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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! 🙂 

I have been cleaning out my sewing area............ it'a huge NSV to have this kind of energy after working out and then working all day. I've already found several lost treasures!

More NSV - Jeans I haven't been able to wear since LAST fall are now comfortable on the verge of loose. Soft foods are harder than I expected, so still slogging away with the shakes for protein, but it's nice to have variety. My kinesiology student daughter is developing a workout plan for me LOL.

some time ago I had posted an NSV where a ring my husband gave me on our 10th anniversary finally fit again. Now I can wear it on the right hand. it is a thick ring (a picture in my gallery I think). 6 months ago I couldn't wear it at all. I am so pleased.

So after a whirlwind trip to visit two families in another state for Xmas, we finally got home today. Whenever we leave Arizona, our first meal back is always Mexican (since all the other states around have trash Mexican food). After dinner I got a wild hair and we stopped by DXL. Now I was always on the very low end for pants there (I have no assatall), so I didn't even bother to look at pants... I'm pretty sure I have to shop in regular stores for those now. What I did NOT expect was going from a 3XT to a plain jane 1X! Major NSV for me... I can now shop in "regular" stores - at exactly one month post op!!

I've decided on a new highly specific NSV goal after attending a concert last nite: would like to be small enough that a man lets me sit on his shoulders at a show. Just for one song! Maybe the slow song. Highly specific. But it's going to happen one day.

NSV this weekend...a yoga pose that wasn't possible a year ago with body shape/size is now accessible. WOOT!

NSV: my workout leggings no longer curl around my cancankles, I can wear a tie back dress, there is some slack now.

NSV? Lost and caught: So there I was--surf fishing (my favorite thing among all things)--standing on the beach in my old, way too loose sweat pants and surf shoes when my lines went "zzzzziiiiiiinnnnnggggg!!!!!" (really big fish on the hook and taking my line). I yanked the rod, fish lurched deeper into the ocean--pulling me in. There I was knee deep--my now water soaked sweats (now way too big since weight loss) down around my knees. What happened? I caught a forty four inch striped bass and lost my pants. I never felt the least bit embarrassed. I was feeling way to joyful, not only for catching a nice fish, but for losing enough weight to lose my pants in the process! I guess it's a good thing I wore my new baby blue undies that day. smile emoticon I was the only woman surf fishing that day and all of the guys were good spirited about the whole experience and attempted to save my "dignity" Ha! I had just out fished all of them!!!!! Joy, joy,

My first pair of birthday shoes came in the mail today! and NSV, they are NOT wide width. Joy Joy Happy Happy!

Get a load of the After pic.....I actually need a belt and suspenders to keep my pants up......What a NSV. LOL

I think I just got catcalled by a passing garbage truck driver. NSV, I guess...?

hey chilo... what'cha reckon to the new look site???

taken its own advise and had a NSV...lol!

Hope you are well!! =]

Went to Renaissance Festival, walked around for 4 hours and only had to sit and rest twice, and that's cause it was muggy out. NSV!

Still stuck at 165 - I am going to mix up my work-ups this week. Usually work out before work at 6:00 am - this week moving work outs to 6:00 pm - let's see if that changes anything. Has an awesome NSV this week - bought a pair of size 29 waist jeans... looked to small till I got them on!

I wanted to share some NSV with my VST friends and family -- first of all I don't need to use a seat belt extended on JetBlue flights! I have four seat belt extenders and will try and fly all airlines so I can announce my seat belt extender days are OVER!