juliarh

You do look great! Congratulations

Wow!! the difference between before and after is truly striking!! Congratulations! I bet you feel absolutely wonderful

I'm like BlackBerryJuice -- I've gone from a 24/26 to a size 18 (almost 70 pounds) and NO ONE has noticed (or at least said anything) -- now, I don't want them to "worry" like they are with you, Irene, but a compliment once in a while wouldn't hurt -- oh well.

Irene - you are so right -- the scale does not have the final say in the story, we do! So happy you had a loss this week -- I'm with you on the last time I lost weight at Thanksgiving (I think that's a "never") -- whooo whoo!

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been gone since T-day -- had a great time and ate just the right amount, no carbs (which I wanted to cry over, but it was just one day and it's over so . . ) -- I had a big weight loss this week 6.8 pounds after 3 weeks at the same weight -- puts the average weight loss per week at 2 pounds for the month, but what the heck, I'll take it! I think the big difference in the weight loss has been the exercise -- I really upped the exercise, walking an hour for 4.5 - 5 kilometers (a little over 3 miles). I was reading the book Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton which is a really interesting book for post op WLS patients and she recommended 60 - 90 minutes of exercise per day That said, I decided I could walk for an hour. So I did and so far it's paying off. Cherice Hooray!! 2.5 pounds after T-day - that is awesome! Labrys 4.5 pounds!! Wow! That's absolutely incredible -- and on top of it you are looking over the edge to ONDERLAND!!! Hooray!!! FatJuicyMouse -- you know, I was up .4 pounds and then down and then up for 3 weeks. It was really frustrating, so I completely sympathize. And as far as I was concerned I was doing everything right!! Just keep plugging away -- the body can't hold onto that darn fat forever! You know who will win the fat war in the end Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Irene -- you look absolutely fabulous -- the difference is incredible!! Don't you just feel awesome?? You look really great -- I'm so proud of you and can't wait for more updates Hugs! Julie

That's awesome Patti! So glad it's working out

Hi all -- I'm substituting today at the local American school -- I call it glorified babysitting (at least for this teacher because he's so well prepared). But it's fun and I get to spend the day with kids and have a good time. I'm also in discussions with the school about teaching here next year -- I'll be moving down to middle school, but I think I'll enjoy it. In fact, I can hardly wait to get out of the house and do something (besides exercising!) Tomorrow, will be a nice quiet day for us -- I think we're gonna go see Harry Potter -- I'm a HP freak (read all the books several times) -- and then just chill -- It's in the 90s here -- I heard the midwest is getting socked with snow -- I still can't believe it's winter because it's certainly not here! Oh, and then after tomorrow it's house decorating time!! I'm so excited -- I looooove decorating the house for Christmas -- So what are you all doing for the inevitable cookie dilemma -- there's always a cookie exchange going on -- plus I do have kids (although they're older) -- what to do, what to do??

Hi all -- I am still at 247.4 (did the scale dance again today - on,off,on, off) -- so this is the THIRD week in a row where I have been hovering around 247. I'm just glad that my weigh in day was not Sunday when the scale said 250!! So for tomorrow, I will be thankful that although I am in a stall, I am at an even stall. Have a GREAT Thanksgiving September Sistas!

Coops! Congratulations -- a swimming suit NSV is probably up there with some of the top NSVs (at least in my book) -- really, I think when I am able to go out in public in a swimming suit I will die and go to heaven - so big huge congratulations Annette -- NSV = Non scale Victory!

Ok, yes you will need to eat differently. BUT 65 - 85 % of your stomach will be removed, removing the part that produces ghrelin, the hunger producing hormone. The stomach that is left is a tougher, not-as-elastic part that will not stretch out, will not allow you to eat more. Ok those are the facts. Now, here's my experience. I started this at 303.6 -- I'm currently 247 -- I was a binge eater -- eating to soothe my emotions, good or bad. I had a SERIOUS eating problem - a true addiction (some don't have an addiction, I did). Here's what's happened to me - I'm almost 11 weeks out (tomorrow) and I FORGET to eat. Yep. I FORGET to eat. I am NEVER hungry. I don't think about food. I don't crave food, etc. Yeah, when I'm watching TV and a pizza Hut commercial comes on, I wish I could still binge (yep, I WISH I could still binge), but I can't and I won't - there's just NOOOOO room. And if I did try, I would vomit. So what's the point? Don't let people tell you that the surgery won't help, because it does -- from my perusal of all the weight loss surgeries, the VSG is, in my opinion, by far the best choice -- it allows you to absorb needed nutrients, you can still eat a variety of food, and live a VERY normal life. But you will not be able to overeat again in your life. Oh well. Do your research, ask us questions, but don't let people tell you you don't know what you're talking about!! This surgery has saved my life and so many other lives on this board and it makes me mad when people pooh pooh it -- this is a medical necessity!! I hope this helps . . .

So glad you are done!! Just rest and relax and let your little banana stomach heal Hooray!

Filica, I'm so sorry you have a leak -- I'm thinking all sorts of positive thoughts so that you get out of the hospital and start feeling better -- take care and we'll be here for you!!

Hooray!! All I want for Xmas is my tummy in a sleeve, my tummy in a sleeve, my tummy in a sleeve Congratulations!

I'm so sorry that his attitude is continuing -- seems to me that maybe he's scared and nervous about your success -- I've read over and over about silly husbands and their weird reactions to the big weight loss and I'm wondering if this is his weird way of reacting to your weight loss. I mean, come on, who wouldn't apologize when confronted?? sigh. I'm sorry.

Congratulations Brian!! That's awesome -- we have a lot to be thankful for here on this forum

Awesome! You will not be disappointed Hooray!

Wow -- I'd take average, but 10 percent?!?!! That is truly awesome -- way to go!

I'm almost 11 weeks post op and this is what I've had so far: (don't know what dinner will be, still thinking about it) total calories: 499 total Fat(g)15.50 Carbs(g)26.13 Prot(g)61.81 Breakfast 1 serving bio body yogurt - 1 medium fried egg 1 serving protifar Protein - Lunch[ 1 tbsp light mayonnaise 1 slice mozzarella cheese 1/2 serving sandwich thins 1/2 can tuna (this was taken from my fatsecret.com food journal).

Hi - my NUT says I can eat all of that stuff right now and I am almost 11 weeks out. BUT I have decided that I am focusing on Protein and limiting my carbs -- as it happens, focusing on my Proteins usually does the job for me and I don't eat bread or tortillas, etc. Have I? Yes. But it fills me up so fast that I can't eat anything else. So my diet is more of a conscious effort to eliminate carbs (which is my downfall anyway) and increase protein and fresh veggies and fruit.

Amazing Amanda! Congratulations -- 21 pounds in 11 days is crazy good! I agree, you should do the happy dance in front of your husband until he acknowledges what a great thing this is Congratulations!

Yay! good job getting through those tests quickly -- I went through them quickly too and was very surprised that nothing bad came out of them (my family has a history of heart problems) -- so hooray!! Sorry, have no idea about the insurance, but at least you're done with the testing

That's really interesting -- and considering I wanted a lap band but my doctor wouldn't do them, really makes me thank God that I did not get it. I know some people have had a lot of success, but the failures are just too stunning to overlook. I guess I have another thing to be thankful for on Thurs.

Good luck today! I hope it all goes well -- let us know how you're doing as soon as you feel up to it

Wow Maddie -- everyone's right -- you are an inspiration! ONE HUNDRED POUNDS! That is soo awesome -- I know that so many of us are just waiting to say the same thing in a post too. Sometimes it is unbelievable that we are able to accomplish this when everything seemed so hopeless before - Congratulations Maddie - thanks for giving us the gift of inspiration today And you are so right about this forum -- there is nothing like the support we get here.