Lisa821

What a genetic awakening! It's so true. In the land of excess my chubby gene is a hinderance but in the places you mentioned, I'd be the lucky one. I bet you would like a book called "Spontaneous Evolution" by Bruce Lipton. If you like to read, check it out...he has other books too. I was in Jamaica earlier this month and couldn't help notice that most of the Jamaican people I saw were quite thin. Then all of a sudden I saw a Jamaican man who was overweight, I couldn't help wonder about the genetics of the Jamaican people. I'm kind of nerd like that though. LOL!

For years I cursed my genetic pool because almost everyone in my family, even extended family, is overweight. Sure we have the occasional "freak" that is skinny no matter what they eat. (My family knows I'm kidding when I call them a freak). But I also need to praise my genes because my abdominal skin is shrinking nicely. I've lost 53# in just shy of 4 months. I had an honest roll of abdomen chub just below the belly button. I must tell you that I've had 4 kids so I didn't have much hope for my tummy roll. However, the roll is gone and the skin has shrunk up nicely. It's not flat but it looks far better than I ever thought possible. When I started this journey I started saving up for plastic surgery. I just "knew" I would need a tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast lift and to get my bat wings clipped. Just under four months postop and I am thinking I won't need a tummy tuck. What a revelation! I'm not looking to be a swim suit model so who cares about a completed flat tummy, right? I also think I could live with flabby thighs. Although my thigh skin is loose, it doesn't effect my walk or interfere with exercise. Now my breasts are a WHOLE OTHER STORY! I breast fed all four of my kids and knew they were a lost cost a long time ago, LOL! It's just nice to realize that my genes were not ALL bad. My genes also gave me a long thin neck....even when I was really heavy....and young looking skin on my face...miracle cuz I used to get a nuclear tan when I was a teenager. Thanks for letting me share. Big Hugs!

I'm an RN and I agree with the others. Please go get evaluated. It's better to find dehydration sooner than later. I am also someone who doesn't like just straight water. I like Xyience, the zero sugar kind, in flavors like Mango Guava or Cran Razz. They contain caffeine so consult your doctor before trying them. My pcp said they are fine for me. They taste great cold. Minimal carbination. I sip on a can (they are big cans) all day at work. I just pour some over ice throughout the day, keep the can in the breakroom fridge and it works for me. They contain B vitamins, which is a bonus. Remember to ask your doctors before drinking them because of the caffeine content.

I totally have to try this....sounds interesting. I need to get more protein in.

I am so happy for you! You are doing sooooooo great! Keep up the good work!

This is great!!!! I just realized this for myself too. I find that I cross my legs all the time now. LOL!

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! I am so happy for you. I'm sure you feel great. I'm down 53 pounds and I truly would be happy if I never lost even one more pound.

I WORE A SWIMSUIT WHILE IN JAMAICA LAST WEEK!! Although I didn't go buy a new suit, I was finally able to wear the one I saved from like 10 years ago. Still cute as ever and still in style! It's open in the back so I wasn't able to wear it while I had the two rolls of fat around my middle. But now those rolls are gone and I actually have a shape so it looked cute. I didn't even care about my flabby thighs. They aren't THAT bad. Plus I was in Jamaica to have fun, soak up the sun and finally get my honeymoon. On a side note, my hubby and I married 1 1/2 yrs ago and something kept coming up to delay our honeymoon. Perhaps my "higher power" wanted me to go after I had lost some weight and could REALLY enjoy spending all day in a swimsuit? LOL! I didn't take many pics, I guess I'm used to not getting my picture taken and didn't really notice. That has to change though. Other NSV moments were: 1. My bum fit nicely in the airplane seat and the seatbelt had strap left over! 2. I didn't mind snorkeling bum side up....not self conscious about it at all. 3. I wore two cute sun dresses and felt like a girly-girl....FINALLY! 4. The life jackets fit without a problem when we went on a sail boat ride. I love my sleeve!

AWWWWWESOME!!

Good for you!! This is so awesome!! Keep up the good work!

You can see my ticker so I don't want to talk about weight. It's been three months and I want to Celebrate the inches I have lost! I'm going to post them by date because I think it's more telling that way. Oh and I didn't measure EVERYTHING on my body, just a few reference points. Preop 11/1/11 12/19/11 1/12/12 2/2/12 Waist: 42.25" 41.75" 40" 39" Hips: 51" 50" 49" 48.5" Left Calf: 17" 16.5" 16" 16" Left Thigh: 30" 29.25" 29" 28.25" As you can see I rounded the numbers. I will attest to the fact that even when I don't lose pounds I am still losing inches. To all of us who freak out when we plateau for a few days or a week, we need to take a deep breath and get out the tape measure. Remember it's not a stall until it's been 4 weeks without any weight loss. That's what my NUT said and she added that it's still not a stall if I'm losing width in the form of inches or PARTS of inches. She said it's all progress and we must strive for progress, NOT perfection. I love my little NUT! Keep fighting the good fight my friends!!!! Big Hugs!

I started setting a reminder on my cell phone to remind me to take my vitamins and water and soon I had been feeling pretty close to normal energy level but now it has dipped again. I examined my routine. Recently, I've been missing a vitamin or two each week, not drinking a protein shake every day and have had some personal relationship stress. Bad mix, I figure... So I surmise that not only do I need to get back to those vitamins, water and protein EVERYDAY...I also have a lower tolerance for stress than I had pre op. It's good to know one's limitations and that steps can be made to improve upon them.

I have three letters for you. H-O-T!!!! Keep up the good work!

Awesome! Inspiring! Great job!

Thanks sleevers!! I also loved the post workout high I got today from the endorphins! It helped me block out my husbands whining and crying about why I'm no longer totally focused on him. Hmmmmm....sounds like someone's being needy, huh

Today, I realized my yoga pants are just too big to wear in public anymore. Seriously and ridiculously baggy. I decided to go to the gym so I dug to the bottom and found a pair of workout shorts. They are like biking shorts. Worn only once cuz they were too tight and embarassing to wear. You know, one of the many pieces of clothing you "hope" to be able to wear someday. Well they fit and very comfortably! I went to the gym, worked out and finally felt like I fit in at the gym. It was awesome! I love Almanzo, my sleeve.....lol

The last two days both my knees have been aching. I had a one day episode of this about a week ago. Previously I had sore knees from the weight but that got much better after I lost only 20 pounds. I've had a bulging disc in my back since 1993 which has caused me a ton of pain over the years and prevented me from doing things....contributed to some of my weight gain. Now my back is great! No pain at all! No more pain meds, yay! I'm suspecting that my knees ache because I stand on them differently since my belly and my bum are so much smaller. Like my center of gravity has changed so the pressure points in my knees are in a different place. What do you guys think? Feasible? Or am I nuts?......maybe I don't want you to answer that one? LOL!

That's interesting dorrie! Thanks for the input everyone.

Whoa! Cool! I never thought of that! I have only been doing cardio. Perhaps it time for some strength training? Thanks for the info!

I hear ya...it's kind of a weird thing for a person to say. My own father said to me "your face is so thin, people are going to think you had plastic surgery". Ohhhh dad.....lol. He had GB about 10 years ago, lost 110lbs and he knows about my sleeve surgery but he's just being good old dad.

Yep, hang in there sweets!! This will pass. I promise. I felt the same way when I was in your shoes. The weight will start to drop again. Big hugs!

This is awesome! Congrats!

Yes call your surgeon! You know your body better than they do. If something is painful it's a signal that something needs to be addressed. I had left side pain too but definately not intense and not constant.

I agree, stop the alcohol, use a bandaid or steristrip to pull the edges together and call your surgeon today. An opening in the skin is a potiential entry point for infection to get in. I'm wondering if there is any drainage from the opening? If so, what color? Clear? White? Green? Yellow? Pinkish?

It is common to form gall stones after rapid and significant weight loss. However, it doesn't happen to everyone. Yet it tends to be hereditary. Our gall bladders secrete bile which emulsifies(breaksdown) the fats we eat. When we eat less fats our body puts out less bile and the bile can thicken to a sludge and even form into "stones". Then when our body senses fats in the first part of our intestines it starts to squirt out bile. If there is sludge or stones in the gall badder this causes pain called billiary colic. Common areas of pain are over our right side, just below the ribs. Also, under the right shoulder blade and mid chest where the ribs meet in the middle. Sometimes it's just a nagging ache but it can be horribly painful. My doctor was willing to remove the gall bladder at the same time as the sleeve surgery. I've heard that other doctors are too. I chose not to even though my mother and sister have had there's out. My mother had wls but my sister didn't. My sister is very unhappy because ever since she had hers removed she gets something like dumping syndrome every time after she eats. I was willing to take my chances. I'm almost three months postop vsg, lost 45lbs and so far, so good. There are other complications to consider too. Like leaks, postop infections and blood clots. Please make sure to research that too and talk with your doctor about it.