DrmBig4Evr

I am almost a year out from surgery. Down 150 pounds and feel great. I divorced my ex husband 2 months after surgery. I found an amazing new man several months later and we just got married last weekend. I am thankful everyday that I chose to have this surgery. I would have never had the confidence in myself to stand up for me. I have an amazing life now without the negativity and abuse from my ex. My new husband is amazing. Thanks to this surgery, my life has changed so much in a good way.

Same here, I'm 2 1/2 weeks out and lost 20 pounds in the first 2 weeks and now nothing! I better not be stalling already..I'm wondering if I start exercising if that will help jump start it again? Going for my post op appt today and will find out when I can start exercising..Good luck..

I'm the exact same here.... made 4 weeks Tuesday and for 10 days now i've been toggling between those three pounds.... I have an appt with my NUT today and hopefully we can talk about fixing this problem.... good luck to you both and i'll let you know the outcome of my appt today

I went through that many times, staying the same and going UP as much as 5 pounds. Apparently, although I appeared to be going up and staying the same, the ground under me was slanted downward because I reached my goal and beyond. Optical illusions.

Yes for me that's pretty normal. I'm hungry every 2-3 hours. BUT and this is a big BUT for me...just a few bites is enough for me to feel full. So even eating that often I'm still only getting about 800 calories which is WAY WAY less than I've ever been able to do before. Oh, I'm 6 weeks out

Just weighed and I still cannot get over seeing the scale go continually DOWN! I keep checking just waiting for it to go up. It is just so counter to what I have experienced for the past 25 years and makes me a little teary eyed. Okay, so maybe I am a little emotional and potentially hormonal.
Stats:
Weight :
4/3/13 268.0 Surgery
4/7/13 253.2 -14.8
4/8/13 251.0 -17.0
4/10/13 249.4 -18.6
4/12/13 247.9 - 20.1
4/15/13 245.5 - 22.5
Heading out for a 2-3 mile walk.

VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter
Hey, Sleevers! Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Better weather is here, and summer is just around the corner, so April is a perfect time to fulfill or renew commitments to your weight and health! Let the fresh air and green plants inspire you to try new recipes and get outside for some calorie-burning fun! First, though, why not read through this month’s newsletter for some inspiration?
These are the contents of the April VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter.

Sleever Poll – Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again?
Member Spotlight – Meet Dean!
Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame!
Stay Hydrated and Healthy!
Enjoy the newsletter. Then log onto Alex Brecher. See you on the boards!
Sincerely,
Alex Brecher
Founder
VerticalSleeveTalk.com
Sleever Poll: Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again?
Knowing what you know now about weight loss surgery, would you do it again if you had the chance to make your decision again?

Yes, without a doubt! The surgery has been everything I’d hoped for.
Yes, probably. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m losing weight and feel that this was my best option.
Yes, but I would have chosen a different type of weight loss surgery, not the lap-band.
No. I’ve had complications and my health has suffered and/or I haven’t been hitting my weight loss goals.
I haven’t had the surgery yet, but I’m looking at the results of this poll carefully to help me make my decision!
Other...read my response!
Choose your option, and then explain it in the discussion forum food. Becoming free from the hold that food had over him lets him enjoy people and events instead of focusing on what and how much he could eat. He also learned that he was an emotional eater before surgery, even though he didn’t realize it before. Dean is learning not to give in to “head hunger,” and to instead drink some Water, exercise or talk to someone instead of eating.
Dean has met some of his Australian VerticalSleeveTalk.com friends in person and would one day like to meet his American friends. He tries to answer other members’ questions, both to help them out and to keep himself on track! To help you succeed, Dean suggests planning your food. He also says that he’s getting better at listening to his body to match his foods to his body’s needs.
Dean, congratulations on your weight loss so far! Thanks for sharing your story and tips with us in the Member Spotlight!
Do you want to be in the Member Spotlight, or do you know someone who does? Fluid recommendations is one of the most common challenges that weight loss surgery patients report. You wouldn’t expect that staying hydrated would be a major concern compared to challenges of eating right and exercising, but it is. Why?

You can’t drink fluids during or around meal and snack times.
You might not like the taste of water
You need more fluid than before because you’re trying to be healthier
You can’t drink caloric or carbonated beverages, like juice, soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as coffee drinks and sports drinks
You need at least 1.5 liters, or 6 8-ounce cups, of fluid each day. If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. This can delay your recovery from surgery if your procedure is recent. Even if your surgery was long ago, dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. It can also interfere with weight loss by making you feel hungrier.
These tips can help you stay hydrated.

Get in the habit so it’s natural! Drink 1 to 2 8-ounce glasses when you wake up in the morning, and 30 minutes after each meal or snack.
Drink an extra glass of water before and after you exercise. If you sweat a lot, drink a cup of water each 20 minutes during exercise.
Instead of plain water, try ice water, water with lime, lemon or a sprig of mint.
Decaffeinated coffee and tea and non-carbonated diet drinks, such as diet Fruit Drinks, are good alternatives to water.
Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame!
You know we’re always busy around VerticalSleeveTalk.com. We already published The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band. The book has practical advice for anyone thinking about weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information from the earliest stages of your weight loss journey through your lifelong diet. It’s available in print and ebook from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Soon, you’ll be able to find The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve!
That’s not all, though! We’re working on yet another book. This one’s going to be a lifesaver for life after weight loss surgery. It’ll have diet help, food lists, meal plans, recipes, exercise and tips for preventing and dealing with complications. It’ll be a motivational book, too.
We need your help to make the new book great! We’re asking VerticalSleeveTalk.com members – that’s you! - to share your favorite recipe or recipes to publish in the book. You can submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! We’ve loved reading the recipes that you’ve sent us so far – keep them coming and don’t miss your chance to have your recipe published!
That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter, but there’s plenty more to talk about on the boards! Thanks for all of your support and feedback – you, our members are what make VerticalSleeveTalk.com the great community that it is. Don’t forget to send us your recipes and give us any other feedback!
Take care of yourself and each other.
Sincerely,
Alex

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Down 30.4 now only 5.6 lbs until next goal yay

mjrevel
are you the dude or dudette???
will the real sleever please sit down
you both look great!!!!
lovely, happy picture
no ticker???/ profile??
before picture??
starting weight???
ending weight??
height??
visa #
inquiry minds want to know!!!
great job
keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life

Hi there, I'm 5'6, had a bmi of 35 and weighed 223. I have lost 32.4 lbs in 10 weeks!

Day of surgery my BMI was 36.0 . 2 1/2 months post op i am currently 30.6 . My weight loss has been a bit on the slow side but i have also lost a total of over 30 inches from all over my body which makes up for the slow weight loss! I am so happy to have had the opportunity to have my sleeve surgery. good luck

I was a low BMI and was able to reach my original goal of 130 in 5 months. Since then I've lost 8 more. I'm almost 7 months. Don't let anyone tell you that low bmi'ers can't lose the weight, You will do great!

Thanks for the input and I do appreciate your concern and where you're coming from! For me, I won't be indulging often, but definitely am cleared by my Dr to eat all foods and have been since week 4 I am not a health food 24/7 person or I would have never needed surgery in the first place LOL but I do practice good habits and am having success - it was a wonderful treat to have today ~ loving my sleeve!

Will you move in with me please?

*stands up
My name is Kristine and I am a recovering food addict
*sits down
I am NOT in denial and I feel sorry for those who can't admit they have a problem BEFORE wls. Waiting to overcome your denial makes the weight loss journey much more difficult..
Kuddos to you Laura... We're on the same page

My name is Emily and I'm an addict .. Dude I got kicked out of an OA meeting for showing up with a box of doughnuts who knew.. i was just trying to be social

Did I get your attention???
Ok, curiosity... when I answer posts here, I am always coming from a perspective of a "food addict"
But many times I have people write back...
"But I don't have an addiction to food"
Which I always think to myself YEAH RIGHT!
Don't beat me up I'm being honest!!
What can I say I'm pessimistic, I also laugh when people say they don't eat TO MUCH so they don't understand how the are fat.. I AM FAT BECAUSE I EAT LIKE A PIG (alone mostly)
Today I thought about, "what if I'm wrong?"
I mean...I am me and I am addicted, how do I know how the next person is???
I'm curious as an addicted fat person how is it for those of you who are not addicted?
Oh and on a side note if I am wrong, then I'm also jealous because I would give anything not to have this problem (addiction)

I was told as long as I wasn't on pain meds it was okay--but to be really, really careful bc an accident very early post-op could rip your stiches and/or staple line. That sort of freaked me out, but I had to be at a meeting downtown 1 week post op and I did fine. I was more worried about my stomach making crazy noises around other people or getting sudden diarrhea at that point but it was okay. It felt good to get out, too.

I just got some new shape-wear in the mail today (my old stuff was at least 2 sizes too big and from before surgery) and tried it on. While I had the new stuff on, I decided to try on some clothes from the back of my closet. I am 25 years old. My highest weight was around 330lbs, and I weighed 310 at surgery. I now weigh 240lbs (down 70 from surgery, 90 from highest weight). I fit into the prom dress I wore to my husband's senior ball. TEN years ago. When I was 15 years old!!! I just had to share!

Have you tried the premier shakes? 160 cal, 30g Protein

I get dizzy and I have low blood pressure. So I try and drink more fluids and increased my salt intake to retain some of the Water now.

I'm at week four and have hit a stall. BUT I'm NOT letting it upset me! I know that I've done the right thing!
We are in the middle of moving so my exercise time is limited. Once we are settled two weeks from now, I've already found a yoga studio and mapped out my walking route in the new neighborhood!

I had my surgery 1/8/13 and I feel AMAZING!! I can walk pain free. I have so much energy and just so happy!! I have lost close to 50lbs!! Slow at times but, the last two weeks something happened!! This energy and happiness came to me. I no longer sit around I have goals and I am busy all the time! I have beem working out eating right!! Drinking wine!! My goal is to be at my desired weight by my DAUGHTER'S graduation party 6/28/13!! Ohhhhhh YA!! Thank you SLEEVE!

Daniel,
I have heard of people going back to basically a 'pre-op' type diet of 2 shakes, and only 1 meal of lean Protein and veggies a day, everyone always says be sure you get plenty of Water in also. 120 pounds in about 6 months is great! Remember too that as you get smaller, and closer to your goal weight, the losing will slow also, because you have less of a calorie deficite. Your body may also be readjusting to figure out where all that weight went so fast. Another thing I've heard of that works is get some body weights, weight your body down with weights, (i.e. arm weights, ankle weights, weight vest) and your body will think that it needs to lose those 'artificial' pounds it's carrying and it could kick you back into loss. Good luck, and congrats on your success so far!!

I agree with you Laura, and John and Amanda. There are alot more people with regrets. I was at a support group meeting and this guy openly stated that he sees something that he wants and really wants to just eat it all and he can't. This is why he regrets it. It is truly a mental thing. I myself do not regret it, but I need to put in alot of work on the mental part of it. I realize this and I am scheduling my psych appointment along with a nutritionist. My doctor was a lapband doc who didn't have a full program of aftercare or recommendations, just a sheet that says if you need it, its here. I know the mental part is the hardest for me, but I have researched WLS for 3 years before I got it done. Sad to see people have had major surgery to change their lifestyle but regret it because they have to still work for the weight loss.