LilMissDiva Irene

Hey hey!!! Congrats!!! How's it goin? I know I had a little bit of a rough time, I hope that isn't the case for you. *hugs*

No worries, I absolutely agree with you 100%. I think everyone really needs to do their homework, this is real LIFE and DEATH here. Ultimately the decision and culpability belongs to the one who made the decision on whom is going to perform their surgery.

Hello TeddyBear!!! Welcome to VST! Yes, you will find tons of information and even more support here. This is like my second home - even though I've been trying to scale back a little bit... All of those concerns you've mentioned are possible, as there are no guarantees - but the incidents of them are very slim. I myself experienced nausea for the first week, and yes I even tossed my Cookies (no not really cookies, but still...) one time in the hospital. It's ok though, because I would do that all over again if I could still live my life as I do today! Wishing you all the very best on your journey and especially in the next few weeks.

WELCOME gamo!!!! It quite sounds to me that you are doing really good. Keep hanging in there. I was 283 Lbs at my Pre Op diet, and I can say the weight seemed to just melt away. You will be very pleased with your results come this time next year.

Hey October Sleevers! Welcome to the new YOU's!!! Your days are soon approaching and your new lives are beginning. You're going to have it going on this time next year!!! I was sleeved on 9/15/10. So my Sleeversary was just before last year's Holidays started. I'm going to be bluntly honest. The Holidays did affect me to an extent. I did allow myself little indulgences here and there and made excuses to do what I wanted. Do I regret it? Not really. I'll tell you why... I did not have surgery to become a total food "Nazi". It was the Holidays and I wanted to enjoy it with my family, doing what my family did. Funny thing, I still felt left out in a lot of ways. I was done with my Thanksgiving meal after about 6 bites. My family LOVES TO EAT! They continued eating for hours and I was still full from my few bites of Turkey with gravy, bite of mashed potatoes, bite of this and that. I barely had any room for several bites of my favorite pumpkin Pie... LOL! I also enjoyed my Christmas and New Year's meals as well. I won't lie to you, it probably did slow up my weight loss a little bit. However, here I am still having gotten to my first goal at around 7 months out. I reached my Post Goal goal at around 10 months out. So, as you can see - I still worked it and got all the weight off that I wanted. I stay mostly on track, but I'm not 100% perfect at it. Maybe I was more like 90%. That still got me to where I wanted to be in less than a year. Good luck y'all!!! Stay true, and stay YOU!!!

Not my Surgeon, nor his staff was anything like that. I would just like to point out, anyone can get shoddy medical attention anywhere. I've certainly gotten that here in the US many many times.

Your case is a little different. You are in the very classic "3rd Week Stall". For you, the only thing that's going to get it moving again is patience. The 3rd week stall can last anywhere from 2-5 weeks. Mine lasted about 10 days. *hugs*

Well maybe I can make a few suggestions, I hope it helps... firstly you answered your first remedy. Try getting some physical activity in, at least 30 minutes per day. This can burn an additional 500 calories to your total. In one week that's an extra pound of loss you wouldn't get otherwise. And second, for me it's not really HOW MUCH I'm eating, its more WHAT I'm eating. I'm carb sensitive to an extent. If I eat more than I should it will slow down my weight loss. Try to keep a log of what your eating every day. Mix it up and try new things. Try to figure out what is keeping you from losing your desired amounts. I'd just like to also point out that remaining positive will keep the stressor hormones down. Be proud of your accomplishments, and try not to seek out the failure mentality that has plagued us for so long. Those days are far behind you. All the best.

Hi there, yes there are some of us sleevers who this happens to. My thresh hold of sugar grams per serving is no more than 15g. That's about a fun size bar of snickers, or one medium sized choc chip cookie. You get the idea, it's a very small serving of "goodies". Some would say this is a bad thing, however I've grown to quite love this about my sleeve. I completely respect it's boundaries. For I know the awful consequences if I were to cross that line, and BTDT I want no part of it what so ever. I was so addicted to sugar before my sleeve, by getting the "soft food syndrome" from my lap band. All that's out the door for me, and forever. I don't miss it. This additional tool, as I put it alongside my workout routines, I believe will keep me from ever gaining any weight back. That's results I can grow to love. Along with the "runs" I also get heart palpitations, cold sweats and when its really bad I get vertigo. It's not good to be like that, and is a serious medical problem. So, sugar is not a part of my life anymore.

I also like nuts/seeds. One half serving is really enough. Such as almonds or peanuts, they are my favorites. Cashews are OK, but that's just my opinion. At night I like to enjoy a tablespoon of chunky Peanut Butter. It takes me a long time to eat it, and it really satisfies my night time munchy cravings I get. I don't imagine it would be a good option to take to work though. Even then, I'll add some sugar free Smuckers strawberry jam. Oh its so good!!! LOL Breadless PB&J can't go wrong! I'm not really sure if snacking is too much of a problem for you, but it can be for myself sometimes, so those are just some tricks I do. Here's another one, I'll have a SF breath mint or a piece of extra gum (I was not told not to have gum)... and the mint flavor and chewing takes the craving away. Best wishes on your recommitment! It's really tough, especially if you've taken a long time off. It can still be done though, that I have no doubt. All this is 90% mental. Somehow you've got to get the mental fortitude to really want it.

YEEEHAWWWW!!! CONGRATS!!!! I knew you'd be here super fast!! And now, you get your giant dancing banana!! :bananahuge:

@Sleeve - thanks lady!!! Oh, and I see now I'm going to go kinda bra crazy now... LOL @favored - Awww that's so sweet, thank you!!! Xoxo - I'll settle for being your friend in California... no problem! Anytime you need anything you just let me know.

Hey there JimmyJames! Love the name BTW... that's my Dad's name. Anyhow, I just wanted to pop in here and say WOW CONGRATULATIONS!!! You certainly deserve it! Weight loss is so difficult, if it weren't everyone would be skinny. Keep on the right track, and don't worry about the fluctuations. It happens with most of us. It certainly did to me, and well... I'm living proof that doesn't stop someone from becoming who they have always dreamed they'd become. Many blessings, and cheers to the rest of your journey!!!

Hello MsMook, welcome to VST!! I'm a revision patient as well. There's a lot to know, so it would be more helpful if you might give us a little background on your situation. Don't be shy - when it comes to the band there is bound to be someone here who has lived what you're going through, in all kinds of complications scenarios. Ask lots of questions... we are always willing to either lend an ear or help out.

fill docs.doc Ok folks... here are the one month post op photos. I don't think they'll change much more. My starting bra size was a 34 B/C - today I'm a 36 F (DDD). Those size bras are hard to find!! LOL I've also posted a full body shot to have a comparison photo from before and around December I should have an after shot. November 4th I'll get my first lipo and Nov. 18th I'll get my second. Whoooo!!! Source: My Plastics Journey - My first one (of several)

Thanks sooo much!!!! Xoxo A lot has to do with the bra too, and really I think if I would've gotten a lift the boobs wouldn't look so natural. I already had the stretched out skin, so I just filled it up enough to the point where I believe they were before I lost all this weight. Anyway, that bra I'm wearing in the pics is an excellent cleavage giver. My other normal bras I bought, I still have a little bit of a valley, but still doesn't look too bad I don't think. I'm not sure your situation of course, but it's just nice to know that simply because we all lost in the boobs that, it automatically means we have to get our boobs chopped up, lifted and goodness knows whatever else. I highly encourage everyone to seek out a surgeon who's main purpose in life is to make a woman's boobs look phenomenal! That's what I did, and he is excellent at what he does. Ask a million questions and be sure he sees that vision in your head. They will always let you know if it's possible or not - and IMO its ALWAYS possible.

(Photos Removed - if you are interested in seeing them they are in my "friends only" gallery photo album) Ok folks... here are the one month post op photos. I don't think they'll change much more. My starting bra size was a 34 B/C - today I'm a 36 F (DDD). Those size bras are hard to find!! LOL I've also posted a full body shot to have a comparison photo from before and around December I should have an after shot. November 4th I'll get my first lipo and Nov. 18th I'll get my second. Whoooo!!!

Thanks Ladies!!!! I really appreciate your kind comments! Yolanda, I agree - my waist is small, and the reason behind the sculpting in these areas is actually to make my hips / bum look even bigger. I'm really going after that hourglass shape, and more than that I'll be able to fit my pants better. I've always been more of a pear, and my pants always seem to fit fine everywhere but be tight in the thighs.

These are always the BEST NSV's!!!! Congrats to you!! The sleeve is such a wonderful tool!!

YAHOOOO!!!!!!!!! I bet you look HAWTTT!!!!

Yeah work it!! You ARE a cutie pie! And wow I can really see a difference in a major way already!!! Good job!!! As for me and my workout, right now I can't sprinkle in my running that I oh so love. I have to settle for walking. Due to this I don't feel like I burn enough calories, so I have given myself a challenge to walk/or cycle 300 miles by Halloween. That's still not that much, and so far I've already got in 41 Miles. No, I haven't updated my ticker - I do that only once a day and I plan to do some in the early AM tomorrow. So really this is what I'm doing, give or take something here and there. And its usually more than what I'll say I'll do... but that's just because I'm a workout nut. Sunday: Cycling 10 Miles Monday: OFF DAY (however I still walked 3 Miles) Tuesday: Walking/Elliptical 5 Miles Wednesday: Walking/Elliptical 5 Miles Thursday: Walking/Elliptical 5 Miles Friday: Walking 2.5 Miles and Cycling 7.5 Miles Saturday: Cycling 10 Miles Good luck to you! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

HELLO WORLD!! Well I had my one month post op check up. My surgeon is very pleased with my outcome so far. He said they have dropped most excellently and they're looking great. My incisions ARE healing great, and the "inverted puckering" incision on my left breast has decreased a great deal, so its flattened over time. Yayy!! So I won't need any kind of incision line touch up. I'm SO GLAD! He gave me a few new massages to do daily, and told me to keep up with my Vitamin E pills. He said we'll talk about me decreasing them next time I come in and if everything is looking smooth. So far so good!! However, the best news of the day is... I have GRADUATED TO ALL BRAS NOW!!! YEAHHH BUDDYYY!!! So what do you think the first thing I did was? Oh yep, I ran to Kohl's and bought me 3 new bras. I'm a solid 36DDD. Here's the funny part, I bought 2 minimizer bras. It was the only bra I could find that came in DDD there. It's ok, they will be my work bras, I'm not trying to look burlesque there. They're actually very comfortable and extremely supportive. These girls are heavy!! LOL!! Though I like the idea of them so if I don't want to minimize them, I got em. They are very hot, I can't lie. I love em. I also bought one sexy bra, but I had to get that a DD. They do puff out of the top a little bit but it's ok... it IS a sexy bra after all!! So... I know I should post some updated photos but I think I'll wait a little longer. I just don't see they look all that much different except my middle swelling is down and they look rather large in comparison to my small waist. But my waist is going to be even smaller after my lipo's due in November - which will be here FAST! It's already October next week. I'll take some pics on Friday... it's my day off. Until then... have a great week!!!

Long story short, doing these types of diets will get the liver to decrease in size (fatty) and become less slippery as the surgeon needs to hold it out of the way with a tool. PS I'm sure its the idea that now you're not doing the diet of your own volition. I'm like that too! I started a week early and did excellent. When the week came that I was demanded on the diet I found it much more difficult and I felt left out. It's ok - it will really REALLY all be worth it!

:lol: :lol: LMAO!!! Now THAT I can vouch for!! Really though, and I'm going to post this in my PS thread but I have gained ALL of my feeling back in my breasts... I'd even say its even more sensitive. So, yes you do lose some at first, but for me it is all back 110% and I'm still healing even.

I'm about 4.5 weeks post op now. The pain is nearly almost gone now and I've regained all the feeling back in my breasts. I was also given the green light to wear all bras now!! Yayyy!!! :-) I did a B-line for some new bras, oh yeah!! So, to answer your question, it seems to be around 4-6 weeks recovery for just a general breast augmentation. I think breast lifts and reconstructives recovery time is longer (not sure what you're planning). Just getting my filled back in has turned out well for me, and my Dr. was quite impressed with my progress today!