NancyDec20

Ive always worked very hard.. I work 2 full time jobs and have for ever it seems.. I work in a hospital and in a nursing home doing restorative therapy.. go on vacations.. work is my life.. so I eat on the go and fast food much of the time.. yes ive been heavy for a long time.. after my children of course..and battling cancer as a child didnt help matters.. my parents were always happy when I ate.. I was an active child.. did sports and in highschool too.. was always slightly over wt because of the chemo and sterioids.. but I thinned out some after highschool.. so all was well til I started having kids.. then hello weight gain.. been that way ever since.. then a rude awakening happen.. my mom begin to have health issues.. she was over weight too.. heart trouble.. fluid over load.. stuff like that.. I could see what the weight was doing to her.. heck I work on a cardiac/cancer floor.. I knew what she was doing and tried to educate her.. but alas too late.. she kept in and out of the hospital.. fluids.. blood clots in the lung.. diabetes.. high blood pressure. then the worst possible thing.. she got a fungus in her lung.. operable... yes.. for her no because of her respitory issues...I lost my mom July 28th of last year.. yes sent me into a depression..and on more wt came... but then My hubby is like.. surgery.. im like what? he said.. we could get the lap band.. and im like huh? so we went to a seminar..and did research..and came here to this site.. found out the band was too easy to cheat on.. so hello sleeve.. I did not want to die like my mom did.. I didnt have high blood pressure or diabetes.. but hey it was gonna hit at one point im sure.. my hubby already had both of those cuz of his weight.. so we both had surgery.. mine dec 20th and his dec 27th.. then God decided to load my plate even more so to speak.. my son was murdered on dec 20th the day of my surgery.. I was devestated beyond words.. how could this happen? to me? it was unbearable.. but I had to keep on.. I had to be strong.. for me and my hubby and my other kids... hasnt been a hard journey.. other than emotionally for me.. but I had my hubby and my jobs have been the best supporters in all that has happened.. I cant believe im down 80lbs... and feeling great.. still missing my son.. and upset over that.. but health wise im great.. my hubby and I go to the gym at least 3x a week.. a trainer made a program for us and we follow it.. my hubby is down 80lbs also and I call him a stick now.. he looks so fabulous.. but he did before too in my eyes.. I cant wait to be a stick too lol.. that will come soon its only been a few months and im very proud of myself for sticking with the program and following all my docs and nurses advice.. and so now God again thinks I have nothing to do other than my 2 full time jobs.. since Ive lost the weight.. they found a mass in my leg.. they arent sure what it is..worst case situation.. cancer.. so a biopsy next tuesday..then wait for results.. he must think I have a huge platter.. but I will get thru this too.. I know I can.. been thru the worst already... but going on a vacation in may on a cruise to Alaska.. cant wait to spend that time with my hubby.. he works 2 jobs too.. runs our construction business and manages a set of condos.. so we are busy people.. .. thats my story so far.. food no longer rules me.. I rule me now. ))

I too was sleeved in Dec of 2012.. its been a great journey.. I guess reality set in when I had to buy new scrubs.. people are like dang you need new scrubs.. those are like hanging on you and look like a dress.. so off this last weekend to buy scrubs..and yes I went straight for the size I thought I was.. and my hubby is like.. not those.. im like yeah thats the size..he is like no its not.. try these.. an XL.. im like no way I cant fit into those.. and he is like try a L.. im like I dont think so. he is like try them on at atleast.. ok I said but you will see.. boy was I in for a shocker.. the XL were slightly big and the L were perfect.. Im like WTF is going on.. Im not that small.. he is like yes you are.. I just have a hard time seeing myself that way.. but everyone is calling me skinny minny and hey skinny looking good.. so I dont know.. I have a shape now and its not round anymore.. still so shocking.. but its been a great journey so far.. yes my weight loss has slowed a bit.. but thats ok.. I will get there.. its only been 3.5 months and im down 80lbs.. what more could I ask for? lol another 60lb please.. I go to the gym now too.. so good things for everyone having the sleeve..no complications for me either.. so onward with our journeys and new life of shopping in a whole new dept..and I went to the mall and I was like.. wow I can shop at that store now!!!! best of luck to all .

congrats on the weight loss.. im still 17lbs from onederland.. I hope to get there in the next month or so.. keep up the good work.

keep up the good work.. I had trouble at first too getting in the protein.. but I kept at it.. and wow here I am.. 3.5 months later after surgery..and im down 80lbs.. plus going to the gym now too.. so good things are on the way for you.. I too have found lots of info on here.. so many different things and opinions of what works for each and everyone of us.. but I have found that most important of all.. listen to your doctor and nurse..and the nut.. they do know best.. I didnt get this far by eating the wrong things.. Im getting a do over here and im not going to mess this up this time around.. best of luck to you and your new journey.. keep up the good work.. protein protein protein.. walk walk walk.. sip sip sip.. words of wisdom lol..

my hair is too falling out.. ive been taking biotin since before the surgery..and since it started to fall out.. I doubled my biotin..taking 20,000 mcg now..and it has slowed up some.. so about a month.. then its slowing.. so im happy bout that.. I have very long hair down to my butt.. so I was highly disturbed.. but its all worth it..

lol yes I have a new addiction.. omg its sugar free popsicles...

you are doing fabulous.. you just had surgery.. of course you are tired.. I was like a couch potato the first week.. other than getting up and walking in the neighborhood and around the house..and getting my protein and water in.. I think we all were.. but you are doing all the right things.. but the most important one you mentioned.. is following the doctors orders to a tee.. I did too..and guess what.. im down 80lbs in 3.5 months so keep up the good work.. be positive and rest..and walk walk walk and sip sip sip lol.. best of luck to you in your new journey.

be strong Juan.. good things are about to happen for you.. trust me on that one.. yes I had to only be on one week of full liquids before surgery then cl liquids the day before.. but you can do it.. just think of the rewards ahead of you... im 3.5 weeks post op and down 80lbs.. and so is my hubby.. and he is looking like a stick lol.. thats my new name for him..stick guy... he looks fab.. and I will too as soon as I get as skinny as he does.. so hang in there.. good things I tell you good things.. no regrets.. well one actually.. that I didnt do it sooner

I dont get the hungry thing.. I guess for me its a mind game.. I eat very little and im full.. but my brain is like.. wait.. you only ate a lil bit.. how can you be full? I dont eat anymore cuz I know Im full.. I guess its a head thing.. like head hunger.. I dont let it get to me.. I just busy myself with something lol like coming here and reading and posting.. one day I will get it lol.. just like the fact I dont believe ive lost as much as I have.. I dont see what others see.. I cannot fathom buying smaller clothes.. I have but im like is this like some weird illusion or what? its not.. Im really smaller.. its a trip I tell you

My hubby eats them all the time.. he eats them as a snack.. so far he is down 80lbs as well as I am.. I dont eat them myself.. but he does.. I eat rice cakes lol.. but ive tasted them..and are good.. very tasty... but just arent my thing.. Im so picky lol

WHEW !!!! hot hot hot.. thats all im gonna say.

well some thing I was looking forward to and have done.. is fitting in a booth and not touching the table at all with my body.. was like OMG .. and next on my list.. is flying without an extension belt.. I will see how that is when I leave for my cruise may 10th and fly out.. and I can bend down and not the golfers pose either.. squat down and pick something up... I still feel like I might fall over but Im not used to bending that way..and then crossing the leg is new for me too..and omg today.. realization hit me at the store.. I had to get new scrubs.. everyone is teasing me about mine.. like my husband calling them clown pants..and one lady said..gee they look like your older brothers hand me downs that are too big..and the other one is that looks like a dress on you.. well I went to try on some..and my hubby is like NOT those.. they are too big.. im like no they arent. .he is like THEY ARE TOO BIG.. im like ok what do you think.. he is like large.. im like HUH? Im like no way.. he is like try them on.. I did.. and im like OMG OMG.. am I that small now where its not a plus size? I was shocked..and still am.. its not sinking in.. that Im small enough for a large. im used to the xxx and the numbers with xl 2x 3x.. but im not..and thats hard to take.. I wanted to cry... so many things I look forward to.. yes amusement parks... would love to go.. maybe in a few months.. I dunno.. but so many things have changed and happened to me.. good luck to everyone.. no regrets here at all... I dont care how much of my hair falls out.. its worth it. )))

1. no complications because of the surgery. 2. For me 12 weeks cuz of the jobs I do. 3.Just over night.. home the next day after a swallow eval to check the sleeve. 4. I did tell my co-workers after the surgery.. I found them to be very supportive.. especially at the hospital.. all the encouragement I received from them.. keeps me going.. 5.Not one regret.. well one.. I didnt do it sooner.. I didnt have health issues going into surgery.. other than being overweight.. Im happy to report that since my surgery on dec 20 ive lost 80lbs and its only been 3.5 months..

Like most.. my only regret is not doing it sooner.. I have nothing to be ashamed of.. I dont not want to go back to the way I was.. my mom died because her weight brought on health issues later in her life.. I wont be like that. I went into surgery eyes open to what I was in for.. I did a lot of research.. talked to a lot of people.. even the psych doctor.. its not been an easy path..but its not been a hard one either.. just life changing decisions... and so far ive made the correct ones.. there is no way Im going back.. Im going forward.. to a new me.. a new healthier me.. I dont care that I cant eat like I used to.. I dont care what people think.. I didnt do it for them.. I did it for me... I dont care that I cant drink soda either.. or eat 4 or 5 tacos in one setting.. Im happy with the way things are.. specially since my food bill dropped wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down.. and I get new clothes to boot.. so no regrets.. only happiness here

Hi Gina.. welcome to the site.. LOL guess im not a newbie anymore.. im post op since dec 20th.. Its a journey alright.. one I would do again if I had the chance.. I had no health issues going into surgery.. just being overweight.. I followed what my doc and nurse and nut said.. and guess what? Im down 80lbs in 3.5 months.. Im like omg 80lbs... cant believe it but the scale isnt lying.. its been the best journey yet... over half way to my goal.. this site is great for all kinds of advice and most of all support.. its been the best for me.. hope your journey is as sweet as mine has been.. has it been easy? no.. you have to work at it.. its just like any tool.. you need to help make it work..and ive done just that.. best of luck to you on your new journey.. keep us posted...

my stomach itched for a long time.. dr said it was dry skin.. so I bought some lubraderm lotion..and kept applying it every day..and that went away.. I think the winter weather was drying me out.. but the lotion helped me big time.. good luck.

Ive not hit a stall yet.. I do try and get 60gr of protein a day.. but im way further out.. im 3.5 months post op and can get that by eating meat or fish or chicken.. but I also eat a protein bar too if im not going to eat.. but on the puree.. its hard to do.. without the protein shakes.. even those started to make me sick to my stomach.. thank goodness I advanced.. my labs were great at 3mo..and im down 77lbs.. so I must be doing something right. good luck.. your stall will pass.. just sometimes your body takes a break to adjust to surgery too.. be patient.. good things are coming

no salt is good for you.. thats just my opinion..and yes im addicted to sugar free pops LOL

I think that we all have at one time or another have had those thoughts.. the what ifs.. I even cried before I went in. then there are those who tell you it wont work.. or those who tell you they know someone who gained the wt back.. for one.. it does work.. and for two.. .its up to you weather you fail or not.. they are giving you the greatest tool ever.. it really is hard to fail.. your stomach is too small... and for sure it will let you know you have over done it or eaten the wrong thing.. the doc and the nut will give you guidelines to live by..and trust me.. if you follow them to the t.. you will not fail.. dont set yourself up for failure.. be positive.. I figure if I can do this.. you can... yes its hard in the beginning .. but any surgery is... just remember in the beginning.. sip sip sip.. walk walk walk..protein protein protein... and the wt will fall off.. how do I know this.. well I had surgery december 20th.. and im down 77lbs.. thats how I know.. all by following my doctors orders.. my labs were great.. cuz im taking my vitamins and drinking water like im suppose to and I dont eat things im not suppose to have.. yes I can have whatever I want right now.. but I choose not to go back to that lifestyle.. Im not going to be that fat girl whom people always say.. "you have a pretty face". Im going to be healthy and happy.. get yourself a fantastic support group going.. and you WILL not fail.. but most of all.. you are the one in control.. best of luck to you on your new journey.. trust me when the weight starts falling off.. you will understand... when those clothes keep getting baggier and baggier.. it will keep you on track.. be positive.. dont let the negative nellies keep you down... you can do this.. my only one regret.. is I didnt do it sooner...

Doing great.. my doc is very proud of me.. im post op dec 2th and im down 77lbs.. and labs came back great.. all my vitamin counts were great.. no problems so im very happy about that. going to the gym too.. thats new for me.. great job all you dec sleevers

well Im not 6 months out.. Im 3.5 months out.. pretty much can eat anything.. reg diet.. but I stick to Protein protein protein.. thats the key.. and good protein too..not fast food kind. I still find a lot of foods bother me.. heavy foods especially breads.. still dont tolerate them even the thin stuff.. no oranges yet.. cant have that til im 6mo out.. I dont like sweet things.. they make my stomach hurt... cant believe I just said that LOL. I watch what I eat.. I get in my drinks.. and my vitamins. to me now.. eating is more of a chore than something I enjoy doing.. but hey thats ok with me.. oh and Im post op dec 20th and as of today.. Im down 77lbs.. and Im so very happy about that... cant wait to get to onederland. good luck on your new journey.. best of luck too..

whoooooooooooo hoooooooo sexy gown time.. lol.. but hey I had a CT scan last week cuz of some pain I was having in my side and one of my ports.. but all turned out well for that.. nothing wrong but a pulled/strained muscle cuz I over did it. lol. .whew.. be well.. keep us informed best of luck to you

Im gonna have 3oz of steak..and some salad.. thats it..and later for dessert.. some fresh melon salad.. yummy. thats my easter dinner.

well.. I just drank more fluids when I wanted something..but I do love my popsicles.. cant live without them.. talk about an addiction to sugar free tropical popsicles.. look it up.. there is a pic of me there LOL. but seriously hang in there.. there are good things coming.. you need that wt loss before surgery to shrink your liver to make the surgery easier for the doc.. stick to it.. and if you can do this.. then anything is possible.. best of luck to you keep up the good work.

there is a great support system here.. I dont know anyone who gained back the wt.. its almost impossible.. your stomach is so small..and if you over eat..your stomach will for sure tell you about it lol.. im post op since dec20..and im down 71lbs.. no way will I ever go back to being heavy again.. never never.. yes its a life change..and a huge one.. I was ready for that.. I love the way im looking and how I feel.. I didnt have any health issues before surgery.. no diabetes and no high blood pressure.. but my hubby was diabetic..and did have high blood pressure.. he is off all his meds since his surgery dec 27th.. and he has lost 70lbs.. and looks HOT.. so Im happy about that for him..no meds.. and being healthy and living long.. best of luck to you and your journey... we are here to support you.. we understand your pain.