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

I started at 349 currently at 214 my goal keep changing as I originally wanted to hit 150 but now since weight loss has slowed tremendously I will happy at 170/175. I read something on a newbie post about not even relying on the scale but to focus on how you feel and look. That if you reach your 150, 170 or whatever your goal weight is that you may not even like how your body looks. I'm like you fly-high I don't like the way my stomach is going I can tell I will have a lot of excess skin because that's where I carried most of my weight and that was my worse fear because I can't afford plastics. So I have since started a regime with biotin, liquid collagen, vitamin E oil (moisturizer), and this firming sugar scrub that I use 2x a week. I hope this works but we shall see. I'm still working out 5-6 days a week and have introduced the enemy aka the StairMaster. I started off doing 10min at a time now I'm averaging 30 full min a session! Making fitness goals has kept me from getting bored. I also do ZUMBA 2x a week and I really enjoy that. August is right around the corner and I'm hoping to be at least 200 pounds or below. What are your goals for your 1 year post op update?

I was wondering the same thing UalreadyKnow! No one has posted in months lol. And our 1 year is coming up. I'm wondering is anyone at/near/ or close to goal?

So true rnsamantha, you have built a habit. Same with me I never used to work out but now that I've started I can't stop. Every week I'm challenging myself and my body

Haven't found one single app yet related to weight loss surgery . I'm still looking. Let me know if you find one LemonPoppyseed. I use the lose it app now but it recommends my calorie range to be at 2300 so everyday I'm basically negative calories. Because of the VSG at only 7 months post op there is no way I can eat that many calories, some days I barely get 900. Whoever creates an app for post op WLS would be a goldmine genius

I just started the app this week but I signed up for a 5k that my job is sponsoring in April. My goal is at least to run half and walk the rest if I won't be ready in time

@@mizzzzzzT, yes C25k is a free app. It means Couch to 5K. It gets you going and is fairly easy to use. The reviews are awesome and when you finish you'll be able to run/jog 3 miles without stopping

Ididit34, I just started the C25K and I love it! I'm on day 3 week 1. It's 30min but includes a 5min warm up and cool down. And thenow you walk for 90 sec then jog for 1 min. Doing day 1 of this app was a true NSV moment for me. I truly felt accomplished because I know 7 months ago at 349 I could barely walk. Just try it and you'd be surprise what you can do. Look at me, I'm 238 pounds and can run! Wow that's awesome.

@@lealor I struggle with exercise and the "mind frame" of loosing the weight. I keep thinking I have so far to go. 88 pounds to be exact and I think the hardest thing for me is to stay motivated. What keeps you motivated? Everyone else feel free to share also

So true lealor. I love reading your post.I got rid of so many clothes that now I barely have anything. My husbands side of the closet is so full and on my side I have my work clothes and maybe 2 outfits that I just recently bought last week from JC Pennys. I got rid of all my size 26/28 and 24's (gave them to my Mom, she's struggling with obesity as well.I guess it's in the family). I'm a size 16 now but I don't plan on being this size longterm so I won't go crazy in the shopping department, not at least til I get at or near goal. I can't believe your coworker, that's my worst fear. I would feel like I went through this entire process for nothing. I do believe though not enough time or research is spent on addressing obesity related eating disorders.it's our responsibility as individuals to figure out how our relationship with food caused us to become overweight and what can we do in the future to change it. I know me for example I grew up in a household with poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle, as a result I adopted that lifestyle but since having surgery and also a family of my own I'm now learning about healthy eating habits and how to keep my children active from a young age. Sorry for the long post lealor, lol I got carried away

Ylluz, I'm stuck at 238.6. My HW was 349 so I'very listed 111 pounds which I am extreme happy about. My new goal weight is 150 pounds which would mean I would have to loose another 88 pounds so Ylluz I feel your pain. What I'm trying to do now is switch things up in my fitness routine. I work out 3-4 days a week and I'm going to start next week pushing it to 5-6 days with adding strength training and a spinning class to the mix. Also nutrition wise I will make sure I start back logging my meals and meeting my protein goals as well as keeping the carbs under 50g a day. My nutritionist once told me that under 50g carbs was the magic number.