LilMissDiva Irene

Hi terressa, Congrats to you! You have done very VERY well to date! I agree it took me a few weeks to finally settle in and KNOW the sleeve was the right decision. Here's to many more successes!! Cheers!!

Heya angels, welcome to VST!! In answer to your question, well, once I have reached my ultimate goal I will have lost nearly 180 lbs. I have about 68 more to get there. I already was down a significant amount pre-surgery by diet/exercise on my own. I have ZERO doubt at this moment that I'll make my goal. It's been steady and quite easy even!!! So, yes, you absolutely CAN lose ALL of your excess weight if you follow your surgeons guidelines and find a suitable eating plan that will help get you there.

I do believe starvation mode is real and credible. I've seen many studies on this and even seen a story on it via Discovery Health not too long ago. Eating little to no food/calories slows down our metabolisms to a crawl - and even slows down our bodies cell growths. Some thin people purposely eat low calorie diets to help themselves stay younger looking! My body gets accustomed to the amount of calories I'm feeding it, so I try to constantly shake things up. I never stay steady. I tend to bump anywhere from 800 calories up to even 1400 sometimes. I've only ever had one true stall, and I think it was my own fault by grazing too much. As soon as I cut that out my stalls stopped. The only time now my scale slows is during TOM which is always been the case for me, so I don't really beat myself up over it. Other than that I'm losing at a steady rate of anywhere from half a pound up to five pounds per week. I'm averaging about 2.5 to 3 Lbs per week.

Happy Valentines Day to you as well!!!

I haven't drank a soda in many years so I'm really not dealing with these cravings. However, soda really offers our bodies nothing we need, so it wouldn't hurt at all to NOT drink them, I'm thinking. I'm 5 months post op and I still have a very tight sleeve in comparison to some others. I'm going to do everything I can to keep it that way.

I agree with Myrori - it's not an easy task to binge. It's not so easy to continue once you hit your wall. In fact, I'd even say it's impossible because I'm pretty sure if I was even given an inch, I'd take a mile. However yes, grazing is something you'll really need to look out for. Sometimes when I'm falling back into bad habits its usually done in the form of grazing. I have to snap out of it quick and behave!!

Hey girl, come out to Cali and we'll do some shopping together!!! Whooohooo party time!!!

Just wanted to say that I don't think Biotin actually stops or even slows the hair loss. What it does is help a lot with the re-growth. I know it does stop falling out eventually too... so not to worry! I'm glad you are feeling better!!

Hi Shaundra! I revised from band to sleeve in Sept 2010. I'm down almost 60 Lbs since starting my Pre Op Diet and can honestly say it IS the best thing I've ever done for myself and my health. YOU WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE Dr. Aceves, the hospital and his team. Please PM me with any questions!!

Hey now, EVERYONE is welcome here - especially you!! You never know, things just might line up perfectly someday and you'll get your sleeve. Keep praying and make it a reality. Hang in there - sometimes things just happen... that's how I got mine. I didn't even use my insurance. Happy Valentines Day to you too!!!

I agree so many sizes out there are all over the map. I'm basing my size goal on a good ole pair of Levi's. From what I've noticed, they still go on pretty normal - not too big and not too small. Once I get into a Size 8 NON STRETCH pair of Levi's - I'll see if I want to get into some 6's or just keep myself in those.

Hello how is everyone today? Myself I’m doing a-ok!!! I am 5 months post-op. I am posting this a day early because I have limited computer access at the time; I have to do this when I can!!! I’m so excited and didn’t want to miss this opportunity to express it. 5 months ago today I was revised from the Realize 10cc Band to the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy by the good Dr. Aceves. I was 272 Lbs and miserable, unhappy and felt like a complete failure. I was hopeful though that I was going to undergo something that would reverse the state I was in at the time. No surprise here, but I was absolutely correct in my assumption of hope!!! My friends were so right in convincing me to quit the insanity and fix the problem. The problem WAS NOT me, so I now know. I thought it was for a long time. It was my original choice in WLS. It was not my dedication and desire… no way! I’m NOT knocking the band for everyone; I’m knocking it for me alone. FOR ME the band was a mistake. I honestly don’t even think my Surgeon placed it correctly either, but that’s neither here nor there. I now have a surgeon that knows what the heck he’s doing and he made me one AWESOME sleeve!!! I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!! Thank you Dr. Aceves, YOU ROCK!!!!! I can’t wait until I can see him again, so he can see what he’s doing is worthwhile. Today also marks ANOTHER big milestone as well. I’m officially 50 Lbs. less than I was on sleeve day! That makes me nearly 60 Lbs less than when I first started my Pre-Op Diet. At my very highest, which would put me at about 330 Lbs and a BMI of 53.3, I was wearing sizes 28W/3-4X tops. On my Sleeve Surgery day, weight of 272, I was wearing 22W-24W and 2X tops and had a BMI of 43.9. TODAY I am weighing 221.8, and I’m wearing sizes 14-16MISSES and M-L tops. Not only that, I am very VERY close to moving my BMI from MORBIDLY OBESE to just OBESE!!! Whoohooooo!!!! Here’s the best part about all of this though, I have so much energy now than I think I’ve ever had in my entire life!! I am currently training to run in my very first REAL 5K!!! I’m running in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure on May 7th. I’m so pumped for this that even though I’m nursing a head cold right now, I’m still getting my butt up to do my training! It will be timed, and I’ll be very pleased to get under 45 Minutes. This is my first event, so I really don’t know if I have any better starting point. Just the FACT I'm DOING IT is thrilling enough!!!! From this point on in following 5K’s I will challenge my times. Doing a REAL running event has been my greatest desire since I learned how much I LOVE running!!! So… if you are considering the sleeve… DO IT!! You have NOTHING to lose but all the weight and head games that go along with it. Yes, it IS only a tool, but it is a DANGED GOOD ONE!!! You CANNOT fail with it unless you blatantly go WAY out of your way to do it. Who would want to do that after going through such a major surgery? This is my second time around, so I know for sure I don’t want to. Blessings to all!!!! Here are my past and present photos: 330 Lbs, highest ever: 300 Lbs: 281 Lbs, just before Pre-Op Diet: 253 Lbs, 1 Month Post Op: 241 Lbs, 3 Months Post Op: 222 Lbs, 5 Months Post Op CURRENT:

Actually that was going to be my plan. I wanted to do an online google spreadsheet, but my computer at home crashed and it just didn't work out. Maybe I can integrate it soon once I get back up and running. I agree, the challenges do keep me motivated!!!

LOL I see you got it!! Good luck!!!!

Copy and paste from above, remove juliarh on her data line and put your own stats... So it would look like this: SN..................Starting Wt.......Current......Goal......Lbs to Goal pattimomof3nj......157.3...............157.3..........140.........17.3

Whoa you go girl!!! I know you can do it, you're always such a steady loser. Good luck to you lady!!! Yes, I use my starting weight that I started the challenge with, I like to see how much I've lost on this challenge.

Hey everyone, here's the LINK: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13648-easter-sunday-what-will-you-weigh/

Good morning everyone, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL for the last challenge!!! Most made their goal and passed it and many others like myself made it very close... WE ARE ROCKING OUR SLEEVES FOR SURE!!! So, here's the new challenge folks, what will you weigh on Easter Sunday?? That is on April 24th - 10 weeks from yesterday, and 70 days from today. Everyone's welcome to join in, even if you are just trying to maintain your weight loss. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!! But with the sleeve, who needs luck?? Me personally am going to go aggressive this time. I really need to work hard to get as light as possible in preparation for my 5k run on May 7th... whoottt!!! Also, instead of carrying over EVERYONE else on the challenge, we will just be responsible for ourselves. I have started the "ticker" of sorts, I hope everyone will still use it so everyone can easily see everyone's progress. ____________________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....221.8...............221.8...........199.8..........22

You are so sweet thank you! :-D You are rocking it too girlie!!! So, I still weighed 221.8 this morning - so I was 1.8 Lbs short of making this goal. Wow though, I still feel like a complete success!!! I was still nearly 5 lbs away from goal not even a week ago. Whooot!!! I did good!!! I have caught a cold too, so I'm not as active right now either. Not a lot of chances to burn calories. Zicam works amazingly good though! I highly recommend it once you notice a sore throat. I'll use it forever now. But... I still did my 5k training over the weekend even though I was feeling so sick. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!! I think we have all done super good!! I'm starting up a new thread now as we speak and will leave a link here for all those that want to join in again. LET'S DO IT!!!

Hey coops, you're a fab sleeve buddy too!! It's been such a pleasure getting to know you and everyone here. You all keep me motivated!!! That's right about the goals - I'm 67 Lbs to my finish line!! That's so cool! I always liked watching the progress of others that match my stats. Once I get to 154 I'll see if I want to keep losing or maybe just hover around there. I really do like being a little on the heavier side. I don't think it looks bad on me. We'll see!!

Well today I weighed in at 221.8 - so we'll see if I can get a little closer tomorrow morning. If not.. I can't complain. I'm sooo proud of how well I've done in the last month!!! My big computer crashed so I'm stuck with the laptop for now. I can't change my big ticker - will change my other one tomorrow. Yayyyy!!!! CONGRATS EVERYONE!!! I THINK WE ALL DID FABULOUS!!!

Fabulous journey so far Melissa! I love your weight training, you're doing really really amazing! BTW I looked up Melissa Rausch and it came up with numerous choices. You may add me, my link is in my signature line. Continue with the good work!!

Hello there Floppie! Welcome to VST!! YES the sleeve ABSOLUTELY works!! It will be the best £10K you likely will ever spend. If given the choice knowing what I know now I'd say it's better money spent than on a brand new car. Why? Because I'm a brand new ME!! Wishing you much success and a swift and easy surgery and recovery this coming Tuesday. Blessings!!

That is very sweet of you to still offer to cook the Holiday meals. By the time we all hit the next Holiday season you will probably be able to eat more than I was. The wonderful thing about the sleeve though is you *still* won't be able to eat nearly as much as pre-sleeve. Wishing you all the best. You will be so happy

WOOOOWWW!!!! Fabulous job already!!!! The sleeve soooo ROCKS!!!!