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A new NSV today. My gut has shrunk enough that I was able to slide my car seat forward an inch.

A new blog update - NSV #2 - You Best Step Off, B-hatch!

NSV. I went to a store yesterday and the top and pants I wanted to get were on the clearance rack. I was so happy started to look for my size and I had to walk away because they were all to big for me. It felt so good to have this happen to me. I love my sleeve and my new life.

Another NSV....ice skating with my kids! Never thought I would be able to do this again!

nsv today: i can see and feel my collar bones!

20" total gone! Happy B-day to me what a great NSV!

NSV - I was able to clean my livingroom & kitchen yesterday in 1.5 hours and it didn't kill me!

NSV!!!

Yesterday I discovered that the base of my neck has definition! Wowwww! Great NSV!

bought some 'shape wear' in a size medium... and it fits! Not too tight and something I could defo wear all day... NSV for me! x

Um... kinda weird NSV... as I was walking my trak outside, about 5 different men tried waving hello at me, and even a few stopped in their tracks so I could go by. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a very happily married woman - but that's one ego boost right there!!

Two great NSVs - one: my dietician told me I was by far the most successful sleeve patient he's ever seen. 92% of my excess weight now lost! Two: ran my first (and maybe last) 5K yesterday and clocked a respectable 38 minutes.

Chairs, Stairs and Wings! http://t.co/ugw0NqyY #diet #texas #alamo #sanantonio #wls #nsv #weightloss #exercise #walking #riverwalk #wings

Man, my family brought chocolate covered strawberries and different assorted cheesecakes! It's hard but it's not impossible. I can open the tray, smell it- the sugar, fake chocolate and preservatives- and close it and eat a slice of turkey deli and feel fine. NSV!!!!!!! Happy Vday!

Life is so good! Very grateful for all the support I've had on my journey! Having more NSV's.

Major NSV today, for the first time in years I didn't need to ask for a seat belt extension in the plane, and my belly was not in the way of the food tray! I love my sleeve!!!

A little more than one week post-op update:

Pain - My incision pain decreased enough for me to feel comfortable most of the day on Tuesday, Day 6. As of today, Friday, Day 9, I can get in and out of chairs without feeling my incision pulling and needing to put pressure on it. I was able to drive my teen to work in the next town, with the support of a seatbelt pillow. I stopped by the local rail trail and had a short walk in the greenery yesterday. I'm planning to up my walking now that I don't have so much pain, but I want to take it slow so I don't overexert myself. My legs are starting to cramp from inactivity.

I've been building up to my hydration and protein goals daily, and worked up to 4 oz of liquid intake every 30 minutes. I didn't really have a schedule until I woke up on Wednesday, Day 7, feeling absolutely ravenous. The day before I had concentrated on hydration and come up a little shorter on my protein goals. So I made a spreadsheet, to plan out my protein and hydration intake according to what my stomach was capable of now, and discovered I could get a bit more in if I paid more attention to things. Yesterday, I made 72 g protein and 64 oz hydration/36 of which was clear liquids.

I have medications/vitamins to take 4 times a day, and I had been following the 30 min before/after for them, just in case, because I wanted to make sure they were absorbed. However, my dietician told me this morning that I didn't need to do that. So that clears up significantly more time for clear liquid hydration!

I weighed myself yesterday, and discovered that in the first week since surgery, I've lost 23 lbs. Part of me thinks that is a worryingly large number, but also probably a great deal of it is water weight. I did some measurements, and it appears that most of the weight has come from my arms and bust (of course). My clothes don't appear to fit differently yet, but I haven't worn most of them yet. I did notice while putting my face serums and creams on that my cheekbones and jawline seem more prominent.

One of my first NSVs is that my left ankle used to swell after sitting all day. Recently, despite sitting most of the day during recovery, my ankles have matched in size and slenderness. It's very exciting!

The best news of all is that I met with my dietician this morning and been cleared for advancing to more foods. Our program has weeks 1-3 set aside for full liquid diet, so that is what I was prepared for. My dietician said that starting today, I can start making protein shakes with fruit, and I can also have fully blended soups of any type. So that expands my diet significantly! Also, I am permitted to move to stage 3, purees, next wednesday.

6/5/17- I decided to start my own status update so I would have a journal of sorts to look back on when I am closer to my goal.

So I am three weeks post-op today. My journey thus far has been relatively easy with no major complications. I have been able to gradually increase my daily exercise and calorie intake with few problems. I am following my plan mostly, but have been combining weeks 3 & 4 because they are very similar with only the addition of a few items.  My constipation is over and my system has pretty much returned to normal. I have not vomited even once though I was nauseous the first day after surgery. I am feeling very blessed to have had this opportunity to improve my health at this point in my life. The driving force for me wanting to have this surgery was to give my body the best possible chance at putting my diabetes into remission, while also reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.

I have not needed to take any medications for my diabetes since the day before surgery. My 14 day bs average is 99. I check my bs twice a day, fasting and 2 hours after dinner or lunch. Thus far I have not had a reading over 110. I am very encouraged by these numbers. Prior to surgery I could not have obtained these numbers without my medication.

Last week I went back to work and I also starting exercising on my new elliptical machine.  Work went well, but it did tire me out the first couple of days. I added a healthy snack mid afternoon and that really helped get my energy level up to last the whole day. I am weighing and tracking my food in MFP. I want to be successful and I know my biggest problem has always been portion control. This will keep me accountable and also help me to see trends. So here are my weekly averages thus far .

5/16-22/17 - 244

5/23-29/17-  602

5/30-6/4- 740

I am happy that I have been able to get my calories up fairly quickly. I definitely feel the restriction and I am able to eat only 2.5-3.5 oz  at a meal. My protein level has been between 60-65g. I  am shooting for 70-80 in the next week and I feel that should bring my calories up to 800. I am doing my best to listen to my body and eat only when I am hungry, so I am not going to stress out about exactly how many calories or grams of protein I eat as long as I feel good and they are not too low. Figuring out a sustainable healthy lifestyle is probably the hardest part of this journey. The debate on these forums is helpful, but sometimes it is hard to know what exactly is going to work for me until I try it.  I know being a type 2 diabetic that my body is very carb sensitive. Right now with my somewhat limited diet it has been easy as I am mainly eating protein and a few veggies. I guess I will see how things go as I move along and maybe try a few complex carbs as I have more room in my diet. 

my weight log

5/18- 208

5/24- 196

5/29- 195

6/5- 193.5

I am very happy with those numbers. I do not have any weekly or monthly weight loss goals. I am just going to follow my plan and let things fall where they may. Slow loss is just fine with me and NSV are abundant. I have dropped a size already and I am feeling great! 

I think this is a good first update. It is long, but I had three weeks worth of thoughts to get logged. I want to thank this forum and its members for all of their support. Since I had my surgery in Mexico I don't have a local group to talk with. I have learned so much reading the threads here and have made some great online friends along the way. 

I hope to add my thoughts and progress here at least once a week.

I had a huge NSV moment. I can now fit into a size 12. A size 12. I am soo hype. Also, I decided to try that hair wax stuff and I made my hair purple. 

Also, I forgot to post on Face 2 Face Friday. 

Another NSV - I am hitting either the elliptical or treadmill for 45 min in a row. I also am doing weights for my bat wings (the back of my arms) lol. I honestly would have never been able to exercise this long before. I was straining after 10 minutes. My work offers personal trainers in the workout facility (for a fee) and I am considering it to help me maximize my time working out. I don't want to always do cardio but I am not sure what weight exercises to do now.

On another note, yesterday after my last meeting I went down to the fitness center and worked out. I didn't text home and ask if I could, I just took the time and did it and told them to start dinner without me. I got home at my normal time and it really didn't bother me that I didn't "ask permission" to take care of myself. I actually put myself first for once.   

Eager to post some photographic evidence of my progress so far!  This week will mark the beginning of my fifth month post-op.  The before photos I weighed in at 280.1 the night before my surgery.  The after photos were taken today at my current weight, 229.8.  

Some new NSVs include being a size 0 in Torrid dresses and finding my newly purchased size 18s are getting looser and looser.  

NSV - wearing a regular (not plus) size 16!

Yesterday's NSV at the Red Cross Blood drive = blood pressure 106/72. She said you must exercise....A LOT!

had to stop in and read some NSV.  I hope everyone is doing well.

not much to update.  Weight is stable and labs are good.  always seem to be low on Vit. D but that seems to be the new it thing.

It's a weddings and Funerals kind of week and not something i enjoy so i needed the pick me up from the NSV page.  Keep posting there it really is little things that make this all worth it and reading about your small victories along the way helps more than you will ever know.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and give those close to you a hug

I've made sure my video is shorter....this is simply a status update and some NSVs. 🙂 I am going to save a lot of the ancillary talking for my "Can We Talk?" series. By splitting up what I talk about this way, it should keep my videos to about 10 minutes each. Thank you for watching! 🙂