PartOfMyCharm

Congrats to everyone on the big and little successes! I haven't really posted any before and after pics until now...I guess I felt a little too self conscious, plus, when you're losing over time it's hard to see the progress visually. Everyone (my boyfriend especially) has been telling me how great I look and I think I'm getting to a point where I can believe them. But here was the best thing of all...about 7 years ago I went on vacation to Myrtle Beach. We went to the Broadway at the Beach amusement park and I tried to ride the swings with my daughter. I was so large that whne they tried to get me into the seat they scraped the skin off my thumb...that's how tight it was. In the end they couldn't safely load all of me into that tiny swing. I had to get off, in front of everyone and somehow explain to my daughter why I couldn't ride. It was humiliating. I'm so happy now to say I went back to Myrtle Beach and fit in the swing! It was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life to date. So with that success under my belt I'm going to be brave and post my before and after pics. The first set is about a week post-surgery. The last set are from today. I'm 54 pounds down and I've lost quite a few inches. The best part is how wonderful I feel. NO achy knees! NO high blood sugar! NO groaning when I walk up steps! I even broke out a pair of high heeled boots for new years eve! lol The last picture is me in the dress I bought for New Years Eve. Again, congrats to all! We've worked hard and deserve a moment to just smile and enjoy the progress!

So...I'm about 6 weeks post op and while I don't have any BIG issues with saggy skin I do notice some differences: 1. The weight is leaving my belly from the top down, so the top is virtually flat but now I have a bit more "extraness" at the bottom that bothers me. It actually seems to make my back hurt...like it's pulling down on it or something. 2. My thighs...good lord my thighs are a travesty! I was on bedrest with my daughter years ago and before then my legs were toned...afterwards they weren't so now all the weight loss seems to be making the skin there look...strange. I'm just wondering what everyone else's experience with saggy skin has been and if any of the long term sleevers have found any tips to dealing with it besides surgery. And while I appreciate and love all of you who DON'T have skin...I'd rather you not respond with "My skin snapped right back! I don't have to deal with saggy skin thank God! lol Thanks!

I hadn't even considered the saggy skin thing. So that actually makes me feel better about the weight loss I've had. Thanks for the pick me up! :-)@@Janice1968

@Lateese92 @@AlanaRN I'm about 6 weeks out as well and as soon as I started 'real' food I stalled...bad. The scale is beginning to move a little now but I was totally stumped (and still feel a bit confused). The way it was explained to me is that the body has an amazing ability to adapt. So now that it's gotten used to so few calories we have a lower threshold of what we can eat and not stall or gain. So while I may not eat ever 1/4 of what I used to, just simply eating more carbs than we should can stall you because of the increase in calories. I'm not sayign that's what's happening with you but for me it made perfect sense. I wasn't eating horribly at all but there were definitely some times when I either ate too much or ate something I probably shouldnt' have. And the opposite holds true to...if you don't get enough carbs your body will hold onto what you do eat to avoid you starving it. For me I've had to go back to being VERY careful to get all my Fluid and Protein and cut out any carbs that don't come from veggies. The only other carb I'm allowing myself is sweet potato and then only once a week. It's hard and not fun for someone who spent the bulk of her life addicted to food but I'd hate to have gone to all the trouble of the surgery only to sabotage myself. The other thing I really have to get serious about is exercise. I walk occasionally but not nearly as much as I should. i work with a girl who is a personal trainer and she's helping me come up with a plan to help me get my body together. And interstingly enough it's mostly strength/weight training and limited cardio (since our bodies are kind of fat burnign machines for the next few months at least). I'm hoping it works. I'm consistently amazed at how complex this whole process is and sometimes I wish I'd taken more time to wrap my brain around it before I started. But at the end of the day I'm pleased. I haven't seen anything in the 220's in many many years so I have to sometimes cut myself a break and realize that progress is progress and all of it is more than I'd have had if I hadn't had the surgery. At least this year I don't have to worry about gorging myself during the holidays and starting the year 10 pounds heavier Good luck to you both! Let us know what kicks you out of the plateau!

@@3Pugaliers I've had a rough couple weeks myself. Started on soft food and as of yesterday have transitioned to full foods (I can have salad and carrots...but I'm scared to. lol). For me the struggle has been not constantly watching the scale and not being disapointed that it's not moving faster. I know the biggest problem is exercise. I really have to get disciplined about that...and discipline has never been my strong point. Sorry to hear about your hospital visit. What did the doctor have to say? Did you get your gall bladder out?

Hi ladies! Checking in with the September 30th sleevers. How is everyone? I have to say I'm shocked at just how many highs and lows there are to this. Granted, I have bipolar so I'm a bit high and low already (lol) but I'm seeing there are days where I feel like I could fly and am SO happy about all the changes, then there are days (like today, when heartburn is radiating in my kneecaps) that I think...well, it'll get better with time. Interesting little change...the other day at work my elbow was hurting SOO bad. Finally figured out that I now have a bone there that used to be covered in fat and now that it's not, it's rubbing against my desk! lol Celebrate the little things right?

Since the day of surgery I've been living in fear of the dreaded 3 week stall. I hit 2 weeks tomorrow and start mushies next Tuesday. I'm praying the 3 week stall isn't too devastating. I joined a gym today and start working out tomorrow so (prayerfully) that will help give my body the boost it needs to lose as much as I can before the 3rd week arrives. @@twinmommy83 keep us posted on your progress. Other than our heights our stats are so similar it will be nice to have someone to chat about this whole thing with. good luck!!

11 days post op and 21 pounds. I'm really really happy about that. That's one of the positives I try to focus on, that and the blessing to now have a tool that will help me get and stay healthy. I'm so glad to hear you're all doing well. I pray we all remain strong. Just saw one of my friends for the first time since august...she wads shocked and said (and I quote) "you're going to be smaller than me!" Why on earth do people think it's okay to make these kinds of comments? I told her...this wasn't the easy way out...it was the hard way. But I'm so glad I had strength enough to do it. :-) We should make sure to check in on each other and keep each other encouraged. I'm hoping to start a formal exercise program this week. I'm using DailyBurn.com. Have you all heard of it? What exercise programs are working for you?

Hello Ladies! Congrats to all of you! I was sleeved last Tuesday so it's my one weekaversary! Overall the experience has been a bit of a roller coaster and the strange thing is that even though I'm getting lots of phone calls from friends and family I'm just not up to talking about it much. It's like I don't really have words for all the different thoughts and feelings and I just don't want to be misunderstood. My boyfriend, who is the most amazing human being I know, was here over the weekend and on Sunday night he asked (very sweetly) "so...when do you get HAPPY about this?". Until then I hadn't realized that I wasn't reacting in a way that really looked happy at all. It;s not that I'm NOT happy. It's just that it's real now. It really happened and my life will be different forever now and that takes some mental adjusting to. No matter how much you prepare for this before surgery, once it's done it's just different in a way you couldn't prepare for. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I was sleeved on Tuesday and surprised at how little pain I had...other than the gas which was horrible! As for food I have to say I don't think I realized how serious my issues with food were until now. Just knowing that it's not physically possible that I'm hungry so whatever agony I'm in is totally head hunger and it's pretty intense. I've got another 14 days of Clear liquids and so far the issues I'm having the most are: 1. Keeping up with my Fluid. I'm pretty sure I'm dehydrated but it's rough. Feels like drinking is my job now. lol 2. Being around other people who are eating. My boyfriend has been amazing but he can't pretend he doesn't eat forever. I know I should be over the moon ecstatic that this thing I've wanted for so long has finally happened but for some reason I just feel...blah. Anyone else experiencing this? On the plus side...I'm down 16 pounds from my in hospital weight (which was about 6 pounds higher than my pre-op weight...I chalk it up to fluid and gas)

I'm with you @@TeacherMommy! My surgery date is scheduled for Tuesday at 7am. Unfortunately I have to pay a visit to my endocrinologist (I'm Type 2 diabetic) becuase even though I've been all liquid since Monday and no cheating...I've actually gained weight and my surgeon needs my endo to verify if it has something to do with my insulin intake. Crossing my fingers, eyes and toes that all goes well and the surgery isn't cancelled. Not sure I can do another month of waiting...