SensationallySassyT

Everyone is different but I am the same way at two years out. When i eat a lot of carbs my weight goes up.
Right now I sit 7 lbs higher than my lowest weight since I eat potatoes, chips, rice, Beans, bread and all the other stuff including candy occassionally. Listen, I had this surgery to be healthy first above being skinny. Skinny is good but not at the cost of being miserable. I look at it as I am okay being a size 6/8 rather than a size 4/6 if I can enjoy my life and not be militant about every bite. I am still well within a healthy normal BMI range. Still about 10 pounds under surgeons goal and with menopause going on now, this is a miracle. So I chose to be healthy and happy, not just skinny. Once a week I try to have an all Protein diet (under 20 carbs that day) so I can eat the carbs the rest of the week.
Now, you have to make a decision: What do you want?
Best wishes! No regrets, I love my sleeve.

I'm 2 1/2 months out and I try to stay between 800 - 900 calories. I think you're not losing because your caloric intake is too low.

Whoot whoot!!!! I can not wait to make my Facebook post! And yes I am telling thee world! All 1,045 fb friends will know~ I'm soooo excited about this shift in my life who knows how many people could be blessed from me sharing my experience instead of the I just dieted or I did WW response everyone else gives~ Nope I got Sleeved Boo! Crazy thing is everyone that I have told thus far has been soooooooooo supportive and even those who secretly will hate I love them anyways!
T~ :wub: :wub:

Whoot whoot!!!! I can not wait to make my Facebook post! And yes I am telling thee world! All 1,045 fb friends will know~ I'm soooo excited about this shift in my life who knows how many people could be blessed from me sharing my experience instead of the I just dieted or I did WW response everyone else gives~ Nope I got Sleeved Boo! Crazy thing is everyone that I have told thus far has been soooooooooo supportive and even those who secretly will hate I love them anyways!
T~ :wub: :wub:

Whoot whoot!!!! I can not wait to make my Facebook post! And yes I am telling thee world! All 1,045 fb friends will know~ I'm soooo excited about this shift in my life who knows how many people could be blessed from me sharing my experience instead of the I just dieted or I did WW response everyone else gives~ Nope I got Sleeved Boo! Crazy thing is everyone that I have told thus far has been soooooooooo supportive and even those who secretly will hate I love them anyways!
T~ :wub: :wub:

You're very brave. While I didn't make it Facebook official, I do tell anyone who is honest enough to ask me how I did it. Especially people who are overweight, my hope is that I may inspire them to make a decision they may be struggling with making for themselves.
You're doing great. Keep it up (;

I had struggled with the problem "to tell or not to tell" ever since I got my surgery done on 8-27-12. I have lost 26 pounds and it is obvious on my 5'6" frame. Many people had been coming up to me and complimenting me on my weight loss and of course the common question is "how did ya do it?" I didn't want to lie or to mislead anyone and make them think that I did it by diet alone. I wanted to be real and let them know that it is ok to need help getting healthy. I had told a couple of people and their responses had all been positive. I decided on 9-22-12 to make it "Facebook official" because we all know that unless it is said on Facebook it hasn't been said right!!! LOL. Below is my post. I was amazed at the responses I got. I had 103 likes and over 60 comments (well wishes) in the matter of a couple of hours. People are really supportive. I write this because I know lots of people struggle with the issue of telling others. I hope in some way that I can be an inspiration and let them know that it is really ok for the world to know that you needed a little bit of help getting healthy and staying healthy. You would be surprised how many people honestly want to know more about the surgery and how many people don't know where to begin on their journey to health. I have had more inbox messages asking questions about how to go about looking into surgery than I can even answer in a day’s time. I don’t necessarily want to be the poster child for gastric sleeve but I want to be supportive and help those who don't know.
THE FAMOUS FACEBOOK POST THAT STARTED IT ALL!!
I've struggled for years with being a "big girl". I've joked about it to cover my tears. I've dieted and lost but I always regained everything I lost plus a little. Over the years, I have done every diet known to man. Realizing that I have so much to live for I made the decision to do something about my health. I knew I needed help to get this weight off and to keep it off forever. I didn't tell anyone about my plans except those that meant the very most to me, those who wouldn't judge me for choosing to do something drastic to improve my life and my health. Today, however I am making it "Facebook official" because I have reached my very first scale goal. On 8/27/12 I had gastric sleeve surgery done. I weighed in the day of surgery at 221 big ole heavy pounds. This morning as I stepped on the scales, big huge crocodile tears ran down my face as I saw the greatest sight. I weighed less than 200 pounds!!! I've lost 10 inches in my waist line alone already. I've dropped from a size 18 to a 14 pants. I don't want to be a stick girl just healthy enough that I may grow old watching my children live productive lives and to be able to run and play with my grand babies. I want to ALWAYS be a part of their life. This surgery was only a tool that i purchased. I've had to make major changes in my life to get to this point. I have quit drinking; I haven't had a “real” coke in two years, any diet drinks, carbonation, or caffeine in 8 months. I am eating very healthy and trying to exercise every day. I'm proud of my decision to take control of my weight rather than let it control me. I am on my way to a new healthier me and I am one happy girl!!

Before weightloss


Before Surgery



6 Months After Surgery

I'm 5'3". Entered my surgery program on 3/15/12 weighing 233, not my highest. My surgery was 6/25/12 and I weighed 190. 11 weeks out I weigh 151. My exercise has been walking. I walk a little over a mile to work and then home again. I try to have long morning walks on weekends. I also do some light strength training, sit ups, girl weights, etc.

I was 267 in January - after 6 month diet I was stuck at 250 (gained and lost the same 2-4 lbs for 4 months). I got down to 240 on the two week liquid diet before surgery, and two weeks after surgery I was down to 229. I am now three weeks out, and I keep gaining and losing one pound. I was at 230 today. I have PCOS, and expected to be a slow loser, though expectation doesn't make it any less frustrating.
On the point of 240 not needing surgery. I must admit that I have seen people larger than me and felt almost guilty... but my body has refused to let go of this weight on every single plan I have tried. In 20 years, my body has never let me get below 220 lbs. I now have severe sleep apnea and chronic pain and fatigue. The nutritionist told me that with PCOS, I would never lose weight... without surgery. I did what I had to do to find a healthy future. I am hopeful.

I had my VSG revision at a MTF, and had an amazing experience, top notch care, and my surgeon is phenomenal. My surgeon had performed a couple hundred sleeves, and even more RNYs, plus he'd removed bands and done revisions. Even though he is "young" (under 40), his skill level was perfect. Tricare doesn't approve VSG outside of a MTF, but more and more military hospitals are starting to offer the procedure, and some even prefer it over the other options. I've had 4 friends use the same MTF, and all had the VSG scheduled and performed within 6 weeks of their informational seminar. Best wishes on your journey, and if you have any specific questions feel free to contact me.
The process is fairly seamless with the military. I did have to fight for my revision since I had already had 1 WLS with the band, but I fought and won.
My process was similar to yours except since I was a revision, I was able to meet with the surgeon first then do the psych consult. I was allowed to skip the nutrition classes since I had already met that criteria with the band just 8 short months before my revision.
Here are some questions that you might want to ask.
Pre Op /The Op
Is there some follow up care, like labs at 3,6,9 and 12 months?
Pre op diet - what to eat/drink and how long for?
What size bougie is used? (This is the medical instrument which determines the size of your remaining stomach)
Do you oversew the staple line?
How many incisions do you make?
Do you go in thru previous scars?
How many nights in the hospital is there facility for someone else to stay in my room as well?
Do they need to be with me 24/ during my hospital stay?
How many leak tests do you do?
How many sleeves have you performed?
Complication/leak stats? How many if any deaths?
]Who do I contact if I think I have a problem (most places give out an emergency number)?
Is the hospital equipped an ICU and blood bank in case of complications?
If complications do happen to occur, are these complications/additional surgery/days in hospital covered by the original quoted price of the surgery?
Would you remove my gall bladder at the same time if needed?
Can you give me some patient testimonials or do you have any before/after pictures of your patients that I could read/look at?
Is it standard operation procedure, ie: no nail polish, no body jewelryy?
Do I need to stop taking any particular medication pre op? (Take a list of what you take and dosage)
Post Op
How often are the post op check ups?
Where are they? is price included?
]What supplements/anti acid drug would I need to take and for how long?
Do I need labs done post op? Are these checked with you or my local doctor?
DO I get a dvd of the operation?
Post op diet?
How much weight would I be expected loose?
What if I loose too much, how to maintain?
Do you use heparin? Will I have to inject it myself?
How soon after the op can drive, swim, work out, lift weights, lift my kid?
Will you send me home on a true acid reducer like Prilosec, Nexium?

This is the first time I have had a bump in the road after VSG surgery. I lost weight, didn't sweat the stall, etc. and I have had a lot of success. My weight loss stopped at about 9 months. The doctor said it was to be expected because I was so close to my goal weight. He seemed pleased. This summer I stopped weighing myself because I was on vacation and away from my scale. Then I was afraid to look. When I finally looked I realized I gained about 10 pounds. I am so disappointed in myself. I think I developed some bad habits that don't work when you are at a healthy BMI. For example, I have always eaten a large amount of cheese, not lowfat. It was fine as I was losing weight but I think it may be too fattening now. I have retained most of my good habits, regularly walking, mostly Protein, etc. But now I find that foods I was avoiding can be consumed, like bread or chips. Although I don't often eat it, I have had it on occasion. Which I never while I was losing weight. I am trying to get back on the protein only wagon and lessening my cheese intake but I am pretty discouraged that I gained so much weight back so fast. Prior to surgery I wouldn't gain that much weight so quickly. I am so freaked out that I will return to my old ways. It has happened to others with VSG surgery where they have gained a significant amount of weight back, I have witnessed it with friends who have had the surgery. I want this to work. I have been such a good patient prior to this and was so proud of my progress. Now I understand the whole "Honeymoon" phase. It's over and I am so scared! I feel like I did prior to surgery when I was on a diet. Anxious, full of self hate and obessing on dieting. Ugh! I hoped this would not happen to me! I hope there is someone out there who got through a setback like this. I am hoping to diet and exercise my way through this, but I won't go back to shakes. They make me gag.

Most favorite: Not being so physically limited! I am riding horses, can easily climb in and out of things etc. - just have normal physical abilities again!
Least favorite: I think facing the realities of long term / keeping the weight off.

Favorite: when I catch my husband just looking at me for no reason, and he has such a great look on his face!
Least Favorite: the sagging boobs!

Favorite-My clothes (now mostly goodwill and thrift stores) fit so much better, you can't beat 5.99 jeans and 2.99 denim skirts.
Least Favorite-When I was bigger and would go out walking when I crossed the street people would try to run me over. Now when I went for a run yesterday, several people backed up in the street and a few guys smiled and waved. WOW...Things I never noticed.

This might sound weird but... today I am thankful for being less wasteful. When I was heavy I would just try and eat everything so I didn't waste food/money. Now that I am thinner I notice that I work harder to make good use of the foods that we have. Like making Pasta sauce with the tomatoes from the garden and pickles with the cucumbers. Trying new recipes that use what I have. I am being less lazy about it. Before if we didn't use bread before it was moldy I would just throw it out and not sweat it. Now I am pro-active and make the family some French toast for supper before it goes bad.
My least favorite thing today is saggy skin that acts like my old fat "muffin top" hanging over my pants.

Favorite: The weight loss, seeing my clothes get looser and looser!
Least favorite: The stalls! Also, remembering to eat, and drink enough. Amazing.

Favorite thing about WLS = weight loss
Least favorite thing = that it comes to an end and you have to really work at it to keep it off.

Favorite thing: I literally can't overeat. Love that.
Least favorite thing: Not being able to drink while I am eating. I don't think the waitress will ever get used to that.

Favorite thing about WLS:
Going from "ugggghh, what am I going to wear today..." to "Oh boy, what am I going to WEAR today??!!" I hope that feeling never gets old....
Also, the little discoveries along the way like suddenly realizing that it is no longer uncomfortable (or impossible) to cross your legs! Wrapping a regular size towel around you after the shower, and it is closer and closer to actually closing each week!
My least favorite thing:
food is still a bit of a chore. I am struggling to find variety and things I actually want to eat. I was never a huge fan of Protein, but really favored carbs. (I know, strange huh? Why did I ever get fat with that outlook on food? ) It is getting better though. The good news is that I no longer view food the same way. When we go out to eat or a party, my focus is no longer on food, but rather on the pleasure of socializing with my family and friends. I love that!

I was just responding to another poster, 3 months out and starting to slip a bit, trying to give good sound advice...and this was the next thread up and I appreciate hearing all that you have posted, especially since many have met goal or are very close, because in truth, getting there takes time and I think we all struggle with head hunger and making the wrong choices at times, but I really saw wisdom in your posts.
I really do see this as a lifestyle change and am so happy to have the restriction to help me with Portion Control. I know that prior to surgery I was a volume eater, and it would take me a lot to get full, and my world was filled with cravings.
Keeping the cravings at bay is work for me, but I am able to for the most part stay away from the worst of the evils, I don't even buy crackers anymore because they became my favorite slider food and they would call out to me from the kitchen, anyway I was starting to consume too many calories and could never eat enough of them. So I switched over to black olives and string cheese as my little go to snack.< /p>
I loved the Jerky idea as an appetizer of sorts, but to just keep that hunger in check and take the edge off. Evenings are harder for me, and I do keep low cal frozen Desserts in the freezer when I need a sweet and account for calories on myfitnesspal.
I am losing slowly but steadily, and at 5 months out, I know I have a ways to go, and I am embracing this new life and no longer dream of passing thru In-N-Out for a double-double with fries and a coke. If I have a burger craving, a patty with cheese and pickles does the trick, and if I really want the traditional burger fix, I make a little slider with a small whole wheat dinner roll, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickes and low fat mayo. It is the tiniest thing, but fills me up and satisfies the craving.
You are all a great support!

Can't wait till the 6 months is over, I can't wait to be sleeved and I can't wait to be a healthier thinner me!!!!! . I love to read all of the positive stories.

You are right. We are so incredibly hard on ourselves because we have been beaten down our whole lives not just by others, but by ourselves. We should know better, we can't have this, we can't have that, we are failures. It just creates a vicious cycle of guilt and shame then over-eating because we feel bad, then more guilt and shame. Everyday is a battle for me to overcome all these little demons inside. But I try to keep perspective. If I eat a small ice cream cone, it isn't going to make me gain weight...it is eating them everyday that will. It is important to learn to be kinder to ourselves.

I can not believe I am only 11days away from my entire life changing in such a healthy way forever!!! I am very excited and ready to get this underway. I am so pleased with how amazingly supportive my family and friends have been with my decision. October 4th get here soon!!