Vicki0618

Hey Cherry, do you know where I'd find the science behind what you said... "If you have a body that genetically wants to be fat, it's a scientific fact that it will fight you every day of your life to regain that fat." That totally makes sense and it how I've always felt. I completely take after my father's side of the family...Very strong Norweign stock...lol. Most of them were morbidly obese, fighting diabetes etc. And I've always felt like my body fights me when it comes to losing weight. It really really likes to be fat!! Rootman...I totally agree with what you said, I know WHY I got here. I just keep thinking..."maybe THIS time it will work" I know, I know, I'm probably beating my head against a brick wall.

Yeah, Caradina..the regain scares the **** out of me!! I've lost various amounts of weight before but always regained it. Just another part of the puzzle....sigh!

AWESOME...coming from the mom of teenage boys!! If it's not food or directly related to THEM they don't notice. So if he noticed, you are definitely doing something right!! Congrats!

People who have NEVER had weight issues have no idea what a slippery slope it is. It starts with a few MORE pounds that what we are used to hauling around...which makes it harder and harder to do everyday things. Pretty soon it is easier to just NOT do things...and just sit...and eat...and sit...and eat...and fast forward a few years. I totally agree with Cookie..."There but by the grace of God, go I" Which is a scary scary thought!!

Just a question for you all...because it's been rolling around in my head and I want to get someone else's perspective. If I am doing well and losing weight on my own, (watching calories and staying very low carb) WHY can't I just continue doing this and NOT have another surgery (had a lap bad that had to be removed a year ago). I keep thinking of the cost...and thinking I SHOULD be able to control myself save myself the pain of surgery as well as save my family the cost of it. However, I KNOW that if I could have done it, I would have already. But as we all know...WLS doesn't fix the brain. What if I have finally figured out how to do that part?? Could I just lose it myself?? Without surgery?? Just my rambling thoughts and doubts....any insight???

Thanks ladies! I was pretty proud of myself, especially considering how much candy was around my house!!

NSV...I managed to go all Easter weekend and didn't even eat one piece of candy!! Whoot-Whoot and I got the Scale Victory this morning...Had my first official weight check at Kaiser and I am officially down 10 of the 25# I have to lose before I can schedule my sleeve surgery!! Happy Monday!!

Lets see...last check in was 19 hours...now you're at 21 hours...and I'm pretty sure you wrote this a while ago. Told ya, it's all downhill from here!! You got this! If you can do everything you've done to this point a couple days of liquids is NOTHING!!! Just think about how much easier it is now, than it was Pre-Op!

Make iced tea with decafinated tea bags!!! I started it when I was pregnant and just never went back. Might be a good option for you, especially if you love iced tea!

Well I can't say whether you're on track or not, but I think you are doing wonderful!!! 121 lbs in 8 months!!! That's awesome...AND you're knocking on the door to onederland!!

WOW!!! I am always amazed by how much younger everyone looks when they lose weight!! You could be your own daughter!! I'm soooo happy for your success!

After seeing my surgeon about getting a sleeve revision (had my band removed 12/10) I was told I would need to lose 25# before he would schedule surgery. So...after I got mad, and cried a bit...I put on my big girl panties and got serious! He wanted me to eat meat and veggies...no sugars, grains, or dairy AND 1200 calories a day. Well, I am doing that...sort of. I cut all sugars and processed carbs out of my diet. I did keep the dairy (mostly cheese and half and half in my coffee) and I'm averaging closer to 1500 calories... BUT.... I lost 5 pounds this week!! I changed my ticker for my FIRST goal...lose 25#...then I'll start on the next goal! Happy Monday Everyone!

Miss Diva...Thank you for your inspiration....hopefully you don't mind but I'm going to print this out and post it on my fridge and the wall of my office. But I have a question for you... When did you start working out? Was that something you adopted as you lost weight? Or did you exercise when you were heavy? I know you are a gym rat and workout alot...I'm trying to figure out how you get to that point. Thanks

Thanks so much! I knew from reading your posts that you had the band. And I can see you have had great success with the sleeve!! You are an inspiration for me! And I think we're neighbors...your in the Sac area as well right?

Well, after going to an orientation and meeting with 2 surgeons. It appears that to get my sleeve after my lap band I have to start over.... Long story short, I had a lap band placed in 2008 and lost 50 lbs. I kept it off until December 2010 when the band slipped and had to be removed. Fast forward 15 months to now, and I have regained every pound I lost and am basically miserable with my health. (NOT my life because alot of great things have happened in the past 15 months...new house, new husband!!) There are alot of reasons for the weight regain but what it comes down to is that I overate to a scary extent (according to the surgeon I had to eat an additional 180,000 calories!!!). So as of right now I am not a good risk for a band (past band failure, as well as weight regain). In order to prove that I am a good risk, and serious about this I have to lose 25 lbs....Yikes!!! That's like 1/2 of what I lost WITH the help of the lap band. I do understand the reasoning behind it, from the surgeons perspective. However, let's be honest, THIS SUCKS!!! Looks like I'll be white-knuckling it for awhile!! I'm trying to see the up side of this...better recovery, more success and let's face it weight loss. So...ready or not, let's do this thing!!!

I am sooooo looking forward to this. I don't have a problem telling the difference between head hunger and REAL hunger but I have always felt like I didn't have an off switch....once I started I didn't stop until the food was gone! Well, when I had the band I stopped...but it was usually followed by puking and still feeling hungry!

Lyra, beautifully stated!! I can't stay if you hit the nail on the head for Pookey but there is alot of truth in what you said. Fortunately or unfortunately the surgery is not on our brains! Pookey, I hope you are journaling and working though things!! On the plus side it is wonderful that you can discuss with hubby and he is supportive! ((hugs))

This whole topic is making me laugh. I went to my surgical consult yesterday and was measured...and I have the reverse. I have been 5'10" my WHOLE adult life....yesterday I was 5'9.5" HUH!??? I guess it's the extra weight I'm carrying around. On another note, I'm so glad to see some tall ladies post here, so I can check out your pictures!! I have been over 200# since I was 19 so I'm having a hard time with the visual of where I may end up...and may I say, you look great where you are!!! What a difference! Thanks again...Amazon Ladies! Vicki

Thanks Miss Diva.....you're in Sacramento too!!! Hi Neighbor! I am really hoping I love it as much as everyone seems to think I will. The Dr. did say since I was successful with the band (even though I HATED the stupid little thing) I should be successful with the sleeve. Well I just have to wait and see what happens next!! Prayers are appreciated!

Well it's Step 1...and hold!!! Because I had a lapband it is technically a revision (even though I've had it out for 16 months) The Bariatric Center in South Sacramento has only been open for 2 months so they aren't doing revisions yet. (Although my Dr. has done many) so he has to get approval from the muckity-mucks at Kaiser. Worse case, I'll have to go to Richmond or wait for a few months. Nothing I can do, but pray. I should hear something in the next couple of weeks...

I went to the required Orientation on Tuesday and today i get to meet with the surgeon and find out exactly what I will have to do to get my sleeve. Since I had a lapband I'm not sure if I'll be required to jump through all the hoops but at this point, I'm ok with just starting with step one. .... as long as it's followed by step two, three and four!!! LOL

I can't wait until I have to suffer with these horrible problems!!! LOL

Whoot Hoo!!!!! That's one of my goals once I get sleeved!!! Doing a little happy dance for you!!! :D

Thanks Andy!! Lissa, that's what I'm hoping too!

I am scheduled for my Orientation on Tuesday 3/6/12....That's next week!!! At Kaiser (South Sacramento....new bariatric center....whoo hoo) to get my sleeve. I'm not sure exactly what the process is going to be since I was banded from 2008-2010 but at least this is a start. According to the gal on the phone my file has been run by a surgeon already and he said unless I have scar tissue or damage from the band I should be good to go. And so it starts...bring on the hoops, I'm ready to jump!!!