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Why Weight?
 

Welcome to my Blog!

I'm sitting at work and just finished eating a chicken tamale from Trader Joes. thinking to myself!   I want to create a blog where we all can share our opinions,thoughts, ideas, and journey.   I enjoy giving useful tips and tricks and eating, exercising, and just living a happy life before and after the surgery if you choose that route.   If this is your first time here, please introduce yourself and dont feel limited to throw what ever our there this is not a topic thread so please make yourself at home!!   First I'd like to discuss who I am and how I got where I am   I'm 24 years only, highest weight EVER 260lbs... ( I feel thats a little to big for my age) SO I've decided to have the gastric sleeve procedure and my surgery date is scheduled for 11/9/11. I didnt notice but I was eating approx. 4000 calories a day! which caused me to gain an additional 45 lbs on top of the weight that was already there!   Was it binge eating? NO.. I simply enjoyed going out with my friends, drinking, clubbing and eatting! This was my life for 2 years straight. I carry my weight in my stomach and thighs so considering i buy stretchy jeans i never noticed that I was gaining all of this weight!   I'd eating McDonalds for breakfast ( 2 sausages Mcmuffins with cheese please??), taco bell for lunch ( 2 bean and cheese burritos no onions with sourcream, an order of cinnamon twist and a small soda) and maybe even mcdonalds again for dinner ( Big Mac Medium Fry and a coke)! I was happy and this is where i ended up!   I didnt want to be one of those people who created a blog after accomplishing my goal and cganging sides! NO I wanted to allow you all access to my progress because a little inspriation goes a lonnnng way!
EriMonae

EriMonae

0
zil's Blog
 

MY Fortune Cookie

Those darned messages in a fortune cookie really don't make much sense about 99% of the time. So I decided to make one just for me and I carry it with me all the time. It says...   I am NOT Hungry!!!   Hunger is a figment of my imagination. WATER WATER WATER WATER ride / walk / ride / walk / ride   The flip side says... I AM ON THE WAGON I am a food-a-holic Please do NOT offer to feed me   The funny thing is, it works for me. I have been drinking more water, eating smaller portions and not as much eating in between meals, plus I am riding my bike more and walking.   My co-workers, friends and family are so supportive. And this blog is the BEST. I get so much inspiration from everyone.   There is a girl I work with and when she found out I had been banded, she immediately wanted to know more information. She attended a seminar (based on what her insurance covers) and came back feeling that her only option was gastric bypass, since she was told "the band really did not work" and that "people would probably only lose about 50#s". She was further told at the seminar that a lot of the patients who come in for bastric bypass do so after having been banded.   At first I was a little discouraged, but then I realized my fate was in my hands and the band. The band is what we make of it, so I am going to forge ahead, following the guidelines (although I do have a hard time eating slower...I am sure that will change once I reach the green zone) as well as MY FORTUNE COOKIE.   Good luck to my fellow bandsters. Keep up the good work.
zil

zil

1
Blog 43532
 

From: Sweetalie

I am really feeling great thanks Amanda for the invite....I am loving this challenge it has really inspired me to not only exercise but to make the right food choices     Source: October 60 Mile Walk Challenge
Sweetalie

Sweetalie

1
Helen the Cat's Blog
 

Just Checking In

Hello all you fellow VGSers. How are ya all doing today? I am sitting here at the computer, killing a few minutes before I have to get on the road to see my doctor for my 4 month post op check up. So far, I think I am doing GREAT! I feel good, I have lots of energy (well most days) and Love, Love, LOVE the way my weight is dropping! I am now down 83 pounds since my surgery on June 18! It seems absolutely amazing to me that I could have lost that much! I love it that the size clothes I am wearing is also dropping. If you read any of my posts shortly after my surgery, even when I hadd lost 30-40 pounds, I was still wearing the same size clothes, and I was wondering if my scale was really weighing me correctly, or if I had lost all that weight off my fingers and toes! Most recently I purchased (and am wearing) size 12 jeans. I only have the one pair of Size 12s, so I will most likely wear them out by the time I get to size 10, cause I wear them every day, and wash them every night before bed! I can't bear to wear any of my 14s!   I recently experienced a stall, for over a month! I would gain a pound, lose a pound, gain 1 1/2 pounds, lose a pound, gain, lose, gain, lose, etc. So I started drinking my protein drink on a regular basis, and have tried REALLY hard to eat the way I know I should, instead of cheating with little bites of empty calorie foods. And the weight loss has resumed and is now more regular. I lose like a pound every two to three days, so I lose about 2 and a half pounds a week. I still have 25-30 pounds to lose (maybe 35-40 depending on how I look when I get to my original goal). And I am content to do it at 2 and a half pounds a week.   Well, have to get dressed to see the doctor. Hope you are all having a wonderful day!
Helen the Cat

Helen the Cat

1
NikiJ's Blog
 

My awesome doctor

This may be slow in coming but I've come to realize something...this change is truly a process and is very, very different for each person. Prior to having surgery, my physician and his staff provided me with tons of information at each appointment. I have a wonderful binder (my bariatric binder) chronicling step by step, and day by day things from vitamins, what to expect before and after surgery, pre-admissions, examples of meal plans, what kinds and times to take in liquids, etc. It is so informative and I refer to it at least 20 times a day.   During my appointment, my doctor as well as the on-staff nutritionists adamantly steered me away from certain carbs. I was under the impression as soon as something sweet or some bread like substance hits your palate I'd regret it instantly. It was/is because of this that I have stayed on point. That and I'm only 3 weeks post-op. Anyway... I've read the occassional post where someone may have had a weak moment (nope, I'm not judging) and they never mention getting sick. How can this be???   Of course this is his profession, but I now know my doctor is really committed to steering me away from the potentials of what contributed to me having the surgery in the first place. Yes, these things could possibly make me sick but why go there. He's actually aiding me in my lifestyle change by assisting with changing my mind set.   Just one more reason why I love, love, love the bariatric staff at Temple University Hospital!!!
NikiS

NikiS

0
Paul11011's Blog
 

9 months post op

I can not believe it has been 9 months already. I am still incredibly thankful for the progressive I've seen. I can only equate my nine months with the much more famous 9 month period we all know, the progress towards birth. I feel that my journey has very much been a rebirth. I am no longer the person I used to be. Not only am I physically smaller, so many other things are different about me. I have a better attitude about life, feel more confident and resolute in who I am and what my capabilities are. I no longer look first for reasons I can't do something, rather now I'm wondering what can I do. My loss of the emotional crutch I had in food has caused me to be more emotional and deal with those emotions. It has been a wonderful and eventful journey. Here's a wrap up of where I am today:   Total weight lost since initial consultation (Nov 23, 2010) -256lbs Weight loss since surgery (Jan 10, 2011) -220lbs Current weight, lowest since 6th grade 236lbs Current weight as a percentage of my beginning weight 48% No longer taking blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and no longer wear a CPAP. I have shed all the co-mobilities I had at the beginning of this journey.   Thank you all for reading and for providing me a very valuable outlet and support on my journey.
Paul11011

Paul11011

5
Kris' VSG Blog
 

New Blog

I've created a new blog to chronicle my weight loss journey, so this will be my last blog post here on verticalsleevetalk. My new blog is called curvygirlwellness@blogspot.com. I hope you can visit it and share your thoughts/feedback!
Kris

Kris

0
icuingme2's blog
 

mourning the loss of a dear friend.......FOOD.

So I am a little over a week post op and finally in a better frame of mind. I am ashamed to be admitting this but hope that maybe it will help someone else. Please no judgement.   *DEEP SIGHS*   How could I be 2nd guessing my choice....I mean I worked so hard to make this happen and have researched it for 8 years.......but I did.   Right after surgery it all hit me like a ton of bricks ....not in the chest but right in the face. And all I kept asking myself is WHAT HAVE I DONE? This surgery that I kept telling myself was reversable was not as easily reversed as I had made myself believe. The minute I walked through my front door all I could think is "this is NOT what I want" and now it's to late!"   And the only reason I could say that it wasn't what I wanted ,Swas because I couldn't quit thinking about all the food that I would never be able to eat again. And not getting to eat any food for a week and then knowing I was only going to be on pureed food for another 3 weeks just made it worse. I WANTED TO EAT......and I wanted to sit on the floor with all my favorite foods and .........CRY. I didn't understand this. I couldn't understand how I had become so attached to food and not even know it.   A REALLY GOOD FRIEND of mine, Diane, (God Love her) had mention that sometimes we mourn the loss of food like it was a good friend.....and I read what she wrote but apparently didn't listen before hand because it came as a total shock to me. I mean how could I actually be mourning the fact that I might never get to eat a pizza again and even worse, my favorite, spaghetti. (this is where I want to put the LOL but it's not so funny. I am quite ashamed. I truly found myself crying and crying....I wouldn't admit it when my husband asked me what was wrong....but I honestly knew why I was crying even if I didn't understand it myself. This went on for almost a full week. But I am thankful to say I am in a much better frame of mind.   The surgery itself, looking back, was really very easy. It's the emotions that I thought I had a handle on before surgery....and then feeling like I was loosing my mind....that has really been the hard part for me.   But yesterday was a good day and today was better. I Sat down to dinner with my family finally tonight. I had a very small bowl of pureed chili and I didn't feel like I lost my best friend. I enjoyed our family time. Tomorrow I hope it's the same.   THANK YOU DIANE FOR BEING HERE FOR ME EVEN WHEN I WASN'T.
arnetta

arnetta

14
Journeyseeker's Blog
 

17 days and counting

Well I have 17 days till my surgery date I am excited and nervous. If I really sit here and think about it I feel like im going to have a panic attack so truthfully I have been TRYING not to think about it. My boss at work just finished filling out my FMLA paper work which it does make it seem even more real and scarry. I have been wanting this for just about 10 years and I cant believe Im getting nervous....
Journeyseeker

Journeyseeker

4
girly831's Blog
 

Day 6

Still pretty sore. Seeing =Dr tomorrow. Still having some gas pains. Can't wait to see what my weight is tomorrow should be less considering I'm hardly eating anything. Today I had about 4oz of Glucerna Hunger Control Shake with some hot tea, Lunch some chicken broth, Snack an Ensure vanilla shake-got a little sick to my stomach so no dinner, I did eat a s/f popsicle and am making some hot tea. Hope that will help settle my stomach.
girly831

girly831

1
prettygirlhiding's Blog
 

Coming out of the Lap Band Closet.......

So I was not sure how I was going to tell my family that I was going to have this amazing surgery to change my life. So we had a fantastic meal and while eating dessert my brother in law was talking about his last work trip to Toronto and I started asking him questions about the locale...... he asked why? you goin' there or sumthin?...... I blurted Yes I am!!!! I gently explained that I was going for lapband surgery and prepared for an enslaught of questions to commence!   I was so surprised! My Husbands family was so supportive. They have watched me for the last 10 years balloon from 230 lbs to 347lbs. They supported me when I decided to go to therapy 6 years ago to deal with abuse I went through as a child. They have always met with enthusiasm my ventures at weight loss over the years and never once said anything as I failed each time. My sister in law who has had a 20 lb weight struggle said it best..... you can't give up food right and this will help you change how food is in your life, How do you change a 30 year bad relationship with food? It's not easy.....   They had your standard questions about the logistics of it all, when, with whom are you going?, is it safe, how long will it take to recover. I was proud to say and relieved that I had all the answers. I really have done my research in to this. I have watched a friend almost die from her gastric bypass surgery and it's complications, I have watched another friend lose 180 lbs with her lap band and has told me " don't wait till your 50 like I did" and I have been in and out this forum. I am so thankful for the honesty and openess of all of you today.   What I am really starting to learn is when you move and act from a place where you are trying to better yourself, be honest with yourself, be true to yourself and really want to change yourself for the better. People see that and want to support you to be happy. Of course I have had negative encounters..... one woman I told stated " have you really tried everything? I mean it's a lot of money" I FUMED! My retort? 25,000.00 For IVF, not gauranteed and I would have to lose weight anyway 40,000.00 adoption and 4-5 years 16,000.00 lap band = healthy me, healthy pregnancy and a tool to control my weight for the rest of my life! I asked her to go home to her beautiful little boys, think about how much money she would have paid for just one of her pregnancies, birth experiences, and sons and tell me how to price that out...... cause that is what I am buying!!!   She didn't have anything to say..... I was not trying to be a smart ass, I was trying to remove the stigma. The one that says fat people are lazy, have not tried and are motivated by skinny jeans only..... I am a real person, I am a nurse who cares for others, I have been married and built a life to be a mother. I do not deserve to be judged. That is what my mother in law said to me last night. That was just what I needed to hear........
prettygirlhiding

prettygirlhiding

4
EastTnBarb's Blog
 

WEEK 2 PRE OP LIQUIDS

Today is the beginning of week 2 preop diet. I haven't weighed but the clothes are much looser and I cleared out my closet this weekend except for a few things to get me through. I am glad it is getting colder and the sweatshirts get to come out. 1 week and 2 days till the 19th and a bunch of things are racing through my head. Making my list for the hospital, not taking much as per the topics on this great web site have stated. My sister and Mom are coming over from VA to stay with me and that will be great. It is always good to have family around (I hope). No nerves about the surgery, I am so ready for this tool to start helping me to continue my weight loss and continue on the road to a healthier life. I mowed the grass Saturday with a push mower for the first time in years and didn't get out of breathe, it was amazing. Just getting the 55 lbs off has made me feel so much better. This is going to be the best gift I could have given myself.
SmokyMtnGal2011

SmokyMtnGal2011

3
LovetheNewMe's Blog
 

Why do we sabotage our selves?

Have you ever really sat down and wondered how you got to this point in your life? You know how did you end up on a blog pouring our your inner most feelings to strangers. Well I know how I got here, how about YOU? I got here by lying to myself, telling myself that if no one saw me eat it, it did not count. I got here, by snacking on unhealthy foods, potato chips, candy bars, ice cream, soda, alcohol, bread, snack food, snack food, snack food. I got here by always making excuses as to why I ate something, why my diet failed. It was a dinner, a party at work, an outing with friends, I could cheat just once because, I COULD CONTROL THE BINGE! Well guess what I LIED, How about you? Have any of you ever lied to your self that you were in control? I did then and I do now and you know what I probably always will unless I learn to call myself on every morsal I put in my mouth that does not belong there. Have you ever wondered why the people who are successful are successful with lap band and weight loss surgery or diets? Why, because the follow the rules 99.9% of the time. I am not there yet, I still back slide, and I still beat myself up and promise I won't do it again. Why I am where I am today? I had to have surgery on my knee and this was just all the sympathy I needed for myself to start lying to myself. No I have not gained any weight but I have eaten things I know I cannot control. So I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how to make up for what I ate, so I'm hungry most evenings, not satisfied with my choices and feel like crap. Oh but it's OK. right, I had surgery, it is OK to allow myself a few days off for good behavior? WRONG, that is the thinking of an addict, an addict who has slipped and is lying to themselves again. Believe me I know what I eat, I log every morsal I place in my mouth, I am not eating enough protein, and I consistently eat too much fat. I have been trying to eat 40-30-30 and it ends up more like 40-20-40. (Carbs-Protein-Fat)So why am I bloging this today, because everyday I read about how one of us is doing good, one of us has back slide and one of us is searching for the right answer. We can not help each other or support one another if we do not hold ourselves and each other accountable. I need someone to call me on my bad behavior, I may not like it but, what good does it do me if I am allowed to continue back down a path of destruction. What good does it do any of us? We all made a decision or are making a decision to have surgery to help us control what we were not able to. So why sabotage our selves? Why go through all the physiological evaluations, jump through all the insurance hoops if we are going to continue to lie to our selves. I am nearing my one year anniversary this month, maybe that is what prompted this blog. I have lost 74 lbs and still have 34 lbs to go by the height and weight charts. I have been stalled for months; most days I eat right on target, I have restriction or "I am at my sweet spot" I have thought about a fill just so I eat less but know that is not the answer. So what is the answer? I guess that is a personal answer for all of us. To me the answer is learning to live a healthy life, make healthy decisions every waking minute of my day. To me it is hard wiring or rewiring my thinking so it becomes natural and not a daily chore. To me it is not allowing unhealthy foods into my shopping cart or on to my dinner table. I may not be able to control what my family eats but I can control what is brought into my house and I have a Rights. I have the right not to subject myself to unhealthy atmospheres, friends or family who do not support my choice to make a healthy life for myself. This may sound harsh but I have to be committed to this because every corner I turn there is someone or something there that if I allow it, it will help me to sabotage myself. So friends, take inventory of your life and YOUR cupboards because no one but US is going to help US make it. So my question when I started this rant,"Why do we sabotage ourselves?" So why do "YOU" sabotage yourself, do you know?
♥LovetheNewMe♥

♥LovetheNewMe♥

3
Texasbandit's Blog
 

Eat more calories, OK BS!

So everyone is telling me the reason I'm not losing weight is cause my calories are too low. So yesterday I upp my calories. I cheated a little by eating some sugar free birthday cake with my niece. I also ate a huge salad. So that was my cheat day. I'm terrrfied to log in my calories.   Well I check the scale this morning and guess what?? up 3lbs!! yeah me. So never again. I'll stick to my 800 calories a day. Now I have to practice damage control. Which means liquid fast for a day or two. yeah lanpband.......NOT!
Texasbandit

Texasbandit

4
Blog 105691
 

One Year ago!!!!

So yesterday was one year ago since I had my surgery and I'm down 85 pounds!!!!! For the last 3 months I have been at a stand still but I feel I have done amazing I went from size 20 to a 4-6 and I can not believe it!!!!! This has been the best thing I have done for myself and I am ready for my next year to see whats in for me!!!!
swieners

swieners

7
Journey Begins
 

Im banded!!!

WOW, its done i am officially banded. The one side of my body hurts really bad, its very hard to get up and down. The dr said all went well, I am keeping fluids down and all the medications too. Anyone have any advice for a speedy recovery that would be great cause I am really sore
Wear your Passion

Wear your Passion

5
Suzie's In Texas
 

Houston surgeons? Doing your homework....

So... I've been to one seminar, got an estimated out of pocket cost which was in my budget, and decided this is something I am going to do.   Then I started doing some research. First, I found some negatives about the surgeon from my side of Houston and called the clinic to ask about switching to one of their other surgeons. However, I'm still having reservations about the clinic, and all my options are now an hour's drive. The clinic is a chain clinic for bariatric only, specifically lap-band called True Results. I've not seen too many negatives, but there seems to be one here and there.   Now I am moving forward with more homework. I've located another seminar in my area that I am going to attend at a regional, well respected hospital (Memorial-Hermann) on Thursday night. I am hoping that this doesn't mean my out of pocket will increase. The doc giving this seminar, Dr. Turnquist so far seems to have excellent comments and reviews.   This is so important. This is me. This is my health. This is my life.   If anyone has experiences in the Houston area, let me know. I'd love to hear!
SuzieInTexas

SuzieInTexas

1
Yes!! Its alll about me for a change
 

On My Terms

I want to say I am sorry for not keeping up with my entries. I left my job and started my own business, I have had this business for about 2 years but I am not fully involved with the business full time. www.jurneeservices.com. I am very let me get down to the math. Surgery date 7/27/11 281 current weight 241... Very proud of my progress and I will continue to work hard. Who would have thought that cleaning homes would be the best workout. Now, remember the guy I told you I was with for 4 years off and on? Well, we are working on things. We have always been in contact even when I was seeing Paulton, I know that was wrong but I was with this man for 4 years and he has my heart. I started doing the LOVE DARE which is a great book for anyone looking to restore your relationship/marriage. I love Teddy and I think that because of my insecurites and love self esteem that I could allow him to love me the way he wanted and I listen to what everyone else would say about the way he should. I am happy and the reason why I am happy is simply that I am now doing things on my terms and making the decisions that I feel is right for me. I had a thing called Approval addiction. I would want to make everyone else happy and do what every I would have to do to make everyone around me happy ad I would forget all about myself and what I wanted to make me happy. I think as I go along this journey I am gaining a whole new person. I am truly happy. I look forward to waking up in the morning with a smile in my heart. I get excited when I meet a goal or challenge myself to do something I use to be scare of doing. I smile wider and sing a little louder, When I pray I find myself thanking God over and over for the blessing that he has given me. I smile because for so long I walked with my head down. I have been reaading blogs and I am still finding people with the victims mentality. I am not losing weight, the scale is not moving , I am so frustrated and it is starting to get real old. people this is the greatest journey you an every be on embrace the good and the bad days. embrace change, I will say it again you can not keep doing the same things and expecting different results. I realize that you will have challenge and you will fall short of some things but keep going. push yourself harder then you ever have before. I had to realize how much I loved Teddy and my three boys ( Teddy has a son that lives with him) I had a family and made a lot of mistakes that I lost my family. I would blame Teddy for the reason the relationship didn't work, but truth be told I had more to do with it then he did. I was moody and had an attitude and it was impossible to be around me because I was so miserable. The hardest thing I think is to look yourself i the mirror and self evaluate yourself. When I did it I cried for about two hours. i asked God to heal me and to wash me clean. My vision is becoming clearer and I am enjoying the things that I see. I am finally doing things on my terms
msoutlaw378

msoutlaw378

1
girly831's Blog
 

Day 5

Slept well again, trying to sleep on my side not very successful yet. Still pretty sore at the port site. Able to eat protein shake for breakfast, about 4 oz and a cup of hot tea. Some chicken broth for lunch and dinner with a sugar free jello or pudding, snack-sugar free popsicle. Making sure to drink enough water. Have taken a few short walks, but they do me in pretty quick. Only been taking the pain meds at night. Hope to try some yogurt for lunch today. I have been sleeping kind of late, til around 1030, so my day doesn't start too early eating wise.
girly831

girly831

1
forensicmary's Blog
 

11 days post op down 17lbs(incl. preop week)

Well I have done really well after surgery. I am eating full liquids without nausea and maintaining my protein intake. Now I am able to take in my full calories which at this point is about 956 per day. Understanding protein dense foods and shakes helped me. My fluids are about 60-64 oz when I carry a vitamin water with me throughout the day. I cant wait for pureed on Wednesday. The scale watching can get bad for me. I have to pull myself back to reality and say that 17 lbs in 2 1/2 weeks is awesome.   I did cheat. I ate ritz crackers on occasion and I had 3 soft fair fries. Neither upset my stomach but I didnt push it either. I have a need to chew. I chew gum occasionally to help.   Each day I am stronger and walk farther. Plan to go back to the gym and weights on Wednesday.   Lesson Learned: Surgery has helped me reset my portion size. Livestrong.com has help me track calories which keeps me ontrack. There is a lot of sodium in food when I hit pureed I am going to focus on lowering my sodium intake.   I have had some doubts, anger at not being able to lose weight by myself. But I am dealing and all is good.
forensicmary

forensicmary

0

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