LilMissDiva Irene

Thanks for the update CT, that does make a lot of sense. I think it all takes time too, getting comfy with the new us we have become. All of the dieting and fear of food all these years is not going to go away over night. For me, I think once I realize I WONT gain my weight back, I won't always feel like I'm in diet mode. Good luck!

I just want to quickly chime in here. I find some of these posts offensive. Generalizing an entire country based on one negative experience is not helping anyone. This is a support website, let's keep it that way. Mexican people are educated too, and my surgeon is one of the best bariatric surgeons in the entire world. The hospital he works out of is by far one of the most attentive as far as staff and the cleanest I've ever seen. My own Mom who has worked in the medical field for her entire career even agreed. Not only that, please remember there are many who post here who ARE Mexican, myself included. I come from a very intelligent family, and yes we do live in the United States now but our heritage runs very deep. We still have family who lives in Mexico, even my husbands side of the family too, and they are VERY HAPPY!! Please consider others before making generalizing posts. It's unfair and downright untrue to pool everyone into one instance. I do understand the litigious side of the argument, I am not referring to that at all. It is a very important matter to consider when thinking of going outside of the country to have your surgery. It was a risk I took, but felt comfortable enough to as I went to the best surgeon and felt the risk outweighed the possible outcome, and thankfully everything went well for me. Let's stay on topic and offer support to the unfortunate occurrence. Also, anyone reading these posts, please PLEASE do your own research. Not every ONE every WHERE is the same. That would be just as ridiculous as saying someone in the US had an awful experience with their surgery so that means all US Doctors should not be trusted. People ALL OVER THE WORLD have bariatric surgeries. So does that mean every single one of them should fly out to the US and have it here? No, that does not make any sense at all.

Thanks!!! :-)

OH I am so so sorry to hear of your loss!!! I agree with others it might be ok just to give yourself a little bit of time to grieve. That said, you have to do what you feel is right for you. Here is what I did when I needed to get back on track: 5 days of lean Proteins, consisting of poultry, fish, eggs, and seafood. With those meals I would have green veggies. For Snacks I would have dairies (light or greek yogurt, string or regular cheese, SF chocolate milk, etc) or nuts such as almonds or peanuts. I would also have Peanut Butter - but that's pretty much it. I'm very strict those 5 days, which its not that hard since I always tell myself its only 5 days. Once that's over and my cravings are gone, I just go straight back into the sleever eating rules which is Protein first then a few bites of veggies and if I have anymore room a few bites of complex carbs. Wishing you well.

PS this is the bra I was using before my breast augmentation. It even got too big in the breasts before I got out of it, if you can believe it. That's how fast my boobs shrank. In fact it wasn't even until the last 50 Lbs weight lost that my boobs disappeared. LOL!!!! You can find this bra at Kohl's.

Yes I did lose my boobs as I lost weight... unfortunately or fortunately, just depends how you view it. I say fortunately. I started around 44D's and ended up Size 34B flats... They looked like 2 deflated shrivelep up balloons... you know how when you have a regular rubber balloon blown up and let it deflate on its own? It just has that demoralized pathetic look to it and when you touch it, it's like touching an old womans butt. Aaanyway, I just got mine fixed. Thank goodness I didn't need a lift or anything. I got a simple breast augmentation and got 550cc silicone implants placed on top of the muscle. Surgeon said since I wasn't getting a lift that's how he should place them. He did great. The only bad thing about it is it added 6 Lbs to my body weight... LOL!!! I'm now a 32/34DDD(F). Everything's fixable! That's what I always say.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GOAL!!! Whoooottt!!!!

Sounds like you've had a pretty normal yet super fantastic first year! You look FAB-U-LESS!!!

It only my opinion, but I think what happens is when someone gets their hopes up on one procedure they just don't listen to the "dark side". You can tell them until your blue in the face, it just won't make a difference. I was banded in early 2008. I don't think the failure rates were as prominent as they are right now. It was being pushed and proclaimed as being a savior to those who would just like a little freedom from fat without having to have their insides dissected. I knew about RnY and I knew about DS at that time. I'd never heard of the sleeve but I think it was extremely new then. It wasn't an option for me so I chose what was best for me at that time. It did save me from getting to my fattest point of my life, if anything. I was on -2 Lbs by time I went on my pre-op diet for my revision. I was on -11 Lbs on revision day. I'd lost 50 lbs before my Lap Band surgery - so I never gained any of that weight back. Also, having my band prepared me completely to rock my sleeve. So, all was not lost with my Band!

So, I said I wouldn't try for those Size 0's after all... well... I took them out of my closet to possibly return them for a larger size, which I was going to go for a 4. For some crazy reason I though, what the heck - I'll try them on... why not? Who cares? It would just be interesting to see how far I can get them up. Well... take a look: For the record, I'm a little weirded out by this. I still have a lot of swelling to go down from my lipo. How small am I gonna get??? WOWWWW!!! Happy? ABSO FREAKIN LUTELY!!!! I fitted my Zero's without even trying!!!! I LOOOVE YOU SLEEVIE!!! I LOVE YOU LIPO SURGEON!!!! YOU'RE THE BEST!!! Source: I Must Retract My Last Goal Thread... Omg You Won't Believe This...

Great job!

Cheri, the results from my lipos are totally beyond what I even imagined. I so impressed by my Surgeons work, and I'd say I'm about perhaps 60% healed at this point. I can't wait to find out!! I know I won't view 100% results until probably around 6 months out. Then they even said the skin won't retract back to final recovery until a year out - which is normal for any weight loss. I've just got to come to terms with my ole brain that I don't need to actively seek out trying to lose more - pretty much it's just going to happen on its own. I have to find that balance where I won't gain but I won't lose either. I'm in weight loss purgatory right now.. LOL!!

Yayyy!!!! Out with the old and in with the new. I had my band revised to sleeve 15 months ago. Best decision I ever did make, and I also had Dr. Aceves. Best wishes!!!

What's the deal with these jealous competitive freak a zoids??? Whoaaaa I had an issue today. Short lived, or forever long, depending on how you look at it. So not even an hour ago a co-worker of mine (which we've never exactly been close may I say) came strutting through our unit and was saying bye and that she was leaving. Whatever, not sure why all of a sudden that was necessary when she'd never done that before. Anyway, she stopped and looked at me up and down. I've gotta tell you all, I do look extremely thin today, based on my jet black skinny pants I'm wearing and my shirt is more fitting. I've usually taken to wearing baggier clothes to work, just didn't feel it today. So she looks all embarrassed like and she says... OMG!! You're skinner than me now... OMG that's so terrible!!! She went on to say she weighs 180 Lbs so come to find out I even weigh less than her. Now if you know this about me, you know my weight no where matches my size. So you can imagine, she's put on the porker lately. We are roughly the same height. I was a little dismayed because she's not one time told me this. Not once. I mean, not that I'm looking for it but when everyone else is doing it you just notice who's ignoring it, know what I mean? Here's the funny thing, I've known I'm smaller than her for awhile now. I've heard her mentioning her size and whatnot - so yeah, girlie I know I'm skinner than you... *sigh* Have been for awhile now. She tried to clean it up by saying, well you look great - perfect. You don't need to lose anymore weight! Yeah there's that sentence again. Here's my theory about that sentence. I think there's always so much more behind that statement than the literal sense. To me, she said - don't lose anymore because you're (much) skinnier than me and I don't like it. I have a stinking suspicion someone is going to try to go on a diet soon... LMAO!!! Anyway just thought I'd add an entry to the Skinny Girl Issues.

Great story Benisa - you're so kind to help that family in their time of need. I hope you will get your surgery soon, but as I always say - on HIS time. Blessings!!

Like I said in the other thread, the sleeve does not have an expiration date. As long as you follow the sleever rules, you will continue to lose weight. You have the ability to hit goal and even go beyond. Will your weight loss slow down? Yes, but that's true with any weight loss program. The lighter you are, the less calories it takes for you to sustain your life. In that case you will need to bump up your calories out by being more active or getting more workouts in. You'll also need to be really good with what you are consuming. HTH

Hmmm... well I wish I had better news for you but I'm 15 months post op and I still gurgle from time to time. Depends what I eat mostly now, but it's usually things like bread or similar. It's not often though, but I do!

Heyyy girrrl!!! Yeah good idea, all us at goal or very close need to start chatting more and keeping each of us entertained or motivated to keep the weight off. I'm sure you're doing good Mini, you've always kept your head in check. I've missed you around here. I'm glad to see you posting today. I'll tell you what's on my mind right now. I'm starting to feel a little bit frustrated. I feel frustrated because I'm starting to notice I'm finding reasons to keep going. Now, I know it's probably NOT true, but my head keeps making up excuses to keep trying to lose weight. Ugh I think I really need to go talk to someone. Anyway, thats just me for today. Let's see who else will pop and say hello!

Who knows, everyone's metabolisms are so over the place it would be impossible to settle this debate one way or the other. Some believe it is a myth. For myself it is the truth. I have a very high metabolism it turns out. I always thought I didn't because of how fast I gained weight a long time ago. Truth is when I had the BodyBugg running I'd sometimes burn well over 3,000 calories in one day. Of course I was in the high 200's so I'm sure its much less now. Still it was the case. Anyhow the reason I gained all that weight was because I was not working out during those times and I'd eat probably 3-4 times the amount I really needed to for survival. I have no doubt I was probably eating 10,000 calories in one day. I used to put away some serious groceries. Now that my body is back to being fit and active, I burn likely around 1,000 calories a day alone on workouts. I know I need to scale back but we'll see... LOL Aaanywayyy, I noticed that I would really stall if I wasn't eating enough or getting in enough calories. My 3rd week stall actually happened on my second week post op. A normal persons starts between week 3 and 4. However, once I started picking up my calories again and eating more normally, my metabolism kicked back up and I was losing steadily again. This isn't the only time I've noticed this. The less I eat, the less weight I lose. If I'm eating a little bit more (of course still less than what I'm burning because it all really is calories in / calories out) AND I'm eating healthy with a good hardcore workout mixed in, I'm losing pretty darn good. So what's the truth? I don't know. Everyone's answer is, however it's working for each of them.

The results were far far beyond what my comprehension was pre sleeve. It is really honestly for sure without a doubt hands down the best thing in the world I have ever done for me and myself. And no, I'm not just saying that. I really mean it. Every word.

You all are so sweet I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! This is my second home for sure!! You all WILL get here, just keep believing you will and no matter what NEVER ever give up. Remember it took me 6 years to get here. Many factors play a part in this but its still a fact that I AM HERE!

Consult your question with your surgeon. Usually when these individualized questions come up to them, they will allow you to go off eating plan ever so slightly. Good luck!

Nah.... Losers bench stays the same size - we all shrink and there is more room for others! LOL!!

Yay for both of you! Sleeve life is the most incredible life I ever dreamed I could have.

Um... wow. Some people actually, seriously have no business opening their mouths. Ever. I don't even know what to say. What has not already been said that's left? I know this, I've been reading this board for 2 years now, and you are one of the top losers I've seen. 95 Lbs. in 5 months... that is INCREDIBLE. Then to have someone you entrust with their opinion tell you its not, is such a tragedy. I think this nurse needs to be reported. That is my honest opinion. She has no empathy, sympathy, whatever for the emotionally delicate situation bariatric patients are in. That IMO is doing a great disservice to everyone that walks through your surgeons doors. Listen to me and everyone else here, this nurse has no clue what she's talking about. YOU my dear are really sincerely doing a most fantastic job with your weight loss. DO NOT ever... EVER.. let anyone tell you otherwise, because that simply is untrue. Regarding the whole honeymoon phase argument - I can't tell you how much I really hate this. Yes it is true you will lose the most and the fastest in the very beginning. Yes, its because your sleeve is super small and you can only ingest so much. Yes, your sleeve will let up and you will begin to be able to eat more, meaning you will be able to up your calories. The only thing you have to do to remedy this is just keep ensuring you are burning much more calories than you are taking in. I am 15 months out. My sleeve is still extremely restrictive. I'm not even really trying all that hard and I'm STILL losing weight! THE SLEEVE DOES NOT COME WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE ATTACHED!! It is a PERMANENT restrictive procedure. You will have your banana tummy forever. How you use it is up to you... just don't allow others to control your actions. She does NOT deserve your attention to the point where you'd sabotage all your incredible efforts. She's just a miserable, mean lady who has zero compassion... Don't let her take this away from you, please.