Lissa

WLS definitely is NOT the easy way out. Like Melanie, I have a genetic predisposition to be big. All of my cousins and aunts are BIG women. Maybe not as big as I started out, but my Granny used to call us her "Mack Truck Girls". I've lost almost 90 pounds and I'm still a big gal and my goal weight is pretty high compared to most (190). I've been told that I'm intimidating. I'm 5'8 and very few people believed me when I told them what I weighed before. Even with WLS, I still have to be sure I meet my Water and Protein goals and I still have to exercise daily. I'm really stepping it up right now because I've been stalled for over a month on the scale. The workouts are paying off, though, in body shaping and endurance ability. I feel like I'm working just as hard as anyone who has ever lost weight without WLS. The difference is that WLS ensures that I won't regain the weight once I get to goal and maintenance.

Dooter, You do look fantastic and YES, I can definitely see the weight that has come off of you!! It's really obvious from your pictures how much weight you have lost!! I have the same problem with not being able to see where the weight has come off from, but it really shows in those pictures! You are rocking that sleeve and looking fantastic!!!

Those first few days are always challenging! Perhaps try drinking your fluids at a warmer temp, and try some chicken/beef broth. Broth was a staple item for me the first couple of weeks. It was the only liquid that went down fairly easily. Good luck!!

Oh, it's definitely a learning experience with our new sleeves. Since you're not getting a hungry signal, perhaps you need to put yourself on a schedule to eat for now. At least every 3 hours, put something small in your sleeve, based on what stage you're at. Also, set a goal to drink so much Water each hour to meet your daily water requirement. If you plan it out in advance, it will really help you to avoid the anxiety and irritability related to not eating or drinking enough. Good luck!!

I don't believe in "good" or "bad" foods. We did have this surgery to LIVE, not to DIET. My mindset is Protein first, always. At the wing place, I'd have eaten chicken wings rather than zucchini, because the wings have protein and the fried zucchini has way less protein. Of course, I'd have only been able to eat 3 wings, at most, so that would have limited the amount of protein. But, when it comes to the bottom line, I aim for my protein and Water daily. If I have room for other things, then I will add in veggies and some carbs. Do NOT beat yourself up over a one time indulgence in ice cream, though. You're going to have days where you get all your protein and water and days where you don't meet the protein goal. That's life and we all do it. As you get further out from surgery, you will find that it gets easier to meet those protein goals. You will have to change your mindset to meet them, but you will get there. For me, it sometimes seems like I do better when I don't do everything perfect anyway. Yesterday I had a couple of drinks with friends. This morning I posted an almost 2 pound loss. That loss may actually be related to the amount of exercise I've been doing, or it may be related to TOM, but my diet yesterday included alcoholic beverages, which are often considered too high calorie for us. Sometimes we have to shake things up to keep the scale moving and especially to make sure we are still LIVING, not DIETING.

Meggs, I could have written your post, without the thyroid removal. I have found that my clothes are getting looser and that my body is reshaping itself, despite the scale sitting at this number. I've been changing up my exercise routine and actually added some foods to my diet for energy and endurance during exercise. This morning, I finally posted a 1.8 pound loss. I am so happy about that, but I've lost 3 pants sizes during the latest stall, which is usually how it happens for me. I'll lose pretty steadily for a bit, then stop while my body shrinks and readjusts...then I'll lose a little more. This time around, I'm seeing definite waist definition and a firmer tush, so I'll take this temporary stall while my body creates those lines!

I agree with the warm drinks, especially broth. Broth has some protein in it, and it went down well for me in the early post-op stages. I couldn't do sweet or cold drinks that early and I found out that I'm lactose intolerant at the same time. Tiny little sips, constantly are what worked for me.

That pneumonia is a killer! Make sure your doctor has given you antibiotics to totally eradicate the infection. If you're still having lingering problems, it may be time for some blood work to determine if you still have an infection. Good luck!!

I'm six days away from 7 months, and I agree that it has been totally life-changing! Congrats to you for meeting and exceeding both your surgeon's goal and your personal goal! Isn't it wonderful that hubby has lost weight as well!?!?

I sit on the floor when I'm watching TV, usually with one leg bent so it lies onthe floor with my foot touching my other knee...and the other leg extended. Half of that time, I'm stretching, trying to improve my flexibility. When I'm on the computer, I sit in a padded desk chair and I try to maintain proper posture since that seems to help my back. I still have a good bit of padding in the bootay area, but it's nowhere near what it used to be.

Well, I have NSV 'Ho in my signature, so I think I'm obligated to post here. Best NSV's so far: -Being able to WALK places. Before surgery I had a tough time walking from the front door to the car. Now I walk the length of the mall and back with no issues. -Smaller clothes. 'nuff said there -Finding bones I'd forgotten I had: collar bones, hip bones... -Having a waist. As my friend told me tonight, I'm getting my hourglass shape back. He knew me before I really packed on the weight and he tells me that he sees the change coming quite clearly.

I have to agree with PDX on this. Most people are obese because they have other issues and are addicted to food. Being sleeved only works on our tummies. The head work is up to us. They sleeve our stomachs, not our heads, to paraphrase one of the gurus from the Lap Band Boards. I think that those who are most successful with the sleeve are those who realize they have food issues and step up their game to deal with those issues. I see a therapist to help me deal with mine. Others may have success with other methods, but I believe we MUST figure out the underlying issues in order to avoid self-sabotage.

LOL, Kiki. He lives in Washington State. I'm in Florida. I doubt we're ever going to meet...and we'd probably hate each other anyway because we're both geeks.

Dont push the post-op diet too hard. Your sleeve may not tell you that it's hurting because the nerves have been numbed by surgery. You don't want to push it until you cause a leak. DDFinn, I'm glad yours said WHOA... and patience is a virture. Soon you'll be back on regular food and this will all fade from your mind.

The date was nice. I didn't even realize that I was always so exhausted getting off the bike because my glycogen stores were low until you posted that about running. Eating a banana, orange, and a mini babybel just before heading to the gym has made a huge difference in how far and fast I can ride. I was lucky before to get 4 miles in a half an hour, simply because I was so wiped out. Weds I rode six miles in half an hour and today I hit 7 miles in half an hour. Probably still slow compared to everyone else, but I am getting there! I kind of feel like the poster child for obese and no exercise (pre-op), so I'm hoping that keeping this information public will help someone else who is just starting the journey to exercise after surgery.

With the stigma attached to WLS, the public might have a negative reaction to either Oprah or Kirstie Alley having WLS. They live and die by their reputations, so it's probably not a recommended option.

You should look for posts from Tiffykins, and possible friend her on Facebook. She's had one healthy pregnancy while sleeved and is pregnant again. I'd think she's definitely an expert at this point! You should see her daughter! What a cutie-pie!!

I don't know of any, but I'm volunteering to meet up with Ourborous if he's still single when I hit goal!

I've always been pretty self-confident, of the "If you don't like me, don't look at me" school. I'm still having a rough time getting it into my head that I'm WAY skinnier than I used to be, though. I think I carry myself well, but I've still got a long way to go to feel skinny.

Hey PDX!! I was looking for you yesterday! I wanted to say thanks for the advice about adding in some carbs before working out that you gave on the running thread. It's made a huge difference for me in the distance and times I'm getting on the exercise bike!

okay, since it's flame free Friday. I'm really enjoying all the new attention I've been getting. Dates Wed, Thurs and Fri this week, all with different guys...none of them are the soon to be ex hubby. STB Ex has called daily and wants to pay some attention to me NOW. You know, now that I've lost weight, have more energy and more self-confidence to call him on his crap. Is it mean that I just keep saying NO?

I can drink a 16 oz bottle of water in about 30 minutes, but I'm almost 7 months post-op! IAbout a half hour ago I rode the exercise bike for 30 minutes and drank a full bottle of water while on there...now I'm about 1/3 of the way through another bottle. Of course, right now I'm thirsty. In an hour or so, I'll have dinner and won't drink anything else for a while after that, probably an hour. But, although I've got my water in today, I'll probably drink 1 more sixteen ounce bottle before bedtime.

Dorrie, Be a living, breathing, walking, talking testament to WLS. That's all you can do. If I had my way, I'd be lining my cousins and aunts up at my doctor's office. Instead of bombarding them, though, I just make sure I'm dressed cute and in ways that show off my weight loss whenever I go around my family (and any other time)! People I work with are really starting to see the difference in my shape, especially now that I've gone hard core on working out daily. I'm enjoying the extra attention all around!

I went on a date last night. We did the Applebee's 2 for $20. I ordered the steak and ate about 1/3 of it, plus my broccoli (left the yellow squash that was squashed, yuck!) and a couple of bites of mashed taters. The rest is in the fridge. My date told me that I could eat the whole steak; he wouldn't think I was a pig, so I fessed up about surgery. It doesn't bother me to tell and his reaction was "Oh." He knows several people who have had GB, so no big deal at all.

bella, I'm not sure if Pepcid is enough of an acid reducer. I'm taking an Rx acid reducer. Maybe other will chime in with more information about what works for them. I thought Ashley was answering your question about how much she has lost since surgery, not being showy. She is having a slightly different journey than we have because her surgery was for a medical condition other than just obesity. She had a twisted stomach and the sleeve was her doctor's attempt to cure the problem.\ No matter what, I wish you both good luck on your journey!!!