breezy

You look great! Thanks for sharing the pics.

I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves. I had NO problems whatsoever beyond getting used to my new stomach. I've also been impressed that when I had follow-up questions after the surgery, I can just email them and someone gets back to me right away. I was surprised that they would continue to answer questions after the surgery, and I felt that was a plus. I would recommend him.

I've recently noticed I can take a couple swallows of Water in a row now, rather than just one sip. That's nice because I've had trouble getting enough water, too. Are you keeping up on your protein? Congratulations on the weight loss. Wearing smaller clothes is sweeeeeeet!

You don't buy clothes at Ross, Kymmi? I'm really hoping to be able to get some shirts there for summer. It sounds like you are right on track with the amount of calories and adding exercise. I know what you mean about "no if and or buts!" Something about spending $8000+ for the surgery has made me feel like there is no option but to use the tool I paid for wisely! That doesn't mean that I don't make poor choices sometimes, but I always get up the next morning planning better things to eat!

Christie, I did aerobics with my girlfriend again yesterday. For some reason, I really enjoy exercising with her. She's so upbeat and fun! Kind of like your friend. We agreed to do it 2x a week together. I have feet, knee, hip problems, too, but they're better since I lost some of the weight. I can actually go down stairs normally instead of placing both feet on a step before I go to the next one. Thanks again for the inspiration!

Thanks, Christie. I saw your walk marathon pictures so I know you understand what I mean about joining the parade instead of just watching from the sidelines!

One of the reasons I got the sleeve was that I was having a hard time getting on the floor to play with my two beautiful grandgirls (3 and 5 years old). I wanted to be able to go to the beach and make sandcastles with them. Yesterday, we went to the beach and I had SO MUCH ENERGY!!! I played racing games with them, and played in the surf, and got down in the sand and worked on a sandcastle. My body is so much lighter and easier to move! My grandgirls loved it and thought Grandma was a lot of FUN! This was a very meanful goal for me. It also signified joining in the activity and fun instead of watching life go by. I had gotten to the point that I thought I was just too old to do those things (I'm 56). Later, we drove by Saddle Mountain and I remembered that I thought my knees were shot and I would never be able to climb it again. But then I realized that it was not my age but my weight that was keeping me from doing it. My knees have improved since losing weight. So that means my next goal should be climbing Saddle Mountain again!!!!!! I want to get fit again! I've started aerobic exercise with a girlfriend and I'm going to look for other opportunities to work and move my body. I want to get strong again like I was when I was young. I'll never be 20, but it would be great to join life again!

Thanks all for your comments. I found out how to post a picture so here is one from that wonderful day!:thumbup:

Cool pictures! Thanks for posting them. I'm beginning to think that being more active is a "mindset" before it is a reality. You look like you are having fun and enjoying yourself. I wonder if I could picture myself like that, if I would more eagerly plan exercise? You are inspiring me!

I'm with Oregon Daisy -- I'm worried about my turkey neck!!!! I can see in some before/after pictures now that my face is less round and my cheekbones are beginning to show. I've always thought that the weight made me look older, so I'm hopeful that I'll look alright. I've heard that it may take a couple of years for my skin to adjust to my size. Anyone else heard that? How does everyone feel about cosmetic surgery at our age? Anyone done anything?

Good for you! I've found that my clothes getting too big is a mixed blessing! It's great because it means I'm losing and getting nearer my goal, but I also found it is kind of sad. Some of the things I am packing away were pretty and I'll miss them! I'm dressing myself from Goodwill and Ross until I get to my weight loss goal. My wardrobe is getting pretty narrow!

I understand about having a special day and making the wrong food choices. I had my sleeve done on April 13th, so I am pretty close to you. I'm through the recovery period and now am faced with the same issues I had before. What I eat. Thank goodness the sleeve prevents me from consuming 5000 calories at a time, but it still will let me put bad things in my mouth!:smile: As many people have posted, it's just a tool. The rest is up to me. You are doing great by tracking your calories, protein & carbs. I should do that more closely. And I've started exercising like you, too. I've been trying to get my heart rate up with some aerobics. It sounds to me that you know what you need to do. Now the work begins for both of us. We just need to do it!

I thought it might have to do with fried foods but I wasn't sure! :smile: Grandgirls are a great excuse to get exercise, aren't they!

I haven't had a real hunger pang since the surgery. Just a empty, hollow feeling when I get hungry. I'm basically eating 3 meals with a snack, and drinking all the fluids I can. I'm trying to stay away from empty calories (like sweet drinks, chips). Just this last week I started exercising with a girlfriend. I've never been to the south. What is southern home cooking?

I've been doing that, too! It does help!

I though dumping syndrome had to do with diarrhea! Ok, now I know! I feel fine today. My body is a little sore from running with the grandchildren, but the tummy is fine. Thanks! Edit: I research "dumping syndrome" and that WAS what I had! I sure will be more careful in the future!

I like the way you phrased that! It DID feel magical at first. Now I'm realizing that the pounds are not going to continue to melt away like they did that first month. Good food choices and exercise are the tools that I have to add to the sleeve. I find that I have to plan for what I am going to eat if I want to make good choices. If I wait until I'm "hungry" (though hungry feels differently now), I'm more likely to grab something that has more calories than substance. Chili cheese fritos is a good example (I LOVE those). What a journey we are on!

I made another eating mistake yesterday, Jillian. I went to the beach with my family and on the way home I was WAY tired, so when the family stopped at Dairy Queen, I got a small blizzard. I ate about 1 cup of it rather quickly, then even though I wasn't feeling like it was backing up on me, I stopped. About 10 minutes later, I started feeling like I was going to throw up. Got dizzy, started sweating, cramps in my tummy. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I didn't throw up and was able to finish driving home after a few minutes, but boy, I got close to throwing up in the Dairy Queen parking lot! That would have been embarrasing. I should have just taken a couple bites of someone else's treat and not bought one for myself. But everytime I make a mistake like that, it teaches me. I think it was a combination of too much eaten, too cold, and TOO SWEET. I guess it's only been 2 months since I was able to eat anything and everything in sight and I'm still not used to having to make the changes. But almost throwing up is a compelling lesson!

Interesting. I can see that mushy might be ok after the first period, but it's hard to picture going to solid foods as quickly as some of our members have been released to do. But if they've had no problems, that's great for them!

Wow Jane_J! I just noticied your ticker! 111 lbs lost!!!!! 7 lbs to go!!!! Impressive. I don't want to hijack the thread, but I was wondering how long it took you to lose that? I want to lose 100 lbs and wonder how long it might take me...

No problem! One of the differences I've noticed, too, is that everyone seems to have a different timeline on when to go to the next food stage. I was 2 wks on clear liquid, 2 wks on full liquids, 2 wks on pureed food, then to regular food. What did your doctor tell you?

My doctor told me that B12 is absorbed through the stomach lining, and since I have less of that, I may neet B12 shots. I've compared this to posts from members who take the B12 under the tongue and I'm not sure what to think. I guess I need to research it. Anyway, my doctor did take blood for tests and they all came back in the normal range, so I guess I'm ok.

I didn't start salads until about 6 weeks out. I chewed thoroughly and ate slowly (probably because I was afraid I was going to have a problem). Nothing. Everything went through fine. I was especially relieved because I LOVE fresh vegetables. I started with just lettuce, cucumber, and green onions to see if I tolerated that ok. Now I'm adding other vegetables as I go. I'm just one person though. It has impressed me as I read everyone's posts that we are all so different. What one person can do, another one may not be able to. So start slow and pay attention to what your body is telling you. My two cents.