I prefer to use instant espresso because regular instant coffee tends to get too watered down (for my taste) once everything is added... I have 2 favorite recipes:

6-8oz Ho****er

4 oz heated almond milk

2 tsp instant espresso

1 scoop Unjury chocolate splendor

2 pumps Torani SF Hazelnut

1 Pump Torani SF English Toffee

 

6-8 oz Ho****er

4 oz  Heated Almond Milk

1 scoop Matrix Mint Cookie

3 Pumps SF Torani Peppermint

Im super happy 8 months with my sleev and im so loving it had my wow moment finally 100 pounds down..look at myy pics tell me what u think i dnt know how to post them on my blog so u have to go to my album..lol

Okay...I haven't done the research, but I know the liver makes cholesterol as a response when something needs healing. In and of itself cholesterol isn't bad, we need it to strengthen our cellular walls, make hormones, utilize Vitamin D, to name a few uses. It is also important to know which kind of cholesterol is high, the HDL or LDL. The LDL are small, dense, sticky cholesterol, and known as the bad cholesterol. This is the cholesterol that sticks to our arteries. But if HDL is high, it goes along and cleans up the LDL. I melt one teaspoon of raw coconut oil in warm water and drink everyday. This has actually increased my HDL and my carotids are whistle clean even though my cholesterol is always high.

Here is a link that helps explain cholesterol.

http://real-agenda.com/2012/05/03/the-cholesterol-myth-that-is-harming-your-health/

 

I was contemplating whether I even wanted to post an update since ive been the queen of the Debby Downer club lately, but I guess I'll just share my reality.

I'm two years out today. It happens to be my birthday, and my re-birthday. I guess I'll never forget my surgery date.

In July of 2010, I began my WL journey when I tipped the scales at 420 lbs. I decided I needed to change my life, and began a year long journey to WLS - losing 85 lbs along the way.

I had surgery in 2011-  I was 335 on the day of surgery. I had a great first year. I did all sorts of stuff - races, bike rides, etc. I had a lot of fun and I was pretty happy, and did well on the WL side of things. I never did reach my goal though. A year ago I was 204 lbs. Today I was 209. It's hard to be happy about that, but in the grand scheme of thing, I can't really complain too much. Im a litle disappointed in myself from gaining weight from my lowest (188lbs), but the last 6 months have been incredibly difficult for me - physically with PS, and emotionally with a deep depression.

Up until last week, I was just sitting at home, wallowing in self pity, eating myself to death, but then I decided I wanted more from life. So, I started the Whole 30/paleo program and started getting out of my house to combat my depression.

I spent a great weekend remembering why I had WLS, celebrating the fact that I'm still healthy enough to do what I love. I went and swam in the ocean (in a sports bra and bikini bottom nonetheless but there are definitely no pics of that lol). I stopped by a little booth in Santa Monica so I could be on TV for some People's Court episode. I went ocean kayaking, and went ice skating. And stayed on my food program (which is hard when everyone wants to buy you a cake for your birthday).

So, I cant change the decisions I made in the last 6 months, but I can change what happens from here. Hopefully  next year, I'll be celebrating being at an eventual goal weight.

 

 

My TV appearance with my friend

  Ice Skating               Kayaking        

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So far you have had a lot of great replies and stories.  Basically it really boils down to mathematics for me.  Statistically speaking if you are at or over 40 BMI you can loose weight without the surgery as many have said ... including at least one in replies you have received so far.  But the second half of that statistic states that you will most likely regain it all back over time.  You only have something like a 10% chance of keeping it off again assuming your BMI is 40 or above.

My story started about 4 years ago when I met a woman that was about 3 months post op from having the VSG.  She was doing great and told me all about it.  It stuck with me.

Last year I turned 50 and had been overweight all my life despite efforts to loose.  I had Diabetes II and it had already started destroying my feat.  I also started feeling hints of it in my finger tips.  I figured within one year I would have no feeling in my hands or feet.  Since this neuropathy was traveling up my body I knew it was only a matter of time before it was likely to make me blind.  Can you imagine a blind man without feeling in hands or feet?  I could walk into something and cause a laceration on my foot.  Not being able to feel that or see that it could be the thing that causes amputation or if bad enough death.

I decided my life was getting way too scary and I was dying a slow death due to obesity as most people will.  So my options at that point were surgery or suicide.  I was convinced if I did not have surgery by year end that would be the end of me.  At this point I started to try to figure out how I could get this surgery.  I didn't have any health insurance and only about $50 worth of savings.  I also have credit that is likely to be the worst in this country or very close to it so there would be no borrowing it.  After speaking with my father and explaining what was going on in my life and how bad things had gotten he agreed that if I were to research and convince him that this was a great idea that he would help cover the cost.  I did and he did and within 5 months post op I dropped from 231 to 138.  I lost all I needed to.  

I have been in maintenance for about 7 months now and lost another 6 pounds trying to figure out this maintenance thing.  I am now at a point that if I were to loose another 10 pounds then I would actually be underweight.  How amazing is that.  For the first time in my life I am actually wanting to gain back 10 pounds.

Basically it still comes down to the statistics of it.  If you have a BMI 40 or over you can loose the weight without surgery as many have ... but the kicker is that you will regain it all back also as many have.  As I said I believe that the number is 90% of people will regain with a BMI of 40 or over.  If I am wrong I am only off give or take 5% meaning the actual number is between 85% and 95% but I don't know the actual number statistically speaking.

Just my two cents.

I also have a personal trainer. He encourages me and pushes me beyond what I think I'm capable of, he is really the one that helped to get me to goal. Now, meeting with him twice a week is a priority. I love my gym and the people in it, it's become a new social outlet for me.

I'm also a brunette and the new hair is a lot more grays.  I think the texture change may also be due to the greys.

I really like the Banana Nut Muffin quest bars. Did you buy your bars local? I ask because the ones at my local Vitamin Shoppe seem to have sat on the shelf for a while and are much harder. When I purchase online it seems like the bar is much fresher and not quite so "chewy". The Banana Nut Muffin is part of their natural line.

Thanks all....I wanted to post updates of me because seeing others was definitely an inspiration while I was on my weight loss journey. I don't want to deter anyone who hasn't yet had surgery but I had many complications after surgery (Gall bladder removed a week after WLS, dehydration, pancreatitis, PICC line, and so on).  I second guessed myself afterwards but I have to say that the highs far outweigh the lows. You will be terrified before surgery, you will be questioning whether you are taking the "easy" route but there is nothing easy about WLS…including buying several wardrobes to get to your final size.   It is your start to a healthier and more confident you.  Hang in there everyone...it's truly worth it.

For me it was the realization that I was once again planning to lose weight for some future event when I never had lost the weight for countless other long past events. I asked myself if I was stupid because I had been doing a whole lot of nothing in the weight loss department for decades. Then asked if I would now wise up and do something different. The sleeve was my something different.