NewSetOfCurves

Thank you @@JamieLogical! I am definitely excited and I DEFINITELY agree with you about being positive. I too believe that your perspective can make a huge difference in your experience. When I was sleeved I bought the books, read the articles and testimonials, and did as much research as I could to mentally prepare myself. Every time I thought things were getting tough, I just reminded myself that it WAS going to get easier and that the end results were WORTH it. When I had cravings or "mourned" foods, I just had to remind myself that I had taken many years of pleasure eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted--did I mention for M A N Y years. That mentality and preparation made my journey smooth sailing because I did not freak out at every turn. Hopefully, it will aid me in this next venture.

Buying cute workout outfits and working out, more specifically, lifting weights. Literally...it is my OBSESSION! I have to force myself to take a rest day, and even at that I will run or do crossfit. I am obsessed with building lean muscle mass, finding new ways to lift to shock my muscles, and eating foods that will maximize my workout potential and muscle building. I read every article, research anything and all that has to do working out and eating right. I LOVE IT!!!!

Well, hopefully all the obstacles will be worth it because I just booked my surgery for June 9th. Getting a lower body lift, spiral thigh lift, tummy tuck and augmentation. Whew! It is going to hurt!!! I have tried to mentally prepare myself for the pain and complications and will continue to do so until then. Despite having somewhat of a grasp of the negative aspects of these type of surgeries, I am definitely excited about the potential figure I will have once I am all healed up.

@@throckmorton, I do not drink carbonated alcoholic beverages, but I do consume mixed drinks. If I am out with my husband and friends, I will order vodka and water and add the squirt flavored drink mixes. Taste great, saves on calories and makes for a good time !

I posted this on another person's thread: Get rid of the bad food. Get rid of it. Get rid of it. Get rid of it. You already know that if it is around, you will eat it. Find your will power, find all the determination that you have from within and refrain from ordering or purchasing foods you know you should not be eating. If you mess up and give in, then recognize your error and start again. Start small. Replace one bad habit with a good one, one at a time. I did not become a clean eater over night. It took a lot of "falling down" and "getting back up" before I got it right. I do have my cheats, but they are few and far between--and DO NOT start having "cheats" until you think you can control yourself. Now that I have maintained a clean eating life style, I rarely crave "bad" foods, and--more often than not--they make me sick. However, when I do eat unclean, I limit myself and do not over indulge or consume large quantities, and I make up the extra calorie intake with a longer duration of exercise or I limit my food intake during another meal. If you have not taken up a weekly exercise regimen, you should. Exercise should not be seen as a fix or something to do until you meet your goal; it should be viewed as a lifetime, ongoing activity to maintain a healthy way of living. To help motivate myself, I perceive exercising as a job. Most need a job to make a living. Exercise is same thing. We need to exercise to maintain our bodies and to live long, healthy lives. Perceive it as: I have to do it. I have no choice. Tired or not, it must be done. Start at doing anything that is accessible to you, interesting to you, or easiest for you. Start at YOUR pace and just GO!

The two previous poster are right. Muscle IS denser than fat and if takes up a lot less space; and the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn! Muscle gives a woman sexy curves. Many women think that they will get bulky and look like a body builder. That is simply NOT true! That type of physique takes a lot of work, lots of calories, protein, supplements, and awesome genes. I hit goal this past September, but I have really upped my weight lifting regimen since then; and even though I weigh the same today, I am two sizes smaller! Keep it up. Read and inform yourself about various weight lifting regimens and routines. Change it up. Shock your muscles. Increase your weight. Never allow your routine to become stagnant. You are off to GREAT start. Don't stop and I promise you will not regret it!!!

Get rid of the bad food. Get rid of it. Get rid of it. Get rid of it. You already know that if it is around, you will eat it. Find your will power, find all the determination that you have from within and refrain from ordering or purchasing foods you know you should not be eating. If you mess up and give in, then recognize your error and start again. I did not become a clean eater over night. It took a lot of "falling down" and "getting back up" before I got it right. I do have my cheats, but they are few and far between. To be honest, I rarely crave them. My body is so used to clean eating, that bad foods--more often than not--make me sick. When I do eat unclean, I limit myself and do not over indulge or consume large quantities, and I make up the extra calorie intake with a longer duration of exercise or I limit my food intake during another meal. If you have not taken up a weekly exercise regimen, you should. Exercise should not be seen as a fix or something to do until you meet your goal; it should be viewed as a lifetime, ongoing activity to maintain a healthy way of living. To help motivate myself, I perceive exercising as a job. Most need a job to make a living. Exercise is same thing. We need to exercise to maintain our bodies and to live long, healthy lives. Perceive it as: I have to do it. I have no choice. Tired or not, it must be done. Start at doing anything that is accessible to you, interesting to you, or easiest for you. Start at YOUR pace and just GO. Do not worry about anyone else but yourself. You CAN do this. You WILL do this. Just get up and go.

I have learned that it is best stop trying to "diet" (in the context of a prescribed regimen of foods to aide in weight loss) and to just change my diet (in the context of the types of foods one chooses to consume) for life. It is so restricting and confining to "diet". Rather, I choose to eat a vast variety of foods that are healthy and balanced, ranging between good carbs, good fats, Proteins, and foods that are in excess of minerals and Vitamins necessary for the body's overall health. I eat to sustain energy. I eat to build muscle. I eat to be healthy. I stopped limiting myself to these "diets" that are ONLY temporary fixes, that usually fail once one is off the "diet", and whom often lack a proper variety of foods that contain all the nutrients that ones' body needs. No...I stopped "dieting" soon after my surgery and chose to change my diet for the rest of my life!

"Stalls" are normal and part of your body adjusting and re-adjusting. Keep following your dieticians guidelines; get your fluid, protein and appropriate calories in, and your weight loss will kick in again.

You can eat right, get your calories, protein and vitamins in, but you will most likely still experience the hair loss. My doctor told me it would be 18 months to 2 years until my hair was finally back to its pre-op state. My extreme hair loss stopped before my year was up, but it was still coming out, just a bit more slowly. Once I got my calories up to about 1200 and maintained there for a couple months, I was then able to observe normal hair loss. Now, as 22 months out I can say that my hair is ALMOST restored to its original fullness.

I am almost 2 years post-op and I drink 2-4 shakes a day. However, I am into lifting weights and building muscle mass in order to achieve a toned look, avoiding the look of loose and wobbly skin. Mass building requires a lot of protein (1 gram per pound) at crucial times throughout the day. I have one first thing in the morning and one before bed. On my weight lifting days I have two extra shakes: one shake an hour before my weight lifting session and another shake within the first half hour post my workout session.

100 POUNDS!!! WOW!!! Congrats on such an awesome feat! I know that it is a WONDERFUL feeling and I hope you feel as GREAT as you look (although, I am sure that you do )! Keep it up @@Pkdvm, only 36 pounds until you hit goal...you CAN DO IT!!!

Thank you @@bayougirlmrsc, but I assure you my tummy is all wrinkles with a bit of a hanging apron below my belly button. My upper and inner thighs also have some skin as well, but fortunately I have very little fat and a lot of muscle tone; so, I have already been told that I am a perfect candidate for the spiral thigh lift. My breast do not exist. My 12 year old daughter and I can share sports bras. Literally. In fact, we do share them. Ugh. So I am ready to look a little more accentuated in that area.

@@Sweet Pee you look GREAT!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

Wow! @@bayougirlmrsc, you look amazing! I do not have before and afters because I have yet to have plastics. I am having my third consultation this coming Monday. I am planning to get a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and a spiral upper thigh lift. Thank you for sharing! Your pics inspire me!!! @@My Bariatric Life, it would open up the link but the video would not play.

@@My Bariatric Life, I could not play your videos @@JamieLogical, Thanks for sharing!!! You are looking GREAT!!!

Hey there @@AutumnPunkin! The pink part that runs along my calf is part of my compression leggings. However, if you're talking about the band below my knee, that is a knee strap for "jumpers knee" (it supports an inflamed tendon). I have a girlfriend that came to visit and she is into yoga. When she came with me to the gym and followed my workout, she also joined me with a closing 20 minute session of abs. She then told me that if I really wanted to put my core to the test, that I should practice doing the yoga head stand (I do not remember the name of the pose). Of course, I could not do it without the supporting wall, but the fact that I could do it (even with the wall support) just amazed me because not even in my youth did I accomplish such a feat. YOU CAN and YOU WILL DO IT! Keep it up AutumnPunkin!!!

I never thought I would be thin again. I never thought I would have surpassed my fitness level as a youth. BUT I DID. I HAVE. AND I Will CONTINUE to STRIVE for MORE!!! I'm so proud of this...I can't wait until I can do it without the wall!

Premier Protein has an 11 oz ready to drink (RTD) shake that is 160 calories, tastes goods, and is smooth and easy to get down. Muscle milk has an 11 oz RTD as well that is slightly higher in calories. I am glad that you are eating. Hope you continue to get better and improve on your calorie intake.

I'm sorry your experiencing such difficulty, but not eating is obviously NOT good. You need to force yourself to eat, despite your lack of appetite. Eat small portions every 3 hours. Your body is healing right now and needs the energy to heal. Please don't make yourself sick by not eating.

You can do it!!!

Female Height: 5’ 6” Starting Weight: 250 Starting Clothing Size: 20 Surgery Weight: 228 Surgery Clothing Size: 18 Current Weight: 140 Current Clothing Size: 4/6 In the beginning: • I had a lot of restriction due to (I am assuming) increased swelling from the additional procedure of the hiatal hernia repair. I am comparing myself to 4 other family members who had the surgery with the same doctor and described their post-op experience as feeling sore and having the ability to drink 2-4 ounces of Fluid without difficulty. It was difficult to even consume 1 ounce. Week 1 post-op was what I called “hell week.” I was very weak due to the lack of ability to consume fluids/calories and remain properly hydrated. • The 6 week post-op diet was difficult, but I reminded myself that I ate whatever I wanted (and in copious amounts), whenever I wanted for many years. • Once I was released to a full diet, foods did not taste the same. Some of the things I use to think of as delicious, were now bland and without flavor. I read a study that links your sense of taste to your stomach lining. However, this “lack of tasting” does go away and food eventually does taste great again (uh-oh!). • I monitored my calorie intake. I did, however, have my ups and downs. I slipped and fell into crappy eating habits. Despite the food restriction, I found that I could slowly graze on things and that the “bad” foods tend to be the “sliders”. • However, I constantly caught myself falling back into consuming these bad foods and I would work on redirecting my behavior. I was constantly “checking and balancing” my eating habits; trying to change my way of living. • Exercise started with walking (1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, and as my endurance and ability increased, 4 miles in one hour). As the weight began to melt off, along with my increased endurance, I upgraded to intervals of jogging (I would jog the straight-a-ways and walk the curves at the local school track). I would also use my elliptical trainer at home and by the time I reached my 6 months post-op point, I could complete a one hour, high intensity cardio session on my trainer. Feeling great! 6 Months Out: • As the weight began to melt off (I was weighing 167 pounds at this point!), I did have that “fallen” face look. My skin was saggy and loose. So, I decided I wanted to fill up my loose skin with muscle. Weight lifting slowly trickled its way into my weekly workouts and—at first—it was about a twice-a-week affair. I also upped my Water intake and made hydrating my face, neck and body with creams and lotions a daily and nightly ritual (as hydration helps to increase elasticity in skin; my face doesn't look fallen anymore...it takes time, but it does retract!!!). • My ability to consume fluids and food had greatly improved by this point. I seemed to be able to consume fluid the best after a good workout. I could drink water faster and in greater quantities! I continued to monitor my calorie intake and tried by my best to refrain from eating bad foods. Even when I did succumb to eating unhealthy foods (which happened on a weekly basis), I stayed within my calorie range. • My Protein intake was still around 60-80 grams per day. I really like the Premier Protein shakes. They come in ready to drink 11oz containers, they are only 160 calories and pack 30 grams of protein. About 12 Months Out: • 153 pounds; size 10 • By this time I was lifting about 3x per week at home. I began to notice my skin firming up around the muscles I was developing. At this time I began taking pre-workout supplements (NO-Xplode), post workout supplements (Cell Mass) and I upped my protein (100-120 grams per day). My goal with the supplements was to create longer workout endurance, quicker muscle recovery repair. I knew that the more muscle I had, the more my calories my body would burn due, as well as a better a metabolism. Even though I wasn’t really dropping that much weight at this time, my waist size started to go down with the increased muscle mass. • A little after the 12 month mark, I went down another 3 pounds, but I also went down an entire size! Typically, before the weight lifting, I would see a size drop about every 20 pounds. So, this was awesome! • Still working on eating clean at this point. I probably ate clean about 80-85% of the time. Weekends were a killer for me! It was hard with the weekends off, kids at home, and being out and about. No routine! Now, 22 Months Out: • 140 pounds • Size 4-6 misses • I eat clean foods 90-95% of the time. “Dirty” foods tend to make me sick now. • I have one cheat day, and I still limit myself and stay within my calorie range • I consume 150-170 grams of protein (still drinking the Premier Protein) • 1800-2000 calories on my cardio days (twice a week) • 2200-2500 on my weight lifting days (5 days out of the week). YES…I do more weight lifting than cardio! And carbs (good carbs, not dirty carbs) are your friend!!! Key for energy retention/endurance and muscle building! I consume more on my weight lifting days. Key intake is about an hour/hour-and-a-half prior to workout. • I still have really good restriction • My skin around my face has firmed up! It doesn’t look fallen. I’m a high school teacher and I get mistaken for a student all the time! • I do have some extra skin (and very little) in my upper arm area, upper thigh/groin; however, it isn’t that much! The muscle I have built really helps! The belly area has a little “apron” and—of course—the stretch marks from weight gain and 4 pregnancies make it look like a very wrinkly old grandma; but other than that, my stomach is flat! I do plan to have a tummy tuck this summer… so bikini here you come! All in all, I LOVE my SLEEVE!!! I would do it all over again! They key thing—and most doctors tell you this from the get-go—you HAVE TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE for LONG-TERM SUCCESS! The weight will come off that first year, but once you’re in that maintenance mode you can easily put weight back on. Especially eating dirty foods that are higher in calories/sugars/fats. They slide through your restriction, they are full of empty calories (no nutritional value), and they will be your downfall. Does that mean you cannot enjoy a piece of cake, chips or some other dirty food? No, but you have to teach yourself to say “no” most of the time; and when you do say “yes,” limit yourself and eat in small quantities. Don’t make it a daily thing, make it a once-a-week kind-of-thing. EXERCISE! You don’t have to turn into a gym rat…in fact, you don’t have to go to a gym at all, but find some kind of active activity that you can engage in at least 3 days a weeks, for a MINIMUM of 30 minutes. It can be hard at first (grueling even), but before you know it—with consistency—your body will crave it! YES!!! Literally, your body will crave the activity! I wish all of your sleevers and soon-to-be sleevers the best of luck! I hope you find your success in this life changing journey!

Thank you! Good luck on getting your sleeve...it was the best decision of my life and I hope you find your success with this new weight loss chapter in your life!

Thanks everyone! I work hard in the gym. I do more weight training than cardio and it's nice to see results from all that work!