butterfyeffect

I went on a cruise in November, about 6 months post-op. I had no problem finding healthy meal options at Breakfast and lunch, because those were the buffet meals. I ate just a small scoop of scrambled eggs and a link of turkey sausage every day for breakfast, then lunch was always a salad. Dinner was the meal that was challenging for me, because we went to the sit-down restaurant, and our waiter was always pressuring me to eat more! I would tell him I just wanted the entree, no soup/appetizer/dessert, but he would bring me something extra anyway. I think they get offended if you don't eat a ton of food! Finally the last couple of days on the cruise, I just started going to the buffet for dinner as well. That was easy to do because it was just me and my hubby on this cruise, if I'd been there with my whole family I probably would have kept going to the sit-down dinners. But anyway, my advice is just to eat what you can, and have fun! You will probably be fascinated at how much food everyone else puts away, I know I was.

My goal size was a 10, but similar to you, I found the perfect pair of white capri pants, Calvin Klein, at the Goodwill for $7. Size 8. But my size 12 Calvin Kleins were falling off of me, so I thought maybe in a couple of months (I'm almost 10 months post op, but still losing a pound or two per month.) So I bought them, brought them home, and what do you know? They fit like a glove! Now if only I had the same luck up top... my girls are still in D-cups. How I wish they would shrink a little! Size medium tops and dresses are all too tight in the bust area!

@Bonbini If people are commenting on it, you are probably losing fat and building muscle at the same time, so you are getting smaller even as the scale stands still. That happened to me, from September to November, I think I only lost about 5 pounds, but that was when everyone really started noticing, so the slow movement of the scale didn't bother me. Now the scale is moving again, but I don't think I'm getting that much smaller...

You run after your dog at the park, and you have to hold your pants that fit well two months ago to keep them from falling off!

Once you've had your surgery, they won't look like small portions anymore, LOL! I got very uncomfortable going to the sit-down restaurant, because the waiter was always concerned that I didn't like whatever dish I had ordered, and wanted to bring me something else. Then he would insist on bringing me a dessert and appetizer, even though all I ever ordered was the entree! I have vowed that next time I cruise, I am going to only eat at the buffet, because I can control my portions, and no one is breathing down my neck to make sure I eat!

No one has mentioned this yet, so I thought I would. I keep bowls of chopped up veggies, sliced olives, and grilled chicken in the fridge, and buy the bags of pre washed, chopped up romaine lettuce... I can eat a salad with chicken on it almost every day. I was really struggling to eat enough vegetables until I realized that I love salads. It's usually just the prep time involved that keeps me from eating more of them, so now I do the "prep" of washing and cutting the veggies, marinating and grilling the chicken, etc just once a week or so.

@@Chrystee Yeah, I lost a couple of pounds on my recent cruise, which was unexpected, since I did eat more than usual, and only worked out once. But I had some bouts of sea-sickness too, so that may have had a little to do with it!

I am hovering around 160, so down about 20 pounds from my last post. The lowest I can remember weighing in my adult life was 154, so I'm really trying to get to the 150's, and ideally I'd like to see the 140's... But really if I didn't lose another pound, I wouldn't complain, I'm very happy with my body the way it is right now. I am strong, I can run several miles without stopping, and I have very little loose skin to speak of. If only I could make the stretch marks on my tummy disappear! As far as food intolerances, I still have problems with spicy foods. Some days are better than others. Occasionally a food that I previously tolerated will just randomly not agree with me, so that's been a bit of a struggle. I do believe I've also said goodbye to bread and sandwiches forever, except for maybe the occasional small piece of toast here and there... un-toasted bread just sits like lead in my new stomach. And I did love bread. But I see that as a good thing, because if I could eat it, I would probably be more than likely to over-eat it again at some point. Better to just say it doesn't agree with me, and leave it at that. Overall though, I am very happy with my decision. I do truly believe that surgery was the only way that I was going to be able to lose the weight, and hopefully keep it off. As I've said before; it was the best ten thousand dollars I ever have, and likely ever will spend!

I just got back from a cruise a couple of weeks ago, and let me tell you, I definitely noticed how much food other people ate!! I admit that I was sometimes a little jealous, sitting there with my little scoop of scrambled eggs, and one link of turkey sausage at Breakfast, and watching other people at the buffet with a heaping plate of eggs, bacon and potatoes, then another one with pastries on it... But then I would get so stuffed after eating my tiny portion that I didn't care what other people did. But I definitely did also think about the fact that if it were me there a year ago I probably would have eaten even more than what these other people did, and probably have gone back for seconds too, so who am I to judge?

@RJ'S/beginning I know you have had your struggles since beginning this journey. I was not trying to discredit NUT's everywhere, but only commenting on those that I've run into. I am very happy that you have found a NUT that you can trust!

I'm Kourtney, I am a registered nurse currently, but have worked in past lives as a sous chef, and as a food production manager for the catering department of one of the largest universities in the northeast. During my time in those positions, I have cooked meals for three presidents! I have also dabbled in real estate; as a landlord, house flipper, and real estate agent. I put myself through nursing school between the ages of 27 and 29 after the real estate market burst, and found that I am pretty good at emergency nursing as well. Outside of work, I enjoy running, weight lifting, paddle boarding, reading, and movies. I am a fairly recent transplant from the cold climates of New England, and Upstate NY to the beautiful sunny climate of Southwest Florida, and I have to say that I don't miss the cold! On the WLS side of things, I had VSG in May of 2014 and have lost nearly 65 pounds. I am about 25 pounds from my goal, and even if I don't lose another pound I am happy to say that this surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself!

Good luck!!! You are in for an incredible journey!

I asked my surgeon about it at my 4-week follow-up exam. He said if I don't mind the burping it causes, I am free to have a diet soda once in awhile. Since pretty much everything I eat or drink makes me burp, I have had a fountain soda 3 or 4 times a week since then. Always over ice, usually with a straw. I don't have a NUT (and don't want one, I hear they brainwash people) so I take my surgeon's advice.

I seriously considered the lap-band prior to my VSG. I actually went through with the pre-op testing and everything. But I worried about slipping, and the fact that a foreign object would be in my body for the next 50 or so years. So in the end I chose the sleeve. I never considered the bypass, I guess because I had no co-morbidities. That said, both my mother and my sister are insulin dependent diabetics. My mom had the bypass four years ago, and is off of all of her medications except for small doses of insulin with meals. My sister is planning on having the bypass in December. If I'd had their co-morbidities, I probably would have chosen the bypass as well. Just my humble opinion.

I started back with the 5-pounders about 2 weeks after surgery. My doctor cleared me for heavy lifting at 4 weeks, so at that point I got right back into the weight lifting routine that Ive been doing for the past three years. I've lost some strength overall, but as someone on this forum pointed out to me, I'm now lifting a much higher percentage of my body weight, so I think I may be doing okay.

When you go shopping, and have to keep getting smaller sizes brought to the fitting room... I went shopping today and started out trying on size 12 jeans. Ended up in a pair of size 8's that fit like a glove. Hello vanity sizing!

You can look at my closet on Poshmark. My name on there is 86toronado. I have lots of XL tops that aren't on there as well. Let me know what you're looking for, and I'll make a bundle of clothes on there for you.

It's totally a personal preference question. For me, motivating to actually drive to the gym is a deterrent. So I work out at home with free weights, and I run around my neighborhood. But being in FL, running outside is a possibility year-round. If that wasn't the case I might have joined a gym just for the treadmills...

@@trulyamazingtoo My surgeon is in Boca. Google his name, you'll come up with most of what you need to know. Feel free to ask me anything, though. I've been very happy with my experience.

Some things I wish I'd known before surgery: -Like some others have said, I wish I had taken measurements prior to the start of my pre-op diet (I did start post surgery, but now wish I knew what I really was at my biggest) -I wish I hadn't stocked up on Protein powder and sugar free popsicles before surgery, because the protein I liked before surgery tasted too sweet after, and I never had trouble drinking Water, so didn't need the popsicles. -I wish I had known to ask for liquid pain medication from my surgeon upon discharge, and that I'd found more liquid/chewable Vitamin options before surgery. It took me a good three weeks before I could really swallow pills. Some things I'm glad I did before surgery: -I'm glad I found a strength training program that I liked, and did it consistently before surgery. I've had almost no loose skin (so far) and credit my muscle mass for most of that. -I'm glad I started taking a Biotin supplement a couple of months pre-op, because over all, my hair loss has been minimal. -I'm glad I got on Bariatric Pal, and read all of the advice that everyone on here had to give before I went into surgery. It really helped me feel as prepared as possible going into it!

A few recent ones for me: -A co-worker tells you :"If you lose any more weight you're going to blow away!" -You get carded buying a bottle of wine and the cashier does a double take between you and your ID photo -You have to go out and buy a full-length mirror, because you don't recognize your own lower body in a photo (true story, happened to me last Wednesday)

Went shopping yesterday, and didn't try on or buy anything bigger than a size Medium! And I sold a pair of my size 16 jeans on Poshmark, because I'm not going to need them ever again!

I would wait until after surgery to get the IUD if I were you. I think they do emit hormones, and could cause blood clots.

I found that my strength decreased briefly after surgery, probably just from taking the four weeks off from weight lifting, and then the lower Protein intake leading to some muscle loss. But now four months after getting back into it, I am lifting about the same weights as I was prior to surgery. I am actually doing squats with higher weights than prior. But if you take into account the 60 pounds I've lost, I guess I'm actually squatting less? IDK