greensthings

Wow! You ladies look fantastic! What a motivation!

Wow!!! You look much younger!! Congrats!!!

You WILL make your goal! from your banner you are so close!!You CAN do this! I KNOW you can!!

First and formost, I had sleeve surgery!
I watch what I eat (not that I can eat all that much, but what I do eat, I make sure is healthy for me).
I workout in the gym 2 hours a day, 5 days a week (when I started going to the gym, it was for 15 minutes, becaause that was all I could do!) and I do Water aerobics 3 times a week for an hour each session as well (when I started it was one class a week, now I teach 2 of the 3 sessions I go to!)
I am 50, and I am a 3 time cancer survivor (age 10, brain tumor[Menegeoma], age 21 Uterine Cancer [discovered when I was 6 months pregnant], age 36 skin cancer), as well as a Service Connected Disabled Veteran (US Army 6 years). I currently am battling Fibromyalgia, Chronic Neuropathy, Arthritis and Compressed Disc's in my back (I am 3 inches shorter than I used to be). So I know all about pain and the limitations that health can play on working out. But as I have lost weight, the better I am able to move. The 15 minutes I used to only be able to do on the treadmill at 1.7 speed, is now at an hour at 4.5 speed!
The biggest thing I can say is, Water aerobics! If you can find a class near you, sign up! There are things I can do in the water, I would never be able to do on dry ground! Water aerobics takes the weight off my joints, so I can exersize. Water aerobics helps me get limber and gain enough confidance, so I was able to go to the gym.
Even with a sleeve, losing weight is not easy. A sleeve will not solve all the weight problems we all deal with. A sleeve is not an instant miracle surgery, it is a tool to HELP lose weigh as it limits the amount of food we can eat at a sitting! WE still have to put in the effort to exersize, watch what we eat and not stretch out our sleeve and defeat the purpose of getting the sleeve in the first place!
This is why most bariatric programs have mandatory 6 month pre-surgery programs!

I was told NO MORE sodas. I was a diet coke addict, but will happily comply. I said coffee is a deal breaker fortunately I did not have to give that up!

That's it I just love being able to cross my legs and not have one just placed on top of the other like I used to have to, lol. Although my knees are a little boney now, lol.

greensthings...Wow! You look amazing! I hope to reach my goal weight so I can rock a black dress too!

I am 5 months post surgery and never had any Hair loss.< /p>
In fact if you look at my before and after pics, my hair looks better now than pre surgery!!

Called Blue Shield today and the guy on the phone told me I didn't have to do the 6 months so I got all excited. Dr.'s office called and spoke to 2 different people and they said I did. I emailed the question and got back the answer that I do have to - why did that guy have to get my hopes up for nothing!!
Good news I passed the psych review with flying colors - said I'm a perfect candidate. Have my nutrionist appt on Tuesday - going to ask her if she can monitor my weight for 6 months - depending on how much she charges

I also find it hard to understand....We ALL knoow how to gain weight, as we did it for years.....all she has to do is add in a few foods that have higher fat, carbs, or calories..it's not rocket science....lol
unless she's going for the good old "poor me....factor...help, i can't stop losing weight....what do i do.....lol

Well the only thing I can say is, Who are you doing this for? You are working out the pro and con through your dreams! Take a Picture of the look you want and replace the face with yours and Put it on you door and write yourself a letter every nite about the positive things that will be different for you when you lose the weight. My date is April 11th and no cold feet here and a high risk person because of medical reasons.You will do fine and the dreams turn from bad to good. I now dream about me in a two piece bathing suit on the beach in rio.

9 weeks out and im down 32 pounds!!! Just thought id share!!!

Honestly, I'm a little shocked at some of the reasons for regret. I'm 18 days post op. I've not had a single regret at any time. Surely you didn't go into this without realizing this was going to change your entire way of eating!? Did you really think that you would lose weight by still being able to eat full meals? Isn't that what got us into this mess? Not all of us, but a mass majority of us had no control over our portions, or the things we chose to eat. So now your regret is that you cannot sit down and eat an entire meal with a friend!? I... well, I'm sad for you about that. I went to dinner with a friend just a couple of days ago, and I was ecstatic that I could only order a piece of fish, and more ecstatic that I could only eat a small portion of it! It was THRILLING! There was a time when I would go to that same restaurant and scarf down an entire meal.... that put me at over 300 pounds! Why would I NOT want to give that up? From what I've read, all the things we go through for the first few months are NOT permanent. Yeah, it sucks that you have to have liquids for a couple of weeks, and pudding, and mushy stuff for a month, but its temporary. This is a long term change that will change your entire life! There is NOTHING embarrassing about eating a small portion of food! If ANYTHING your friends probably wish they got full on such a small amount! Embrace this change... and expect nothing but greatness from it.. because in the end, that is what you are going to have... a GREAT NEW YOU!

I am 2 days post op and my stomach hurts I can't turn over to sleep on side but I guess I am handling that ok but what I am concerned is that I can't seem to get enough of the protien in.. I am drinking the chicken broth and alot of Water.. is that ok? I know after 3 days i don't have to be on that whey crap anymore, I also have some sharp pains that likerise up then disappear? not sure what that is about. But for the most part i am doing ok. Just ready to be on the shakes. Also taking meds by liquid...ewww lol I have more sympathy for my kids now when i give them thier liquid meds lol...
Hope someone has a bit of advice

Congratulations on ur success so far, now all you need to do is to stop trying going hard on yourself cause in no way this is the solution.
I have had my time of falling off the wagon, erasing the gym time from my calendar and feeling like I just will do it later or the weight will come off magically and sometimes I feel like I am really tired from all the stress and the journey of weight loss.
I believe I have let myself have several bites from sugary stuff and that was over the last 10-15 days, We were having a feast and I felt like I have to be normal and be festive, the feast is 4 days and I was suppose to let myself go for just 2 days max, I went on for 10 days and then I started to realize I dont wanna gain and for the irony of it I lost around 5 pounds then my body started to realize that I am screwing up and I put back 3 pounds! that was my wake up call! and it is not a nice one:(
I am glad u are already acknowledging the problem and facing it but going so hard on urself wont do it, the trick is cutting back slowly especially with sweets, I would limit my intake of whatever I am indulging, and I wont completely cut it off, go on like this for a week until u reach a limit of willpower of not putting a single bite in ur mouth, While doing that and starting working out u will be feeling like it is not worth all the hard work and it will help u to upgrade to the next level which is "GETTING INTO THE PREVIOUS ZONE". When we are doing hard work and sweating and running we are high "like addcition" let the addiction of working out back in ur life and the "periodically passing sweet addcition" will start going away and any kind of falling off the wagon will be in the past.
After all we are all human and one day we will eat sweets and Desserts and other bad stuff, I know u are in the losing phase thats why u are concerned but u are have done so good and may be ur body needed some rest from all the stress. Baby steps will be ur best solution and u will be back on track before u know it:)
Thats my opinion and thats how I deal with it:)
Again congrats and best of luck:)

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html
It's like a back-to-basics plan designed for RNYers but it works for sleeve as well (we just don't call it a "pouch") It's going back to where you were right after surgery, starting with liquids and moving through the steps, but condensed into 5 days.
Sugar = crack.
I am fortunate to be a person who can have a little bit and NOT overdo it, but the more I eat the more I want for sure. So I do have to be careful about the little "bits" of sugar that enter my mouth. Maybe try giving up the coffee and see if it helps. If you can have surgery and lose over 130lbs, then you can elimiate coffee for a few days and see how you feel. YOU CAN DO THIS! Hang in there!

Hang in there....We all go thru all kinds of strange feels before and after. The morning of my surgery i cried for no reason and i didn't even know why i was crying. Since then I have been happy and then other days i sit and think was this really the right thing to do. But you know some thing we all did alot of thinking about this and came up with that for a better life this was the right thing to do. Things will get better just give it some time. I had my surgery on 10-31 and am down 30lbs.. So here is a BIG HUG for you and just know you are not alone. :hug:

Deenah, Step away from the angry pills. What you are going through is normal. I think everyone has some issues they must work through, both before and after surgery. It makes it tougher because we all think the surgery is going to magically transform us (and it does!), but it's not instant. We have to go through a bit of pain and adjustment before things start looking better.
Just concentrate on recovering from surgery right now. Drink you Water, walk as much as you can, and try to get some Protein into your sleeve. Try not to think about what you "gave up", but concerntrate on what you're gaining: health, better body image, help to lose the weight. Those things are incredible!
Once you are past the initial pain and back on your feet, you will feel better. The anger will pass. If you really need help after you're through the first bit of recovery, maybe you should make an appt with a therapist. But, I'm betting you will be fine in just a few days. Right now you are sleep deprived, hurting and maybe a bit mad at yourself because you didn't do this "alone". You will be doing it alone. The sleeve is a tool and, while it's incredibly helpful, it's still only a tool for the weight loss.
Imagine yourself in a few months, thinner than now, able to move better (that will be weeks, not months, btw), with fewer health problems. Imagine seeing the looks you get from others when they realize that the skinny chick walking by is YOU! It will be worth it.
Good luck on your journey!!

You need to be honest with your surgeon. It is important that they know what they are getting into when they start your surgery, for your health and safety. I just started my 2 week pre-op diet today, and I am completely commited because I want everything about my surgery to go super smooth.
So, let your surgeon know. It will all work out in the end, even if the surgery is rescheduled. Which in my very humble opinoin might need to be. If you are having a problem completing a 2 week pre-op diet you may not be as emotionally ready to get the surgery. If you cheat on the siet after surgery you could seriously hurt yourself.
Reflect on why you cheated and try to find the solution because you don't want to end up with complications after your surgery. Good Luck.

As much as I been tempted ,I haven't cheat one single ay of my diet, I know my surgeon told me that he won't perform my surgery if he opens me and see that I did not follow the pre op liquid diet. He will send me home. So I really need this surgery to improve my health and I am sticking with my pre op diet . I don't know how strict is your surgeon.

TDSK, many people have to do some dieting to satisfy insurance requirements. Once I decided to get the surgery I committed to changing my behavior to maximize my health before surgery and my chances of success with the weight loss. I stopped drinking with meals, dropped soda and caffine, and practiced taking in liquids and eating slowly. The difference with this diet for me was that I knew it wouldn't be coming back. Remember that the sleeve is a tool to help you but you still need the discipline to stick to a program to get the weight off and keep it off long term. Take this opportunity to prepare and kiss those pounds good bye.... and cheat once in a while just for fun.

Thanks! I will definitely try to be more positive on that note, but I have not gotten discouraged, even though I still have about 150 pounds to go, I am ready and willing to take that on!
The small goals I set for myself help a lot as well My dr only wanted me to lose 16 pounds before my surgery, ( I have to wait 6 months because of my insurance) And I have already lost 9 of those pounds 6 weeks in to my 6 month program LOL! I have no doubt I will we well below the goal we set by the time I go in for surgery, and because I am so committed, I ahve no doubt I will get to my goal, I was told to only expect to get down to 170, but I know that since I am determined, I can get to my personal goal which is 35 pounds below my dr's goal.

So yall recently I finally got under 300 pounds, this has been a now 21 month journey, I started at 397, and am now 295.4 ( Yep I count the ounces too because those really add up ) I cannot even express how excited and happy I am!!
I was between 307-311 for months, and then about 6 weeks ago I stepped on the scale and it was 299, then it was 27, and now it's 295.4!!!! I know that I still have a long way to go ( Over 100 pounds still *sigh*) But see the scale continue to go down is so inspirational! I am really and truly excited about this! The surgery I will be having in a few months will only help.
Something I hear a lot from people who just don't know, is that Surgery is teh easy way out, I disagree, the surgery is a TOOL, without it, you can still lose, but maybe not as much, maybe not fast enough for you to feel like anything is even happening, but it's definitely not the easy way out! So much work goes into preparing for the surgery, and actually getting it takes time and recovery is painful, and UPKEEP goodness gracious, you have to be truly COMMITTED to losing this weight, you have to change your whole life, eat what's good for you, Cheating is something you can only do rarely, and even then, you can't cheat much, because your tummy just isn't the size it used to be!
But yall I"m committed, I'm going to make it work, and I'm going to make it stick, I'm going to lose all this weight, and I'm going to keep it off, and my profile picture will soon feature me as I see me, Thin, Beautiful, Ready to take on life in all it's glory!
I hope I can inspire anyone who is worried about what others think, because I have lost 101.4 pounds in 21 months without surgery, I KNOW how hard you all have worked, because I have worked just as hard! I'm proud of you all, and I'm proud of me, and I can't wait to get to my goals!
I have set a mini goal to be 289 ( At least) By December 16th, and I think I can really do it!
I went and tried on that dress I posted about last time again, and I will have to actually take it in to wear it to my job's Christmas party, I can't go a size down yet, because my hips are still a size 22, but my waist has gotten so much smaller.... This week has been marked by both Scale and Non-Scale victories, and I couldn't be happier!
Thanks for the read! <3
Sarah

Divorced the fat lady inside
Best thing I've done
Hope for the future

I am new here and don't yet understand this sight but am glad to see, share or read from others that already experience the beginning of the vsg journey