MumtazG38

So I'm considered a lightweight....yea....thats me LOL! At 32 BMI I'm technically lightweight. I have been at 35 BMI for the last several years or so and have actually managed to lose a bit on a low carb/high protein/mod fat/low cal/sugar free (paleo/primal) lifestyle, but am as usual having a very hard time keeping it off consistantly. It keeps creeping up. Was just wondering if there were anymore people on here with about 100lbs or less to lose, or otherwise considered lightweight comparatively. Any who've had the procedure? If you've had the procedure, how much have you been losing? What's your progress, and how're you feeling about the procedure so far? Thought I'd make a thread for us that have less to lose than the SMB or even the MB people on here. So we can share our experiences and just chill. BTW, thought I'd add. Everyone is welcome! All sizes! All opinions are valued here!

Ok, so I'm officially admitted to Mi Doctor. Sitting on my bed, in my room right now! Waiting for the nurse to come do my EKG! !!! So excited I might explode! HAHA! Anyways....just got my blood pressure taken. And ever since I got to MX I've been dealing with Nissi......ATTN: EVERYONE ASK FOR THIS GIRL! SHE IS UH-FRIGGIN-MAZINGGGGGG! Girl gets it done I tell ya! And she's quick as heck! Not to mention she runs the place and people here like a boss!!!! She'll do everything and MORE in her power to make sure you feel uber comfortable....or fall head over heals in love with her, and leave your spouse/partner.....one of the two ! - Nurse just walked in. Ok, back, just got my EKG done. Was a breeze.....first time....is it bad I was thinking copious amounts of electricity were supposed to flow out of those probes and teach my left breast how to dougie..... - Another nurse just walked in. Yes so, just got my bloodwork done. Essentially pain free! Several unidentified solar systems better regarding pain level!!!! - Hold on...EKG nurse just walked in...lol. Okay....THAT was an owie...waah. . Just got the IV. The female nurse was having a super hard time finding a good vein (My veins ALWAYS end up FAILING me like this LOL). She kept on pulling it back, and shoving it in again.....several rounds of this and the mail nurse who was initially supposed to do my EKG (but Nissi the absolute angel felt I'd be more comfy having a female err...deal with that...situation. lol...she was so right ) magically walked in and asked me if I'd be ok with letting him have a try. I didn't feel a single thing when he did it....he also took his time finding my good vein and coercing that sneaky little b*tch out. He rocks.....U.S nurses should learn from this guy....no ish! - One sec...A doctor just walked in. Ok, so yeah. A staff doc just let me know my bloodwork and ekg look picture perfect and I'll be having the surgery in approximately an hour and a half! WOOHOOOOO! Can't wait!

I think I saw a few posts here and there regarding this. It's just that I am booked with these doctors but am staying at some local hotel instead. Was wondering if this was the case with everyone or it was just me. Also....I'm a bit confused about who this Dr. Garcia is exactly? Because loads of people call my surgeon Dr. Cabrera/Garcia too......so when I see Dr. Garcia I get confused lol.

^ Slow and Steady wins the race. Well, 2 days to 10 weeks now and I've not lost much more honestly. But...the inches! Goodness the inches. I'm down from a super tight uncomfortable size 18 jean (at the waist) to a 12 perfect fit. Haven't been this size since highschool! I'm actually smaller than highschool to be honest. I barely have anymore stomach left. It's just my lower pouch...but I've had two kids...and my youngest just turned a year on the 25th...so yeah. That might never be gone for all I know...but come on now...size 18 to size 12...if that's not hope...what is? I'm also wearing medium size shirts now. I was a L/XL. Usually XL. I could sort of get away with a large if I wore my steel lined corset underneath. I've tossed that for 2 months now lol. My face is super slim, and contoured now. I'm loving this. Hoping this keeps up!

Sleeved July 25th (2 days to 10 week mark, this Wed) and 23.8lbs down w/ 52.6 to go. Stalled from week 3 to week 7. Started losing weight week 8. Down 5lbs in the last two weeks. So I'd say, weight loss is super super slow! I'm barely even making a crawl. However, I'm down inches like no ones business. Down from a super tight/uncomfortable size 18 skinny jeans in waist to a super loose size 14, and a perfect fit size 12! Not bad my friends...not bad at all! My thighs didn't really need much, but those are tiny too. My legs are super muscular calves of sexyness (they sort of always were...but now...DAMN). My arms are down, my bra size is down 2 cups, however my band remain's the same (bra rolls anyone lol). My face! OH MY FACE I TELL YA! So slim. No double chin in sight. And sooooooo slim with all that natural contouring in my cheek/hollows etc. Nice! So I'd trade inches over lbs any day! I just hope to keep dropping the inches like this forever! HAHA!

yep.

21.4lbs down. But including every time I've gained some, and then lost it again (plus some) it's more around 25-28lbs down really.

I'm 5' 1" and was 33 bmi day of surgery. I agree that the smaller we are the slower we lose, however, It balances out since we have so much less to lose in any case. So we get to goal at the same regardless. At least this is what I'm telling myself. My ticker's got my progress so far. Weightloss slowed to a pathetic excuse for a crawl at weeks 3, 4 and 5 post op. I gained 3 lbs in that last week, lost them overnight through drinking tons of Water to keep me full and avoid eating and drank 2 Protein shakes (30g each) to avoid food. Ate only 500 calories that day. Lost 3 of those gained lbs plus an ounce or two that had been stuck for 5-6 days. Then...I hit a full on (no ups, no downs) stall for another week and a half. This was week 6 and most of week 7. Now I'm 3 days into week 8 and am on my period. I finally broke the stall though! PHEW! Lost 2lbs and 14 oz overnight for no reason at all on day 2 of week 8. Lost 2oz today (day 3 of week 8). Again, no changes. So yeah, hope I don't stall again and manage to keep at this rate for the remainder of my journey. Not counting on it though. But hey...a girl can dream. Good luck!

So easy! You just take about 4-5 cups of milk and scald it. Stop the heat before it begins to boil over. Let it cool down. Check with your hand after an hour or so, if it doesn't burn then your good. lol. Once the milk is cool just add 2-3 tbsp of yogurt (I use what I've already made previously...but you can buy the single serving tubs...I think they even have single serving greek now). Then you just mix the milk and yogurt super lightly a couple of times, so it's evenly distributed and pour it into a container of your choice. Turn the oven up to warm for a bit and turn it off after 3 minutes. You just want it to be slightly warm in there. Or, if your kitchen is normally warm and you don't mind waiting up to 12 hours you can just keep it on the stove. That's what my mom and I do. Otherwise, just stick the almost-greek-yogurt in the warmed up/turned off oven and if you've a light let that stay on too, it'll keep it from cooling down. Come back after 5-6 hours and check on the greek yogurt. If it looks like yogurt you're almost done! Basically it should be thicker and should stay together when moved around like thinned out yogurt. Once it's done you just get a cheesecloth and a rubberband and place the cheesecloth over the bowl and rubberband it down, not too tight, not too loose cause you're going to strain the whey out to make the yogurt "Greek"! So, pour all of the yogurt into the cloth covered bowl and stick it in the fridge for up to 4 hours. Whatever is left at the top, all nice and thick and greek yogurty is what you're gonna wanna seal up airtight and store in the fridge. Whatever is in the bowl is the "whey"! That stuff is great too!

Ah.....the benefits of making your own Greek Yogurt at home. Thanks mom for teaching me!!!! LOL!

Wouldn't the ketosis test strips turn negative if I've eaten? I thought ketosis was only during a fast? I've been at a stall for the last 3 weeks, and the stall is worse than any I've been on. I'm actually running around crazy trying to NOT GAIN right now, it's that bad. I'm at 500-530 calories, and under 20g carbs, and over always 85+g Protein and every single time I've gotten in anything NEAR 600 calories I've gained 3+ lbs this whole stall! I'm losing my damn mind here. How in hell can I be restricting calories and carbs and fat so much and still be losing my mind trying not to gain! I thought the weight was supposed to be falling off!!! What I wouldn't do to have even a fraction of a pound a day come off, or even every 2-3 days.....I thought the ridiculous gain cycle was over with now that I've had this surgery! I'm not even eating how much I can easily eat. I've portioned everything I put into my mouth because I know I can't starve, and I know I can't exceed my calories for some reason or I end up gaining. Exercise is only making me feel stupid right now. I workout like insane for 3-5 days, check my weight...and oop....we're stuck, or up. I realize muscle gains etc....but I promise you its not that. I measure, among many other things. So frustrated with this damn sleeve right now. It's not even that I can't eat. THE WORST PART is the fact that I can eat probably however much I want, just haven't let myself test the limit cause I'm terrified of having too many calories and gaining again. But I know this, my stomach could easily take 1-2 cups of whatever I'm eating since day 1...literally the first day out.(beef, turkey, salad, chicken...any form...any consistancy....everything goes!). Almost as much as before, just a teeny bit less really. I just avoid eating high calorie/fat stuff so I don't gain. Why after the surgery am I having to work just as, or twice as hard to lose weight....or better yet....keep myself from gaining for the past 3 weeks? Yeah....I'm pissed. Sorry for the rant. I suck.

I feel like that too! Turns out it was heartburn. I honestly thought they were serious hunger pains from HELL! Funny though, they sure don't feel like heartburn. They're pretty low for them too....its so strange. But yep, that is what they are. They've definitely lessened now. I just had one super long episode that just now ended only 10-15 minutes ago after I had some turkey chili. It's my fourth time having it since I made it and my portion is super tiny too......no reason I guess. But I swear I thought I was super starving to death. Then I realized that when I get truly hungry, I'm dizzy and lightheaded within 3-5 minutes of the feeling. I didn't get that with this feeling. Strange enough though, it does tend to calm down for a bit right after I have a sip or two of my protein shake or water or something. Just like hunger does. But it usually comes back in a bit....

..........................What? heheheeeeee. Meoooowwwwww

Agreed! Basically...if you stall despite avoiding all sugar and white carbs try one of these a day until you see what works for you. 1.Eat more. 2.Eat less. 3.Workout / Workout more 4.Stop working out / give that body a rest to heal and replace muscle! 5.Change up what you're eating. (If you're low carb, high protein, low fat. Change it up, make it high fat, low carb, high protein or whatever else works for you!) 6.Change up you're workout. If you're lifting weights, try cardio. Vice versa. 7. Drink more Water. This should be number 1 from my experience!

All I have to say (further) about this stupid stall is.....guys....just drink down that Water please! I swear...I don't know how I would have lost those evil 3lbs I gained the other day if I hadn't drank up my 2 litres like a mad women. Not to mention it kept me away from grazing and made it so I had less meals. I just had 2 Protein shakes a day and my 2 litres of water...and a turkey slice lettuce wrap (66 cals, 33 if you use just one slice). 3 times in the whole day. Kept my calories low at 520 approx, kept my fat super low at 13g, my carbs lower than ever at 13.9g, and my protein HIGHER THAN EVER at 91.2g!!! I lost those 3lbs over night. Plus 2 ounces that I was stalled at for so many weeks! I know 2 ounces doesn't seem like much, but for us stalled for several weeks....it's enough to have a mini-fiesta over LOL. BTW...Just thought I'd add again...July 25th here.

I too stalled badly at 2 weeks and am still stalled pretty much on the last day of my 5th week. It's really upsetting. I even gained 3lbs overnight because I had 700 calories the night before the last! UGH! I knocked myself back down to 520 cals and lost those 3 plus 2 ounces yesterday...and have tried to do the same today and will see what the scale says tomorrow. This stall is the absolute WORST.LOL

errr....I had a 3-day pre-op liquid diet. No cheating. Meh. My surgeon luh-uuuved my shrinky dinky liver!

Try Wellesse Multi Vitamin+. They're liquid. I just got mine in the mail today...Natural Citrus Flavor. Tastes like slightly diluted orange juice. I don't mind taking the ounce (2 measuring tablespoons) directly honestly, and that's saying a lot as I absolutely despise liquid/chewable Vitamins and medicine tasting stuff. But this wasn't bad at all. Well at least not as bad as all the others I've tried. Yuck! However, I did add it to my orange flavored Energy crystal lite to make a tasty SuperMommy Infusion! So that it would last me all day rather than just take a shot of the stuff and hope it does. But that's just moi. I think you can get it at most RiteAids too....I ordered via vitacost.com. But you can always call your local Riteaid and check. Good luck. oooh....and you can always just add them to your favorite drinks and shakes and it's like orange juice....so the possibilities are limitless. Here's a link to some examples of homemade Vitamin Water that tastes waaaaay better than the useless brand stuff. (I love this women, everyone needs to check her recipes out!!OMG!!) http://realsustenance.com/how-to-make-your-own-vitamin-water-plus-a-giveaway/ or.....there's always gummies.

I was having the exact same doubts as you for the passed 3 weeks or so out of this whole month after my surgery. Thinking I've got practically no restriction...the surgeon should have taken out more...I'm failing this thing yada yada. Honestly, it took me the whole 3 weeks to realize that for some odd reason, my stomach can handle whatever I throw at it, as long as I stop when I'm full (actually before than, otherwise I feel tightness now, which I never did the first 3 weeks). I just eat teeny tiny spoons and wait a sec or two....I put that spoon down too. And once I even remotely "sigh" while I'm eating. I'm done! No matter what! Fact is, some people will get super uncomfortably or painfully full after eating a tablespoon. Others will blow chunks all over the place. And some of us....will be jealous of those people like nothing else!!!! This is just what it is. The thing is, you need to realize (like I did, finally....garsh I'm stubborn!) that you DID have the surgery and your stomach IS SUPER NUMB right now, so you won't even realize that the last tablespoon or two you just swallowed down...may have ripped a serious whole right through your newly incised stomach. There is simply no chance that you are failing the surgery biologically, but if you keep eating without counting spoons, and putting down the spoon....you will be failing the surgery as a tool to lose that weight! I feel the same way you do sometimes...and just want to shout. But hey, I'm down 16lbs plus some in this month alone...have only 23lbs till mid goal...and 60 till super thin lifetime goal!!!! That means someones doing something right! I've been making food in portions. Teeny tiny portions. I don't even wait for the full (sigh) signal anymore, I just eat that small portion of 5-6 small spoons and leave it at that. If I get hungry again...I'll just have another portion. So what...the way I'm cooking my food keeps my calories and carbs super low, and Protein super high. So that's all that matters, I can have a portion or two more if I really want to. Fact is, you're doing fine. And the sleeve is totally working for you hun! Now, the difference is it'll take some time to adjust into that tightness...and even if you never get there (sorta like me...lol) then you can rely on practicing "I'm full" signals. Whichever they may be for you. The sigh test worked for me for the first 3 days only, after that I learned exactly how much I needed to be full PLUS I learned the difference between satisfied and full/going to pop and can stop well before the sigh...and be super duper happy after a meal...as opposed to super duper depressed, guilty and worried that I am eating to much to succeed. My suggestion is...don't rely on any restrictions. Just trust that you have a much smaller stomach now, and no matter what you can put in it and get away with it. The point of the entire surgery is that you USE IT LIKE A TOOL! . Just eat enough to get rid of the ravenous hunger feeling (if you have that like me, otherwise just count those spoons lucky you! ). And put that spoon down and call it a day. Oh and if you've a stomach of steel like me (and if you're a guy...you probably do lol)...and can pretty much digest anything from the first day out (including those ruddy m&ms....LOL) just remember, sticking to you post-op diet is going to make you super charge that weight loss. And even one stinking bit of sugar can screw it all up, and WILL add even more cravings for sugar and useless carbs! Don't worry too much hun...I did, and it didn't get me anything haha! Just stick to that post-op diet, stick to those phases, and move at the pace the doc wants you to. This way, YOU CANT BE THE GUILTY ONE lol. Plus, you'll lose a boat load of weight eating so restrictively. It's only to you're benefit hun! Good luck! P.S. No one says you need to stay hungry ok. Just make better food choices. Plus, I realized something HUGE this week...which is stupid since everyone and they're mother was repeating this to me for ages but I'm too stubborn to listen.........DRINK YOU'RE WATER!!!! I swear...I thought it was all bull! LOL. But no, honestly between my 2 litres of Water a day, and my 2 Protein shakes a day...I barely want to touch anything food related...it can be pizza for all I care...It ain't going anywhere NEAR my mouth after I've had a shake lol.

Thanks guys for all the support! Yep, I got it checked out at 2.5 weeks post op when bleeding was the worst. (So I thought at the time, lol...it got worse haha). Plus my moms' a nurse and midwife so she keeps checking on me every time I complain a little (yerse...I live with my mommy....sue meh...she's old and my kids need extended family, plus hubby loves having her quirky self around so it all works out doesn't it haha!!! ). Both the doctor and my mom think it's just the Mirena and how it is, add the surgery and the weightloss (more so the inches lost, which is more significant by far) and it sort of makes sense. Ultrasound for placement was fine, it's where it's supposed to be. Now I think about it, I've noticed this pattern with me before, where I get 2-3 months of 3-6 day light-medium light period and am good, but than 1 month comes where I'm on my period for practically the whole month. But it just has never been this heavy. I guess this was that month after the 2-3 months of normality. Darn this ridiculous IUD from the darkest reaches of hell!!!! I'm so close to just getting it taken out...but with the future weight loss I'm really not interested in getting knocked up yet at all lol. Anyways....on to some good news. So I did the Protein shakes and 2 litre Water thing yesterday (not gonna lie, I had 3 solid meals though, only they were 66 cals each and kept my calories at 528 w/ fat at almost 13g for the whole day, and carbs under 14g and protein as high as 91g!!!) But I made sure to have my full 2 Protein Shakes and drink all my water no matter what and I LOST THE 3lbs I'd gained....plus 2 ounces that I was stuck on for almost a week lol!!! Better believe I'm doing it again today! HAHA!

Well, I've been on the longest period of my life since a week after I got my surgery. So pretty much I had the week of my surgery (6 days) with no period. Had my period before those 6 days off, and still have my period since those 6 days off. Super heavy. Way different for me. I'm thinking this surgery totally threw my hormones off because I've never had a period this long and this ridiculously heavy either!!! Sure I've originally had wonky periods ever since this hellish Mirena (IUD) but, none this long. And the fact that it all wraps around the surgery...well....yeah. Ugh...sometimes I just want to tell myself that IT IS the period....but goodness, that's depressing seeing as it doesn't seem it's ever going to stop at this rate. LOL

Wow...I can't believe my 3 week stall right now!!! I lost the majority of my 16lbs down in the first 2 weeks. Of which I lost like 11lbs in the first week (including pre-op diet loss), then I stalled again, starved myself (even more) to lose about 5 more and it took forever to come off. Then stalled again for the next 2 weeks, and now I've GAINED 3 lbs throwing me back at a loss of 13 lbs......what the hell!!! My calories are consistently 500-590, with 50-70g Protein, and always well under 50g carbs (average of 13-18g, not once above 25g). My fat is also very super clean saturated, and less than it needs to be...but I'm still stuck. And even gained 3 lbs. I mean, I'm 1 month out....what the hell is going on!!! I've half a mind to talk to my doctor directly about this! I am taking prilosec every single day at the recommended dose, and also take liquid antacids before each meal despite the fact that I don't have heartburn, just so that I can shut out all the comments about the whole...oh you're not hungry, its just heartburn thing! lol. I'm still hungry, and the way I can tell is that I get dizzy and lightheaded within 5-8 minutes of the hunger feeling. Yes, I'm eating a lot less often now, and much less food too (I mean flippin' 500-590 cals!!) Today, I'm doing something different and hoping it'll break this gaining/stall cycle...I'm just having Protein shakes (30g) when I get hungry and drinking more than my full 2 litres to see where that takes me. Only 1 solid meal all day, and even that is 77 calories at 11g protein, 2 carbs and 2g sat fat. And if I see anything change (going down that is) on the scale tomorrow morning (even a half decimal point lol) I'm going nuts and knocking out even that 1 solid meal and replacing it with more Water and a protein shake! If this doesn't work, I'm calling my lawyer!

Well, the easily tired and fatigued would be due to the tiny tiny bit of calories/protein you're able to ingest I'd think. Other than that, sometimes the sleeve does revert back a bit after letting you do well on a level/phase of eating. Mine did that a few times, but for only a few days at a time. But if you are feeling like something might be wrong your best bet is to get to a doctor and have everything checked out. Same goes for rphp. If you feel like something is wrong, you should definitely get looked at! I mean this is surgery on your stomach we're talking about...it's a big deal! Good luck and be well and healthy everyone!

Just tried lettuce 3 days ago, and haven't had a single issue having about 1-2 leaves a day since (1 leaf per wrap/sandwich). Makes for GREAT super low calorie, high Protein wraps! Ridiculously quick and convenient!! I also cut my pureed stage in half, from 2 weeks to 1 week and moved onto soft foods as soon as I noticed no problems getting things down. It fills me up quicker, and I noticed my calories drop significantly on fitday the moment I started soft foods. What a great feeling! Even if I'm not losing weight, at least I'm keeping my calories super low! Eventually, I'll HAVE TO lose weight at this rate!

Same problem here! If I accidentally even drink a sip of Water before a meal...I ruin the whole meal and have problems eating the whole time. I'm pretty much just sitting there getting more and more uncomfortable with each spoon of food until I just give up, still hungry. I'm also barely getting in 60g of Protein a day, and doing my best here to get it in nonetheless. I don't see anything more I can do to get in more, my sources of protein are the absolute best right now...I mean you simply don't get any better than super lean, grass fed ground beef! LOL.