LittleLizzieLilliput

We don't see ourselves as others do. For me I didn't see it for a while, but with every drop of clothing size I would feel it in that happy glow in my solar plexis. lol and then when I finally did see it I just played with my face, my chin, my neck, my profile for like 30 minutes. lol!

In my group we often talk about how our addictions can move on to alcohol or drugs for many people. It's not uncommon and I'm so proud of you for fighting and winning that battle! WOW!! You are so strong.

Surgery went well, had VGS, Hiatal Hernia repair and a very sick gall bladder removal. My recovery took 8 weeks, back to work after 2 but was only capable of part time. Was back to a full schedule by 8 weeks. Focusing on only eating Protein was hard at first, I had emotional issues with having 80% of my stomach removed and went through a solid week of regret and tears between week 4 and 5. It's changed a million things and yet I'm the exact same person on the inside. It's changed how I eat, how I get up in the morning, how I shop, how I plan my day, weekends, everything. It's a totally different way of living. Everything changes. And yet...and yet I am still the same Elizabeth. When my mom says "it's the new you" i get a little upset. It's not a new me, its the same me with the same feelings and the same emotions. If you tell me I was fat and ugly before, it's STILL gonna hurt. Even if it's not what I look like now. That's the thing I take away most. I'm still me. I might look like a different person to others but I'm still the same sensitive knucklehead I was when I was wearing a size 32 as I am wearing a size 16 and hopefully soon a size 8. For me my size, my weight, my looks, they have never been what I defined myself as, but as I lose weight I've realized it's how OTHERS defined me. And that can be upsetting because I'm the same person now as I was before. But really, that's so minor. So many things are better now. Moving is better, buckling up in the car is better, dressing in the morning is better, taking a shower is better, buy shoes and clothes is better, making plans and looking forward to going out is better.

Ok, so this is good to talk about. First, did your doctor explain to you about how swollen your abdomen is going to be? The body is healing, you are only 7 days post op. Right now your stomach and body are still in shock, in the early stages of healing. Your body doesn't want to drop weight right now, it wants to heal. So give yourself time. Most of us didn't lose in that first week or two post surgery and then it drops like a stone. Second, vomiting what you eat. If it's just a one time thing that's ok but if it's happening a lot you need to call your surgeon's office. But what my doctor said is this: Try the pureed (or whatever stage I'm moving to) food, if you get sick, if you have discomfort swallowing or in your new tummy, just go back to liquid (or the previous stage you are moving on from) for a day or two and then try again. Our stomachs are brand new now, neither your body or it knows whats happening. This is a learning time for you and for your body. Third, depression. One of the most interesting things I learned here is that with rapid weight loss comes a flood of hormones for women. Add into that the life changing body alteration we made to ourselves, the fact we can't use food to soothe our emotions and we have totally changed the fundamental way we live, it's no surprise some of us experience bouts of depression in the first 1-8 weeks post op. Personally? I cried from week 4 to week 5, pretty much straight through except when I was at work trying to keep myself together. lol! Fourth, feeling like a failure. OMG NO!! We are rockstars!! Someone said the other day they were told that each incision point is like getting stabbed. Most of us come out with 5-6 so not only are we freaking bad asses for being willing to remove 80% of our stomachs but we also got shiv'ed half a dozen times in the process! lol! You are only 7 days into an entirely new way of living, you are not a failure, you are a beginner. Your tummy is still a newborn. It's pretty much impossible for you to fail right now except to eat things that aren't on your list but we know you aren't doing that cause you'd be in the hospital. lol! No, you are not a failure, you are amazing and brave and strong, you took this incredible step. Now is when you need to be so loving and kind to yourself. If your BFF said to you she was a failure after you watched her go through this you'd pretend slap her, give her a hug and tell her a hilarious joke to try and get her to feel better. So love yourself that much and give yourself a break.

You have so many amazing things coming up with all the changes you are going to be going through these next 12 months. Forget her. Like, literally, forget her. It might not be your weight loss, maybe it's something else but it doesn't matter. She won't tell you, she's trying to get you in trouble. Either way your friendship is over for now so try to just focus on how fantastic you are going to be feeling and looking! You will be so happy and active. Sadly it sounds like you need to leave her behind with all the old clothes because like them she doesn't fit you anymore for whatever reason. I'm sorry for her, but for you? I'm so excited! The world is opening up to you, even if she won't.

I don't know if anybody said this yet but what you do is you try hard to reach your goals but understand these first few weeks it's very difficult to actually achieve them. Don't over eat ( it's practically impossible to anyway) try the puréed foods, drink your Protein shakes and Water. Just as much as you're able, and keep track just so you can see that it keeps increasing. By small measurements of course. I wasn't able to eat more than 2 ounces of puréed food for my entire time. I was on the regular food stage (8 weeks) for a month before I was able to eat 4 ounces at a time. It was after 10 weeks I was able to hit my full water and protein goals. So get as much protein as you can thru your puréed foods ( won't be much but you're teaching your new stomach) then have the Protein drinks. If you have any difficulties with discomfort swallowing or pain in your stomach go back to the liquid for a day and or then try it again. You will be OK, I promise !

Not me but: It's rare, it's deadly, it's excruciating.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done!!!!!!!! You look fantastic!!!

I have not had that happen yet. Though I'm waiting excitedly for it to happen! lol! I think once I get to be lower than a size 12 I won't know what to do with myself.

I made the choice by essentially throwing a dart to a board. lol! I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I have a high muscle density, I'm short, I've been overweight my whole adult life. I'd like to be 110-115 when all is said and done, that includes skin removal surgery. I set my goal for 130 because I want to be at least 20lbs above my final goal which is what is needed for surgery. But honestly? I have no idea what I will consider my final goal. I want to be a size 6 or so, that sounds good. I don't want to be super tiny. And even then, what does "size 6" mean? lol! I have no idea what that looks like on me. So I have "goals" of getting to the point I feel amazing. I'm trying to place a number or size to that now so I can have the "goal" to aim towards but in reality it's a moving target that I won't even really know what it looks like till I'm much thinner. I'm a size 16 right now. Each drop in size is a new experience so I don't even pretend to know what I will eventually be at. Even when Nuts or docs have a general suggestion I always feel like it's much too soon to know what my final "goal" pre-skin removal will be. And that's OK for me.

I'd keep it at, "go f-k yourself." haha!

I was told my stomach is only ready for 4oz at that point. If you get lots of foamies, hiccups or nausea, you've eaten too much for your stomach size right now. It's hard at first figuring out what the signals from our stomach mean. you will figure it out!! Congratulations on moving to the next step, did you love it???

lol! All my pics are just selfies from my hockey games. I'm hoping to get a full profile shot this weekend in Tahoe. I was just looking for a good picture for something else and realized I hadn't taken a picture full (non group selfie) of me since before halloween.

It took me about 8 weeks to feel fairly "normal", it took 12 weeks to find my New Normal. Some people go MUCH more quickly. But remember, you just had something MASSIVE done to your body. Having 80% of your stomach removed is no minor or small thing. It is MAJOR and you need to treat yourself like a trauma victim, be kind, be loving, be patient. Swallowing was bizarre and didn't feel "normal" for 6 weeks at least. Eating didn't feel "normal" for 12 weeks. Are you on a Proto-Pump Inhibitor (anti-acid)? That can also add to the odd sensations. But for reals, it took about 3 months until I didn't feel like my esophagus, stomach and tastebuds were being run by aliens. Also, your other symptoms sound like you might be coming down with a cold. You might want to call your surgeon's office and let them know. I don't' think those are signs of infections but any time you feel something not right or great amounts of discomfort, you should call them.

If anyone of my "friends" told me I'd taken the easy way out they would be cut out of my life. Not because I'm punishing them but because I don't need people in my life who don't even try to see things from my perspective. Friends don't do that to friends. And they are so ignorant it's mind boggling. Anyone who thinks this is the easy way is uneducated and probably a dick.

I have told everyone. Part of it was because I wanted to just smash my ego about this. I knew if I didn't tell people I would be forced to lie and that would put a pall over something I wanted to be wonderful. I can't imagine having "haters" to deal with. The truth is I don't know anyone else but one person who was obese like me so that might be part of it. I only have one friend who's mildly overweight and she did say that I was soon going to be skinnier than her and we both just kind of laughed and jumped up and down about it. lol! I'm sorry you are dealing with this.

How much do you walk in the weeks following surgery? Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App I could barely walk for the first 2 weeks, I had a hernia repair and gallbladder removal along with the VGS. I was walking 30 minutes moderately brisk at 4 weeks and then re injury happened and I was down for another two. I was allowed back in the gym at 8 weeks and now at 15 weeks I walk about 3 miles a day and have started weights for toning on arms and legs. I started abdomen exercises (sit ups) at 12 weeks but I still get incision pains so I have to go slow. I came out of the surgery with 7 incision sites to my abdominal muscles are taking longer.

I wasn't cleared for a real work out till 8 weeks. Your body is still healing, it's too soon for that yet. Your body is using all it's protein and energy to heal the stomach that was ripped out. Well stapled and cut but still. lol! Right now all you should be doing is walking. Well, according to my doc and most of what I've read around here. You are tired because your body is spending a ton of time and energy healing. Too soon for all the exercise I think. Just walk.

I think they meant cut your calories down by 500 a day. I'd say aim for 1000 calories a day to get back into losing.

There's like carbs in everything ! How can I stay below just 15 grams of it with three meals? And others say when you starve your body of calories, it holds on to fat so I won't lose anything. Ugh, so much! Naeema W. No, you will lose, absolutely. It's why you lost the initial weight, it's why we had 80% of our stomach removed. It will work. 15 grams carbs per MEAL, not in a whole day. You have the sleeve, right? You started out eating 5 - 4oz meals a day? just go back to that. Go back to your routine from when you moved into the full food stage. Eat protein based meals and get complex carbs only, like from green or orange veggies (not from white veggies). Drink your water in between. Also, are you drinking water with your meals? That is a no-no if you have the sleeve as well. What it does is pushes the food through your stomach more quickly allowing you to eat more, take in more calories and not feel as full. Bad news for wanting to lose weight. Once you've drop it all you can slowly go back to maintaining and up the calories again but if you want to loss that weight you need to reduce calories and keep up your exercise. I mean, not to extremes but normal, healthy exercise.

I'd aim for a calorie deficit much greater than what you listed. I'd aim for 1000 calories each day, at least 72 oz Water and high Protein diet. Get your carbs to no more than 15 per meal. You should be able to drop the weight more quickly but part of what you need to do is starve your body of more calories.

My doc said that most people will struggle to get their Protein and Water in for the first 8 weeks. The plan was to get as much of it in as you can and slowly reach goal (80-100g protein/day, 64+ oz H2O/day). When I saw him 2 weeks post op and told him I wasn't hitting my goals, I was disappointed in myself and thought I would get a talking-to from him. He just patted my leg and said I was doing great and that I'm still healing and will hit my numbers as long as I follow the program. He was right! lol! But I still have to work on making my water goals. I can't gulp water anymore. I am MUCH better now, at 12 weeks I was able to take some big drinks but would still get queasy if I drank too much too fast. at 15 weeks I'm able to get 8 oz down in about 20 minutes without trying too hard or feeling bad. It's a journey so "doing everything right" doesn't mean it will go perfectly. There will be some ups and downs, some back slides and some leaps forward. Our metabolism is a magical creature that sometimes eludes us. lol! It doesn't like the body losing so much of it's stockpiled energy and will slow down thinking we are dying of starvation. Then it will realize, nope, gotta dump some energy now! and bamn, 3 lbs gone overnight. lol! Or, that's how it will work for me sometimes. I have stalls every few weeks. I'll have a week where I don't lose anything or even go up a lb even though I'm doing everything right and increasing my water and exercise slowly every day. Just got to kind of throw up your hands, realize we are only in control of so much and keep on keeping on.

It's weird isn't it??? lol! Just be careful. I was only able to eat 2oz up till about a month ago. I can finally eat 4oz now. But 2oz even felt like I would explode most of the times. lol And believe me, your body will let you know if you've had even a little too much. You won't want to repeat that! Congrats on moving to the next stage!!! You are closer and closer!

Here is the deeply honest truth, if you follow the guidelines and the process you will lose weight in a ferociously short period of time. I've lost 50 lbs in 3 months. That's miraculous IMO! Sometimes it's gonna feel slow. Sometimes it's gonna feel like you drop 3 sizes in one week. It's gonna be up and down. It's not a smooth process. You are going to be up and down emotionally too. This is a wondrous journey and the roughest, hardest part is the very beginning. It's the part that is the most painful, the most slow and the most important. Emotionally we are all over the place, just breath, trust the process, drink some Water and go for a walk. Don't worry, this stall will end, you will drop a ton more weight and you will have more stalls. And it's wonderful.

Cheat days once you've gotten past 3 months is fine but before then you need to remember that your stomach has just be violently abused. lol! You are only 3 weeks out, chicken would be a nightmare for you, tortillas would be a nightmare for you. A cheesy cream soup would probably be the closest to OK. sugar free pudding, that's a cheat item right now for you. Some mashed potatoes with butter is a cheat right now that's ok. And don't think of it as cheating, be very conscious of it. You are doing this to lose more weight so you want it to be smart about it. Also increase your Water and just walk more. Finally, you are only 3 weeks out. You don't need to speed up your weight loss. What's happened is your body has gone through a trauma and needs time to heal. You are retaining water and Fluid in your abdomen in your bodies natural healing process, your metabolism is in shock, your stomach is in shock. It takes a few more weeks before you will find an equilibrium in your body. Don't rush it. If you follow all the guidelines and allow your body the time it needs to heal (And Protein. Protein protein protein) than the lbs will melt away at a speed that feels slow sometimes but is miraculously fast in retrospect.