LovinSoul

You look amazing! Happy upcoming 1st surgeversery!

@@stephh Please change my goal weight to 232 and thanks so much for doing this!

Hi all....starting weight is 232. My goal is 222 by the 4th. That's a change from what I initially said. Thanks for the motivation!

My experience was so like your GB removal. Up and gone from the hospital in 36 hours or so. I had some pain immediately post op but I think they overestimated my pain tolerance based on a previous surgery. Basically, once I was home didn't need to use pain meds except once or twice. Haven't had any nausea at all! No vomiting. Twice had vaso-vagal attacks (fainted) early on. Now I'm very careful to pay attention to signals that tell me I'm full. No more attacks diced then.

I agree with bkrchik. Go easy. I feel the effects faster and harder now. Don't want to embarrass yourself.... Red wine kills me in the night...reflux or heartburn. All I drink now is little white wine or rum or vodka with Crystal Light. I also occasionally drink a little rum or vodka with coconut water. Is that weird?

I had surgery Sept 30, 2014. Right after that I went into a stall and only lost a few pounds for SIX WEEKS! I was patient and kept sticking to program. Eventually called my nutritionist and she suggested I add 200 calories of healthy fats (I was almost fat free at that time ). That put me at about 1200 cals. Right away I started losing again.

I was reading in the "Veterans forum" and found this video about "stomach stretching". I thought it was good. Worth watching. https://youtu.be/3_aahPETzH0.

Also...tilapia (fish) is very digestible. And soft. I enjoyed finely shredded tuna salad with low-fat mayo or minimal olive oil. I like all veggies and did well with light spray of Pam and a few tablespoons of water and then saute zucchini, or spinach. For me adding garlic or herbs like crushed rosemary added great flavor. Cook all the veggies very soft and don't forget to eat slowly and chew alot. Early on I made a beef stew that I blended a bit and froze portions of in an ice cube tray. That was actually really tasty, filling and an easy quick meal.

That it's glorious to be able to move and feel the joy of strong muscles again!

I'm in! Set my goal at 225. Fun!

I take two Flintstones Complete a day (chewable) and one Nature Made Biotin just because my hair is shedding big time and whatever may help..yay! I also take 3 500mg. calcium citrate chews and a B-12 sublingual a day that I purchase from Bariatric Advantage. I'm willing to pay a little more for the Bariatric Advantage calcium because the calcium chews are like candy and fill that void. The sublingual B-12 is minty and easy so I stick with that too.

I stopped feeling the gas pain at about five days. Keep moving..it's the only solution to the gas...I had it in my shoulders ...very painful.

I started drinking coffee about 2 mos. post-op. I love my coffee but have found it to interfere because drinking it fills me then dehydrates me. When I drink only water I seem to lose more consistently. But I still always crave my coffee...:-D

I also "came out" on Facebook. Can't say anyone was particularly supportive regarding the surgery, but no unsupportive comments either. But I worded it very carefully and I really didn't leave an opening to comment one way or another. I really don't care what anybody thinks since I am so sure it was the right choice for me. However, people are always eager to tell you you look better than you did before....what a mind job that is....

When I first started logging and counting calories post op I was averaging about 900 calories a day. I had lost 28 lbs. pre-op and lost about 10 or 15 post op when I hit a big stall. I tried to be patient but ultimately called my nutritionist. She recommended I add 200-300 calories in Protein or healthy fats. (This doesn't count the occasional "cheats" like a bite of my husband's dessert or a glass of wine.) Two weeks later I started losing again consistently about 6 lbs. a month. It is important not to go so low that your body tries to hold onto the fat. Slow and steady wins the race says the tortoise. lol

I'm about 6 months post-op. I don't eat waffles or pancakes (not a big sacrifice for me) and greatly limit bread, but have occasionally had 1 slice of light (40 cal) wheat toast with poached egg. However, I often add a very small amount of granola to my greek yogurt and fruit for breakfast, mostly for the crunch. I also occasionally have a 1/4 cup of steel cut oatmeal with some skim milk or kefir in it. I do try to avoid those kinds of carbs but if I give it to myself once in awhile in a small amount, I don't crave it.

@@onmywaytobeingfound Hi! As it turns out, I have exactly the same challenge. Now that I've lost weight, I've had to find bras 42A. I found those online. Leading Lady brand and they fit great and are comfy. Swimsuits are my challenge now. I like Lands End swimsuits. They are usually well made and I have seen a few that seem less rigid in the bra area. This works for me. I'm not so concerned about support. Just with coverage and fit, which seems pretty ok. I noticed a suit that had an 18 in a plus bust size but also had a size 18 in bust size "regular". I was thinking to try that and see. I'm a little larger than an 18 but thought it might be worth a try. Being a big girl with a small bust is very hard...

I'm with Hoven....Lands End Plus

At one week pre-op I was resolved but scared (which is normal). If you feel that way, know most of us did! Thanks for your response. It's nice to know people are "listening". Good luck next week and stay positive. It all went very easily for me. I wish you that same experience!

I'm Cheryl and I'm thrilled to have found this online community and have been reading your posts! This is my first, so to start I'll tell you a little about me and my journey. I'm a retired public high school counselor who lives in central New Jersey in a beautiful little town on the Delaware River. I love it here and I love my home, my family (teenage daughter, husband and grown steps, and their children) and I love being retired. Being a school counselor was great, but now on with another show! I've basically always been overweight or obese since early childhood except for short periods when I was in a growth spurt. My weight increased throughout my life: in my teens (1970's) I weighed 170 lbs.+ and my highest weight was 318 lbs. in May 2014. There were many different "diets", many losses of 40 lbs. or more and inevitable regains of even more weight. After the birth of my daughter in 1998 I stopped the yoyo-ing. Basically I had decided that if I couldn't succeed in keeping off the weight, I wouldn't keep killing myself trying. But you know how that comes out...I just kept gaining! I hated exercise. And it got worse and worse. Throughout the years I developed hypertension, sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, fatty liver, joint issues (two hip replacements, arthroscopic knee surgery, ankle surgery). I was watching myself slowly dying! And finally I made the decision to reclaim my life, found the greatest surgeon and program, and had the sleeve in Sept. '14. I am ecstatic that I did it! I've lost 78 pounds to date and made huge changes. Eating better (and lots less of course), joined a great fitness club with my very supportive hubby and we go 4 or 5 times a week. I'm so much stronger! I work with a personal trainer a half hour a week (critical for me since I knew nothing about exercise, fitness and how to maximize it for myself with known joint issues). I feel better than I have in 30 years! Yeah...I have moments when I'm not so sure I can do this, but mostly, not! Because I am (doing it). And nothing succeeds like success. So.........there it is. My journey in a tiny capsule, so far. If you're pre-op, please let this be one story to quell your fears. I had them. We all do! But I can say that it has been the most positive life-affirming choice I have ever made to have this surgery. Looking forward to hearing more from all of you!

Way to go! My 6 month "surgeversary" is Mar 30th so you and I are at the same place. I've also lost about 80 lbs. and I'm thrilled to also still be losing. Let's keep it going! Good luck!

@@jadama22 When I was where you are in the process I found lots of it overwhelming, but if you ask questions and do what your doctor and the medical team tell you, it does get much easier. Also, some things become more automatic if you practice them, like the not drinking thing and chewing well. You'll find post-op that those things will spare you grief and discomfort if you stick to them. Good luck! I know you can do it!

Yep...I got busy walking as soon as I felt ok, about a week? And have had almost no issues. In the last few months I did have two vasovagal attacks when I accidentally ate too fast and overdid it a bit. I fainted at the dining room table! Scared the heck out of my family but know now that I really have to be careful not to overeat even a mouthful. Otherwise, smooth for me too...losing consistently now but more slowly.

Congrats Michelle! I'm 6 mo. post-op and had a similar experience to yours. Isn't it great to feel the control in your hands? Yay for you for sure! :-)