Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

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I had surgery on monday, and I had no big hopes for this week. I even let my beard grow. To my surprise, when I just shaved, is that my doublechin is gone. It is only my jaw there, and no pouch hanging under. How cool is that? The scales are showing almost the same (-2), but the difference in the mirror. When I look closely, the may be cheekbones there as well. A great NSV for me..

For anyone who is feeling challenged or down, feel free to take a look at my blog (and leave a comment or sign up as a follower if you'd like). I am down over 100 pounds. I still have a way to go. I have had many challenges and issues since I started my journey. But still, I KNOW I am a success at this.

I was banded 11/08, lost 50 lbs during that first year and have basically just stopped ever since. Granted, weight loss took a backburner because I was feeling so much better than I had before surgery and I just got comfortable at my new weight even though I still have another 50 to go! I also met the love of my life during this time and we got married in October 2010. So a lot of other things were changing in my life and I was happy! but now the wedding, the honeymoon, the holidays are all over and I'm ready to get back into the groove because I now have about 60 lbs to go. But I feel like my body is over it if that makes sense and just doesn't want to lose anymore!…

I hope this will paste into here so i do not have to re-type the whole thing out again. it is after 5 and i'm being totally lazy. but i just plugged in my measurements and i am totally amazed at how much has changed in 3 months with my sleeve. Never in 2 years with my band did I have these results!!! Starting over!!! Revision Surgery 10/15/10 Date Neck Arms Bust Waist Hips Thighs Weight 10/14/10 15.25 15.75 47.25 43.5 48.25 27.5 203.9 11/24/10 14.25 14.5 45 35.5 45 25.5 179.3 1/18/11 14.25 13.5 43 33.25 40 23.5 160.9 …

It's been really slow for me - only about a half of a pound per week now but I hit the half way mark this morning and was excited! Never in a million years did i think I could lose almost 53 lbs in 4 months! So I'll take the slow but sure route and get to my goal hopefully sometime in 2011. YAY!

Hey now!! I wasn't supposed to weigh today. But... I had to because last night I weighed on my Wii (weekly on Sunday eve's) and it said I was 230 exactly. You should've seen me hollaaa!!! Omgoodness... I'm always a pound or two lighter on my official scale first thing in the morning, so I knew it was possible. Well, I couldn't stand it... I had to see... and yes!!!! I'm 229 Lbs!!!! Finally!!! Out of the long standing 230's WHOOOOTTT!!!! I've lost OVER ONE HUNDRED POUNDS from my heaviest ever!!! I'm down 43 Lbs since being sleeved on 9/15/10. I'm down 52 Lbs since starting my Pre-Op diet on 9/1/10. I'm only a touch over 2 LBS AWAY FROM M…

Good Evening sleevers!!! Today I am exactly 4 months post op. I was sleeved by Dr. Alberto Aceves in Mexicali Mexico and he took my lap band out at the same time. (Yeahhh!!!) Well my averages are slowing down but ya know... I'm still losing. I went through a pretty long stall, and maybe partially it was my own fault. I was grazing too much now I realize, as I've taken back up to logging my intake 100% of the time. I even log my supplements. Yes, I do. Maybe that is a little neurotic - but I had to do something. I needed to find out where I was missing and I'm glad to know where I was going wrong. I'm now eating anywhere from 900-1200 calories per day an…

I went shopping this weekend to take advantage of the bra sale at Lane Bryant (how can you pass up a buy 2 get 2 free sale on bras, right?) I also purchased a pair of jeans - size 14. I went on the website today to grab two more pairs in the online sale and then cut up my Lane Bryant card. Since size 14 is the smallest size they sell, I never have to shop there again. Bye bye, Lane Bryant, it was good while it lasted.

I am a success story for sure and as some others have said, my only regret is not getting the lapband years ago. I didn't have the usual health problems of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,sleep apnea, etc. that many obese people suffer from. I was very healthy from that standpoint, but my body was breaking down. My knees swelled and ached all the time and I was told I was headed for total knee replacement surgery at 54. I have severe spinal conditions and need a huge surgery and that kept me in total pain all the time unless I was laying in bed. I was at the point where most days just walking from the bedroom to the kitchen caused me extreme pain and I was…

For the past few months, I've needed some new athletic shoes. I have only one pair, and they are probably 4 years old. The past few times I've had to wear them for an extended period, my feet were very sore. So I decided today to go grab a new pair. Now, I've been a size 9 wide since jr. High, but for some reason (impulse/instinct) I decided to size myself today. Not only am I NOT a wide anymore, I went down a full size to an 8! I couldn't believe it when I tried them on. I'm only a little over 2 weeks out (had surgery 1/3/2011) and it's hard to believe that I changed that drastically. I tried on my old ones when I got back home, and realized that they must have been rub…

This morning when I stepped on the scale - my weightloss was at 100 lbs!!! 100 lbs that I will never see again!! I don't know whether to laugh or cry or what! I have 63 more pounds to go till I get to goal and I am 8 lbs away from onderland which I haven't seen in about 15 years. I know I have said this a thousand times but I cannot even find words for how blessed I feel to have been given this chance at a new life! Love my sleeve, love this website and love all the people on here! :wub: Now...as soon as I work up the nerve, lol I will post some pictures Kathy

So, my plan was to start the New Year with a positive outlook regardless of what the scale said... and I think it is working! Okay, so I ain't losing quickly but it is coming off slow but sure. The strange thing is all the comments that I am getting! Strange but I like it! In work, on a daily basis, I am getting a lot of nice comments... things like 'OMG Coops, you are getting smaller every day!' and 'Wow! You are looking really slim' (that one I do laugh at 'cos I wouldn't consider myself slim; smaller yes!) another 'You look really healthy now, how much weight have you lost?' Even the kids in my classes are being kind and giving me compliments. This is also …

I am 15 weeks out today. I lost 1 pound this week. I almost said "ONLY" before that 1, but I am not going to do that! A loss is a loss. It's ONE pound gone forever! I'm just going to be happy that the scale is moving in the right direction. I started working out this week, so maybe I am building some muscle. I think I was really dehydrated the week before, so this past week I have been drinking a lot more. I also ate some pretty bad stuff this past week, so I am going to make sure to stay on track this week. I weighed in at 278 pounds today! It feels so weird to say that. Last week when I was 279, I wrote 297 in my notebook where I keep a weekly record of my weight. Eithe…

Hello all, I haven't posted in a long time, but I am posting this to help people see how successful this procedure really is. I had my sleeve on 12/29/09 and weighed in at 345. Today a year and a week later I am weighing in at 222. I am extremely happy with my progress, I had been stalled at 226-227 since Thanksgiving 2010, but I have started the scale moving again this past week. As far as my well being, I feel like a totally different person. I have energy, sleep great at night(no more CPAP), love shopping for clothes now(went from buying 52" pants to 36" and 3XL shirts to XL or Large!). Money saved from not eating so much has helped me keep my wardro…

I'm excited to be giving my 6 month surgery update. There were times when I didn't think I could do this, but it gets easier every day and every month. I feel pretty much like a normal person now. I eat whatever I want (within reason) and my sleeve keeps me in line. I am thankful for that control. I still have occasional moments of pity for myself when I can't eat a big meal or a large serving of something. But, I'm always able to put it in perspective when I remind myself of the positive life changes I've had post op. I can now move around with much less knee pain than I was having. I can't remember the last time I got short of breath doing a normal activity like WALKING…

Here's me at 168 ...I'm soooooooo not comfortable with body pics, but I really do need to document, plus my friend wanted a picture of me in the sweater she bought me for my birthday. It's storming here in So Cal and just got back from errands, but it was now or never (have to get dinner started). Pics were taken with my blackberry so not great quality. OOPS here's a before pic too...

I'm almost there!!!! I had my surgery on August 11, 2010 and feel it was my best decision ever. I actually started my preop diet 5 weeks prior to surgery date. My starting weight was 387. Surgery day I was 350. I weighed this morning at the gym and was 278. 109lbs down in a little over 6 months and about 23 to go for goal. I didn't start with a problem eating good foods; my problem was quantity. I also have been very disciplined about going to the gym twice a day, 5 days a week. I usually do 40-50 minutes of cardio in the morning before work and my strength/core training during my lunch. All I can tell you is when you start seeing results, that impulse that use …

Sorry it has been so long. I’m really working hard at getting out of the house more and socializing more so in return I haven't been getting online as much. BUT I really miss you guys. I need to get on here more so I have people to talk to that understand me better. My WLS is still a secret to most people and even if people know about the WLS they don’t really understand. SO as of this week I have go from a size 20 high to a size 5/6!! The last time I got this butt into a size 6 I was 14 years old! GET THIS THOUGH I can get a size 4 on, it just looks tight BUT I haven't got a size 4 over my thighs since I was 12!! I AM SO PUMPED!! On the weight side of things I’…

HELLO everyone!!! I started out my journey on Oct 1, 2010 and to date I have lost 50lbs!!! Its been just over 3 months since surgery and I have never had any complications at all I never had any nausea after eating or heart burn! I feel so blessed to have made this decision to get my life back Im getting closer and closer to my goal weight that I can taste it HAHAH... I just recently started the P90X workout videos in order to increase my physical fitness as well as tighten all of those loosey goosey areas Im so Happy because I am only 22 and by the time i Celebrate my 23rd birthday in June I know I will be at my goal and that makes me so excited! For anyone…

Hi guys, I am only starting my journey and its a long long road to success. I am getting banded by Dr Chris De Bruyne in Belgium in January 2011. Follow my Journey at http://byebyefatgirlhellolapbandqueen.blogspot.com/2010/12/worst-moments.html and I would appreciate any tips and advice any of you could give. Much appreciated xxx

I got home after working all day and had to shovel the drive and sidewalk as well as the back deck. When I got done I was like WOW I did not have to stop once! I finished it all and had no back pain or shortness of breath. Weird new feeling for me!

OOPS wrong forum.

Best decision I ever made was to do this. My only issue is that I didn't do it sooner!! Thanks to this site and all of you for being a refuge and place to go for questions and answers. So glad to know I'm not out here doing it on my own. Pictures of my journey and information are in my blog at the link at my signature. I'M SO EXCITED to see what will happen next!!!

First off....HAPPPPPY NEW YEARRRR to all! As of today I am down 30lbs at 5 weeks out. Right now I am getting in all of my Fluid and hitting my 60-80g of Protein no problem... Recovery has been seemingly uneventful. Not once since surgery have I been physically hungry and the constant head hunger seems to be a thing of the past.. I know it may creep back in the future but for now I am amazed at how the constant nagging of "eat eat eat" is goneeee.(WoooHOOO) I am working on having more solid foods and can definitely feel the restriction more then I could on mushies. ITS WONDERFUL! haha Before surgery I though "There is no way I am going to be (mentally) satisfied …

Ok I'm really not a writer but here it goes. At my all time highest I was 309lbs, yes 309 ahhhh. I was sleeved on Nov 9th and I now weight, drum roll plz... 214 lbs, yes I went there and said my weight. Now my scale and I are having some arguments because it's not moving, it's stayed the same for 3 weeks. So I went to a support meeting from with a few girls from this site and I was told I look amazing and so on, aww shucks. After the meeting I told my hubby I actually feel pretty now and I'm not even at goal. Then hubby has to say what all hubby's say when they don't want to be in the dog house, "baby you've always been beautiful." During the meeting it was brought up …

I thought I would post this as a boost (hopefully) for people just starting their journey. Firstly let me say that I LOVE MY LAPBAND!!!!! lol I have been at my goal weight for over a year now and have kept on losing without really thinking about it, the lessons that I learned whilst trying to lose the weight have stayed with me and my life is so much simpler now! I started out at a US 14/16 and I am now a US 2/4. In the first three months I lost about 40lbs and then it has just been a slow steady decrease, I hit my goal about a year ago and I am now over 20lbs under it. You have to have faith in your band and work with it not against it. There will be times when …

when i was doing research about my weightloss surgery i read about non-weightloss victories. i just had one today. when i met with my surgeon for the last time in april he told me i lost 60% of my weight and i'm considered a "success". i questioned him about losing 100% of the weight and he said most likely i never would... that i have a bigger bone structure. he pissed me off. since april i've lost an additional 15 pounds and i plan on continuing to lose. i even lost 2 pounds over thanksgiving weekend! anyway... that's not my victory. my mom gave me a $50 giftcard to kohl's... my favorite store. they're having another "BIG SALE" which they have every week but…

I know, I know. It’s been toooo long since I’ve updated. We’ll just blame it on life. The last couple of months of 2010 were a dooozy. I was so glad to kick that year in the arse on the way out the door into 2011. *sheesh* Praying for a much smoother ride this year – though all things considered: at least I got my health on track. shake weight for Christmas. Might seem like a gimmick, but it’s doing something. I feel it! I won’t even talk about the rapidly depleting “fun-bags”. I’m greatful I still have significant cuppage – even if it is on the count of them being so longgggg. By the time I scoop the slinky’s up into one of my FAB new over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders …

I am calling myself a success story...was banded in 12/2009....band slip and removal in 10/2010...I managed to hit goal before my slip (roughly 10 months and 90+ pounds)...at first I was nervous and scared to be without my "friend" but now I feel amazing...amazing because I am still using what I learned with band. Am a success because my surgeon and even my support group expected me to have weight gain...I have not gained a single ounce since my band removal..I have enven lost a few more pounds.. I eat 3 meals a day and have 2 Snacks in between..I dont deny myself anything and dont feel the need to binge...am I an emotional eater...yes...do I over eat now due to stres…

This morning I spent some time trying on clothes in my closet that until recently no longer fit. What a pleasant surprise. I have a bunch of things I can wear without having to go out and purchase "temporary" clothes. About 6 years ago, I lost just over 150 pounds, then 4 years ago I quit smoking and found the weight again. Because the weight gain is fairly recent, and over a relatively short period of time, I have clothes in various sizes. In fact, I have jeans in 7(!) different sizes. There's such a temptation to buy new clothes at every new size, but I am going to try and be patient, save the money, and do major shopping when I get to goal!

So, I started at 330; 249, for me, is a big deal. I saw my doctor today (routine checkup) and he actually broke down in tears about how "proud" he was of me. Since I feel like I haven't done any real work, it was a bit confusing, but still gratifying. I feel like I'm slowly -- at age 40! -- becoming the man I was "supposed to be." Here's a picture I took tonight of me wearing a bunch of Xmas presents (my new peacoat, my hand-me-down jeans -- 8 inches smaller at the waist than my last pair! and starting to get too big! -- and my new boots, which you can't see... stupid camera!). It's almost like I'm photographing someone else these days. I don't even feel like it's …

FINALY Under 100KG (220lb) Have to do the befor and after "Insert Big Happy Smily Face Here"

So I have been a member of VST since before my surgery, 5 1/2 months ago. I have longed to submit an NSV thread, but never felt like I had a "legitimate" one to share. I recently went on R&R, home to my parents. Those who know me here know that I am a frustrated slow loser. Well my first victory is I guess a scale victory; By the time I was set up at my parents house and got to the gym, 8 days had passed since my last weigh in and ... I lost 8 pounds! Baffled doesn't begin to describe, I ate eggs benedict, chocolate, high tea cakes and sandwiches, and fancy cheese plates in those 8 days! So that was pretty groovy. My NSVs however, are these: going to the gym…

Ok folks, I have just had a revelation. I totally misbudgetted for this procedure... I never figured just how much I would be spending in CLOTHING every couple of months!!! BUT AM I COMPLAINING...... NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It truly feels great to have clothing actually fit my body instead of stretching/clinging onto my body for dear life and hoping that no seams rip. I am wearing a pair of size 6 pants that stayed in my closet for well over a year, I had purchased them the last time I started losing weight pre-sleeve in hopes of wearing them one day. Well that day has come and gone and NOT because I put the weight back on!!! I showed the ladies in the office ho…

OMG! I didn't think it would happen! I have been at a stall for over a week and going up and down a pound during that time. I really wanted to get under 200 by New Year's day - I don't know, maybe psychological, but just wanted to start out the New Year in Onederland - a place I haven't seen for 10 years! Just wanted to share this success! Made my day! Hell, it made my YEAR!!!!

Today I am 3 months post op. Time sure does fly!! Sometimes I feel like I am losing so slow, but then I look back over only 3 months, its going by so fast and the pounds are just melting off. I cannot wait to get to my half way point! I will have to think of something very special to do for myself when I get there. I lost another 4 pounds this week... I seem to average that amount a week still. Sometimes I get upset that its not more, but then I tell myself at least its not 0. "Fingers crossed" I have never had a stall yet. Hopefully I am one of the few lucky ones that never does! I lost 2 pounds one week, that was my lowest week, but I was very constipated. If anyone …

So I have never tried posting photos here before, but we'll give this a shot. I am finally feeling like my weight loss is "showing." You know those first couple of weeks and months when you are losing weight (your scale says so) but you are still wearing some of the same clothing you were before surgery. And people don't really notice much that you are working so hard to lose weight. And you laugh when the Special K commercials say "Drop 1 size in 2 weeks" or hear that phrase "every -10lbs is like losing a size" and you are thinking that might work if you weigh 140lbs and drop down to 130lbs, butnotsomuch when you are morbidly obese. The before picture was taken Au…

My husband called me a cheap date this morning. He is a breakfast freak (he loves his bacon and eggs or french toast) and we have several favorite resturants that we use to frequent several times a months in the past before I was sleeved. Today we went to Cracker Barrell for the first time since pre-surgery diet and being sleeved and I made smart choices from their menu. I got the one egg with bacon-I requested EggBeaters and asked for no toast or biscuit. I barely was able to eat the entire egg and only had one piece of bacon-I gave him my second. Our bill was $5 lower than when we usually go out. He laughs now but wait, once he has his surgery it will go down even lowe…

Hey Everyone!! Well, it's been over three months since I revised from band to sleeve. I just thought it is time for a new set of pictures. I think it's a really good idea to keep record of how things are going and I prefer to do it about every month. I would say 10 Lbs, but ya know - with the sleeve that could be every 10 days! LOL So, the Brown sweater is me at my heaviest 330 The Pink Shirt is me at about 300 The Blue Dress is me gained all my weight back after being banded at 280 And The black shirts is me today at 235... Yippeeee!!! I feel AWESOME!! I'm rolling right along and I can't say that I've ever had more fun losing weight. This …

Well, I'm not done with my weight loss journey, but the difference is so significant that I thought it was time to post here. I recently went to a routine appointment and was shown the picture taken by the doctor's office at the beginning of my journey. Actually, she thought she had the wrong patient picture at first because she didn't think it was me!! Even I was shocked at the picture - so here are a few pictures that show some of the before and after. The only thing I regret about the band is that I didn't do it sooner! I love my band and even with hassles, etc. it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I hope this helps as much as these pictures helped me wh…

So I really did not look in the mirror for the first 5 weeks, I honestly had no idea how much my body had changed. I went back to work and by day two my uniform pants were so large I asked to wear regular clothes the next day as my uniform should be arriving. The boss said it was ok, but it had to be business casual. So I had to head over to Good Will and get something. I grabbed a bunch of size 18 pants and one x shirts (formally I wore 22 tops and 24 pants), some jeans that looked new in different sizes and headed to the dressing room. When I tried on the sweater top and slacks I stood there and cried. i could not believe that was me looking back at me. I cont…

Best thing about Christmas post sleeve I no longer have to stress about being around food. Hope everyone has a great one!

I have added an album to my profile of my year...I just wanted to post them for anyone who feels like they may never reach the end of their own weight loss journey...

2010 has been the new start in my life, with the sleeve op which I had done on June 10th. I'm now within 14lbs of my target, and really cannot really comprehend how much my life has changed as a result of it. I no longer have a full plate, I no longer get the real hunger feelings that I used to, I get hungry but only for something small and that then satisfies me. I have bones, lots of them... and they show, I have muscle definition, I have more energy...... the lists go on and on....... I feel and (am told) look sexy.....I no longer worry about my double chin in photos... Money well spent for a new life..... if you're on the edge of making the decision to have th…

Ok so I had my VSG on 8/30/10 and as of 12/18/10 I have lost 80 pounds. I love my sleeve !! Looking back now I never knew if I would be able to say that or not. I went from a size 22 to a 12. But Im not done yet. I have noticed that my goals have changed along the way. When I first started this journey I thought I would like to be 160 pounds. But now I know that woud be to thin for my frame I'm 5'6" just my opinion. I like where I have gone on this journey and the new things I've learned about myself along the way. As soon as I get to 175 pound which is only 9 pounds away. I think I will stop and try to maintain. To any neewbies out there just breath and enjoy the ride. Y…

My husband never, ever compliments me. He supported and continues to do so me in me weight loss surgery, helped me research spoke with the surgeon (he is a surgeon himself), supports me 100% in everything on this weight loss journey. Even when I used to be thin young and good looking he would never ever say anything, that's just the way he is and I love him regardless. He was concerned when I started putting on loads of weight, went with me to see the Psychologist who specializes in obesity but never pushed me about losing weight just because of the way I looked. Now that I'm near goal everybody says something about how happy and healthy I'm looking, he just says that he'…

I was at work the other day, and 2 of the nurses I work with were joking and said that they loved me, but I really needed to get some scrubs that fit me because I was swimming in the ones I was wearing. I knew my scrubs were getting pretty loose, but I have been so overweight for so long that I am afraid to try on new clothes because I worry that they will be too small. When I look in the mirror, I still see the old me. Anyways...and I hope I don't gross anyone out with the next part....the nurse manager of the ICU called me and said there was a patient on the surgical unit who was crashing and they wanted me to go out there and start an IV medication to keep her blo…

I can't believe it has been 3 months already! In the beginning I thought I would never get past what I was feeling the first two weeks - UGH! But lo and behold, here I am three months later and have lost so much weight! I'll try to get some pics posted later so you can see the difference between *before* and *3 months*! A huge thank you to everyone here on the board who has been such a tremendous help throughout this journey!

So today I went in for my four month post op visit. My bp was 109/73 I have been off my blood pressure pills since September. My latest labs are all good. From the day I first saw him in late July I weighed 208 today I weighed 159! I am beyond happy and the icing on my cake an ultimate NSV my surgeon asked if I would send him a before and after picture on his web site!! My feet still haven't touched the ground.

Today is 10 weeks since my date of surgery. I stepped on the scale today and was at 293!!!! I was SOOOO excited that I recently got under 300, but now I am blowing thru the 290's, LOL. I lost 5 pounds this week, for a total of 63 pounds since surgery!!! I lost 13 pre-op so that makes a total of 76 pounds!!!! Sometimes I think I am not losing fast enough, but then I look at the weight I have lost and am like, WOW! I started at a size 30/32 and sometimes couldn't even fit into a 4X in tops. But today, I am wearing 3X tops and even some 2X in mens t-shirts. I am wearing a 24 in jeans I am so glad I got this surgery. I have hard days, but overall, I am so happy and excited …