momto3girls

Hello from beautiful but chilly Houston! Yesterday it was 26 degrees in the morning! So unusual for us. I love cold weather but have definitely noticed a change in my body's tolerance of it since the weight loss began. Anyway, I have been out of commission for awhile with travel and then I got a virus on my computer that made my entire technology world come crashing down on me. Sigh. But I think I am good now...just have to change a billion passwords now. No bueno! So wanted to put a thought out on here and wondering if any of you have experienced the same thing. Do any of you have to travel for work? Well, I was traveling the past couple of weeks to visit my parents and wow, I CANNOT make it through airport security anymore. Every time I trigger the magnetometer and thus have to have the full criminal pat down by TSA. I have worn different bras thinking it was the underwire but nope. They repeatedly ask me if I have any metal IN my person and I say "no nothing beyond surgical staples." And they respond all the time "those won't trigger it." Uh, yes, they do! I have decided....I have had previous surgeries and it has never been a problem-well maybe one other time I had to be patted down. But now, it is EVERY time. So my thought is that with the gastric sleeve there are SO MANY staples and they are probably triple layered and basically are all clumped together so it triggers the metal detector now. Anyway, it is a total pain in the ass to say the least. Anyone else dealt with this?

Happy New Year Sleeve Sisters! I have been reading all the posts but have been bad about responding. Sorry. I have been out of town for much of the Christmas and New Year break and am leaving again this week for CA to visit my parents. I have not made the best choices over the holidays but have still managed to lose a few more pounds. I drank my share of beer, wine, and liquor too over the holidays with no effect. I drink everything super slow and never finish a drink completely (even my Diet Coke). I still can't get down an entire can...usually only 1/4-1/2 can. Anyway, I am not beating myself up because I figure that I can eat so little in quantity that it does not much matter on my bad choices. Probably not the right attitude but oh well. I was sleeved 9/17 and am down right about 50 pounds. Last night I worked and it was the first shift that SO MANY people commented on my weight loss. It was kinda cool! I got everything from "Sexy!" to "You look fabulous!" and "Looking good girl!" Heck, I even had a patient tell me that his high heart rate was being caused by his good looking nurse! LOL! Nobody knows about the surgery at my work. I am continuing to play it off telling them about my new eating habits. It is working so far...not sure when I will be ready to divulge the full truth as I don't want anyone to hold it against me. I am cleaning out my closet this week because everything is too big now. It's a hard problem to have! Not!!! Oh, and speaking of visiting my parents...they nor my sister know that I had the surgery either so it will be interesting to see their reaction-if any. OK, that is my update. Keep up the great work ladies. I enjoy reading all of the postings.

Thanks for the compliment KParker! I went today for my 3 month checkup. OMG! 1 hour and 20 min just to get in a room and then felt totally rushed with the doctor. Done in less than 10 min I think. Plus a 1 hour+ drive each way=ugh. But the good news is that my official 3 month loss is 45.5. I am happy! He said that the next 3 months will be about half of that. Boo! All my lab work was OK. I get to stop taking B12 and iron..just have to stay on multivitamin and calcium. And of course he stressed the importance of exercise. Hope to get on that in the new year since bathing suit season is right around the corner. Not sure WHAT kind of bathing suit to even look for since I hopefully won't be plus size by then..but yet not even close to being ready for a 2 piece. Any suggestions? We have a boat so I have to look good....LOL! OK, need to get off this computer and get to wrapping gifts. I am such a procrastinator.

Well, I have been sort of MIA as of late. So busy with school (finishing up my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing) but now I am done for winter break. And now trying to finish up Christmas. But wanted to check in and say hi. I go tomorrow morning for my 3 month post-op. Sort of looking forward to the weigh in but sort of not. AM looking forward to seeing my lab work. This is the first time labs have been drawn since pre-op. I will let y'all know how it goes. I am figuring that I am down about 40-42 pounds and definitely losing inches. I am SO DANG EXCITED that I can now fit in size 18 jeans...down from my original 24. That is 3 sizes!!!! And I can now buy XL shirts off the rack and they fit...well most of them anyway. It is sort of funny though in the dressing room because as I am unzipping the size 18's to try them on I am saying to myself "there is no way that my butt is going to fit into these" but then I fit!!! OK, hope y'all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So how are all of my Sept sleeve sisters doing with eating out now that we are 3 months out? I am wondering if I am in the minority. I HATE eating out now! I get so damn anxious in restaurants...very fidgety and bored and then sometimes kinda shaky. It's like I don't know what to do with myself and my hands. Haha! I just can't seem to want to spend the money on a dinner that I can only eat 3-4 bites of. Tonight we went to Saltgrass Steakhouse on our way home from the beach in Galveston, TX and so I ordered soup and salad. Ate a few bites of the Caesar salad and it tasted so damn good. But the soup was meh....yuk. Sipped on water and that was it. All the while my husband was enjoying a ribeye steak, romano potatoes, and beer. It's really hard to not get depressed right now, especially with all the Christmas parties, food, sweets that are available. And it is pissing my husband off because I never want to go out anymore. Boo.

NewGrandmother: How do the Trader Joe's chewables taste? Are they all nasty and gritty like the Celebrate ones. I am so glad to have finished those. Bought the swallow capsules but I throw those up it seems so sticking to gummies from Walgreen's. Now if I could just get through my huge bottle of Calcium chewables. Those are so nasty too! I have resorted to doing the chewy ones that are like chocolate candy, raspberry candy, etc..almost like a now or later texture. Much better. MDM0927: How are the Centrum chewables that look like gumballs taste-wise? I looked at those too but ended up buying the gummy bear looking ones (not sure on the brand at the moment)

Burping isn't so much a problem but wow, hiccups are! I think this is how I know to stop eating whatever it is that I am eating. I did OK yesterday. Had to work and there was a crap load of food there but I ate the turkey and ham first and then just took spoonfuls of steamed green Beans, mashed potatoes, one deviled egg, and a spoonful of banana pudding. I didn't touch any of the other Desserts or soda. I brought a lunch with me with Protein Snacks and milk and then drank my Water all day. Once I got home I sampled a piece of turkey that my family brought home for me as well as a couple bites of pumpkin pie and whew, that did not agree with me. Today I tried leftover turkey again and began to vomit. So it all went in the trash. Sigh. Having a rough day today..lots of heartburn and just not feeling well. I think I am overtired from my very busy 12 hour shift yesterday...

@teach5: Way to rock your sleeve! Great job! I was sleeved on 9/17 and am only down around 33-35#. But I will need to go shopping too very soon. The jeans are getting too baggy and the bras are getting "wrinkles" in them because they are getting too big. Whoop!!!!

Thanksgiving? Nope. Not worried. I have to work and although I know there will be a full Thanksgiving meal there (we always bring food on the holidays) I won't eat much. Heck, half the time we don't even get lunch breaks anymore since we are always so busy and short staffed. And holidays tend to be pretty busy in the ER, unfortunately. In other fabulous news...I put on a pair of jeans last night and they basically fell off (sz 22). I couldn't even wear them with a belt because they would be too bunched up. Woo! Hoo! And this morning I stepped on the scale and finally hit the 220's!!! It's gonna be a good day y'all.

@namada: Holy moly! That is an awesome amount of weight loss. Congratulations!

Why is is so hard to re-train ourselves to eat slow and chew well? Geez! This is harder than I thought it would be. I was starving so went to Arby's and got a Beef n Cheddar. Came home and took off the top bun and cut the bottom of the sandwich in half. Ate half of it and was immediately at the trash can. Sigh.

I just had a similar snack a few minutes ago...1/2 well toasted English muffin with 2 Tbs of chocolate PB2. Yum!!!

Wow! How nice of you. There is nothing like "paying it forward". And that is great that your surgeon offers that FB page for support. I wish mine did that so I could find more friends locally to bond with.

For those of you posting about hair loss, I have been using Nioxin shampoo, conditioner, and scalp treatment. Haven't hardly shed any hair in almost 8 weeks...although it seems like I read somewhere that 3 months is usually when it will be the worst. Anyway, I am assuming the stuff is helping but of course can't prove it. I got it at ULTA. It is expensive though. There are all different stages so be sure to buy the correct one for your type of hair-for example I use stage 3 since I have baby fine hair that is highlighted. So hopefully this will help some of you.

If you have an Avenue store or Lane Bryant near you I think their calf boots are made a bit wider. Might be worth a try since it is that time of year for boots!

That is AWESOME!!! I was sleeved the day before you but have only lost 30 pounds. But I have not gotten on the exercise bandwagon yet which I am positive has a huge part in my slow weight loss. Hope to get that extra energy and motivation soon. Life is getting in the way with school, work, and kids....sigh

Well sleeve sisters...it CAN be done! I went to my Houston Texans football game and had a blast..even after the sleeve. Well, I am too scared to partake in the alcohol just yet so stuck with water, a few sips of gatorade and about 1/2 of a Diet Coke. I had a few Cheetos and one hot dog (no bun) while tailgating and then inside the game I was able to tolerate part of an order of nachos. No puking. No problems. Just feel super dry and dehydrated tonight so now drinking more water. But man, all that cold beer sure looked tempting!!!!

And one more bit of good news from Houston...I have not only gone down from 3x work scrubs to 2x but I also fit into my first XL t-shirt in many many years!!! I am so happy. AND, I ordered a new Texans thermal shirt and it arrived yesterday and OMG! IT IS HUGE ON ME....It is a 2X and I have got to return it. All of this is with a 28 pound loss since my surgery on 9/17/12.

I think it is a record y'all...It is Nov 1st and I have not eaten one piece of Halloween candy from my 3 kids. Not one piece! GO ME!!!!

Another day of trying new things...for breakfast I had one waffle with 1/2 banana sliced on top of it and a little sugar free syrup. So nice to have something "new". For lunch just now I toasted 1/2 of a whole wheat bagel thin, put a little light mayo on it and some homemade chicken salad (chicken, light mayo, celery, onion, and chopped up red grapes). Once again...something "new". So far so good. Just wish I wasn't so tired today....

OMG! I just experienced a tiny slice of heaven. I haven't been cooking much for the family (gee I wonder why) but decided to use up some ground beef so made meatloaf and mashed potatoes and peas. I took about 1/2 the amount I usually do, ate the meat first, then the peas and taters. Finished the meat but not the potatoes or peas. I am queen of wasted food these days it seems. Anyway, It tasted so damn good! Something different and something homemade. I am going to get myself some milk here in a bit too. Yum!!! I am gonna go to bed a happy girl tonight.

I have those days too. Unfortunately. Went to bed in tears last night and had a long discussion with my husband this morning about how after 6 weeks I am still pretty much regretting the surgery. My weight loss is at a standstill. Everything that tasted good pre-sleeve makes me want to puke now. And I am so beyond sick of cheese, cottage cheese, lunch meat, and eggs that I could scream. Tried a Subway salad tonight and nope, tummy is not real happy with me. Ugh. I am hungry all the time it seems. I can't seem to eat 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. Just seem to graze all day because I am so hungry all day. I think it is complete BS that they cut out the part if the stomach that secretes Ghrelin. Don't believe it for a minute. I think I really need to attend a support group meeting but unfortunately the one at the hospital I had the surgery is too far away and is only once a month. Maybe that is what you need too? Hang in there. I think the emotional/psychological journey is even tougher than the physical one.

Yippee! I am home and survived my first day back at work. It has been 7 weeks since I have worked. No one at work knows about my surgery. And I must admit that I was a little sad that no one commented that I look like I have lost weight. :-( I was able to wear my one size smaller (2X) scrubs (I am an ER nurse) which are tighter than my 3X's were but hey I was a happy clam just to have them fit my butt n boobs! Anyway, eating went OK. Never got a lunch (we hardly ever do these days) but I just made it a point to go to break room every couple of hours and get a snack (yogurt, ham&Laughing Cow cheese rollups, cottage cheese) and of course water. It was easier for me to drink my water there but I think that is because I am running and get thirsty. Chewed Altoids so as not to blow my patients away with my ketosis breath and also chewed gum. All in all it was a good day. Happy to be back with all the crazies!!

I have to admit you brought a smile/laugh to my face just now....reading "beautiful fall weather" hahaha! It is still 86-88 degrees everyday and humid here in Houston. ugh!!! My hubby is in MN on business and it is snowing there already. I told him to bring it home with him. Geez, you'd think by Oct 25th us Houstonians would be able to catch a break. Anyway, thanks all for your support. I did not sleep well last night and am absolutely worn down and out today so I know this is not helping my situation. I look forward to a better day tomorrow. And Saturday I return to my job as a ER nurse. Maybe then I will quit feeling sorry for myself to concentrate on helping really sick people survive. Just a thought.

Oh my! The boredom has set in BIG TIME here at 5 1/2 weeks. I am sick of eating everything! I am sick of water and all flavorings. NOTHING tastes good anymore. And so what happens now? Well, the rebel is coming out...I drank my water from Sonic with a straw, tried to eat my "old days" breakfast taco (used to eat 2) and didn't even make it to 1/2 of one, ate a kids chili cheese dog from Sonic (no bun) and now drinking a diet cherry limeade (gasp! carbonation) from a straw. Oh, and ate ONE tater tot which didn't taste good and 1/2 of one cheesecake bite. Yeah, I know, I am not going to lose weight this way but it has been a really bad and tiring day. I guess this is how I am fighting the depression....