Bypassjourney

You look amazing!! What an inspiration you are!

What a great feeling! My nine year old son did something similar a few weeks ago. I was driving with my arm at the top of the steering wheel. He said "your arm is so tiny". Its an even better feeling knowing they don't have a clue how their one little comment makes us feel so wonderful! Keep up the great work!

I did not tell many people that I was having surgery (mainly my family) because I knew I would not have their true support. I am single so no support from a husband. I lived on this forum board and it was a life saver to me during that three month insurance approval process. No matter what my fear, anxiety, joy or any other emotion was, I could come to this board and rest assured that someone else could relate. Do your research, start setting your mind to make the lifestyle changes and the time will soon fly by!

I was completely exhausted the first few weeks. Rest as much as you can in between drinking fluids and walking I found that I was starting to get really exhausted and worn down a few weeks ago. I read all the material I got from the doctor again to see if I was missing something. I was not taking enough Vitamins, specifically Vitamin D. Since I have added that daily I am feeling much better.

It is great to hear of a long term success. I am only three months out but some of these lifestyle changes are becoming second nature. Thanks for sharing your inspirational story!

Before picture taken day before surgery on 1/29/12. Now picture taken on 3 month anniversary date 4/30/12. What a difference 50 lbs. make!

Way to go! You look amazing!

I had my favorite blazer altered two weeks ago and paid $20 for the alterations. I figured that was worth it to wear it again for a couple more months since it was my favorite. I wore it one time and then I put it on this week and it was way too big again. No more alterations for that jacket! I haven't thought to go ahead and pick up other things in smaller sizes. I am going to go do that this weekend at Goodwill.

Your hesitations are exactly all the emotions and questions I had. I was worried that I would be that exception that was not successful after surgery. It is definitely not a cure all because you do still have to work at making good food choices and exercising. I had surgery three months ago today and I am down 40 lbs. since that day plus another 10 that I lost on the pre-op diet. I kept telling myself through those difficult days on liquids and mushy foods that this is a matter of life or death so I can do it. Before I knew it, I was on regular foods. I have had moments where I still do eat the foods from the past. But it is so amazing that I couldn't eat the quantity of food I did in the past even if I wanted to now. After some of that "I can eat anything I want but in smaller portions" eating, I started listening to my body and am making better choices. I read on this board how people would become addicted to exercising and I couldn't fathom that. I am starting to become that way as well where I can't wait for the evening to come so I can get my workout done. This has been the best decision of my life. I also didn't want to tell anyone out of embarrassment and fear that if I wasn't successful they wouldn't know since they would not know about the surgery. I told only a few people. As time has gone on and I am having success, I tell anybody who asks. Maybe someone else will be inspired by seeing my results and will look into this life changing tool. Do what is best for you when deciding who to tell or not tell. But the ultimate factor needs to be that you know you are doing this for you and you only. While everyone must decide for themselves what is best for them, I want to encourage you to seek out all the information you can. Go to the pictures section on this site and look at the many wonderful transformations. It is very inspiring. There is so much support on this forum. I practically lived on this board in the months leading up to my surgery. I wish you the best of luck in making your decision. We are here for you!

DEBSII, we do seem to be running at about the same numbers. I have that same stash of "someday I will fit into these again" clothes. It has been funny though how a lot of the stuff I have held onto for so many years, I have looked at it and laugh because it is so out of date - out of style so I wouldn't wear it if I could. So my closet is quickly getting cleaned out and what a great feeling it is!

I understand what you are going through. I felt the same way at that point. I did get on an antidepressant and that helped tremendously. Only 12 weeks out and all of that pain from the surgery and days of feeling down are quickly becoming a distant memory. I am sorry you are feeling this way. Keep coming to this board. It was a big help to me as well. Take care.

What an incredible feeling! Keep up the good work!

I had surgery 12 weeks ago. Prior to and soon after surgery I read many posts about people a few months out and most everyone said the sleeve was the best decision they had ever made. I was so hopeful but at the same time fearful that I wouldn’t have such a successful journey. I am happy to say that I feel the exact same way as they described!!! I never thought it would be possible to feel this much better both physically and emotionally in such a short time. I have lost 47 lbs. (stalled for a week now) and down 30.5 inches! I was in a tight 20W three months ago. Now I am comfortably in a size 16. I have an NSV to share that some of the ladies may be able to relate. I have always gotten regular pedicures. But I have been doing my own pedicures recently. Not so much because it is less expensive…but because I can actually bend over and paint my toes without turning blue!! I am so amazed at my journey so far and looking forward to a lifetime of better living thanks to my sleeve.

My doctor's office charges about $14K for self pay patients. As far as my understanding from others that used this doctor that was a "package deal" that included pre-op hospital tests, hospital stay for two nights, anesthisiologist, doctor. Basically everything. I have insurance so I only had to pay $2,100 which was my annual out-of-pocket maximum. But I am still shocked at how much was billed and paid. The hospital billed $100K and my insurance company paid a negotiated rate of $67K!! Between all the individual doctors that submitted a claim while I was in the hospital and my surgeon, anestisiologist, etc. my insurance company paid out a total of $83,000. Seriously? That is just unbelievable to me. No wonder our health care system is in such horrible shape. I am so thankful that my insurance company paid but I almost feel guilty that the doctor and hospital charged them such a ridiculous amount.

Congratulations! I hit it on the exact day of my two month anniversary. What a great feeling! Did you take a picture of the scale like I did? :-)

I also had surgery on 1/30 and have lost 45 lbs. (10 of those lbs were on pre-op). I have not exercised but have sure had so much more energy and spending a lot more time spring cleaning my house. Someone had suggested using myfitnesspal.com to track your food and exercise. I just signed on to it yesterday and I am excited about using this tool. It is free also. I have read so many posts lately about slow losers to where I think we are actually the norm. But hey, 45 lbs. in three months...I wouldn't say that is really a slow loser. Keep up the good work! We can do this!

I started protein bars at close to five weeks post-op. I went to Walgreens and bought just about every variety they had and tried them over the course of a couple of weeks until I found a couple that I really enjoy. Anything that can help us get our protein in during the beginning when we are just trying to figure things out is worth a try.

This made me laugh because I too have had the same thing from my co-worker. I have figured out really quickly that she has always enjoyed that she was the skinny younger one and I am the older fat one. All along our personalities have been completely different in that I am friendly and outgoing and she is just a waste of a nice body with that sour attitude. So now as I am losing weight she has started saying "oh I need to lose 10 lbs, I'm so fat". It is obvious she is wanting me to say "no, you don't need to lose weight". I don't even respond to that. But I do understand what you are saying that it gets annoying after a while being around people like that.

I have a protein bar just about every morning. I went to Walgreens where they have several varieties in the single serve packages and bought just about every flavor they had. I tried a bite of all of them over the course of about a week and found two that I really like. One is the cheapest I found. The name brand is Ultimate Flurry. It has 16 grams of protein. The other one is supreme protein and it is in an orange package.

I think us slow losers are actually the norm rather than the exception. I was getting very discouraged at first also and especially during that three week stall. But what I have started realizing is the .2's have added up over these past several weeks and all of a sudden I am down 40.5 lbs. How funny that yall say people notice it in your face more so than saying they see it in other places because I have had the same thing. But considering I can't hide my chins with turtlenecks year round in Texas, I have decided I am very happy with that compliment. What I am amazed at is the amount of inches I have lost and fitting into clothes I hadn't fit into in years!

I did it! I broke through that ONE-derland door!! And it was on my two month surgiversary this past Friday. I had not been under 200 since the end of 2006. I have lost a total of 40.5 lbs. (that includes 10 lbs on pre-op) and feel amazing. I can't say enough great things about the sleeve and my new way of life. What a blessing! "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1)

So happy for you!!! I am exactly 2 lbs. away and I can't wait to see ONE-derland! Great job and congratulations. Kiss those 200's goodbye forever.

I am glad to hear everyone is doing great and I think we are all enjoying our new sleeve. I have lost 24.6 lbs. since my surgery on 1/30. I do not eat near enough protein (or near enoughof anything for that matter. I cannot believe the difference in my attitude and personality already. I just feel like a different person. I am 3 lbs away from ONE-derland! I have not experienced any hair loss but did start taking 5000mg of biotin last week. My daughter came home from college for spring break and her hair was considerably longer than it had been. She said she had been taking biotin. She had a $4 bottle of it from Walmart. I too have gotten discouraged with what I think sometimes is slow weight loss compared to others. But I think from reading more, we are the norm with losing around 18-25 at this lengthof time after our surgery. Honestly, I have stopped signing onto this site as often for that very reason because I figured out it was causing me to doubt my progress reading others that have had more. Also, it seems like sometimes when someone posts about struggling with past behaviors or wanting to drink a coke or have something that they have been craving then there are people who "jump" on them and tell them they have never messed up and how great they are doing. I am happy for them that are doing so well, but I still have the head hunger and I also still have very real cravings for a coke zero. I haven't given in to that urge but I also cannot guarantee that I will never drink it again. We are all different and should treat this journey as our own. Of course the support has been wonderful on here and I am so thankful for this board. We are all doing great!

Congratulations on your success! I was sleeved one day before you and I have experienced the same thing with my clothes. I was so excited last week thinking I could probably squeeze into my favorite pair of size 18's. But when I put them on, they were literally like balloons on my legs. At first I thought "aw man" those are my favorite jeans. But then I decided it was a "yeah baby, you flew right past those jeans and now on your way to a new favorite pair in a smaller size". It is hard to comprehend really. When I reach my first mini goal I am going to treat myself to a facial. Not the 20 minute "go and glow" either...The 60 minute mega facial! I guarantee I have already saved enough money in this past five weeks in food costs to pay for four or five facials.

I obsessed over everything just like you described. I spent a lot of time looking at everyone's pictures of before and after. That was so motivating. You are about to go through a major life changing event so I think it is only natural to have your mind consumed with that right now. Good luck with your surgery!