Lissa

I'm doing lots of high repetition, low weight arm exercises and I have bat wings, but I feel the muscle (and see it) developing. I am hopeful that most of the skin will absorb as I keep up this routine. I must say that I adore 3/4 sleeve shirts right now, though.

I'm an NSV 'ho, so I always love these posts!! Perhaps I should change my name on here to "NSV 'Ho"!?! LOL Congrats on the first NSV.. .LOTS more to come!!

It's definitely normal to feel this way! Everyone goes through almost the exact same thought process just before surgery. Don't let it get you down! AND, you won't be the only person ever to have this surgery and not lose weight! Before you know it, you'll be posting astonishing numbers of pounds lost!! Don't forget to take your measurements today so that you have them for later!

Thanks everyone! I'm about to post another NSV in a few minutes!!

My best friend is an ER nurse in the hospital where I had surgery, so I had the best advocate in the world for mine. Even better, several people from my WLS support group work in the same hospital and they all checked in on me after surgery, although I was too doped up the first day to really respond. Having an advocate is always helpful. I stayed with an aunt recently who was in the hospital. To hear her tell it, no one responded to her at all, but she was hallucinating from her narcotics the whole time she was there and kept telling me she was tired of them changing the wallpaper on the solid blue wall in her room. That's what clued ME in to her hallucinations and I was the one to ask the nurses for a medication change and a doctor call. Turns out my aunt is allergic to morphine. None of that is to diminish your experience, Kim, because it sounds like you had a horrible time in the hospital. I suggest consulting an attorney to get a copy of the 911 call and then going from there. Good luck!

Good luck! Can't wait for your post surgery update. Already sliding down to make room for you on the loser's bench!

I was told 8 weeks before I could start lifting weights. Your doc may have a different guideline.

Welcome, Randy! Good luck and keep us up to date, please!

I've found that I get sick (literally) if I try to eat and drink at the same time. As for washing the bad food through, as Meredit mentioned, that doesn't keep you from absorbing the fat and calories...it just leaves you hungry again faster. :/

I'm no exercise guru, but I have had great results with just slow, steady exercise. I've been doing an exercise routine that includes high reps, low weights (to build arm muscle), walking/exercise bike (for cardio and leg strength), and a killer ab routine I found on metafilter, for obvious reasons. My energy level and strength have increased completely out of proportion with the amount of work I've been doing, which shows that I had been sadly neglecting exercise before surgery. I literally spend half an hour three times a week working out. I'm working to increase that to half an hour per day, but I make lots of excuses to avoid it, too! LOL Hopefully one of the gurus will chime in on this and give better info than I can.

First of all, 42 pounds is amazing! And the fact that you were dehydrated tells me that you may not be drinking enough water. I work to get 64 oz of water in a day. If you are kicking it on the elliptical machine, you may be building muscle, which weighs more than fat. That's AWESOME and wonderful, because muscle burns more fat. Don't get discouraged. Concentrate on getting in the protein and water each day and keep working out. You will lose weight. For now, look for the non-scale victories: Are your clothes getting looser? Are your measurements showing that you are getting smaller? If those two things are happening, then you're doing this right. If not, then you may need to adjust your eating, but I'm betting that you are doing fine! Good luck!

I strive for 70 grams a day, per doctor's orders. I also take biotin and B-12 daily. The biotin helps encourage hair regrowth and the B-12 helps with my energy level.

I'll definitely be trying some of these techniques!

Once again, you have posted important information and encouragement for all of us! Thank you!!

YAY!! I'm an NSV 'ho, so I definitely appreciate that one! I can't wait! You're rocking that sleeve!!

I'm happy that you're doing something to improve your life, but I'm thrown by what procedure you're having. It must be a new one, because I've never heard of sleeve with plication. I've only seen band with plication discussed. I doubt there's anything bad about that; it's just a procedure I've never seen discussed anywhere. Congrats on becoming a sleever! Let us know, please, how things go. We'll keep you a nice warm spot on the loser's bench!

I don't track my carbs at all. Actually, I guess MFP tracks them anyway and I just looked. Yesterday I had 65 carbs, along with 73 g of protein and 72 oz of water. I concentrate on the protein and water and let the rest fall where it may.

Congrats on your surgery and the journey you are taking!! Welcome to the loser's bench! Keep rocking your sleeve!!

Good luck to you! I'm toasting you with my water this morning and looking forward to your post surgery update!!

You are looking fantastic!! And, you still have great curves! Amazing job of rocking that sleeve!!

Well, Robin, that's what we're here for, to support one another! That spot on the loser's bench is nice and warm and waitng for you!

Looking great!!

LOL, Sexy Lady. I was just thinking that I'm glad Blackberry Juice is NOT my trainer! I'm not ready for her yet!

I hear you on the filter! Are they leaving it in or removing it after surgery? Mine was removed, thankfully!

Oh, to answer the question! LOL Try the popsicles or even chewing ice. That may help the need to chew.