PhatGurl80

I didn't do a puree phase. After about two weeks of liquids and Soup I went to soft foods like mashed potatoes, chilli, Beans w/ cheese... I went to solids about a week after that. I hadn't been nauseous or anything tho so that's probably helped my progression.

Good evening ya'll. This is my first post in about a year or so. My surgery was September of 2011 and I got to within 10-15lbs of my goal by that following June (2012). It stayed there for a good year or so....then slowing crept back up and now i'm about 20lbs more than my lowest weight. Which now brings back to 35-40lbs away from my goal. I fear some times that my sleeve isn't working anymore. Maybe I didn't train myself as good as I could have during that initial phase. I still continue to try to be physically active (I've done the Tough Mudder and recently the Spartan race), but that sleek, lean body that I almost had is now faded away. I know this may sound vain or idiotic...but I REALLY wanted to be in the best shape before my husband and I get pregnant for the first time. I keep procrastinating thinking that we'll get serious about making a baby once I'm at my goal weight but at this rate, I'll be 40 before that happens and the liklihood of an easy pregnancy lessens with time. I'm now 35. I'm so glad that I logged back in to see these posts that document everyone's long term progress. Perhaps I'll check in once a week or so to get my head back in the game.
Thanks for listening ya'll

Good evening ya'll. This is my first post in about a year or so. My surgery was September of 2011 and I got to within 10-15lbs of my goal by that following June (2012). It stayed there for a good year or so....then slowing crept back up and now i'm about 20lbs more than my lowest weight. Which now brings back to 35-40lbs away from my goal. I fear some times that my sleeve isn't working anymore. Maybe I didn't train myself as good as I could have during that initial phase. I still continue to try to be physically active (I've done the Tough Mudder and recently the Spartan race), but that sleek, lean body that I almost had is now faded away. I know this may sound vain or idiotic...but I REALLY wanted to be in the best shape before my husband and I get pregnant for the first time. I keep procrastinating thinking that we'll get serious about making a baby once I'm at my goal weight but at this rate, I'll be 40 before that happens and the liklihood of an easy pregnancy lessens with time. I'm now 35. I'm so glad that I logged back in to see these posts that document everyone's long term progress. Perhaps I'll check in once a week or so to get my head back in the game.
Thanks for listening ya'll

Good evening ya'll. This is my first post in about a year or so. My surgery was September of 2011 and I got to within 10-15lbs of my goal by that following June (2012). It stayed there for a good year or so....then slowing crept back up and now i'm about 20lbs more than my lowest weight. Which now brings back to 35-40lbs away from my goal. I fear some times that my sleeve isn't working anymore. Maybe I didn't train myself as good as I could have during that initial phase. I still continue to try to be physically active (I've done the Tough Mudder and recently the Spartan race), but that sleek, lean body that I almost had is now faded away. I know this may sound vain or idiotic...but I REALLY wanted to be in the best shape before my husband and I get pregnant for the first time. I keep procrastinating thinking that we'll get serious about making a baby once I'm at my goal weight but at this rate, I'll be 40 before that happens and the liklihood of an easy pregnancy lessens with time. I'm now 35. I'm so glad that I logged back in to see these posts that document everyone's long term progress. Perhaps I'll check in once a week or so to get my head back in the game.
Thanks for listening ya'll

Love this thread! I am at my two year mark and my lowest weight so far was still 25lbs from my goal. But somehow I lost that drive and reverted back to bad habits (not eating in the mornings, eating late at night, snacking mindlessly). Now I'm up 15 lbs and have really been feeling awful. I feel like I'm failing and I had this really expensive, risky surgery for nothing. Hopefully by reconnecting with this forum I can snap out of it and move forward out of this abyss.

Love this thread! I am at my two year mark and my lowest weight so far was still 25lbs from my goal. But somehow I lost that drive and reverted back to bad habits (not eating in the mornings, eating late at night, snacking mindlessly). Now I'm up 15 lbs and have really been feeling awful. I feel like I'm failing and I had this really expensive, risky surgery for nothing. Hopefully by reconnecting with this forum I can snap out of it and move forward out of this abyss.

I'd recommend you do SOMETHING you'll have to wrap your head around this full lifestyle change. Incorporating exercise as early as the Dr. says its safe to do so will help you get through this adjustment a whole lot easier. I'm not saying you have to jump into a P90X routine, but even a brisk walk in the evenings will help tremendously. It will also help take some if the "edge" off because this whole procedure is so taxing on the psyche

I know it is frustrating when that pesky scales doesn't move very quickly... believe me I am the Queen of Slow...lol! I am 20+mths out and still not at goal... do I want to be there... hell yea! Am I getting stressed about it... not any more.
I am fitter and healthier now than I have been for the best part of 20years. My point? Don't just measure your success by numbers. Look at other factors too... think about how your clothes are fittng; how you are working out more and making improvements to your overall strength and fitness level; how you are looking; how you are feeling.
These things, to me, are now more important than numbers.
Don't get me wrong, the slow route can sometimes be painful and annoying... especially if you start to compare yourself to others, which I did and I did it often. This was a bad move for me as I got to a dark place and I convinced myself that I was doing something wrong or that I wasn't good enough. I set loads of personal goals and didn't make many of them.
I stopped all that nonsense and started to compare myself just to ME! That was a real eye-opener. I then realised that I was a success, that I was doing things right and that my body will do what the hell it wants to when it wants to regardless of how I fuel it.
Now, that didn't give me license to go mad with sugar and sweets; I just do what I can, eat good wholesome food and wait for my body to realise that it is healthy and to release some more fat.
That is my logical side, which I see most days now - yesterday however, I was a raging rat bad who was full of hormones and agnst...lol!!
Keep doing what you are doing... you will see results and believe me they are worth the wait. Remember the scenic route is the most beautiful way to go... =]

I have to agree. I was sleeved on Sept 14 and I have to say that Dr. Garcia and his staff were top notch. Except for a little mishap with not finding my veins for an IV (guess my arms were too fat?), I think everything went off without a hitch. I traveled there with my fiance and he's no fan of hospitals, but he actually felt comfortable sleeping there for the two nights I was there. Everything at Mi Doctor seemed new and clean and sterile. Dr. Fernando and Dr. Paola (can't remember her last name at this time) have been following up periodically via email to see how I'm doing. I did blog about it if anyone wants to read it.
So far, 11 weeks out and no issues whatsoever. I have my first post-op appointment with my PCP in a couple weeks and I have no reason to think anything negative will be uncovered. I had her check my incisions when I got home from TJ and she said they were perfect.
Hope this helps! And good luck to everyone!

You had me at "bacon-wrapped shrimp".....yummmmmmm

Congrats, you are doing great! @Iowa, I asked Dr. Garcia for my surgery video when I was there in Sept. My fiance also managed to get a pic of the removed stomach. Ack! They probably have it on disc and might be able to just burn u a copy.

I tell people I have a lot of muscle underneath all this fat. I just need to exercise a little!

I look forward to wearing shorts again. Short ones, not capris.

Going back to the original question...... I had surgery with Dr. Garcia in Sept. Ive lost 58 lbs to date and had a very quick recovery. Very little pain after the first two days. I had surgery on a Wednesday and went back to work on the following Wednesday. Carebat the hospital was good and my documented germaphobe fiance even had good things to say. You can read more of my experience in my blogs. Good luck to you.

My insurance doesn't cover anything weight loss related either. Not even a nutritionist. I wa referred to A Lighter Me by a friend who had surgery in Tijuana the year prior. My cost was $5000 and had surgery with Dr. Garcia. It was a great experience and I wrote about it in my blog. Good luck to you.

Ha ha. It was the opposite. I paid THEM!

Hey there!
Height: 5'6"
Highest weight: 270
Weight day of surgery: 263
Current Weight: 214
Surgery Date: 9/14/2011

Thanks so much for all of your replies.
Actually, what has the most influence on determining the gender of a baby at conception is the Ph and the ion status of the mother's body. The Ph and Ions are most influenced by the diet of the mother; I've been studying gender and conception for three years; I have a background on molecular science.
The male carries the x or y sperm but he isn't the determining factor, our environment is.
The only reason that the day of month has anything to do male of female is that your environment changes down there the closer you get to ovulation. Egg white cervical mucus favors the y (male) sperm because of it's higher Ph. If your Ph is already low in your body as a whole, it will make no difference what day you have sex, the sperm probably won't be influenced by anything but the low Ph and negative ions, usually resulting in a x sperm winning. I said usually, but there is obviously a 50/50 chance of either. The only thing that is 100% is PGD.
I did some research on babies conceived within a fifteen month window after weight loss surgery (the 15 months being from the date of the surgery); 17 babies resulted in 12 girls and 5 boys.
It's interesting to say the least, for me anyway. I don't think I'll be having anymore babies, but still interesting.

I had surgery in September 2010 and I was feeling hungry within the first week. It has never gone away and I realized ealy on that I could not fit the "model" way of eatting. I eat small amounts about every two hours and that seems to work for me. Someone recommeded I track my intake and what I discovered early on is that I was only eatting about 500 calories since I could only eat such a small bfast, lunch, dinner. That was an eye opener since 500 calories is obviously not enough. I now eat about 1000 calories a day and I eat it in many small meals.
You will find that recommended eating post surgery varies signifigantly by doctor/program and every doctor thinks their program is best. However, every other doctor can't be wrong. I think every PERSON knows what is best for them. I guide my eating by a few simple rules- Protein first, minimal sugar, make the healthy choice. My two cents is this, track your consumption to make sure you are eating enough, but not too much and if you are hungry eat, just make sure it is a healthy choice.

Hmmm... I guess everyone is different when it comes to that. I started at a 42 DD and now 3 months post-op I'm a 40 C

I'm 3 months out and still afraid to try :S

SN: PhatGurl80
SW: 231
GW: 216
At week 1 of my challenge my number didn't move at all. I'm almost 8 weeks post op and have been losing steadily since my surgery. I'm trying not to panic and if this is a stall then so be it. The scale WILL move again!
Good luck everyone!

I resolve to make those steps towards mental health that I've been contemplating prior to my weight loss.

Yesterday, December 7th was my one year surgiversary. It has been a great year and a rough year. A healthier year and a sicker year. An anxious year and a peaceful year. Contrasts, to say the least.
I started at 207 lbs and a 36 BMI. From the beginning I had trouble following the Protein rules because everything made me gag--things like almond butter which I loved before and Protein shakes which I thought were pretty good before. So I did the best I could in finding protein sources, but fell way under the allotted amount.
I also struggled with eating too fast--a lifelong habit. I had many occasions, especially in restaurants, when I was involved in conversation and would forget to slow down. food would get stuck, and I made more than my fair share of trips to the bathroom to "let it out". One time I was in a clothing store after eating and then drinking Water on top of it. The liquid started to come up on it's own and I ran to the bathroom, thanking God it was not in use by anyone else.
At about six months out, it seemed to dawn on me that "Hey, I can only eat a small amount and it's okay. Just take your time with it and enjoy it."
I had some unrelated female, back and thyroid health issues which often kept me from exercising. Because of these things and because I was so fed up with dieting rules and didn't try very hard, I lost slowly. Slowly compared to many on this forum, but according to my doctor, I'm on track or a little ahead of the game.
My cholesterol is down from 275 to 216 and my sleep apnea is completely gone.
I have had some problems with acid reflux. I had a very large hiatal hernia repair at the time of the surgery, and don't have good tone in the upper sphincter. I am still dealing with this to see if anything besides taking PPI's can help. My doctor suggests converting to the bypass, but I'd have to be in pretty bad shape to do that. I waited a long time for my insurance to cover the sleeve for a reason!
I encourage anyone who is on the fence to take the plunge and do it while you are young. At age 55, the loose skin especially in the face is an issue. I don't care too much about what is covered by clothing. My brother says he knows some people who had the surgery and their faces looked drawn at first, but eventually filled out. I hope that is the case with me.
The lack of hunger is a good thing and a bad thing. I'm getting used to it, and do have to often force myself to eat. Going out to restaurants is not as satisfying because if you're not hungry you don't get that great satisfied feeling from eating. Now I eat pretty much what I want, trying to choose healthy, natural foods and keeping mindful of my protein intake. I still have chips and chocolate on a regular basis, though. I have a rough time giving those up.
The absolute BEST part is not always being unhappy with myself about my weight. All the diet books are gone (and I had a huge stack). I don't immediately go to the "how to lose weight" articles when I open a magazine. I eat what I like and enjoy it in small amounts. I take my time with it, eat slowly and when I'm done, I enjoy the conversation, rather that craving what I'm going to have for dessert. When I go out, I don't feel self-conscious and try to cover everything up. It's very freeing!
I'm not sure where I am going to end up, but I have 12 lbs to go to reach my goal weight. I have already reached my goal size. Everything is different than when I was young. I used weigh 10 lbs less than I do now, but I was a size 14. I celebrated my anniversary by buying a pair of size 10 stretch black corduroy jeans! Down from an 18-20. Yeah!

I've been using calorie counter app by fat secret.com . It works great for me and never any complaint. Actuallybeen using it for about 2 years now. Use on your phone or computer.