shanda7182

Congratulations! You look Gorgeous! And wow, are you busy! Great job and thanks for the update, I am two weeks out and you are an inspiration to me!

Stacie, you can and will do it! I was very skeptical @ first but once I begin to see the results, I became a true believer! This is really a blessing. I really dont have much of an appetite, which is a relief, I dont think about food much (and food would be on my mind all the time prior to WLS). Now, im free!!!! Keep your eye on the prize, dont let anything get in your way of reaching your goal. During my first weeks of being sleeved, I followed alot of sleevers on youtube-this was very inspirationa to me. One of my biggest inspirations is a girl by the name of "thecitydoll". If you are ever on youtube, search for : VSG of sleeve gastrectomy or the citydoll and you can see her progress. She is really gorgeous and has done very well with her surgery! Check it out, it helped me ALOT in the beginning!

Wow, this is very inspirational!!! Keep up the GREAT work! I hope to loose 40 more lbs in the next 4-5 months (before my wedding). So it really is attainable I see.

Hey Sleeve Family,

I know ive been missing in action lately but with holidays, a new job, wedding planning, working and going to school full time my time is so much shorter! I did not forget to update you all with pictures! I still love each of you, I have just been so busy- I will try to peek back in here at least once a week. I have been attending my monthly support group meetings (which I am enjoying)!

I was sleeve on 9/15/09 for those that dont know. I started out around 248 lbs, as of this morning, I weigh 188 lbs! Woo-Hoo! (The guy in the photos is my future husband). I am still about 40 lbs away from goal (I think)

I hope everyone is doing great!

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No regrets here! I wish I wouldve done something sooner! I was sleeved in September and I started around 250 lbs-this morning I weighed 190 lbs. You cant beat that with a stick. My clothes are falling off left and right, the hard part is keeping up with your new sizes. Right now im in a size 12. I have 4 months until my wedding and my goal is to reach goal by then! We'll see what happens! Thats 10 lbs a month-for four months! I think I can do it!

Prior to surgery, I was scared too but just think about how much better you will feel afterwards! Its so liberating. This procedure was worth every penny that I spent!

***SideNote**Dee-Dee You are looking GREAT! And you are so close to goal! You go girl! You and Tiffy are true inspirations to all of us!

Celeste ~

I think I know you! Please consider a meeting with Dr. Alanis you will not be disappointed at all. Keep us posted!

Good seeing you on here again Alegna, I have been kinda MIA myself-im back in school and it just never seems to be enough time in a day!

Yes to all of those on here that are going to be sleeved, you wont be dissappointed! I am a little over 3 months now and you can look @ my ticker to see how well i've done. I would def. chose this over the band. All I can say is do your research. Dont be afraid of the "stomach removal" part. Our stomachs do not have to be as large as they are for any reason, we can lead normal healthy lives with a tiny stomach!

Im loving my sleeve and the results!

Everyone have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tiff,

You look great! As others have posted, I think that family/friends are just use to seeing us "look a certain" way. What looks sickly to them may be within your normal BMI!

I think you look great! A sickly looking person looks dehydrated with sunken eyes- that is not the case with you!

Keep up the good work!

Hello!

I was sleeved about 3 months ago. I have found that when my calories are super low like 700 and less....I dont loose weight, I stall! Others on here are successful with those calories! I noticed that when I increased my carbs from 30g per day to 50g per day-I broke my stalls as well and the weight begin to fly off!

Everyone's body is different. For me, the super low calories and super low carbs per day does nothing for me. The more that I eat (proteins of course) the more that I loose. Its a struggle for me to eat over 700 calories though....because im not hungry nor do I have the desire but that is the only way that I have been able to loose weight. Other than that.....I can forget it!

It takes awhile to learn what your body needs to loose. Even my dietician told me that 30g of carbs per day was too low but I continued to try it without success. Finally, I increased those carbs a little more (with good carbs like fruit) and the weight came off again!

Hope this helps!

Congrats Tiff! You look great! You continue to inspire!

I think its safe to say congrats on reaching your goal since you are soooo close!

You have been an inspiration to all of us on here! Thank You for that!

I personally did not have any! But it seems that most complications are gastric leak (which is suppose to be pretty rare). Im not sure of the stats--im sure someone on here knows. Stricture - or narrowing of a part of the stomach can happen-leading to vomiting, etc. I hear a stricture is uncomfortable but easy to fix. Other than that most of the risk of VSG are associated with any surgery in general: blood clot, pneumonia, infection, etc.

However. Ive been research it for about a year now (been sleeved 2.5 months) and I have have only spoke with 5-6 people that have had any of the above complications. It is important to know the risks, so that you can be prepared.

However, having VSG was one of the best decisions that Ive made! Good Luck!

i know i'm not neccessarily a onederlander yet, but i really just wanted to celibrate in advance for my future move to onederland probably some time this weekend or early next week. i was gonna post some album pics of my 23lb weightloss but i just got a little self concious and just settled for a face pic avatar. maybe when i lose like 30 more lbs i might.

Congrats Shanda,

ONEDERLAND YEAH!!!!

Girl, you will be in Onderland soon and very soon! Cheers to your success!

That is excellant! Your doing really well. . . see those other days of worrying about not losing were just little setbacks. . . nothing to worry about. . . I'm so happy it's coming together for you! A medium is excellant, don't think I've ever worn a medium in my life, not even as a baby:w00t: hehehe. . . .I have my date, Dec 29th! I'm really excited!

You are right, sometimes we get to the point and we fear that we will stop loosing weight.But there are so many people on here that are living examples that if you stick with it, the weight will come off eventually!

Congrats Shanda!

I was sleeved two weeks after you, I love watching your updates as I am about on the same losing schedule as you (although it's going to take me a little longer to hit onderland) I hope to reach 50lbs loss by Christmas.

You're going to be an absolute beautiful bride....

Looking forward to seeing pictures of the new you in onederland!

Hey Lady,

Yes, we were sleeved about the same time, so im pretty sure you will hit the 50 lbs mark by Christmas! Thank You, I really am confident that I will be pretty close to my goal by May (im praying, hoping and wishing on a star)! lol

As soon as I take some good pictures- I will post them on here!

You are doing great on your sleeve journey as well!

Shanda,

Congratulations!!! You are going to be an incredibly beautiful bride! Your new husband will be so happy for you and so proud! But most important is how deeply happy YOU will be for YOURSELF! All the hard work you are doing is paying off. Keep up the good work!

We were sleeved at about the same time and I have lost 30 lbs since surgery, 48 lbs since starting my pre-surgery diet, but 56 lbs since my highest weight. I seem to be in a stall these past 2 1/2 weeks. I'm not discouraged though...I am losing inches...need to go buy some new underwear because it is starting to fall off me! I've gone from a 4X to a 2X and am feeling so great. What a blessing! This is the BEST Christmas present I have ever given myself.

It's great to be your sleeve sister. Thanks to you and to all the other sleeve sisters and brothers who have helped me on this forum! Y'ALL ARE THE BEST!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

You are doing fabulous Cajun! Keep up the good work! This forum has been tremendous towards our success, I do believe that with my heart!

Shanda,

Congrats to you! I have so enjoyed listening to your progress and how happy you are. My date is at the beginning of Feb. and I still have so many days of doubt but when I read posts like yours it gives me hope that my life i about to change, it could really happen for me.....

You should be so happy and proud! Great job

Diane

Believe it or not Feb. will be here before you know it. I booked my surgery in April and didnt have it until September....so I know what the waiting feels like. I had 5 months worth of waiting....But it came and went so fast! The worst part for me was coming to a decision on whether or not to have surgery. Once I made up my mind, I was good to go! Good luck on your surgery, keep us updated!

Thanks everyone! You all have been such a great support system! Support is so important to your weight loss success because believe me, sometimes you just feel like giving up (especially when it comes to those stupid scales)!

Today has been a great day! I cannot weight to see the 180s, lol

Thanks a million everyone on this site!

Your post made me feel so happy! I think you are going to be such a beautiful bride! :lol0:

Thanks NewMom! Its a great feeling. It gives us all hope to see any of us succeed!

Shanda - that is so awesome! I am almost 6 months out and have lost 54 - so 50 in 2 months - unbelievably amazing! I can't wait to see your pics and you are going to be so totally awesome in your wedding gown -- I bet you'll have to have it altered significantly! Keep up the good work girl!

Thanks Vegas! You are looking awesome these days yourself! I want to personally thank you as well as Tiffy, you guys were the first people to lend support and words of wisdom when I was a pre-op sleever! It really helped me. Your kind words and support are appreciated!

Even when I was two days prior to having surgery and my labs were out of wack (I didnt think that I was going to be sleeved) but you guys helped me out! So my success is your success as well! We are a family and we help each other out, in our time of need!

Thanks everyone! I am so flipping excited, I couldnt believe my eyes this morning when I hopped on the scale! I am confident that I will never see the 200s again, in life! My first major goal was reached on today! Cant believe it. My second major goal is to get to 190 lbs by New Years Eve! I know it doesnt sound that difficult but trust me, my body does what it wants to do from time to time. LOL And as women we have to consider our monthly cycles because I tend to gain about 3-4 lbs during that time. (Sorry men, that was a TMI).

Let's have a cyber party for ONDERLAND! Woo-Hoo! But we will not be eating any cake only Protein Bars and Protein shakes! lol

:lol0:

P.S. Rene, im so happy that you have your sleeve date- Keep me updated on what hospital you will be in. I would love to come by and give you some support-since we are in the same town. It always help when you have support!

Good morning all,

I have been saving my update for this day. This morning, I weighed and the scale read 198.2 lbs. Two days ago, I was 201 lbs! So finally, I am in ONDERLAND and im so happy about that. I was sleeved a little over two months ago on 9/15/09. This has been a good experience for me. I am enjoying this feeling. It has been up and down though....I've had my share of stalls, etc but the key is to stickwith it! So as of today, Ive officially lost 50 lbs since surgery~ I am so excited!!!!!

To everyone that is considering the sleeve and is in limbo- DO IT! Every month when I attend my support group meeting-the people that are sleeved are loosing the most weight-TRUST me! There are some people in there that are banded, etc and have never heard of the sleeve and after the meeting is over they come up to the sleevers saying "I wish I would have known about the sleeve first". There are 4 of us in the support group that are sleeved and ironically- we were all sleeved around the same time. Most of us have lost at least 40 and another girl has lost 60 lbs in 2 months!

The sleeve rocks!

I enjoy not thinking about food all the time. I get full faster and I am satsfied easier.

I dont have not have any pictures at this time but as soon as I take some- I will post.

Just to give you an idea- I started off wearing a tight 1X scrub set now...I am in a medium! Can you believe that? Yes a medium!

This surgery is so worth it! I am getting married in May and I cannot wait to see how I look on that day.

Thanks for listening everyone!

I actually agree with everyone. But we do have to understand that everyone's coping mechanisms are different. As a nurse that has worked with individuals with OCD, anxiety, depression, etc. It is a really frustrating job because it seems anxiety or depression should be very easy to get over!But people that are diagnosed and suffer with those problems are really hurting and just like Diabetes, its a true illness.

Lan, we are here to support you no matter what! I dont think anyone means any harm (especially bearded or Tiffy) they are sweethearts!

Hang in there Lan!

Congrats! You are an inspiration to us all!!!!!

Congrats!!!!!! That is such an accomplishment- That will be my next update post (whenever it happens) lol.......

I am so looking forward to seeing how we all look this time next year though!

Yep- I think that is happening to me now! I think I read a few months ago that some people loose weight the first month or two and then the second or third month for them was just inches----that is the story of my sleeved life right now! But I will take it! It beats gaining weight! I just cannot believe it, im 2 lbs from ONDERLAND and it is taking its dear, sweet time. I am gonna wait to do my 2 month post op report--for whenever I hit onderland, It might be 3 months by then! lol

We have to remember, its a journey! Not a race! But ive lost about 50 lbs as well in 2 1/2 months so thats darn good as well. So I cannot complain, if it were up to me, I wouldve been 145 lbs two months ago! lol

Dont feel bad. I scheduled my surgery in May and didnt have it until September--so I know how you feel! It will be here before you know it!

Lan,

I understand where you are coming from, however, mine is not like that everyday. Some days I can tolerate more- I think it depends on stress level too. If I wait a long time before eating, then I can forget eating 2 oz or anything near it.

Ive also noticed when its close to my monthly, I can eat a little more. I dont know if thats mental or what...lol

But we are just over 2 months-- oh yeah and you can forget gulping any liquids- I did that (I had forgotten about my sleeve for a split second) and i started having spasms?!

I notice that I am thirstier now post op too, I dont know whats up with that but I guess its because I cant eat/drink @ the same time anymore.