LilMissDiva Irene

Thanks Dee, that's very sweet of you to say! I do plan to do some befores and afters once I'm able to start my Insanity DVD. Thats gonna be a lot of fun.

I don't suggest continuing to eat once you are full. Though you haven't eaten all your protein, it can lead to really bad habits and is best not to get into that. What I did early out to help me get more protein is, I did rely on protein shakes. An extra one or two per day helped a lot. Also early out, all fluids were added to my daily total. So 2 protein shakes at 8 Oz each would tack on 16 more oz of fluid for the day. For me there just was no other way to get my protein totals up without constantly eating all day long.

Hi Vickie, the truth is I've been working out practically my whole life. My family has always been physically driven, we all love sports and are very athletic. I can't tell you why I enjoy it so much, but I really do - but again I didn't start late in life. I've always been this way. In fact the reason I ran my knees out so young was because even though I was over 300 Lbs I was walking like I was 150. So sad, but you know what I enjoyed it and I never regret it. This doesn't mean that you will never grow an appreciation for fitness, I've seen countless here who've done just that!! I suggest starting small. Walking up to about 8 weeks post op, bumping up time and speed as time go on. Then from there perhaps see if you like running? The Couch to 5K is an amazing plan. Find things you enjoy and definitely don't push yourself too much early out or you will probably get burnt out. Good luck!!

Fabulous!!! Thanks so much for doing this, I know it was very time consuming. You totally rock!

Hi there Gramaof4 You know, I was very fortunate that my skin has very little issues. I do have some, but I am blessed to say it's not much of a concern for me. I've had 2 seperate Plastic Surgeries (Well 3 with the 2nd one done in 2 sessions) and the first one was a Breast Augmentation on 8/25/11. My boobies were sad! I felt extremely self conscious about them. They held up GREAT for up to the last 25 Lbs I lost. I stayed a D cup all the up until that and so strange, they shrunk down to about a B at that point. They looked like half full sand bags. Ugh! Anyway I started with around a 44D and ended up with 34 B/C cup size. Now I'm a 34/36 DDD (F). Yeah, seriously... thank goodness you can't really tell. But these pupps are humungous!! I love em though. LOL!!! Then in November (4th & 18th) I had contouring procedures performed. They did my knees, inner/outter thighs, hips and waist. I have to tell you, it's very painful and I ended up looking like I got smashed in a vice grip. However once those wounds healed and I was able to walk again (yes I actually could not walk for days) I started to see that the results would absolutely please me. I followed all my post op instructions and I'm happy to say the skin looks great. Again, I do have loose skin, but for me it is tolerable. I do plan to have skin removal surgery someday. I want to have the total body lift, and I also want to have my arms tightened up. However, according to my very talented Surgeon (both said the same thing) that weight loss patient results come out best when waiting a few years time at goal before removing excess skin. My wish is to use Dr. Katzen, FACS in Southern California. I've seen his work and I'd say he's the best in California for weight loss patients skin removal. Anyway, we need to pay off my previous surgeries first before worrying about anything more right now. Here's a link to my Plastics journey, in case you have some time: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/21967-my-plastics-journey-my-first-one-of-several/ Wishing you well!!

Well I'm way far from you in California, but Welcome none the less!! I'm looking forward to hearing about your journey.

The 5 P's to my success: Positivity. Patience. Persistence. Push Fluids. Protein First. Minding my Q's: Quit the Salt. Quit the Sugar. Quit the Excuses. Quit the Denial. Avoiding the C's: Candy, Crackers, Cakes, Chocolate, Cookies, Chips, popCorn, iceCream. When it comes down to it, these are the things that got me to where I am today.

I know that's right!!!

Hi Melli!! Welcome back Congrats on your wonderful life to date, wow! I'm very happy for you - getting married and having a baby. What a special time you're having. I'm sorry though you find you must revise. I know, I've been there done that with my revision. Just know that regardless you're taking the right steps to control it BEFORE it gets out of hand. Many more blessings to you.

I am Bea as well, except my Mom was really my Step Father. I was constantly "derided" when it came to food... to the point where I would be physically mocked to show what I looked like as I was sitting on the couch. He would puff his cheeks out and hold his arms out around his belly to make it look like I was THAT fat. I wasn't. I was MAYBE 10 Lbs over weight. Anyway, here I am 30 years later with severe emotional problems tied to food. Parents, PLEASE don't do this to your children.

Wow Raven that is excellent!! It's always better to let someone else pick up the tab. ;o) Cheers on your journey!

Awww Hang in there, one week will go by really fast. True the pre-op diet is tough, but sticking it out is both for your best health going into surgery AND any weight you lose will be bonus. You won't have to lose it post-op. xoxo

Wow great job!! I'm glad to see you're back on the wagon, though you did take a little time off it didn't seem to hurt you too much. Keep up the great work and I'm looking forward to checking in next month.

Hi Vicki, it sounds like you and I had a lot in common. I too was banded, I too lost about 50 Lbs and I too gained it all back. However... I was revised to sleeve on 9/15/10 and now I'm at goal!! I couldn't be happier with my sleeve. It's like a world of difference and I often say it's everything that was promised to me of my band, yet only wished it to be. There IS hope!! White knuckling it will be so worth it, when you get your sleeve and you show everyone that you can do it. Blessings!!

Sooo get used to this!! Before you know it, your watch will even be too big at all. I have to put my watches on the tightest or second to tightest slot for my leather straps... forget the linked types, they are so big they nearly fall off my hands. Anyway, just a few examples of what life will be like down the road. You're doing fantastic!!

I'm praying for you that you will heal up as you should. I'm very sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. Best you can do is relax, take care to keep close watch on your Water, perhaps even space the Ozs throughout the day (this is how I do it). For example, perhaps drink 2 Oz (about a sip) every 15 minutes or so. It would take you about 8 hours a day to hit the 64 Oz. If you continue to feel bad, contact your medical staff. Hugs!!

That's in my sights too!! Lean, mean fit machine. But... not so much the ripped part though.

You're probably lactose intolerant. Happens to a lot of sleevers post op, in fact for me - high amounts of sugar all at once makes me sick, even this far out. I guess it's not a really bad thing!! I used to be able to attack some ice cream pre-sleeve.

I hope everything went well!! Please check in when you feel up to it.

Me personally I eat corn quite often. Popcorn, corn on the cob, Whole kernel... I have yet to experience any issues with it. In fact, I'd say it digests quite well!! Too well in fact.. LOL.. its a bit of a slider food for me. I have not really tried coconut. I think I've had a very miniscule amount on perhaps one or two occasions and didn't have any problems. I have heard though it's hard to digest, and have only heard that here. I don't really go out of my way either to eat it, so never gave it any real thought on the validity of that claim. If its something you are seriously considering eating, perhaps ask your surgeon what they think? Good luck!

I haven't been able to start it yet! :-( I was to start last Monday but ended up with the Flu instead.. which turned into bronchitis (yuck!) so I'm still recovering before I can get back to such an intense workout. I will probably have to wait for a few more weeks, believe me I'm seriously bummed about that. Great job on your workouts! I'd love to try the P90X myself.

Incredible!! Great work so far, you're doing all the right things. Congrats and cheers on your success!!

Wow!! Truly impressive numbers, you are far above average. Great job!!