KatieOkieDokie

I don't know why.. I'm even in this thread ..

Deb IMO your dr was very rude to you
telling a patient certain things/how to eat differently, yes he is the dr and you do need to listen to him - but he doesn't have to give you a lecture
whatever he tells you, today tomorrow or ever, he doesn't need to be rude/mean to you - he could and should be a little more caring/and have a better repoir with you/his patient
in other words he should improve his bedside manner
losing over 100 lbs is so terrific -
he should have commented on your excellent weight loss - then nicely he could have advised you on what you feel you should be doing differently
IMO - for what is worth, you have been very successful
but you need/must listen to your dr.- even if he is a SOB
good luck

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

If you're 5 weeks out and you've lost 24 pounds but been stuck for 2 weeks, that means you lost 24 pounds in 3 weeks. You are doing great! Your body has hit the "3 week stall." It is simply in shock by the amount of calories you have cut from it. The average weight loss is 4 lbs a week so you're still doing good even with your stall.
Keep eating right and exercising and I promise, all of the sudden, you will start dropping the weight again. Most of us here have been in the same place.
But, as the prior posts said.... don't go off plan. This is the time to be establishing new habits that you will stick with for the rest of your life.

Well it seems that I have already started to loose some of this weight.. and I had no clue I was even losing! I found myself with no clean pants the other day and found a clean pair that I had put up to give away because they were too small on me. I figured eh why not try them on? I was shocked that not only did they fit they were kind of loose on me! So I thought hey I'll weigh myself..lo and behold lost 31 lbs! I was shocked! I have changed my eating habits a lot because I was told to do this before I go into surgery so I get use to it now. So I've cut out sugar, pop, eating late at night. I drink more Water etc. I don't really work out due to physical issues (which have become increasingly easier I've noticed..but still I struggle). I'm so excited!

Well it seems that I have already started to loose some of this weight.. and I had no clue I was even losing! I found myself with no clean pants the other day and found a clean pair that I had put up to give away because they were too small on me. I figured eh why not try them on? I was shocked that not only did they fit they were kind of loose on me! So I thought hey I'll weigh myself..lo and behold lost 31 lbs! I was shocked! I have changed my eating habits a lot because I was told to do this before I go into surgery so I get use to it now. So I've cut out sugar, pop, eating late at night. I drink more Water etc. I don't really work out due to physical issues (which have become increasingly easier I've noticed..but still I struggle). I'm so excited!

I'm am sorry to hear this But like the others have said you're better off without him (even though it may not feel like that now). Just focus on you, and getting your life healthy! Someday he'll look back and regret what he has done, not just because you've lost the weight but because of WHO you are and what a wonderful person he gave up! You on the other hand will probably be looking back and thanking God for this bf leaving you. Who knows you may meet the perfect guy for you and be with him instead!

I'm am sorry to hear this But like the others have said you're better off without him (even though it may not feel like that now). Just focus on you, and getting your life healthy! Someday he'll look back and regret what he has done, not just because you've lost the weight but because of WHO you are and what a wonderful person he gave up! You on the other hand will probably be looking back and thanking God for this bf leaving you. Who knows you may meet the perfect guy for you and be with him instead!

Yay!! Congrats! While I am happy to hear that you are losing weight..I'm sorry to hear that you're still 5'6"! Please let me know if you start gaining height though, that means there might be hope for me too!! I'm 5'4 and was aiming for 5'9 but I don't think this surgery will help with that..haha.. I loved how you added you're still 5'6

Ok short girl jumping in here (5'4) but I'm not going to talk about me because well that would make no sense whatsoever. However, my best friend Cat had the sleeve about 3.5 months ago, she is 6 foot, and started out at I believe 385, and was down to around 360 day of surgery. Since then she has lost probably around 65lbs and looks AMAZING!! I wish I could put her before and after photos on here, but I wouldn't do that without her permission. I'll ask her though! I don't remember what her goal weight is though. I need to get her to join this site!

Just as a side thought....when better to learn to deal with the reality of food being around you than before your surgery?? Like all the other behavior changes we were encouraged to make prior to surgery (eating with tiny utensils, using small plates/bowls, taking tiny bites and chewing the living daylights out of them, putting our fork/spoon down between bites, limiting sugars and increasing Protein, etc etc), living with the sights and smells of food is going to continue...for the rest of our lives. The earlier you learn to live in harmony with them, the easier your life will be, when you REALLY can't indulge in the foods that go along with them! You might consider reading "The End of Overeating"....a great book that will make you think twice about what your co-workers are eating. It really helped me come to terms with my own reaction to commercials, smells, etc...because what I was seeing/smelling became almost revolting to me!

I'm super excited and happy to share that I'm almost 6months out and I'm down 178lbs... This was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I'm a mother and wife and always put them first and let myself go tremendously... I was diabetic,high blood pressure, high cholesterol, on baby aspirin daily- you name it I had it... I researched for 5 yrs until one day I told my husband I'm ready and he was on the ball the next day... So now I've signed up for nursing school and started my new way of life in a healthier version... I know I have a long way to still go but I'm taking it day by day and loving my new life... Thank you all for posting all the information it has helped so so much...

Hi Everyone,
If you are sitting out there with a lot of questions like I was 4 years ago, I want to tell you that I was 63 when I had my surgery in Mexicali, with Dr. Aceves—I believe he is the very best you can find to do your surgery. I lost 105 pounds and YES I have kept it off for 3 years now. It took me 14 months to lose 105 pounds.

My ONLY regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner. It is unquestionably the very greatest thing I have ever done for myself! I will be honest and tell you that the 1st month after surgery will be the hardest month you will ever have to do. During the 1st month you will be making lifestyle changes, letting your body heal, and start to retrain your “OLD” thinking brain to the new ways in life—this is a struggle because you “Old” thinking brain has been used to ALL the food you have been eating all your life. But, it is only 30 days and you can do this! It is NOT a miracle cure, it is a tool to allow you to lose the weight and maintain it for the rest of your life.

What is a typical day in my life like now? I want you first to know that I do not ever really feel hunger anymore—again your old brain will try to tell you that you are hungry—we call this “Head Hunger” because it really isn’t real. Now I just know that I need to eat small amounts of healthy food during the day. I have now changed how I cook and I now crave healthy things—I know it is hard to imagine that you will do this, but it is true. Yes, I do have desert –but I have learned how to bake in a healthy way. I have a great Low Carb Cookbook that allows me to eat a lot of things I loved in my past life and they are healthy now.

So this is what my day is like:
· I get up about 7:00 am put on my walking clothes and shoes and go for a nice brisk walk for 2 to 3 miles with my husband. Believe me I didn’t start out walking brisk or this far. Do the best you can, but do SOMETHING for exercise. Sometimes in the evening we will walk 2 more miles.

· I return home take a shower and for Breakfast I have a Premier Protein Drink. I still to this day have a Protein Drink for breakfast and that is all I need.

· I do all the normal things anyone else does during the day, like clean the house, grocery shop, laundry, and plan the meals, work in my yard. I am also own my own business where I am an Instructor in 1st Aid, CPR and AED to people in my community.

· lunch usually is some kind of a salad or I have some protein—usually chicken, with some fresh veggies, some fresh fruit.< /span>

· I have an afternoon snack, maybe something that I baked from my Low Carb Cookbook. There are some great products that are healthy to have too. There are all kinds of things you can snack on that are OK
· dinner is always about 2 oz of some kind of Protein. I eat, chicken, fish, or Pork. I eat very little red meat—and I always loved red meat in the past, but I found out that my tastes have changed a lot after I had surgery. I always have some kind of fresh veggie, maybe in a form of salad and then fresh fruit. I eat about 1,000 calories a day sometimes a little more depending on how much exercise I do. I NEVER feel deprived.

Part of keeping the weight off is finding ways to cook that make it taste good. You can learn to convert some of your old recipes to being healthy too. I do have desert, but not every day. Sometimes just the taste of something will satisfy your need for it. Food NO longer controls me I now control the food and the amount.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I just want you to know that you can be this successful too. I have written a lot of things over the past 4 years, and I have information for those who are thinking about having surgery if you want any of it. You can be successful too.
I remember thinking what if I am the ONE person this will not work for, because I failed at everything else. So you are not alone, because many of us have thought all the same things that you have. I think the best things that you can do, is ask all kinds of questions. Check on who is doing your surgery. Like anything there are good and bad doctors out there, and I want you to be safe and have the very best you can have.

Hugs,
Suzanne
Sleeve 10/21/2008
Lost 105 pounds
Dr. Aceves- Suregon

i wish i could squeeze you right now! you have no idea how it makes me feel when people took the time to read my rants and actually feel for me. people who were closest to me didnt even give a KCUF about my pain and suffering and people who ive been there for never cared! but people ive never met care! it makes me teary eyed reading stuff like that. thank you for remembering me. its much appreciated.

From this woman's perspective, a guy who's been working hard and getting results can definitely brag a bit--I like the swagger. :-) Earned confidence is super attractive. You walk the walk, you can talk the talk.

...and I don't mean the temperature!
OK, this will sound like bragging, and it IS a little, but remember where I'm coming from: I had been obese my WHOLE LIFE. I first had to wear size 38 jeans in junior high school. And now I'm wearing size 34, bordering on size 33.
I was at the gym this morning -- it was arms day, biceps, forearms, trapezius, and deltoids (shoulders) -- and was working out HARD. I was looking in the mirror to check my form, and suddenly I thought -- who IS this guy? I realized that I'm looking... well... A-MAZ-ING! I mean I'm 42, so I don't look like a kid; I have laugh lines on my face, and (when I don't shave my head) a little gray around my temples. But my shoulders are broad and muscular (amazing what deltoid workouts will do, guys; wanna look broad-shouldered and thick through the chest? WORK. ON. YOUR. SHOULDERS!). My chest is just slabs of flat, hard muscle. My forearms literally RIPPLE with muscle when I move my fingers. My legs are turning into little tree trunks, and a lot of HARD work on my glutes (butt) has rescued me from the dreaded "white guy ass" -- I am getting a nice, muscular butt. I still don't like my midsection; the remaining flab and loose skin are all there, but sometimes when I move and the light is right, you can see my rectus abdominis quite clearly. Another term for rectus abdominis? SIX PACK! ME! A SIX PACK!
I wished I could have taken a picture to show you, but I'm not THAT vain; I don't bring my camera to the gym with me
I have to compare and contrast this with just two years ago, when my face was lost in a SEA of chins. My legs were big, but it was all just flabby, jello-y fat. My arms were big... with fat. They JIGGLED. And my midsection... oh dear god, what a train wreck; I had to wear size 3XL shirts just to avoid too much plumber's crack! I couldn't walk 200 yards without being tired. My feet hurt all the time. Men treated me with scorn, and to women I was simply invisible.
Now, men often do submissive body language (you know, hunched a little shoulders and eyes down) or challenging, threatened (puffed up chest, swagger, frightened/"tough" glare) body language. The one thing they don't do is scorn me. And women... well, as often as not, women have a sort of "hungry" look in their eyes when they're looking at me. I've even caught women out with their husbands/boyfriends "checking me out" and then looking away, embarrassed when I smile at them.
Am I bragging? Yes, I am. But this is all so bloody new to me. I'm a hunk! I have to avoid turning into a vain douchebag (and this obviously borders on douchebaggery already), but I figured that "Gastric Sleeve Surgery Success Stories" was the place to put this bragging if anything was.
Two years ago, I was obese, depressed, hated my body, sore, sick, tired, a clear "beta male," invisible to women, and probably on a fast track to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or some other form of slow, painful death.
Now? I'm fit -- within 2% of my "normal" body weight according to the height/weight charts. I can run several MILES without running out of steam or injuring myself. I lift weights nearly every day. I am happy, healthy, have a strong libido, a good sex life, and I *like* what I see when I look in the mirror. I would NEVER have believed it possible two years ago if you'd asked me. NEVER.
And, while I'll take credit for eating right and going to the gym/doing other physical activities regularly, the weight loss and health I owe completely, 100% to the sleeve.
THANK YOU, SLEEVE. Getting the surgery was the single best decision I've ever made. It saved my life, literally -- it's given me a whole new me, one that I never would have believed I could be.
Thank you, sleeve.

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I LOVE seeing everyone's before, during and after pics!
I've been updating this as I go. I just did it the other day because I felt discouraged over very little weight loss recently but I can tell in the face picture that my body is changing. The difference between the second and third image is only about 7-8 lbs but obviously there are still other changes going on too. The last pic in both is from Friday, down almost 90 but plenty more to go. 

my bmi was 74 on surgery day, only requirement was loss 20 lbs to shrink the liver, I had surgery in Dallas TX, good luck!

My BMI is at 65 but the doctor only requires me to lose 30 pounds and I'm down 25 so far.

My BMI was 61. One doctor said I had to lose 45 lbs before he would even schedule and 70 before he would operate (to get under 50 BMI). Another doctor said no pre-op weight loss needed. She has operated on patients BMI>70. I ended up going with the first doctor (due to self-pay issues) and am very glad I did. It gave me 4 1/2 months to get into the new habits, making this transition better. (I'm a teacher so I knew I couldn't have surgery until the summer anyway.) They also supported me with NUT and medical weight loss. I lost 65 lbs before surgery, BMI was around 51. No one ever mentioned the 70 lb goal. Obviously I just needed to minimize complications and prove my commitment.
On another note, I noticed you're not too far from me. (I'm in Dayton.) The doctor I went with was in Cincinnati but the other one I mentioned is in Dayton. Let me know if you want any info if you don't already have someone in mind.

I just want to feel good again, to be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath. To hopefully not have to prick my finger several times a day to check my blood sugar, and get off meds! I'm tired of being tired!! Yes I also want to look better, but just to feel good would be OK for me!
My goal weight would be 200lbs.. I'd be happy with that! Of course lower would be great too! lol

I just want to feel good again, to be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath. To hopefully not have to prick my finger several times a day to check my blood sugar, and get off meds! I'm tired of being tired!! Yes I also want to look better, but just to feel good would be OK for me!
My goal weight would be 200lbs.. I'd be happy with that! Of course lower would be great too! lol

whoa! Don't but another animal to keep an animal occupied, especially one that is 6 years difference...that would be like handing a 35-ish person a toddler and go "enjoy".
We have an organic farm at home and Hubby's mom is an exceptional handler for dogs (and horses) I actually just called her and she totaly encourages you to adopt a second animal, but be aware of the age, situation, and breed vs. breed you are introducing and get it from a shelter that will let them interact a few times before you commit.
She's the dog whisperer, lol - but I am 6 months out on the sleeve - and I suggest you hold off till after the sleeve.
Off my soapbox.

I'm 32 and from Indiana. I have been married to my best friend and biggest fan for almost 5 years. I am scheduled to have VSG on July 23rd. I began going to my hospital's weight loss program the day after Thanksgiving 2011 and weighed 494. I'm down to 453 and have a final goal weight of 200. I am a teacher on summer vacation so this is the best time for me to do this. My husband and I have tried to get pregnant for 4 years and everything checks with both of us. My weight seems to be the only obstacle. I am ashamed that I have let myself get as big as I have but I know that I will never be this big again. I am hopeful that in a couple years, we'll be able to start the family we've dreamed of. I have started watching the YouTube videos of people's journeys and it's a little daunting but also gives me hope and confidence that this will be one of the best decisions I've made. Aside from high blood pressure I am very lucky to have no other health problems and am all cleared for surgery. I start my liquid diet on July 10th and I am excited to begin this new chapter in my life. I look forward to learning about other experiences and sharing my own along the way.