Lissa

Sexy Lady, I'm not sure what kind of advice you're looking for? Do you need help figuring out what/how to eat, drink or where to start with exercise?

Thanks, Nixi! I try to stay positive. Maybe it helps my karma somewhat? LOL

Wait until I hit 100 pounds lost!! I'm gonna have to do something big! I believe the traditional thing is to post a dance on You Tube???

Thanks, Mama! I posted it to FB earlier and JOKINGLY said that I was the blimp in the black dress. I got a TON of yelling at for that one. No, I don't think I was a blimp, just wanted to make sure folks knew I wasn't the bride in the picture!

That's a first for me. I've heard of pureed pizza, but never pureed chicken pot pie! Enjoy it.

Benisa, In Florida, notaries are allowed to perform weddings, and I am a travelling notary. It's a little different from what Louisiana notaries are allowed to do. Your state allows them powers that almost mimic an attorney's role in other states; mine doesn't. The bride happens to be the daughter of one of my best friends. I was extremely honored to be asked to perform that wedding ceremony!

LOL BK Mama! That's not a pole. It's the divider between my mirrored closet doors. That's hilarious because a friend of mine's son keeps telling me it's time I took up stripping! JSWilbur, Thanks. I love the quilt too! Would you believe I found it at Goodwill? $5 bucks! It's pretty well made, although it needs some hand sewing in a couple of places. I keep looking at the lost and found quilt site to see if anyone is looking for it.

liquids pretty much flow right through our sleeves, so you won't feel any restriction from them for a while. Your new sleeve is also numb from the trauma of surgery. I only ever had pain from my sleeve when I drank too much and it overfilled, then I'd have shoulder pain. You probably won't stretch your sleeve from just drinking liquids. It's pretty tough, but you should definitely be looking for any discomfort signals if you're able to drink a lot at a time.

You WILL feel different, although it may take a little while. You'll be amazed at your energy levels, at how much easier it is to move, and at how much weight comes off your body in such a hurry! You'll also have some moodiness once the hormones those fat cells are storing start dumping themselves into your bloodstream, so be prepared for that. And, at some point, your libido is going to return FULL FORCE and then some! Congrats on being sleeved and enjoy this journey! It's a blast and a bit of a roller coaster ride!

Well, thanks, JME! I can always use prayers and good thoughts! Welcome to VST!

I'm so sorry about your complications! Like we say, it's a very low chance of complications, but it's devastating when it happens to you. I know you're on coumadin, and I hope that works well for you. I'm just coming off of nearly 9 months of coumadin therapy, so I know it's definitely not fun. I'll keep you in my prayers and good for you and hubby for being your own best advocate!!

Maybe you'll get lucky and NOT be lactose intolerant after surgery. I've been able to drink milk and enjoy other dairy products with gusto all my life, but developed lactose intolerance after surgery. I wonder if it will work the opposite way for you? You think now that you'll like chocolate after surgery, but I truly hated sweets for months. I finally have started using the chocolate and vanilla Protein powders in my decaf coffee instead of creamer. At least I'm getting some use out of them.

It IS an eating disorder, or can be. It's called cupping and it's not a habit you want to continue doing. Eat what you want, but don't create new problems for yourself. Don't feel guilty. You're trying to learn to eat like people who don't have food problems; this is a great place to start! Good luck!! You're doing great on your loss, btw!!

Thanks, Coops! I'm required to do the daily cardio, but you should see how much my EKG has improved! That's sexy in and of itself, if you know how to read it! I am going to continue the low weight, high reps for now. I'm also going to add in more calisthenics like lunges, squats and sit ups for the problem areas. Hopefully, as I progress I will be able to see more improvement in the areas that really bother me, but I want to kick start the weight loss again. I know I have to increase what I'm doing to make that happen. I'll never be Lil Miss Diva on exercise, but I definitely want to continue to build on the foundation I've built. Since I injured myself last week, though, I figured it was time to get some expert advice from those who have gone before me. You guys have, once again, come through for me! Thanks!!!

Oh, Mr. Worm, I have to do 30 minutes of cardio a day, non-negotiable. My doctor will put me back on a med I don't want to take if I don't keep up with the cardio. He's an old meanie-head! LOL

Lsereno, Nope, they don't offer exercise classes, but it's a good basic gym and it's cheaper to use it for a year than to buy my own bike OR treadmill. Benjamin, Thanks for that info. I'm really looking to step things up a notch. My surgeon is thrilled that I've lost as much as I have, but I'm not ready to settle for less than goal, and MY goal, not his goal. I just don't want to look like I melted when I get to goal.

Paulsgirl, I had a major DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in my leg 3 months before surgery. Because of that, I had to have a filter installed and removed, plus take lovenox shots pre and post op. I also have spent the last 9 months on warfarin/Coumadin because of this clot. I'm currently on a trial off the coumadin to see if my D-dimer comes back okay next week. I'm hoping and praying that I can stop taking coumadin. You may want to discuss your clotting disorder with your surgeon and your GP or PCP before surgery. Still praying for the OP.

Glad to hear that!

Me, too, Wheetsin! I dream of some kind of easy to eat/drink way to get a bunch of protein in without having to choke down protein bars every day... especially as that would leave me some room for raw veggies and, possibly, a slice of good bread now and then. I have the Premier Protein drinks in my fridge as well.

Blackberry, that's a good point, but I was so weak to start with that I feel like I've improved my strength exponentially. I know that I'm ready to move on to the next phase, as has been proven by my friend's endurance versus mine. She's "normal weight", but has no muscle mass. We did our body measurements today and I'm an inch smaller than her everywhere except my hips, but I have more endurance for cardio and for weight lifting. I'm not sure who is leading who in this particular adventure. Does improving my strength have good/bad implications for metabolism? Should I be concentrating on that? I knew I'd have more questions as you all gave me answers! I'm just not even sure what the right questions are.. and I'll be looking for that thread from Ourborous. I think I read it at the time, but I need a refresher.

PDX, I wondered what you'd have to say here. You're probably a guy who can handle a list. My STB-ex hated it when I asked for anything, in writing, in person, or in full voice scream. Maybe that's why his status will soon be ex and you're still married to your wife!

Love the dress, Tina!! And, your best accessory, as always, is that million dollar smile!!

Thanks, PDX! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to confirm. I've kind of hodge-podged together everything you guys have said over the last few months, but wanted to clarify before I do damage that I can't undo. And I certainly don't want to waste my daily workout time doing exercises that are going to interfere with what I'm trying to accomplish. LOL, I want to look more like a stripper than a body builder. Kapish?

Debella, I want long lean muscles, not the body builder look. Fluffy, I'll check into that when I'm there in the morning. I don't know if it's included in my membership. It took me nearly an hour to work through all the regular machines today. That was my second time using them, so I was careful to go slowly and establish my baselines for them. I think I'd like to switch to 30 minutes on the bike and then the 30 minute routine every day, but not sure if that's good or bad since there is cardio included in teh 30 minute routine.

I was afraid of that, Wheetsin. Pre-digested? That sounds worse than the boiled cow hooves source I read about before. Yuck! The Protein shots they give at my hospital have only 15 g of protein per shot, so I'm always leery of any protein shot that has more in a small volume.