Bob_350lbs

That type of pain is familiar to me, it was caused by my hiatal hernia, but that was repaired and the doc said it is not likely it would come back. However, I know in my case, since the sleeve, that this pain is directly related to my eating too fast or too much. The food could literally be stuck in the esophagus, or it gastroesophageal reflux. Gallbladder is typically right side under the breast, because that is where your gallbladder is. But even, if you have never had sxs of gallbladder disease, it can happen anytime, especially after rapid weight loss. Also, I remember that back pain, between the shoulder blades can also be a sxs of a heart attack in women. Gosh, I hope your not a hypochrondriac, because I am not helping!

You are so right, vent away...what I don't understand is don't they see how much obesity is going to cost them in the long run? With 2/3 of the population obese, it is only going to get worse, eventually ending up with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma exacerbations, degenerative joint disease, tons of expensive medications, surgeries like coronary artery bypass, knee replacments, etc...HELLO!! And, the number of people applying for social security disability is only going to increase, creating a significant burden on society. As obesity increases, so do all the co-morbidities. Claimant's with a BMI of 40 places a significant burden and starts to compromise the weight bearing joints, such as the knees. Today's obese children will grow up sicker and sicker, eventally on a plethora of medications, reduced ability to function, and early disability, directly related to obesity. Next to smoking, there is nothing worse for your health..Okay...I know I vented a lot too...but this is a huge issue with me too.

Congrats Dee Dee and Nanna, you have done so well, I could only wish to have done as well as you, your a grand inspiration to all.

Weighing daily keep you focused, but it is easy to get discouraged if you feel you aren't losing fast enough. It's a mind game, just don't let it get you down. Take measurements too, cause if the pounds aren't coming off, then guarantee, the inches are. This is a powerful tool, in a way, it's amusing, how little food you can eat. But, at 6 mos out, I can eat more than I could at 1 mo, for obvious reasons, so it's important to track on dailyplate or fitday or something so that you know what your intake is. It blows my mind that I ate high refined carbs for a whole week, and lost 2 lbs, finally getting 50 lbs off..and my waist has shrunk 10 inches too..so don't worry, this will work for you. I am not recommending high refined carbs though..it's very important to get in your protein, without it, you might lose your hair, muscle, and your energy, but I am just saying, this will work for you, don't worry if you're not the fastest loser of the bunch, what counts is that you will reach your goal, and then maintenance comes in, and that is part 2. Life will get better in many ways, and you will be able to eat normally, normal foods eventually, and then you will have the skills to do it.

Jackie, I admire your courage, and he really digs you too :-) Go for it! It's better to haved loved and lost than never to have loved at all, right? I think this romance will make you feel alive again, maybe that is what we all need to feel alive again, and don't we deserve it?

You guys are awesome! My excuse is that have been working 12 hr days, 6 am to 6 pm, and when I get home I am beat, I know that this is just an excuse, if you really want something, you find a way..and for those who think they have sagging skin, be grateful you did this before you turned 50, because that is when you really start losing collegen, and wrinkles, sagging skin, bat wings, really are a reality, even without weightloss, even my skinny, in shape friends, who excersie and have never been overweight in the their lives have turkey necks and bat wings, even if they are little tiny bat wings...maybe that is where the term 'old bat' orginates from, JK...men get turkey necks too, so equal aging opportunity...I guess if you can afford plastics you never grow old, like Joan Rivers, but all her ugliness in on the side, you ladies are beautiful inside and out..maybe because we have all be so discriminated against our whole lives due to obesity, that we understand the pain and suffering, and have much more compassion for those who don't fit the mold of perfection. Keep up the good work ladies, you ROCK are awesome inside and out!.

Wow, you guys have done so well, congrats! By summer, we will all be so much more healthier than last year. I also want to have lost enough weight to wear summer dresses and even shorts (well, capris, anyway).

Hi Jennifer, thanks for posting. I can relate to your post, as it's been mostly a mental thing for me too. My thoughts are this, what about joining a commercial diet program? Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig? It might be a good way to stay accountable each week and get group support or personal counseling and a cheerleader on your side. I am thinking I might have to do that too. We have the restriction, just need the emotional support and encouragment to keep going. The weight will come off, slowly. Maybe it might take me a year to get the rest off, it depends on how I do with my calories, and for me, it's about 1200 on average per day, with walking to and from work as my exercise. I wish you the best in your journey, never give up, it is persistence and sticking with it that will get you there, and you will get there. And, another thought..the VG can also be upgraded to the duodenal switch, so that you have the malabsorbtion to help you lose weight and get back on track. I know my surgeon does this after high BMI patients get down to a weight making it safer.

Dee Dee, I can't wait until I am petite enough to wear Soma, I have read they are the best..but they don't make ginormous there...But when I do, I plan on stocking up myself. Right now, I am buying mine at Lane Giant..they have my size and it's comfortable. Maybe by summer, my hope is to be at 150. Congrats on your success, you look marvelous!

:-} Whoo Hooo!!! Isn't is amazingly wonderful. I can't believe it either, I want to walk to work, walk during lunch to go shopping, walk home, walk, walk, walk, because it feels so darn good to be walking with ease because it feels good. I hate exercise, but I LOVE getting outside to clear my head and senses.

Lan2K, I didn't realize you were struggling so much emotionally. and I really appreciate your honesty. For those of us with eating disorders, it more of a mental head game. I still wish I would have done it sooner, but I know in the end it;s all the same, diet & exercise. Whatever tool you can find to help you reduce your caloric intake, no matter how drastic, whatever it takes to ge you to your goal.

Dr. Jossart, YAY! Thank you so much for your time and being here for us. Why is the 6 mo mark so important? Is there a certain % of weight that should be lost by then, that predicts success? My VG was 7/28 wt 213 BMI 39, as of today, I am 174 BMI 31.8. I am worried that I might not reach my goal, because 6 mos will be up 1/11/10. The reason for the stall was that I started eating carbs at month 4. It was that head hunger thing. I have been back on track for 2 wks now, however, I cannot seem to keep my calories under 1000, although I am only consuming protein/veggies. What can I do? And, why is 6 mos so important?

Have you tried the protein soups from Bariwise? I thought they were tolerable and there is no artificial sweetner in them.

Down to 168 this am, I think the meticulous tracking is helping me. It may only be down a pound, but it's pound by pound that gets us to our goal.

Since I started tracking on Thedailyplate.com I have started going in the right direction again, I consider it an awesome tool. My surgeon advocates under 30 good carbs per day (veg) and under 800 calories. He says eating processed foods, white flour, sugar just makes you crave more of it. And, to prevent muscle wasting, keep your Protein around 70. P.S Remember to measure too...last month I lost 2 inches in my hips, even though I only lost 5 lbs and I was eating a lot of bad carbs...so that affected my weight loss too. Best of luck to you, this is a journey, a tool, and the more compliant you are, the better you do, it's just plain physics..calories in, calories out.

I agree with the gals, loose skin is better than rolls of fat, fat in your arteries, fat around your heart, fat in your liver, etc...and most insurance companies will pay for abdominal skin removal and breast reduction. I can live with with it all, because my life is already so much better on so many levels.

I can't seem to be able to find jeans to fit my weird body type...short, no ass, and a lot of stomach...any suggestions? Levi skinny jeans fit my legs well, but the low rise fall off me cause I have no butt to hold them up. Boot leg are so baggy around my legs, they look too big..help! I wish I could have a pair custom made, if anybody knows where.

My weight hasn't budged in 2 wks, so I took my measurements and my hips went down 2 inches, and so did my waist and bust....YAY!!!! It pays to measure, y'all! Continued success to all on your incredi ble journey to good health and a greater quality of life.

Well, the reality is that eventually we will all be able to eat just about anything we want. The pouch stretches out. But, you can be successful regardless. Keep at it. You may be experiencing psychological cravings for carbs, I do. I think self-monitoring will be the determining factor of success over the long-haul. Try getting support in a group setting if possible. If not, this is a good place and so is a web site called weightlossurgerychannel.com. You can watch videos from longterm successful WLS patients. The founder is 12 yrs post-op. God bless you with persistence, perseverance and success.

Congrats Tiffany, you are an inspiration to us all. What a great accomplishment indeed. I wouldn't doubt if you end up a size 2. Good job!

In California, we can research doctors through the State Board of Medical Licensure. It will tell you if there are any pending lawsuits, settlements, or adverse actions against a doctor. Maybe Texas has the same. It's a great way to research your doctor.

This same controversy regarding Dr. Betancourt is also discussed on the Obesityhelp.com web site. I haven't read so much controversy regarding any other facility or doctor. Really, I have read none at all regarding any other bariatric surgeon in the USA or MX, except for this facility/Dr. That is part of the reason I chose my surgeon, because there are no negative reports regarding Dr Cirangle or Jossart at LapSF or the hospitals they perform the surgery at. They are real hosp, w/real ICU, specialists, etc., right there. Buyer beware. If you can't do real, legitimate research, except for hearsay and what the patient coordinator advertises, how do you trust them? Yes, a few have rave testimonials and few have horrible, horrible testimonials. God help us all to have this surgery safely. I pray for those who are going through a rough time after surgery, and I pray you get the very best medical care possible. God bless you.

Well Chondra, you have a plan, and that is a good start. It was like that for me too, just a few bites of sugar and it was downhill from there. But,today is a new and glorious day! Yes, let's make a plan for today, write down our planned meals, exercise, drink some Water and viola! We're back on our way to success. 6 more months to summer and we are going to refocus and get there healthier, happier, and slimmer! Have a great day all! //////////////////////////////////////

I agree with all my fellow VGers, wish I would have done this long ago, wish this was avail when I was younger, the quality of your life is so much improved in everyway. But remember, this is a life-time journey. You will get the weight off amazingly fast w/o much real physical hunger, but it is a life time commitment to healthy eating and exercise. Once we reach goal, it's not over and back to the usual routine of poor lifestyle habits. But, w/o the sleeve, I wouldn't have been able to do this, cause believe me, I have been on a diet since age 8 and it never worked until now.

Wow, that is fantastic! But you really deserve it, your exercise routine is to be commended, the sleeve is just a tool, and you get out of it what you put into it and it really shows. You are inspiring me to get moving, used my treadmill yesterday while watching extreme weightloss from " Big to Bikini" very inspiring. She lost 125 lbs in 9 mos. Anyway, today I reached a mini milestone too, weighed in at 169, finally broke out of the 170s!