hadouni

All I did was treadmill walking post-op for a year. I went from 268 to 198 in six months. Then it took me another six months to drop the next 20lbs and as those six months went on, I did less and less cardio. (bad girl!) about 1.5 months ago I got my fanny back on the treadmill and about a month ago I started a running training program. I've dropped another 5lbs. I started the running to hopefully help tone up and tighten up some skin. I'm sure some light weight lifting would help too, I just don't have time.

I got one with every meal in the hospital post-op. The crunch and "eating" aspect to them was great and they really do melt before they hit the tummy so my surgeon told me to treat them like a liquid. I remember eating a couple at a time early on and they are great in the summer! I still keep some around and will probably eat more again when it's hot.

c25k, W5D3 done! Sort-of... The good news is I RAN OUTSIDE! The bad news is I wimped out after about 15 minutes and took a walk break to go up the hill of a street underpass and then walked another small incline. I did tack on an extra 3.5 .minutes in the cool down to make up the time but don't like that I couldn't push through. I used a city bike path and it was fine. I think I might be just as happy on the treadmill though. I might bed own another couple lbs too. I never trust the scale for just one day though... If its the same Monday I'll claim it! Happy running folks!

I'm 41 and at almost 270 was a 42DD. I wore mostly B or C bras prior to gaining the extra 100lbs over the course of my 30s... now I'm a 38D in most bras and I only wear unlined bras, I detest lined/padded bras for some reason. My boobs had been heading south before surgery and they're still south, minus the volume so I feel like a national geographic subject when I look in the mirror! I'd consider a boob job if someone would pay for it. I'm seeing my long-term FWB tonight... maybe I can convince him! I just need to be taken in about an inch at the seams all around, that's how I see it anyway!

AWESOME! What a gift this experience is! I hear you on the tailbone. Every time I scooch down in the tub I feel it. I have a totally bony butt - who knew?

I had my right hip operated on in December 1999. I was training capoeira about 9 hours a week and thought I'd pulled a groin muscle or something at first. It felt like I had an ice pick jabbed in me. It got really bad and a chiropractor got my hip back in line so I could walk normally. Then the pain started radiating down into my knee and as far as my foot. I finally got into ortho but by then I was thinking knee problem but they took X-rays of my hips too. The dr I was seeing grabbed another guy as he passed down the hall and he glanced at my X-rays while having me walk or him. I turned back around and he already had the X-ray drawn up showing the severity of my displaysia and said I'd need surgery but he could fix it. NOT what I was expecting! So I had me right hip fixed. It's a crazy surgery but is all my own bone and I still have three of the five screws that held me together while the bone grew and filled in the gaps they made moving things around. I was totally non-weight bearing for 12 weeks. He would have done my other hip and I just couldn't do it again when that hip didn't hurt, but I probably should have done it. I'll probably end up with a hip replacement on my left later on. For now I just put on my big girl panties and deal when the uncorrected side hurts.

I have three good sized titanium screws in my right hip and uncorrected displaysia in the left, so I know about hip pain... No fun at all and the clicking in my left hip is like nails on a chalkboard! Come on Laura...if my old booty can do it, you can! Those sneaky devils... I just did week 5 night 2. I hopped on the treadmill expecting it to be the same as day 1, I didn't even look. I started to run and got a good rhythm going and focused on the music. I looked down expecting to see less than 2 minutes remaining and the clock read just under 5 minutes! WTH? I ran for 8 minutes before a walk break. So in case you're wondering, week 5 isn't the same every night like the earlier weeks are! But, I did it!

I love it! Dean- you've started a mini c25k revolution right here! Tonight is a run night for me (W5, D2) and I guess that puts me at almost half way... whoa! Now if I can just coax myself outside to try things out on the road instead of the treadmill. Maybe this weekend I'll give it a go if my monkey stays with grandma.

My feet feel better, my knees feel better (except for the starting-to-run-aches), my back doesn't hurt and I move so much faster. Before surgery I thought I was walking really fast on my treadmill when I got to 3mph, now my warm up is at 3.5mph with a 4% or so incline. These days, when I pick up my 50lbs son and think about the fact that I've lost more than 90lbs, I can't imagine how I lugged myself around! Everything physical gets easier as the weight comes off, or that's been my experience.

Ok, once again you are amazing! Here I am wondering if I'll be able to pull off a 5k and you're talking half marathon! I so admire your ambition and belief in yourself.

Week 5, day 1... done! On the treadmill, but no matter! Not too bad but I've got to get my music updated to my phone. It's a little freaky how much faster it goes when you've got a good song to sing along with. Cheers all! Happy running-

Congrats! I started running a few weeks ago and hope to do a real 5k sometime late this spring or early summer! You guys look great!

Fantastic! Get this - I'm scared to run outside! I'm pretty tied to my treadmill (single mom of a 4yr old) and I COULD have run outside on Saturday and I totally chickened out. I'm afraid I won't be able to do it at all outside or that someone will see me trying to run. I'd pulled down the city map of paths and everything... one of these days I'm going to get outside though. It's beautiful running weather where I live, so I've got no excuse when I don't have my son with me. Tonight is three sets of 5 minute runs - week 5!

What the guys said! All of you who are doing this so soon after your surgery are amazing! It took me more than a year with a several month stall to try running. At least I'm off the couch now and I'm not going back!

I finished week four yesterday. Next week is run five minutes, three times. For some reason that sounds not as bad as week four...

Prince- several songs but Littlt Red Corvette, I Would Die For You, and Get Off are favorites. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Suck My Kiss, Give It Away I need to make a real running playlist, but need to get my music into my computer again. My laptop died and I never had the heart to tackle the cd towers again!

I feel like mine is improving (or maybe I'm delusional). I'd still like to be taken in an inch or so at the seams, and I have a spot on my tush where the skin actually wrinkles when I flex... so sad... but I've started running recently and that seems to help tighten some. I'm older and don't have good elasticity in general, so overall, I feel it could be worse than it is! I'm actually most concerned about my stomach (baby + c-section = stretchmarks!) than my thighs...

I was super lucky to have my mom taking care of my son for most of the first week. I was a Monday surgery and I didn't have to deal with his food until the weekend, probably Saturday. By Saturday (even Friday afternoon) I was so ready for something more than clear liquids! I was starting to feel hungry by then for sure. If you can have someone else cook for your kids, go for it, or maybe have things prepared and frozen for that first week or so? I never had any real regret. I remember when I was transitioning to solids again and working out how much was ok, what foods were ok and how to eat, I had a few moments of barfing and thinking that had to stop. The barfing was always my own fault (not my sleeve) - usually eating too fast to listen to my sleeve say it's full. Eating slowly when you're eating three or four of what you think of as bites can be a challenge. A couple times I was a little bummed to find some article of clothing I'd been waiting to fit back into, was actually too big. Sounds dumb and really, you'll be happy it's too big, but there's some mental thing about "I should have been able to wear that at least once!" that is hard to let go of (for me). My hormones were out of control for a few months... and I mean that in the "thank goodness I've got a really good BOB" kind of way. There's more on that in the "powder Room" down lower on the boards... These boards can be a great tool post-op. I was on like crazy for a while, drifted away and am back again because of the fitness threads on running (which I've recently taken up). I wouldn't change a thing. I had a great experience, fantastic surgeon and support and feel fantastic. It's so nice to have my 4yr old son's arms reach all the way around me when he hugs me. I almost cried the first time that happened. You'll do great!

I had a moment just the other day walking next to a friend who I'd always identified as skinny... I'm several inches taller than she is and we're shaped very differently, but we were walking side by side and I glanced at our reflections in a store front as we walked by and I looked totally normal next to her - I didn't see a skinny girl and her fat friend, it was just to women walking down the sidewalk. Woah... amazing.

Week four (pant, gasp)... night two! I actually feel pretty decent, not to say that last five wasn't a little ugly! I've dropped a couple pounds and my clothes feel a little different so I know something good is happening. it's enough to keep me coming back for the next run. Cheers all!

I think I get some of what you're feeling. It's really hard when a coping mechanism (food) that's gotten you through life so far isn't really an option any more. For me, all the emotions I used to try and stuff down under whatever it was I chose to eat, I now have to try and deal with some other way. Even if I do try for a little sugar therapy, the amount I can eat isn't enough, so it's kind-of like, why bother? Bummer! =) I had a very uncomfortable exchange a few weeks ago with a male acquaintance. We were in a group having dinner and I ordered a bacon wrapped scallop appetizer for my dinner. After we'd finished eating, he asked if that's (meaning my small portion of food) is how I lost all the weight. I'm not very public about my surgery but a few friends know, two of whom were at the table. I said, yes that's basically how I did it hoping to change the subject or shut it down. He then proceeded to tell me that I didn't need to loose any more weight because I'd be to thin. I weighed about 180 at the time at 5'7" and was still (and am still) technically overweight. His wife is also sitting at the table... just very uncomfortable. I also feel your fear of rejection statement. I've spent years trying to be perfect and without mistakes and I'm now trying to let go of that need. I'm not so successful yet, but I'm trying. I've got a co-worker who just doesn't like me. I can't do anything right (or allow myself to feel that way toward this person) and this person is very powerful. No fun! We report to the same person and I know my boss thinks I do a fine job but the interaction with this person is just brutal. I've, fortunately, not had any totally disrespectful comments. Most of the things people say to my face are complimentary and few have pushed for any info or diet advice - thank goodness. I'd feel like a total fraud offering up diet advice! I went through a hard patch in the fall. New job, different stress and I quit exercising. I'm now back on the treadmill and even running which seems to make me happier in general. I do better when I have something to occupy my mind and think about or look forward to. Sorry you're having a hard time. I never went to a therapist about my food issues but I did try Over-eaters Anonymous for a while. It can be a good place to share feelings about food issues and body image if you live in an area with active OA groups. Hope you're feeling better!

You can do it! =)

I had an undiagnosed hiatal hernia that was fixed during my sleeve surgery. It was likely the cause of a good deal of my pre-op heart burn. The post op heart burn hasn't been a forever thing in my case. I was on the Rx strength stuff for a few months but no longer have regular heartburn issues. An occasional pepcid complete or OTC omeprazole is more than enough for me and I'll go weeks and not need it.

You look so fantastic! Thank you for sharing your story. It made me a little emotional because so many of the things you said were things I feel myself. This is such an amazing, crazy journey and sometimes it's good to have to sit down, look at it and reflect a little. Congratulations on all your success and for being so open about your experience.

aggiemike - I just keep telling myself "don't get hurt!" I'm a little older and I want to push myself, but not into pain and/or injury... I've never run in my 41.5 years so it's all very new to me. I don't know what to expect so I'm taking my time feeling it out. I too, question the importance of pace or length of time running. Is it better to run slow for the time or distance you're going for, or run faster for less time/distance? I decided to run a little slower for now, but that's just me. Keep it up and we'll get there!