Lani789

So awesome! The first time I went in I didn't know where to start! I have only tackled Kohls. I can't imagine a big department store. At least at Kohls I found the casual wear but there is another section I haven't even tried. Does anyone else feel like they will throw you out?

Are you involved in the review? I would fight by my putting an album of pictures over the past years together so they can see your size. Include pictures with kids, dogs, etc. don't use the "pretty" pictures and let them see what your size looks like. I believe there is a human element to approvals in some cases and we need to reach out to make sure they see us as humans, with a full life and family, not just a form. My insurance nurse actually choked up at one point when I answered a question, then she said well we will fix that. Surgery approval like four days later.

I thought the same thing. I thought I was weak. A failure. Then I learned about ghrelin. It started to make sense why I could lose but it would come back. Surgery is not easy. I'm five months out. I had no surgery complications, hardly any gas or even pain. But food is not the same. Food was such a part of me. I thought about what goodies I had in the house before I even got out of bed in the morning. Doesn't everyone? Apparently "normal" weight people don't do that. And now I don't. I miss foods I use to binge on but I'm not hungry for them. I know I ate out of anger, frustration or boredom. I still have those emotions but I can't use food to address them. Instead I have turned to working out to fill those holes. I've never been fit. I was always last to be picked in PE and played games that involved sitting. Now I am starting to feel a tiny bit like an athlete. I swim, walk/jog, Pilates and strength training. This weekend I was in the store and heard a few teenage girls giggling. Six months ago I would have known one of them said something "funny" about me. Now I know they were just giggling. It is not easy. I resent it when friends finish a whole plate of Pasta when we are out since that is a food I miss, but inside I know I don't need that much food even before surgery. It is a journey. Best of luck.

Best to all the new sleevers. Keep a positive frame of mind...that is the best medicine you can have!

I'm frustrated, too, since I've stalled over a month. I started back on liquids only today so I'll see where that goes. The good news is I also track body fat and that has dropped from 42 to 37% in this timeframe. I added 3 1/2 hours per week of cardio to my strength training so I know things are happening. Clothes are looser AND I can finally hold a plank. Whew! Now to increase the time. The scale doesn't reflect any of this in pounds lost. . I wish it did!

I'm almost five months out and due to increased energy, have twice a week Water aerobics, hour of pilates, and couch to 5k training program three days a week. I do strength training five days a week for about 25 minutes each session. I feel great but..... Weight has stayed the same for about a month. However body fat% as measured by the scale has dropped from about 41% at Christmas to 36% this morning. Is this possible? It is hard to tell with clothes because I've been buying stretchy stuff to allow for changes. I feel taller (if that doesn't sound weird), but for those who do a lot of physical stuff, is that body fat decrease seem logical?

Go check out some gyms. Just get out of the house and away from triggers. Manicure, pedi, class in something to take your mind off of it.

I have to add that I was getting a new polo for my volunteer job. I had a men's extra large that fit me for the first time in Oct., about a month after surgery. Since I was in the office I thought I would get a replacement to wear this Spring. This other volunteer, a thin woman, couldn't decide what size so I was brave, saying I'll take a large. So she took a medium. I took it and scurried home, figuring it will fit some day. That some day is now. It fits. From a men's xlarge that didn't fit to a women's large that looks great. There is so much mental adjusting to do as well. And now I can say I am building up my intracellular supply!

Even now at four months I find things really sweet. I went with the Synergy ice tea and now the Isopure black ice tea. Everything else has that sicky taste. Anyone know of anything tart? I also was drinking Synergy lemonade/ ice tea combo and squirted in lemon juice. That helped.

I have been stalled for a few weeks but I think I broke through since I upped calories a bit. I added so much physical stuff I think I was starving. And I swear my legs are longer. They seem to be longer - hey anything is possible. I am at 270 pounds in a seated leg crunch. Going for 300. That one really gets muscles moving!

I also use a tracker but I'm not up to 10K a day yet! That is awesome! As for Pilates, it is at my gym but the gym is small and mostly concentrated on strength training. I do it privately since I was not ready to try with others there. Plus since there is just me we use the reformer which looks like something out of a torture chamber. It has bars and springs (for resistance). So I would look for private training where they use a reformer. I am more supple with Pilates. And Water aerobics....the class is mostly women of a certain age and it is dark (evening class outside!), so no one is oogling. Only thing looked at is those who have a warmer outer layer (rash guard) because it is cold getting in and out of pool! Having said that, I now want thigh plastics when I reach goal. I was near an underwater light for part of the time and I saw jiggling. Plus the water magnifies, so it big jiggling. So thigh skin plastics is now on the list. Now I have to really plank. My trainer said it is great for flapping arms. It won't fix loose skin but it helps. By the way only the trainers at the gym know about the WL surgery (and three friends). They have been so encouraging and are always ready for suggestions of what next. I strongly recommend finding a good gym since I put that third in importance after finding the best surgeon and your own self.

I can see how people can get addicted. I had been doing strength training, but since the sleeve five months ago I've added Pilates once a week, Water aerobics two nights a week and just finished week one of an eight week couch to 5K program. The increase in energy is wonderful. That and I told a few people I couldn't work on their priorities until the fall because my needs come first for once. And I need to work out hard for the next few months!

I just started on them after buying one of everything in the Vitamin shoppe one night (staff thought it was fun and kept bringing forth options). Result: went back and bought black tea, grape and blue ice. Like them all but black tea is the fave. Not too sweet. At 40 g of Protein I am hitting daily target and liquids as well.

I had no problems. I don't do the wine, but I would do the fake on that. The host melts very nicely. If you are still nervous slip a handkerchief into a pocket.

My dad had most of his stomach removed in the 70s. He lived to be 80 and could have gone farther but he chose no treatment. He never did follow a nutrition plan!

I am four months out and I am just not hungry a great portion of the time. I went out yesterday and ate the salad and brought home the chicken and broccoli. It will take me a few days to eat it. I watched my friend eat ravioli and I didn't even miss it. I remember how I could eat a big plateful of it after eating bread and salad. Now I understand my stomach could hold that much in the old days, but my body didn't need it. And the surgery reminds my head of my body's true needs. It does get much better. I was still trying to gag down Water at your stage!

Agree. Don't share anything you don't want out there. There is no privacy if you share. I didn't share cancer and I didn't share WLS either.

WLS solved my bathroom issues (as it was called in my house). A few years back I had part of my colon removed due to cancer. Got the cancer OK, but left me with bathroom issues. I never knew what foods would cause it or how long I would have to make it to a restroom. I had to carry all sorts of supplies and replacements (if you get my drift) since I often had to use them (and leave perfectly new underwear behind in trash cans!). More than once I had to run into drug store and buy replacements if I forgot to pack a few in my purse. But now....well things might be slow in coming but that speedy colon is no more! And a slow colon, although painful at times, is much preferred over the zippy one! At least I can control its movement now. This is the second best thing about WLS!!!! Maybe the third since I went out to dinner tonight and the waitress, who knows I'm on a diet but not the details, told me not only did I look fabulous, but that I glowed! She hadn't seen me in about three weeks so even though only a few pounds came off in that time the glow factor increased.

And don't depend on size labels. Try them on. You will be surprised how differently things fit.

Is there a c25k program you can recommend? I have never run (with 58 years of avoidance), but I do strength training and would like to try something in addition.

@Avafern. Me thinks snotty comment about hair was because you looked fabulous.

Hate Premiere as well. I drink Synergy nectar (lemonade or ice tea). Found three flavors of Isopure RTD. Grape, ice tea and blue frost. However don't toss what you have. What I didn't like at three weeks I can stomach now. So buy small sizes and try after a few weeks if you don't like now.

Hope you are in recovery right now. I am a single mom to one 23 year old. She was concerned. I knew it. She knew I was going to do the surgery. Since she was away at school she didn't know which day. I told her about a week later so it was a non-event BTW when I picked her up at the airport at Thanksgiving she walked past me! Both of us couldn't be happier. I told her I now can stay up with future grandchildren. She would be happy to tell any children - don't block your parent from a full, rich life.

I wish someone had warned me about the gain! I am mentioning this to surgeon next time I'm there. I was really bummed to gain eight pounds! But it came off......

You two make me smile! XS whoooo hoooo!