deedee

So glad you're sleeve and/or baby is helping you make plenty of healthy lifestyle changes. And glad everything is progressing so well!!! Thanks for keeping us updated. We're going to start trying to conceive this spring, but we tried for two years with no luck, so I'm not holding my breath...just going to live vicariously through you;-)

Lee, I've always been lactose intolerant and the Chike powder had my stomach cramping horribly and straight to the bathroom when I first discovered it after surgery. I spoke to my nutritionist about it and she had never heard of this happening to her other patients, even those who were lactose intolerant. Because I suffered with constipation after surgery, and it was one of the only brands I could tolerate to drink, I still used it periodically...it usually took care of my constipation problem;-) I've never had a problem with yogurt and some cheeses are okay, but others are not and I'm off to the bathroom. Real ice cream has always been hit or miss with me, sometimes I can tolerate it, other times it gives me problems. I didn't worry so much about the carbs on the full liquid phase, but that's just me, because I was eating so little. I did cream of potato Soup, yogurt, unjury's Protein chicken soup, Jello, more yogurt, and other creamed Soups...pretty boring I know. I didn't do applesauce because pre-op it could give my stomach problems and send me running to the bathroom. Good luck through the rest of this phase!

That's interesting, I've never heard of height playing a role in what we can eat. I'm 5'5" and haven't had pizza yet, but did buy school lunch last week (I know gross, should have brought my lunch or went out, just didn't have time) and was almost able to eat 2 cheesy bread sticks...ate all of the cheese on both and 1 of the bread sticks. Felt a little uncomfortable full, but not too bad.

I too was tired all the time. I took an afternoon nap almost every afternoon when I got home and then had no difficulty sleeping at night. By month three my energy was through the roof, but then around month 5 I started to get so physically fatigued again (I think this was because of how much I was pushing my body with exercise). It's definitely a journey and a great time to listen to our bodies.

I am not malnourished by any means and I still have a LONG way to go to be underweight (I set my goal pretty high as well), I just prefer a "thicker" and curvier look. And this is all such a subjective thing, just like who we are attracted to is subjective, I might see "gaunt" where someone else does not. I have been overweight or obese my entire life, except for once in high school, so since birth I'm used to a much rounder/softer look on me. Like I mentioned in my post I'm hoping that my face fills out again, I've felt this way before during my wls journey and it has, but I'm not sure it will this time. What I'm whining about is strictly vanity and nothing to do with health. Keep exploring the procedure, but remember that it's not all roses and sunshine. This is something I did for health reasons, not vanity (I thought I was pretty cute before), and I think sometimes we all have days where our vanity gets the best of us and we just need to vent. Not intended to scare anyone. I'm going to post a couple of pictures later today, my husband thinks I'm crazy in my thoughts, but they are my feelings about how I look right now. I would do the vsg again in a heartbeat because of how much more I am able to do and how much my overall health has improved (I have none of the health issues I did before surgery that were due to weight). Good luck in your research!

Coopersmama, you are NOT going to fail! We are here to cheer you on along the way. Tiff, I'm so glad to hear that others have gotten more used to it now...it gives me hope;-) Lynda, you CAN definitely do this!!!!!!!!!

That is excellent news! Good job!!!

I'm so sorry you went through this, but SOOOOOO happy it's been resolved. Good lesson to all of us to not be scale whores. Congratulations on the awesome loss, you've totally rocked your sleeve!!!!!!!!

Great job! I've heard running is a great way to tone up, so maybe it would help with the butt. Mine's also flat and it jiggles terribly...if the jogging does it for you, let me know because I think I would get past being terrified of running and try it if it would help with this jello butt.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Thanks for updating us, I miss reading your posts. I'm so glad you are out living your life...you have done such a tremendous job. You look AMAZING.

Welcome Tracy! I think you're making a great decision. Like you, I started looking into the band and then discovered this procedure and realized it fit me so much better. Good luck with your journey and I'll wave too next time I'm in the northwest (was just in WA last week).

I am not quite in the same boat as you, but I understand the not liking what you see in the mirror and wanting to stop the weight loss. My face is looking really gaunt and angular, where it didn't look as bad even 5 pounds ago (I didn't post pictures taken on a trip last week because I just don't look right...a little scary). I'm hoping it will fill out a little more, but I'm not holding my breath. Like you, I don't plan to stop the exercise or healthier eating. Good luck finding your happy place:-)

I'm so happy that it all went so well and was uneventful! Congratulations on the 27 lb. loss, you're already doing so well.

That's great that you are meeting with two surgeons. I also went to a consult with two who I thought were both wonderful, but ended up with the second one because he was covered by complication's insurance. It is a lot of money when you self-pay, but you're right, the food costs help off-set it some. Unfortunately the clothes expense, for me, ate all that right back up and then some:-) Good luck and keep us posted!

I'm glad things went well. Definitely keep us posted.

During the first month I averaged around 300-400 calories per day, but I also seemed to be a lot more fatigued than others who were at the same stage as me. When I started exercising (other than walking) pretty hard core at a month out, I started eating snacks, which is against my program's guidelines, to get the calories up because I knew I needed more fuel. Good luck, if your labs are good, I wouldn't be too worried.

I'm glad everything went well and they'll soon be home:-)

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you:-)

Thank you for your reflection and CONGRATULATIONS on making your goal!

Glad everything is going well!

Congratulations! This sleeve thing is really awesome:-)

I do wish you luck on Monday and throughout your whole pre-op experience. Good job on making the decision to get healthy and be around a long time for your son.

I think your feelings are pretty normal. I have friends who feel this way about ex boyfriends and husbands and high school/college acquaintances, not just regarding weight, but jobs, houses, kids, etc. I don't really have anyone in particular that I want to see the "new" me because I don't think anyone ever really treated me horribly (I'm probably just too oblivious), BUT I have thought about getting professional pictures taken with my husband and send them out as Christmas cards or something just to kind of "show off." I know it's silly because I'm a grown person, but I just kind of want everyone to know that I actually was able to lose weight and get healthy after a whole life of trying to struggling to do it.