jjmcrash218

Keep telling yourself...this is the most amazing thing that is going to happen to me! It will change your life...it changed mine. Do what the nurses ask of you. Walk as much as you can stand.... believe me the more you walk after surgery the faster you will feel better. The gas that they inflate you with during surgery will also star leaving you body the more you walk (burps of course...lol) I walked so much after surgery they actually let me go home early. Good luck

Get a fitbit.... worth the $99 bucks all day long. The clip one works the best. start walking at least 10k a day.... everyday. Normal everyday stuff will bring you to 4k so only another 5-6 k will meet your goal. Slow and steady non impact exercise really kick your metabolism up. and healthy Snacks only (if your going to eat between meals...make it a high Protein snack like cottage cheese a string cheese or greek yogurt). These changes will make a big difference

In the last 18 weeks I have done very well. 60 lbs are gone for a 3.8lb a week loss.... What's to report? 1) A major milestone I passed under the 200lb mark today! 199.9! Starting weight was 258.0 Surgery weight was 252.8 58lb loss!!! 2) ..Nothing has made me sick since week 2 when I ate a little too fast and it made a slight return. I have had no stomach issues but have been eating a Protein rich diet, getting plenty of fluids, have not had soda or alcohol since the surgery either. I want to share though a little problem that came up this weekend. After a hot day in the sun I went to the fridge for a cold drink. There was beer, soda, and we had just run out of bottled Water. There was however some sweetened (strawberry) milk (ice cold)...so I poured a glass thinking....ahhh some protein too! .... the sugar in the milk made my stomach a little upset and I got very sleepy and light headed in my chair outside.....I actually fell asleep. About an hour later I felt fine... but then realized that with my sleeved stomach that sugary milk went right to my intestines. 3) Exercise at week 18 is effortless for this 51 year old....actually enjoyable. I recommend a fitbit or similar device and 10-12,000 steps a day. It's the only thing that keeps me from weight stalls. 4) next week I go to an all inclusive resort in Mexico.... I went on a cruise in march and actually lost 3 lbs. so maybe this will also work out

I am at the 4 month mark now and just got out of a very slow weight loss period over the last 3-4 weeks (only lost about 7 lbs) trying to get under 200.... finally made that today. but when I look back at the whole picture... almost 60 lbs are gone. I am not gaining weight and right now I am eating normal foods ( just minding what I eat ) and being very conscient of getting my fluids and Protein in. It's a battle for sure but stalls happen as your body fights the urge to keep you alive ( it thinks you are starving right now ) just stay the course.... get a fitbit and walk as well as using an app to control your calories. good luck!

At week 16....life is becoming more normal... I am now down 56 lbs and losing about 1-2 lbs a week. Calorie counting hasn't been necessary... being that I eat pretty much the same foods/portions... every day. Just trying to live as normal as possible. Getting my Protein in and with the warm weather coming in along with more exercise, I am realizing the importance of getting the liquids in.... Dehydration has been a factor, and I can feel it when I am not getting enough liquids. A few times I felt a strange feeling... almost ill feeling at times on busy days ( I have been so much more active at this point ). As opposed to my former sedentary self.... I have been really filling my time with active things in addition to at least 10-15k steps a day. I have increased my water/liquid intake and this ill feeling has subsided. Mexico bound in a few weeks (week 18) and I will be posting how I survive an all inclusive resort.....sans alcohol! ....but I do look better in my bathing trunks.....lol btw thats me on the left at my son's art exhibit....@202 lbs down from 258

Heading to Mexico for all inclusive vacation in a few weeks. I will post the results of that in a few weeks time.

Not much to report at the 15 week 105 day mark after surgery..down to 204 from 260! .. Eating fine, walking 10k steps a day, lots of energy as well as motovation, that was missing before the surgery. I find myself in perpetual motion lately, unable or willing to slow down. Maybe that is a direct effect of actually sleeping so much better every night with the 55lb weight loss. This is an unexpected benefit I only recently realized. Weight loss over the last month has been steady but slow....averaging 1.5 to 2.5lbs a week. This is ok with me, with only the last 25 or so pounds to go, I seem to be getting into a good routine now that gets me enough Water and Protein as well as Vitamins. This was very evident with my 3 month checkup bloodwork which came out perfect....with the exception of the b12 which was high (due to drinking H20 with b-12 in it AND taking a supplement). All in all I see a light at the end of the tunnel....and I think I have a very encouraging path to go on... I will say that I do not cheat on the sleeve diet restrictions... which explains the ease and non complication road I am on. I have stopped counting calories too. I am learning to make right choices and that seems to be working well for me. One tip that I will leave you with is.... Sometimes I get a feeling between meals that I am hungry.... I ask myself... am I really hungry? I have something to drink and wait 10-15 minutes and it will pass... everytime! It makes you think.... when it comes to hunger our brains lie to us all the time.... good luck to all on the sleeved journey!

b 12 was 1221. I was told to take it 2 less days a week if I wanted to continue drinking the enhanced waters (which is one of my treats seeing I cannot have carbonated beverages).

Reaching the 100 day mark later this week as well as 14 weeks/3 months post op. How do I feel? Amazing.....really more than amazing, what have I learned so far If you have seen my other posts every week is a different thing I am learning.... I know now that I can eat at restaurants, go on a cruise and lose 3 pounds, and so much more I have been very lucky... no complications, or discomforts since my Jan 20th surgery date. I have however stuck religiously to the food plan, have had NO alcohol at all either. Amazingly I have been eating well enough that supplement shakes have not been needed....my secret? cottage cheese! It is packed with so much Protein that (2) 1/2 cup servings of fat free cottage cheese will give you 30g of protein (well on your way to the 60-80 needed every day.) The three month checkup. I did really well! My bloodwork came back all in range including my Calcium, levels of D etc. Actually my B 12 was very high. I have been drinking enhanced H20 Vitamin waters (Adirondack) that have b-12 included in them and along with my supplement daily ....I can now skip the b-12 twice a week. total weight loss since surgery 52 lbs total weight loss since beginning the program 60 lbs Clothing before-> 40 waist XXL shirt now-> 36 waist L shirt. I have been eating just about anything I want. Staying away from fried foods, Pasta, and the like. Haven't had any foods disagree with me yet. just started an occasional 1/2 sandwich....with no problems. Learning that at restaurants... I have to immediately decide what I am eating on my plate and what is going home for later. It really helps keep my portion in focus. If not It can lead to picking at the food a little here and there until I might get sick. I also encourage others to try some of my food.... 100 days later and I feel 10 years younger!

Finally 12 weeks (sleeved 1/20/15) in I have hit 50 lbs lost! Major changes mostly in three areas now. First, Clothes.... If i wear my fat clothes i look like a pile of laundry.....lol I have gone from a snug XXL shirt and a tight 40waist to a large shirt and 36waist jeans!! Secondly is learning how my new stomach actually works and what it is telling me.....actually eating when I am hungry! I have not been counting calories or Protein lately (just once a week ill catalog foods to make sure i'm on track), and just eating the right foods (yes some of the same foods) but not cheating a bite of this and that. This is making the weight-loss much easier. The process of learning how to eat is very important. For example....going out to eat. I order a meal with a good source of protein...lets say steak. I know by the size of my stomach will only allow say 3-4 oz of the meat, maybe a bite or two of the potato and vegetable (for fiber). I also know that I am getting at least one more meal maybe 2 in leftovers for the next few days so I kinda divide it up that way. At home what helps is small salad plates (6") It stops me from putting the "eyes bigger than belly" portion that I may attempt to eat.... Also....I cannot stress the importance of one miracle food to sleevers FAT FREE COTTAGE CHEESE!!! It is so packed with protein I try to have some as my side at every meal.....It puts me way over the 60-80g of protein every day....actually makes counting protein a waste of time, because 1/2 cup at every meal gives you (13x3) 39g of protein right there. It's real easy from there! Third is exercise....walking 10,000 steps a day.... which includes a dedicated 45minute walk in addition to normal everyday walking has been attainable, easy and actually fun. Every pound I lose makes it easier to walk faster and further....

I was sleeved on 1/20/15. To date I have lost some 48 lbs in the 11 weeks since my operation. I hope this will inspire some of you that this operation is not something that will handicap you but will actually free you to a much more enjoyable side of life. One of the things my wife and I enjoy is cruising. Pre sleeve it was all about the food and the beer. Life has changed now as my 2XL body is just now adjusting to a “lumpy” but comfortable “L” size. My eating habits have become healthier and less the big part of my day. The thing is…. I couldn’t in all fairness to my wife stop vacationing (my wife is not overweight). Veterans of 23 prior cruises over the past 16 years, I had to see if it was possible, and as soon as possible. We booked a cruise on NCL Sun out of Tampa to coincide with my transition into stage 5 (solid foods). I learned a lot this week. And I like what I learned. BTW it was the best cruise ever. No alcohol, small portions…. I had my doubts. But I stuck to the plan. It was easy and doable. Here is what I learned, how I coped, what I did, how I ate and how I did weight wise. 1. I decided on day one that everything I ate would be quality….no bread or Pasta. I ate steak, shrimp, chicken or pork for lunch or dinner, no sandwiches , no sweets… I want to emphasize that there are and to my surprise always were good options on every buffet…..especially for sleevers! 2. Breakfast everyday was eggs, cottage cheese (yes the had it) and if I had room a little yogurt. After which we sent for coffee from room service to enjoy later on the balcony. 3. My day started on deck six everyday with my wife ….which has an open air walking track (on most boats ) for 8 to 10,000 steps….about an hour of leisurely walking. By day 3 I was actually jogging small stretches of the track. 4. Dinner every night was a small bite of an appetizer or a few bites of salad and about half the portion of meat. No dessert, instead I would treat myself to a single espresso after my wife finished her dessert 5. I drank ice Water, skim milk and occasionally made myself an ice coffee in my waterbottle everyday. 6. I drank no….yes zero alcohol!!! It did not bother me a bit. My wife did drink and I got all the exercise going to the bar for her….lol 7. At night we took in as much of the activities and shows as possible. 8. Late night occasionally we would get a small bite at the late night buffet. Most nights. 9. I challenged myself to do a shore tour ( I never liked doing things because of my weight ) We did cave tubing in Belize and snorkeling in Roatan Honduras. Which is “not” like me. 10. I think the toughest thing on the cruise is the looks the waiters give you when you don’t finish your meal….I got a lot of…. “you no like? I bring you something else?” I gave a simple “I’m fine…it was delicious!” which works everytime. 11. I think my smartest idea was though to bring a nice water bottle… it was very handy. 12. I bought a new T-shirt in every port in my new size “L” That was a great feeling. So what was the end result? I was never hungry, slept great, ate some tasty things, met a goal of at least 10k steps every day and still lost 3.2 lbs. It was the first cruise that I actually fit in the clothes that I came on the boat in. I hope this blog encourages you to get out there……but you have to follow the plan and be strong enough to stick to it. It wasn’t hard at all. LOVING MY SLEEVED LIFE John M

UPDATE... Exercise has absolutely moved things along. My Nurse practitioner (at 6 week appointment earlier this week suggested that a mild laxative every so often can and should be used. You should go #2 once a day at this point. Concentrating on Protein (ie cheese et al ) can cause a little back up until stage that gives us choices like salads and legumes. Well this week I can report a 5 lb loss. Got 5 good days of exercise (10k steps). and used a laxative once. the weight loss wasn't temporary either... been losing for 3 straight days .2 to .6 lbs a day. Hope this helps!

I am a sleever that is now 6 weeks out and doing great. I made a decision early on to tell any who ASKED...about my surgery...and believe it or not it was the right decision...100%. I went into the operation without guilt or even fear. It's been said that "1 lie leads to 100" to keep that lie going. It actual had people asking questions curious about the operation...as well as I found 3 other friends that also had or were having the operation. Did I announce it on Facebook? Is it the first thing out of my mouth in a conversation.....no! Simply if asked I tell the truth. People say why? I say..."oh I wanted to live" . Weight loss surgery is nothing to be ashamed of. I had very slow support from my wife...spouses have a worse time with this...but after the weight started coming off (40lbs in 6 weeks). My wife is now on board 100%

The biggest and absolute strangest byproduct of this surgery is actually the psychological detachment from the absolute love of food. I heard it before the operation but....did I understand it? I really look back before the operation to my (yes) obsession with food, how addicted and enslaved I was to the thought of food. How I planned meals around every event, .... I admit in the months before the operation....trying to do "the final tour" of all my favorite foods in abundance.... saying goodbye as you will. There never could be enough food........ Then the operation.... the first few days were rough....but ....no hunger. The day back home I got a cold slap of reality when my wife was cooking bacon..."she profusely apologized "Oh I'm sorry...this must be torture to you!" but no it wasn't... the bacon aroma smelled nice but there wasn't that attachment to oh let me try some.... no it was like when you smell flowers....you'd never eat a flower...because it dosent trigger it.... The liquid diet over the next few weeks really challenges you not in the amount you eat...but variety.... A new taste of say cream of chicken a few days in is delightful. learning to eat slower and learning the full point becomes an art in itself. But (at least in my case I still enjoy what I eat, but the crazy cravings are gone. One thing I thought that I would loose is my love of cooking..... but no I am still cooking for the family. My dinner is usually made seperate... but you can still do it. Best advice is buy yourself some small plates! It really works. Like the alcoholic....and the junkie.... we did harm to our bodies with food... and food ruled our thoughts and actions. You have to look at it that way. Looking back I realize that now. I am thankful now for this tool of VSG surgery. and for this forum to put it into words.... Thanks

I have found tons of energy after losing around 30lbs. Actually energy to burn... I was content to sit still for the longest periods of time before surgery...now am not. My total weightloss with the sleeve should approach about 80 pounds (from roughly 258 to 178ish) and right now I am already at the midpoint of that loss (221 ( 37 lbs lost)). I am finding in my situation that as the weight comes off...it's almost like I can move better, and have a better center of balance....also my joints, my back etc all seem to funtion better.....am I 100% ...ready to run 3 miles? absolutley not... but a one mile walk now dosen't come with aches pains and loss of breath....I actually find it enjoyable. It really is baby steps to a life change... but you have to make that first step... Energy or not KC start with the smallest walk around the block... maybe 2 blocks tomorrow...stick on the headsets and go for a short stroll. I purchased a fitbit to make it more competative but today pedometers can start at as little as $10! A pedometer can get you to beat your step total every day up to the reccomended 10,000 steps a day.... good luck! oh and I am consuming around 800-1000 calories a day