LindaS

Fiddleman, I opted for braces instead of implants. I'm missing two teeth on the lower jaw (one on each side), but I have all of my wisdom teeth. My orthodontist is slowly moving my wisdom teeth into the gap to fill the space, so I won't need implants.
I had my braces put on just a couple of months after my VSG. I opted for clear brackets in the front top, so it isn't obvious that I have them. The cost was about the same as implants.
The good news is that when my teeth ache after an orthodontist appointment, I am satisfied with just a Protein drink.

My surgeon expected me to lose 60 pounds in the first year, but he didn't tell me that until after I did it.
I don't think you should be disappointed. You are losing, and you can't be wrong if you are losing and continuing to lose.

Chippendale's called...the bow tie you ordered came in.
Great job!!! You look fantastic.

I know, a million people have done it before me, and a million more will do it after me, but I don't care!
TODAY I WEIGH LESS THAN 200 POUNDS!!!!!!
I haven't been CLOSE to 200, let alone UNDER it in 18 years! It feels awesome to know this is really happening! I know there's a lot more hard work ahead of me - reading the Vets Forum has taught me that. But it also gives me hope because others have done it, are doing it still, and it seems possible that I could too!

This morning my husband forgot his bag at home that contains all of his things for work..
So he called and asked me "How much do you love me?"
He's an ER PA so he said just pull up to the ER bay and call, I can run out and meet you.
You see he's worked there for going on six years and I've never stepped foot in there because of embarrassment about my weight..
He's never been embarrassed about me but I have. some the nurses and techs tease him about not really having a wife because they have never seen me (no holiday parties for me).
Today at 6:15am, fresh out of bed and looking that way! I pulled up to the ER, parked and walked into my husbands work like a normal spouse delivering something to their husband

He took me around to meet people and show me his office.
NSV? I would say normal life, and it felt good to be "normal" doing the little things you never would of done.

I know what you mean. I was very happy when I was in the 180s/190s range, and I slacked off a bit.
But I didn't let myself do that for very long.
The truth is, I expect to gain weight back. Maybe not right away but eventually. I don't imagine myself being 80 years old and doing burpees to stay in shape. I'd love it if I could, but I just don't see that as feasible.
So, I am trying to get as small as I possibly can in order to give my future old self some wiggle room.
Currently, I'm in the 170s. I fluctuate between 173 and 176 most of the time. I like it when I stay below 175, which I was doing very well.
Eventually, I hope to push myself into the 160s. This means I need to diet and exercise.
Ideally, I would like to be at 155 because it means *100* pounds lost and gives me some wiggle room in the "normal" range of BMI.
I am happy where I am right now. I feel like I look great. Many people have told me I shouldn't lose more, but I am not just about the scales. I need to lose still, and I need to exercise.
I can give up here, but where will I end up in the future?
What happens if I break a leg and can't exercise for 6 months?
I need wiggle room.
So my advice is to be happy where you are but keep doing the things you need to do.
It doesn't always show up on the scale, but it will eventually.

I know what you mean. I was very happy when I was in the 180s/190s range, and I slacked off a bit.
But I didn't let myself do that for very long.
The truth is, I expect to gain weight back. Maybe not right away but eventually. I don't imagine myself being 80 years old and doing burpees to stay in shape. I'd love it if I could, but I just don't see that as feasible.
So, I am trying to get as small as I possibly can in order to give my future old self some wiggle room.
Currently, I'm in the 170s. I fluctuate between 173 and 176 most of the time. I like it when I stay below 175, which I was doing very well.
Eventually, I hope to push myself into the 160s. This means I need to diet and exercise.
Ideally, I would like to be at 155 because it means *100* pounds lost and gives me some wiggle room in the "normal" range of BMI.
I am happy where I am right now. I feel like I look great. Many people have told me I shouldn't lose more, but I am not just about the scales. I need to lose still, and I need to exercise.
I can give up here, but where will I end up in the future?
What happens if I break a leg and can't exercise for 6 months?
I need wiggle room.
So my advice is to be happy where you are but keep doing the things you need to do.
It doesn't always show up on the scale, but it will eventually.

I know what you mean. I was very happy when I was in the 180s/190s range, and I slacked off a bit.
But I didn't let myself do that for very long.
The truth is, I expect to gain weight back. Maybe not right away but eventually. I don't imagine myself being 80 years old and doing burpees to stay in shape. I'd love it if I could, but I just don't see that as feasible.
So, I am trying to get as small as I possibly can in order to give my future old self some wiggle room.
Currently, I'm in the 170s. I fluctuate between 173 and 176 most of the time. I like it when I stay below 175, which I was doing very well.
Eventually, I hope to push myself into the 160s. This means I need to diet and exercise.
Ideally, I would like to be at 155 because it means *100* pounds lost and gives me some wiggle room in the "normal" range of BMI.
I am happy where I am right now. I feel like I look great. Many people have told me I shouldn't lose more, but I am not just about the scales. I need to lose still, and I need to exercise.
I can give up here, but where will I end up in the future?
What happens if I break a leg and can't exercise for 6 months?
I need wiggle room.
So my advice is to be happy where you are but keep doing the things you need to do.
It doesn't always show up on the scale, but it will eventually.

My surgeon expected me to lose 60 pounds in the first year, but he didn't tell me that until after I did it.
I don't think you should be disappointed. You are losing, and you can't be wrong if you are losing and continuing to lose.

I will be two years out next month. I still eat mostly Protein, and if I stick to that I have great restriction. But, I do allow myself to eat other things. For instance, this summer I will eat an ice cream treat when my family does that. At home, I keep Greek Yogurt for my treat, but if we are out and about on a hot day, I won't skip the treat.
For me, I think the biggest difference is my tolerance for sweet stuff.
Right after surgery, I had absolutely no tolerance for anything even slightly sweet. The mildest flavor seemed very strong to me.
I believe this is because of the restrictive diet I had been on (pre-op diet, post-op diet). My surgeon's guidelines kept me on liquid with Protein for something like 8 weeks in a row (two pre-op). My diet was so bland that when I finally did start eating regular food, it tasted horrible.
Almost two years later, my diet isn't as bland. The ice cream is appealing again.
So, I can eat things I wouldn't have right after surgery. However, I still have restriction.
I think the best thing about this whole experience is that I now eat more "normal" than I ever had in my life. My portions are sized right.
I also know that I don't have to eat everything I'm served. It has become normal for me to leave food on my plate.
I say this knowing that there are also "quirks" in my new diet that I never had before. The other day, I was eating out with my family and had limited options. I ordered chicken strips. When I was done eating, my daughter questioned me about why I had left the breading on my plate. She wanted to know if it was something I couldn't eat. I could eat it, but breading/bread/carbs make me feel full and bloated, so I tend to avoid them. I had peeled off the breading to get to the chicken underneath (protein!). I hadn't even realized what I'd done until my daughter commented on it.

I'm doing great. I lost 85 pounds. I haven't had any problems; I am staying active, and I feel very happy about my decision and the results. I work out regularly and eat right most of the time. I feel very normal, which is wonderful.

There are more ways to measure whether you are healthy than just the BMI. (waist/hip ratio/body fat/etc). In all of those other ways, I am in the normal range. For BMI, I am still overweight.
Before I had the surgery, almost everyone in my life didn't think I was "that fat." I was told more than once that I was "too little" to have surgery. Once I actually lost the weight, and my family looked at old photos of me they were shocked at how big I was.
food wasn't a big deal for me before, and it isn't a big deal for me now. I can eat what I want to eat, but I don't eat very much of it. For instance, I might have a bite of cake instead of a gigantic piece of cake.
I don't eat a lot of bread or potatoes, and I try to stay away from chips because those are sliders.
There are things I don't consume -- like pop (soda), but I had given that up way before I had surgery. I try to avoid empty calories, but I also don't want to settle for something that tastes horrible. If "low fat" doesn't taste good, I eat the "full fat" version but less of it.

Okay, deep breaths ladies!! It is actually quite touching how this worry comes up, like clockwork, here on the forum every few weeks, with every batch of new sleevers (this month I'm 3 years out). Here's the deal:
Though invasive, lap band surgery is nowhere near as traumatic as VSG, and the weight loss is different. Your body is recovering from major surgery, you just lost 80% of one of your vital organs, it's going to take time. If you had just had your appendix removed, or gallbladder surgery, would you be humpin' it up within a week?
As for sex drive: once you have healed physically and the weight loss has begun in earnest, you will ABSOLUTELY see a change. A very funny, slightly alarming, change. As you begin to lose fat rapidly your body is flooded with all of the estrogen that was trapped in the fat cells, making you super super horny, a sexual T-Rex, a Sex Rex, if you will . This usually happens around month 2 and you will be back here on the boards, posting about how you have become a sex maniac and you are draining the life fluids out of your SO and omg sex is SOMUCHFUN!!
That lasts for about 2 months on its own, but if you are instilling good exercise habits during that time, once you have lost a significant portion of your weight and have also become fit from all the exercise, you suddenly discover SKINNY SEX, and then there will be the phase of posts about that here All the positions you can suddenly do, the stamina you have, the sensations you receive because he can now go deeper than before, etc. etc.
So, in summation, this is all perfectly normal, there is nothing wrong with you, have some open dialogue with your SO, and above all, take tender care of yourself and give yourself time to heal.

I will be two years out in just a couple of weeks. I don't come here as often as I once did, but it is because WLS no longer dominates my life.
Before I had surgery, it was all I could think and dream about, so I was here more than I was anywhere else. Once I had surgery, I had some weird things happening and this forum helped me realize it was normal (Protein breath, for one). It was also great to see people who had surgery around the same time I did and see what they were going through. Plus, I liked staying up on the people who inspired me to begin with.
In the last 6 months or so, I might be here once a month. I want to give back like those that helped me, but I am also trying to get my life back to normal, which means my extra time is limited.
So do I spend an hour sitting on my butt reading the boards or do I spend an hour working my butt off exercising? In most cases, I now choose to be more active.
This has seriously put a dent in my internet time, y'all.
Right now, I just finished my second week of a 6 week boot camp that I love and hate. I have not had any weight-loss as a result of said boot camp yet, but it is doing everything it can to reshape my muscles, and I know this because they complain to me. Did you know that even your wrists and elbows can be sore after a good workout?
I have also been battling some flare ups from the arthritis in my ankle, which I think I have finally managed to subdue once more thanks to a well-placed cortisone shot.
So, I try to get on here to help the newbies, but I am trying harder to make sure that I am living an active life, which means I don't sit in front of a computer nearly as much as I once did.

I will be two years out in just a couple of weeks. I don't come here as often as I once did, but it is because WLS no longer dominates my life.
Before I had surgery, it was all I could think and dream about, so I was here more than I was anywhere else. Once I had surgery, I had some weird things happening and this forum helped me realize it was normal (Protein breath, for one). It was also great to see people who had surgery around the same time I did and see what they were going through. Plus, I liked staying up on the people who inspired me to begin with.
In the last 6 months or so, I might be here once a month. I want to give back like those that helped me, but I am also trying to get my life back to normal, which means my extra time is limited.
So do I spend an hour sitting on my butt reading the boards or do I spend an hour working my butt off exercising? In most cases, I now choose to be more active.
This has seriously put a dent in my internet time, y'all.
Right now, I just finished my second week of a 6 week boot camp that I love and hate. I have not had any weight-loss as a result of said boot camp yet, but it is doing everything it can to reshape my muscles, and I know this because they complain to me. Did you know that even your wrists and elbows can be sore after a good workout?
I have also been battling some flare ups from the arthritis in my ankle, which I think I have finally managed to subdue once more thanks to a well-placed cortisone shot.
So, I try to get on here to help the newbies, but I am trying harder to make sure that I am living an active life, which means I don't sit in front of a computer nearly as much as I once did.

I could walk immediately, but other exercise wasn't approved until 6 weeks out. At that point, I had an all clear.

Woohoo!!! Ran first lap, ran the straight-aways for 3 1/2 miles, and I walked the last. I feel great! I can't wait until I can run the full four, but I'm getting there. Drinking a recovery shake, I'm going to let that settle, then I'm hitting the weights.
#feelingPUMPED

I will be two years out in just a couple of weeks. I don't come here as often as I once did, but it is because WLS no longer dominates my life.
Before I had surgery, it was all I could think and dream about, so I was here more than I was anywhere else. Once I had surgery, I had some weird things happening and this forum helped me realize it was normal (Protein breath, for one). It was also great to see people who had surgery around the same time I did and see what they were going through. Plus, I liked staying up on the people who inspired me to begin with.
In the last 6 months or so, I might be here once a month. I want to give back like those that helped me, but I am also trying to get my life back to normal, which means my extra time is limited.
So do I spend an hour sitting on my butt reading the boards or do I spend an hour working my butt off exercising? In most cases, I now choose to be more active.
This has seriously put a dent in my internet time, y'all.
Right now, I just finished my second week of a 6 week boot camp that I love and hate. I have not had any weight-loss as a result of said boot camp yet, but it is doing everything it can to reshape my muscles, and I know this because they complain to me. Did you know that even your wrists and elbows can be sore after a good workout?
I have also been battling some flare ups from the arthritis in my ankle, which I think I have finally managed to subdue once more thanks to a well-placed cortisone shot.
So, I try to get on here to help the newbies, but I am trying harder to make sure that I am living an active life, which means I don't sit in front of a computer nearly as much as I once did.

Well, in all honesty, I hope that NO ONE ever told you "this will solve all your problems" because that just isn't the truth. Everyone says (and repeats) this is just a tool. And yep, here I am getting close to 3 years later and guess what? I still have to weigh and measure my food, I still have to be ON my game, or some weight can slip back on.
So on one hand sure it can be frustrating sometimes to have to remain diligent. I did NOT get skinny from this surgery and did not pick to be in maintenance when my body decided to quit losing. But I have made peace with being where I am. (I am battling a bit of a regain +15lbs which I AM refusing to accept and will continue to battle until it's gone) but I have made peace with the fact that I will not have a "normal" BMI. I'm okay with that.
On the other hand, this is ONE piece of the big puzzle. Why did I eat, when did I eat, and what did I eat pre-surgery? And because of having surgery and dealing with some of the issues around my own eating puzzle, I'm forever grateful for having this surgery. Would I have ever been able to lose -85lbs and KEEP IT OFF for 2 years? Nope. Not this girl. I would have already gained it all back by now.
So the answer to the question is the rose colored glasses are MY CHOICE and how I want my journey to be. I've learned that there is NO finish line, there is no DONE and now I just get to eat whatever I want and not gain weight. So I've accepted that this is MY battle MY cross to bear and I refuse to accept defeat. Attitude counts...it's really all up to you and it always has been. The surgery is the tool to help you, not do it for you.

Hey lady! I don't know how to help but I really hope you find your worth. You deserve it! 120 pounds lost is amazing! Open your mind to this wonderful new shot at life. Maybe look through the self help section of the bookstore. If your spiritual, The Power of Positive Thinking by Vincent Peale is a good one. Sometimes I need a little outside help to free my mind of negativity too.
You just finished school ....what a great accomplishment! I know how stressful and scary it is to start a new chapter in life but embrace it. Be proud and hopeful of the future. I'm thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way. Take care!

I am almost 2 years out for surgery, and I have been logging at MFP since before surgery. I think I have a 560 day in a row record right now. :-)
I'm slsherwood51 there.

I am 17 months out and still losing. :-) It is definitely not a race.
I've lost 83 pounds overall, and I am planning to lose 100 pounds.
August 2011: 25.5 pounds (sleeved Aug. 9, 2011)
September 2011: 14.5 pounds
October 2011: 9 pounds
November 2011: 6 pounds
December 2011: 3 pounds
January 2012: 6 pounds
February 2012: 6 pounds
March 2012: 0 pounds
April 2012: 0 pounds
May 2012: 3 pounds
June 2012: 0 pounds
July 2012: 0 pounds
August 2012: 0 pounds
September 2012: 5 pounds
October 2012: 0 pounds
November 2012: 3.2 pounds
December 2012: 4 pounds

I haven't lost any weight in January "officially." I gained some weight around the holidays, and I've lost it again.
I also went down to a size 10 in jeans in January, which isn't reflected in my weight loss and stayed true even when my weight went up a few pounds. To me, this means I am losing inches and gaining muscle tone as well as losing weight overall. This is good.

I am 17 months out and still losing. :-) It is definitely not a race.
I've lost 83 pounds overall, and I am planning to lose 100 pounds.
August 2011: 25.5 pounds (sleeved Aug. 9, 2011)
September 2011: 14.5 pounds
October 2011: 9 pounds
November 2011: 6 pounds
December 2011: 3 pounds
January 2012: 6 pounds
February 2012: 6 pounds
March 2012: 0 pounds
April 2012: 0 pounds
May 2012: 3 pounds
June 2012: 0 pounds
July 2012: 0 pounds
August 2012: 0 pounds
September 2012: 5 pounds
October 2012: 0 pounds
November 2012: 3.2 pounds
December 2012: 4 pounds

I haven't lost any weight in January "officially." I gained some weight around the holidays, and I've lost it again.
I also went down to a size 10 in jeans in January, which isn't reflected in my weight loss and stayed true even when my weight went up a few pounds. To me, this means I am losing inches and gaining muscle tone as well as losing weight overall. This is good.

I love my sleeve. Surgery date 2/19/13. 100 lbs gone forever. Had to share.

Excellent blog post.. but everyone please note: Serendipity Happens welcomes everyone to tell her how fabulous she looks.. as long as it's not from the Korean lady who came into my store the other day and told me "oooh, you look good now, not so fat like before.. before you was sooooooooooo fat." I kid you not.