LynRN

I feel like I'm a slow loser. 4 months out down 56 pounds from preop and 47 lbs from surgery. It's okay, though. I'm 7 lbs from onederland and haven't been under 200 lbs in over a decade.

I know this thread is old, but I had to resurrect it. You know you lost weight when ... Your skirt falls down around your ankles in the mall parking lot. Yep ... That happened. Thank goodness I was wearing spanx or else someone would have seen my too big granny panties that hang down like the diaper of a toddler that hasn't been changed all day. I think it's time for some new clothes.

So, I am an RN and studying to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. In my Health Promotion class, we were discussing obesity and weight loss surgery. Many of my classmates, all RNs and soon to be primary care providers, had negative opinions of WLS. They all knew someone or took care of someone that had WLS and gained all the weight back or had complications or eating disorders or whatever, which may be true. But I was completely taken aback by the negative attitudes, and frankly, ignorance and misinformation about WLS that still prevails, even among healthcare professionals. My position was that, for the right patients ( those that are mentally prepared and willing to do the work), WLS should be viewed as a viable option in the treatment of obesity. BTW, they don't know that I had VSG. So, a little about me. I am a 32 year old wife and mommy of 3 and 5 year old little boys. I am 5'2 and at my highest, I weighed 276 lbs. That is a BMI of over 50. I am just shy of 4 months out and am down to 208. While I still have a ways to go, I am already smaller than I have been in nearly a decade. I had no real comorbidities to speak of, but I know it was just a matter of time. I am a black woman with a horrible family history of diabetes, heart disease and renal failure. My own mother has been ill for most of my life. She was diagnosed with Lupus in her 30s. Soon to follow were hip and knee replacements, renal failure (she's had TWO kidney transplants), diabetes, hypertension and TWO heart attacks. And most of this was before age 50. And guess what, while she is overweight, she was never the size that I was. My grandmother also died from complications of diabetes at age 57. My mother's youngest brother is also a brittle diabetic and on dialysis awaiting a SECOND kidney transplant and he's not yet 50. I was heading in the same direction and decided I needed to do something drastic to change my fate. So excuse me for taking "the easy way out" to save my own life and health, to spare my kids the fear of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" that I experienced growing up with a mom that was constantly in and out of the hospital. Also, I wanted to lose weight before I become an NP. I just don't know how effective I could be at advising patients to lose weight or exercise or eat right when I was so heavy. So, I decided to help myself before I try to help someone else. Anyway, sorry for the long post. Rant Over!

My PA actually increased me to twice daily dosing. Maybe ask your doc about gastritis, especially since it feels like painful burning.

So, I'm 4 months out today and I am down 48 pounds from surgery. It's been a little slow but I'm happy with my weight loss so far. So here's my issue. Aunt flow is visiting and I have the munchies like no other. I can't seem to get satisfied and I am really craving sugar and salt and just plain old volume. Is this normal? Anyone have any tips? Otherwise, I'm just going to call this a free day and give in to my cravings and start fresh tomorrow. BTW, I'm hormonal, so be nice!

I actually was told the exact opposite by my PA and nut at my 3 month appointment. They were concerned that I was beginning to feel hunger. They said its probably gastritis and increased my Omeprazole dose. I think the OP should thank her lucky stars and enjoy it while it lasts. Unless there's pain or nausea or an inability to eat, then the surgery is doing its job.

So I was walking into the mall and heard a whoosh and felt a draft. I looked down and saw my skirt around my ankles. Thank goodness I had on spanx. My husband and 5 year old thought it was pretty hilarious. I'm hoping that no one else saw it, but it was a crowded parking lot, so.... I guess I should buy some new stuff. I'm down nearly 50 lbs from surgery and 70 from my highest weight.

Oh and another thing, if I don't get some new bras soon, I might have to resort to stuffing like I'm in junior high again. I think I can fit an extra set of boobs in these bras. My husband thinks that's funny, too. I glad my weight loss woes are so amusing to him.

Hey there! I'm in the exact same situation right now with Aunt Flow and I'm about 3.5 months post op. Don't give in!! If you need to have a bite of something, fine, but you don't want to give in to a complete "free day". Too soon for that in my opinion! Free days turn into free weeks, etc... Just curious, how tall are you, what what your starting weight and what's your goal?I'm 5'2. My preop weight was 262. Surgery day, I was 253. Today I was 205.8. I hope to get to 135, so still a ways to go. BTW, I've eaten more than usual today, but I haven't gone crazy.

This might sound weird, but after look's like before's daughter.

I will be 4 months out tomorrow. I have lost just shy of 50 lbs so far. Not as fast as I'd like, but I did just start exercising in the last month or so. Anyway, I eat around 800-900 calories/day. I try to keep carb less than 50 and protein 60-80. Hope this helps.

Thank you all for your insight and kind words.

This makes me want to specialize in weight management when I am done with school.

Right! I know lots of people that get it from their docs. I never tried it because I have SVT, but I did try Metabolife as a teen (could that be the source of my SVT?)

You're right, RJ. My take on is that I, or my patient in the future, WILL develop health problems or even die as a result of obesity. If WLS can prevent this, then providers should be willing to explore it. I know it's not for everyone, neither should it be a first option for treatment, but because of ignorance, some providers don't even consider it.

Hi! I had surgery on 11/25. I'm 208 today, down 54 pounds from preop. I feel like its going a bit slow but I'm still happy. I just hope that it continues. Congrats on all of your success, November sleevers.

Would you say that you weigh all solids (meat, veggies, cheese,etc). And measure semi solids and edible liquids? And how much do you eat at one meal?I eat 2-3 oz of solid food at a meal. I weigh out my meat (example: chicken) and don't usually weight or measure my veggies bc I can usually only eat about a couple tsp-tbsp of veggies. If it's a semi-solid or thicker liquid, I eat about 3-4 Fluid ounces (like chili, soup, yogurt) Thanks for that. I made chili tonight and weighed the entire batch ( and then divided it by 12, which was just over 4 ounces) so I could figure out the calories per serving in MFP. I just want to make sure, I'm doing okay. One more question. How many time per day do you eat? My Nut wants me to eat just 3 times per day with no Snacks, but I like to have at least one snack per day, usually a Quest bar to help my sweet tooth at night or some almonds or a cheese stick to bump up my Protein a little. I really don't understand the problem with a healthy snack as long as I'm staying within my calorie goals. For example, today I had 3 full meals, plus a quest bar and a cheese stick and my total calories for the day are 741 and 73g protein and with exercise my net is less than 300.

I hope so, my hunger has increased lately and I have had a couple of bad days and I've gotten a little paranoid about stretching my sleeve. Especially since I'm not even 4 months out with 75-80 more pounds to lose.

Would you say that you weigh all solids (meat, veggies, cheese,etc). And measure semi solids and edible liquids? And how much do you eat at one meal?

I'm almost 4 months out and I told my NUT and PA that I feel hunger and they said that I shouldn't be. They said its probably gastritis and increased my Prilosec to twice daily and said if that doesn't work that they could put me on a drug called Carafate. I don't think that I will go on the Carafate but it is an option.

I am really excited about the Breakfast I had this morning. I made pumpkin spice steel cut oatmeal in the crockpot overnight. I had it this morning with a couple of ounces of vanilla Greek yogurt and a half tbsp of pecans. It's a keeper. The whole meal came to 141 calories, 17.3 carbs (a little high, but really not bad for oatmeal.) 9 g Protein Much better stats and taste than the instant.

This may be a post for the food and nutrition forum, but there's not a lot of traffic there, so I thought I'd post it here. What do you guys get when you go out to eat? My go to meals are: Chipotle: Burrito Bowl Ruby Tuesday: Shellfish Trio with spaghetti squash and grilled zucchini. Jimmy John's: Turkey and Ham unwich KFC: skinless grilled chicken Chinese: Shrimp with broccoli (steamed) At most other restaurants, I usually get a steak or shellfish and veggies. I get take out of some sort on the weekends to take to work (12 hour night shifts) and need some other ideas. What do you like?

I actually don't mind full sized meals, I just know that I'll be eating it for 4 meals.

I'm having some tortilla-less carne asada tacos.

Did you make any adjustments to the recipe?