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Oh, and if I can make one comment, and please, I am not trying to offend anyone. I think that we need to get away from setting extremely lofty, perhaps even unrealistic weight loss goals. I know we are a little women (under 5'3"), but that doesn't mean we have to weight 115lbs. I am afraid that some people are setting themselves up to be extremly frustrated and disappointed. Of course some people will get there, but some of us will not. What happens if you cannot reach that goal no matter how hard you try. Will you accept it, or will you continue to live a life of beating yourself up for not expercising enough, eating less, trying harder, etc....just like we did when we were at our heaviest. I set my goal so I would be just withing the normal BMI range, and even now I find it so frustrating that I cannot get the last couple of pounds off (my goal was 140lbs, even though I would love to see a 3 in that number for the first time in my life, ever). I would hate to see people struggle and berate themselves if they cannot reach a goal that perhaps is not physically attainable. I am working very hard on trying not to focus on the numbers, and instead focus on the fact that I have lost almost 120lbs all together and can wear a size 6, and even a size 4/5 depending on the clothes. Never in my dreams would I have thought it possible! Hang onto the big picture and this amazing experience and chance to start over and make things better rather than those last 10lbs! I think we would all be much happier (including myself).

I am not quite 5'3". My highest weight was about 260lbs, my surgery weight was 220lbs. I had my surgery November 29, 2010. I now weigh 142-145, I fluctuate alot day to day, and I wear a size 6. I have a lot of skin (2 babies and almost 120lbs gone), so if I had a tummy tuck, I would probably lose a few more pounds and wear a smaller size. I would like to get below 140lbs, but right now I am just maintaining. If I actually watched what I ate more and got my butt moving, I could probably get it off! I love to read everyone's success stories, it is inspirational to me! Thanks for sharing!

Ouroborous, I love that! I agree, so many people have an unreal expectation of what it is going to be like. Yes, some people drop the weight like no body's business, but I don't think a lot of those people never learn to eat properly and have an increase risk of weight gain later on. And ReallyRosy, it sounds like you are doing everything right! Just keep your head up and try to relax. It will come off! I have a friend that at 6 months out she had a 2 month stall. Partly because of poor eating, but partly because of her body resisting the loss. But it did come off! And you will be able to eat again, but just realize a lot of those foods still need to be eating consciously. I do eat rice, but I will only have a couple of tablespoons because I will eat my protein and veggies first. I have other treats too, like ice cream and popcorn, just not all the time. Some people eat a lot of carb rich foods, I try to avoid those. Things like chips are my weakness, so I never keep them in my house. Keep strong and you will do great!!

Firstly, you are doing awesome. I frankly was lazy and didn't start an exercise program until I was about 9 months post op. I would use your own heart rate monitor. Those ones that are on treadmills, especially if you just have to hold on, are so unrealiable. That is great that you were able to go a little further than a mile. It will just get easier and easier. Good luck!!

I would work on the walking first. You are doing awesome, and I would just work on getting to 3 miles first, and then work on speeding it up a little at a time. Running is very tough, and especially if you have had knee problems in the past, the impact might hurt them. Plus, if you get injured, then you will have to quit all together. Stick to the 2.4mph and just slowly increase your distance or time. Once you can walk the whole 3 miles at 2.4mph, increase your speed to 2.5 or 2.6 and see how you feel. Do that for a week, and then increase again. Once you are walking at a quicker pace, say 3 or 3.3 mph, then you could try adding in the jogging intervals at the start of the program. It is best to start off slowly. If you go too hard to fast, you will burn yourself out and hate doing it, or worse, get injured. You have done the right thing by getting active first! Keep it up!!

So I thought I would give myself a little push for the last run of week 4. Since week 5 gets longer and longer, I thought I would see how long I could go. So I did the normal 3 min jog first, 90 sec rest, and then I started into my 5 minute run, thinking I would try for 7 minutes, I passed 7 minutes, and tried for 8, then once I got passed 8, I figured screw it, I am going for 10! And I did it! 10 minutes straight running, then 2.5 minutes walking, then another 3 minute run!! I was so excited. I am not going to push like that next run, let my body recover, but now, week 5 is not looking quite as scary!

It is empowering! I am so determined to do this, and it is funny, but I am just as proud if not more of this achievement than having the courage to fly to Mexico alone and have the sleeve done. Good luck and keep us posted!

That is Awesome Indymom! I am also on week 4 of the couch to 5K. My whole life I have wanted to run, but never thought I could. Now that I am over 70lbs lighter and only 13lbs from my goal, I figured it was about time to get my butt up and moving. I felt the same as you...I didn't think I could do it. But I did. I did day 2 of week 4 today. It was tough, but I am glad I tried. I am looking at week 5 and pretty nervous. I might repeat week 4 again just to get stronger. Running 20 minutes straight by the end of next week, I am not too sure. I am glad that I found someone who is trying the same thing as me!! Good luck!

You are right, you need to slow down. I am 10 months out and still have the same feeling if I eat to fast. In fact, on occasion, because of eating too fast, I have ended up eating too much and it causes a lot of pain. I do not recommend it! Good luck!

I find this thread very interesting, especially for all those who are judgmental about getting the occasional fast food meal. I did not get this surgery so that I could be on a diet for the rest of my life. And the reality is, I have to small children who love playing at Mcdonald's, especially in the winter because where I live, it sometimes gets to be -35 degrees celcius! I usually have a McMini with no mayo, or a regular hamburger. I will eat maybe 3 or 4 french fries and a sip or 2 of my husband's pop (and we always get our kids apples and apple juice, no pop if anyone has anything to say about that). We might go there 2 or 3 times a month. I have still lost over 60 lbs and feel great. Thanks for posting this, as this is the reality of our world, you just have to make it work for you!!

Totally Normal. In my support group meetings, they have told us approximately 85% of patients have hair loss. I am almost 8 months out, and started having significant hair loss at 3 months. It has slowed down now, but I was pulling out a lot of hair in the shower. Even though I knew it could happen, it still freaked me out. Some things I was told that might help are extra Zinc and Biotin supplements. I haven't been faithful at taking them. Some people have had success taking them, others, nothing worked. Don't worry, it will stop and start to grow back. Once your weight loss slows a little is when the hair loss usually begins to slow. Be proud of your accomplishment, and remember (I think anyway), it is a small price to pay for a lifetime of health and happiness in your new skin!

you just have to search. She does have some of her stuff in groups if you look along the left hand side, like ice creams and cakes.

I am going through the exact same thing. I am down almost 50 lbs (sleeved Nov 29th) and about 35lbs from my goal. I have gone from a size 20 to a size 12, but still feel like a size 20. I still look in the mirror and feel fat. I even had my husband take some pictures of me the other day so I could maybe see what other people were seeing, and I all I saw was how fat I was. I think it is a very difficult transition and our brains have a hard time catching up. I am hoping mine does because it isn't healthy to keep feeling that way even though we are not fat anymore!

Oh, I like that idea, and the sugar free jello...I never thought of that one....definitely have to try those both out!!

You are pretty early out, I would not try to take them all at once again. If you can get them in, spread them out for sure! In the beginning, I rarely took my vitamins because they made me so sick. I had a chewable multi-vitamin which I tried to take twice a day, but even that sometimes made me sick. Now I am almost 5 months out and I can take 5-6 pills at once (I swallow them in groups of 2 or so at a time). I have to make sure that I have eaten though, or I feel like I am going to throw up. It will get easier!!

I am 5 months out, and I do not drink with my meals. It makes my stomach upset, plus it was in my guidelines...no drinking with meals. It was for 2 reasons...it can make you sick and even make you throw up. Also, fluids help things digest faster, so to stay feeling fuller longer, don't drink. As for your other question, I am almost 5 months out, and in the last few weeks, by weight loss has slowed right down. I am hoping it will pick back up again, but I will have to see. I have been lucky so far and have not had a real stall and I am over half way to my goal in 4.5 months.

I agree with the other posts. For a male and the amount you are working out, I do not think you are eating enough. Also, have you had a blood workup done?? Maybe there is an underlying medical reason such as a thyroid problem or insulin problem. Also, is there any medications that you started in this time period?? Some medications can make you gain weight as well (or stall losing). And I also agree with checking your measurements/clothing sizes. Even though you haven't lost anything, I am sure your clothes are fitting better. Good luck, and congratulations on staying motivated. It is hard to keep going when you have such a long stall.

I have never heard that. I can't chew gun because I get too much air in my tummy and it hurts.

I had my surgery on November 29, 2010 with Dr. Liza Maria Pompa at LIMARP in Tijuana, Mexico. The staff were wonderful, almost all of them were Doctors (even the staff that changed the catheter bags). Dr. Pompa was very caring and a great surgeon. I would highly recommend her and her clinic.

The ones that I have tried are the President's Choice Plain Greek yogurt, and Liberte Plain Greek yogurt and the Liberte Vanilla Greek. They are all 0% (made with Skim milk). The Vanilla flavor though had a lot of sugar, that I didn't realize until I got it home. I like the Liberte better, but the PC brand wasn't bad. I have also seen Astro brand greek, but I haven't tried that one.

Plain, greek yogurt is not very good. But, like others mentioned, I mix sugar free Torani syrups and Slenda in with it. I live in Canada, so I don't have access to some of the brands mentioned. The ones I have tried though are very good. I like that they are thick and creamy. I'll add raspberry syrup, splenda, and some Kashi Honey Almond Flax cereal....YUMMO!

I was 224.5lbs when I had my surgery, no pre-op diet. At 2 months out I was down 32 pounds, and now I am almost 3.5 months out and down 43.5 lbs, which is over 50% of the way to my goal! Good Luck!

My antibiotic right after surgery was in pill form. It was huge, and I could swallow it (easier then breaking it...tried that and it hurt...and way better than crushing it). I am 3 months out now and take call pills, and can swallow a few at a time. Sometimes I get an upset stomach, but it only last a little while. I would try taking just one and see how it feels...

I am 3 months out, and I haven't really noticed a complete slider food. I have had popcorn, and although I can eat more of it than other foods, I still get full....it is not like I have a never ending feeling of emptiness and never get full. Same with ice cream. I can eat a little more of it then something denser, but I still get full. I am not sure what others experiences are, but those are mine. Oh, and cookies make me really, really full...I mean one cookie and I am done! I think it is going to be different for everyone.

I was never told I couldn't chew gum, however, when I did try it, I got terrible stomach pains from swallowing air while chewing. I had to spit it out about 5 minutes after putting in my mouth. That being said, everyone is different, so just try it and see how you feel.