BKdoll

Hi Nicole, at this time last year, I was having the exact same fears. Your band journey sounds just like mine -- except I put up with it for 5 years because I was so ashamed to be unsuccessful with weight loss even though I had weight loss surgery. Due to my reflux problems and esophogeal spasms, my doctor suggested the bypass. That surgery has never been an option that I wanted for myself. I went with the sleeve the day before Thanksgiving last year and I'm so happy I did! I wasted so much time feeling physically ill, losing sleep because of the reflux episodes and ashamed and now I couldn't be happier with my progress. Good luck with your decision!

I am nine months out now and I have experienced some breakage. It's on one side of my head and fortunately they are not coming out at the root. Instead, it sort of becomes thread thin in the middle and eventually snaps off. It's happened to less than ten of them. I can still cover it now, but am getting concerned and hoping it won't continue. I'm really working on increasing my Protein intake to help prevent this. I'm also avoiding putting my hair in ponytails just in case it was the elastics which are making it weak. However, since it's only happening on one side, I don't think that's the problem. Good luck everyone!

I like Mio, the berry flavor. I also wil do either fresh lemon or lime. I cut up a lemon or lime and add it to my water pitcher. It gives water a natural bump in flavor which helps me get through more of it.

I like Mio, the berry flavor. I also wil do either fresh lemon or lime. I cut up a lemon or lime and add it to my water pitcher. It gives water a natural bump in flavor which helps me get through more of it.

Thanks Patricia! I hope that's true. It's been such a long journey to grow my hair. I've always wanted to be thin and have long hair. I would hate to think it's impossible to have both at the same time!!

That is so great! And you are doing SO well. 66 pounds lost is amazing! I look forward to seeing your fitness secrets

I've been growing my dreds for 7 years now and they are quite long. I'm four months out and have been worrying all this time about losing my hair. I was wondering if anyone with dreds experienced hair loss? I don't really know what to expect -- could they just start popping off?! Do they grow more slowly. I heard that most people experienced shedding, but it's hard to imagine how shedding would work for my hair type. I know I should try not to worry about it because there's not much I can do (I've getting my Protein and taking Biotin the whole time, but I know it may be inevitable.

Hi! I had my band removed and was sleeved on November 23, 2011. I'm tracking my progress on Myfitnesspal and would love to have some friends on there so we can learn from and encourage each other. My username on there is bkdoll. Hit me up if you want to be a buddy or mentor. Also, I live in NYC and would love to meet others who have been sleeved!

Thanks for your inspiring post! And congrats on being a runner.

You are doing great! Congrats.

I know well the feeling you are describing. When I had a band, I would feel stuck and hungry at the same time. It was so strange! Now 4 months out with the sleeve, I never get the stuck feeling. My only complaint would be that although I feel satisfied and stop eating, I am hungry again around two hours after I eat. I am working on paying attention to my body to make sure that I'm eating enough and also drinking more water.

You are rockin that sleeve! You look gorgeous. Congrats on meeting your first goal.

You look great! You're so ready for your Hawaii vaca!

I'm 11 weeks out and I have no problems with popcorn. Not a regular snack, but I certainly have to have some at the movies! I tried eating it around week 7 and that was too premature -- I ate a handful and regretted it for about an hour.

I stayed two nights in the hospital. But unlike some others, it felt like I had surgery and my recovery was longer than when I got the band. The recovery is likely related to because I had a lot of scar tissue from the band - which complicates things (I'd had the band for over five years). Anyway, I had it on Wednesday and planned to return to work on Monday. I was unable to returned to work and ended up submitting an STD claim. I was granted 4 weeks. It took me about two weeks to feel myself again.