Butterthebean

You guys are doing great. I've been running and swimming on alternating days. My lunges have fallen by the wayside. Those things are hard. Maybe someday Gamergirl will start a 30 day lunge challenge (please not till after the new year.). Ran 10.5 miles today. My last long training run before my half marathon December 22. Now I get to taper down the miles next week. I'll still run most every day, but less miles. My swimming is paying off as well. I've only been doing it for 3 weeks. I'm starting to see a difference in my upper body musculature. And my chronically bad shoulders are starting to feel better. So....MTD....48.8 miles run 5200 meters swimming Btw for you ladies who would like to take up strength training, my wife has been doing New Rules of Lifting For Women. She's been at it for 4 months and lost 4 pant sizes. Get the book. It's good.

Liz....I have been following you since you first joined. I don't know how you've always managed to be upbeat and optimistic considering the hell you've been through since the beginning. I'm so sorry this experience has not gone well for you. I hope it turns around for you very soon. And yes that surgeon should be throat punched.

Big happy.....I had my TT 2-1/2 months ago. I have heard of this, but not sure it's legitimate. Maybe. I've heard some doctors don't use drains. In that case I can see it being a problem. I had one friend who's doctor didn't use drains and he had massive leakage out of his belly button. Amy excess Fluid is supposed to go into the drains....and they compression binder squeezes out that fluid...not to mention holds everything in place. One odd thing I did have was swelling in the upper pubic area. Not freak show type swelling, but noticeable to me. It subsided in a matter of weeks.

I didn't have one for my sleeve. But I did for my TT. It's really not that bad. They out it in while you're asleep usually. And taking it out takes less than a few seconds.

Great job Jane. Very happy for you. What a success!

Nurse B. I just wanna say.....I'm 19 months post op, and you just described me. I love my sleeve and I love my new life. BUT....the road is not easy. Don't ever think you are the only one struggling with it. You're not alone. Sometimes I bite my tongue and try not to complain about the things that are hard....not because I'm so positive and optimistic, but because I'm trying to convince myself how much I'm loving it. But in reality, there are days I'd like to eat my weight in chocolate.

Getting out of a funk is like digging out of mud. It's tough and takes extra effort. You just have to bare down and make yourself get going again. But once you do, you'll have momentum again. As far as workout partners, I'd look online to see if there's a website in your area for people looking to meet others for this purpose. And although I'm not suggesting craigslist people do use it for exactly that purpose.

You may never be able to chug again but you will be able to drink normally again in the next few weeks/months. It will slowly get easier.

Laura.....can we ban Rev for this? We need to ban someone so the rest fall in line.

What she said. ^^^

Here. I'll just cut and paste..... Weight Loss Stall or Plateau A weight loss stall or plateau is an extended period of time during reducing efforts where is there is no weight loss according to the scale and no loss of inches according to the tape measure. This is why it is so important to take your body measurements before surgery, so you'll have a reference as your weight loss progresses post-op. We suggest you take measurements of your chest, waist and hip, neck, upper arm, thigh and calf. Be aware it is very common for your weight loss to "stall" shortly after surgery. Diana explains the reason for this below. The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days. What You Can Do About a Stall or Plateau If you are experiencing a post-op weight loss stall or plateau further out there are a few possible causes. First, check that are you really in a stall. If the scale has stopped moving you may be losing inches, so check your measurements. Too Many Carbs? Carbohydrates can start sneaking into your foods without you being aware of how quickly they are adding up. For more information on carbs, see our section on Carbohydrates. If you are struggling with your weight loss you may want to examine your daily carb count. You can try to keep your carbs under 50g a day and see if that makes a difference in your weight loss. Do not eat carbs before bedtime as it triggers insulin and initiates fat storage. There are some great web site resources you can use to keep track of what you are eating. Fit Day Spark People - If you join Spark People also join the DS group. The Daily Plate Calorie King For more tips on keeping a food journal see the Personal Nutrition Guide. Eating Enough? If you are under-eating or go more than 4-5 hours without eating, your body will shift into fasting mode, slow your metabolism and conserve your stored energy (fat). This can contribute to a weight loss stall or plateau. Make sure you are eating small meals or small Snacks throughout the day and also ensure you meet your daily Protein requirements. Try eating some protein with every meal or snack. For more information on protein requirements see our section on Protein. Drinking Enough? An adequate level of water in your body aids in the effective breakdown of fat. The daily minimum recommendation is 64 Fluid oz of water a day. If you are in ketosis you will need to drink even more water to ensure the ketones are flushed out of your system. You may also need more than the minimum amount of water if you are exercising or live in a warmer or dry environment. Exercising? Exercise can increase your metabolism and burn fat. Strength training will build muscles and will boost fat burning. In a stall you can try increasing your volume of exercise or changing up your routine to overcome a weight loss stall or plateau. If you have been doing mainly aerobic activity, try doing a bit of strength training, and if you have been doing mainly strength training, try an aerobic work-out. The High Fat - High Calorie Stall Buster Many DSers swear by the fat/calorie shock as an effective weight loss stall or plateau buster. Having a day of higher fat and calorie eating followed by a returning to consistent low carb eating can sometimes "shock" your body back into weight loss mode.

I'm normally very proud to be an American.....except when one of my fellow countrymen goes on a tirade and insults another nation based on rhetorical inaccuracies. It's embarrassing. I seem to recall this is a forum about WLS. Let's keep it to that.

Check out the link in my signature. It explains the three-week stall. It sounds like you're dead in the middle of it. Don't be sad or depressed, it happens to most everyone.

And yet so many Americans go to Mexico for healthcare. So much for your logic.

Yes I totally get it. And you are not alone. We all have failed at weight loss so many times in the past....it's understandable to feel that we might fail at this too (or lose only 10 pounds, as you say). Stick with the commitment you've made and you will not fail.

Another 7.5 mile run....this time in the trails. MTD 38.3

I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be contrary but I disagree. Mainly because it constantly leads to disappointment. All we can do is follow our plan and get healthier. The weight will have a mind of it's own. I've been here a little while and I've seen thread after thread of people very upset because their weight loss didn't match their arbitrary expectations. I hope you don't go through that, but I just hate to see people get down on themselves for something they can't control.

Rebel... LOL.....even without the bun that burger is 764 calories. Never mind those nasty French fries. http://m.fiveguys.com/#menu-page&ui-state=dialog

Sign me up. I don't care what fiddle says, her form is perfect.

Hi Mary. I was told not to lift weights for 6 weeks, partly because I had hernia repair when I had my sleeve. I was allowed to start doing light cardio at 2 weeks. If you hire a trainer, I would be sure to question him ahead of time and make sure he (or she) understands what your injury is and what steps need to be taken to avoid aggravating it.

I don't know. I see people using the phrase "new normal" all the time. Perhaps that is what we need to find. A new normal that encompasses all the needs of our life and still honors the needs of the ones we love. It does not have to be one or the other. Remember part of loving someone else is giving them what they need not what they want. Your family needs you to live and be healthy (amongst other things). And they need you to have the energy to participate in their lives. My wife doesn't like it that I spend time congregating here with people that get me. She'd rather I be with her more. But I'm giving her many more years of marriage and the energy to enjoy those years that I wasn't giving her before. Surely I would have died young had I not made the choices I have. And she knows this and is looking forward to it. Gone are her fears that I will die of obesity. And she no longer has to hike alone. She has a husband who can and will dance in public now. She likes that a lot.

Balance? I haven't found it either. Yes my pendulum swung a long way from center after being sleeved. And if I let down my guard it swings back the other way....the way I no longer wish it would go. But a familiar way that I can easily slip into and stay there. But I don't like it there. And now that I'm out I don't wanna go back. So instead of finding balance I have kept pushing hard as I can to swing the other way. I have wondered if that is sustainable. Or natural. As to sustainable...it may be. After all I maintained my pre-sleeved life for decades. But I wasn't happy. That should be my indicator. I guess I'd like to have balance as well but haven't sought it out do to fear of swinging back to that old life. Maybe this next year will bring some balance without swinging back to those unhappy times.

You're teasing me now. I didn't sign up for this abuse.

Redbean, that's not a plank. This is a plank.

Feel free to post everyday. We are posting to hold ourselves accountable. And to demonstrate that goal setting is a process that makes our desires more achievable when we take small steady bites.