juliarh

Congratulations!! It's all down hill from here baby!!

Hi! I also felt comfortable with my appearance pre-op (not being fat, just my appearance) -- but my obesity really kept me from doing things I wanted to do physically. I only wish I had done this 20 years ago (I'm 46 now) -- I could have been much more involved with my kids instead of watching from the sidelines. And I guess that sums up my adult life until now -- I have been on the sidelines watching in -- yes, I felt I looked as good as I could, no one ever was mean or cruel to me about my weight, but yet I never was fully engaged. The sleeve has changed my life -- yes, I'm still the same person, but I WANT to do things, I am ABLE to do things, and I am able to live my life the way I had always wanted to, but couldn't. Don't hesitate - run and get your sleeve!

That's interesting -- before I was a diet coke fiend. Couldn't drink enough of it. Now I can't get enough of water. I think that the ghrelin removed just changes how our tastebuds taste. I LOOOOVE water now. To me, it's amazing -- if you had said to me pre-op, "drink water instead of x." I would have looked at you like you were nutty. Now, give me WATER!!

Ok, this is starting to make sense -- yesterday it was 110 here in Asunción, Paraguay and I was VERY comfortable. That NEVER would have happened in the past. In fact on Sunday, we had friends over to watch the Packer v. the Eagles (go Pack!) and everyone else was dripping (it was 75 in the house with the AC) and I was completely content. I have been lucky that I had surgery before summer started down here -- not so sure how I'll feel when winter starts in April. sigh.

Your whole body changes after pregnancy -- your rib cage widens, your hips widen, and like everyone else mentioned, the stretch marks, etc. My boobs drooped too! If you're going to get pregnant, I would wait until you're done with kids -- you don't know what will happen to you genetically (stretch marks are a genetic thing!) until you get pregnant -- And you're 24 years old -- I'm betting your skin has much more elasticity than my old 46 year old bod has -- a lot of people who have the VSG and then do a good amount of exercise and weights find after a year that their skin will "snap" back. Just my opinion, FWIW

I too eat 3 meals a day -- breakfast usually an egg or two plus bacon or ham; lunch is leftovers -- today is chili!; and then dinner is usually red meat or fish plus salad. Sometimes I will throw in some afternoon snack like cheese or ham. I do drink coffee (now) in the mornings. But, I'm usually sticking to the 3 meals a day . . .

Congratulations!!! Best wishes for the coming 9 months So excited for you!

Congratulations! Doing the happy dance for you

It may not be hunger pains, but rather a lot of acid which can cause that sensation -- are you taking anything to reduce the acid in your stomach like Nexxium or Prilosec??

Totally agree -- I think a lot of people are used to seeing overweight and/or obese people and therefore think that it's normal and therefore think normal is "healthy." We know it's not. I've read that many people when they get within 20 pounds of their goal weight have people tell them not to lose anymore -- probably because others are not used to seeing them so small. I'm sure it will happen to a lot of us too. So, totally agree with you -- I think that lots of people just want to be "supportive" and not be critical. Saying someone is overweight or obese is kinda the ultimate putdown now -- so saying you're not is like being overly politically correct. . . sigh.

Ok, here goes (let's see if I can add correctly ): 1st month - lost 38.6 2nd month - lost 10.6 3rd month - lost 13.8 4th month - lost 14 Grand total of 77 lbs so far Note: I did have to edit because I didn't add correctly - sigh. 2nd Note: my BMI (both now and starting) is on my ticker below -- as is my starting and current weight.

Cherice -- I was just telling myself "as soon as I get in the 170s, I'll be in heaven!" and look at you -- in the170s!! That's soo great! Good job with the weight loss -- isn't it amazing?? I still can't believe it

Mine was changed too -- here's a corrected copy: SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...................275.................187..............177..............10 Cherice95405.......248...............177............164...............13 Coops ...............238................191.............177................14 Cwalker...............250.................180..............170..............10 Daisy....................237...................138.............130...............8 DJackson.............229.................229..............215.............14 HollyW.................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo...................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................226..............215...........11 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235..................234.............220..............14 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................225................199..............26 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................283.............267..............16 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............167.1..........155...........12.1 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........179............165...........14 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................165.............156..............9 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20 mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 tlang262 - Texas.....240.......240..............230...............10

Globe, I seriously would not feel hungry -- now I do get irritable and trembly like you said. But hunger where your stomach hurts?? Or hunger like you gotta eat something NOW?? nope. I never feel it. Maybe that will change. I'm kinda hoping not. Because I really really don't EVER think about food until someone bugs me to make breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Hooray for onderland!! Keep doing what you're doing -- good job!

you're doing fabulous! wow! and in only 2 months! that's incredible -- don't ever get down on yourself AT ALL!! You look great

Hooray! It is the best feeling in the world to be able to be involved with those we love instead of sitting on the sidelines

You look great -- very very noticeable weight loss in the face -- I bet a lot of people are commenting, right?

I'm drinking about 3 - 4 cups of coffee a day -- now, I was only drinking tea for the first month or so because I had problems with acid. But now that that seems to have gone by the way side, I'm enjoying my cup o' joe every day

Hey Globe! Really interesting -- I too went away for only 4 days and lost over 5 pounds (couldn't record what I ate, etc.) -- and I know that I ate more carbs than usual (no real choice with food that was available). And Determined that post from Maddie is interesting -- my weight loss is exactly stairsteps -- I'm wondering if I kept my Proteins up and ate more carbs (I keep it under 30) if I would lose more or it would be the same old stairsteps thing that I currently am experiencing??? Anyway, good info guys - -thanks!

Congratulations Mini!!! So so happy for you!!! Here's my current week's results: SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...................275.................187..............177..............10 Cherice95405.......248...............177............164...............13 Coops ...............238................191.............177................14 Cwalker...............250.................180..............170..............10 Daisy....................237...................138.............130...............8 DJackson.............229.................229..............215.............14 HollyW.................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo...................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................226..............215...........11 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235..................234.............220..............14 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................225................199..............26 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................283.............267..............16 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............164.8..........155...........9.8 (YAY!) Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........179............165...........14 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................166.............156..............10 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20

Hey all! Labrys good to hear that you're feeling great! Cherice Whoo whoo!! Great job Isn't it a great feeling knowing those pounds are gone forever??? I had a good week myself -- lost 5 pounds very happy -- we went on a mini trip around Paraguay, into Brazil and Argentina (they all connect at one point which made it easier than it sounds!) -- but since this area of the world is big into meat, I had no problem staying on my diet So onward and downward!!

I am sooo thrilled for you -- those NSVs are not small, but huge!! And 70 pounds is not losing slowly!! You've lost almost 15 pounds a month!! That's an enormous amount of weight!! I say CONGRATULATIONS and keep up the good work -- and I second that we need pics!

Ok, I'm old So, I don't know what would be a "normal" size to shoot for -- for example, when I was 12 (in 1976), I wore a size 10. I was a skinny kid. Not fat at all. When I was in high school (graduated in 1982) I wore a size 12 (weighed about 135 at 5'9"). So, while I would like to be "size oriented," I have NO clue as to what I would wear -- I haven't been skinny in decades (literally). I have been a size 18 or higher since I was 23 (now 46). Anyone care to guess for me?? I'd be much obliged! (FYI, I would love to get down to 155, but will take 165 which is a normal BMI. And again, I'm 5'9" or 175 cm)

I don't regret it a bit -- I was really scared and worried there was something wrong a couple of days post surgery, but it all cleared up (as does most people's concerns) and I haven't looked back yet! I love that I only desire food when I need to eat. I love that my life doesn't revolve around whether I am too fat to do something. Like others, my only regret is that I only wish I had done it sooner -- my children are college aged and teenagers -- I wasted a lot of time I could have spent with them . . . .