ProudMomof2

Oils. All kinds. I made myself a mix of vitamin e, Shea, jojoba, and coconut. I usually apply with any brand of bath and bodyworks lotions after a bath. This has also helped with my stretch marks (noticeably lighter). I exfoliate with a caffeine sugar scrub at least 2X a week and take a collagen supplement in my morning protein shake. I'm 28 years old and around 2 years post op. I have some loose skin around my arms and tummy because that's where I carried majority of my weight but it's adjusting with this regime and strength training. Since starting CrossFit I have noticed small changes but we'll see. Best of luck to you

Good morning everyone, I'm going to stock up on my fluids (protein shakes/soups/broths) so I can start my 5 day pouch test next week

How's everyone doing with their vitamins? Are you guys taking bariatric vitamins or generic? I slacked off a bit but I started to feel the difference in my energy level. So needless to say I'm back on track with those as well. I'm also adding a supplement of Omega 3 fish oil and CLA which is suppose to help with cardiovascular health, metabolism and lean muscle mass.

I was sleeved in August 2015. My weight the day of surgery was 349 and I currently weight 217 I'm 5'9. My goal weight is 165/170 depending on my clothing size. I always wanted to be a medium sized women's 10/12 and I'm a 16 now. I fell off the program a little bit and carbs have slowed my weightloss. I'm getting back on track with clean eating meal prepping and exercising moderately for 6 days a week with HITT cardio and strength training. I have 50 pounds to lose before I get to goal. Let's do this together and hold each other accountable.

Happy post Thanksgiving everyone! I hope everyone made it through the holiday while keeping macros on point! I made sure I had turkey, ham, and greens. I even had a small slice of my grandmother's sweet potato pie but no guilt here because I've been working out consistently 4 days a week and taking a Body Pump Strenth training class 2x a week. I love my results. My body is changing so drastically (stomach getting flatter, booty getting bigger lol). For the longest my scale wasn't moving. I started fasted cardio in the AM and the Body Pump Classes twice a week and I'm a whole new woman! Strength training is where it's at. I'm not at goal yet and I have a plan to get there by April 2017 but what I realized most is slow and steady for toning and building muscle. It takes time and commitment but doesn't everything in life?

Sounds good fly-high. I'm looking to switch up my workout routine based on what my body needs and it needs TONING. Cardio helped me lose the 129 pounds but need to build muscle. I have already booked a adominoplasty (scheduled for 10/2017) that's when I'll have enough vacation time from work and I'm on a payment plan to prepay for the procedure. Because I'm 27 I thought if I exfoliate, moisturize, and wrap that i wouldn't have any lose skin but that's definitely not the case. I recently started running, I'm doing a 5K in October and the skin from my stomach is a problem.

Thanks for sharing kozyjozie and welcome to the group! Care to share your stats? I was sleeved 8/23/2015 SW 349 CW 220 GW 175.

Let's do it fly-high and hold each other accountable. Do you have a current fitness/workout routine in place? Do you meal prep?

How's everyone doing? Has anyone completed their 1 year post on visit? Have goals been met? My personal goal was to be at or under 200 pounds for my one year. I've been sitting pretty at 220. A 6 pound weight gain since my last post 2 months ago. But I'm happy to report I'm back on track and I had a serious convo with a woman from my surgeons braitric support group. She's 2 years out and has gained 50 pounds after reaching goal so she's struggling to "get back to basics " as they say. I know it's a silly thought but at one point I did feel as though I can eat old guilty pleasures again like a whole bagel with butter (it took me 2 hours to eat and I vomited after because I got really sick), or nachos and cheese with Hot dog (AMC movie date with hubby). I now realize I can't and won't allow myself to eat like that anymore because the sleeve will not work if I don't continue eating right and working my Buty off at the gym. I'm ready to continue my journey and make the next 6 months count. Who's with me?

I guess I'm discouraged fly-high because 1-2 pounds a week is "normal" weight loss without the sleeve for a person who diets and exercise . In the beginning I was averaging 13-20 pounds a month! Now if only I can get back to those numbers lol

Wow UalreadyKnow. Things are definitely not going good for you right now but isn't that life? And we as Mom's have the ability to remain steadfast and strong as we endure such trials. In spite of everything "we are our strongest when we are are weakest". A quote from my Mother.

I don't know UalreadyKnow. Weight loss has definitely slowed down tremendously. I'm now averaging 1- 2 pounds a week and sometime 0 pounds a week. And I strongly feel as though I'm not done losing. I attend the monthly bariatric support groups at my surgeons office and what I gather from other sleevers who starting weight was high like mine (349 pounds) was that your going to lose the majority of your excess weight within the fist 12-18 months. Now if after that 12-18 month honeymoon period you aren't at or near goal , you will never reach your goal. On the plus side losing 200+ pounds used to be unlikely with the sleeve and gastric bypass was always recommended. However since doing some research and reading a couple newbie post, sleevers are losing more than the standard 50-75% excess weight. What are their secrets? I would like to know. I'm eating around 1200 calories a day and working out 4-5 days a week consistently. I even work out in a sauna suit and I'm still not hitting my monthly weight loss goals. That can be very discouraging as sometimes I feel I'm doing all this work just for a 1-2 pounds a week weight loss. This has caused me to lose motivation however I still won't allow myself to give up.

Yes walmart vitamins are always cheap! And that's a good thing

How's everyone doing on vitamins? Still buying those expensive "bariatric" chewables, liquids or easily dissolved? My 6 months post op labs were good and all I was taking were the bariatric multivitamins

I actually don't care for the extra attention. Maybe I'm 100% comfortable yet. But my family is always like "wow look at you" "you lost so much weight" and then that's later followed by me having to explain the surgery and what I eat, do I work out, am I afraid of even complications. ..etc..blah blah blah. And I have a really big family and we do gathering and cook outs every holiday. So for the past New Years Day, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day and all the in between kid birthday party gatherings I have to explain the sleeve surgery to a Aunt, a Cousin, a Uncle or my grandma and dad which I have already explained the whole procedure and process to about 10X's! It's easier to ignore coworkers and neighbors ignorance but with family I guess I just have to deal