LilMissDiva Irene

I didn't have time to post this yesterday, so here I am the very next day. Yesterday, I passed one of my most coveted goals I'd set for myself. Today I FINALLY weigh less than I ever did with my Lap Band. I guess I wanted to weigh this morning and see if it wasn't a fluke. Well guess what, it wasn't a fluke!!! My lowest weight ever with my band was 227. Today I weigh 226!!! I blew right past my goal!!! And ohhhh how I struggled with my Lap Band! I was starting to think maybe it *was* me. Why was it so hard, I would always think... Why wasn't I losing weight? WHY WAS I GAINING WEIGHT??? Why did I find myself back up to my starting weight?? It was such a miserable time. Don't even think for a second that the Lap Band really had anything to do with the weight I did lose with it. I struggled through terrible hunger, working out like crazy (which I still do but only because I really really do love it) and all sorts of awful things like chucking up my food, sliming, yucking - awful pain from the very first bite no matter how small, terrible port pain that became a daily thing with me... and the list goes on. I think after awhile I started to give up and started eating a lot of slider foods. Yes this is very bad. However, I guess it came down to eating what hurt with every bite, and what didn't. I won't go into details because I don't want to give away any cheat secrets to anyone banded. I then became addicted to sugar - which I never ever was pre-band. It was pretty much a crash and burn from that moment on. My problem was and always has been eating way too much of anything and everything - healthy and not healthy. I knew what I needed to eat to lose for I'd been doing this "diet" thing my whole life. I figured the band would be a good option, because the RNY would be better suited for those with sugar addiction, which I did not have. It was simple, eat less of healthy food, never be hungry and life would be awesome because I'd get skinny... right? Ha!! The only pounds I give credit to losing with the band is the weight I lost during my post op diet when all I could have were liquids. That was one of the worst 2 weeks of my life. I was starving my @$$ off, and all I could do was lay around and cry and wait until I could eat solid food again - praying it wouldn't be this bad!!! Little did I know that would be life from then on. Why didn't I revise sooner? Things just didn't work out that way and I didn't even find out about the sleeve until a lot of my friends at LBT started revising and Alex created this very website. I would come here from time to time, read around and just wish... oh wish that someday I'd get up the nerve to do something that I felt in my heart was far greater than what I had done. Feeling miserable and like a total failure because my band was offering me absolutely nothing that was promised to me. I just couldn't understand why I wasn't getting any benefits of it, but was sure suffering big time with all the side effects that the lap band gave. It just didn't work out between us, and like any bad relationship, I had to let go and move on to something better. Since I've been sleeved, it has been almost disgustingly easy. The first month was tough, don't get me wrong - especially the first few days. While I was vomitting my guts up in the hospital I did ask myself what had I done?? Why did I need to cut my stomach off just to get right with food?? I wasn't happy in those first few moments - but if at that moment I could reach into the future and see me where I am today and how I feel... I NEVER would have second guessed my decision. Today I am happier than I ever have been in my entire life. I have control over the one thing that has always had control of me since I can remember remembering. That is food. It does still win out sometimes, but believe me - not even a percentage of the way it used to run my life before!!! So from here it's all new terrain. All my goals from here will be feelings I haven't felt before or since I was so young I just don't even remember nor did I care where I was. I had some really bad habits when I was a young teenager to stay thin, and I thank the sleeve that I never have to feel like that is my only option anymore. I can do this in a healthy way, in a sane and safe manner and be what I've always wanted to be. Thin, healthy and ready to take on all the things that I've always dreamed of. If you are currently banded and you have been reading this website wondering if there is something better out there. There is. I did it, and I would NEVER go back. The best thing ever. Cheers!!!

It's great being a woman, isn't it???

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda......................275.................187..............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145..............4 Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225..............8 Cherice95405.......248............... 177............ 164..............13 Chilo1.....................216................160...............154..............6 Cludgie................235................220...............209..............11 Coops ...................238................191...............177...............14 Cwalker.................250.................180..............170...............10 Daisy......................237.................138.............130...............8 DJackson..............229.................222..............215.............7 HollyW...................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo.....................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................217..............215...........2 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235................226.............220...............6 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ....207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210.................132..............125..............07 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................222................199..............23 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................266.............255..............10 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............160.9..........155...........5.9 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..266……..……..255…………..11 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........174...........165...........9 Seniorsleever........290.................279.............260............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................163.............156...............7 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..............240..............230..............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33

Okay well, I'm going to have to say next Winter - I don't know if I'd be ready for that kind of a hike as Spring is only a few months away. I still have to go easy on my knees - still a bit too heavy for anything too strenuous on them yet. But yeah, I'm down for it! You should go again in Spring and I'll join you all for a Winter one next time!!!!

We are all Diva's on the inside!! We just have to peel back the layers to find her. Good job so far!! I know you will be going down those sizes fast.

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda......................275.................187..............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145..............4 Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225..............8 Cherice95405.......248............... 177............ 164..............13 Chilo1.....................216................160...............154..............6 Cludgie................235................220...............209..............11 Coops ...................238................191...............177...............14 Cwalker.................250.................180..............170...............10 Daisy......................237.................138.............130...............8 DJackson..............229.................222..............215.............7 HollyW...................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo.....................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................217..............215...........2 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235................227.2.............220............7.2 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ....207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210.................132..............125..............07 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................222................199..............23 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................266.............255..............10 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............160.9..........155...........5.9 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........174...........165...........9 Seniorsleever........290.................279.............260............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................163.............156...............7 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..............240..............230..............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33

I'm glad you came to a decision, now wear it out!!! You will be very happy, and check in when you're up to it!!!

OMW CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I am so very happy for you!!!! You look so tiny in your pics too, you are totally rocking that sleeve and your new life!! So, maybe one of these days we can all meet up for that hike... YEAHHHH!!!!

I hear you! I think maybe a good chat with your Nut would help a lot like you said. You'll get it and we'll all be here jumping for joy with you!!

LOL!! No way, I'm just going through a good time right now. I've only lost a half pound since my 5 - so at this rate I'll lose 1 pound this week. It's ok though I'll take it!!! I'll have really good week then many more not so good weeks. Long as I'm losing tho you won't see me complain!!

Are you getting at least 15g protein no earlier than 30 mins before or no later than 30 mins after your workouts? I think that is pretty important as I see you are doing a pretty good session when you do. Also, how much water are you drinking during your workout? Staying hydrated and making sure you are breathing properly during your workout helps too. I also believe in eating a well balanced meal - but - you can still be eating too many carbs. I do like the more balanced approach but I never eat more than one type carb per meal and I'm only talking a few bites at that. You could have the kind of metabolism that you have to eat protein along with your carb to kind of "squash out the glucose effect" of the carbohydrate. Most of what I fill up on is protein - and of course I also try to eat as lean cuts of meat as I possibly can. Then again, as a slow loser - sometimes we really do just go through weeks where we don't lose. I went through that for 3 straight weeks!! I did tweak a few things, like cutting out the grazing, which honestly I didn't even realize I was doing - and bumping up my workouts. I think I was also doing TOO MUCH... yes this is possible. You have an optimal heart rate zone for fat burning, which I knew this but I wanted to do my own thing - hoping it would make me lose faster. Guess what, it didn't - it stalled me out. I've so far only lost a half pound since I've lost the 5 so I'm not even sure I'll have a great week this week. However I feel like, as long as I'm losing I'll be happy. If I have one slow week amongst a few ok weeks and one good week mixed in here an there I won't need to change anything. It's usually when I get to 3 weeks in a row with a no loss or something very minute that I start to go back and recalculate where I can make some adjustments. I found myself in that situation a few weeks ago - and so far so good. Also, I really don't give any of those BMR's calculations credence - for those are for "normal" folks. I'm not normal - I blew my metabolism and slowed it down considerably by starvation diets going way back to my early teens. I think if I really wanted to know how many calories I'm burning while just sitting around, I'd need to have it tested. One last thing, and maybe not many folks really even think about this - how are you sleeping at night? This is a really big deal, your body needs rest and to recharge the batteries. You need at least 6-8 hours of sleep, preferrably more toward the 8 hours side. I do notice that when I'm not sleeping enough my weight loss suffers. When I start making sure I'm getting enough I can lose pretty good. Good luck ladies!!! This is not going to be easy. Sometimes things can work for us great for awhile then all of a sudden not. The important thing is to keep on moving, and shaking things up until a new plan starts working for you!!! (((hugs)))

Hello Fallen Angel, welcome to VST Ultimately I really don't have much advise other than to say - I really think you might do yourself a great service by doing some really deep research on the sleeve. Just based on the comment "I know you dont lose as much weight as with the bypass" I can see that you have found some misinformation somewhere. You CAN ABSOLUTELY lose as much as RNY and you can lose as fast as RNY with the sleeve. I do encourage you to find out more about this surgery. You will likely have to work harder to achieve those goals, but isn't this really about changing your whole life? What good is having a surgery that makes you dump out all the bad stuff but doesn't make you work toward becoming a healthier person who makes better choices? You WILL gain your weight back with that kind of mentality. Don't get it twisted, anyone can gain their weight back with any of these surgeries if they don't make a change, and a change in the first few month of surgery. The bottom line is, you have to do what you feel is right for your body. Just don't do it without really giving this surgery a chance to get to know it. Get to know the folks here too, you will see there have been many who have made goal, and beyond and are keeping it off, like Tiffykins who just posted. All the best to you. Let us know what you decided, I think as for me and many of us we like to keep up with how each other is doing. Regardless you are always welcome to chime in and ask as many questions as you can. Hugs!!!!!

I completely agree. What got me fat and kept me fat was #1 my metabolism being blown from abusing myself by keeping my calories way too low for way too long. #2 Eating WAY too much of EVERYTHING along with the jacked up metabolism. #3 Not caring about #1 or #2 enough to fix it. I do eat lower carb - but I do not stike it out of my life completely. I tried, my body doesn't respond well to it. My body runs on full steam with doing about 50% Protein, 25/25% Carbs and Fats - and maybe a little variation in between. Everyone is different, you just have to find what works best for you. I also work out A LOT and I actually have to do things to keep my muscles from getting too big. I'm just a bigger girl, and yes this is true for some people. It isn't an excuse or denial. That is me and I won't change this to suit someone else's diet that may work excellent for them. I hope anyone will do what works best for the individual. Remember: You are an individual - just like everyone else!! My carbs ONLY consist of whole grains, High Fiber, Veggies and Fruits. This does include breads if I so wish as long as it falls into one of my "ok" categories. I have only recently been able to start eating it, and I still can't do a whole lot of it either. However the types of breads I'm eating sticks with me for a very long time. I'm not just going to get skinny, I'm building my body into a FORTRESS!!!! I know I feel awesome already! I do not eat candy or junk food or enriched carbohydrates. However if someone chooses to do that, so be it. Whatever works for you.

I found that for awhile I was grazing too. I started keeping a journal and that really helped to keep me in check. The last thing I wanted to do was write down I was eating every 30-60 minutes, even if it would be considered a better choice (not chips, soda, candy - etc., even too much good stuff is not good for you). I don't know if you're keeping a food journal or not - I just found that this reeled me back in to keeping my food under control. Good luck!

There are no silly questions!! I'm glad you're feeling better.

Yay you really are a Mini YOU now!!!!! Yes the "look how big these pants are on me" pictures are the best!!! That is going to the very first thing I do when I hit goal. Funny thing, I tried them on again last night and I already fit into one pant leg... Keep on being the sunshine and inspiration you are here!!!! Thank you for sharing your story - I love hearing it!!

Hi hope, you know even now I feel bouts of soreness here and there. I'm not a Dr. though, so I tell you that not really knowing exactly what you're feeling. Of course if you think at all what you're experiencing is abnormal then please call your surgeon. Congrats on your loss so far!!! You are doing really well

Amen! I'm not sad I have to go date now, Ive been with my husband since I was 21 years old. He has loved me through VERY thick and now (getting) thin. I was already overweight when we met, but he never let me think I wasn't anything other than beautiful inside and out in his eyes. Everyone deserves to be loved unconditionally. I do think a lot goes into how one feels about themselves too though. How can anyone expect someone else to love them, if they can't love themselves? That's just my opinion, on that matter. As far as the jerk who only notices thin bodies and big boobs - he can go take a flying leap and eat his heart out.

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda......................275.................187..............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145..............4 Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225..............8 Cherice95405.......248............... 177............ 164..............13 Chilo1.....................216................160...............154..............6 Cludgie................235................220...............209..............11 Coops ...................238................191...............177...............14 Cwalker.................250.................180..............170...............10 Daisy......................237.................138.............130...............8 DJackson..............229.................222..............215.............7 HollyW...................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo.....................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................217..............215...........2 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235................228.6.............220.............8.6 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ....207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210.................132..............125..............07 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................222................199..............23 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................266.............255..............10 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............160.9..........155...........5.9 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........174...........165...........9 Seniorsleever........290.................279.............260............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................163.............156...............7 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..............240..............230..............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33

Whoohooo BBJ and Chilo!!! OMG it is like a dream to me to even believe all this is possible. I just keep getting smaller and smaller, and even on the weeks where I don't lose or very little I can still feel it. I'd even say I feel like I shrink more on the weeks I don't lose. So, I think I'm coming more to terms on those weeks - and just take it!!! Keep it up and BBJ you will be at goal in weeks!!! Chilo - you are doing so excellent, I'm happy for you!! You will be at goal in no time !!

Hey Brandy that is VERY doable!!! I was barely sleeved four months ago and I'm down from 22/24, 2x to now a 14/16, L Good luck!!

Thank you so much ladies!!! You all rock!!! :-) This sleeve thing is pretty darned amazing! It keeps me in line big time - and I'm sorta a wild one sometimes...

You'll get em coops, no worries!! Saturday is still 2 days away. Your issue sounds almost like what I went through when I drank milk awhile back. I think us sleevers tummies are a little bit more sensitive than pre-sleeve. As far as it being full on dumping syndrome I don't know. Some say it is not because RNY pts get it from the rerouting of the intestine which we do not have. All I know is that one episode scared me from ever drinking milk again, and this includes ice cream. Can't be mad about not having ice cream ever again!! I haven't craved any in so long now...

Thank you!! I think my biggest accomplishment is figuring this thing out...

Hi Kaycol, glad you posted! For me, I've noticed that when I was much heavier, into the 24's and above - I would go up and down a size based on about 15-20 Lbs. Now in the smaller sizes I can go up and down based on 10-15 Lbs. I am 5'6 and I do believe height can play a role into this. I hope someone more closely matching your height can chime in.