New Me 2015

Awesome! I have to get mine resized. I wonder what mine will go down too!

I've had 2-3 month stalls- don't get discouraged just keep at it

Congrats! That's my goal too to run a 5K! Still working on it.

Great job!

Great job! Looking good!

Looking awesome!

Awesome! Keep up the great work!

Great job!

Woo Hoo!! You look awesome!

Woo Hoo Wed 3/16 was my 1 year since I had my sleeve done! What a whirlwind year it's been Starting weight 221lbs Weight after one year 128! I have so much energy and am feeling great. I went from wearing a size 18/20 pants to a size 4. Went from wearing a 2X shirt to wearing a small This was the best decision I ever made

Hi GigrigSee my post below. Thought I was going to do a reply to you and the other person but I did it wrong! Oh well. Still learning! LOL!

Hi jeepgrl The only advice I can give is work on getting all your protein in everyday. I stayed away from all carbs until I was about 10 months out. Previously I was a big carb eater so I knew adding them back in may be a struggle for me. Surprisingly it has been easier than I thought. When I eat crackers I buy very thin ones and only eat what a serving size is. If it says 4 crackers I only take 4 that's it. Also no bread for me. If I want a sandwich or something with eggs I have a half of a flour tortilla. Before surgery I had heard that after surgery you don't crave the foods you did before. I was a huge bread and chocolate and candy eater. I can honestly say I'm not now. Never craving them either. Another tip is get in all the water you can. I'm not a big exerciser. I tried going to a gym but that's just not me. My exercise is walking. Sometimes I can get out once a week sometimes I get 4 times a week. Just depends on how busy I am at work. Don't get saddened by stalls. I had quite a few and some lasted for a few months! It's easy to get discouraged but my Dr told me a stall is your body catching up to all the changes and the weight loss. Some people have a week or 2 stall some have a few months stall. I had the few months stalls! I just kept doing what I was doing. I knew I was eating better and it would eventually start again. I stopped getting on the scale as much and judged from how my clothes felt on me. You have done great so far too! I frequently look back at pre surgery and now pictures. That is a big motivator! I can't even remember being so big. My Dr. Did tell me at my 1 year to keep in mind that my stomach is a little bigger now than when surgery was done. It can stretch so to really watch since as you go you can eat more food than when at beginning after surgery so have to watch that too. I have noticed that I used to barely get in 2 oz of chicken but now can eat 3 oz. I also don't obsess over treats. If I'm at a birthday party I have a tiny piece of cake and I'm ok with it. If my daughter makes cookies I eat a half of one and I'm done. It's not all the time just on special occasions. It helps me to feel included. Keep going! We got this! [emoji2]

thank you!

Monday will be my 8 month surgiversary! Before pic is at 221lbs before my sleeve Other pic is me now at 130lbs! This pic was before I left for my 30 high school reunion! I was so nervous since I was always the bigger girl. I felt so great and everyone was complimenting me. It was a great night!

Hi everyone! I'm 8 months out from my sleeve and I'm looking for ideas for meals. I seem to be eating the exact same things everyday and I'm getting so bored with that. So what do you eat for your meals? I'd love to have some new ideas! Thanks ????

Hi Everyone! I was wondering if anyone else is having this problem- when I am sitting either on a sofa, soft or hard chair, desk chair at work my butt starts to hurt. Doesn't matter if it's 5 min or an hour it hurts so much sometimes I have to shift myself so I'm more sitting on my hip. I had my sleeve done March 16 2015. Starting weight 221. I now weigh 130 ???? This has been going on for about 2 months now. No pain in my thighs or legs. Pain doesn't shoot anywhere else. Just at the fleshy buttocks area. I have to admit I'm not as fleshy back there as before my surgery. I'm wondering if I'm getting this because I'm not as big back there anymore. It's just frustrating especially at my desk at work having to shift from one hip to the other. Thanks!

I just have to vent! I went and saw a GI Dr because I have some liver damage from all the fat that got into my liver. Thank goodness I had a liver biopsy when I had the sleeve done and found this out. So I'm meeting GI Dr for first time he sees I've lost 61 lbs since Sept last year. Tells me loosing weight is the best thing to help my liver, he's pleased with the weight loss my liver enzymes have come back to normal, things are looking better. Then he asks me how I lost so much weight. Proudly I say I had the gastric sleeve done in March this year. He looks at me frowns and grimaces and says oh well that's too bad because there is a high rate of going back to being overweight. That's a shame. I was stunned! I just sat there and really didn't hear anything else he said. He seemed to rush to get things done and that was it. The more I think of it the more mad I get. I would think he would have been a little more supportive. I'm not even 4 months post op yet!! Sorry to vent but he made me so mad!

3 1/2 months wow!! Did you stall at the beginning at all??Yes I have had 3 stalls so farThe first 2 lasted about a week and a half. I'm currently in my third stall and this one is the longest so far. Been almost 2 1/2 weeks. Still doing the same things so I'm hoping I'll pick up the pace again soon. It is frustrating!!

First picture before sleeve 221 lbs Next picture 3 1/2 months later 152 lbs

Will be 4 months out on July 16th I've lost 69 lbs so far ????

I go from the weight that I was on my first pre-op appt to Bariatric Center which was 221 I had to do 6 months with their NUT before insurance would approve me. I was 201 day of surgery 3/16/15 Today 7/7/15 I'm 152 I'm proud to tell anyone who asks I've lost 69 lbs so far!!

Looking good!! Congrats on the weight loss! I know what you mean about being Apple shaped and loosing it all in butt and legs. That's me too!

I took pericolace to help me. Normally worked in a few hours sometimes the next morning. Once I was on unrestrictive food I didn't have any more constipation problems

Hi Everyone! First some background- I started my journey with my first pre-op appt in sept 2014. I was 221lbs and 5'2". Had to do 6 months with nutrition for my insurance company. I lost 20 lbs in those 6 months and insurance approved my surgery. I was sleeved on 3/16/15 and surgery day weight was 201. On my 3 month surgiversary I weighed in at 156 lbs. I never took my measurements but wish I had. I went from wearing size 18/20 pants to wearing a size 10. Shirts were size 2X now down to a large shirt is wearable and a medium is better but slightly snug. I don't go crazy with exercise. I figured it wasn't sustainable for me. I try to at least workout 3x/week either I walk 2 miles at a quick pace or I do 30-45 min at the gym alternating cardio and strength training. I knew I could keep up a plan of doing that everyday. I'm happy if I get it in 2X/week and if I do 3 that's a plus! It was definitely hard at the beginning no being on liquids and the puréed foods. I started a journal at the beginning and it helped when I was feeling low to go back and read how far I had come. It does get better. Being on unrestrictive food is wonderful. Don't get me wrong there are sometimes especially during dinner I wish I could eat more. Especially if it's a really yummy meal. I pushed my sleeve to the limit twice and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I felt horrible. Felt like I was going to throw up, got feeling I wanted to Pass out and got hot and sweaty. It lasted for about 30 min and rest of night just felt horrible. I ignored my sleeve when it told me enough food. I start to hiccup when my sleeve says no more food and I normally stop when I start hiccuping. But I have to say those 2 times were enough. I stop when my sleeve says stop. I have been eating out at restaurants again but make good choices and always have them bring me a small plate and I put what I can eat on the small plate and have them bring me a box to put my leftovers in so they aren't tempting to me. Then I have them the next day and sometimes the day after that. I still have a protein drink and 1/2 of a protein bar a day to help get in my protein. I have learned that I can have a few carbs and not feel guilty. I have a biscuit sometimes it a whole one sometimes it's a half. But I don't eat all 6 like I used to. I can eat 1/2 of a cupcake if I'm at a birthday celebration and that's enough. I don't need to eat 4 or 5 of them that half is just enough to make me feel normal. I guess what I learned with carbs is don't beat yourself up. Someone told me it's a tool to help you be the best you can be. I am actually loving being able to go out to social situations and to participate in choosing food that makes me feel good. Not food that after I eat I feel guilty like I did before surgery. I don't do it all the time or everyday like I used to but it's great to know I can occasionally if I choose to. I will be fine, my sleeve is fine. I feel better than I ever have. I had been over 200lbs for about 20+ years. I know it's tough at the beginning but it will get better. Keep on focusing on goals that are for your best interest and health. You have to be able to sustain these for the rest of your healthy active lifestyle. I have some more weight to loose as I'm only 3 months out. They tell me 111lbs is my ideal weight. I personally think that's way to low for me. I think 120-125 will be best for me. I know that everyone is different and I'm just saying what I have experienced and what is working for me. Your experience maybe different. No 2 people are the same. Here's wishing you and me a successful And healthy journey!!

I was sleeved 3/16/15. After surgery I had really bad back pain, mostly upper and mid back. It was everyday almost all day. I work at a desk and started back to work 3 days post op. Even when I would exercise and do stretches it didn't help. I am now 3 months out and my back pain is pretty much gone. It did take quite awhile but it has subsided. Hopefully yours will too!