KristenVSG2014

Aw, thanks! My brain hasn't caught up with my body yet. I don't realize the differences until I do comparison pics. 12 pounds to go until I'm at my goal weight! ????????

I laugh when people don't recognize me. A few weeks ago I walked up behind a long-time customer and she said she never would have recognized me if I hadn't opened my mouth and greeted her first. ☺️

I usually have half of a green apple and/or a coconut covered date as my sweet thing for the day. Seems to work like a charm. When I go off my plan and eat a standard American diet I get stopped up and miserable.

Most definitely! I knew going in I would need a tummy tuck but I really want a breast lift too. This morning I was 172.2 so I'm only 12 pounds from my goal weight. It's so weird. I still feel really big and I think a bit part of it is my loose skin. I won't be able to get one for at least a year or two.

Thanks! I honestly didn't expect my legs to shrink so much. My legs and butt have always been a size smaller than my waist so I never focused on them. It's the most bizarre feeling to not have my legs rub together when I walk. I've always been overweight and my legs have always rubbed together so it's quite foreign to me. You will get there very soon!! Take monthly pictures. I remember the month I "saw the light". I squealed with joy.

I'm 5'7. At 290 lbs I wore a tight 24 At 260 lbs I wore a tight 18 Now at 173 lbs I wear a 10/12 depending on the brand. I'm also curvy so I carry weight rather evenly but now that I'm less than 15 pounds from my goal weight I'm down to belly and I wonder what size I would be after a tummy tuck. I'm guessing when I reach my goal weight I'll be a size 8 and after a tummy tuck I'll be a size 6. Here are some very honest pictures of 260 vs 173 lbs on a 5'7 frame, loose skin and all!

Well, I've officially hit my first lengthy stall. Bum bum BUM!!! I was 173.4 this morning which is where I've been hanging around for the past month. I guess because I had such a huge loss in June my body needed to take a break in July. My husband and I have decided to go back on Whole30 in August. After we went back to eating off Whole30 my body started to ache all over again, joint pain returned and my itchy, flaky scalp returned. Maybe by next month I'll be in the 160's! My cousin is getting married mid-September and I found a really cute dress to wear to his wedding but I need to lose about 5 pounds for it to completely zip. Goals!

Wine burns a bit in my sleeve so I only drink it occasionally. I've never been a huge fan of black coffee but I drank it every morning with sweetener before surgery. Post surgery I've had it a handful of times black with some sweetener but it doesn't taste good anymore. Once in a great while I'll get a coffee with some dairy and sweetener from a coffee store and it is delicious. I actually begin and end my day with a 20 oz cup of hot tea which helps calm and settle my sleeve and get my water in.

Matthew 5:23, 24, 44 - “If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away. First make your peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift. However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you."

No!! You look FANTASTIC! Don't worry about what other people say. As long as you and your doctor or happy, that's all that matters. :-)

Yes, thank you for the info! Any research I've done makes me believe I'm not getting quality sleep. I have always had crazy dreams and have a history of sleep walking and talking in addition to my clenching/grinding. When I took Valium I couldn't recall any dreams which was interesting to me. I've had my eye on the newest FitBit. I think it's called the Charge. Once I have enough saved up I will most definitely get one.

Thanks for the update! That's good news that there's nothing showing up in your blood work. Hopefully after a few more months your energy will pick back up.

I loved your post!! It put a big smile on my face after a long day of work. Congrats on your success!!!

I didn't start to feel true hunger until about 8 months out but it still doesn't compare to hunger before surgery. It's manageable. I don't feel "hangry" and homicidal. Instead I get weak and tired if I wait too long to eat. I usually have a snack in my purse in case I get truly hungry.

I LOVE eggs. Unless you are making a merengue, eat the whole egg. ???? I make a frittata every Sunday night, cut it up and have my Breakfast ready for the work week! Boiled eggs are perfect Snacks. Just the right amount of Protein.

Yes, I have a mouth guard to protect my teeth but it doesn't really keep me from clenching. I went to the doctor yesterday for some back pain and when they checked my heart rate and oxygen level the nurse asked if I smoked (I never have and I'm actually very sensitive to smoke and perfumes) because my O2 level was 94 sitting in the doctor's office. They didn't say anything else about it but is it possible to just not be a good breather? If my oxygen is that low during the day what is it at night?

I also suffer from chronic fatigue but have "perfect blood work". I've had this problem for years though. I thought losing weight would help but the only time I noticed a difference was when my PCP prescribed me Valium for one month because I had been grinding my teeth really bad and my jaw had shooting pains. I got the best, deepest sleep and could actually function and have energy leftover after work. I completed the prescription and I'm back to exhausted and my jaw and neck pain is returning so I think I may have a sleep disorder. I suppose I'll go have a sleep study done.

LOVE the pic. I'm a very logical person as well. I'm always using this quote.

That's a loaded response. It's probably best I give you a link to the website: http://whole30.com/new/

I've read many times and agree with the statement they do surgery on your stomach, not your brain. Your brain craves sugar (real or artificial) and reacts to it the same way as a drug. I suggest reading the book "It Starts With Food". It is fantastic. I'm 8+ months post op and did Whole30 in June and it was one of the most difficult and fulfilling things I've ever done.

You look great but I love how there is a different fur baby in each pic! ????

Yes, I did feel guilt at first. I felt guilty that I needed help to lose weight because it had been the only thing in my life I had failed at. Failure is my biggest fear and I felt by accepting the fact that I couldn't do it on my own I was a failure. I was also terrified my surgery wouldn't work so I only told my immediate family and a few close co-workers. Now that I'm only 14 pounds from my goal weight I've been telling most people who ask how I lost weight that I had surgery. Of course I explain that they only did surgery on my stomach and not my brain; I still choose what I eat which is important. But I don't feel the shame or guilt I had at first now that I feel successful. I've always been a very stubborn, driven person but my weight has always held me back and now that it isn't I almost don't know what to do with myself! I finally met the goal I've been striving for my entire life. Now I need to come up with some new ones and the world is full of possibilities :-)

Thank you! My surgeon was Alejandro Lopez-Ortega in Tijuana. I had zero follow up with my surgeon or a nutritionist. All I had was printed instructions for the first 4 weeks post op. I've done quarterly bloodwork with my primary doctor and my own research regarding nutrition plus daily reading on these boards.

Still 14 pounds from goal but very happy with my current size.

I didn't have any bleeding before surgery but the first 3-4 months after surgery I started have a very light period again. Now I'm back to no period ???????? This is the number of pounds I lost each month: Pre-op diet - 13.8 Month 1 - 21.8 Month 2 - 8.6 Month 3 - 8.6 Month 4 - 8.0 Month 5 - 7.1 Month 6 - 4.7 Month 7 - 5 Month 8 - 10 I'm 14 pounds from my goal weight. I don't think my Mirena caused my weight loss to be slow. I've always been a slow loser because of PCOS. But I'm still happy with my Mirena and sleeve surgery. Just had my annual pap and gyno was happy with my success.