LilMissDiva Irene

5 Hour Energy (or you can find a generic version at the Dollar Tree which does the same exact effect) will give you probably the same amount of energy the Zipp Fizz would. I've never tried Zipp Fizz so I'm not really sure what kind of effect that would give you, so I can't comment on it. I just wanted to tell you there are alternatives out there. Sleevers have a very difficult time absorbing B-12, and is especially true for me. I take in huge amounts yet my panels come back smack in the normal range always. It's bizarre, but it is what it is. I can imagine how they'd look if I never took any. Keep in mind everyone is different, so I'm not advising anyone to go out and do what I'm doing. The best thing to do especially if you are less than 6 months post op is to ask your surgeon or nutritionist what you should be eating as far as supplements. All the best!

Well here I am, and I'm one month shy of 2 years post op. I'm STILL enjoying life and I'm STILL having NSV's this far out. I'm on top of the world and I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. Just a little history so anyone can realize how big a deal this is... I was kicked off a roller coaster when I was about 20 years old because I was too fat to get the lock to latch. I've always been a thrill ride seeker and there are only but a few I won't dare get on (one being the Ferris Wheel if you can believe it, but that's another story entirely haha!!) Anyhow, all this time I'd never tried to get on another. I don't know if any of you have ever felt the humiliation of being kicked off a ride because you can't fit in it. I have, and it ain't a good feeling!! It was a busy day too, and just thank goodness all my friends happened to get on the train just before mine so I didn't have the embarrassement of people I knew to watch that happen to me. I never wanted to feel that again so I avoided roller coasters for a LOOOONG time until I knew for absolute sure I'd fit on any which one I chose to get on. Well, yesterday Hubby and I went to Discovery Kingdom here in California. It was such a fantastic day!! I fitted on every single roller coaster and ride I got on with LOTS of room to spare. My hubby even became worried as he said I was flying all over the place in them. I said yeah because I had so much extra room in it, but I was fine... haha I loved it!! Well everyone, I'm just here to tell you, if you keep working the magic of the sleeve, it will keep working it's magic for you. Many blessings!!

For some reason I've always been quite a bit heavier than others who wear my same size. To be honest, I only chose my weight goal by wanting to be a normal BMI. However weight goals have NEVER excited me as much as fitting new sizes (unless you count in being in Onederland). This for me has always been my biggest motivator. Every new size I break into fully, I'm finding THAT really is what keeps me more and more motivated. So, I'm wondering if there is anyone else out there like me? I do still check my weight, it's fun watching the scale go down - but I can tell you, nothing will make me happier than to get to that CERTAIN SIZE!!! My TRUE goal is to fit size 6-8 bottoms. Whatever my top size is isn't as great as the bottoms. I imagine I'll probably end up in Small. I'm already in Large tops, and wearing 16-18 bottoms. I just want size 10 to be too big. Once that happens, I'll be at goal. I'll do my best to try to stop the weight loss after that. I don't care how much I weigh. Besides, I'm sure once I get all my plastics done, I'll go up a shirt size and probably down another pant size... haha!!!

To All, Please remain respectful of others writing styles at all times. As long as it does not contain offensive words or otherwise, it's just better left un said. Cursing and / or berating others will not be tolerated here. Any more in this thread and warnings will be issued individually. Thank all in advance for keeping this site the way it is meant to be, kind and supportive.

You are started and headed back in the right direction. I just want to point out one thing... instead of saying you will "try" commit to fullfilling that challenge. Say you "WILL" DO IT! Take care and always keep fighting.

You look beautiful, happy and truly fit! Great work lady

Looking really nice gentlemen!

There will always be someone on this Earth who will have nothing better to do than to give others grief and misery. Don't become her victim, leave that space to someone else. Keep focused on the positives in your life and that will be having your surgery AS WELL AS working out and eating right -- and losing all your excess weight. Forget her and the rock she crawled out from under.

I am a food addict. Or should I say I have an addictive personality. If I enjoy something I have an intense drive to over do it. I don't know why this is, but I am working really hard to fix it. I. AM. NOT. PERFECT. But, I will admit I have problems in my head and I need to fix them. I am posting the 12 Steps of Addiction Recovery. Know them, learn them, live them. The 12 Steps Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable Step 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves Step 5 - Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs Step 6 - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character Step 7 - Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings Step 8 - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it Step 11 - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs Where I found this information: http://www.12step.org/

Okay... I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!! That outta the way I just want to complain a little bit. Some things about being sleeved really chap me. Why am I putting this in the pre-sleeve section? So everyone knows what to look forward to. I'M FREEZING COLD ALL OF THE TIME!!! Even in Summer... ...Um... ...Let's see... ...Well... ...Yeah... Oh Geez... that's all I can think of.

Thats great ela! I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I hope you can post some updated photos soon!

If you're searching for someone or something to motivate you to get moving in the right direction, go take a look in the mirror. NO other person has the power to make your body move... to put the right foods in your body... to tell you that you're worth it... but YOU.

For me and my core it's always been good old calisthenics. If you're looking for a good DVD look up Shaun T. Anything by him will get your core looking flat and ripped!

"Honey, stop wishing your life away. Before you know it, you'll be praying to have all those days back when you're as old as I am." ~Random Wise Old Lady. I was having a conversation several years back with a stranger. I mentioned I couldn't wait for Friday because the week was dragging. Just one of those moments you never forget.

Forgiveness of the self and allowing MYSELF to just be myself. Mistakes will be made, I am but human. The only thing I really can do with those miss-steps is to get up the next day and with a positive beginning, make it better than yesterday. I always take yesterdays hard lessons and make it for a greater and more successful day today.

True Happiness, Beauty, Loveliness, Power, Graciousness, and Sexy is a state of mind, and a strong mind doesn't need validation. Take care of yourself, inside THEN out. Be good to yourself, and each other.

I will always walk in the direction of the Sun. When I look back I want the footprints I laid to be a testament to my journey toward the light.