christiemon

It's not all pretty - it's not all easy to go from morbidly obese to...well..not morbidly obese. I know when I was pre-op I was always looking for the terrible side effects so I had in my mind the potential of what difficult steps I had ahead for me. Now that I'm 7 months out and down 109 pounds, I know the reality of what I had to adjust to. 1. Cute shirt in department store ad catches my eye. It's plus sized, it was drape over me, it's not an option. 2. Lane Bryant emails are now just more spam. 3. Can't say "LMAO" anymore cause it's already gone... 4. Automatic toilets scare the crap out of you! There's no longer that one minute delay after my big ol fat butt gets off the toilet. The immediate "Whooosh!" is so unexpected! 5. Bummed out MIL when she offered to give me the 16's she had gotten too thin for an was now in her goal weight of a 14 and had to tell her I was now at a 12 (okay, so maybe I did kinda enjoy that moment...PS- now a size 10) = ) Post ops, feel free to add to my list.....

I started at 285 pre op diet & 265 day of surgery. At six months I was down 105

Okay I'm a dummy! I mean Easter Challenge Goal of 159! I guess that number feels so absurd to me (its been a loooong time) that it didn't make reasonable sense in my brain. :-)

Ohh - can I play? I haven't done one of these! SN - Christiemon SW: 285 GW:150 CW:170 Easter Challenge goal: 169.

May 2011 - 113 pounds!

At preop I was 285 & size 24 bottoms/ 2x tops. At 8 1/2 months out I weigh 172 this am & size 12 jeans/ 10 in work slacks & a Medium in tops. I have a looot of baggy skin though. I'm 5'6 - goal weight 150?

I'm pretty close to your beginning stats too. 5'6 and 285 at pre-op. I lost 20 on pre-op diet & was down 103 total at six months. I went from a size 24/2x to a 10/M at this point. I haven't been excercising very much to be honest. I'm currently 175 pounds at 7 1/2 months out.

Highly enjoying the responses - had lots of "Oh, yeah me too!" moments - like the missing of the booty cushioning and getting used to the feeling of bone on bone (suddenly harder to get comfy at night) and the buying of anything that fits cause, yeah - it's just awesome to wear that size. Anther thing that sucks and takes some getting used to ....it's cold being blubber-less! This has been a chilly winter!

I'm not quite at goal but I've been doing pretty well - at almost six months out. One thing I'm really excited about that I discovered recently was a way for me to get the weight moving again! Weight was still coming off, just slower the further out I am. I was reading an article on the 17 Day Diet and decieded to try Phase II (since Phase I is pretty much what I've already been doing, low calorie, low carb lean protein). I've lost 9 pounds since I started it on the 1st of November! Basically all I've been doing is alternating low calorie low carb days and then increasing the calories and carbs the next day, back and forth. Supposed to re-set your motabolism or something. But anyways I'm excited - I'm hoping to make it to goal by month 9 from my surgery date. = ) Sometimes shaking it up a little gets things moving again! = )

The automatic toilet flushers at the movie theater flush quickly! I guess my butt has gotten smaller - I'm used to the delay and it scared the crap outta me! = )

I had considered getting my tubes tied after my 3rd & final pregnancy. Researching found a lot of women that were miserable afterwards due to hormones & heavy flow. Hubby was willing to get snipped vs another unplanned pregnancy. It's only fair - I grew three babies - had 3 csections - he can handle a tiny snip snip. Men.....

I'm two months sleeved as of yesterday - I've made up my mind not to compare myself to anyone else's successes but I do love hearing about everyone's experiences. For me - three weeks pre op diet - 20 pounds First month after sleeve - down 21 pounds second month - 12 pounds. Slowed down - but I'm still consistently loosing so I'm not going to stress. My do's and don'ts - I drink lots of Water - always have, been staying mostly around 700 calories a day, that's about all I can fit in anyways. My NUT said to do closer to 1000 and 1200 calories - I just don't see how it's possible! Carbs I stay away from most breads, Pasta, but if I have a craving, a small bit seems to tide me over. I don't stress over fruit or veggie carbs. I still look forward to food and enjoy planning my next yummy meal - I throw spinach into everything - yum. I take my B-12's and a liquid multiday from costco. Also switched out dairy milk for unsweetened almond milk. Went back to work at 10 days post off (although I did have my husband drive me in so I could complete month end at three days post off, just for a couple hours). For me going back to work was very good - too my mind off food those first few ultra restrictive days. And I still drink my coffee - yup - I'm a rebel. I didn't function without it. Made a world of difference in my day and my energy when I added back a cup a day at 4 weeks out. Exercise - I'm still working on. I know the importance of it - it's just hard to get myself moving early in the morning which is my only time to work out. I've done pretty good the last week but not so much this week. Overall - I'm thrilled - I look better and feel great! I have not been this weight since I was 20 years old back when I started on the evil birth control pills. I have a work conference in Cabo in 3 months and I'm really really hoping to show off Wonderland.

Very Cool & Detailed! Congrats CJ - you are rocking it and very informative! = )

ugg - just lost my post. Imagine it was perfection and whatever I wind up typing here is just the just of it. = ) Anyways - loved reading everyone's stats and stories - this whole journey has been fascinating to me. I've never known anyone that has actually had weight loss surgery - so I'm feeling like I'm learning as I go. So far so good - I'm loosing somewhat slowly compared to others but still steadily and I've learned to not stress myself out. I've had my weight for over 10 years and this is the lowest I've gotten to in that time by far. I'm thrilled with the results! My NUT had told me to shoot for 1000 - 1200 calories today (not an easy task) but to not go lower than 800. I seem to be able to get between 700 and 800 calories a day and watch my carbs but not going to crazy on completely avoiding them. I get between 30 and 50 carbs a day and always hit my 60 grams of Protein. The denser Proteins I don't enjoy eating too much, maybe just not liking the texture of all that chewing, so most of the time I eat seafood or tofu or eggs and I'm a big spinach fan so I generally throw some of it in with whatever I'm cooking. Crock potted chicken Soups are pretty good too. Anyways - still getting used to not eating so much, it's a head doesn't match my stomach quite yet. But I know when I'm full I stop eating. My biggest hurdle, same as before the surgery, finding time to exercise. I have (not to make excuses) three kids, a hubby, a full time job and a long commute. I walk a lot during the day but know I need to find more time to exercise and utilize this "honeymoon period" while I can. I did get up earlier a couple times last week to work out but I struggle to get up that early. ) Yesterday I hit my first reward goal of 50 pounds (20 pre op diet and 30 post op) I have a groupon for a cut style and eyebrow wax I'm going to use. My management conference for my company is in Cabo this year towards the end of October - so I'd love to be in Onederland by then.

I'm six weeks out - I never regretted it for a moment - as everyone said - the first few weeks were the hardest - my energy level came back up as I started adding in protein and honestly for me one of the best things for me was going back to work after surgery where I wasn't constantly thinking about food. I went back 10 days after surgery and energy has been going up from there. I figure I've had plenty of time enjoying food, now I'm just going to enjoy it in moderation. = )

Every day gets better & better. Cream of wheat w splenda was my go to breakfast for the first few weeks - loved the plainesss & consistency. Be aware of the hormones though - I was a nut job for the first month.:-) BTW - best screen name ever!

Unfortunately I didn't know much about the sleeve when I started my journey to get weight loss surgery back in September. Thankful for the six months diet and exercise from Cigna - after more research I decieded I didn't want to walk, I wanted to RUN from the lap band. I had my gall bladder removed from my surgeon last week at his center and I was listening to a woman who was on the phone while waiting for her mother to be released from surgery talking about all the complications she was having after having the lap band in and how sad it was. I felt completely affirmed that I was doing the right thing and proud of myself for fighting for the sleeve. So anyways I'm one of the first they will be doing for the sleeve - and I was scheduled for the 13th. Been doing fabulous on my pre-op diet - down 14 pounds in a week....and they call me yesterday and say they have to change my date (they've already changed it once, just by a few days) to out another week. A week which I couldn't take off work so I don't know when or if it's going to happen now I happened to stop by the office for my post op gall bladder and the surgeon was such high pressure and mean that I just want to get my money back and cancel. I usually deal with the other surgeon but this one would be the "co-surgeon" on my surgery. Basically he told me it was the 20th or nothing and we should just cancel. They have two other sleeves scheduled and a specialist flying in to assist which was supposed to be "his tickets are purchased" for my date on the 13th. They tell me different reasons that don't really add up as to why they changed my date even though I told them I have my time off scheduled, my husband's time off, family coming to help me, etc....this really puts me in a bind. So I'm getting ready to leave, and in tears (I already have very bad, emotional day at work) and the surgeon wants to meet with me. He and his nurse meet me in an office and he starts asking me why I didn't want the lap band (which is what they primarily do) I explained after my research and the amount of complications from the lap band without sufficient weight loss I really felt the sleeve was for me. I said I'm only doing this once and I hear so many horror stories about people miserable with the lap band, they have it taken out and they get the sleeve. He tells me I need to understand that I could die if I get the sleeve and that's why severe the surgery is and tries to push the lap band on me - that he's done so many and they are experts on the band and he even put on in his own mother, and I should trust them, blah blah blah. Thank God for the nurse who did keep saying that "She's been saying she wants the Sleeve for a long time now - that's what she wants...." He kinda hemmed and hawed, but basically the nurse was saying she would see what she could do and the surgeon just left me with a bad taste. I'm really thinking about getting my money back on Monday. I've already paid all my out of pocket costs. Basically this would be in the of my journey - because I don't think I'm going to have my insurance much longer and I can't afford to start all over again. What would you do?

I was sleeved on May 20th, I did choose to be open about my surgery and even posted a blog to Facebook to answer any questions people might have. I was perhaps more open than I need to be but like you said, I was also very uncomfortable with the hiding the truth and coming up with some white lies to people. Not that there is anything wrong with keeping it to yourself, this is a very very personal decision. What I've learned in my case is many people are very supportive - my neighborhood brought us meals (not that I could eat - lol) for the week after surgery for my family so I didn't have to cook. Others have inquired about how I'm doing and can't wait to go clothes shopping with me when I need to. Best part is those that are inquiring for info either for themselves or for those close to them who are struggling with obesity and what things are like for me. And I don't personally know anyone who has had this type of weight loss surgery or any other for that matter and I would have loved to have known someone who has gone through it so I could ask questions as well. I've only had a couple people be negative, and really more ignorant than anything. Not enough for me to regret my decision to be open, but more to just kinda let it blow over and not let it bother me.

I was "sleeved" on this past Friday - feeling better just low low energy. I've been on a all clear liquids diet since then - just jello and broth til tomorrow and then I can add protein shakes back (yay - substance!) I was in the hospital for 24 hours and came home weighing 7 pounds more than I went in with! And it's not like I binged on anything other than iv fluid. Slowwwwly that weight has come off and I'm finally at where I started - 6 days later. I was expecting to have dropped some weight this week - it's very discouraging. Has anyone else experienced a weight gain right off the bat?

ah. I wish I knew that before. I'll take a break from the scale for a few days.:-)

Good morning - I had surgery on the 20th - so a little over a week. My surgeons orders were broth and Jello and Water only the first week - I so wanted a Protein shake. Finally I get to add in my shakes yesterday and low and behold - even though I enjoyed them before the surgery - it twas too sweet. Blech - but I'm still sipping away. I now how the furry tongue too which is pretty unattractive. And my number one complaint (no regrets of course) is that I haven't lost any weight since my surgery. In fact I came home from the hospital 7 heavier than I went in with. I'm assuming that's all Fluid retention. Slowly it came off and today I'm back where I started with. I really really want to see that scale move and not be the only person who fails at this surgery. Hope all is well!

I hear a lot of insurance companies deny initially if they do not receive all the information required for the submission. I was getting truly frustrated with my surgeons office when they were taking so long to submit my paperwork. Right off the bat with my first consult my surgeons office had told me that my insurance would deny me if we didn't have absolutely all info required which wound up being about 50 pages of medical history, notes, etc. In the end - I think it helped me get my approval the first time. So maybe they didn't submit everything your insurance company required. I would absolutely think that you have a great chance with an appeal. Good luck to you. = )

I've been sleeved a week ago and am going back to work on Tuesday - so around a week and a half. At this point I think that will be enough time for me - I would go stir crazy at home too long. I'm feeling pretty good now - just a little tired. But of course it depends on your work and the type of physical activity you preform there.

Wow - that is a journey. You will need to ask your surgeon what restrictions you have after surgery. I didn't ask mine what my lifting restrictions would be until just before my hosptial release and was shocked when he said nothing over 20 pounds for 8 weeks. My youngest is 20 months and weights 25 pounds. So far I've had my husband take some time off the first few days, and my mother in law stayed with me another couple days - so I've had about a full week of help. I'm also getting my son into his toddler bed so I don't have to lift him in and out of the crib. How long do you have the option of staying with your parents? I would do at least two weeks of possible.

Oh that is smart! Good one!