewisville, TX. If you or she wants to contact me, send me a message and I will give you my contact information.

Hello. My surgeon was Dr. Nicholson from Plano Texas. Dr. Nick is head of the Bariatric Center at Baylor Medical in Plano. I had surgery at Forest Park Medical Center at Dallas, Texas. Dr. Nick does his surgeries either at the Baylor Plano facility or at Forest Park. Dr. Nick is a patient, caring surgeon that took as much time as I needed to talk to me about my surgery. Dr. Nicholson was a Center of Excellence provider for all three insurance plans I was on prior to getting the surgery approved (long story). The Forest Park facility is state of the art. They specialize in bariatric patients and surgeries.

I wore my loosest drawstring PJ pants and the button up PJ shirt (short sleeved) that matched. This is what I went home in. I only spent one night at the hospital. When I got home, I went to bed, and was already dressed appropriately.

You look gorgeous! I really appreciate you putting the pictures up so we could see you shrink with the passage of time. Would you mind me asking you a couple of questions? What is your most favorite thing about being the size you are now, versus the size you started with? What has been your biggest surprise along your weightloss journey? Thanks Sharon

My dietician says there is no point to try to get more than 20-25 grams of protein in at once - your body won't absorb it. If I get any kind of prepared protein drink than has more than 25 grams of protein, I split it and save the rest in the fridge for later (or pour it out).

If you go to www.surgery.com, it will tell you the following (I got this from typing "deaths from sleeve gastrectomy" into my search engine) The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery lists the complication rate in vertical sleeve gastrectomy to be relatively low, even among patients considered to be at high risk. Cumulatively the overall mortality (death) from vertical sleeve gastrectomy is 0.39 percent—lower than with traditional bariatric surgeries. (last updated 11/24/2009) From an article on www.gastricbypassfacts.com, here is a extract from "How Does the Sleeve Gastrectomy Work?" The risks and complications of the sleeve gastrectomy:As with all forms of weight loss surgery, the vertical gastrectomy does carry risk and these will clearly vary from one patient to the next and must be discussed with your physician. Complications might include: Gastric leakage and fistula 1.0% Deep vein thrombosis 0.5% Non-fatal pulmonary embolus 0.5% Post-operative bleeding 0.5% Splenectomy 0.5% Acute respiratory distress 0.25% Pneumonia 0.2% Death 0.25% http://healthengine.com.au/article/sleeve-gastrectomy.html This article quotes " The mortality rate in gastric sleeve is 1:500 and it lies between the gastric band, which is the safest, and the laparoscopic gastric bypass, which carries the highest risk." So the first source says 3.9 patients out of 1000, the second source says 2.5 patients out of 1000 and the third says 2 out of 1000. So I would feel comfortable (based on these 3 sources) saying the death rate is somewhere between 2 and 4 per 1000. If you are considering a surgeon, ask how many procedures he/she has performed in a year, and how many he/she has performed in total. Then ask the same two questions about patients that died. This will give you an idea where your surgeon is versus the norms.

I noticed that, too. How do you eat the greek yogurt? I put it into smoothies (the plain or the honey flavored) and I used it in baking a cake for family (instead of sour cream). I don't like to eat it straight - like I do the activia brand vanilla - I just haven't gotten used to the stronger flavor.

Don't forget frozen shrimp (with the tails on). A great source of protein. And the shrimp sauce to dip them into. Also - dill relish to use with tuna and light mayo for a quick tuna salad. and in the gourmet section of my store (such as it is) they have packages of little squares of melba toast - to make orderves out of - I use them with laughing cow triangles of cheese. Two triangles of cheese and 8-10 mini toasts make a quick and filling lunch. A also like the cherry / grape tomatoes - both the yellow and red. And cucumbers and asparagras and yellow crookneck squash.

I am so happy for you! You are an inspirations to all of us on the site. Where you are now, we all strive to be. About your height / weight - have you ever been weighed underwater to determine your body fat %? It must be super low. Don't mean to be nosy - I'm just curious Me, I'm the opposite. I have high % of body fat - although it's got to be lower now that I've lost 70 pounds. Again - congratulations on achieving peace of mind and easing into maintenance.

Your stomach will figure out a way to signal your mouth to stop chewing and swallowing. From what I have read on this site, the little sleeve stomach are quite clever that way. Mine certainly has a clear "FULL" signal. When you get on food, ask yourself after you swallow each bite "am i full yet?". Pay attention to any signals that your body might be giving you. Hopefully, you will pick up on your body's signal without having to figure it out the "hard" way of either eating to discomfort or vomiting a few times before you catch on to the signal. I agree with the other posters - my comfort /full / discomfort points are close together. If I don't pay close attention while I am eating (like eating while being on the computer) I miss the signal. OUCH!

I had been on Prozac for about five years before my surgery. I had decided to wean myself off of them prior to surgery - after discussing this with my PCP. I haven't felt like I have needed them since surgery. I have been hormonal since the surgery (see my post "I'm in puberty hell") but that has moderated. I haven't been depressed since surgery - I have been TIRED due to low blood pressure and being anemic - but not depressed. I am in touch with my feelings enough to realize I have experienced some grief since the surgery for the loss of my previous relationship with food - but that isn't depression. I may need meds again at some point in my life - I will practice vigilence to make sure if I need them - I will get back on them. I think once of the things that drives me to depression is feeling out of control about things in my life. Having the sleeve and working the tool successfully has given me a great sense of control, which takes away a big trigger for me. Good luck.

I did two experiements, two different evenings, to see what alchohol will do to me. I had a small amount of beer (about /14 c) one evening. Another time, I had a small amount of tequila (2T). Both evenings I got light headed a got a buzz feeling. I am not having any more alchohol until I hit goal. But I plan on having the occasional drink once I get there. I guess my drinks will all be served in shot glasses, and I will sip them slowly. I haven't tried wine. Maybe someone else can help you out there.

When I was in the mushie stage, I pureed a bunch of "meals". They tasted great!

You look amazing! I don't know where another 23 pounds is going to come from - everything looks just fine where you are. Enjoy this summer with your smoking hot bod and the attitude to match.