NewSetOfCurves

Drinking Water...or hydrating--period, was very difficult for me; as it is for most. However, in the midst of my exercise routine, drinking water was much easier. Hopefully, you will find it easier to hydrate during your exercise as well. I personally tried to consume higher calorie foods on my exercise days. I needed the energy and sustainability to get through my rigorous activities. My biggest go-to was unsalted nuts or natural peanut/almond butter. At 6 weeks post-op, I know consumption is really difficult. At your stage, Greek yogurt embedded with fruits was my other go-to-food. The extra sugar gave me extra energy. One last tip for hydrating: ice. I love to go to my local Dairy Queen (I'm a Texas girl) and grab a cup of their fine, soft ice and munch on it. It goes down so much easier that drinking water. Keep it up!!!

Congrats!!! It is awesome to reach goal and even more awesome to surpass any expectations that you had, especially with the physical aspect of your body (from everyday activities, exercise activities to "extracurricular" activities ). I hope you continue with your success. The sleeve is so much more than a tool to eat less, it is an opportunity...an opportunity to create new, healthy habits that last a life time for a greater quality of life.

I actually had a lower body lift (which includes TT), breast augmentation and a spiral thigh lift. My highest weight was over 250, and after having 4 kids my skin's elasticity couldn't keep up. After my sleeve surgery, it took me over a year to hit 140 pounds. I was really big into cardio that first year, but slowly transitioned to heavy weight lifting 5-6 days a week. Even though I was like a size 6/8 by the time I reached goal, my skin hung horribly. My belly button looked like a melted face; my breasts looked like a feeding canine mother's hanging milk outlets; and the muscle mass in my upper thighs wasn't seen for its full potential because of the excess skin there. So, I had the previously mentioned plastics on June 9, 2015. The doctor removed about 2.5 pounds of skin, although the implants countered that "lost" weight. I'm now a size 4/6 or 27 waist. It was tough recovery, but COMPLETELY WORTH IT!!! I don't have before pics because I refused to take them, but I'll post a pic of the great results of my tummy, 5 months out.

Highest weight was: 250+ Lowest weight post-op: 140 Current weight: 150/155 (fluctuates) Even though I'm up 10-15 pounds, it is pretty much muscle because I'm still the same size (4/6 or 27 waist). I educated myself and cleaned up my diet. I still eat the occasional "dirty" food, but I am big on clean eating. I did a lot of cardio the first year and a half, but then started to focus more on the body building. Instead of food being my obsession, the gym has become my obsession (not literally, but y'all know what I mean). I don't use an excuse not to work out. I make time and make it a necessity and a priority, like my job. It is a non-negotiable--tired or not. I have 4 kids and a full time job as a teacher. You can make and find time if you're determined and willing. I love my sleeve. It gave me control over QUANTITY. I took the time and effort to learn and execute the QUALITY of food I put in my mouth.

@retrieverguy

Yes. Most people experience this and it is part of "learning" how to "work" your sleeve. As @@axlr8n mentioned, it might be that combing your supplements with milk is a no-no. Or, perhaps you might want to try taking your supplements separately, at different times of the day. The "stuck" feeling is usually associated with over eating (or drinking in the beginning stages). The combined liquid amount of Vitamins plus milk, was perhaps too much for your tiny stomach. Hope you are feeling better. It will pass, and soon you will be an expert at what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, etc.

I remember having to consume juice and Greek yogurt to get some extra calories in so that I could have some sustainable energy. However, once I learned to work my sleeve and consume the cals I needed, I completely backed off of the juices. I know it is rough and that everyone tends to say, "It's going to get better." As redundant as that is, it is true. Time and learning how to work your sleeve will make the difference. Best of luck to you!

How exciting for you! Do not freak out post-op with the boobs...they will appear like porn star boobs--a lot bigger than their final size! LOL!!!

I am assuming that those are her initials?

@@AvaFern, How long did you deal with swelling? I especially swell up after workouts and I have not targeted specific core exercises (even though they get hit up with other exercises) due to the swelling. My doctor told me to wait 3 months to target core, but I am waiting for month 6. Did you experience swelling up to your first year? Or did it end sooner than that?

Thank you, @@VSG for ALC! My lower scar--which was the larger one--was removed with TT, and the others are so small and light that they are not even visible unless you are literally looking really up-close-and-personal!

Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard with this comment! It is so true! I told my husband that I will probably get a face lift when I update my implants in 10 years. Best of luck to you, @@Queen of Crop!

@@aleja908, I had to drink 2 oz before they released me, which was the day after surgery.

I hope you have awesome results @@Babbs! My surgeon specialized in post-massive weight-loss plastic surgery. Dr. Peter Fisher's (from San Antonio) prices were really reasoable (I paid $21k for body lift, tummy tuck, augmentation, spiral lift, and leg lipo, plus flaps in my hips and buttocks--very competitive with Mexico prices). Good luck to you!

LMAO!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! It made me laugh and smile ear-to-ear. It is DEFINITELY NSV QUALIFIED and there is nothing more erotic than watching the hubby going down town!!!

Congrats and good luck!!! My biggest savior for pain relief from the air I had trapped from the surgery, was heating pads. Also, when I could not get fluids down (due to the excess internal swelling), sugar free Popsicles went down really well for me--they were my life line!

It's a wonderful place to be! Congrats!!!

@@Queen of Crop, I LOVE my results! I would do it all over again, if I had to. I do have to say that the compression garment would chafe my skin in my nether region. It was awfully painful. I wore it for about three weeks, and I could not take it any more. So, I bought a girdle that went from my knees, all the way up to the bottom of my breasts. I wore that religiously up to the eighth week. After that, I lived in my Under Armour exercise pants. They were a size small and had really good compression, especially with the additional swelling in my legs. I did not really lose additional weight, because the weight of skin that was removed (about 2/3 pounds) was replaced with the implants (almost 2 pounds).

Yes!!! This is ABSOLUTELY true!!!

I reverted back to a lot of Protein shakes and meat. I had a body lift (which also included the tummy tuck; same as 360), spiral thigh lift and breast augmentation on June 9th. I am 5 months out. The doctor wanted me to get in a minimum of 100 grams of protein. So, I over shot and set my goal to 150 grams (which I was already used to, because my daily in-take of protein was at this level due to the intensity of the weight lifting program I was on). A chicken breast usually carries about 30-40 grams of protein. A can of tuna has almost 40. I would graze on these meats throughout the day, just prepared them in various ways so they would not get so "boring". Two 11 oz Premier Protein Shakes adds another 60 grams of protein; the rest would come from nuts, Greek yogurt, cheese, and other natural high protein foods. I was able to get back into the gym--slowly--at about 8 weeks. I do not do any core specific exercise, even though I they are targeted secondarily via other exercises, I am waiting for my 6 month post-op date to arrive to begin those types of exercises. Best of luck to you! I know how exciting the prospect of a new body is, especially after all that you have gone through to get there. It will be rough for a little while, but it is so worth it! Keep us posted!

There is no greater feeling than conquering something that once conquered you! What and AWESOME NSV!!!

What a wonderful and beautiful NSV! My eyes watered because I have three daughters, and my oldest understood my struggle and transformation the most. She was very supportive and proud. Keep it up, mam. Good luck to you and I wish you many more inspiring NSV's!