Gina6682

You look fabulous! I, too, am 3.5 years out and never made it to goal! 2017 is the year I'm going to do it! Thank you for the inspiration!!

I couldn't agree more!! You are giving her a life she wouldn't have without the surgery. I can't think of a more loving gift from a mother to a daughter.

Welcome Tony!!! I am five months post-op and loving it! You are going to do great! Good luck and congratulations!!

It is really shocking how little some primary care doctors know about the sleeve surgery. My original PCP still thinks that I had gastric bypass and was having issues with malabsorption and thought I couldn't take certain pills etc. and so wouldn't prescribe me antibiotics, etc. I tried to explain to him several times that I had had the sleeve surgery and not gastric bypass but it didn't seem to click. Finally I had to switch to another primary care doctor that understood. I'm sure your PCP is a nice man but you are going to need someone who understands and empathizes with your surgery in case issues arise down the road.

That is fantastic!!! This just happened it me too......I didn't know being "overweight" could be so gratifying!! Congratulations!!!!!

Oh and I did forget to mention that my balance has definitely been a little off since the surgery. I'm just assuming that it's due to my body getting used to the rapid weight loss and the fact that my core muscles were disturbed with surgery. But it's getting better and like some said, I'm sure my horses will appreciate the weight difference!

Hi BrendaK! I'm an avid equestrian and rode 11 days out. Just in the arena. Probably too early and risky for most but it was on my most trusted, dead broke gelding and I was just fine. My surgeon cleared me at my 3 week post-op appointment saying that the inside stitches are pretty much secure at 2 weeks. I was sleeved 2/18 and I can't imagine waiting 4 months or more....I've been riding a couple of days a week since 2 weeks out of surgery!

I'm single and in Dallas! Sleeved 2/18....we should definitely set up a meeting for all the DFW/Central TX sleevers!

I love Isopure! Peach mango is my favorite.

You look amazing! What an inspiration!

I was sleeved 2/18 at 217 and I am curious about this too. I'm going to a friends wedding in August and all of my college friends will be there.

I live by myself and was fine a week after surgery except for a little soreness. Someone stayed with me the first week. I don't think you're going to need help for 6 weeks but of course I'm basing this on my experience as a single person with no kids. I don't know how you moms do it at all, much less after surgery!

Great idea mixing the Unjury chicken soup flavor with regular broth! I bought it and tried it once with water - it was palatable but I bet the broth makes it so much better! Have you tried the Unjury unflavored powder? I have mixed it with Greek yogurt and in smoothies and can't tell it's there.

I started 2 weeks post-op. My surgeon said I was pretty much healed by then. I do Zumba and work out with a trainer twice a week - we do a lot of "functional exercises" ie squats, lunges, etc and light weights. No problems and I have lots more energy! The only thing I notice is occasionally when I engage my core/abdominal muscles too much, I can feel where the muscle was cut on to get my stomach out but it's not bad at all.

Thank you for starting this thread. I read your online profile and a lot of what you said reminds me of myself - I'm tired of being the "funny friend" or the girl with the pretty face! I'm sick of relying on my awesome personality, trying to distract people from my weight! I was sleeved 2/18 and am down 23 lbs and could not be more thrilled about that, but I, too, am grieving food. I didn't tell a lot of people about the surgery and while those I did tell have been extremely supportive, I don't want to wear them out with constant talk about my weight loss, the changes I'm making, etc. Even though its what is occupying a lot of my waking thoughts these days, I'm sure it gets old to talk about if you're not going through it. So, I am looking for a therapist. Are you seeing a therapist that was referred to you by your surgeon? Does he/she specialize in bariatric patients? I know there's one who works with my surgeon but because I was self pay, it wasn't really pushed and wasn't a requirement for me to see a therapist to have the surgery. So far, I've been able to get through the hard spots by focusing on my future and the goals I've set for myself but I can see where it's going to get hard. Vacations, birthdays, holidays.....I've got to learn some coping mechanisms! The one I've found so far (this may sound weird) - I LOVE clothes & fashion and have not been able to wear really cute outfits for a long time because I've been so heavy and don't fit into normal "designer" sizes. But I do have a killer purse and shoe collection since they always fit! So, I've encouraged myself by going into stores where nothing fits me yet (namely: Neiman Marcus) and instead of heading for the accessories like I normally do, I've been browsing the clothing section thinking to myself "I'm going to get to wear these fabulous clothes soon!". It really lifts my spirits because I know it's going to happen and I can't wait!!! I'm looking forward to hearing where everyone else is channeling their food focus.....

Mastiff_Mama, I think you are my soul sista! I have two English Mastiffs, was also sleeved 2/18 and now have a BMI of 34!! I've lost just 1lb in the past week and am starting to freak out! Everyone on here says its just the inevitable 3 week stall but I'm worried that since we don't have as much to lose, I'm going to lose weight SLOW. But, slow is better than not losing!! I'm just trying to trust in the process. I, too, am happy that people say this is normal. I'm just ready for the weight to start coming off!

My pre-surgery weight was 217, so I guess I fall into the lower weight/BMI category and I was only on a pre-op diet for 7 days and it wasn't liquid. My surgeon puts all his patients on South Beach Phase 1 (lean protein and veggies) as their pre-op diet. People familiar with all of this questioned it, but I was sleeved on the 18th and did great in surgery! In fact, my surgeon commented my liver was small! And I'll be honest, I cheated even on the South Beach pre-op a few times. You should be fine!!

My tummy definitively feels bigger since my surgery on the 18th. It's gone down some but it's certainly bigger than it was pre-op! I'm also convinced that I have stretch marks on my stomach from after surgery that were NOT there before! Is this because they put so much air in to do the laparoscopic procedure? Does anyone else have this?

I'm glad you are feeling at peace with your decision! I was sleeved last Monday and was SUPER nervous up until I actually got to the hospital. But then I kind of went into a "let's do this" mode and it was easier than I thought it was going to be! You should be proud of yourself - this is a journey towards HEALTH! Not to mention all the cute new clothes we are going to get to wear!! You're going to do great!!! Sending positive vibes your way!

Hi February Sleeve-ers!!! My surgery was last Monday, 2/18/13 and while I am still new and learning about all of this, I am excited to be on this journey with you!! It's so comforting to know that there are people going through the exact things I'm going through right now. Best of luck to all of you in your weight-loss endeavors!