Sleeve2B

Whoo hoo! congrats sweets!!!!

I too am a pretty priviate person. I have told most (people I work with and at my gym), that I lost my weight with my doctors help! I gave blood; and had a diet designed specifically for me. (we is true....)
There are people who are closer too me, that I have divulged all information.
I say, it's a matter of choice whether you TELL or NOT TELL.

Hello VST family,
I was in the gym yesterday preparing for my workout on the floor and a girlfriend of mines who sees me regularly said this to me:
"Girlllll you are getting so fine, I am going to get you a BODYGUARD"....lol
I replied -- Let me know when he is hear, so that he can do my 3hr worksouts for me...hehehehe
(She replied, no silly -- to keep all of these men off of you!)
At that moment, I was hit with a double whammy of a compliment. She has seen me every step of the way, and is very fit at 50 years old, weight 128 and mantaining.
I appreciated her more at that moment, then thoroughout our entire friendship!
Sooooo, my question is as follows:
What is the best compliment have you've gotten thus far throughout your weightloss that is sticking in your mind?
Please chime in...(Much love and success!)

I was on vacation and a few of us women were T-shirt shopping. I held a T-shirt up against myself and said, "Do you think this would fit?" Another woman looked at me and said, "You are so small I think you should get the next size down." Me--small!!

My daughter who is a size 1-3-5 in jeans walking in my room and hands me a pair of BKE jeans that were just a little too big for her and said if they fit I could have them. Guess what... They fit! lol
Just knowing that she thinks I would be close to her size is a huge compliment for me. She is a 15 yr old (pretty self centered) topical teenager.LOL

I saw my college age stepson last night for the first time in a few months. He came up and said he didn't recognize me until he saw my face.
Lissa

My boyfriend's friend asking if my boyfriend had a new girlfriend. He didn't recognize me!

My son (14) on seeing me come to the pool with out a shirt for the first time. He stops and stares and I cringe inside, then he says, "ok Dad, 1st, you have lost ALOT of weight!, 2nd, you look great!!! And then he smile this goofy im proud o my dad smile.

I been stalling out over the past 2 months. I have lost 4lbs, literally over Jan and Feb. So, I figure that if I am not loosing (large) amounts of weight then I must be loosing inches.
I am working out regularly - ie running, weight lifting etc -- I try to keep my eating in control. I focus more on Portion Control and getting in ample amounts of Protein -- compared to calorie counting. But, last week (Friday) I wore jeans to work. I thought they were a little "big" on me -- so I went to Walmart (yes, I buy my jeans there because they are CHEAP, and the most COMFORTABLE pair of jeans I have found around the city. <side note> If you check the label and it says that they are made in Egypt; it's like having a 2nd layer of skin on. That's how "light" the jeans are.....
Anyway, to my size -- I bought a size 10 -- didn't try them on (because I walked in there after my morning workout)-- took them home and tried them on -- AND THEY FIT!!!
Talk about a great NSV while moving into the summer. Hopefully by end of summer I will be a 4-6!!! Yeahhh me. Also, I am now down to 178lbs. I can't tell you -- when I have EVER weight 178 in my life.
I am loving my sleeve....thank you Lord Jesus for making all of this possible for me!

I been stalling out over the past 2 months. I have lost 4lbs, literally over Jan and Feb. So, I figure that if I am not loosing (large) amounts of weight then I must be loosing inches.
I am working out regularly - ie running, weight lifting etc -- I try to keep my eating in control. I focus more on Portion Control and getting in ample amounts of Protein -- compared to calorie counting. But, last week (Friday) I wore jeans to work. I thought they were a little "big" on me -- so I went to Walmart (yes, I buy my jeans there because they are CHEAP, and the most COMFORTABLE pair of jeans I have found around the city. <side note> If you check the label and it says that they are made in Egypt; it's like having a 2nd layer of skin on. That's how "light" the jeans are.....
Anyway, to my size -- I bought a size 10 -- didn't try them on (because I walked in there after my morning workout)-- took them home and tried them on -- AND THEY FIT!!!
Talk about a great NSV while moving into the summer. Hopefully by end of summer I will be a 4-6!!! Yeahhh me. Also, I am now down to 178lbs. I can't tell you -- when I have EVER weight 178 in my life.
I am loving my sleeve....thank you Lord Jesus for making all of this possible for me!

Calitrells,
I did not have any revisions, but I do have the VSG. I got mines on 9/21/11. I have lost almost 45lbs thus far.
I do have stretch marks, after having a child, but -- it really depends on the body and how you treat it.
I say that because I have been exercising for over 25 years. I have been a runner for the last 17 years; and I have taken on wieght lifting (more so than normal) in the last 2 years. But since my surgery -- I was a baby walking. I literally had to start all over again and get my energy back up along with my stamina.
I do a lot of arm\leg workouts to not have sagging skin (summer's coming...lol). My underarms -- at this time -- you can tell that I have lost weight, but not guess surgery. It is sagging approximately 1/2" to 1" away from my body when I lift my arms. My legs\thighs -- I have no sagging skin.
I do over head arm lifts with a 20lb bar bell. This has helped alot!!! I also lift 60lb bar bells performing dead weight moves; I use the Smith Machine for squats and lunges. After my 5mile runs, I get on the thigh machines to tighten my thighs (no sagging thus far - thank God!).
I had a C-Section when having my son, so I do have a kangroo pouch -- but even that has lifted and is now going away. My tummy do not sag. Actually I have a 4pack! Running helps alot!
I also make sure that I am doing 3 different exercise when working on any stationary machine! It provides muscle confusion.
What do I mean by that? If am work on my back -- I take 2 barbells and work them, in the mist of my rest from the stationary machine.
Sooo, I either have a jump rope -- or 2 dumb bells (working arms); or bar bells doing squats, etc....
All of this also helps stop sagging skin. And, the body doesn't get long amounts of rest in between which means you are providing a constant burn.
Hope all of this can be some help to you. Soooonnn....I will take pictures and post them..heheheh

Ladies please keep the stories coming. They are all very helpful, and keeps me focused and on track.

Hello VST,
When I first thought about having my surgery, it was about "health". First, in my mind I had to convince myself that I could do this. You know, change the diet -- stick to the plan..etc. I have gone down from 227lbs to 185 thus far. My goal...135-145lbs.
When I began this journey, and read all the stories about "Who did you tell..." I knew, that I would not tell many people. I'm a private person. But, I did tell 1 of my sisters. Her comment, "Well, I know a few people who did that and though they lost weight -- they didn't loose that much." How much are you thinking about loosing?
My response, it's not about the numbers, it's about my health! I had high blood pressure -- bordering on kidney failure, etc. I knew though I was althetic and have been for 20+ years, I still had to make a change. My diet was not right for the years that I was approaching. (Of course not! I was working out and still a size 16. No matter what I did -- the weight would not drop.)
Sooo, bringing us to the future -- I had my surger back in Sept '11. It is now 4 months later and I am down 40+lbs and several more to go. I have went down to a size 12 in bottom and M's in tops. I recently spoke to my sister (who has lost weight the regular way and struggling to hold onto her 12's); she asked me what size was I trying to be? I told her I will maintain between 4-8. Maybe a 6 would be good to me. We'll see since I've never been a size 6 before.
Her response -- you can't get that small! It's not in your family genes. I told her -- this surgery will allow me to do things I have never done before. It's not really about the clothes size, it's about the weight loss! I am RUNNING AWAY from my high blood pressure and issues with a fast vengence! Soooo whatever size I end up -- I will be.
I have all the confidence in the world that it will happen-- so I know that I will get\be smaller. I mean really - Its' only been 4 months for me. I go home in April of this year, and can't wait for her to see my changes! Yesterday, when I walked in my gym I had someone tell me "Don't lose too much weight -- you are starting to get skinny"...lol Talk about great feeling!
(Excuse the long letter..lol), but I must ask -- What has someone said\or did to you, where you've had to prove them wrong?

How bizarre. In 18 months, I've gone from an XXL (bordering on XXXL) everywhere with a 46 (going on 48) inch jeans waistline, to XL in the shoulders, L bordering on M in the waist, and M for undershorts. And my jeans are 36 inch waist, and that's getting a little baggy; I can now fit into 34's without too much work, and I expect to be comfortably wearing 34's by the summer (doubt I'll get much smaller than that, since that's basically my hip bones!)

I've basically gone from being shaped like a giant jiggling amorphous blob to having the classic male "inverted wedge" shape with a tiny little stubborn tummy roll (I HATE you, jelly roll, I hate you! I do crunches and obliques EVERY SINGLE DAY and yet still you persist...). I seriously NEVER expected that I could look in the mirror and LIKE what I see. It just didn't occur to me. I find that my self-criticism is having a hard time lately; since it can't point at all my rolls and rolls of fat, it's having to do things like point out that I'm getting older (see! you have a sprinkling of silver at your temples! see! there's a faint visible line on your brow! old man!) and the last little bits of fat (see! there's a jelly roll at your tummy and especially on your flanks... FATTY!). In some ways that's sad that I talk like that to myself (but don't we all, secretly?) but in some ways it's kinda comical that this little sad cynical part of me is having a harder and harder time finding things to complain about!
I've gone from being utterly invisible to the female gender; an "LJBF" (let's just be friends) kinda guy -- friendly, smart, nice, but sexy? no... To having the very cute 20-something barristas at the local coffee shop openly flirting with me (a 40-something guy!) whenever I go in. In fact, that's one change I have a hard time dealing with, since -- at the tender young age of 41 -- I have almost zero experience in dealing with women reacting to me physically -- you know, as a male -- as opposed to simply emotionally or mentally. The idea that some woman might think I'm physically "hot" -- well, that's a completely new experience to me. I'm not Brad Pitt, but you know... I'm not bad looking! That's an utterly novel feeling for me. But I like it, and better late than never!
I went from being unable to walk more than a couple of blocks without being in excruciating pain from sore feet, sore knees, and chafing thighs... from being unable to stand up for any length of time because it made my lower back hurt... from being unable to run for more than a couple dozen feet without becoming EXTREMELY winded... to being a guy who hits the gym five days a week for weights. A guy who walks 2.5 miles every day without breaking more than a light sheen of sweat (and that's at about 4mph, up a rather steep hill half the way). A guy who runs -- RUNS! -- for five minutes to warm up for his workouts, and is seriously considering whether or not he could actually, you know, RUN for exercise in the mornings (when it's not so goddawful cold, anyway). I mean, who IS this guy?
I've gone from a heart attack waiting to happen, high blood pressure on the border of needing medication, diabetes any day now, zero energy, zero libido, always sick to never sick, perfect blood pressure (104/68!), perfect blood sugar numbers, almost zero risk of heart attack, high energy with the libido of a teenager.
All this is in the course of 18 short months. I haven't worn a 34 inch waist since elementary school. I haven't been a "normal" weight since, well, ever. It's easy to lose track of it since it's the new normal (oh and, hint to guys getting older: the gym is your FRIEND!) but when I look back on how much things have changed in less than two years, it's just... astounding.

It's like I've lived my life as two different people -- and folks, that first guy sucked.

I just had to share that because I know all too well just how easy it is to become so focused on the negatives (and let's face it, if you look hard enough, you'll ALWAYS be able to find something about your body that you don't like) and overlook the incredible, unbelievable, amazing positives.

WOW, VST family, I have been waiting a week to post! Last Tuesday, I got on the scale and was so excited to see 199 for the first time since grad school (more than 25 years ago). I couldn't post because the site was down--talk about your frustrating moments. Then I had an out-of-state job that included a lot of physical exercise and a fairly limited menu--I ate very little for four days and had long working days (I'm a musician, and this was a conducting gig that involved many hours of rehearsal a day for a couple of days).
Imagine my surprise and JOY to jump on the scale this morning and see 196!!!! I thought my losing was kind of over; last month, I had slowed to a 5-pound loss in that month, and I was sort of expecting that maybe this month I'd lose 3 or 4, but nope--with the combination of seriously increased exercise and limited food intake, I am in Onderland and only 1 pound away from achieving a normal BMI for my height (which is 6'2").
So now, I have lost 110 pounds in 9 months and I am THRILLED. I've got 1 pound to go to get to "normal," and 6 pounds until GOAL, which I AM going to achieve soon.
YAY SLEEVIE!!!!!!!

TexasT please do relay back to us your results/experience. I will be looking for input in the future and this board is certainly lacking the the Plastics area.

Hello Cooper3600,
I am sure many people will chime in on this once they are back from their vacations...lol (Holidays - Y'know)
For me, I went to Mexicali, MX by myself. I saw Dr. Rodriguez. He and his staff are fantastic at their job.
I too was slightly worried only because when you speak to local people around you -- you find that you get all negative input about Mexico. But, honestly I think those are people who have never been. Like any city there is good\bad!
I stepped out on faith. I told myself how much I "needed" this surgery. No matter what diet I tried, I only lost inches or a couple of lbs here\there. Or, the weight just wouldn't come off. I wanted a better life, and better health! This surgery was one of the best decisions I ever made for my life!
I was extremely surprised at how "nice" there people were in that portion of Mexico. And how accommidating there were to my needs. Heck, to be honest I was tired of seeing the staff..lol There was someone in my room every 30mins to the hour for 3 days!
My ride\stay was literally 10mins from the airport.
All I can tell you is pray on the situation. Once it is over, you will probably tell yourself that you were extra excited for no reason -- but thankful that the surgery\travel is over.
Good Luck to you!
Sleeve2B

This is a POSITIVE POST! What is the best compliment that you have received thus far?
- I was in the gym preparing for a 4 mile run on the treadmill. A gentlemen can to begin his workout next to me. He looked at me and "smiled and said hello". I smiled back, and stated my hello. Then he said something to me, and I could not hear him. So, I removed my earphones and said "excuse me?". He repeated himself and staid "IT'S GOOD LOOKING AT YOU TOO". And I was like, uhhhh ok....thanks...lol
I'm taking it that he meant, I looked good! Though I had never seen this man before, it was a nice compliment that he gave me in a quick 5mins before his workout....heheehe
What is the best compliment that you have received so far since getting your VSG?

This is a POSITIVE POST! What is the best compliment that you have received thus far?
- I was in the gym preparing for a 4 mile run on the treadmill. A gentlemen can to begin his workout next to me. He looked at me and "smiled and said hello". I smiled back, and stated my hello. Then he said something to me, and I could not hear him. So, I removed my earphones and said "excuse me?". He repeated himself and staid "IT'S GOOD LOOKING AT YOU TOO". And I was like, uhhhh ok....thanks...lol
I'm taking it that he meant, I looked good! Though I had never seen this man before, it was a nice compliment that he gave me in a quick 5mins before his workout....heheehe
What is the best compliment that you have received so far since getting your VSG?

I stalled at three weeks for five weeks but noticed the inches were melting away. One morning I woke up, jumped on the scale and was five pounds down. I lose inches and then I notice....VOILA there go the pounds. That has been the way it has been going for me so far.....

Thought I'd share!

Hello marVal,
I am now 3 weeks out and getting a bad taste of acid reflux also. Today, I can upon a solution that works like a charm.
2 tablespoon of Applecider Vinager mixed with 8 oz of Water.
*note: it will make you PB or throw up if the is too much blockage in your throat, but it will balance the acid out in your stomach/throat.
I did it today and it took less than 45secs to work. I had been PB for like 6 or more hours. I went to work and had to leave because it was coming up every 5 sec. But I did my research before I left, and tried t when I got home. Worked beyond belief.
Take care