LisaCaryl

Welp.... I did it... barely, but it was so nice to see this number! It's been over 20 years since I've been under 200 pounds. (my feet aren't as dirty as they look in the picture! lol) As for the knee, the doctor said he's pretty sure it's sciatica. I would have never guessed that. I have had problems with my sciatic nerve before, but always in the lower back/buttocks area. He explained that the nerve goes down through the back knee, and that's where my pain and swelling are. He saw some arthritis in the x-rays, but not enough to be causing this pain. He's got me on a six-day steroid pack. I'm praying it works because this pain is horrible! Let's hope I can keep the weight down while on steroids! Hope you are all doing well!

Hi there! I didn't see the doc on Monday because my knee felt slightly better. However, it's not good now, so my husband is taking the day off to help me around the house and take me to the doctor! Thank you for asking!! We have a bunch of animals, and trying to care for them on my own is pretty impossible right now. It's crazy how different our sizing is! I wish we had a universal system for weights and measures. Maybe someday, but I'm too old to convert at this point. Lol. I hope you broke your stall!!!

For sure going to try this!

I have to get into my closet. I did a quick cleaning out of shirts a few weeks ago, but I need to get serious. I have things in there that I never wore and never will... silly to hang on to. Then the ones that are too big also. Size-wise, I'm about the same as you. I was wearing a 22-24, or 2X. I'm more like an 18 now and would love to be a size 12, but I will happily settle for a size 14. I have always liked loose-fitting clothes. With the exception of a period from late teens through mid-twenties. I've been a jeans and loose T-shirt girl. I don't foresee that changing, but you never know! I have a shelf of clothing in my closet that I started collecting before surgery. Much of it was either free or on sale. I need to get in there and start trying it on. Like you, I think I have enough to get through the summer. As soon as my knee is feeling better, I'm going to make getting into that closet a priority!

@BlueParis what an adorable dress you look fantastic! I love the color it’s pretty and hopefully you feel as pretty in it as you look! I love how you ask about everybody you are so sweet. I’m doing OK thank you for asking. I don’t mind the stall yet. I’ve been prepared for it so it was a few seconds of letdown and then I just kind of shrugged it off. I will admit if it lasts for more than a couple weeks I’m gonna be upset. I have not weighed myself since I’m really trying to do it once a week, which means it’s usually about twice a week I am struggling with a knee issue right now has nothing to do with my surgery. I did something silly a few weeks ago and I can’t remember exactly what it was, but I jumped down from something and jarred my knee. And I thought to myself that was stupid and it hurt , the pain went away after a few minutes. For the past few weeks it’s been intermittent pain mostly when I stand up and start to walk, but then I walk it out. Then yesterday it was worse, and I took some Tylenol for the first time and last night it got horrible . It woke me up many times during the night and when I tried to get out of bed this morning, I could not really walk without using a cane and even with the cane it’s difficult. If it’s still bad tomorrow, I’m gonna go to a clinic and see what’s going on. Aside from that all as well. I hope everyone’s having a great weekend!

Good morning! I have officially joined the "stallers" club this week. It is sad to see the scale at the same place it was a week ago. But I have all of you going through it, too, and while we don't like it, it does help some. I guess I'm glad to be part of the club lol.

I'm glad weighing once a week is helping. Sometimes it's difficult... I want to get on the scale way more often and sometimes do. All my adult life I have considered a loss of 2 pounds a week to be right on track. The first few weeks of this got me spoiled with bigger losses. At this point I'd be very happy with a consistent 1 - 2 pounds a week. It seems like the slower it comes off, the easier it is for my body to adjust. An NSV, well, not really a victory, but a surprise... I had to go to support group at the hospital last night. I was running late and threw some jeans and a T-shirt on after my shower. I hadn't had those jeans on in a few weeks, and oh my gosh, they were huge! Not just the waist, which is elastic, but the legs were so funny. I didn't have time to change them, and they are my favorite jeans. In fact, I have a pair that is 4 sizes smaller in my closet waiting for me! lol.

I'm doing okay here. Eating the past few days has been blah. No matter what I eat, I'm uncomfortable afterward—nausea, heaviness, or pain. I know I need to slow down! Sometimes, I let myself get too hungry. Then I'm so looking forward to eating and it's not a pleasant experience. It's weird! Right now, I'm staring at the food left on my plate, and I want so badly to eat it, but my chest is heavy and sore, and it feels like food is backing up. I'm grateful that the scale has moved every week—sometimes not much, but it moves. I'm not looking forward to stalls, even though I expect them to happen. I'm almost under that 200 mark and hope to get there in the next week or two! We all need to hang in there!!!

Looking good!! Have you tried moistening food when you reheat it? I was warned that reheating can make foods dry, and I may want to moisten them. When I reheat fish, I will put something on it. I've sprinkled water, put a dab of margarine, and even put some marinara sauce on it before. Dry foods just don't go down or sit well, and not being able to drink with food keeps it dry.

I’m so sorry to hear this. I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but honestly, I don’t. During these days of the stall, are you still noticing that your clothes are fitting looser? I was told not to be so dependent on the scale but more on noticing the weight coming off as far as how I feel in clothes. I don’t recall if you have a dietitian or someone that you check in with? If you do, you may wanna contact them or contact your doctor and talk this over with them. I don’t doubt that more weight is going to come off, I’m more concerned about your mental state. No giving up, OK??

Congrats!!!!!

I don't live near a gym either and really don't want to go to one. I've been trying to do some YouTube videos, and I got a walking pad. Have you guys heard of "cardio drumming?" We did it at my bariatric support group and I started doing it at home too. I don't think I've ever walked away from any kind of exercise saying "that was fun" before this! I bought some wrist weights to use while doing it. I'll put a few links here... (Where they use 2 balls, I just hit the side of my one)

It will probably drop and get you well under soon!! I'm with you where that 200 mark is concerned. Years ago, I got to 202 and was so excited to get under 200 but never did, and it started to creep back up. As usual, I gained it all back plus more and reached my highest ever weight. I was at the point where I was afraid to diet cuz I always gained it all back and more. That is what made me decide to do the surgery. We can do it!!!!! Good luck with the doc appts!

You look fantastic and are adorable!

Please don't ever be sorry for a post's length. I don't think there is a person here who minds posts of any length! That's crazy about your insurance. I, too, hope it is resolved quickly for you. I can't imagine the new insurance company won't honor something you already had approved and were moving forward with. If they do, can you go back to the old company and appeal to them about the situation? I didn't even know that some insurance companies won't cover weight loss surgery. That's absurd! Please keep us posted, and PLEASE don't let this get to you so much that you overeat or smoke. This too shall pass, and you will be fine on the other end.

I use my starting weight from before the pre-op diet. I was my highest when I started that, and my diet was only for 10 days, so I figured that was my beginning weight. I think my dietician uses that one, too. That puts me at 41 pounds lost as of today, and I'm thrilled. I'm with you on not having a particular weight I must reach. I don't even have a number in my head. (I did put a weight on my ticker here, but that was just for progress purposes) I think my goal is to see how much comes off and how I feel at that point. At my age, I'm looking to feel healthy, and that's my goal. I won't be a supermodel or wear a bikini! Lol. I think we are all doing wonderful, and I'm excited for each and every one of us!! ♥

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. It does not sound fun at all. I would definitely check with the doctor when you get back. If you’re anemic, then they can help with that by giving you iron. Have you been taking your blood pressure? I know when mine got very low. I was just feeling all out of sorts. when I get super cold like that, have to run my hands under very warm water, especially my wrists that often helps get rid of the chill that’s in my bones. Doesn’t seem to matter how much I bundle up sometimes that chill is just so deep. Also wearing gloves and a hat, keeping hands and the head warm.

I've been making dip like that, too. I've used the Lipton soup mixes... onion and veggie are the ones I've tried. It's good! I hope you like the Edamame. I got some of the Sea Salt flavor and do like it a lot.

I'm sorry so many of you are having struggles. I, too, was told that the first 4 months or so will be filled with ups and downs. I guess I'm in more of an up place right now. The nausea has subsided, it's almost gone. I don't feel good when I eat, but that's about it. My energy is way up from where it was when my bp was low and I was dehydrated. And the scale had been going down... 3 pounds this week. I almost feel guilty telling you all this. I do struggle with getting enough protein. I get between 30 and 60 grams a day, and I'm trying to add protein powder to anything I can. I can't eat enough food to get it in. I'm pretty much off protein shakes and bars. I can sometimes tolerate half a protein bar. Right now, I have a shake sitting here next to me. I get gaggy thinking about drinking it, but I'm going to try! Is anyone experiencing hair loss? I heard it usually starts around the 4-month mark. I cut my very short to prepare for it... but am hoping it doesn't happen. At least it will be during the summer months! Have to look on the bright side

I love all the pictures. You all look fantastic!! I have been taking pictures monthly, but I can’t share them unfortunately because I wasn’t thinking about sharing them with anyone aside from my sister. I’m doing it in sweatpants and a bra. I’ll have to look back and see if I can find some pictures of myself recently before surgery and take one now.

@RonHall908 You look amazing!!! NickelChip, I had a similar experience about 5 years ago. I got down to 202 pounds and couldn't get under 200. Then, I started to gain weight and, over the next few years, reached my highest weight. I am hoping to push under 200 without a big stall, but if it does happen, I'm going to fight hard to not let it mess with my mind! I find it interesting that so many of us are stalling at the same time. It makes me think this is a normal pattern after surgery. So far, I've been steadily losing weight —even if it's a pound a week. I'm guessing I'm going to be stalling sometime soon, too. This is when we have to look at the NSV's (Non-scale victories)... Ron's pictures for example!! Hang in there everyone!

That sounds like a great trip all around!

I hate that you are feeling down. Stalls are going to happen, and it can feel frustrating. My dietician told me that while the scale might not move, we will notice a difference in how our clothing fits. How often are you weighing yourself? I used to weigh once daily, but I'm trying hard to do it only once a week. I guess that can be good or bad. So far, I'm good with it. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you! Hugs.

Did they give you a prescription for anti-nausea medicine like Zofran? I had to take it for many weeks and just stopped. Also, have you tried broth or other soups? I found that getting away from the sweet shakes and drinks helped a lot. I would call the surgeon's office again and try to speak to someone else. That response wasn't ok! When I was battling nausea, I got dehydrated, and my blood pressure got really low. I had to go to the hospital for IV fluids and vitamins. It's like a vicious cycle with the nausea and dehydration. If your surgeon can't help, maybe contact your general practitioner. Sorry you are going through this!

Beans is brilliant and ginger sounds wonderful! I could probably use that to help with my stomach. Today for lunch I'm having one with banana, blueberries, strawberries, PBFit, and coconut water. Simple and easy to get down.