Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

Well I can't believe that it has been one year since my surgery. This has been the best year of my life. when I started this I was 460 pounds. July of 2010 I was 450 when I went to the surgeons office for the first time. April 7, 2011 I was 410 pound the day of surgery. So I have lost 176 since surgery and 226 total. I have 54 pounds to go. things are slowing down and I went to my surgeon yesterday for my one year visit and he says this is normal. That I need to bump things up though with excercise and watching extra caerefully but he is very impressed with what I have done already. This forum has helped a great deal , and showed me the sleeve does work. I was suppose to …

Here is a pic of my face at the end of last March. Here is my face today. I have lost around 78 pounds. I hardly recognize me! lol. Just having a feel good moment.

What an amazing journey this has been! I am one year out and doing amazing feeling great and wishing I had done this sooner. I am much more active wearing new cloths is such a good feeling and looking back at old pictures is strange.... What does the new year bring me.... More exercise and the ability to sleep better.... Trying to stick to eating right and making good Choices !!!!

Hello Everyone, I am new to the site and have been reading along for over 3 months now. I have recently finished all necessary appts....physical, psych, and nut. My surgeons office will be submitting for auth so please wish me luck. I have scoured over pros and cons and know in general what to expect but what I want to know is what you think about the effects the surgery had on marriages? The divorce rate for Bariatric patients is above average. I am including my stats because I love reading others stats and would also love to hook up with a surgery buddy. I'm located in the central valley in California. Age: 37 Height: 5'2" (so many people leave this out ????) C…

Three weeks out and feeling great! Prior to surgery, I researched for months and in spite of being very well educated about the procedure and its life-changing impact, I was filled with fear and dread that I might be one of the few who just don't fare well afterwards. In particular, I feared nausea, vomiting, aversion to food sight and smells, and to never wanting to cook for family and friends again. Not to mention blood clots, dying... you know the list... I guess I kept my end of my deal with Fate... if I worry enough, think ahead enough, prepare enough, then the bad things I worry about just won't happen! I am able to tolerate every food I've tried so far, I don…

Hi everyone! They should've mentioned that one of the side effects of WLS is having an overly active social life I can't believe how far I've come from just less than a year go. I have severe PCOS so I was afraid I would not lose as much as others, but so far I have dropped 140 lbs and am no longer in the "obese" bmi category! I'm shopping in regular stores and simply live a much happier, much more fulfilling life. I do deal with bouts of hormonal-related depression, but that seems to go away with exercise. This was the best decision I've made in my life. I went from a size 30-32 to a size 14-16. I don't even recognize my own reflection. It's so weird seeing myself l…

Just a quick note to share my excitement at hitting another mini-milestone. I can't believe I'm even writing this post!!! I just want to give hope to the newbys and people undecided about banding - you can be successful and lose a bunch of weight rather quickly like with gastric if you focus on what you're doing. I'm by no means perfect and I have been very bad about exercise - but I do stick to my 800 calories per day pretty religiously. I love you all for being there for me - you have no idea what your kind words, information and support have meant to me over the last year. BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!!!

I had surgery on 1/31/2012. I have had a dream recovery. I've lost 45lbs so far (from my highest weight). I've a few NSVs along the way already... not the least of which was having all of my work clothes, which were fairly expensive, taken in because they were falling off. But, my NSV for today is a bigger deal to me because I've NEVER in my life been able to do it before. Not only can I cross my legs comfortably, BUT I can do it while sitting at my desk working. I can't believe my thighs are finally small enough to cross my legs under my desk and not get wedged in!!! I LOVE the sleeved life!

At last...

Well it has been 1 month today since I was sleeved by my brillant surgeon Dr. Mickey Seger! LOL - I had an appointment today and did a barium swallow test (they flavor theirs so not so bad) and all was well! I got to see my new tiny tummy! I have not had any difficulties so far other than some gas issues. They confirmed I have not lost any muscle mass since my surgery so that is fabulous! I have lost a good amount of weight which pleases me and I am eating soft foods and soon to start solids. The most awesome outcome so far with my surgery is that I have not had to take any diabetic medications or high blood pressure meds since my surgery which is just freaking co…

I'm almost 8 months out started weight watchers as part of my 6 month weight loss prior to it so the picture is over the last year! I'm about 20 lbs from my goal.

I am getting disheartened. I had my surgery on 12/09/2011 and to date I had only lost 8 pounds from my pre-op diet. I also had my first fill and am now at 6 cc on a 10 cc band but I am still able to eat alot before I feel any restrictions and am not losing any weight. I am getting worried because the $16000 is a huge financial strain on me and I recently lost my job too. I am worried that this band won't work for me. I got it from Slimband and they aren't really helpful. They are nice when I call but I have yet to speak to a dieticitan. Is this normal? Is there any tips you can give me that will kick start my weight loss. I am just tired of all the looks i get f…

I just realized that I am now at my half way point to my goal. I can't believe that it has only been 3.5 months since my surgery. I am so proud of myself. I have been trying really hard, but I do slip every once in a while...and when I mean slip, I mean having a couple of chips or a sugar free cookie once in a while. I also started working out 2-3 times a week at the gym, plus some other stuff that I do on the weekends. It has been an incredible journey, and I am so glad I made the decision to change my life for the better.

A couple of NSV's: 1. I'm a little over halfway to my goal. So far, I've lost 83 pounds, my goal is to lose 147 lbs. Here's a pic to prove it! I was hanging out with my friends who were glancing through some old pictures and came across the "before" and there was a rousing round of "holy crap! you look so different now!" So we put together a little before and after and I was surprised to see what a difference there was. 2. I've been obsessed with dresses with pockets since junior year prom when I tried one on and couldn't afford it so I had to go with a different option. This weekend, I finally got my dress with pockets - over 10 years later! AND I got it from a regular…

I went back to the same place I attempted to hike last year when I came within inches of a coiled rattle snack (scurrry) so I didn't finish. Today no snakes to be seen (foggy and rainy) so I actually finished. Steep and difficult at times but I did it ...5 miles in 1:25 not bad for this ole lady with bad knees and to think I could barely walk up the stairs of my own home in 2010 truly blows my mind!!!! If you are a newbie with bad knees I'm here to tell you anything is possible Here are a few pics of me at the end of the hike, so happy...also throwing in a before Lord have mercy LOL!

OK, I haven't posted many of my own forums but I am 3 pound from my goal and I wanted to share my journey with my VST family. I started my journey at 241 lbs and lost 45 before surgery weighing 196 when I had my sleeve surgery (August 29, 2011). I am at 133 now, once I hit 130 I will move in to maintenance mode as my husband has made it very clear that I don't need to lose anymore. LOL He has been so great through this crazy roller coaster ride! My emotions have been so wacky through this whole thing,there have been times that I thought I was going crazy, trying to figure out just what the hell I was crying about or will I ever stop feeling sorry for myself. I am h…

Hello everyone. I am soooo exicted today. One of the main reasons for me deciding to go through with this surgery in the first place were my health issues. A bit of history; My Mother passed away in 2009 due to several health complications which all came from her being obese. After her passing I was also diagnosed with some of the same things she had. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. I now know that I also have Afib. From never being sick or taking any kind of medication, now I was on heart medication, blook thinner, metformin, pravastatin, and 2 different meds for HBP. I made my decision back in Sept of 2011. My surgery was Oct. 8, 2010. I alm…

I am officially in the 2-teens! Goodbye 220s! I won't miss you. I haven't been below 220 since junior high, or at least freshman in high school. I can't be too sure though because I never weighed myself. I'm basically going off of clothes that I've saved and how they fit, even though I've grown several inches since then so naturally my BMI is going to change. I tried on clothes I've been saving since before my rapid weight gain, and some fit and some were too big! I don't need to shop for bottoms now because I've dug out 3 pairs of shorts, 4 pairs of capris, and 2 pairs of pants. All I need now are shirts that don't look like tents on me, lol. Even at my heaviest, I …

Thank you all so much for those that voted for me when I posted about the Progresso Souper You contest I was a finalist in. Well it was announced today on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Progresso, so I can finally tell you all that I am one of the 3 grand prize winners!! So excited for our trip to Cali and especially for the makeover and getting to see the Biggest Loser Finale Thank you! Still can't believe how tight those jeans once were on me

Ha! Ha! As I am sitting here at my desk (constantly fidgeting making sure "everything" is tucked in, covered and looks appropriate) I realized something..... my stomach isnt sticking out further than my boobies anymore! I dont know when this happened but woooohooooo anyway!! It might be raining in Houston today but not on this NSV parade! It's definitely the little things that keep me going!! LOL

I've been kinda down about my slow weightloss but, I just realized in 4 more lbs I will have lost 30 lbs and that seems like a lot to me. 6 more lbs and I will no longer be obese and in (drum roll please) 7 more lbs I will be halfway to my goal! Yay! Not there yet but, I'm getting there.

I was a dessertoholic in my pre-sleeved life--waffles with syrup for Breakfast, candy after lunch, dessert after dinner. My friends knew that my baked goods were great and looked forward to dessert at my house. There was always something sweet to eat in the fridge. Since my sleeve, I have ice cream here for guests (I don't eat it anymore as it makes me feel queasy post-sleeve) and I usually serve some kind of fruit after dinner. A friend came to dinner and brought a cake--a delicious strawberry-whipped cream cake--and I served her some and a tiny piece for me. I tried to make her take it home afterward, but she wouldn't, so I put it in the fridge. Before my sleeve t…

Wondering if, as you've lost weight and adopted new behaviors related to eating/exercising, if you've also changed other behaviors? If yes, what did you change?

I was sleeved almost 2 months ago (2/6/12) and I just realized today that I hit a huge milestone!! I plugged my height/weight info into a BMI calculator and my BMI is now 38.8. When I got my surgery my BMI was 43.8! I am no longer in "Very Severely Obese" and am now just "Severely Obese". I no longer qualify for surgery with my insurance company!!!! Thank goodness I already got it In just 24 more pounds I will be under a BMI of 35 and be classed as "Moderately Obese" HORRAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loving my sleeve today - I am officially halfway to my goal weight, AND 4.1 lbs away from Onederland!! Just had to toot my own horn!

I am just so over joyed today. I was feeling a lil down for about the past few weeks because my scale had been stalled for so long. ( this really bummed me out almost to the point where I just wanted to give up). Everybody on this site and a few people I know that have been sleeved have been so supportive and letting me know the scale will move again. My boyfriend who has been my biggest supporter keeps on telling babe you looking smaller every week. (I thought he was just saying that because that's my man). However, on Friday night my neighbor up the street asked hey girl are you loosing weight, I replied yeah a little bit, she say good for you you are looking good you l…

Life is fun and fab these days!! I am well into the wonderland club. 194!! I am running and feeling good with my size 12 skirt from NY & co skirt I wore today. Anyway, my sister was initiated into my sorority today. And that requires me to wear the dreaded evil pantyhose. Well!!! I purchased regular stockings. I did not have to play the 45 minute wiggle game only to get them half way up my butt! I slide them on with easy no busting out or huge run when I try to sit down. . In the past, that sound that pantyhose produce when you are walking makes me feel like I'm gonna start a forest fire. (guys! It's comparable to nails on a chalkboard)

For a week now I have went back to the basics. I have lost Four pounds this week!! I Have Logged every thing that I have put in my mouth. Measured every meal. And this has been what I needed to do to get to where I am at today. 91 pounds GONE!!!!! I will continue to log and measure everything I eat and drink. Which should bring me to goal in no time. Wishing evryone a fantastic Sunday!!!! Time to hit the bow flex.... Deb

Hello, my name is Julie. I am a wife and the proud mother of 3 wonderful children. I am also a Lucky patient of Dr. Thomas Byrne at MUSC’s Bariatric Surgery Program. My journey truly began in 2010; I weighed in at 226 pounds. I had spoken with my general physician on several occasions about my weight and the attempts that I had made (weight watchers, Jenny Craig, etc). My doctor suggested that I call MUSC’s bariatric surgery program for a consultation. I went home that day and researched weight loss surgery. I called that same afternoon for a consult appointment. My first sign that I was doing the right thing should have been the caring voice of Lisa Jackson. She helped g…

Know everyone's pain tolerance is different but I was hoping that some people who have been sleeved already could tell me their experiences with the pain that comes with this surgery..I have never had children so I can't even base it off childbirth lol...I go in Monday

I must admit I love seeing before and after pictures. It gets me more excited, waiting impatiently for my surgery month. Anywho, I am looking for pictures of woman at or near goal who were a bit heavier like me, between 300-260, around 5'6, whose goal is 120-160. Thanks.

Went to costco today and they had Kenneth Cole dress pants on sale for $20, and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans for $12.99! I bought a size 14 and size 12 in the jeans, and one pair of black pants - I decided to buy size 12 since I have a couple pairs of 16s I can still wear with a belt . . . I figured I'd have to keep the black pants for a while before they would fit. For fun, I tried them on - and they FIT!!! They are just a wee bit snug, but not too bad . . . I'm so excited! The jeans are cut a little different as the 14s fit perfectly right now, but I'm hoping to be into the 12s soon. Now I'm almost thinking I should go back and pick up a pair of the dress pants in a 10…

NSV ALERT! lol I went to Starbucks and you know they have the chairs with the arms outside. Well they used to be so dang uncomfortable because my thighs would be pushing on the sides. Well guess what?! I sat in one and had tons of room on each side! =DDD

Hello VST gang!! Yay! I've been lurking between 2 and 5 pounds off goal for the last couple of months, and I'm thrilled to report that I'm finally there--and I'm sure about it, since I've been at this number for a few days now with no "bounce" back up! The last coupe of weeks, I've been trying hard to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and I think that has made a difference. As you may know from my numerous posts on the subject, I have a really picky sleeve--to this day, I feel like it's pretty tyrannical about what it will and will not allow me to eat, but most of the time, it works out well for my weight loss goals. I do wish I could tolerate certain healthy P…

Weighed myself this morning, and finally broke through the 150lb barrier, unbelievably now sitting at 148lb, which is goal -6lb, AND as I normally weigh naked, I threw caution to the wind, put my clothes (including jeans) jumped back on the scale and was still comfortably below goal! Just had to tell someone, thanks for listening! x

Wow! 25 days out and for the heck of it I thought I should get on the scale and see if there has been any change since my 24 lb total loss since Monday... So today I'm down 31 lbs that is 7lbs since Monday! Yippie

I've recently pulled out some of my size 18s to wear- feeling pretty good about it too. Tonight I decided to pull them all out and they all fit! Then I got bold and looked for my size 16s... Guess who is typing a post in size 16 jeans? ME! No freaking way. To top it all off, I'm down below 220. Unreal. 50lbs in less than three months. Who else loves their sleeve?

I have officially lost 110 lbs since my highest weight of 440 in early November 2011. My surgery was on 11/16 and as of this morning, less than 5 months later, I am 330. This was my best case scenario I had in mind going into the surgery but I think part of me tried to say don't get your hopes up, etc. I've stayed very consistent with my food choices, high Protein, low sugar/carb, lots of Water, and a Vitamin regimen daily. My next big goal will be to get into the 200's so I'm hoping the scale reads 299 by the end of May. For anyone out there that wants to know if this surgery works if your over 400 lbs, I would say YES IT DOES! I still have a long road ahead of me but …

I never thought I would get here! I have been right above 200 pounds for the past 3 months. I thought that the scale was mocking me! But I got on the scale today and what did it say??? thats right! 198.6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe that I finally got a one before my weight! The only thing that would be better then this is getting to goal! For those of you still hovering over that onederland stage, just keep your chin up, you will get there soon!

Just wanted to post my first before and after pictures. I was suprised when I saw the pictures since I've been avoiding cameras for many years now, lol. It's been 3 months, 49lbs total (41lbs since surgery), 3 dress sizes and countless inches! I'm loving it! Hard work finally starting to show! Around 280lbs. 231lbs.

A girl I work with said...wow...I can REALLY tell that you have lost some weight! You look great! I was floored! This chick NEVER says a nice thing to me!

Today i am offically no longer obese I am just overweight.. . 14lbs to go !!!

A little background - my husband and business partners own a marina and resort here in east Texas. It is 175 acres, and we run around on the property on Kubota vehicles (like tiny pickups). I hadn't been around on the property much since before my surgery - last spring I didn't feel like it right after my surgery - and was really busy on the weekends (I had a full time job that kept me away from the property 12 hours a day). So this spring, things have changed work wise, and I have been running around with my husband over the property. One of our customers came up to us today and said to us "I'm going to tell your wife about this good looking woman you are running arou…

Just had lapband on 2-29-2012 just ot on here to see others that have been through this

Hey gang Sorry I have been MIA for awhile but I was getting obsessed with weight, it dominated my every thought so I decided to back away from everything weight related including my dark master the scale. So I just ate clean excercised and daily and went on my way. Decided to check the scale today and I am pleased to announce that I have SURPASSED my goal and since my goal was 200, that means I have been transported to ONEDERLAND! Still can't belive the speed at which it happened, from 311 to 196 in a touch over 5 months, Doc says Im atypical but Im a weirdo in every other way so it didn't suprise me. No more pre-diabetes, no more sore feet, no more bad ankles! I honestl…

I just got good news today. My wife told me her latest labs say she no longer needs cholesterol meds! She shed her need for diabetes medicine even before getting out of the hospital after her Roux N Y surgery. I got the sleeve and I have kicked my diabetes medicine as well, the disease that had a great deal to do with my dad dying at the age of 46. I am on the edge of ridding myself of high-blood pressure meds. Another 10 pounds should do it. My resting heart rate is down 30 BPM, my heart is happy. I know WLS does not affect everyone the same but it sure is great that it can kick these bad boys out of your life.

Ok so when I started I was 315lbs....I am now down to 198lbs with 28lbs to go till I make my goal and I am 5' 9". Some of my latest NSV's are.... Some of my old shoes fit again... Some of my old clothes from High School fit again... The bath towel goes all the way around me... My lab coat at work has gone from a 3X to a M... I can cross my legs so easily now... I can wear clothes in the juniors department... I can wear things from Victoria's Secret.... Goodbye Lane Bryant and Avenue..... Some of my struggles are..... Getting 70g of protein a day it is more like 50-60g... Drinking enough water... Dying for a coke from Mcdonalds... I cant' see the weight l…

So, I've been trying to be good on the shopping side. I guess my biggest love of shoes is greater than my love for food....thankfully that one is finally under control...thank you sleeve. Today I had to return a pair of heels that I really didn't like, and I exchanged them for a pair of sandals since I have lost my other sandals to weight loss. But, being bored and tired of working and studying I ended up in a department store trying on shoes for 1.5 hours. I finally picked on pair of red stacked heels...the were cute and would go nicely with jeans. Did I mention I love shoes? (yeah, I've probably purchased 8 new pair in the last two months)...bad, bad. But it's…

9 weeks out and im down 32 pounds!!! Just thought id share!!!

I wear a 34 waist pants now. I am wearing a large shirt. Now I buy shirts with stripes. But still confused with the pants. Went to buy pants yesterday & for some reason I could not get my mind around I was wearing a 34 inch waist pants. I had to look on my pants I was wearing to verifiy I am wearing a 34 inch waist. But I do not have any problem with underware.