juliarh

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.

While I haven't cheated, just the experience trying to eat has given me enough reasons not to want to cheat -- learning when I was full, what foods I can and cannot tolerate, and the change in my own tastebuds have taught me that I should just stick with the plan. Trust me, you don't want to be able to cheat!

I actually believe Jennifer Hudson did it on WW -- I think you can lose 80 pounds in a year (I've done it several times on WW). The point is, is that you always end up gaining it back because you get to a place where you think you are "done." And in reality, you're never "done." The sleeve gives us the ability to keep the "done" mentality in check.
But Aretha losing 50 pounds since December? Nahhh, that's weight loss surgery.

Then you must watch this:

It took me 11 months and 1/2 a week to get there, but I finally made it!
It's been a long road, lots of hills and valleys, but I'm finally there -- here's the video I made that gives an overview:

Yep, wholeheartedly agree with Tiff. I've gained and lost the same 100 pounds that I have now almost currently lost 3 or 4 times. The thing is, is that I had no control over what my head was thinking about food -- for the first time, I feel in control of what I'm thinking about food -- I don't really care about it for the first time -- it's fuel, nothing more, nothing less.
Could I have done this the "old fashioned" way? Sure -- but I would have regained it -- and I wouldn't have lost it as fast -- and I wouldn't be as active as I am now --
Do we blame a person who needs glasses to see? No.
Do we blame a person who uses hearing aids to hear? No.
Do we blame a person who needs meds to live a normal life? No.
Why should we blame ourselves for doing something medically that is going to help us lead normal, active, healthy, productive lives?? Nope, I don't blame myself.
Nope, I won't accept that "coulda woulda shoulda" speak -- we all did it because we needed it just like any other medical procedure or device. That's what I think.

Getting my life back . . . I was so miserable before.
Having the ability to move athletically which I haven't done for over 20 years.
Being happy in my own skin

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal

Juliarh ...........171.4...............163.4.........165.............-1.6
CAN YOU SAY GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!

As I said on FB, yep, yep yep! I've been there for about a month -- not wanting to do the "diet" thang. It doesn't mean that I won't eat well or exercise (when I get permission from the dr.) -- but I am not going to stress over the last 4 to 6 pounds that I have till I reach goal. I mean, seriously, I weighed 304 pounds -- 4 pounds a year ago would have been like swatting a fly! So, I'm taking it as it comes now. And I'm sooooo much happier for it. I think I will also lose more than my goal, and that's ok. But there is no stress that I need to lose it NOW. So hooray for you!!

You are looking absolutely fantastic!! You really do notice a difference in your face Keep up the great work!

Hooray I made it!!! And a little under too

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal
Avilda......................275..........187..............177..............10
BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145................4
Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225................8
bugwitch....................291..............286.4...........283..............3.4
Cherice95405..........248...........177............ 164...............13
Chilo1.....................216...........158.............154................4
Cludgie................235..............210...............209..............1
Coops ...................238...........185...............177..............8
Cwalker.................250...........180...............170...............10
Daisy......................237..........138...............130................8
DJackson..............229.............219..............215................4
HollyW...................259............214..............215..............0
Ibejjo.....................249...........249...............229.............20
Juliarh...................230............213.6..............215............-1.4
Kimmes................239.............197.8.............200..............-2.2
Kgremmy.............225.............210..............199...............11
Laylasmojo...........242............180...............170...............10
LeslieH.................212...........212................199..............13
LilMissDiva...........235............224.8.............220..............4.8
livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ..207........ .....189..............18
Mellifrits...............210............132..............125................07
Meriteri................240............187..............170...............17
MichelleLee..........252...........222................199...............23
MINI-Me...............203.............124.6...........125...............0 & holding!
mlr777................200.8...........174.6...........160.............14.6
Mommy2Girls.......275...............240............228..............12
Moniluv.................190.............190...........178...............12
MRSKOUBIK...........317............266.............255..............10
pattimomof3nj......203.4...........160............155................5
PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..275…….........255………….....20
Sailorgirl................240............220.............200..............20
Secret Surgery34....205............174...........165................9
Seniorsleever........290.............279.............260..............19
Sleeve 4 me.........166...........161..........159....................2
Sweatinitout..........245............170.............160..............10
tlang262 - Texas.....240..........240..............230..............10
Yolanda240.....236.................191..............170..............21

Thanks Diva -- actually, I'm not that upset -- I'm more determined!! damn it! I'm not gonna let the scale dictate how well I do on this journey!

4 months. No, really! But don't let that scare you... here's why:

Even from the beginning, I always had a week or week and a half during every month where nothing happened on the scale... this is normal, your body occasionally holds Water when it senses that it needs to regulate itself, then it decides everything's OK, and you magically "lose" several pounds overnight. Thing is, you're still losing fat during that time, which is why you'll constantly see people wondering how their clothes can be getting smaller when they're not losing any weight.

As for my big stall, which I've finally broken through over the last week... well, it wasn't exactly a stall. What happened was that I'd started running and allowed more carbs into my diet.... usually healthy ones, like Fiber One, fruits, nuts, things like that, but more carbs nonetheness. Then I slowed down on the running as the weather got cold and crappy (I'm in Michigan) and eventually stopped altogether around Thanksgiving, and didn't adjust me eating to compensate for it. Then the holidays-hoooo, boy, I completely lost my sense of purpose there for a couple of weeks.

Amazingly, I did NOT gain weight and I 100% have the sleeve to thank for that!

So it wasn't really a stall, but more like I slipped into maintenance mode. I have come to realize though, that I can not lose weight if I go over about 40 grams of carbs a day on a consistent basis.

Here's the really good news: I've been back on the wagon, doing super-low carb and lots of Protein, since Monday, and so far I've got 5 pounds and great restriction to show for it. I slipped under 170 lbs. yesterday, putting me less than 10 lbs away from my first long-term goal! I say first because I'm pretty sure I want to go another 12 lbs. or so past that.

I have gotten completely off-track... well, kinda not, because my point is, don't let stalls worry you. They're normal, they happen and your sleeve DOES WORK and will ALWAYS work!! If it seems to last longer than you think it should, re-evaluate what you're eating and make sure you're taking in enough protein and water, and not to many carbs. For many of us, they really are disastrous. Hope it breaks soon for you!

My oldest son has all my horrible eating habits, bc I taught him those (so sorry kiddo). But he finally went to a school with ATHLETICS (not just PE) and his body is slowly being reshaped. He always had healthy food at school, his obesity was caused by inactivity and bad eating at home.
At least I'm honest, right?
Now with the sleeve my younger son who is 3 is eating better than my older one did, bc I have more self control Plus, his older brother usually gets to all the junk food first so the little guy hardly gets any.
My point is, even though I'm not a political fan, Michelle Obama is on the right track. The INACTIVITY EVERYWHERE is causing the problem. We live in Houston, not safe, limits the amount of activity a child gets. Plus TV, video games, it is hard to control with technology, couches, and sugar drinks.....
GO MICHELLE _ get these kids moving.

I am a no bad carb person -- that means that I stay away from rice, potatoes, bread, sugar, chips, etc. I will have high Fiber crackers (Wasa crackers) which are cardboard like but help the digestion
I try to include vegetables and fruits in what I eat -- but because I'm trying to hit between 60 and 80 grams of Protein, my fruits and veggies consumption is not that high.
I really found the following YouTube video very interesting (it's in 10 parts) -- it really made me think about what we eat in our society today and why we are so consumed with eating refined sugar (it's in everything) -- I high recommend it: Science of Weight Loss and Fat Accumulation

I need to chime in on this one.
So, I think it's FANTASTIC that Michelle Obama is trying to get the country and it's kids on the move and to eat healthier! I love her. I can't recall the previous first lady making any such efforts! I think she looks beautiful!
So, blaming her to "dictate" what we eat is obsurd, she's just trying to educate us on what we put into our bodies the same way doctors and fellow sleevers on this board do.
It would be obsurd for me to blame Sarah Palin for the horrific acts that happened in Arizona right? But in reality wasn't she "dictating" the danger zones with a gunsight that had Gabrielle Giffords name on it? I'm a little bit more human to even go there and blame her for that.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion YES, but how we express it is where it really matters. Everyone gets a set of kahoney's behind a keyboard. Just like me right now. But, I had to break my "tact" to reply to some of these posts.
All in all, guns don't kill people, people kill people......and the same goes for food...food doesn't kill people, we kill ourselves with the terrible foods we consume.
Peace out....and HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY!

I hope it's a great day

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 . . .

Count me in with the rest of them -- I'm almost 10 weeks out -- lost almost 57 pounds (as of last week) and I was MISERABLE for 2 weeks, maybe 3. But now, I'm active, walking 4-5 miles a day, I still only eat like 1/2 cup of food at a time, but I'm not really that hungry. Anyhoo -- remember, you just had major surgery, IT GETS BETTER!! I had to trust what people said on this board -- and I did and this board was a life saver. Feel better soon!

I'm so sorry that this has happened. I think your husband is just trying to say that he might feel insecure if you become thin and attractive -- actually, it's a good thing, in a guy-sort-of-way, that he's telling you this. You can tell him exactly what you said to us -- that he's been such a wonderful husband, that he's literally been through thick and thin with you, and there is no way you would ever leave him -- he's too good
I hope that helps and I hope you feel better soon!

Same with me -- my health is my private business -- I don't want them to know . . . please let us know if the connection with FB is different than we anticipate!

Sorry this is long -- wanted you all to read my email to her:
I realize you have written a mea culpa after the fiasco of a blog you put out into the ethersphere about fat/obese/"rolls and rolls of fat" people. I'm also betting you are right when you said your reaction may be due to the fact that you yourself have an eating disorder. How ironic! A person who used to suffer from an eating disorder bashing others who suffer from eating disorders. Actually, it's not ironic. It's sad.
The killer is that in your "mea culpa" you said, " I feel just as uncomfortable when I see an anorexic person as I do when I see someone who is morbidly obese . . . " Do you?? When was the last article you read that bashed anorexics?? As in, "Oh my god, did you see that sack of bones just walk across the bar? It's like the night of the living dead." No where. Please, let's get real. There is no one who justifiably thinks that anyone with anorexia is a "bad" person, that, in your words, "It's something they can change, if only they put their minds to it." We all know it's a disease, a medical problem. Do we bash people like that? No, we say, "gosh, I really hope she gets well soon." Or something to that effect.
Your knowledge of obesity and what causes it is seriously lacking -- it's not just something that "most people have a ton of control over." Nope, doesn't work that way. In fact, many women you see who are morbidly obese have PCOS (that's Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) -- where cysts grow around their ovaries, mess with their metabolism, and make it extraordinarily, if not impossible to lose weight (and have kids, but who's counting). So when you see a morbidly obese woman, do you think, "Gosh, that must suck to struggle to lose weight and not be able to have kids." Nope, you didn't. You attribute it to "lack of control." (Go figure, she might have a medical condition! Sound familiar?)
In addition, researchers (obesity researchers) have recently found out our "eat 5 breads a day diet" actually has a direct correlation with the rise in obesity. But! Researchers have also discovered that our production of fat is not controlled by the calorie consumption and calorie expenditure -- in fact, the fat production in our bodies can get so out of wack that the fat cells keep reproducing without stopping. But that's just research, right?? Who needs FACTS when we can talk about "control" and "exercise" and "nutrition." Who needs FACTS when we can just put our discriminatory opinions out for public consumption??
Don't think it was discriminatory? Let's do a test -- you said: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room "
Let's replace a couple of words: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters of African descent kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch an African American person simply walk across a room."
Nope -- you wouldn't say that would you? That wouldn't be nice. It would be . . . hmmm . . . discriminatory! Right?? What makes you think that judging ANYONE by their appearance is any less discriminatory??? Because you can, right? Because the vast majority of people in the United States will agree with you. Still didn't make it right in the 1800s and it doesn't make it right now.
Your mea culpa fell far short of what it should have been -- what you need to do is examine your own mores. If you're willing to discriminate against one, where does it stop??

Sorry this is long -- wanted you all to read my email to her:
I realize you have written a mea culpa after the fiasco of a blog you put out into the ethersphere about fat/obese/"rolls and rolls of fat" people. I'm also betting you are right when you said your reaction may be due to the fact that you yourself have an eating disorder. How ironic! A person who used to suffer from an eating disorder bashing others who suffer from eating disorders. Actually, it's not ironic. It's sad.
The killer is that in your "mea culpa" you said, " I feel just as uncomfortable when I see an anorexic person as I do when I see someone who is morbidly obese . . . " Do you?? When was the last article you read that bashed anorexics?? As in, "Oh my god, did you see that sack of bones just walk across the bar? It's like the night of the living dead." No where. Please, let's get real. There is no one who justifiably thinks that anyone with anorexia is a "bad" person, that, in your words, "It's something they can change, if only they put their minds to it." We all know it's a disease, a medical problem. Do we bash people like that? No, we say, "gosh, I really hope she gets well soon." Or something to that effect.
Your knowledge of obesity and what causes it is seriously lacking -- it's not just something that "most people have a ton of control over." Nope, doesn't work that way. In fact, many women you see who are morbidly obese have PCOS (that's Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) -- where cysts grow around their ovaries, mess with their metabolism, and make it extraordinarily, if not impossible to lose weight (and have kids, but who's counting). So when you see a morbidly obese woman, do you think, "Gosh, that must suck to struggle to lose weight and not be able to have kids." Nope, you didn't. You attribute it to "lack of control." (Go figure, she might have a medical condition! Sound familiar?)
In addition, researchers (obesity researchers) have recently found out our "eat 5 breads a day diet" actually has a direct correlation with the rise in obesity. But! Researchers have also discovered that our production of fat is not controlled by the calorie consumption and calorie expenditure -- in fact, the fat production in our bodies can get so out of wack that the fat cells keep reproducing without stopping. But that's just research, right?? Who needs FACTS when we can talk about "control" and "exercise" and "nutrition." Who needs FACTS when we can just put our discriminatory opinions out for public consumption??
Don't think it was discriminatory? Let's do a test -- you said: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room "
Let's replace a couple of words: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters of African descent kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch an African American person simply walk across a room."
Nope -- you wouldn't say that would you? That wouldn't be nice. It would be . . . hmmm . . . discriminatory! Right?? What makes you think that judging ANYONE by their appearance is any less discriminatory??? Because you can, right? Because the vast majority of people in the United States will agree with you. Still didn't make it right in the 1800s and it doesn't make it right now.
Your mea culpa fell far short of what it should have been -- what you need to do is examine your own mores. If you're willing to discriminate against one, where does it stop??

Sorry this is long -- wanted you all to read my email to her:
I realize you have written a mea culpa after the fiasco of a blog you put out into the ethersphere about fat/obese/"rolls and rolls of fat" people. I'm also betting you are right when you said your reaction may be due to the fact that you yourself have an eating disorder. How ironic! A person who used to suffer from an eating disorder bashing others who suffer from eating disorders. Actually, it's not ironic. It's sad.
The killer is that in your "mea culpa" you said, " I feel just as uncomfortable when I see an anorexic person as I do when I see someone who is morbidly obese . . . " Do you?? When was the last article you read that bashed anorexics?? As in, "Oh my god, did you see that sack of bones just walk across the bar? It's like the night of the living dead." No where. Please, let's get real. There is no one who justifiably thinks that anyone with anorexia is a "bad" person, that, in your words, "It's something they can change, if only they put their minds to it." We all know it's a disease, a medical problem. Do we bash people like that? No, we say, "gosh, I really hope she gets well soon." Or something to that effect.
Your knowledge of obesity and what causes it is seriously lacking -- it's not just something that "most people have a ton of control over." Nope, doesn't work that way. In fact, many women you see who are morbidly obese have PCOS (that's Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) -- where cysts grow around their ovaries, mess with their metabolism, and make it extraordinarily, if not impossible to lose weight (and have kids, but who's counting). So when you see a morbidly obese woman, do you think, "Gosh, that must suck to struggle to lose weight and not be able to have kids." Nope, you didn't. You attribute it to "lack of control." (Go figure, she might have a medical condition! Sound familiar?)
In addition, researchers (obesity researchers) have recently found out our "eat 5 breads a day diet" actually has a direct correlation with the rise in obesity. But! Researchers have also discovered that our production of fat is not controlled by the calorie consumption and calorie expenditure -- in fact, the fat production in our bodies can get so out of wack that the fat cells keep reproducing without stopping. But that's just research, right?? Who needs FACTS when we can talk about "control" and "exercise" and "nutrition." Who needs FACTS when we can just put our discriminatory opinions out for public consumption??
Don't think it was discriminatory? Let's do a test -- you said: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room "
Let's replace a couple of words: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters of African descent kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch an African American person simply walk across a room."
Nope -- you wouldn't say that would you? That wouldn't be nice. It would be . . . hmmm . . . discriminatory! Right?? What makes you think that judging ANYONE by their appearance is any less discriminatory??? Because you can, right? Because the vast majority of people in the United States will agree with you. Still didn't make it right in the 1800s and it doesn't make it right now.
Your mea culpa fell far short of what it should have been -- what you need to do is examine your own mores. If you're willing to discriminate against one, where does it stop??

I usually weigh in once in the morning, but sometimes I will weigh right before bed and try to calculate how much I'll weigh in the morning (which never works). I'm obsessed with the scale as well -- I'm gonna try to limit my exposure to it () by doing it only once a week -- that way I can revel in the NSVs and not have my mood be hampered by a number that I KNOW will go down eventually!