Lissa

Good luck to all of you today! Here's to the first day of the rest of your lives! It's your new birthday!!

Great job!! Congrats!!!

food is a tough mistress to tame, that's for sure. I'm a firm believer in getting some help to deal with the mental part of this journey. Seeing a therapist has helped me deal with my food issues and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Good luck on your journey!!

So, had a major dump session today. My tummy and back hurt so bad for awhile today that I seriously thought I was DYING. I even called my pulmonologist and tried to get in to see him. After I slimed, I felt some better, then I came home and had to climb into the shower fully clothed. I'll leave the why to your imaginations. Lessons learned: Dont take my Vitamins without that essential mini babybel cheese and easy on the veggies. I snacked on broccoli, carrots and cheese last night...along with about six pieces of chocolate halloween candy, over the course of seven hours. Today, I paid for it. No more junk food.

I should clarify that I did NOT make that comment where the girl could hear me. I'd never do that!

Welcome to the Century Club!!!

The OP on this thread said something about not wanting to feel judged for going to a gym while overweight. I feel really bad because I missed an opportunity this morning to make someone feel better. As I was going into the gym today, a VERY heavy gal was sitting on the sidewalk. I smiled at her as we went by, then commented to my workout partner that the girl looks just like I did before I started losing. She is bottom-heavy, with a loose tummy like mine was. I really feel bad that I didn't go back and offer her some encouragement, or at least say something to her after she came in with her workout partner. I'll make it a point to talk to her when I see her again.

I'm a pic ho these days, Jimmy! Be glad you're not on my FB feed! LOL I post pics just because I can! I'm not there, but I WILL get to goal. I'm not all that worried about the scale because I made my first major goal yesterday...I'm the same size as my "skinny" aunt...who isn't all that skinny, but she's the smallest of the girls in my family. But, not for long! Thanks again for all your advice... and I'm sure I'll be back.

You look a-freaking-mazing!!! Great job!!! Enjoy your well-earned reward!!!

Jimmy, Thanks for your encouragement and help!!! I'm actually seeing measurable changes in my arms and stomach area, even though the scale is still being stubborn. Clothes are fitting better and I've taken an inch off my waist in the last month. From the back, I look terrific! LOL I'm doing abs every single day, mostly with an exercise ball, and I'm seeing improvement in my lower tummy area too. I definitely appreciate your help! I think we need to ask for this thread to be pinned if it isn't already.

I'm a little over a year out and I still usually start my day with a Protein bar, especially if I'm going to the gym. I use the Premier Protein Bars, which have 30 grams of protein. I also eat a mini babybel before I take my Vitamins because Iron makes me sick to my stomach. Eatng something first helps. lunch and dinner are usually straight protein, chicken, beef or pork. My Snacks are evolving now into fruits and veggies because I know they need to be part of my diet. I have been meeting or exceeding my original protein goal (70g daily) since about a month post op. I have actually upped my protein goal in the last few weeks to 90g daily because I've increased my workouts. You will find a way to get there.

Kimberly, I have a whole gallery of pictures on here. If you click on my profile you can see my befores and my first year updates. I hope to make a slideshow soon for my first year and I'm working hard to get to goal, too!

Once you get moved down here, we'll have to meet up, MeMeMe!

I named my sleeve because I didn't want to constantly be saying "my sleeve" in public. Rex gives me a way to communicate with my friends about surgery without having to constantly say surgery. While I was on the post op diet, it was a way of communicating what I could and couldn't eat without going into detail. "Rex is allowed soft foods now". It is "just" my stomach, but it is one of the most important organs in our bodies because it, at least mine, was insatiable before. My stomach WAS a food nymphomaniac. Now, it's not. Oh, for whoever was thinking about naming their sleeve Hope, why not name it Faith instead? This isn't a pipe dream... your sleeve will help you lose weight.

So, I think I change my routine as often as I change clothes, but I spent two hours tonight with a degreed personal trainer. First she did a fitness assessment and she was surprised at how fit and strong I am because I don't look nearly as healthy as I am. My new routine will be six days a week with alternating 30 and 60 minute cardio sessions. On the days I do 30 minutes of cardio, I'm going to work specific muscle groups daily, plus do abs 5 days a week. On the non-weight days, I'll be doing 60 minutes of cardio, probably 30 on the recumbent bike and 30 on the elliptical. I'm also teaching myself to swim, so I'll do that at least three days a week, working my way up to laps once I have more confidence in my ability to swim. Tonight I added squats and exercise ball to my routine and she pulled me off the weight machines to go to weight cables because the cables apparently give a better workout. I'm also adding free weights and barbells to my weight lifting...and I found out that I can do leg lifts on the "chair". I'm not sure what else to call it, but it's a frame where you stand up, holding your weight on your arms, and lift your legs free from the floor. In six weeks, we will reevaluate. My goal right now is to jump start my weight loss once again, plus tone and tighten everything I can regarding my skin. The trainer is skeptical that I'll be able to take another 70 pounds off my body, but she's willing to help me work to reshape everything possible. There's nothing to change diet/water wise, so it's got to be my workouts that increase. I'm hoping to see major results by the end of six weeks, or at least see that things are shaping up towards major results in that time. So, it's early to bed for me. I have a 5 am appointment with an elliptical and weight cables tomorrow! Today I am at 241. In six weeks, I'd like to be at 221 or lower. It's time to get deadly serious about this routine!!!

My highest was 352. I'm just over a year out and I weigh 239 right now. Thrilled doesn't even begin to describe it!

Because it's real life is why it can't all go smoothly. I had pneumonia and blood clots in my leg pre-op, so I sympathize with you. How far out are you with the sleeve? Here's hoping it's not a leak, but just a symptom of the pneumonia. Good luck and please keep us posted.

I've put a little nutela on some of the nastier protein bars I bought pre-op and eaten them as a treat. Heat up the bar first and it's like having dessert. I don't know that nutella is good or bad, but it sure made those icky protein bars easier to eat, even with only a small teaspoon spread on them.

I don't know the exact science, but I have noticed that I feel full longer if I wait to drink...and I lose weight faster. Therefore, no drinking water with meals for me.

I agree, too. I still fight a lot of my emotional stuff, but now a cheat is a whole lot easier to deal with. Yesterday was a bad day and my "cheat" was a single serving size bag of cheetos AND ONE mini almond joy. Okay, neither one is "good" for me, but it's a whole lot less than I'd have cheated on before surgery. I also allowed myself to get overly hungry rather than eating regular meals as I should have done. Today, I'm back on track (and on My Fitness Pal) and I'll do right today. No regret for yesterday. IMO, that's the beauty of the sleeve vs the others. I have physical restriction that won't let me eat mass quantities of anything, so I've been forced to deal with the emotional stuff. Yeah, I ate something I shouldn't have yesterday, but I now have the self control to get back on track and keep working toward my goal. THAT is what the sleeve has helped me accomplish!

My doc wanted me to wait six weeks before I could lift any weights, even the tiny 2 pounders I started with.

I take sublingual B12 daily and I can see the change in energy immediately if I forget it. B12 helps with both my energy level and my mental clarity, although you probably wouldn't know it from my posts around here!

I'm a fan of the tuna kits myself. I do buy the ones with crackers, but I seldom eat the crackers. I also buy little bags of sardines because I love sardines. I invested ina box of plastic silverware so I can toss the utensil with the container. Mini babybel cheeses are a staple for me and I have a small cooler that sits in my car for bottle Water. Freeze the water and it's your ice for the other food if you need it. If you do have time to stop, most convenience stores now carry string cheese and boiled eggs in little packets, too. You could carry both in the cooler, though.