skylw6

Here is my first before and after photo . I don’t even recognize the before photo and I don’t edit or use tricks to make me look thinner in the second. Hope it provides inspiration for others

Ok so here is my cheat ... I’m 8 months out from gastric sleeve and down 96 pounds.. I know I am not supposed to but I’ve had alcohol! Apparently Jim Beam Honey with iced green tea is my drink. I’ve never been a big drinker but.... Now when we go out to dinner (No I don’t drive if drinking)... since I can only have one drink before eating I make it a double for good measure with my green tea. When my food takes awhile then the real problem starts !!! The first drink went down well , I ask for it in a small glass and since I’m never hungry I have a second double Jim Beam Honey with green tea. Once my food arrives I then wait ten minutes and eat my protein like a good girl! Everyone else is always eating way longer and more than I am. So by the. I’m feeling pretty social and chatty and if we are still there I’ll order a third or when I get home have one more with the spouse! Next thing I know it’s 8pm and I have to go to bed because it all caught up! LOL This will not become a habit, but this just happened the other night so I figured I’d share!

Way to go!!!!

I had the sleeve . If I drink too quickly after eating it flat out hurts. I’ve forgotten a few times and took a few sips of something too quickly and the discomfort lasted about 30 mins and was immediate. My surgeon says there just isn’t enough room for both. I usually drink and wait 10 mins to eat. I usually wait 45 mins after I eat to drink something . So when I go out to eat I’ll drink something until we place the food order and then stop because food usually hits the table in about 10 mins . Hope this helps !

Need this sign at my next 5K

Surgery is a huge decision and everyone has a right to their feelings about it which can run the whole gamut in a day or a week from elation to doubt and back. If you are nervous get off the web and talk to your surgeon and their team. As with any medical procedure there are people who have complications, or don’t respond well, but there are countless others who haven’t had complications. If you decide to go through with it there will be changes but all for the better. I don’t think of the surgery as an elective but as preventative and an intervention. I have been through stalls and a little bit of hair thinning but nothing catastrophic. The first two months were hard but at 8 months I barely remember it. Post-Op You will learn to listen to your body more, really learn when your full, and feel better after moving around. Listen, if you had told me a week pre-op that at 71/2 months I’d be down 90lbs and have run my first 5K I would have laughed myself into the ER. Change is scary but doing nothing is detrimental. We’ve all done the yo yo diet, workout, lose and gain it all back plus some. I hope you choose to go through with it! I hope you’ll find some peace and support with your decision. If any of you are lacking support and want to chat please feel free to reach out. Good luck!

Hi all. Just like everyone else here I hit the dreaded stalls from time to time. I had the sleeve. I’m at just about 8 months and down 94lbs. I’ve been at the place where I am stuck for what seems like 3 weeks sometimes. Here’s what I do: if I’m stuck for a week at the same weight I wait a whole week before weighing myself again. If I’m still stuck I wait another week. I make sure I get at least 3 good cardio workouts in for more than 45 minutes that week. I try to eat more! Yup ,, that’s right. I have found most of my stalls are pre-menstral and when I’m not eating enough. I recommend to take some time off from focusing on numeric pounds if you’re feeling frustrated. There is a big change in the way your clothes fit and hopefully the way you probably feel. This is a journey of self care so don’t beat yourself up. We’ve all been there! Celebrate your positives and focus on that! Good luck!!!

And I’m done for the night..... mic drop!!!

Second one

Ok I need to play !!!

At night I’ll do a glass of skim milk. Bonus calcium!

Things I’m grinding on: I’m bad at taking my vitamins, my hair is thinner than it been so yes I need to take my vitamins! I’m only hungry during PMS week! Otherwise I could care less about food! I bought clothes 3 weeks ago, just a few things but they don’t fit anymore! I ve been working out but am starting to see excess skin in arms and under chin. Bread, pasta and rice especially is a no go! 1 bite and I’m in pain for a solid 35 minutes! I eat the protein first all day every day, but I really just want one whole asparagus spear! How about a small salad.... sigh... those were the days!!!! However, 94 pounds down so totally worth it!! I Love when we go out to eat that it freaks waiters out that I have two sips of water and barely eat anything! They always think I don’t like the meal, I tell them I’m stuffed but they are so skeptical!!!! Soooo.... that’s where I’m at, thanks for asking LOL! Whew that felt good!

Ok I’m about to hot the eight month mark. Am I in the right place??? Down 94 lbs . I go through plateaus and then stop weighing myself for 2 weeks. I just ran my first 5k in my entire life on Mar 10th and God knows it’s been funny and frustrating at times but No Regrets!!!

My arms now say hello to me!

Mine went flying off my hand in airport and rolled across the floor. I am in the same boat in terms of too soon for resizing. So I wear it on my middle finger. I know it’s there and why!

Hello All, I don’t know if anyone needs this today so I’m posting it in case anyone finds it helpful! I had Gastric sleeve on 7/26/18 . I weighed 276lbs. Post surgery the first six weeks I dropped 35lbs really fast. Things slowed down a little after that because I kept expecting the rate to stay the same. I have hit plateaus and taught myself not to be a slave to the scale. I weigh myself once a week and after a plateau I waited 2 weeks. I also work out, but started slowly. I was walking on a treadmill at an incline for the first few weeks. Then I got bored and started to alternate between using an app with all types of workouts and mixing it with the couch to 5K app. In October a long time friend talked me into signing up for a 5K (even though I hate running)! Today I am 7 and a half months post surgery . I am down 90lbs and completed my first 5K! If I can do it... Anyone can!

Thanks everyone!!! I feel really pretty great today. Not a lot of soreness! I feel the need for protein! LOL have a great day

You got this!!! The first month wasn’t fun for me but now looking back I barely remember it!! You are on a journey to a healthier you! It’s a great act of self care!

Have you considered discussing with your surgeon? If you answered that question somewhere else I apologize. I just had the sleeve 7/26 and the surgeons I met with pre-op said the band did not work as well in the long run. I saw 3 different surgeons at 3 different hospitals. I have two co-workers who recently had gastric surgery. One had the sleeve in January and is down 117 pounds the other had lap band in April and has lost 12. I myself am down 36 pounds as of today. I know my co-worker who has the band has not changed his pre op habits and does not exercise. So make sure you can commit to the changes to be successful. I think an honest talk with your Surgeon and primary care are in order. The surgeries are tools and they all require diet modifications and exercise to max success. Discuss with them and decide which tool gives you the highest chance for success. Good Luck!

Hi All , I am five weeks post op and hosting the family tomorrow for a BBQ . Does anyone have recipe ideas? Thanks.

Thanks!!!

Hi Everyone, We were told to use sippy cups immediately after surgery and to avoid straws in order to prevent air from getting in to our stomachs while taking sips because that can cause discomfort and fill you up quicker. In reality I did not use the sippy cup. I just drank carefully and I didn't use straws. As for Protein, at about 3 weeks post op I started getting nauseous on my whey isolate shake. I was drinking Dymatize whey isolate (chocolate, it didn't foam). I recently switched to ISOMorph 28 pure whey isolate (strawberry, it didn't foam) and the nausea went away. Just today I tried a Isopure protein infusion (the tropical punch). It comes out thin (like crystal light) once the foam settles ( about a minute) and tastes more like a lemonade, but it was a nice change. As for the shaker bottles I have two I use, but I find the whisk type ball works much better at breaking up the powder!

Please don't beat yourself up. We have all spent years doing that to ourselves. Lowering carbs, eating more protein, and exercising as you said will help you reach your goals! Your exercise routine doesn't have to be crazy. I hit a stall at my third week, then added exercise and the stall went away. I walk on the treadmill at an incline, initially for short times and now Im up to 45 minutes. Its only been a week and a half! I also do light weights (under 20 lbs per surgeon). I make the treadmill fun by watching a series on netflix that my spouse doesn't want to watch so that adds a guilty pleasure to it! Find something you like and get moving! As for the carb cutting, I feel your pain! I'd kill for a ritz cracker, but cant do it. My tummy is still in the sensitive stage as the 1/4 scrambled egg I had for breakfast this morning let me know! I highly recommend using the app: My Fitness Pal or any other free food tracking app. It really helps guide me every day! I can tell how much protein I've had, carbs, fats etc. I have made much better choices. just by looking at the numbers! Don't give up on yourself! Soon Fall will be here and that's is a beautiful time to walk if you don't want to hit the gym. Good Luck! We've got your back!