Ugh, I was afraid of that  My insurance is switching in January and it is better now than what it will be.  I hate the idea of leaving the classroom, but dang- it is a significant difference.  I will wait to see what the doc says at the consult.  Maybe I can beg for a rapid date or something.  

Today I finally scheduled a consultation with a plastic surgeon.  The scheduling lady told me today that his surgeries are book up into October.  Well that just sucks.  I was really hoping that I could use the summer for recovery, and am not all that keen on waiting until next summer.  I thought about calling earlier this year, but wanted to wait to make sure my weight was stable for a while.  So my question out there is if you have abdominoplasty and maybe the extra skin off the back and the neck taken care of, how long until I can go back in the classroom?  I am wondering if I take off the week right before Chrsitmas and pair it along with the Christmas break then I could resume in the beginning of January.  Is this feasible?  I know they "say" 6-8 weeks, but is it truly that?

I am not so sure about this either.  I have a larger sleeve- up in the 40's somewhere.  I can eat 3-4 ounces of protein and a little veggie if I really pu****  Given that, I am not so sure how "stretched" you can be.  It is normal for all of us no matter the sleeve size to have more capacity further out when compared to being pre-op.  As someone mentioned in an earlier post- if you are at goal and doing well then I would not worry and certainly not go back in for surgery.  Even if I was told that my sleeve is "grossly stretched" right now I would not consider going in since there is no need.  

If you are pretty sure that the vitamin supplements will be challenging for you, then that alone would rule out the DS and Rny in my humble opinion.  I too struggle with supplements.  It is not that I mind taking them, but rather I forget a couple times per week.  The deficiencies are nothing to play around with!

I weighed a tad bit more than you and made it to goal in 8 months without difficulty.  Thus far, maintenance has gone well for the  9 months that I have been in that phase.  No reason to think the Vsg will not work for you, and as others pointed out it can be revised to DS if needed.

Are you eating because your hungry?  What are the types of food you are eating?  It doesn't matter what size sleeve you have, it is possible to eat around it.  Are you adhering to protein first, no drinking before and after a meal, etc?  Give us an idea of what you are eating and we can be more specific.  

I am a huge dairy eater also.  The reason carbs can be problematic is that too much at one sitting can flood the system with insuin, which in turn stores fats, triggers cravings and hunger.  I kept it under 30 grams for a meal and 15 for a snack with no issues.  It may not be that high of a threshold for you, but if the milk or cottage cheese is not triggering cravings or hunger then you should be fine.  Almond milk has only 35 calories and flax is at 25... maybe try those?

Anyone here may add me.  I am idateacher2 over there.

10 Things I appreciate about Alison:

1.  She is kind to me and others.

2.  She is level headed..

3.  She is and will continue to be my inspiration to exercise- it is because of her I did not make excuses to get moving, no matter how hard it was at first or with my occasional challenges.  

4.  She does not profess to be perfect and consequently demonstrates that the path is not a single direction, but a true journey.  

5.  She is tenacious.

6.  She flew to a foreign country for plastics and did not let anything stop her.  I will be replicating this journey once I can afford to, and she makes me feel like it is doable.

7.  She is just damn funny!

8.  She is forthright.

9.  She makes great suggestions.

10.  She makes Oh a better place!

Hang in there Alison.  I just wanted to share a moment just how much I appreciate you.  

Are you hitting your protein goals and nutritional needs?  The one part of the early months for me that was critical was developing the retrained eating habits.  I was never perfect, but consistently very, very good.  Whatever you can eat now capacity wise it will be significantly more in just a few short months.  By then it will be critical that your eating habits are retrained, otherwise not only will you not lose, but you will be at high risk of gaining.  Here is a list of my favorite go to items:

Trader Joe chicken hot dogs (low calorie, high protein, and uncured)

Greek yogurt (make my own now since I was eating so much and saving a small fortune)

Fibergourment half calorie crackers (favorite is cinnamon)

Protein bars, protein shakes 

Lean meat (fish, chicken, rarely beef or pork)

Cottage cheese and fresh fruit

Soups

Tunafish

Fiber one cereal, almond milk or flax seed milk

veggies

I avoid white flour, processed food for the most part, fast food save a few items that are Ok calorie/protein wise

You make a choice if you choose a low carb approach- deprive your system of fiber to get the carbs low thinking that it is the only way to lose weight (not true) or work fiber into your diet and still lose the weight.  It is a choice folks.  

I was following Acbrown's progress prior to her PS and after- even though I never met her I am pretty sure I will end up with Sauceda once I can figure out how to pay for it.  This sounds goofy, but it sounds like not only PS but a bit of an adventure :)  Short term though I have to figure out how to get my kids through college. 

Ok, good to read that.  I have tried several times to go cold turkey, but cave within 2 days.  Next time I muster up the motivation, I will set the goal at 7 days and stick to it.  I think I will start tomorrow ;) 

1,  Just a gentle reminder that the power of weight loss is in the cumulative total, not a daily or weekly.  If you look at my ticker I was not posting huge numbers month after month, but I was consistently losing.  At the end of 3 months I was really feeling like the surgery wasn't doing much different then what I would do on a focused diet.  But the difference is that I would always break the diet... 6 months of 10-15 pounds each month really add up.  Don't let yourself fall into the trap of thinking that if you don't lose 40 pounds every month that you have failed.  Your rate thus far is really very good- just keep at it.  

2.  I ranged 600-800 calories around the 2 month mark I think... but you can check my diary on MFP.  I think you may be a little higher than where I was at a month out... but it is getting fuzzy now.  The diary will show it- I had surgery done on 12/19/11.  

3.  I am a huge advocate of walking.  Daily walking.  Walking intentionally, and adding steps in whereever you can. For example, park at the back of the parking lot, take the flight of stairs instead of the elevator, take the long way to the bathroom at work, etc. Keep working your treadmill.  15 minutes is rough now, but you will be shocked at where you will be in 2 months if you keep at it. Yes to the weights- muscle built will burn more calories and help to fill the void that the lost fat leaves behind. Not a fix to the future loose skin, but it helps.  Just check with the doc to make sure you are cleared for it first.  As far as intensity- the increase cardio will help you burn more.  You should be sweating when you work out :)