LilMissDiva Irene

This deserves a Congratulations!! It's sooo difficult to see the differences in the mirror. However it worked in my favor as I was going up. I still saw that cute skinny girl. I never seen how truly fat I was. I guess that's why it was so easy to lie to myself and continue to get bigger and bigger. The pictures are another story though. I saw the fat there and I see the differences now. I like pictures a lot better that's for sure!!! Regarding the view of other obese people. I regrettably notice I do this too. I don't mean it in a bad way. I just want to reach out to them and shake them and say... hey... there IS hope for you!!! Especially when I see them eating so much food... Of course I would never, that would be terribly rude of me. But best be darned tootin I am thinking it...

Hello Kya, welcome to your new journey! Ambien: I do not know - as I've never had to take it before. Hopefully someone will be able to chime in with that. I did have some regrets straight out of surgery, then decreasing wonderings up to a month out. However, now I'm absolutely over the MOON FOR MY SLEEVE!!! I have not a single solitary regret (anymore ) and I'm ever thankful the stars were aligned just right for me to have this done for myself. Yeah!!! My personal favorite chocolate flavored Protein supplement is definitely powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury. vanilla is pretty darned wonderful too. It's hardER to find a great tasting Vanilla supplement... In my world, they are by far the better tasting choice. I really love them and if it weren't for them I'd never have made it past the first month Post Op. My tastebuds acted up a lot post op and they were the only ones besides Bariatric fusion (Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream - very good!!!) that I could get past my tastebuds. My Husband said all this before my band surgery - just being a guy. Guys can be a little insecure sometimes, and of course he loves me so he's going to feel this way. We worked through it and we are millions of times stronger today than we ever have been. I say just have a heart to heart with him and assure him that he's the man for you, no matter who you are on the outside. Your core will stay the same on the inside. I wish you the very best!! Keep us updated on how you're progressing!!

I completely agree with you Tiffy, 100%!! I've never spent so much time reading and purchasing all the best types and forms of supplements in my life. However, with the time left over from not eating and money left over from less food and less prescriptions - I can do this for myself. I hope everyone takes this information and really does this for themselves. Also, I wanted to touch on our Surgeons not knowing everything. How true this is!! My band surgeon was the worst on this. He called the sleeve "Total Bullsh!t"!! Just like that, well I'm here to tell him he was "Oh so wrong". Anyway, that is why there are Surgeons and there are also Registered Dieticians and Nutritionists. Good luck everyone!

Positivity and Patience. Everyone needs this in the WLS world - both pre and post op! Good for you on taking it the right way. You will go far and you will be successful!!

Hi Dawn!! Welcome to VST!! I remember seeing your befores and afters at OH... you are really very inspirational, and I needed to see that at the very moment you posted them. I was having a bad moment - but you brought me out - and I'm sure you didn't even realize it. I hope you like it here!! To post pictures on this thread go to the "Use Full Editor" button and it will take you to a page where you can upload photos to your thread. At least until you can to to upload them to your profile... I know a lot of folks will be very inspired by your progress. Hugs!!!

Whoohoooo CONGRATS!!

@Daisy, hey girl - congrats on losing 4 Lbs!!! I'm very happy for you!! I hear you on the size and weight thing. To be honest a million lightyears ago when I was able to fit smaller normal clothes I weighed about 160-170. I thought I looked good - and even to this day when I look at those pictures I still think this is true. I may stick with the 154 though so that way if I do gain during the Holidays I won't get too fat for all my clothes. I really don't know though, because weight shifts, I'm older and sizes have changed over the years. I'll just take it one day and one pound and one size at a time. Good thing? It's coming off!!! @TexasT - I have seen those sizes at the larger size stores. I was a bit mystified by them. All I wanted to know was - what does 1 mean? What does 2 translate to? I mean no way I know that Size 2 at Lane Bryant is nowhere near Size 2 at any normal store. LOL I bought a size 3 by just picking it out figuring it might fit. I have no idea what size it really is - but I took them home and they fell off me. I guess I need to start trying clothes on or find a relevant size chart!! I like your stance on feeling good and being healthy. That's what I'm talking about! What size I am (Size 4.6.8.10 etc.) or weight 150-160-170 etc... should it matter so much that I'm making myself stress so much? Or should I just lose weight - and when I think I'm done (regardless of size or weight) and simply go by how I feel and how healthy I am and then find that stopping point? Because my ULTIMATE goal is just that - to feel good about my size and health - and with that, I'll feel good about my weight.

Love it (especially the hi-lited)!! These are the exact reason why I NEVER compare myself to anyone else. I know for a danged FACT that I will make goal - I don't need to feel like I'm in competition with anyone. I'm a winner in my world and nothing/nobody can take that away from me. Welcome to the slow losers club. It's just nice to know that there are others out there that are like each other. It does make the ride a little bit more comfy!! @coops, I'm glad you enjoyed your PB/toast. I've been loving PB lately - and even the chunky!! I have never in my entire life even thought about PB before. I do think they operate on the brain too with the sleeve...hee hee!! Also, I did lose .2 Lbs over the weekend. It's my TOM too (well it's almost done now TG!!!) so for me I was absolutely just ecstatic!!! I shrilled and my hubby was happy for me too. My pants I'm wearing right now (16W BTW) are super baggy on me... LOL He said I should wear some sweats underneath to keep warm bc I'm constantly complaining how cold I am. Now who'd have ever thought I could fit sweats underneath a pair of 16's??? It's been a long time coming, that's all I know!!! Oh, happy day.

SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...................275.................187..............177..............10 Cherice95405.......248...............177............164...............13 Coops ...............238................191.............177................14 Cwalker...............250.................180..............170..............10 Daisy....................237...................138.............130...............8 DJackson.............229.................229..............215.............14 HollyW.................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo...................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................226..............215...........11 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235..............233.8.............220.............13.8 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................225................199..............26 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................283.............267..............16 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............167.1..........155...........12.1 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........179............165...........14 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................165.............156..............9 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20 mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 tlang262 - Texas.....240.......240..............230...............10 ------------------------------------------------------ I lost .2 Lbs over the weekend, and I'm taking it!!!

oK i don't think you're giving yourself enough credit here Miss Coops!! You LOST A POUND during TOM... that is really amazing. Seriously. You will be down in a couple of days for sure.

Woohooooo!!!!! Isn't that like an 8 or 10 here in US??? CONGRATS LADY!!!

Good job!! Sorry but I wasn't perfect - but that's ok. It's so hard for me around this time. Like I said earlier though, it IS happening You're doing fabulous and you WILL have a drop soon!!!

Firstly, CONGRATS to you on your 50 gone FOREVER!!! Next - I don't know, I'm always drinking my 64 oz and most of the time its up to 80 oz or more of water per day. I really am not sure if drinking more helps ME or not (besides just plain feeling good)... Maybe I'm just a weirdo!! I'm only ASSuming that tho...

Go girl!!! I can't wait until I'm light enough for this kinda stuff. ohhhhh!!!! Please PLEASE keep checking in and let us know how it goes!!!

I'm definitely having mine augmented. I guess I'm already all scarred up and since only 2 (well maybe a few more if you count my Dr.s) folks will be looking at my boobs naked and I don't care about scarring all that much (neither does my hubby). I can cover up my scars from the world... especially with my total body lift I'll get, and my thigh lift with arm lifts too... I'm going to wait maybe a year or longer after I'm at goal to see how much my skin will snap back before doing all that - but I won't wait too long for the boobs. I'll ask for other means to implant rather than around my nipple area. I don't want the risk of losing sensation. However this is a hit and miss, some do some don't. I just don't like even a 1% risk. Some though have said they are more sensitive... I guess it's just luck of the draw.

The whole drinking while eating thing is way blown out of proportion - IMO. I drink all the way up to meal time, and like BBJ there are times I'll take a few tiny sips during eating (not all the time, but still I do on occasion) and I'll start drinking again about 30-45 minutes after eating. I have not found this to make me any hungrier any faster than pre surgery. This WAS the case with my band though. I could cheat the band by pushing fluids through to make my food fall to my big stomach, then YES I could eat WAY more had I not done it. However, like it or not there is only so much room in my stomach now. I love drinking plenty of Fluid all day long. If I waited hours after eating I'd never get in enough during the day. I feel bad and sluggish if I don't get enough - so I'll stick to my current plan, which I'm fine with. I think everyone just needs to find what works for them, and not worry so much about what other are doing. Our journeys run parallel but we are not all on the same path.

That is awesome -- CONGRATS!!!

Haaa!!! I LOVE THIS!!! Sounds like comedy - but I think you are on to something.

I totally think this is true. I haven't lost weight in a few weeks now - and I'm not lying, my body feels like it has shrunk A LOT!!! Sometimes I'll look at myself (like my butt or whatever) and I don't even recognize it's me in the mirror (nice NSV!!) My pants (sizes 16M now) are getting saggy bottom, fitting very loose in the waist and my XL shirts are TOO BIG now. My Larges even getting a loose too. I'm actually smaller now than I ever was with my band. I weigh right now a few pounds more, but my body is definitely smaller. I just realize I'm not one of the ones who can focus so much on the scale. My sleeve IS WORKING!!! I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and play by a different set of rules. I just go with the flow though. I know I'm gonna have a good loss one of these weeks.

No I don't think that will be a problem at all. I've seen lots that do flights from San Diego back to Canada a few days out. I say you'll be ok. You'll probably be tired and maybe a little uncomfortable - but you'll be ok.

Hi Davida, you should be in recovery by now. I hope that you are doing well - and not in too much pain. You finally are on the loser's bench now!! Please check in when you feel up to it and let us know how you're doing. Your journey starts here!!

Good LUCK!! And I never say good luck... The only worse diet I've ever heard was a friend had to do 4 weeks clear liquid diet pre surgery for the band. I thought that was INSANE!! It's hard to do this sort of thing POST op... I can't even think about pre-op. My pre-op diets were non existent with the band, and for my sleeve I did 10 days low carb. That was all. Hugs Doug!! You got this!!

Hi Judy, I'm so sorry to hear that news. I'm just a little baffled too - I would think they would reserve GB or any kind of malabsorptive procedure for those that have much more to lose. Oh well, though I'm not a Dr. either. Regardless I wish you well and that you make your goal and on the way to a healthier you!!! That's what this is all about -

No you certainly aren't alone in this. I'm significantly colder now than I was a few months ago. In fact I'm FREEZING all the time!!!:scared0: I guess that extra 50 Lbs I was carrying around was good for one thing..

Hey Luvinitcuzican (sp? LOL) you look GREAT!! That is just fabulous and I'm so happy for you! Whooohooooo~!!!!!