hadouni

Oh yes! I'm really self-conscious about my arms. They are the most visible flabby/saggy area and I've not been comfortable enough to wear tank tops or sleeveless shirts yet. I get it!!

Congrats on your loss! Changing sizes as we loose lbs is so exciting. I got "sized" at Victoria's Secret the other day and the gal said I was a 39D but they only went up to 38 so I should try a 38DD. I was looking for a full coverage bra and about had a heart attack when she handed me the bra... it looked like watermelons could fit in it. Then the darned thing fit and I was even more irritated. I looked huge and it totally felt like false advertising. I bought a bra but I think I'll end up taking it back. It's just not that comfortable. I've never worn full coverage bras because they're so bulky and I tend to not want to look bigger.

I'm pushing 41 and I don't have people telling me I look younger but I do get loads of compliments. I've always taken care of my skin/face so I'm lucky not to have any droopy skin around my face/neck. I was at a business meeting about 1.5 months ago and was talking with a senior manager (female) about work related issues during a lunch. At some point age came up and I mentioned I'd be getting the "4.1 upgrade" this summer and she turned to look at me with a completely stunned look on her face. She told me she was going to ask someone how old I was and I just took it as a compliment!

I've been stalled hovering just over 200 for what feels like forever but I figured I'd try a few things on. Almost all of my old (10+ years) work dresses fit well enough that I can wear them for work again! Most are size large or 14. I ended up pulling down a box of clothes I'd stored away and so many things fit. It sure felt good. I might not be seeing big results on the scale but clothes fitting sure makes me feel good! I actually wore shorts out in public! Woo-hoo!

I've only told a few close girlfriends and my family (which is small). Work knows I had a hiatal hernia repaired and I said I had some acid damage repaired in my stomach. I was able to use the GI surgery to explain my post-op eating. I too, didn't want to deal with the catty remarks and judgement. I had a co-worker tell me she thought I'd had lap-band or gastric-bypass and I just said no, I hadn't had either of those procedures and left it at that. People can think what they want. I feel pretty private about this so I'm not broadcasting it. I did tell the gal who cuts my hair because she was getting a little worried about my sudden hair loss. The one good thing she said is she sees quite a bit of regrowth! Thank goodness!

Dooter -- the top of your head looks just like the top of mine! The hair shed started a little over a month ago for me and I got some of that nioxin stuff with sunscreen in it to protect my scalp. I don't think the shampoo and conditioner (nioxin) is doing a thing for me but I'm using it anyway. I don't want to do the Biotin because I don't want more of a jungle elsewhere! yikes!!

I've been debating a gym membership and good classes are a must. Zumba can be very fun. I have the CDs and I particularly like the toning routine with the weights, but motivating to do them at home just isn't happening. Good for you to get out to class!

Big hugs. It sounds like you're now with a good surgeon who wants the best for you. If healing up will make for a better sleeve surgery in the long run, it'll be worth the wait! Sorry you're going through this. Speedy recovery to you!

I'll take something a little loose over something too tight any day. Even as a kid, I didn't like anything that was tight or hit me at or above my belly button. Now my mom gives me a hard time about dressing my son in clothes that are too big!

Mine have always been regular but since surgery they are lighter and shorter. Could just be my age - heading toward 41.

Yes, I finally started getting waxed again. For the longest time I hadn't cared but then all of a sudden my stomach wasn't sheltering it so completely and I had to look at it! All I can say is welcome to the jungle! That's ok though, it's nothing a little wax won't take care of!

I too, use myfitnesspal on my phone although I've been slacking off that and I need to get back on track because it keeps me honest! I'm five months out and I can easily get up to 1200 if I'm not paying attention and letting myself snack on carb-o-licious things like cheez-its. Ideally, I like to be 800-1000 calories a day.

I've been put out three times. The first time I woke up and was just thirsty as all get out. I had a brief feeling of nausea on the way from recovery to my room. The second time I don't even remember oddly enough - it was an out-patient procedure to remove screws from my hip. The third (sleeve) was not too bad. I remember being wheeled down the hall but I have no memory of the surgical room so it must have been a long hall from prep to surgery! When I woke up I sort-of remember feeling really drugged and a little uncomfortable but it's all a blur now. The nurses in recovery talked to me quite a bit and were very encouraging. Good nurses make a world of difference! Talk to them about your feelings of anxiety. They're used to helping people through these feelings.

My potassium was low post-op and I had three bags put back in through my IV - that STUNG! There are a few sports type drinks out there that have potassium - ZICO coconut Water is one I used some in the first weeks post-op. I don't love the taste but I can get them down. Never tried V-8 but (thanks Foxbins) I'll have to check it out too! Eating more calories is really hard in the early weeks post-op! Have you tried split pea Soup? I used to thin it down with some chicken broth. What about blended Greek yogurt & fruit smoothies? Avocado? I haven't completely fainted yet but I've come close and I get dizzy all the time. My BP is low though. Post anything you want, ignore the rude folks and try not to get too stressed. Eat what you can, try to make good food choices and give yourself some time to heal. It gets better every day!

wishing you a positive outcome and speedy recovery! big hugs!!

I'm almost 41 and while I'm thrilled with my loss so far, it's slowed WAY down! I also notice my loosing/stall pattern is tied in with my cycle. I seem to loose for two weeks of the month and then stall for two weeks. Once my period starts, I drop a couple pounds over night. Good for you on your commitment to exercise! I wish I could say the same because I've been a lazy-bones for the last two months. I'm more active overall than I was before surgery, but my treadmill is collecting dust! If you are lifting weights are you also taking body measurements? If you're building muscle while your loosing fat, the lbs will come off slower even if you're dropping sizes. If you're not seeing the numbers on the scale, watch the numbers on the measure tape! Good luck and keep up the good work! Oh, and sadly, the calories will become much easier to get in about 4 full months out... =)

My mom has had WLS so she was all for it when I told her. One of my girlfriends was totally opposed to the idea (she wanted me to try some hormone therapy she's doing and mind you, she's had some fairly major lipo surgery and is a regular botox user!) but others have been supportive. I've told very few people outside family and very close girlfriends and the gal who waxes my legs!

I haven't had any problem with the oikos yogurts. My son and I like the key lime flavor (he calls it slime-eel yogurt). I think I've read that protein slows down the rate at which sugar hits your system so maybe the high protein content of the yogurt balances out the sugar? There are definitely lower sugar options for yogurt but many people don't like yogurt at all so maybe that's what your Nut is thinking - better the sugar than not enough protein?

I experience this often. My blood pressure is low, I tend to be anemic and with the calorie restriction it can get pretty bad. I notice it most when I work in the yard and move from crouching down to stand up. I never thought about it as a dehydration issue but I'm pretty good about fluids, especially when I'm outside working.

I've been taking actigall for about 3 months now but I've been getting little shooting pains in the middle/left side of my back for the last week or so. I hope it's not gallstones but that's my worry... I would have been fine with my surgeon removing it with my sleeve surgery but he won't take them out unless they're showing signs of problems already.

Congrats on the 20lbs! I remember that taste. I read about "dieter's breath" on the internet and something about kietosis (sp?) making the breath kind of stale. Each of the stages/early weeks post-sleeve feels like it'll last forever, but in a month or two you'll probably forget all about it or it'll be a blur. It's like when my son was born and I thought about making baby food for him and what a JOB it was, but really, it was only about 3 months and he was moving on to chunkier foods and bye-bye blender! Missing food is hard and it's a huge head-trip. Trying to consume all the fluids you need is a little work too but think of the benefit to you in the long run. It really does get easier. Big hug!

I totally understand what you mean about the conflicting philosophies because my surgeon is totally anti Protein shake/powder and I got the evil eye for fessing up to using shakes as Breakfast on work days. I think each surgeon models their approach to post-op eating on what they've seen works best for the most people with across their surgical careers. In fact, I had a booklet they handed out to me in the fall of 2011 that indicated I could have lactose-free milk and yogurt in week 2 post-op but by the time I was there in January 2012 they'd revised their plan to be no dairy at all until week three. I was so looking forward to coffee with milk! There have been a few tweaks to their eating plan like that along my way and I've tried to just roll with the changes as they've come.

I know all surgeons are different but my surgeon doesn't even talk about Protein until the third week post-op and he doesn't start talking numbers in protein until you're starting the 5th week post-op. I lived on strained progresso soups in the first two weeks. I'd often mix a strained soup with some chicken or beef broth and was taking in an oversized mug of warm liquid in a sitting. In the second week I added in some thicker pureed but still liquid things like spit pea. If the protein is not making your tummy happy yet, maybe try backing it off a little and not worrying to much about hitting a number? It's hard because no one (including me) ever wants to suggest that you go against your surgeon's guidelines. My surgeon flat out said I had enough Vitamins and stored energy that I didn't need to worry about anything in the first two weeks. Others will swear this leads to stalls but my loss has been pretty steady. I've been slower in the last two months because I've been a lazy-bones, haven't been exercising like I should and letting the pointless carbs sneak back into my mouth! Darned Cheez-itz!

Fantastic & great job! I'm close too... I'd sure like to be under 200 when I check in with my PCP next! He "doesn't believe in WLS" so I'll be happy to show him how well it can work! =)

Wow! That's totally incredible! Good for you!!