shellnsons

I was telling my hubby how Jennifer Hudson may have had something done instead of weightwatchers

You look so good what do you eat? G u give me hope I'm a slow user :-(

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I had my surgery. It has definitely been a journey and I am so glad I have been able to accomplish so much.
I am so close to getting out of the 200's! I can almost taste onederland! My weight loss has considerably slowed but I am still pushing forward and I definitely feel great!
The difference amazes me still:

Congrats Lady..Whoohoo..that is my goal weight and we started at the same weight as well....I'm so proud of you keep up the awesome job you give me hope....

I'll never forget the day I learned about VSG and came on this forum to research it. Now, nearly 8 months to the day from my surgery - I hit my final goal!!! 140 pounds!!! That's nearly 100 lbs. down from my highest weight of 238. It feels great to see that number on the scale, but even better to know that I will never, ever, be fat again!
The first thing I wanted to do when I saw that I hit goal was to get on here and tell all of you. Thank you, everyone, for giving me a place to share in my joy (and for being there when I wasn't as joyous).

It's not technically dumping, from what I understand, which occurs after bypass surgery and is caused by sugar ingestion. However, as a veteran of many, many diets, I'll tell you (and you have also probably experienced it) that if I ate a piece of fried food after being on a "low-fat" diet for a couple of weeks I was in the bathroom pronto afterwards and the results were not pretty. So yes, I have "dumped" but not in the RnY sense; same outcome, though.

So, I look at the before and after pics all the time and it's just amazing to see the difference in us all. I guess it's time to share mine, even though I'm not really at goal yet. I would do this again a hundred times! I am so greatfull for my sleeve, and for all of you who shared your stories and motivated me to do this for myself. Thank you!

So I'm now a little over 4 months out and it took that long to get a NSV I really felt awesome when it happened. I was shopping with my mom and sis, and was frustrated because we were in the misses section and I always think I can't fit anything in there, but then my mom forces me to try on a pair of 16s and I'm like riiiiight, I get into the fitting room pull them up easily and almost freaked! lol I've never worn that size in my life even in high school the smallest I remember is a 20. Since this I've bought some work pants in a 16 also! I'm still astonished :biggrin:

Today marks seven months post op for me... I rarely post but I wanted to thank all of those who shared their stories, pictures, and words of encouragement to me along the way. Hopefully these pictures will inspire someone else to do the same. I've had my ups and downs on this journey, but at the end of the day, I am happy with my decision to get sleeved. Anyways, On to the pictures!!!
Before (250-260 pounds)


Leaving Mexicali

After (168-175 pounds)
Thanks for looking!!!

Sleeved 11/11/11 down 45 lbs

8.5 months post op ~ Oh yeah got my ass into some size 8 jeans wow from a 20 to a 8 single digit are you serious, I cant even remember the last time I wore that size

I was sleeved March 15th 2011... I lost 85lbs so far.... Tips-I would say working out- cardio and keeping that apart of your weightloss regimen never giving up on your sleeve and never get disappointed when you put on a couple pounds because they can always come back off if you rock your sleeve....

As my capacity has increased (I'm almost 5 months out), I've found myself sometimes tempted with making bad food decisions - and I've found that while I'm hitting my Protein targets, my calorie and fat counts are higher than what I would like them to be to continue losing. I've revisited a whole set of recipes I used to use religiously in my Weight Watchers days . . . and because the WW points model is based largely on high protein/low fat/low carbs, I've found that many of my old "standby" recipes are also going to work out great for me for my sleeve eating as well.
My favorite food blog EVER when doing WW is www.skinnytaste.com - and I thought I would post some of my favorite recipes too (and some I want to try!) They are all chicken recipes, we're chicken junkies in our house.
We made this one for dinner tonight again - we make it at least once a month - it's really awesome!
http://www.skinnytas...rlic-white.html
I haven't made this one yet but can't wait to try it . . .
http://www.skinnytas...hetta.html#more
I really liked this one - I might make this now without breading the chicken, though - I don't know if the breading would agree with my stomach as well now that I'm sleeved. I think it would still be really good though, either with just sauteing the chicken in the pan by itself or just lightly dredging in flour rather than doing the egg white/breadcrumbs.
http://www.skinnytas...en-piccata.html
I like this one a lot too - with my sleeve, I think the recipe "as-is" is too many carbs and not enough protein for the serving size, but I may modify a little bit.
http://www.skinnytas...en-425-pts.html
Enjoy!!

First off, you are only 5 months post surgery. You have to remember that this is not a diet this is a change in life style. The moment you woke up from the anesthesia was the first day of the new you. That 'new you' has to learn how to do many things differently. Among them, is your diet. It sounds to me like you do some compulsive eating. If this is the point, I recommend seeing a counselor, a support group, or a psychologist. I recommend hypnotherapy to many of my patients. As a matter of fact, some of our patients are seen by the psychologist before the surgery. We have found that it serves patients well. After surgery, they also receive an 'induction' that seems to relieve patients of a lot of anxiety.
Some of these patients seek hypnotherapy once they return to the US to relieve compulsive eating. If you want I can talk to our psychologist to see if she recommends somebody in your area. Meanwhile, a support group is KEY. In addition STAY on this forum...there are many empathetic people willing to help out. USE this tool.
I will get back to you on this one.
Stay strong,
Dr. JSA

Finally! I got to come home yesterday. I still have my pic line for another week or 2 so no food or liquids yet. I go back to see my surgeon on the 17th. They'll set up an upper gi to see if the leak has closed. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, the support here is amazing!

You will get there!
I took 50 weeks to lose the 81lb to get to goal, and I used to get quite upset at times looking on here and seeing people who have lost that in 3 or 4 months, but I had gains, and I had stalls, and towards the end I found that my hormonal cycle was related, and I would only lose weight one week in four!
However that being said the stalls did break, even of it was just a few lbs before the next stall, and one day I realised I was pretty much there. When I got down to 9lb from goal, and started to stall again I went back to basicis, did a week of shakes, and then upped my Protein following that by having shakes instead of lunch, and thankfully that helped to fend things off a bit.
Good luck, you have done brilliantly so far, and your body will work things out and relent soon xx

Efamcan, I didn't lose weight constantly, like 20 pounds per month. Some months it was like 35 pounds, some it was like 10. My advise, eat PROTEIN!!!!! I didn't eat anything but Protein. Even if I had room for veggies, I just ate the protein. Drink plenty of Water. No carbs. And no sugar. Those Wyler's drink mixes that you put in water, that are 5 calories and sugar free...I lived off those things. Protein shakes - have 1 everyday for Breakfast, still. Track your food intake. I use myfitnesspal.com. I do it so that I don't go over my allotted calories - 900 (although I never make it 900; I'm usually around 850), and fats. I do tend to go over on carbs, but everything has carbs in it - even milk for the protein shakes.
My best advice: EXERCISE!!! I walk 10 miles, 2 times a week. I Zumba 2 times a week and water aerobics and/or dance aerobics, and lift weights once a week. I have to. I'm telling you that walking! The pounds just fell off!!!
It's not easy and some days I fall way off the wagon. I ususally end up making myself sick when I do. But, I'm a work in progress.
Don't worry about the stall. They happen and then one day, maybe in a few weeks, it'll stop, by itself. Even if you're not losing pounds, you may still be losing inches. Try measuring yourself with a tape measure. It's not all about the scale!
Contact me anytime with any questions.
Good luck!

I can't believe tomorrow is my surgiversary. My wedding photographer was talking on FB (she had gastric bypass last month) and she was saying how some people on her boards have lost 140lbs in a year. I thought about it and as of this morning, I have lost 107lbs this past year.
I honestly cannot believe it. It is a goal that I have always dreamt of but didn't think I could reach... and then to exceed it. Absolutely mind blowing!
Here is a little photo side by side she made for me that I thought was kinda cool!
And then one of my family this holiday season... hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Thank you so much everyone! I am wearing my 18 year old daughter's pants in the recent photo!!
Lisa821...I am 5'4" my weight loss had the usual stalls (nasty one at 3 weeks and then more later on.) I tried not to pay too much attention to them because I knew they would break eventually. Just like others have said, even when the scale didn't budge, I was losing inches and pant sizes. I go to the YMCA 4-6 times a week and do a Zumba class. I LOVE IT!!! It is so energetic and fun. I LOVE to dance and Zumba is a great fit for me. Sometimes I swim but not for aerobics. I do it for toning and relaxation. People in my Zumba classes have started asking me what I am doing to lose so much weight and telling me I am an inspiration to them! I always say that I am eating less and moving more. I don't feel it's necessary to tell my medical history to a stranger.
I have 11 children (birthed every single one of them!) and my kids are all so thrilled for me. I am so glad I had my sleeve!!!!
Living the dream,
Laura

When I first started this journey, my BMI was 40.7...just enough for surgery according to my insurance. Today I am at a "normal" BMI of 24.3!!! I am finally "normal" I love my sleeve!

February 2011 237 lbs
December 2011 141.5 lbs
What a difference a year makes!!!
Living the dream,
Laura

I got into a cardio kickboxing class at my gym. I went the first time never expecting to go back (a friend talked me into it) and now, less than 3 months later, I am doing my video taping to become a kick boxing instructor because I love it so much. It never feels like I "have" to go work out, but I always get in a great fun work out that flies by in 60 minutes. It has cardio and conditioning so I am not missing out by not walking/jogging or by not lifting weights. I cannot express how much I love it and I feel it really motivated me and kept me going in this weight loss process. I jog on the treadmill, and do a spin class and lift weights every now and again, but seriously, I do the carido kickboxing 3-5 times a week and am going to teach my own class starting in January. Far cry from the morbidly obese girl posting on here 9 months ago!!

I have to go shopping every three weeks for work clothes because they are baggy in no time!

I received a great Birthday present on December 4th. I got on the scale that morning and I met goal!!! The best birthday present ever. i am finally at a normal BMI for the first time in my adult life. Now I do not know at what point my weight loss will stop. I am thinking I can lose another 5 pounds or so. I am currently wearing a size 8/29 pants and medium or small top depending on the style. I am not as focused on the size as much as the weight, because the weight is what my joints and body feels on a day to day basis.
I am really nervous about starting "maintenance" because this is when I fear I will get too relaxed and have weight creep. So, I am not going to call it maintenance, I am going to enjoy a few things during the next few weeks for the holidays, such as a couple of glasses of wine and maybe a couple of margaritas. Since my surgery, I have only had two drinks so I could maximize my weight loss. Once January 1st comes around, I am going to focus more on exercise that firms and tones instead of mostly cardio for weight loss.
I am attaching a couple of photos, one from January 2011, 2 weeks before my surgery, in Steamboat snow skiing and the other one taken last weekend in Gruene, Texas, and of course my scale pic
Thank You everyone for your words of encouragement and guidance through this journey.

i had surgery in june.. pre and post surgery weight lost total is 78 lbs (i was 248 to 250 lbs before surgery, 228 day of surgery and now I am 170). I went from a size 20W to 12 on my bottom. I am 5'6 and my weight goal is 155 or size 10 bottom.. It has been a slow and steady process, I am very happy with my weight so far. My parents don't know about the surgery and I went home for thanksgiving and I kinda played it off so they did not suspect. They are very adamant though that I shouldn't lose anymore weight, lol, oh well they'll get over it.
the pics are obviously before (at my highest weight) and after (last month, november)

I stalled also I had surgery 11-17 I am down 29 pds I stalled day 15 and a week went by and then lost 3.6 pds and the next day 2.8 so I just keep running @ the gym andI am lifting 20 pds of weith also my arms are looking fabulous I am so happy and I in the 190'sssssssssssssss so happy !