andreamy7

Sleeved 11/12/13 haha! Never even noticed that. Before after pics. Started at 265 size 20/22. Sixe 2x shirt 42D bra. Now 185.4, size 14, sometimes 12 pants. Size L shirt, 38D bra. Even my feet are a little smaller. Hopefully these attchments work... [ATTACH]46924[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]46923[/ATTACH]

Good for you for moving on from a company that does not cover bariatric. Employers elect their insurance so they can select a plan that includes that option. Please folks, understand that if you do have coverage, you DO NOT have to disclose to employer EVER what medical treatment you are having. I went so far as to have my PCP write me out because my employer at that time was VERY nosy and I knew whatever I turned in they would look up. However, it came from my PCP so nothing can be looked up, so I was really happy that the PCP did it for me. All you have to do is provide a note and say Drs orders, I am out for a week. Technically, they are not even supposed to ask anything beyind that after that in the State of Ca. You can choose to answer, but you have privacy rights and can simply say, I prefer not to discuss at this time or I am out for a week, having a procedure....it is not the employers business. Its yours. We probably all want a boss that is concerned, but a good boss that follows guidelines of privacy and respect should say....something like Thanks for letting me know, I do hope all is well and if I can help in any way, let me know. Keep in touch with us if you need more time and meantime lets get your area set up so that soandso can cover you while you are out. Then just move on. That is how a good boss should manage it and the employer cannot fire you, remove your position or change your role if the issue is a proven medical issue. Extended medical may have some limitations, read your Employee handbook for your company policy or inquire with HR if you think you have to use additional time. However, protect yourself and you do not have to discuss or disclose at any time what you are having done. Just make sure you get your note and thats it.

Well does your hubby want to see those things around your ankles? Upkeep costs are imminent and I am not letting mine drop down. My man tells me mine look great, but to me they look deflated like someone let the air out. They are much smaller and still sit nicely since they are smaller but I miss cleavage!! Thats the one area I wish I could have kept as it was....except for my overly robust sideboob. Lols! I was a 42D and am now a 38D. I tried a C but the cup feels like I am being choked....new bras stat!

@Butterfly...listen this is your personal journey. You do whatever you feel is right. You do not have to tell anyone if you don't want to. I was very selective about who knew and now I will tell anyone of my friends, but not co-workers. I don't want to deal with office gossip. Do what feels right. I understand keeping it underwraps but there is no need to feel shame-failing happens. Success will happen with sleeve-you will lose and keep it off. The treatment works. I was 265-size 20/22, 2x in Nov last yr. I am now 185 and a size 14, sometimes a 12 and a L size shirt. I put on old stuff sometimes and am amazed. I put on a suit I just bought in April just yesterday and my boyfriend had to pin my pants about 3 inches because I just continue to shrink down. It's nuts. I still feel like a chubby girl tho, Like mentally I have not lost the weight but physically its gone. Its intense and awesome and you will do well as the sleeve has changed my relationship with food-completely. It is still a struggle at times and I still try and stress eat, but can only fit in so much before I have the recognition to say hey stop eating this. Body full. And I stop eating! Whoa. Hahahahaha! It's awesome. Good luck!!

Yes. It took me longer tho, but still one was a huge milestone. It meant I had lost 66 lbs. It happened about 2 wks after my birthday and of course my goal was my bday so I missed it a bit, but am now at 185 and just refreshed my diet and went back to protein shakes 3 days a week to jump start. I have been better with my eating and my exercise. Just not a religion yet...my tiny tummy helps me not eat too much. So happy I did it. Congrats on getting close, keep up the good work to get there! $

I was sleeved Nov 12th LY, its been 8 months...wow. started at 265 and am at 186+/-...so I am around an 80 lb loss. 10 lbs a month I guess its ok. I was very stuck around that 205 mark/ time myself. I think what helped is I started more intense exercise. Like running the stairs instad of just a walk. Only once a wk though-I am not a religous exerciser at all. I walk daily but nothing big. Water is a big deal I found when I drink my water I do a lot better. Tracking helps-go back and track food and cals daily for a week, then go over your diet with the nutritionist-pay for an extra visit if needed. I would keep on the shake thing but try it every other day-liquid one day, food the next, not 3 days in a row. I am no angel and I feel that sometimes I should have lost more (so far) than I have, but I am happy with the loss and am trying not to be too hard on myself because think about how far you have come. You will drop again. Be patient and if you push your body too hard I don't think it responds to that either. We are all going to experience some stalling. Look at how far you have come. This might sound weird, but put on a great outfit you couldn't dare wear before and hold your head high. Take a selfie in the outfit, like instead of being down on it, relish what you have now. It's awesome you have had great loss in 5 months. Awesome. You will lose more, keep going.

Please contact your DR if you are vomiting. It's not good for you so early. Can cause problems. I did not vomit unless I was over eating. You can only eat 3 small bites (baby spoon size) at a time for now. Make sure you do fluid separate from eating times. Like a pattern: 1/4 glass of water, 1 hr later eat, 30 mins after more fluids...etc...sounds crazy but you cannot fit anything in your pouch anymore.

Take something from home that helps you relax. You won't sleep much post op, they keep waking you up for vitals and walking. You want to be walking the sooner you.walk the sooner you can go home. You won't have a lot of energy and the pain will not be bad until about day 3. Make sure to get everything you need post op before you go into surgery. Get some shakes, good ones. Try a few so you can have something around. Jello was great. Take enough time off work. Then get ready to clean out your closet cuz the weight flies off for the first 3 -4 months.

Weigh weekly. Not daily. You are doing fine. Salads are not my favorite and I had a hard time digesting, would go right through me so to speak. Everyone is different, some can tolerate it, I could not early on. I can have like a little lettuce but am good with veggies-carrots and cucumbers and ranch. I waited about 4 mos before I could really eat a salad.

Take your benefits into account, can you carry over your insurance as you will need to do follow up appts, etc. Also, I needed scripts for additional drugs and had to get those taken care of. Also, I only took 8 days off and I felt like I should have taken 12-one of my team told me 'why are you here, you should be in bed.' I have a fairly high pressure position, so I guess it depends on the position as well. Be aware of what can happen, but it would not be good to get into a new role and have to leave early, ask for more days of rest etc. I had been with my company for a while so I had freedom to leave early which I did for about a wk after. Like I said, depends on your role and how much time you give yourself to rest.

I find that sometimes my body tries telling me its hungry, but then I drink some tea or Water and maybe have a cracker or some banana and it subsides. You can trick your pouch into thinking you ate... also, everyone heals differently. I didn't hit hunger until 3 wks post op and then I learned that beverages usually helped.

Early on I ate applesauce and put fruit into smoothies, but did not really start eating whole fruit until about a couple months along.

Take a deep breath, it goes by so fast. Make sure you walk post op and just keep as calm as you can.

Can you really eat too much chic breast? I mean, I used to eat whole pizzas so if you have a little too much, you will burn it since its Protein, your body processes protein efficiently. It's the crabs you have to measure and watch closely.

Downplay it. If you end up somewhere that is not good for you skip it. You are in Vegas there is food everywhere. When I travel, I go to the grocery store and if you are in a hotel, clean out the mini fridge or ask the FD to do it and go get a couple yogurts, some cheese sticks, a box of crackers and some hummus. Put it all in your little area and then when you get hungry or if you can tell you are not going to get to eat, have a little snack. Also, bar apps are great, offer to share with one of the other girls. I do well with potstickers, sliders minus bread, quesadillas and shrimp cocktails. If they wanna hit the buffet for $50, say I am not a buffet person I will meet you after. Text me when you are done or meet them right after somewhere nearby. You do not have to be an eater to have a good time anymore. There are other things that are fun to do-esp in Vegas-the pool, blackjack, heck hit the gym while they eat then get ready.

Congrats and I understand since I just hit Onederland earlier this month. 68 lbs down. Now I am at 197.5!! It is so exciting, but its a weird size I wear either a 14w or a 16 and sometimes still an 18...it feels good to wear a few sizes down tho!! Gonna have a good week and stick to it and try and walk this week.

Wear it, you look awesome! So there is a little saggy skin-big deal. You look bkini ready to us, but it is all about how you feel. So, taoe a little cover up, but def sport the bikini. If you get self conciuos you have a little cover to help you feel better if needed... be brave! Conquer!! Lols

I am 6 monthd post op but still have days where I don't BM. Everyone is different, consult your Dr. They will let you know what to expect.

Moving the bowels becomes less and less. Your body is using everything and liquid diet kind of causes some constipation esp at first. Kinda of.funky but its what happens. I maybe go every couple days now-surgery date was Nov 12th, so 6 months post op. Loss of 68 lbs so far and shrinking literally daily it seems. Every once in while if it feels like things are getting backed up I have some oatmeal and it helps. Time being, just drink water. Good luck and congrats to you both. The journey is amazing. Sometimes not fun, hardest part for me was the first 3 months. Hang in there and just know that the phases help you, I felt very restrictive. I am doing.better and the food choices I make now are much improved. Smooth sailing now.

I am 6 months post op down 68 lbs. I think what helps is the following- #1-Only weigh once a wk, #2-Eat healthy and drink water #3-Add in a little exercise (even just a 15-30 min walk every other day to start helps). #4-Be happy when you have had a big loss, but just understand you may not have a big loss the next week. #5-Set realistic goals, don't expect to drop 20 lbs every month, it starts off that high and then starts dailing back a bit so just be patient with yourself, play the long game. #6-change habits and recognize stress or emotional eating. #7-Keep a great attitude with how you are doing. Be kind to yourself through the process. It is hard to do!!

Don't do it.

I have gone through phases where I really was able to eat again, like was really hungry and could eat way more than before.. I had to scale back a bit, I stopped losing as fast, but I still saw loss and I think once you get off protein shakes it helps since your body can prpcess 'real food' you will get more full faster and just remember things change so fast-every month is a little different. I am 6mos post op, lost of 68.5 lbs and counting. Very happy with results. Just hang in there. Sounds like you are tracking so that is good. Sometimes I listen to my body or try and hydrate more. When that hunger pain kicks in, try drinking instead of eating. Drink some water, an iced tea or a soy milk or something that tricks your stomach to thinking that you ate. The hunger goes away and your body is more hydrated, it will adapt to it, just be patient and have a beverage to hold the hunger back. Good luck!