Shanny

Okay, let's see if this works. Here are some more before and after pics of me. The before is at my highest weight of 247 and after is 5 weeks post op at 196 pounds. A total of 51 pounds lost!

I cheated today! Bad Shanny! B- Protein shake S - 3 small slices of pepperoni & 1/2 low fat string cheese L - 1/2 bag Welch's Fruit Snacks (and now I have indigestion!!!!) S - 1/2 Atkins Protein Bar D - 2.5 - 3 oz Grilled Djon chicken breast Vites - yes Water - on my 5th 8 oz glass Exercise - 30 minutes on treadmill at work will do 30 minutes on gazelle when I get home

It's a tough road filled with many ups and downs. There's a lot of emotional things, and after the sleeve some getting used to the new things your body needs, and doesn't like, but in the end it's all worth it. This is your life, your health. If you don't have any other support, you've got us. Good luck. Keep us updated with your progress. We've all been through it, and some of us are still going through it. We've got your back! Good luck!

Hey there, I'm looking for clothes in a size 18 & 20. I'm short, but I can usually wear average lenght, or petites. I need dress pants, jeans...you name it. If you have something you're interested in parting with, please let me know. I'll pay for shipping.

I lost 20 over the 6 month plan. On the day of surgery I had lost the last 2 pounds to make it an even 20.

I had to be clears for 1 week, full liquids for 1 weeks, puree for 1.5 weeks, and then softs for 1.5 before solids. I'm glad my doctor did it that way because I couldn't tolerate anything more. whenever I tried to push the envelop and jump ahead to the next step, I made myself SICK!!!! I learned me lesson. I do wish that my plan allowed for tomato based products though. Can't have Pasta sauce for 4 months

Congratulations! That is WONDERFUL news!!!! I wish you and your family the happiest and healtiest of pregnancies. I will keep you all in my prayers! I'm so happy for you! That's so awesome!!!!!!

Yesterday for dinner, I overate. It didn't look like much. I didn't feel full, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks! It was the first time I tried pork. I had an ounce of pork tenderloin, 4 green Beans and 2 quarter inch thick potatoes. Doesn't sound like a lot, didn't look like a lot. Everything was measured and chewed 400 times. Well, it was a ton of food in my stomach. Good lord pork is dense! I felt so awful all night! I had to throw up to relieve some of the pressure. It felt like I had gotten kicked in the stomach by a mule, and it kept creeping back up my throat. It was awful. Now I'm being paranoid. Could I have done some damage to my new tummy and stretched it out by overeating? God, I hope not. I don't feel sick this morning, but I'm scared that it's stretched out now and I'll be able to eat a Whopper from Burger King if I tried. Just when I was finally able to lose weight, what if I sabotaged it? Damn, I wish this sleeve came with a warning label, or a buzzer or flashing light or something!

I don't think you'll have a choice. It takes very little for the food to back up on you, and in between the horrible gas, indigestion and vomiting, you'll quickly learn that when your stomach says your full, even if it's only been 3 bites, then you're full! There's no other feeling to describe it! You may still love the taste of things, but you learn not to love them so much on the way back up. I used to love hamburgers, but I swear, I hate ground beef right now. Everytime I try to eat it it gets stuck in my chest for HOURS. It's horrible and so painful. Turned me off from it, completely. Not wishing you any painful foods, but that's one of the things I love about my sleeve. It's that physical indicator that I HAVE to listen to when my own voice was too weak to tell my brain to stop eating. And for the record, sometimes, I don't even eat until I'm full, I just eat the 3 oz that's measured. I'm not hungry anymore, but I don't feel full, either. I just feel normal. I know that sounds weird, but it's the truth. I don't want to chance over eating, but lighter dishes I can go the whole 3 oz, probably more. My doc got me in the habit of eating the measured amount of food, not trying to gage my when I'm full. If I put 3 oz in a bowl, and eat less, that's fine. But, if I eat 3 oz, I haven't gone over and I'm not hungry so I don't want more. As I lose more weight and increase my calories I will be able to up my oz to 4 -6 oz. That seems like a lot to me!!!!

For me, I can't eat until I'm satisfied. Frankly because I've lost so much interest in food it's not funny. My stomach gets full at right around 3 oz of food. So, even though I measure my food, my internal scale says that's enough. If I eat one more bite, after I have that full pressure, I start to feel it backing up and it's not comfortable at all!!! But, eating still takes me so long. It takes me between 25-30 minutes to eat 3 oz of food, chewing 30 times, and waiting in between each time I take the spoon from my lips. I've learned that if I don't want indigestion, I 've got to eat very slowly. Trust me 5 minutes into eating I'm over it. I find myself holding food in my mouth because I don't want to swallow it, not because I'm not hungry just because I've lost interest in it. I wonder if I'll ever eat until I'm satisfied again. I'm not complaining. Eating until I was saited is what got me in this mess in the first place!

What kind of sick? You could try Pepto, or Maalox, or Gaviscon. They'll help with indigestion, heartburn, and they'll soothe the stomach if it's sour stomach.

You should be honest. I was before, during and am still being treated for anxiety disorder with panic and depression. I'm on 3 medications. My therapist knows this and it went in my evaluation. They're not looking for perfection, but for honesty and to get to know you. They just need to know if you understand that this doesn't fix the issues. They want to know why you over eat, and if you will need to continue therapy to deal with the drastic way your life changes when the weight comes off. I'm still in therapy with the therapist that did my baritriac evalutation because I can talk to her about how scary the sudden attention is, and when I feel like I don't fit in my new body. I think they're mainly looking for you not having a history of an eating disorder, that you're of sound mind to make this decision about surgery (as opposed to being in a manic state and doing it on impulse) and to make sure that any psychological problems aren't so serious that fully understand what you're going to do be doing to your body and that you won't regret it. Also, if you'll be complaint post op, otherwise why do it. They're not trying to trick you. It's pretty straight forward. The questionaire is long, boring and repeditive! Good luck!

I know all about the weight rollercoaster. It's emotional and no matter how much you run from it, that damn weight always seems to find you. Good thing is, with the sleeve, you now have a fair fight against it! I wish you luck in your continuing battle to fight it and keep it off!

I was really close to not being able to get my surgery because my BMI was 40, and you have to be 40 or over to qualify, so I could only lose 20 lbs. But, I had to lose something to prove to the insurance that I could lose or maintain my weight. I ended up losing 20 pounds before by my surgery day. I do know there were a few people who had to lose weight before he would do it though.

You look amazing! Any suggestions for flabby arms? I've started doing resistance bands and weights, but just wondering if there's anything else I should be doing/trying.

That's awesome! Keep up the good work!!!!

Hi all! Here are some before and after pics. The first is me at my heaviest, 247, with two of my super skinny BFFs at my gradutation party in August, when I first started my 6 month program for my sleeve. The last two are me, 5 weeks after surgery, taken on March 19, 2011. I'm 51 pounds lighter!

SN....................Startiing WT........................Current.........................Goal..........................lbs to go Shanny..................205..................................196.................................180..........................16

I find when I get hungry I need to increase my Protein and Fiber at my meals. That cuts down on my snacking. I have three meals and 2 Snacks. My snacks are a piece of turkey lunchmeat and laughing cow cheese, and a Protein Bar later in the day. With your meal if you can get in a little more protein/fiber, you may find that you're staying full longer. Also, try to increase your fluids. I also drink Special K protein Water. It's only 5 grams of protein, but the extra protein can help hold you over until the next meal. Good luck!

A few days ago, I posted a rather serious post about not fitting into my body. Well, I think my temporary crisis of discomfort and spending time in Shannyland (that's what I call being inside my head too long) is over. I'm having a good day. Just want to tell you all that I'm proud of you for chosing life and for all of the accomplishments that you've made. Everytime I think I'll never figure this sleeve out, I log on and you guys inspire me. You may not know it, but you're rock stars! Even with the setbacks and stalls you guys keep pressing on. That's so aweome! Keep up the good work.

I get thrush everytime I have surgery. It's normal. It went away after about 10 days.

Don't get discouraged. My sleep study showed that I didn't have sleep apnia. I only had a get a letter from my PCP showing my weight from 5 random appointments from 5 different years. My BMI was on 40, and I NO comorbidity symptoms. My insurance still paid for the surgery and Dr. Liao's office still took me as a patient. They treat each person on a case by case basis. As long as you are at least 100 pounds overweight or have a BMI of 40 or more, they will work with you. You still have to do all the stuff your insurance says, but don't let that discourage you. I didn't think they would say yes, either, but my insurance said yes on the first try as soon as they submitted all the paperwork. The office is great on creating an airtight file before they submit it. You have a heartproblem and a history of failed diets, that alone is enough for Dr. Liao to take your case. Give his office a call. It can't hurt! Don't let your husband discourage you either. You need to do this for YOU, not for him. It would be great if he were in your corner,but sometimes you have to live for you. It's your health and your life. Good luck!

I'm 34 years old. I'm 5'1" and was 247 pounds. It took me 3 weeks to go back to work, but I had some problems with nausea and dehydration.

Hot damn!!!! Congratulations!!!!