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!

bummer, can't access the powerpoint, but I take your word for it Lisa Thanks!

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:

This is the plan -- so far, I've eaten Breakfast and lunch . . ..

I'm 46 and got it done in September -- wish I had done it 15 years ago

I have PCOS and I am losing well. I do have to say that I did have surgery on my ovaries and had them scraped after having an ectopic pregnancy. So maybe that helped, I don't know. But I do have PCOS. One thing I have learned that NO DOCTOR ever told me is that eating a lot of carbs is really bad for PCOS patients -- leads to increased estrogen levels which lead to creation of more cysts, which leads to increased estrogen levels, etc. So I eat a low carb diet -- it's worked out really well for me. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

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:

Ok, just to put some perspective into this --
The death rate for giving birth in the U.S. (in 2007) was 8.7 percent.
The morbidity rate associated with tonsillectomy is 2% to 4%
The morbidity rate for a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is 1.9%
The point is, I could go on and on about the chances of dying in surgery (or from complications) -- but the fact remains that VSG morbidity rates is .5% -- that's TINY compared to giving birth, having your tonsils out or having gallbladder surgery (one of the most common surgeries in the U.S.).
I know that having an elective surgery for obesity is scary. I think we can all admit that we were all a little bit scared. But please don't focus on one thing and make that the reason why you might not consider having a surgery that could ultimately save your life.
As for myself, I KNEW that if I didn't do this FOR ME, that I would die - it was only a matter of time -- I didn't want to not see my children get married or leave my wonderful husband alone. I also wanted a new lease on life - I had not been living my life - I had given up and had given up everything that I found enjoyable about life, except for food. What a waste! So I gave myself the very best present I could give myself - a way to take control of my obesity and live a normal life.
I really really hope you reconsider this -- please feel free to message me - I know how scary it is to consider the surgery - it took me a year to get up the guts to even see a doctor. But I if I had the chance to do it again, I would run to the doctor and beg to be operated on immediately.
Take care, I hope this helps. Julie

Ok, just to put some perspective into this --
The death rate for giving birth in the U.S. (in 2007) was 8.7 percent.
The morbidity rate associated with tonsillectomy is 2% to 4%
The morbidity rate for a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is 1.9%
The point is, I could go on and on about the chances of dying in surgery (or from complications) -- but the fact remains that VSG morbidity rates is .5% -- that's TINY compared to giving birth, having your tonsils out or having gallbladder surgery (one of the most common surgeries in the U.S.).
I know that having an elective surgery for obesity is scary. I think we can all admit that we were all a little bit scared. But please don't focus on one thing and make that the reason why you might not consider having a surgery that could ultimately save your life.
As for myself, I KNEW that if I didn't do this FOR ME, that I would die - it was only a matter of time -- I didn't want to not see my children get married or leave my wonderful husband alone. I also wanted a new lease on life - I had not been living my life - I had given up and had given up everything that I found enjoyable about life, except for food. What a waste! So I gave myself the very best present I could give myself - a way to take control of my obesity and live a normal life.
I really really hope you reconsider this -- please feel free to message me - I know how scary it is to consider the surgery - it took me a year to get up the guts to even see a doctor. But I if I had the chance to do it again, I would run to the doctor and beg to be operated on immediately.
Take care, I hope this helps. Julie

Ok, just to put some perspective into this --
The death rate for giving birth in the U.S. (in 2007) was 8.7 percent.
The morbidity rate associated with tonsillectomy is 2% to 4%
The morbidity rate for a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is 1.9%
The point is, I could go on and on about the chances of dying in surgery (or from complications) -- but the fact remains that VSG morbidity rates is .5% -- that's TINY compared to giving birth, having your tonsils out or having gallbladder surgery (one of the most common surgeries in the U.S.).
I know that having an elective surgery for obesity is scary. I think we can all admit that we were all a little bit scared. But please don't focus on one thing and make that the reason why you might not consider having a surgery that could ultimately save your life.
As for myself, I KNEW that if I didn't do this FOR ME, that I would die - it was only a matter of time -- I didn't want to not see my children get married or leave my wonderful husband alone. I also wanted a new lease on life - I had not been living my life - I had given up and had given up everything that I found enjoyable about life, except for food. What a waste! So I gave myself the very best present I could give myself - a way to take control of my obesity and live a normal life.
I really really hope you reconsider this -- please feel free to message me - I know how scary it is to consider the surgery - it took me a year to get up the guts to even see a doctor. But I if I had the chance to do it again, I would run to the doctor and beg to be operated on immediately.
Take care, I hope this helps. Julie

Ok, just to put some perspective into this --
The death rate for giving birth in the U.S. (in 2007) was 8.7 percent.
The morbidity rate associated with tonsillectomy is 2% to 4%
The morbidity rate for a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is 1.9%
The point is, I could go on and on about the chances of dying in surgery (or from complications) -- but the fact remains that VSG morbidity rates is .5% -- that's TINY compared to giving birth, having your tonsils out or having gallbladder surgery (one of the most common surgeries in the U.S.).
I know that having an elective surgery for obesity is scary. I think we can all admit that we were all a little bit scared. But please don't focus on one thing and make that the reason why you might not consider having a surgery that could ultimately save your life.
As for myself, I KNEW that if I didn't do this FOR ME, that I would die - it was only a matter of time -- I didn't want to not see my children get married or leave my wonderful husband alone. I also wanted a new lease on life - I had not been living my life - I had given up and had given up everything that I found enjoyable about life, except for food. What a waste! So I gave myself the very best present I could give myself - a way to take control of my obesity and live a normal life.
I really really hope you reconsider this -- please feel free to message me - I know how scary it is to consider the surgery - it took me a year to get up the guts to even see a doctor. But I if I had the chance to do it again, I would run to the doctor and beg to be operated on immediately.
Take care, I hope this helps. Julie

Ok, just to put some perspective into this --
The death rate for giving birth in the U.S. (in 2007) was 8.7 percent.
The morbidity rate associated with tonsillectomy is 2% to 4%
The morbidity rate for a laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is 1.9%
The point is, I could go on and on about the chances of dying in surgery (or from complications) -- but the fact remains that VSG morbidity rates is .5% -- that's TINY compared to giving birth, having your tonsils out or having gallbladder surgery (one of the most common surgeries in the U.S.).
I know that having an elective surgery for obesity is scary. I think we can all admit that we were all a little bit scared. But please don't focus on one thing and make that the reason why you might not consider having a surgery that could ultimately save your life.
As for myself, I KNEW that if I didn't do this FOR ME, that I would die - it was only a matter of time -- I didn't want to not see my children get married or leave my wonderful husband alone. I also wanted a new lease on life - I had not been living my life - I had given up and had given up everything that I found enjoyable about life, except for food. What a waste! So I gave myself the very best present I could give myself - a way to take control of my obesity and live a normal life.
I really really hope you reconsider this -- please feel free to message me - I know how scary it is to consider the surgery - it took me a year to get up the guts to even see a doctor. But I if I had the chance to do it again, I would run to the doctor and beg to be operated on immediately.
Take care, I hope this helps. Julie

bummer, can't access the powerpoint, but I take your word for it Lisa Thanks!

bummer, can't access the powerpoint, but I take your word for it Lisa Thanks!

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.