Spiceyfrog

It certainly does not seem like I should be posting this, still seems so unreal. I AM AT MY GOAL! Actually, I hit my goal yesterday which was exactly nine months after my surgery. This is the first time in my entire life that I have been at a "normal" weight and had a "normal" BMI! I started this journey just nine months ago and it has flown by. It seems like just yesterday that I was drinking 1-2 ounces from a medicine cup, wondering how in the hell I was ever going to be able to drink 64 ounces of Fluid in a day. A lot has happened in the last nine months, don't get me wrong. I have made many changes, but this lifestyle change has not been hard for me at all. I have tracked (took a little break around 3 months, for a month or so), I have drank, I have consumed Protein and I have exercised, now I am at my goal! Now, what? I wouldn't mind losing another 5-10 pounds, but am not stressing about it if I get stuck. It took me a couple months to get my last 5-7 pounds off (partially because of surgery in December, so I could not exercise), so I pretty much feel like I am already in maintenance therefore I am not changing anything right now. Has it been most people's experience that your body just stops losing when it's ready and at maintenance or have you had to increase caloric intake?

Best of luck today!

Congratulations, keep up the good work! I believe your body will stop losing when it's ready. I had been really close to my goal weight for a couple months and finally worked out like a maniac two weeks ago just to say I made it. Now I am back up 2-3 pounds and I have decided that I think that's just where I am going to be.

Greek yogurt, refried beans and cottage cheese are still some of my favorite go-to's!

I am at goal and that thought has never crossed my mind.

Congratulations - keep up the good work!!

I don't have an answer for you, but I do know there is a pregnancy forum, you may want to post your question there.

I had both of these procedures done together in December. I had my surgery on a Tuesday and went back to work the following Monday without any trouble at all. I could have went back sooner, but was off for the holiday, so it worked out well. I was instructed not to lift my arms over my head for three weeks and I think my lifting restriction was 10 pounds, but I can't remember for sure. I wore my surgical bra for two days (because it was too big), then transitioned to a very snug sports bra and wore that 24/7 for at least a month. Every once in a while I would not wear a bra at night and it just felt odd, it was like my protection. It's just been the last couple weeks that I have not worn anything at night and feel okay with that. I wore ace bandages on my arms for the first week and that was it, per surgeons instructions. I still have not tried sleeping on my stomach, which is actually better for my back, so I am okay with that. Best of luck to you. Edited to add; my husband helped me in the shower and getting my shirt on for the first 2-3 days. Not un-doable on your own, but it was very helpful. You also will find that so many things are up high and out of reach after your surgery, things you don't think about on a daily basis (in the cupboards, etc.).

I took Vitamins regularly right after my surgery. I had a leak in my pouch and ended up back in the hospital and when I was released I quit taking them. I did not take them for about three months before having my Vitamin levels tested. The only thing that was low at that time was B1. I started taking a multivitamin, a B1 supplement and calcium (because I had heard horror stories about people not being able to get knee replacements because their bones were too weak for the screws) about two months ago. Last Friday I had my bloodwork done again and the B1 has come up from 37 to 56, but they want me to take that supplement for another two months, then test again. My surgeon feels that once I get the level up, everything I need will be in the multivitamin. So, long term, I will just take a multivitamin and calcium.

@@ResizingRebecca, you should be asking yourself if you are satisfied or not hungry, not if you are full. Take advantage of eating as little as possible for as long as possible. Soon enough you will regain hunger feelings and at that time, you can increase your intake to 1/2C, 3/4C, etc.

Congratulations! Hard work pays off and this is proof! On a side note, update your ticker to reflect this huge accomplishment :-)

As stupid as this sounds, this has become a serious issue for me. Anyone else have trouble shaving their armpits after breast augmentation? It's like there is a serious "pit" there now from my implants making my skin so tight. At first I thought oh it was just because I was being cautious (because I had brachioplasty at the same time), but I have tried time and time again, paid special attention and cannot get all of the hair from one side. I am two months post op and have full arm mobility, so I know that is not the issue. HELP!

It was nearly eight months before I could eat most meats. Hang in there!

Thanks to everyone for all the positive words of encouragement, I appreciate it! Last week a co-worker asked me to join her in a Sprint (short) Triathlon in June, so it's time to set and meet more goals!!

@@mngreeneyes, would you mind sharing the plan you found? I too, just committed to my first triathlon. I have never been a swimmer, so triathlons have never been appealing to me. A co-worker of mine asked me to join her, so I accepted the challenge. The one we are doing is a 500M swim, 16K bike and 5K run. The bike and run do not even phase me, but the swim freaks me out!! Our trainer just sent out a communication this morning, to get us some help in the swimming department, but anything you have would be appreciated also. I wish you the best of luck!

I have read that after Water, Protein is the most plentiful substance in your body. It does in fact keep you full and help you heal in the early days after surgery, but your metabolism is also regulated by protein. Protein regulates cell division and replenished damaged cells with healthy cells. Proteins are abundant to hair, skin, muscle and other organs and tissues, strengthening them and they also help turn food into fuel/energy which is how they help keep you full, so basically you cannot function without protein. I am nine months post-op and still drink a Protein shake every morning. I don't know if you have GNC in Australia, but could always order online. I drink their chocolate Wheybolic Extreme 60 with a cup of skim Fairlife milk for a total of 33 grams of protein. It's a learning/trying process, so I wish you the best of luck. I think I tried 6-7 different kinds before I found one I enjoyed.

I just use a shaker bottle now (used to use ninja) and after I shake it, I let it sit for about five minutes, then pour it into another cup with some ice and 90% of the foam is gone. As far as I know, there is no way around it.

@@Snowy_007, I lost fast and regularly from the day after surgery until December. On December 29th I had surgery and could not exercise. So, I struggled getting my last 10 pounds off. I never really looked at the numbers by month, so this was interesting. Here are some numbers (as close as possible to the 9th of each month) that I just pulled from my "view my progress" page on BP. 06/01 (day I started my preop diet) - 229 06/09 - 220 07/08 - 194 08/03 - 185 09/08 - 170 10/11 - 161 11/08 - 150 12/11 - 140 01/18 - 136 02/11 - 133 03/09 - 129 Congrats on losing 25 pounds already, keep up the good work!

@@pammieanne, my out of pocket expense was $11,100. That does not include the hospitalization fees, those were covered by BCBS.

Most yogurt was too think for me as well. I finally settled on Yoplait Greek Whips - 100 calories and around 9 grams of Protein. They are so light and fluffy! Most yogurt was too think for me as well. I finally settled on Yoplait Greek Whips - 100 calories and around 9 grams of protein. They are so light and fluffy!

NO! In December I had a brachioplasty and breast augmentation/lift. Next December (after I have time to pay for the first two procedures and earn more vacation/sick time) I will be having a tummy tuck (hopefully that will be paid for by my insurance) and inner thighs. There is nothing firm about my skin....lol!

I also eat about every two hours, it seems like all I do is eat, but I can only eat such small amounts. What was your starting weight and how long did it take you to get down to 115?

@@foodfighter78, fish makes me nervous. That was one meat I could not tolerate and I don't really enjoy it to begin with. I was revisiting it because it's so high in Protein. So, to have something you don't really enjoy, topped with knowing it may make you vomit - no thanks :-)!

@@Rustycreaks, I actually vomit. It starts with the watering mouth, then the bathroom, then vomit. Thank god, it's only happened 5-6 times for me. After the first two times, I know what's coming within about 5-10 minutes of eating the wrong meat.

Well, that's good to know that it did not hurt long. Keep us posted on the results; how quickly you seen them, how many total treatments you end up having, etc.