Rainydayz

Isn't that an awesome feeling? Way to go!

I agree with the Biggest Loser complaint. It's not right not to take in account the muscle building. I do notice my clothes fitting looser even though I haven't taken measurements in months. Shamrock you may be on to something. I haven't been getting in my Water like I should. Work has been crazy so I don't get up and fill my water cup as often as I should. I will force-feed myself water over the next few days and maybe add a few calories and see what happens. Thanks! Exoticheart: We'll be there soon, wait and see! OceanOphelia: How long ago was your surgery? I know those weeks are frustrating when you only lose a pound or 2 but in the long run it will really add up!

Gorgeous! Way to go!

I agree, this is a great place for us! I went to another site too for a couple years before I ever had the sleeve, when I was considering the band. I'm so glad I decided on the sleeve and found this board! People here are kind and helpful.

That's wonderful! Good luck on the job!

Just to share my personal experience - not to condone anything - I drank a glass of wine at 8 weeks out. I drank it alternating with sips of water over about 1 hour and it did nothing for me. Now I'm 7 months out and I drink occasionally just like I used to. It affects me the same as it used to. I get buzzed but not any faster than before. I guess I'm the weird one out because I didn't get drop-down drunk on one ounce! But it's not a good idea not only because of the stress on your liver, pancreas or what have you, but because the weeks I drink I don't lose much or any weight.

It was easier than I thought it would be. I haven't jogged in years (not since I was over 200 lbs.) and even though I'm teetering on the edge of 200 right now it was not bad at all. I love the podcasts. The music is pretty good and the verbal cues sure beat watching a timer or stopwatch. I plan run a 5K in April.

My first goal is to get under 200 lbs. Here are the LAST photos of me over that! This time next week I WILL be at that goal. This is the first time I've had the nerve to post pics. Still haven't got the courage to unblur face though!

Did the second day today. No soreness. I can't wait until I'm able to run a 5K again!

All i can think of is that scene in The Temple of Doom: "No thanks. I had bugs for lunch." You are truly an adventurous soul.

Yes mine too. I can wear shoes now that are a whole size smaller than when I started.

Looking good! Keep it up!!

Yeah, mine is pretty much back too. I'm 7 months out - it came back around 5 months out. But I feel like it's a much healthier hunger, if that makes any sense. When I'm hungry I want good food. I don't want the junk as much (except at that TOM but even then it's not totally uncontrollable.) And it only takes a fraction of what I used to eat to make me completely satisfied. I do get head hunger too. But I have to ask myself if I'm really hungry or just wanting something. I'm not perfect all the time, but now I can make so much better choices than I ever could/did before the sleeve. I feel more like a "normal" person now as far as hunger and eating go.

I had the same pain in the early days. Not everyone has it and people were telling me that I was eating too much or too fast. But it hurt even when I swallowed my own saliva. Tell me how that was too much or too fast!? Anyway, it does get better. About 4-5 weeks later the pain was mostly history. I don't know if the Prilosec I started helped or if it just took time. But I'm 7 mos.out and never have pain unless I DO eat too much or too fast. I can gulp Water when my stomach is empty and no problem. Hang in there!

Absolutely. I remember those 1/2 gallon ice cream binges! Last month when PMS hit there was actually some ice cream in the freezer from a kid's birthday. I got it out and had about 2 spoonfuls before I thought, "This isn't really what I want and it's just going to make my stomach hurt." So I put it back and had a protein shake. Go sleeve!!

5 quarts!? That's amazing. I'm so grateful for my 8 oz. tummy!

Wow, you went on a 2-month carb frenzy and only gained 1 pound? I wish I could do that! I eat too many carbs in 2 DAYS and I gain a pound! Way to go on getting back on track!

Know the feeling. That 6-month mark is a real downer. But we still have restriction, just have to use it right! Time to turn up the exercise and put down the carbs. (So says the woman who ate a chocolate covered strawberry for Valentine's Day!)

Another vote for the mini processor/blender. We got one as a wedding gift 14 years ago and it's still going strong! Love that thing. Use it for meat, cheese (for cheese chips), flax seeds, and it works for nuts and chocolate too although I haven't used it for that since surgery. For the shakes I have a shaker bottle I got from the surgeon. It has the wire ball thing in it. Works great. I also have a single serve Hamilton Beach blender but it makes some of the Protein powders too frothy.

Mine started at around 4 months and got the worst at 5 1/2-6 mos. Now it's not as much, just waiting for it to grow back in. It's not too bad. I have to tease up around my part at the back of my head a little or you can see my scalp (black hair and white skin) and my ponytail is thinner - i can wrap the band 4 times instead of 3 now. I don't know if biotin helps or not, just using my same old Biolage shampoo and conditioner.

I'm 7 months out and I am freezing all the time! The aches and pains I have are due more to my age I think. But this being cold is getting old. I wonder if the summer will be better.

I can completely relate to the OP! I was sleeved in June too and find the carb monster has come home to roost. Especially at certain times of the month. I can't find the motivation to exercise every day even though when I do I feel much better. What's up with that? I'm hovering just over 200 now and have decided to exercise every day until I'm below 200. After that maybe I hope I will be motivated to keep doing it everyday. I just need to get off my butt and stay out of the carbs! I have a houseful of people that are all sweet junkies so it's really hard to keep them out of the house. I need to be firm though. I should only allow the stuff I don't like. vanilla ice cream could sit in the freezer for years and I wouldn't touch it. Bring chocolate in though and it's gone like that! We can do this. Let me know how you're doing and we'll get there together!

I'll have to say 8-9 at this point. I'm 7 months out and have lost 89 lbs. But the last 2 months have been really slow and really hard. The hunger is back and the carb cravings. I'm having to struggle as much as I ever did not to eat all the bad things. BUT, the sleeve keeps me from eating as MUCH as I used to. I'm still losing just at a much slower rate. I guess I'm just sad that it's not as easy now as it was the first 4-5 months. But I would still do it again in a heartbeat and I know that if I put just a little more effort into it I will lose the last 50 lbs.

I have Wii Fit, Wii Active and Wii Zumba 2. I like wii Fit, I don't like wii EA Sports Active but I love Wii Zumba. It really makes me sweat. I love it when I get all the stars and unlock new routines. Wii Fit is fun even though it's not quite as much of a workout, the yoga is really good when I need to stretch and the strength exercises do give a somewhat good workout. But the balance stuff is mostly just fun. Some days that's all I can make myself do so I figure that's better than nothing. The Wii EA Sports Active is toooo boring. It's just like back in school when we had P.E. exercise class. One, two, three and one two etc. I find the remote not very good at picking up my movements in that one either without doing some extra hand flipping etc. But in Zumba it does great.

Even now I when I get cravings (and I do around that time of the month) I can't find anything that really satisfies me. Used to I would eat half a carton of ice cream, but now I eat a few bites and it's like meh, I don't really enjoy this and it's just going to make my stomach hurt. So I have to find something else to do. It's a loss for sure. I used food to solve all my problems before. Now I have to actually figure out ways to deal with them because I can't use my "drug" of choice anymore. But overall it's a good thing. There is a price for everything in life.