Ducker

I am so sorry for your loss. I said a prayer for your daughter and for you and your husband. Many of us (including myself) get so thrilled about the weight loss after struggling with obesity for so long, that I am sure it would be very easy to overlook any symptoms because we may feel any discomfort is a small price to pay to be thinner. Thank you so much for passing along the very crucial advice of contacting our doctors if we suspect anything is off kilter. You are so very right. It could very well save our lives. God bless you. Ducker

You are doing just fine! Don't be so hard on yourself. I was the same way. It takes a while for your body to adjust. Don't forget that it is in shock. Anesthesia alone is tough on the body, let alone coupled with near starvation and attempting to heal. That is where all your energy is going at first. So, just relax and focus on getting the liquids in. The reduction in food intake is inevitable so don't worry about that. See you in onderland! Ducker

Thanks for the encouragement! I love that we are all in this together. This community is invaluable to me. Cheers to you for being part of it! Ducker

Wow! You guys make me feel like a total underperformer! I am only 30 pounds down since surgery :-( My surgeon is really pleased, but I am pretty bumbed out after reviewing all of your amazing numbers!

I have lost some cup size,,. but more than anything else they are saggy. DAmmit!

I mirror everyone else's sentiments on this issue. I mean, I see some change when I look in the mirror, but in no way does it add up to 30 lb. weight loss of change! As a matter of fact, I remember being the exact same weight that I am right now and feel that I looked much thinner when I was this weight in the past. However, I trust the scale and my surgeon who is very pleased with my progress! So, I just try to focus on the fact that I am moving swiftly by numbers in the right direction and celebrate that victory! Ducker

Hmmm...

So...I have changed my tune! Just went to my surgeon for my second check-up and he was THRILLED with my progress, which averages about 10 pounds per month. According to him, I am progressing just as quickly as his gastric bypass patients. So, he has given me some leeway. He has asked me to only lose 20 pounds over the next 3 months, by March 29th. With that, whoever is reading this who felt like me, that they were such a sluggish loser...think again! We are doing GREAT!!! Ducker

September 28, 2011...26 Pounds down! I guess I am a slow loser, but still very happy!

Not drinking with meals and avoiding alcohol have been my biggest challenges. But, to echo everyone else, SO WORTH IT!

Okay, so I am very pleased with my weight loss thus far, and so excited about this journey. However, I am super bummed about this new phenomenon of adult acne!! I have never had problem skin, and my beautiful skin was one of my most prevalent and frequent compliments from others. However, now it seemed I have developed acne! It is mean acne too, resistant to everything I have tried. It is mostly concentrated on my forehead with a few stray bumps on my cheeks and chin. I know that sometimes that body expresses its struggle with adjusting to the new sleeve in many different ways, but I have not seen any posts on here about this. Am I alone? How long will this last? I didn't wanna go from looking like a cupcake to a crunch bar! Nobody warned me about this and I am totally blindsided. HELP!!!

So...from what I gather even we so called "slow losers" average about 10 lbs per month? Yeah, we should be very upset. Before surgery we were losing how much per month?

I'm with you. Surgery on 9/28 and down 22 lbs. since. But, bit change in how clothes fit. Have on some jeans right now I never thought I would wear aagin. Hang on, we will make it!

Dr. Oliak IS WONDERFUL! I am one of his patients as well, and would recommend him to anyone! He is FANTASTIC!!!

So, I have always been chubby but never really had a big belly. I have noticed that as the weight comes off the belly is not budging as quickly as other areas, giving me a "pooch" at the bottom of my belly. Has anyone else noticed their weight being distributed differently as they shed pounds?

It is so true that comparing yourself to others is not a good approach. It will only result in feelings of failure. That said, I am also one month out and have lost a total of 17 lbs. since surgery. However, I will be honest that like you, I have been exercising minimally. So, I made a resolution today to make the most of this very valuable tool (the sleeve) and really do my best for optimal results. So today was my first day back in the gym (I had only been walking before) and I hit the elliptical for 30 mins., did some lights weight for my arms, and about 10 mins in the steam room. I am going to do this at least 3x/week and see what kind of difference it makes. It is easy and convenient to just label yourself a "slow loser" and do the bare minimum. However, I think we owe it to ourselves to really push and make the most of the advantage we have with the sleeve to get optimal results. I want to succeed, and I know you do to. Now, after all this I still may not be the fastest or biggest loser. But what I will be is confident that I tried my best and put my best foot forward. So, do you wanna take this next step with me and take the "minimal" out of your exercise regimen? I have a feeling we will not be sorry. Here's to a fresh start!

You're coming along fantastically! I am one month out and have only lost 20 lbs. But honestly, I have not been doing my part in the gym. So here goes! I am back in the gym today to try to reap the most of this invaluable tool that I have been blessed enough to receive!

I only told my sister, and have no regrets about my decision. I am very happy with the way that I have handled my life choice.

Costco! And, they just happen to have everything you will need: - Chewy Multis - Chewy Calcium - Hair, Skin, & Nails Supplement (not chewy but I half them and have no problems)

The lack of hunger with the sleeve is in now way like that of Fen-Phen. Fen-Phen gave me a total aversion to food. I couldn't even fathom the thought of eating. It was disgusting, like a drug addiction documentary. The lack of hunger with the sleeve is much more natural. It's more of a "no thank you" type of hunger.

I am only in my mid-30s, and am also a slow loser. I am 4 weeks out, and have lost 13 pounds since surgery. Yeah, it's slower than many on here, but I accept that every single body is different and that every journey is individual. And, let's be honest. I have no right to be upset. I would have never lost 13 pounds in 4 weeks without the sleeve. So let's celebrate the trend and not the pace. Here's to trending downward!

Thanks Viva!

So I have been reading the numerous posts on here about the dreaded stall between weeks 2 and 3. Of course I was secretly hoping that this would not be my reality and that I would never encounter a stall. Wishful thinking. The stall came. And it stayed. And it stayed. And it stayed. I remained positive and confident. After all, in each and every one of those posts the stall eventually broke. They each offered advice to be patient, stick to your program, step away from the scale. Blah, blah, blah. It all sounded so good until my time came, the time of the dreaded stall. However, please believe me. I really did stay positive. It took 12 days! The last 4 of those days I went out of town to a concert, ate whatever I wanted, and REFUSED to weight myself. Guess what happened? Guess. Really. Weighed myself today, down 3 POUNDS!!! So now I have to join the church. I am now one of the disciples. It's my turn to preach to you all who are reading this. So, listen closely. Be patient. Stick to your program. Step away from the scale. Ducker

Hey all! I am doing very well, no complications. I actually almost don't believe they really did the surgery! LOL. My only gripe is that I seem to be losing much more slowly than anybody else on here. I lost about 10 lbs. since surgery day, including actual 2 pound fluctuations (some days I was up 1-2 pounds). I guess this is the dreaded and much talked about 2-3 week stall? I am being patient. I am amazed at how little I can eat and have been trying to make good choices, although I did cave yesterday and have some Peanut M&Ms. Interestingly enough, I lost weight even after that goof up. Anyway, I want to say thank you all so much for all of your support. It is so nice to have a specific group that had the procedure around the same time so that we can accurately gauge our progress/challenges against those that are at exactly the same stage as ourselves. I find it hard to relate to the "veterans" sometimes. Their reality it so far away from being mine. I can't even begin to discuss non-scale victories right now. It's too early. It's all about the scale. We are still skeptics at this stage. I need this sleeve to show and prove! :-)

I love that you determined your own goal instead of leaving it all up to the doctor. Cheers to you!