Merydia710

I was sleeved 2-15-2012, just over 2 months ago. I have had some ups and downs. Overall though I am doing great. Much better than I was expecting to be doing at this point. I started at 320lbs and now weigh 272.. As of today I have lost 48 lbs since before my pre op diet and 40 inches!!! My blood pressure is normal now when it was super high before. I move around so much easier and I find that I can stand and go for hours when before I had to stop and rest all the time. I think the hardest thing for me is over coming the mental part. I still can't believe such a small amount of food can feel me up. It feels great that food does not control my life anymore. I would eat until I made myself sick before I had this surgery and I could eat monster amounts of food. Now i just have my few bites and move on. I have energy and I feel fantastic. A few people who know I have had the surgery have noticed I have lost weight but other people haven't noticed too much yet. The most important thing is I notice and I feel good. My clothes are falling off me and I have have dropped from a 30/32 tight to a 22/24 that is loose. I still have a long way to go I just wanted to share my story so far. I love this site it has helped me so much. I am looking forward to what the future has in store for me and for all of us. here is an updated pic before and after.. the before is pretty horrible i just wanted it to be as real as possible

oh and I'm engaged!!! has nothing to do with my surgery or weight loss but exciting all the same

I love the biggest loser meatball recipe... if you do a search for biggest loser meatball recipe it should come up. It calls for beef but I have used ground turkey, chicken, and pork. Any of them taste amazing. Plus they are super soft and moist and go down easy.

My Doctors office recommended them to me but let me tell you I had nothing but problems with Bariatric Advantage as a company. Their website says they get the product to you in 4 or 5 days. I ordered mine 2 weeks before surgery thinking I would have it by the time I was home from the hospital. With being busy and working and getting my house and family ready before I had surgery I didn't notice that It never came and when I called 2 days after coming home from the hospital the guy on the phone said "oh it just hasn't shipped yet" he wasn't sure of the problem but assured me he would make sure it was shipped out overnight so I could get it the next day.. The next day it doesn't show up so I call again and the same guy says "oh it shows it hasn't shipped yet" then tells me the same thing it will be shipped overnight. In the mean time I go to Walmart and buy some body fortress shakes that taste great and start with those.. I also had ordered a Multivitamin and calcium supplement from them so since I didn't have those I had to spend more money and go buy some from the Vitamin shoppe. My order with bariatric advantage was a total of 179$ which had already been taken out of my account. Plus another $45 for the Walmart shakes plus another $60 for the supplements from Vitamin Shoppe.. at this point I was furious.. The next day of course my order isn't there so I call again. The girl I talk to has no idea what is going on my shipment is still sitting in the warehouse. I ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who is in charge. He finally gets on the line and assures me he is shipping my package out and I will have it the next day. I ask him to give me the tracking number and he does. So as I am tracking the package the next day to see where it is I realize it IS STILL AT THE WAREHOUSE!!!!! It was never picked up. I call back and cancel my order. 2 days later my shipment arrives! After I had cancelled it. So I had to ship it back in order to get my refund. Which took 3 weeks! I called my Doctors office to let them know the issues I was having since they recommended it. The nurse who I spoke with said she had talked to another patient who was having the same problem a few days ago with the same company. Needless to say I will NEVER use their products and they will not get any of my money. I guess I should add everyone has had their own experiences and I'm sure some people have been very pleased with their products and services from this company. I just wanted to share my own. Look at reviews in more than one place and do your own research about their products I found some great things at different stores and online. That are not so expensive but of the same quality. I even found these awesome dark chocolate medallions like a little piece of chocolate but with calcium citrate 500 mg!! they are awesome I take them 3 times a day and it is like a little treat they are low in carbs and sugar and taste fantastic!

So I had my official 6 wk dr visit. I have lost 42 lbs total, 30 of that since 2-15-2012 the day of surgery. I am feeling amazing and so excited about this journey. My blood pressure used to run about 164/92 which is crazy high. I was not on and meds for it. Today my blood pressure was 120/84!!! Wow I am so happy to see that change with out meds. It's almost normal and I am only 40 lbs down with about 120 left to go. Also took my daughter out to lunch at the cracker barrel and only spent $11.92 with a tip included...lol... that was really nice!!! She got what she wanted and I got a little side of an egg and a piece of bacon and didnt even finish it all. Also i was able to buy a dress and sweater in a 18/20 2 months ago I was in a 28-30... Woo hooo Just had to share. I am so happy with the decision I have made to have the sleeve.

This is what I do for easter and halloween and any holiday where candy is involved. I let my daughter pick 5 pieces of candy and she can have one piece a day or every other day and when it's gone then it's gone. She really doesn't need to have all that candy anyway.. then we bag up the rest and leave it out for the candy fairy before bed and when she wakes up she has a new cool toy from the candy fairy. I throw out th candy.. none of us need it and it's full of crap. I don't let her eat a lot of sweets anyway. From the time she could eat I have tried very hard to give her a balanced diet. I didn't want her to end up like me as a junk food junkie. And now she is one of the healthiest kids I know. She eats raw baby spinach as a snack and she loves green vegtables. I'm not too strict because I don't want her to have issues with food. She doesn't really know any different. I know this isn't the normal thing most parents do but it's what works for us. I'm pretty sure she doesn't feel deprived or that it's not fair.

I was also very nauseous it was pretty bad and I was sick a few times but once I figured it was the pain meds they changed them and I was much much better

No pain here either. I was really drugged up well and they were very good about keeping me pain free. If I asked I got it. They changed between 2 different meds so I could maintain.. I only needed pain meds the first day in the hospital by the next night I was of all pain meds completely. I was sore but it felt like a really hard work out. Don'[t worry about pain you will be fine.

I'm not sure if they can actually break up and get rid of fat but I know you do get rid of lots of toxins after a massage. My lady always tells me to make sure I drink lots of Water to flush my system out with the toxins. I think your visualizing it is pretty awesome though.. Your mind is a powerful thing and your body will respond. I am going to get a massage next week my first since my surgery. I will ask her about this I am really interested to know.. She is amazing and has been doing this for over 20 years. I always feel like I am floating after.

Don't be sad about the food. You will eat the things you love again just in really small amounts. I am 2 months post op and can eat pretty much anything. I would say I am the exception though because from what I have read most people seem to have some food aversions and also things there sleeve just cant handle like bread and dairy. However my sleeve likes it all and can process it I just chew chew chew. I was really sad and depressed at first too. Just get through your liquids and let yourself heal. You will be ok..

That is pretty awesome!

I woke up this morning and my butt cheeks are sore.. It was weird because I felt fine yesterday and didn't go to the gym all weekend, I didn't do any extra bedroom activities so that's out too So as I am sitting there wondering what the heck is going on I realize I wore heels all day yesterday!!! For the first time in about 2 or 3 years I can't remember. And they were high wedge heels too and so comfortable.. That's a pretty good reason for my butt to hurt..lol I guess I should wear them more often and give my butt an extra workout.. On a side note it was awesome to go to my Family easter party and not eat myself sick. I had one small plate I picked off of and that was it. Last year I ate so much I felt sick. I have a cousin who is well over 400 lbs and she had eaten so much she just laid back on the couch and let it all hang out. I saw myself only a few months ago and it was very eye opening. I really want to tell her I had the surgery and how awesome I feel but I don't want to offend her and I know I will because that side of my family are very against any kind of dieting and weightloss.. (of course they are super obese) My Aunt once cooked hamburger meat with crisco in it!! I refused to eat it and she didn't talk to me for months. As unhealthy as I was I knew that was too much! No one except my parents, siblings, and boyfriend know I had surgery. It was interesting to see peoples reactions to me. I have lost 46 lbs total now in 2 months. I feel fantastic. Not only did I have an awesome easter I was able to move around and help my daughter hunt eggs and I never felt sick or too full. AND............. I lost 1.5 lbs since yesterday morning!!! I am so ready for what the future has in store for me..

I hardly had pain at all. by the second day I had stopped all pain meds. I felt sore like a really hard work out in my abs but not horrible pain. Everyone is different and will react differently.. my biggest fear was not the pain cause I knew they had good meds to help with that and they use the iv to administer them so they hit you fast. I was scared of waking up from the surgery and trying to hit someone because I would be confused. But I barely remember at all. My mom says i woke up and asked her if I looked skinny yet and told her to take a picture.. lol You will be fine. Will you have someone with you for support? I know that helped me so much. My c section was way worse with pain. WAY WAY worse! It will be so worth it I promise and I am only 7 weeks out. I feel like a new person,

My fiance also eats lots of crap. He loves fast food. Of course he is solid muscle and hardly any fat. He burns everything he eats.. Lucky ASS! His body fat is like 19 %!!!!!!! I mean really?! At first I was a little annoyed with him for still eating like that but I came to realize I am in total control of what I do. He can eat crap if he wants to. I can't really get mad at him for it. If I'm tempted then I just look away or go do something else. before I had the surgery I told him how it makes me feel and that I need his support and he really changed how he was with me. He told me if it bothers me to tell him. I honestly think sometimes if you don't spell it out for them they really just don't get it at all. He does support me and has been pretty awesome in this whole process. So I feel pretty lucky. When I cook healthy meals he eats them and loves it. I guess now its to the point where I'm ok with it all. I even made him Cookies one day.. I guess my views on food have changed. Your husband needs to know how important this is to you and if it bothers you that he is eating crap in front of you it is not ok at all. The emotional and mental support are just as important as the change in diet. You have to be in a good place with all of it to really be successful. Good luck

It's so sad when people feel bad about themselves and the choices they are making they will always reflect that back on other people . My step mom tormented me as child about my weight to the point that I was not allowed to touch food unless she approved I was not even allowed in the kitchen.. needless to say I have had issues with food for the last 23 years. Now that I am finally losing weight she refuses to even speak to me..lol.. I have tried to call and say hi but it goes to voicemail everytime. Now she is the one who is over weight and diabetic and having all kinds of health issues. I say owell its my time to take care of myself. My sistr who has also had issues with weight is having a hard time with me losing also. She has made several comments on me being smaller than her and she is freaking out.. I just think its sad.. why not just be happy for me losing weight and being healthy... I think you should mess with them a bit.. maybe help them realize how horrible they are being.

thecolorrun.com My sister who has lost about 50 or 60 lbs over the last few years has gotten into running. She posted on facebook that she was going to do this Color Run 5k. I so want to do it. NO!! I AM DOING IT!! I was sleeved 2-15-12 and I have lost 42 lbs.. I know by then I will be able to run especially if I start training now.. that gives me 8 months So that's it I'm doing it! Anyone else from around the Central Florida area want to join me? Check out the link.. kids can come and it's not about the time you finish in its about having fun.. Just wanted to share

I also fear going back to the places I was as I lose this weight. As I hit new milestones I think "this is what I was doing at this weight in my life". The emotional and physical abuse I suffered was the main reason for my weight gain and going through it again will be hard. I have spent the last 24 years of my total 30 on earth building up this wall of fat to protect me. I am ready now to get it off and hopefully deal with the reasons behind it. Thank you for sharing this. It really hit home with me. And also gives me hope that I can go through it and make to the other side.

I know everyone says this but really you have to take it just one day at a time.. That's all you can do. In your relationships, in work, home, finances, and even having this surgery. I have always been super emotional and before surgery was hard on me.. After was a little hard too because of extra hormones but now at 7 weeks post op I am leveling out a bit and things are getting back to normal. You have every right to be emotional all of the things you are going through and have been through are hard on the mind, body and soul. Try and focus on the good things and not the bad. EVERYTHING happens for a reason. I have been to rock bottom and saw no way out. But just when I thought it was over things started happening for me and my life took a completely different direction. I know its hard. I truly do, but you will get through this. This is an awesome place to come for support. Not just for the sleeve but in life in general. People here really care. We are here if you need us

MMMmmmm. I love watermelon.. when I was pregnant I HAD to eat it everyday. I would go out in the middle of the night to get it if I didn't have any. It was my only real craving. I really don't think it's that bad for you. Here is an article i found.. (NaturalNews) Who would have thought the common watermelon packed so much nutrition? The usual notion about watermelon is they are just Water with taste, harmless, but not a good choice for nutritional value. Wrong! Watermelon has the most nutrition per calorie of common foods. Organic watermelons are hard to find and pricey when found. But conventionally grown watermelons are not among the dirty dozen of the most heavily sprayed produce. Instead, they are actually among the fifteen most clean of non-organic fruits and vegetables. What Watermelons Have to Offer Besides tasting great and being low in calories because watermelon is mostly water, it is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which a major antioxidant. It has a high beta carotene concentration, thus offering a fair amount of Vitamin A as well. Both beta carotene with vitamin A help support good eyesight and prevent glaucoma. High intakes of combined beta-carotene and Vitamin C have demonstrated, through clinical and scientific studies, a propensity for warding off various cancers and heart disease, reducing arthritis symptoms, and minimizing asthmatic breathing problems. A surprise nutrient is vitamin B, especially B1 (thiamine) and B6 (pyridoxine). Thiamine is important for maintaining electrolytes and nervous system signal transmissions throughout the body. Pyridoxine is essential for enzymatic functions that convert food into cellular energy. The meat or pulp of watermelons is usually pink or red. Those colors indicate the highest content of lycopene, an antioxidant lauded for its ability to greatly minimize cancer risks. From the Worlds' Healthiest Foods website (source below), "... lycopene has been repeatedly studied in humans and found to be protective against a growing list of cancers. These cancers now include prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancers." Then there are the minerals of potassium and magnesium, which watermelons also offer abundantly. Potassium is important for cardiovascular health and brain health and helps the kidneys eliminate kidney stone forming Calcium as well as assists with the body's Fluid retention. Magnesium is considered the master mineral. It is involved with over 300 cellular metabolic functions. It happens to be lacking in our diets because of our depleted topsoils. Magnesium deficiencies are directly or indirectly related to most of our population's poor health issues. Obvious symptoms are irritability, tension, sleep disorders, and muscular cramping. After that, it's heart attacks and other serious illnesses. Picking and Handling Watermelon Organic watermelons too rare and pricey? Watermelon is among the cleanest 15 commercial agribusiness fruits and vegetables, and it's not part of the dirty dozen of most sprayed. Sometimes they're cut, so you can avoid any that have some white or light coloring in its pulp. Then you can press lightly at different spots to make sure they're not over ripe while observing the pink/red color quality. Deeper red/pink is better. If they are not cut, pick them up one at a time, holding them on your shoulder and near your ear while knocking on them the way you would knock on someone's door. What you hear should be a somewhat hollow echo. If it goes thunk without as though it solid, that's no good. Too hollow a sound could be less optimum. Trail and error will help you develop the knack for picking the best. Watermelons don't lose as much nutritional value cut and stored in the fridge as most other produce. But it's wise to pull the piece out long enough for it to go to room temperature. This maximizes its phytonutrient capacity. So allow yourself to indulge in a great tasting, refreshing, and healthy treat with watermelon whenever you desire. Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/029157_watermelon_nutrition.html#ixzz1pusXRo9M http://www.naturalnews.com/029157_watermelon_nutrition.html

My daughter is 3.5 I have been totally open and honest with her about everything that is going on with me and this surgery. Of course I keep on her level but I want her to know that I am doing this to be healthy to live a longer life and be there for her and our family. Before I had this surgery I was explaining to her that I was having surgery because I was too big, I said this is all fat (pointing to my rolls) and it is making me sick. I am going to have a smaller stomach so I can lose the fat and be a smaller mommy. .. She says to me but I like you fat. When I grow up I want to be a fat mommy just like you. If you get smaller I won't be able to love you anymore.. This broke my heart.. and even typing this it still does. She has no idea what it is like to have normal healthy mother. In the past I have always been too tired or too embarrassed to go out and do stuff with her. So I told her and I made her look right at me when I did. You will be able to love me just the same because I am the same mommy. I will just be smaller. I will be able to run with you and go to the parks and do all the fun things you always want to go do. I told her that Me, Daddy, and her will be healthy together and live long long lives.. This seemed to make her think and she had lots of other questions which I answered the best I could. I think it will be an on going thing to make sure she understands what healthy is and how important it is. I was never taught these things and look where it got me. I lived with mental and physical abuse from about her age until the age of 16 and I ate my feelings away. she will never have those problems but I make sure she is strong and confident and knows that she is loved no matter what. Sorry I kinda went off here but I feel so strongly about this. I guess the bottom line is being honest about your struggles. Like what got you to where you are. How much you wish you would have eaten healthy when you were younger so you didn't have to have surgery. ( this is really just in my case I know not everyone has the same story) It is a hard thing for a small child to understand but I think the more you talk about it and the older she gets the more she will understand. Set a good example and she will see that. You are taking care of yourself not like someone with an eating disorder. It's not only the amount of food a child sees you eat when you have an eating disorder. Its also all the other destructive things they hear and see that goes along with it. I am 5 weeks out now and down 38lbs and she sees me eat everyday. We all have dinner together as a family every night and there have been no negative comments from her so far with the amount I am eating. She thinks it's fun that I use her plates now and daddy has big ones. I make things we can all have and she actually is one of the healthiest eaters I have ever seen in a 3 year old. She loves her raw green veggies and fruit. She even has her own smoothie with me in the morning with my shake.. Of course hers is just fruit and yogurt not Protein powders like mine but it's something we share together. I have tried very hard to start her off in life with eating good healthy foods. I am so glad it stuck! I hope this helps some. Good luck with your surgery.

I found it.. Advantages Taking whey Protein before bed allows your resting body to rapidly benefit from the amino acids it contains. Whey protein, because it comes from an animal, contains all the essential amino acids you need to include in your daily diet, especially when you are building muscle. The branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine get incorporated into your muscle tissue particularly quickly, as they do not require metabolism by your liver, unlike non-branched-chain amino acids. Because your body repairs and builds muscle tissue during periods of rest, consuming whey protein before you go to bed supplies your recovering muscles with amino acids at that time. Disadvantages Despite the high-quality protein it provides, whey offers greater muscle-building potential when taken at times other than before bed. For example, consuming fast-acting whey -- along with carbohydrates -- prior to and following a strenuous workout not only helps to prevent muscle breakdown during exercise but also increases the rate of protein synthesis needed for muscle recovery and growth. Sports nutritionist Nancy Clark suggests that slow-releasing casein may be preferable to whey protein at night to allow a steady, gradual influx of amino acids to your muscles as you sleep. Considerations Taking whey protein before bed may not be the optimal time for maximal effect of this supplement; however, it nonetheless supplies your muscles with the amino acids needed for growth. Although nutrient timing matters for optimal fitness, the quality of your nutrition is also critical to meeting your fitness goals. In other words, consuming high-quality protein such as whey is essential for building muscle, no matter what time of day you take it.

I have read that when you sleep especially the first couple of hours of sleep your body uses Protein to repair itself. I drink a little before bed not a whole shake but about half. I don't use milk though I do almond milk unsweetened. Not right before bed but about a hour before I go to sleep. It's not the same as having a snack before bed or late night eating. Your body needs protein and will use it for the right reasons. Your body does not need ice cream, chips or my favorite lots of buttery popcorn and a coke before bed..lol I have lost 38 lbs and I am 5 weeks out. I guess I just feel like my body was in such shock since having surgery that like having that extra protein to help my body repair the damage done.. I had some info on protein before bed I will try to find it and post it. Of course YOU should only do what you think is best for YOU. This is just my routine.

I would still focus on your Protein first veggies next and grains last. When I was pregnant ( I was not sleeved but I was almost 300 lbs) my midwife wanted me to get in lots of protein and veggies first and carbs and grains last. Mainly because i was trying to keep my blood pressure down. I lost 30 lbs when I was pregnant and had a very normal pregnancy considering I was morbidly obese. Just do the best you can and listen to your body it will let you know what it needs. Women have babies everyday with poor or no nutrition. Some women don't even know they are pregnant and have totally fine pregnancies and babies. Your body will always take care of your baby first so everything it needs it will get first and whats left you will get. Congratulations!!

I am 5 weeks post op and I have had a few crazy days.. I have had to apologize to several people around me for acting like a monster. I even hung up on my mother. Who is an amazing person and my best friend. I freaked on my boyfriend because he had to work late one night and he has no control over it if he has to stay he has to stay.. and my rational mind knows this but when my hormones kick in everyone better watch out. I think it's a normal thing. I have been feeling pretty good lately and I can kinda feel when I'm gonna get in a funky mood so I can warn everyone. I have noticed exercise really helps my moods. When my daughter who is 3 said to me "Mommy I don't like it when you are mean" I realized I needed to do my best to pay attention to my moods and what makes me feel better and worse. It broke my heart for her to say that to me so I am more aware now I think. So I don't hurt the people around me. Good luck and if all else fails call your Doctor maybe they can help you out.