Cheryl

Hi, Ocean Eyes, I'm in the same boat, except I have a bit more weight to lose than you. WE WILL DO THIS! Three lbs/wk is very doable. Go Protein. Go exercise. Woohoo.

Great for you both. I haven't donated in awhile because I always have my kids with me and I don't feel like yelling at them while trying to donate. Good that they caught your HTN and that WLS is working for you. Congrats.

Name.......... Challenge start w................Current....Goal.......lbs to goal weight Cheryl...................245....................................232..............210..............22 Just checking in! Week 1: 5 lbs Week 2: 5 lbs Week 3: 3 lbs Had cold and went out of town to watch my sister run her 3rd half marathon so I am a bit off on how I'm feeling but this week is back on schedule. Started doing the Couch to 5K training schedule so I'll see how it goes. Woohooo.

Good morning! I was sleeved also on March 16th. I've lost 27 lbs since surgery. SW 272. CW 245. Lost 20 lbs before surgery for a total of 47 lbs and people are taking notice. Typical things that I am now eating include shrimp, healthy crackers and laughing cow low fat cheese, toast with ff american cheese, plain greek yogurt, ff cottage cheese, cream of wheat with a little extra choc whey (tastes like coco wheats). fish, etc. I track everything I eat on Sparkpeople.com. Love the website. I also track my exercise there. I've never had a problem getting in at least 60-70 protein and I usually eat 50-90 carbs/day. Walking about 10-14 miles/week. I have a walking partner at work and if we walk on our one hour lunch break a couple of times a week, it is easy to get in 6-7 miles just at work. I've challenged myself to lose 35 lbs by July 4th (10 weeks away.) Good luck to you all.....Until next time..... Cheryl

I've never set a lb goal for myself before and I find it difficult because I don't know what to expect. In the first 6 weeks after surgery I lost 27 lbs but I haven't been going to the gym like I wish. My husband is a teacher and will not be working as much in the summer. I am going to make an effort to exercise more, including lifting/toning with weights. Here goes..... SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Cheryl......................292..................................245......................210...............35

Congrats! It's been 27 days for me and I am feeling it, too, as well as seeing the scale drop. It looks like you might have to make some new goals and possibly reassess yor goal weight. Keep it up!

I am only 2 weeks out and on full liquid diet, but my nutritionist said drink your fluids up to 15-20 minutes before your meal but then stop. Water empies pretty quickly then eat your meals. This might help with being thirsy. It isn't the same as sipping that soda or ice tea with lunch but I found before surgery, I could wash a HUGH amount of food down with liquids. I will see in time....

I was told that the surgeon would clear me for exercise at the 3 week post op appt. I have been walking a couple miles almost everyday and "jogged" (OK, it was only at 4.5 mpg) 0.1 miles but I think the idea behind waiting to exercise harder is that the body needs its nourishment to heal. I had surgery 3/16 and had a quick recovery. I was playing cornhole with my husband two days after surgery and went back to work light duty 9 days after but I feel like I had more energy than before surgery at that point. I have had no pulling sensation or pain at the incisions and people say that I look great after surgery (ie, quick recovery.) Two weeks post op I think I was down 15 lbs but I have been able to get in all my Protein and carbs. My surgeon/program does not want very low carbs as they feel the body and brain need them for energy and thinking. Their dietary requirements are: protein 60-70 gr and carbs 100-120 gr/day. The days very for me but I get in at least 65 protein and 80-120 carbs, depending if I worked night shift and how much I have slept. It's been 17 day post op now and I feel like I can do anything but I am sticking to walking briskly until I have been officially cleared. Hope you are feeling better by now. Be reasonable about the exercise and listen to your body. Good luck, Cheryl

Came home last evening. Pain itself from incision is minimal but the gas bubbles are killing me. I was known as "Oh, you're the one who walked all the time" to the nurses and aids at the hosptal. Napping a lot. When I sip on water I never realized how much air I swallow. The air bubble just sits in my epigastric area and has that upward pressure. I dry heaved a couple times at home b/c of the bubble. I had a supposity the morning after surgery and it worked in about an hour....farting and some diarrhea but nothing since then, I haven't passed anything (not like there is much to pass.) Maybe if the lower end worked more, than the air bubbles would pass down instead. I know...walk, walk, walk, and more walk. Sip sip sip... I am on a clear diet today since I came earlier than expected but then Sat I start full liquids. Good luck to all the other Marcher's.

I'm out of recovery and have been in my room for 2.5 hrs. Doing good. Some soreness but no nausea or dizziness. Actually feels better to get up and walk. Ice chips never tasted so good. Might leave tomorrow since I am doing good. Oh yeah, fhey repaired a umbilical hernia that I didn't know I had. Talk to you later when I get home. Going to take a nap.....

Gooood Luuuck! Time is getting near........

Sorry that your mom said those things. I struggled with self esteem issues, too, but the more that I learned to like myself at any weight, the easier it was to be myself and enjoy the company of others as well as they enjoyed my company ( I hope. haha.) Looking back at some of the relationship issues that I have had prove that I'm not too brilliant but at least learned from my mistakes. Take care and good luck.

I'm glad you're feeling better. Keep it up and good luck.

I wish I had words of wisdom for you. I know they told me not to exercise on the one week low-cal, low-carb diet because your brain needs carbs to function. Even if you are not exercising, take it easy and make sure you are drinking LOTS of Water to flush the ketones out. They are hard on your kidneys. I am on Day 6 now and have surgery on Wed and I actually feel pretty darn good . Drink, drink, drink. Sorry you aren't feeling well.

Today is your big day (to a smaller you). Good luck! and quick recovery.

I'm on Day 4 of preop diet. Going great here. For some reason, the liquid low-cal, low carb diet was easier than expected ( approx 500 cal/day and less than 25 carbs). Good luck on 3/15. Mine is 3/16.

Hi. My sugery is Wednesday, too. I am on day 5 of pre-op diet. The clinic gave me packs of drinks/soup (5 each day). Otherwise I drink tea or Water and that is it. It comes to 400-600 cal/day but I have been fine. I even made 10 dozen sugar Cookies today for a rally we are having and I didn't even lick my fingers once. Wooohooo. My liver otta be a pancake by surgery. Good luck Wed!

I am giggling too when I read both your and Disney's post.....EXCEPT.....my husband shaves me but for me this is a big turn-on. I can do it myself but it takes longer and isn't as fun. Hheehee

Good luck! I am having my surgery the day after you so here's to the summer/next year.

Hi, Estella, I was 34 when I met my husband. I was approx 250 lbs when we met. We met at a wedding and have been together since. Now 7 years and 2 kids later, I am 270ish. Neither of us was "desperate" or had low self esteem. We had not met someone who complemented the other. We both are looking forward to seeing what I will be like at 180 or less. My point is, I'm glad I didn't wait til I was of normal weight before I put myself out there. He might be a boob man, but he definately doesn't have a fat tetish or mommy complex. I never thought I would say this, but the harder you look, the more disappointed you will be. Embrace yourself no matter what size you are at and your inner self shines through. That's when I met my husband. Anyway, good luck with VSG.

Hi. Different doctor here but will be sleeved on 3/16...so Happy St Patrick's Day to us. Good Luck.

Woohoo! So how are you feeling now that it has been approved? There's anxiety and frustration with waiting for approval and now there isa different anxiety while waiting to have surgery. HAPPY FOR YOU.

Hi, I have surgery scheduled for 3/16 and I am not usually an anxious person but it invades my thoughts all the time. What you are feeling is perfectly normal. This is a life altering event. If you weren't anxious/nervous/somewhat afraid i would think that you haven't thought this all the way through. This surgery is not only anxiety provoking because it is surgery but also of its consequences. While losing weight is a great thing, it also changes your lifestyle and often mood. Good luck! Yeah to the March sleevers!

Hi. I originally inquired to the bariatric clinic and had all day appt for psych eval/nutritionist/MD for physical 11/10/11. I was required to do counseling as the psych assessment indicated. I don't regret this since it helped me examine when I overeat and how to minimize that. I already had a sleep study done in April 2010 and have been using a CPAP since that time. Completed 3 months of diet counseling (as required by Aetna) on 2/9/11. Had written my diet intake everyday and kept track of exercise. Started Vit D in Nov since my level was 21 (No surprise since I live in Ohio.) Had an EKG in there somewhere just for cardiam clearance. Didn't need any upper GI done since I have no problems. I took a little while for the dr to sign off on things and for the office to fax things but once Aetna had all the info (Feb 22?) they approved it within a couple of days. I have a BMI of approx 43 with sleep apnea. Aetna said they called the office with my approval on Feb 25th but noone there knew anything about it. I found out March 1st via phone call to Aetna and now I have my preop appt tomorrow March 3rd, will be on a one week liquid high-protein diet to shrink my liver, and have surgery 3/16. It all moved fairly fast to me. So...from start to finish....it has been four months..... Like other people said, check with your insurance company with what their requirements are. If you are self pay it will go quicker. Good luck.