AJW

I'm 7 months post-op on March 10th. My weight loss has slowed WAY DOWN now. I'm wondering: AT WHAT POINT does your body just say, "Ok, that's it; I'm settling right here and not dropping any more weight?" Let's hear from some long-timers on this question. I was losing at the rate of approx. 10 lbs. a month, then it was taking 6 weeks to lose 10 lbs., now I'm lucky to lose 3-5 lbs. a month. It's getting frustrating and I'm still 25 lbs. away from my high end goal. What to do??:biggrin0:

I think it's a "play it by ear" sort of situation. If you can sense that the guy(s) would be open to the information coming from someone who's actually been there, then go for it. You never know what's going to be appropriate for someone else to hear. Maybe you could slip a note into his "gym" bag........just kidding. Maybe you can make up a badge that says "Ask Me about WLS" and wear that around work..........OK, kidding again. Do what feels right to you and see where it goes. The worst that can happen is the guy tells you to get away from him, ya know? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. :thumbup1:

That's great, Tiff. Excellent advice.

It sounds like your insurance company will just keep coming up with excuses and reasons NOT to cover the surgery which is typical of insurance companies - or really bad ones, which apparently you have. More enlightened insurance companies figure you'd be taking preventative action by having the surgery and they'd save money on health care down the road, but as I say, those are the few and far between ones. If all else fails, just bite the financial bullet and go to Dr. Aceves - I did so I know what I'm talking about - and have him do the surgery. Anywhere from $8500 to $10K depending, and you're done. You can pay back the credit card company (or pay cash if you have it) instead of beating your head against the wall over the stupidity of the insurance company. That's my advice for what it's worth.

OK, let me understand this: one day you weighed 220 and the next day you weighed 232, and there was some doubt that the scale was off?? Did you really think you'd gained 12 pounds overnight? That's too funny. Glad you figured out the problem.

/ ITA with Tiff. Why risk stuff when there's no need to do that.....what to eat? You've got a lot of time - rest of your life - to eat whatever you can tolerate, so why push it? I followed a very conservative food plan as prescribed by Dr. Aceves, my surgeon. I didn't deviate from it, even though I "wanted" more substance in the food. I think what you're really saying PNW218 is that your "head" hunger got the best of you and you gave in to it. It's really in your best interest to NOT EAT that stuff in the beginning. Yes, every doc is different on what they'll allow, but to do this: is very foolish in my humble opinion of having gone through the sleeve procedure now 7 mos. post op. Your surgery wasn't even 1 mo. ago - guess what, you're not healed yet.

Still stuck at 160. Keep trying to get into the 150s, but not yet.

Way to go, Mistblu.........too scary for me, though.

I say "CU next Tuesday" when I want to use that word. Try it, you'll like it.:ohmy::wink0:

I figured you for a fire sign; I'm an Aries married to a Sag., so I totally get you.:thumbup:

Tiffy - what sign are you? I like your style - balls to the walls, girl, you go!

Hey you guys, read this: VSGGuide - FAQs good info and explains the bougie sizes, too.

Take a look at this: VSGGuide - FAQs it will answer your questions and good to know info. as well.:thumbup:

I really think this depends on your age as well as how much weight you lose. I'm not a spring chick anymore, so yeah, after losing 83 pounds there is sagging skin. Not attractive to me. I plan to have cosmetic surgery once I get to goal, skin tightening up by then or not. I don't have a lot of time to wait it out and see what my body ends up doing (at least in my mind, I don't have time, and I'm the impatient sort) so the nip/tuck is definitely in my future. To each their own.:biggrin2:

/ Frankly, I'm an ARIES and 6 months of waiting/weighting would drive me completely crazy. I'd just do again what I already did: go to Mexico and PAY FOR IT myself. Dr. Aceves is the best, no waiting and sooo much cheaper than in the States. Just my opinion; everyone has to find their own way on this path.

Glad it's moving again. I know how frustrating it can be when nothing happens. I resorted to taking diuretics at one point, and then stopped myself because that's a dangerous habit. If it has to come off slower, then that's the way it's going to be.

Hope things went better than you expected and you're back at home. Let us hear from you so we can know how you're doing.

I have hair extensions and had them even before the sleeve. However, my hair has thinned so much on top that they can only attach so many extensions without them showing. Of course extensions (the piece by piece Cinderella system) are expensive and very time intensive. That's the bad part; the good part is they last about 4 months with care on your part before you have to have them taken off and re-done. I briefly had the type that you can literally stick on, but the quality of the hair wasn't good (frizzy hair) and you could see the "tabs" when a light breeze came up (on me) because my hair is so thin. I hope the hair comes back, but I'm 60 so not sure about that.

I'm cold all the time now too. My house is cold inside and I hate turning on the heat, so I have a little heater under my desk. But yeah, am now cold, never was before unless it was really COLD. Ha Ha, Dee Dee, about the weather. So Cal. you can have it; we're never satisfied where we are, are we? I get tired of always sunny days, believe it or not. Would love some rain and some texture in the sky. Was 173.4 this morning, and have a size 10 jeans upstairs waiting for me to feel comfortable in them. I can get them on, but they're still too tight around the middle for comfort. They fit, but I don't want something to be too tight. It's all good!

WTG, Dee Dee. Lucky you have snow. We're in So. Cal., so winter is 50ish and no nothing, only rain when we get very lucky.

Glad you're home and doing well. Just remember it takes time and healing is a process. Remember this when you wonder why you're feeling crappy some days and really good on others. It's just a process.

I was just reading through this thread and came across yours noting that you worked in medical malpractice. When I was a legal assistant back in 1999, I also worked for a medical malpractice DEFENSE attorney. Small world.:thumbup:

I'm 4 month post-op sleeve, and I still can't eat very much of dense protein or anything else for that matter. Can I eat more now than at 6 weeks, yes, maybe a little. If there's any stretching, it's something minuscule you don't even notice unlike the bypass pouch which can and does stretch to the point that people can actually gain the weight back if they don't watch it.

Yes, you need some help. Are you working with a nutritionist or were you evaluated by a nutritionist before you had the surgery? If not, then ask your doctor's office to offer some advice on diet, etc. As you say, this is a life-changing event. You can't continue to eat like you use to and think, Oh, I'll just eat LESS of the wrong foods. No! That's not how it works. I've lost 70 pounds and I have not exercised at all. That's not in my best interest, but I'm lazy, so I'm shrinking but my muscle tone is for crap. I need to work on that. Right now, just concentrate on getting your protein in and enough fluids. Doesn't have to be water, but does have to be enough fluids so you're not dehydrating. Muscle cramps in your calves sounds like dehydration or calcium deficiencies, to me, but I'm no doctor. I started my pre-op with the Medifast plan and I have continued with it. It takes the guess work out of "what am I going to eat today?" I also take supplements which I buy from womentowomen.com Yes they can be pricy, but my health is worth it. Check out both programs and see if anything interests you. Medifast works, and people lose weight with it even without surgery, but it's a lot easier with the surgery. Yes, it's expensive, but you're not buying so much food at the market so it's a trade off. Whatever you choose to do, we're here to support and help you, but all the decisions for a new and more healthy you start in your head. It's a re-education process so give yourself time to evaluate what's more important to you - your health or your old habits. I'm sure you know which it is.