Lissa

I've increased my food intake because of exercise, mostly by adding good carbs (bananas, protein bars) to my diet just before I hit the gym daily.

Justine, It's not that bad. I was awake for the placement, but I had such good drugs, I was joking around with the doctor and staff while they were doing it. I didn't care what they did to me... Versed is a great anesthetic!

She must have actually had a blood clot. I had an IVC filter placed before surgery and removed after surgery to prevent blood clots from forming and killing me by lodging in my heart, lungs or brain.

I think you're doing great! I started out walking 5-10 minutes at a time on the treadmill and couldn't get much over 2.5 mph for a long time. Now I skip the treadmill and kill the elliptical and recumbent bike instead because of knee issues. I wasn't allowed ANY weight-lifting until I hit six weeks out, so you're doing great! I do cardio 4 days a week, (M, W, F, Sat) and weights the other three days (T, Th). Two days a week I do circuit training (combo of cardio and weights), then, on Sunday, I do every weight machine in my gym (Planet Fitness). I am a firm believer in the low weights, high reps method and I'll do 80 reps of 10-20 pounds for my arms. For my legs, I do 60 reps at 30 pounds of the hip abductor and hip adductor machines, and 45 reps at 100 pounds for the leg presses and squat machines. On ab machines, I stick around 50 pounds for front muscles and 75 pounds for back muscles, but I do 50+ reps on those until my muscles are DONE. You will figure out what works for you and, if you have a difficult time, there are personal trainers who specialize in working with those of us who aren't perfect to help us get into shape.

Yee Haw!!! Congrats!!!

I'm still dealing with those insecurities. I'm always surprised when I get attention from people/men especially, because I'm SO used to being invisible.

Wow! I'm so sorry you're having problems! Hope they get cleared up quickly!!

Great job!! It's amazing how fast we reach that 50% mark and how much better we feel! I can remember when my ticker showed just a few pounds gone and over 100 left. It wasn't that long ago. Now, it's just a few pounds left, under 60! I know you're happy dancing and I'm boogying right along with you, if only for the extra calorie burn!

Well, it works great for working out! Here's a picture of the sweat bib it helped me earn!

Dooter, I won the iPod Touch contest for being the biggest mouth on here during a specific time period. It's nice to win something for being myself! LOL

BTW, Thank you, VST and Alex!!

So, Fed Ex came earlier and this is what they brought me! WOO HOO!! I was on my way out the door to work out, so I get to try out my new toy today!! Check it out! It's even engraved with my name and VST!!!

On this issue, my best friend is home on R&R from Iraq. She came over yesterday and I could see the shock on her face! She told me that she "knows" it's me because I sound and act like me, but that I don't really look like the Lissa in her head because I'm so much smaller than I was when she left 5 months ago. We spent the whole day together, including spending some time playing pool against my workout partner and the WP's hubby. In my mind, I'm much bigger than my WP, but my friend says that I'm a good bit smaller than WP is overall. Bestie says that I am way more toned, too, which I don't see. I guess it's time for me to take a picture with WP and look for the differences between us because I seem to be able to see the changes in pictures much more easily than in the mirror.

I have to say that Fit Bit has awesome customer service, too! I have been using mine since April, then it died about 3 weeks ago. I contacted them after I got home from vacation on the 9th of July. They asked a few questions, suggested some things to try, then replaced by Fit Bit free of charge when those things didn't work! Even better, I had the new Fit Bit in the mail within about 5 days! I loved my Fit Bit before, but knowing that it's backed up with such awesome customer service makes it even better!

I agree with Dooter, 50 pounds in six months may not be slow if you started out with less to lose. As for someone being a year out and only losing 15 pounds, WOW! I can't imagine that, but I have to believe it does happen sometimes.

Welcome to the loser's bench both of you! Yes, it will definitely be worth it! In a few days, you'll feel much better. In a few months, you'll be much lighter!

I was told that I would for sure become an alcoholic after surgery during my pre-op psyche visit. Here I am at 10.5 months out and, while I do drink alcohol sometimes, I'm not an alcoholic. I am working very hard to transfer my addiction to exercise instead!

Nope, not too good to be true, but be aware that some of that weight is probably water weight and you may bounce a little bit. Enjoy your journey! You're on your way to a happier, healthier life!!

PKB said: You mentioned..."If that happens, you'll be in the same place as you would be post-revision with an infection." - I'm not sure what you mean? Knee revision or Sleeve revision? What I meant by that is that if you don't have any kind of WLS, you will probably not lose a significant amount of weight, which would lead to another knee replacement in the future. I read your OP as you being worried that an infection from a leak would lead to a knee replacement, so I wondered whether you'd end up having to do the knee replacement whether you had WLS/sleeve or not. My point is that your weight is damaging the knees anyway, so it might be worth the risk to have the sleeve, especially if it helps you take off the weight and allows you to keep the current knee replacements longer than normal. As for finding Tiffykins' leak story, I believe she has parts of it posted in her profile and I know that she has posted extensively about her journey. To use the search function, you need to go to the forums home page, then do the search so that you can search for her posts. There are other band to sleeve revisions who have had some complications, but Tiffykins is the one whose name came to mind first for me. As I said, you definitely want to discuss this risk with your surgeon and your medical posse (stole that term from Eggface, y'all!) to see if the risk/benefit ratio is acceptable to you! Good luck whatever you decide!

Great job! You do look amazing! Young, fit, healthy and happy!! No wonder there's a new man in your life!

Congrats on receiving the pre-approval letter! I think insurance companies should be begging people to get the sleeve, if only because it reduces their future expenses on taking care of us! Last year, I cost my insurance company over $100k. This year, I doubt they've spent $1,000 on me. That alone should be enough to convince them to pay for your band removal...and, yes, your surgeon's office knows how to code it to get it all approved, I'm sure! I'll be rooting for you! Us August sleevers have to stick together, even if it's not August of the same year!

PKB, Use the search function in the upper right corner of the homepage and look for leaks. I believe that Tiffykins had a revision and a leak, yet she has done fabulously with her sleeve. She's pregnant now with her second post-VSG baby and rocking her sleeve still! You should definitely discuss your concerns with your surgeon, but the leak risk rate is still very low. What are the chances that you'll have to have a knee replacement again if you stay at the weight you're at now? If that happens, you'll be in the same place as you would be post-revision with an infection. It "might" be worth the risk, but that's a decision only you can make.

You look happier, healthier and, best of all, YOUNGER! Congrats on your weight loss so far!

I think the sleeve helps because it reduces our hunger and gives us a fighting chance at making the lifestyle changes that are necessary for long-term weight loss. In the beginning, it definitely seems like a magic spell has been cast upon our bodies because the weight just falls off. As we get further out from surgery, the responsibility transfers back to us, though. The key, IMO, is to make those changes and commit to keeping the changes for life. The sleeve's restriction helps, but it doesn't do all the work. WE have to do the head work to recognize and resolve whatever the underlying problem is that made us overeat or we're at risk for a crossover addiction or two. As for preparing, read everything you can. Learn what your post op diet will be, including specific instructions for early post-op, right down to what foods are allowed and not allowed. Start now to adopt the habits of successful sleevers: 64 oz of Water and 70 grams of Protein daily, detox from caffeine and sugar, quit drinking with meals, start chewing your food 30 times before you swallow it, slow down while eating and start some kind of exercise program, even if it's only walking. All of these habits will stand you in good stead post-op. Take your measurements pre-op, keep using MFP to track your food and exercise (I'm Lissa912 there if you want to add me), and enjoy the success you will have! As for the naysaysers, screw them. They aren't living in your body or living your life. You know what you've tried before and you know that it didn't work or you wouldn't be contemplating surgery. Thank them for their advice and keep right on trucking! Most of all, enjoy the journey. This isn't a race. It's a nice steady walk to get to your goal and there are lots of changes to notice and appreciate as you get there.

Great picture! I can SO relate to almost everything on there!