PGee

Oh yeah..............but 4 months out, and it's the best decision I made......

So, I started gaining weight in the 80's, when I worked full time in a corporate environment. And, I saved all my clothing.....for the most part when I out grew a piece of clothing, I put it in the attick (I mean, really, I wasn't going to stay a huge size forever, right? I'd be wearing it again in a afew months).....ha ha ha.....20+ years later, here I am FINALLY fitting into some of them.... I pulled out my size 16's from my rat packing stash, and discovered my two favorite suits....from 1986......I know, it's sad I know that. I only tried on the jackets, because the skirts will be too tight. And oh my gosh, they fit.....BUT the shoulder pads in those things are huge....I mean they should have their own zip code! I could use them as pillows when I travel! Early out, someone on here told me I should just get rid of all the clothes I've saved over the years.......I figured everything I had was rather classic in styling......and I'm frugal......but I'm afraid there's no hiding those shoulder pads.......I may still wear it as a joke, see what my boss says (he's very funny as hell and notices everything I wear)

Hated those stirrup pants.....they were never a good look for a fuller figure.......I still have my leg warmers, though LOL Like totally! We looked hot and rocked the 80's......ha ha ha......still not sure what to do with those suits.....perhaps a proper burial or put them in a fire pit. I may just wear one to work for laughs.....my boss notices everything--would love to see his face....he's about 10 years older than me.

Follow your doctor's advice......I use a straw with premier Protein drinks.....only convenient way to drink them on the go.....

Here's a chart with measurements/equivalents..... http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/convert/measurements.html But, I would definitely dig deep for that scoop and then call them if it isn't in the canister.

Just checking in......My doctor's appointment went great.....although he's a little concerned that I can't eat more than 1.5 ounces or 1/2 a scrambled egg....anything more I'm just too full and it hurts----I wasn't worried about it, I supplement with protein drinks.......figured in a year the restriction will lessen, so make the most of it now.......we may do a barium swallow test in January to see what's going on.....he said the restriction may be too much.......I hope not.....I'm a happy camper right now.... Liquids and moist foods go down well.....but I don't do well with thick protein shakes like bariatric advantage (left over from preop---finally tossed the rest out, just can't drink it).....making good use of the crock pot, and freezing it in small portions..... .

I was allowed Isopure Protein drink--dilluted with 50% Water (it's clear....you can get it at GNC).......only buy a few bottles......I did not like it one bit.......some like it.....but I had to get my protein in somehow. Be careful with all the sugar free products -- can cause diarhea I have one of those snow cones/ice shaving machines.....and bought a bottle of DaVinci sugar free syrup.......and had a very small "snow cone" when I was desperate to chew something. Don't stock up on too much (don't want to get stuck with stuff you don't like as tastes change post op) If you haven't yet, you might want to buy samples of protein powders assuming you'll be following up the clear stage with a full liquids stage.....Syntrax, Click (they make a nice decaf mocha double shot expresso), unjury......not sure what other samples are out there....found them on the internet.......I liked the Unjury chicken broth---made me feel like I was having a meal.....still like it today. Some protein powders made thick shakes, and for me, they don't go down so easily -- Unjury is thinner---the chocolate is like chocolate milk......I also like Premier Protein ready to drink shakes.....available at walmart, walgreens, costco. I made a syrup out of a sample of Syntrax nectar Wild Cherry protein powder (used less water).....and poured that over shaved ice for a snow cone.....it was okay.....but being on full liquids, nothing solid, it was nectar of the gods as far as I was concerned LOL Good luck.......VSG has changed my life......I haven't been this weight in 25 years.....I'm 4 months out and it's had a positive impact on every aspect of my life-----and feeling better about myself is the greatest.....Wishing you nothing but the best and an easy surgery/recover...

Hi All! I've been out of town......sorry for the delay in reporting. Challenge SW 185 Challenge GW 177 Thanksgiving morning 175, down 2 pounds from last week, and surpassed my goal, woo hoo! Thanks again for doing this! It was really motivating!

Sending warm thoughts your way---hope it all works out well......I'm wearing a 16/18 after having surgery in August (was starting to wear a 3X before surgery), and I feel so good about myself, like I might as well be wearing a size 10---haven't worn this size in over 20 years......good luck

Challenge SW 185 Challenge GW 177 CW 177, down 3 pounds from last week Thanks again for doing this!

Woot Woot! that's great! I just hit my 2nd major milestone......weighing less than my hubby........by 1 pound LOL My next major milestone will be 153 a.k.a. overweight.........woo hoo, 23 pounds to go.....

I'm a little over 3 months post op, and if I'm not on top of my Water, I don't get it all in.....The only food I bring to work is my lunch, so when my head hunger kicks in, mid morning I reach for my water and sip sip sip----otherwise, I'd be grazing all day...about an hour before bed time, if I haven't reached my liquid quota, I take a water bottle and sip until I get it down (but I am further out than you are, I'm probably able to drink more)

It happens to most of us, it stinks, it's frustrating, but just keep plugging along, you'll work through the stall.....Like MichiganChic, I chart out my weight in excel.......with the monthly stalls I've had since August, it's reassuring to see the overall downward trend in a chart.

Wow, you look great...so pretty!

Wow, looking good!

That's terrific GamerGirl! I know my weight loss has inspired my boss----he now works out every day.

SW 185 Challenge GW 177 CW 180 (down 2 pounds this week) Thanks for doing this!!!!

I agree with CindyMg.......ask about other Protein drink options......I was allowed 3 Bariatric Advantage shakes and a cup of plain, nonfat greek yogurt a day.........water, SF pops.....I varied it a little by switching out the bariatric advantage with Premier Protein RTD shakes because they were easier to grab and go for work. I never understood when people cheated on the preop diet.....I mean, I do understand, and I may have wanted to cheat, but never did.....my thoughts are: we worked so hard to get to that point, why mess it up? To the OP......I hope you'll post a follow up and tell us what you did to stay on the diet rather than cheat.....Best wishes!

I'm right there with thin hair, and hair loss was a concern. One word of advice? don't focus on it....focus on the bigger picture.....this surgery is a game changer, a life saver......I can't believe how different things are since I had surgery.....so many positive things My sister had thick thick thick hair....her hair got quite thin around 3 months after surgery, and it was a temporary situation. My hair seems to be holding for now.......if it does get unbearably thin, I'll have fun with it.....there are some cute wigs out there.....perhaps in a new color.......new style......and remember, not everyone loses hair......... Welcome to the group! Wishing you the best on this journey.

Well it happened last week......one woman who works at my doctor's office has always had a puss on her face when I go in---could barely get a grunt out of her when I did my typical greeting "good morning, how are you?"....and because she was so miserable over the years, I always went out of my way to be pleasant..... I mentioned it to my husband, and he didn't know what I was talking about, because she's always friendly to him.......I always wondered if I had done something or if it was my being morbidly obese----or if she was a generally miserable person......got my answer the other day. I greet her as I always have.....and she was actually pleasant, we had an conversation......someone in that profession should be a bit more professional......I nearly called her out on it.......but decided what's the point........

Good question......I always say whatever issues we had before, we'll deal with afterwards...... I've found the sleeve helps early out......You can eat so very little, that you really have to make Protein and Water your priority.......early out, this isn't so hard to do.....it's the long haul that concerns me...I'm hoping the new healthy habits will become 2nd nature, like flossing.....I'm 3 months out and still feeling like a newbie finding my way I won't lie.....In the last few weeks I've had a taste of this, a bit of that--I'm talking maybe 1/8 of a teaspoon a day........so I went back to basics and really focusing on what I'm eating.....and hitting my protein/water totals What helps me is seeing the results-----the 60+ pound weight loss, my knees, hip, back no longer hurting----heck, I'm wearing 3" heals right now----and I haven't been able to wear heals in 23 years.........I'm looking and feeling so much better, going from a 3x to a size Large......I'm more active, do more with the hubby.......the combination of all these things with the restriction helps---plus I never want to go back to where I was.......as a reminder, I keep a picture in my purse of me before the weightloss........if I ever become complacent, I can look back at that picture, and that is all I need---it's not just how I looked, but it's how I felt and the lifestyle I had at that weight I do have to have ice cream and other unhealthy foods in the house for hubby....he's naturally skinny......I just keep them out of sight......his non parishable junk food is in sealed tuppeware-esq containers in the end table, with the door closed.......the ice cream is in the bottom bin of the fridge (out of sight, out of mind for me) your sense of smell may change........the other night we were out and about, and there was a table loaded with homemade Desserts........and even with the wonderful smells, it held no tempation what so ever.......good luck, hope this helps

Starting weight 185 Today's weight 182 Thanksgiving Goal 177

Welcome and Congratulations on the date, it'll be here before you know it! Surgery was 8/6, and my knees feel so much better.....can do stairs again.....I now have the energy of a 5 year old.....anything DH can do, I can do......I have more weight to lose, but now have hope that it'll happen.......and I can tie my shoes, put my socks on w/o huffing and puffing........and it didn't take long to get to that point.....what a wonderful feeling. I couldn't sleep preop because of aches and pains, but now I get in a decent 7-8 hours a night......wishing you the best on this journey!

You look amazing! Thank you for sharing......it's so encouraging and inspiring to see transformations like this, thanks!

constantly cold......hubby thinks its all in my head......when I put my icy fingers on his neck, I ask if it's still all in my head LOL I just to bee way too warm...he was always cold....always a battle with the heat....I wanted 67, he wanted 77 LOL This winter will be interesting