CowgirlJane

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I have been in a stall, but this week i had a big loss of 4.6# to get me at the 101# lost. I am so thrilled with my success - all without vomiting, getting food stuck or trying to adjust fills. I am absolutely thrilled!!!
I need to get updated pictures, but i feel so normal and everybody around me think I look normal. Wearing regular 16 jeans now - no more PLUS sizes for me!!!

I have been in a stall, but this week i had a big loss of 4.6# to get me at the 101# lost. I am so thrilled with my success - all without vomiting, getting food stuck or trying to adjust fills. I am absolutely thrilled!!!
I need to get updated pictures, but i feel so normal and everybody around me think I look normal. Wearing regular 16 jeans now - no more PLUS sizes for me!!!

I have been in a stall, but this week i had a big loss of 4.6# to get me at the 101# lost. I am so thrilled with my success - all without vomiting, getting food stuck or trying to adjust fills. I am absolutely thrilled!!!
I need to get updated pictures, but i feel so normal and everybody around me think I look normal. Wearing regular 16 jeans now - no more PLUS sizes for me!!!

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I have had really good losses, good success with the sleeve. I went on a 4 day camping trip over fathers day weekend, was very active and didn't overeat and still had good losses. Since then, I have basically been stalled. No big deal really, stalls are normal, right!?! Truth is that I have not been prone to stalls, I tend to lose at least some every week, so it isn't part of "my normal".
Anyway, I started noticing thoughts creeping into my head - like I must surely be regaining and will my smaller clothes still fit kind of thing. I have been amazed at how quickly those negative thoughts have invaded my mind -- the fear of repeating the yoyo loss/regain pattern from my past.
The good news is that I went shopping for jeans yesterday and I am down another size. Not only have I kissed the plus section goodbye, I am now fitting into 16s quite readily. 14s can't be that far away! That actually helped me reset my mind a bit and not over-react to going through a stall.
I must say though, there must be quite the size inflation going on. Last time i was at this weight, around 10 years ago, I was wearing 18W-20W jeans.

So, I look at it a little differently... what can you do to preserve that feeling of good restriction/low hunger the longest?
To me, it is just following the rules. Don't graze. Eat to the point of lack of hunger, not to the point of being full. Seperate liquids from meals by AT LEAST 30 minutes. Eat Proteins first. Avoid "slider" type foods for the most part - dense Protein makes you feel satiated faster and for longer then a cookie does. Eat SLOW! It gives you a chance to realize you are no longer hungery before you have eaten too much.

Okay, so my circumstances were perhaps a little different because I had band removal surgery in late sept and then sleeve done 12/12. Doctors orders was to wait 6 weeks before riding after the sleeve. This was because of heavy lifting (saddle) and perhaps more importantly risk of injury from a fall. To be honest, i didn't feel much like riding until I was probably 4 weeks out anyway. I was so tired! Even at 6 weeks, I feel like I had lost strength and was tired after an hour in the arena - doing some posting etc.
Before the surgeries I rode usually 4-5 days a week, a typical ride was maybe 2 hours, but I would haul out for much longer rides on the weekend. I took alot of time off from riding between the two surgeries so it maybe took me longer to build back up. Also, I am 47, so I am thinking a younger person is going to bounce back a little faster. And finally, I had gained so much weight in 2011 and all - I was feeling in much worse shape then normal.
I personally would feel like it would have been too much for me to spend 5 hours in the saddle, chairing a show just 5 weeks post op. I don't think you would be risking your health because things are pretty well healed up 3-4 weeks post op, but you should see what your surgeon says. Dr Aceves is very experienced and I would trust his judgement on this.

I am so glad you are reaching out. I of course don't know your life situation, but that first few months, just post op changes creates such emotional upheaval. I would NOT make any major /life altering decisions the first few months post op.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

i saw a bariatric doc (not the surgeon) who said that she has a patient or two that have not lost very well with the sleeve. The common factor is grazing/snacking all day - basically using food as entertainment or comfort or whatever. Especially for women, you don't need a zillion calories to regain, you don't need to binge or eat big quantities at a sitting.... even just overeating a bit, on a regular basis, or eating junk on a regular basis can cause regain. I went to a support group once and I was a little surprised by the number of people who weren't losing well after the frist 50-80 pounds even though they had quite a bit left to lose, but they were definately dipping into the high calorie/junky slider foods. It can happen to any of us, I am not judging, just saying what I have observed. I am not radical about it, I do have something sweet every once in a long while, I am just keeping it out of my daily routine.
If you read the forums you will see that some people are disappointed in their results. I think sometimes it is expectations too. My goal is to get under 160#, but, even if i don't make that, being in the 200 range beats the crap out of the 300# range and I consider it a huge success ALREADY. Not everyone views it that way and are sorely disappointed even after substantial weight loss.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I started my pre-op diet 11/28/11 at 308; weighed 300 on the morning of my surgery 12/12/11. I was warned that since i didn't do well with the band, I might be a slower loser, i might have learned to "stuff" my esophogus and have poorer results. Well, all I have to say is if my results are "poor", I don't know what good results would look like!!! Yesterday (Monday) I weighed in at 212#!!! 96 pounds shed since I started that pre-op diet. I can hardly believe it.
I went on an annual camping event and one person didn't even recognize me! I feel like myself again. I feel like the person who is capable of doing physical things, enjoying my horses, playing with my dogs, going for hikes all the stuff I used to love. My life is oh so much better.
I have a ways to get to my goal, but honestly, I feel like I have already succeeded - my main objective was to improve health and have a better life and that has already happened! I don't have to shop the plus sections anymore!
The band was a struggle for me, for probably lots of reasons. I tried to learn from that experience and apply to the sleeve but also to let go of the negatives of the band. I can eat salad, I can eat veggies, actually I can pretty much eat anything with the sleeve, just in small portions. I don't need to eat "slider" foods because I no longer fear vomiting, I am actually satiated after meals. I am not in pain and still hungry, I feel pretty normal.
I know that the long term maintenance is the real battle, but I feel like I finally have a tool to help me succeed!
I was terrified of this surgery since the revision risks are definately higher then a "virgin" sleeve, but for me, it has been just a marvelous journey so far! I am so glad I took this risk, this chance, to get my life back.

I know the feeling, I have been a frequent business traveler over the last 10 years. One time i was crammed into a tiny seat next to a very tall (6'6") and large (broad shouldered build and overweight) Swiss man. We were both big people so, we had to laugh about it and he was very friendly and socialable so we made the best of it, but wow was that an uncomfortable and long flight for both of us.
I also say... don't carry the humiliation, guilt and shame you feel. It is a heavy load and you don't need that! I personally think guilt and shame are unnecessary burdens, on top of everything else an obese person is dealing with!

Other countries do have good medical care - including Mexico. I have never heard of this surgeon and maybe the take away for all of us is that our odds of a good result are better by going to a surgeon with a proven track record and happy patients - regardless of the country.

It is totally unrealistic to expect the really big losses to continue week after week. This is my loss by calendar month, weighing every monday. Month 1 is two weeks of preop diet where I lost 8, and the two weeks post op where I lost 20.
Dec 28.4
Jan 12.8
Feb 12.4
Mar 9.4
Apr 13.2
May 10.8

Thank you for sharing your story. I am not sure that the plication is showing very good results so far overall, no matter who does it or what country.
You know this, but I am saying this for any newbies that may be reading this - the plication is a totally unrelated and different surgery then the gastric sleeve.
I hope your revision goes very well. I am a band to sleeve revision patient... it is disappointing when your first surgery doesn't work as advertised.

The heck with guilt! Negativity is not a helpful tool for your success, it just drags you down and makes you feel bad.
You know, we do all have a personal responsibility for the choices we make, HOWEVER, when you are morbidly obese there are metabolic issues at work here. They drive you to EAT and to hang onto the weight no matter how strong your willpower. No matter how you got to this weight, your odds of losing and keeping off large amounts of weight are really small - like 5% or less - without the surgery. It is a tool, don't feel guilty, feel THANKFUL that it is available for us. I for one feel truly blessed to have this opportunity.
And don't for one minute think that it is "the easy way out". There isn't anything easy about it, and frankly it takes work and some sacrifices, but I view it as "the only way out." I have gushed on about this many times on this forum, but I can't even begin to express how joyful, thankful and excited I am to regaining the body and health that I deserve to have. All the surgical scars, loose skin and Protein drinks are nothing compared to the joy I feel when I can gallop my horse again, or go for a 3 hour hike with my 20 year old son or just fit comfortably in an airplane seat. This is living the dream!
Tell me now, which lady looks more comfortable and enjoying her life???

After 85+ pounds lost:

It is totally unrealistic to expect the really big losses to continue week after week. This is my loss by calendar month, weighing every monday. Month 1 is two weeks of preop diet where I lost 8, and the two weeks post op where I lost 20.
Dec 28.4
Jan 12.8
Feb 12.4
Mar 9.4
Apr 13.2
May 10.8

I am so terribly sorry. I lost my baby sister 5 years ago, the recovery from that... well... it is slow. You have my prayers.