Armywife29

And I hit GOAL yesterday! Could not be more excited, although it seems a bit surreal that in 6 months and 2 days I have lost 81 pounds! Start weight was just under 220 at 5'4. Today's weight...138! I have gone from a size 20 jeans to a 6, and a 2XL top to a SMALL! My chest went from a 42DD to a 36D or 34DD depending on the fit! I am thrilled with my results, and while it hasn't been "easy" the whole time, the process for me honestly hasn't been that difficult. I log every.single.thing that passes my lips on MyFitnessPal and I workout for 90-120 minutes a day...running 3-6 miles 6 days a week and lifting weights with my amazing best friend and workout buddy, who has also been my biggest cheerłeader. Going to Mexico was hands down the single best decision I have ever made for myself. I finally have my life back, and truly feel like a new person. And don't mind my husband's closed eyes in the one photo...we could NOT get a good pic of him that night!

Thank you so much for all the kind compliments everyone! They mean more to me than you guys will ever know . As for my weight loss, I think my exercising has been an integral part of my faster loss. There are many days where I burn more working out than I can physically eat in a day. As for my diet, I shoot for 65+ grams of Protein and less than 40 grams of carbs in a day. I drink a minimum of 64 ounces of Water, it most days am closer to 72-80 ounces. I do allow myself a skinny iced vanilla latte or caramel macchiato from Starbucks on occasion...but they have replaced a daily full fat + whip cream frappacino that was having EVERY morning pre op . I love to mix 1.5 scoops of GNC Wheyolic Extreme 60 Protein powder with Click Mocha protein for a delicious morning shake that gets me halfway to my daily protein goal. I'm still trying to make room for veggies in my diet...but my sleeve is TIGHT. I have incredible restriction when eating dense protein (2oz maximum at this point) so it is tough for me to get the veggies in. I have been diligently taking Nexium and a good multi Vitamin since surgery, and my bloodwork at my 3 month check was amazing...plus I am no longer pre diabetic or hypertensive...and my cholesterol was NORMAL! Down from 260 pre op! I love to exercise....well really, I love to sweat...it makes me feel good and I workout HARD. I run and lift 5-6 days a week (depending on what our family schedule is like on Saturday mornings ). And we are generally much more active as a family now...taking long evening walks, bike rides, swimming, you name it. I even mow the lawn every week for a workout, which my husband is thrilled about, haha! I'm sorry it took me so long to respond to your posts...I was only getting emails that people had "liked". The post, to that they were responding to it . Feel free to message me with any questions, and my MFP username is LBraunstein

Thank you so much!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to give a quick update on my progress. Hopefully the picture I attached works, if not it can be seen on my profile. I had surgery on 1/22/2013 with Dr. Garcia at MiDoctor Hospital. My post op recovery has been amazing and my overall experience just fantastic! I have lost 62 lbs as of Mothers Day and I only have 20 to go until I hit my goal weight of 138! On surgery day I weighed 219.8 and today I weighed 158.4. I track every single thing that goes into my mouth on MyFitnessPal and highly recommend that every surgery patient use a similar program as well. I've also lost 37 inches total...most from my stomach! I hope everyone is doing well!

As far as scars go I just apply Mederma and Bio Oil faithfully twice a day. You use just plain vitamin E oil too I think. I started as soon as they were closed up all the way. Definitely keep antibiotic ointment on them as long as you can post op, I really think it helps keep them soft while healing. I did the bio oil on my c section scar and it too is almost invisible. I've had my appendix out too and you can't even see those scars on my belly can you? They were to the left and right below my belly button

I only lost a few pounds pre-op. my start weight when I began the process in September 2012 was 221. On surgery day I was 219.6. I was a "lightweight" but was already pre diabetic, hypertensive, and had chronic back pain from an old Army I injury. I lost like 28 pounds my first month I think (I have to go back and check the exact amount). And then another 12 this month. I was shocked to lose so much the first month...figured since I didn't weigh so much I'd lose "slower" but I guess that's a myth! I just committed and stuck to a plan of less than 600 calories, less than 40 carbs, and over 60 grams of protein a day...and I track every single thing that goes into my mouth on my fitness pal.

Posted my update here with photos! Down 40 pounds and 25 inches! Weighed in at 179.4 this morning =) http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4615121/2-Month-Post-Op-Update-WITH-photos/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4615122/Side-View-Photos-because-it-wouldnt-let-me-add-them-to-the/ I had to do 2 posts because it wouldn't let me upload two seperate picture collages...one is front view, the other side view. I've lost 10 inches off my waist alone and am now zipping into size 12 jeans at Gap very comfortably...can do 10s at Old Navy with their vanity sizing =)

Isn't that MY stomach!? Haha!

Thank you so much for all of your kind words everyone. It's been an awesome journey so far. I feel I have been very lucky. I had no complications, and while I can tolerate "most" foods, my restriction is amazing. I can't eat more than 4-5 bites of a meal. I highly recommend picking up some demitasse spoons and shrimp forks. These are my new "silverware.". They really help you to take appropriately small bites...if you take one that's too big you will know very quickly, and you will most likely vomit. I have learned this the hard way about 3 times.

] I am Lbraunstein on MfP! Definitely add me

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/4608374/One-Month-Post-Update-WITH-PICS/ I posted my official one month post op update here complete with photos. Enjoy! I'm so thankful to Dr. Garcia and his team. They are truly changing my life =)

Hi Kat! Congrats on your upcoming surgery. Yes, each day my priority is protein and Water. I'm so glad discovered the GNC Wheybolic 60 because immable to bang out 90% of my protein goal by Breakfast. Please note that i make the shake at 7:30 am, and it takes me until nearly noon to finish it (when 2 scoops are mixed with 8 oz milk it makes about a 12-16 oz shake). I add some water too to thin it out a bit, otherwise it's pretty thick and sits heavy on my sleeve. As far as supplements, I take nexium (PPi) and Actigall (to preserve the gallbladder daily). I also take flintstones complete multi vitamins. I will only take the actigaull for 6 months, and the nexium as needed after that. I did purchase an Iron supplement just in case, but probably won't start it until my 3 month labs are done, and only if my iron is low at that point. I'm a big milk/yogurt eater too, so I haven't needed any Calcium supplement, I'd definitely meeting a healthy level each day. Honestly, I think the biggest key to my loss right now has been the gym. I started back at the 2 week mark doing low impact cardio (elliptical, bike, arc trainer, incline walking) and I'm pretty sure that helped me skirt past the dreaded 3 week stall that most people encounter. I had been weighing daily at that point and noticed my loss starting to slow dramatically (.4 pound for 3 days straight) and decided it was time to up the ante a bit. Since that point I've been losing .5-1 lb a DAY. Hoping to prolong this as long as possible...so if I see another slow down I will change up my gym routine again. My intake is around 450-550 calories a day, with 64 oz water/liquids and minimum of 60 grams protein a day...most days I'm hitting a good bit higher (today was 94!). Hope this helps!

I know the feeling Mary! I couldn't wait to have a scrambled egg either! Be warned, you probably won't be able to eat a whole one, and go easy on the salt and pepper. I was only able to eat about 1/3 of the egg the first time. You can also mix in a little skim cheese for a little bit more Protein.

The Ostrim jerk sticks are delicious! You can't really tell that it's "ostrich" it tastes just like any other jerk stick...except it is very lean.