Queen of Crop

Hi everyone! Used to post here a lot when I was in my first year and doing my Sunday blog....all is well, I have been at goal for one year, very happy. Here's my question: I get a B12 shot every month...should I still be taking a B12 supplement? What size? I have been taking 1000mcg in addition to my shot; but now I'm thinking that seems like too much. Can't find the answer in my paperwork. Also, I have always taken Biotin since a couple of months after surgery....is 500 mcg what most people take? My blood work is good (except the B12 has always been off the charts because I stupidly have gotten my blood work done right after my shot). My weight is a healthy 136, I can eat anything except for rice, and I love my new life! I did have a breast lift done last May and am SO happy to have done that....with the 87 lb loss they were looking pretty droopy and sad..... I haven't done many posts on my blog, but I did post one a couple months ago about my breast reduction/lift if anyone is interested. I'll do a another post at my two year anniversary. At this point, who ever is reading this is probably all new people on here....I used to post all the time! For all those who have signed up in the last year.....congratulations; you are in for a great ride.....I wrote about my first year every Sunday at the blog below if you want to be inspired.....

@ Ainsworth: Thanks for the compliments....the cost was so reasonable to me....it was 4800 Euro which is about $6200 USD. That included one night in a private hospital with excellent care, consultations and follow up. So worth it. Good luck on your journey and congratulations on your weight loss so far!

So happy to learn of this new veterans forum! I have been off the VST forum for a while having hit my goal weight 10 months ago and basically feeling like a NWP (Normal Weight Person) with no food issues for a long time now. I have settled into my food routine nicely and been at my goal weight without any problems since last September. I'm 59 years old and the only downside to the surgery were that my breasts did not fare well....they were unslightly, asymmetrical, (one being almost twice the size of the other) and very sagging. So a week ago today I had a breast lift on both and reduction on one. I am very very happy with the results as is my husband! Since we are all veterans here, some of you might remember I kept a faithful weekly blog each Sunday for the first 14 months after surgery. Since this was fairly important and useful information, I posted an entry about it today. If you are interested please take a look. My blog link is under my signature. Happy to see that there is a place for those of us on 'the other side!' Queen of Crop

I started at 223, went into surgery at 204lbs, and 11 months later hit my goal after losing 85lbs. I have now kept it off (easily) for 9 months......just had a breast lift last week so my body is in better shape now at 59 years old than I ever was in my 20's,30's or 40's! It was an interesting journey, but not a hard one. Now, I feel like I am a normal weight person with no food issues. I kept a blog for my first year, some of you might find it helpful. www.queenofcrop.com Good luck to everyone!

At ERP; thanks for the nice words and words of advice. I picked similar photos because I didn't have a before photo of my own breasts; and even though the after photo has the same look and shape as mine, mine are till taped up and bruised. And even though words can describe things, I feel photos allow the reader to see the possibilities when you don't have implants. I am not the least bit ashamed of any part of my body; I don't believe in 'bad' body parts vs. 'good' body parts. I'm sorry if it offended you, but I feel this forum is place where we all learn how to navigate this new world we are in and I for one appreciate all the information I can get.

Thanks for telling me that! I didn't know and will check it out..... QofC

So so happy with my decision to have a breast reduction (in one breast) and breast lift in both! Thought I would have to have implants to correct my poor sagging drooping breasts, but I found out that I could go this other route instead. I am one week post op and my breasts (although still taped a bit and a little bruised) are beautiful! I finally have 25 year old breasts (even though I'm 59!). If you're interested in more information, I wrote a new post on my blog www.queenofcrop.com No pain for the most part.....and I am so happy not to have my old breasts......

So, 19 months post op, after an 85 lb loss and very successful surgery (I have been at goal weight for 9 months), I decided to have a breast lift in both and reduction in one. That happened a week ago and all is well! I posted my story on my blog, so take a look. Most of you know I did a weekly blog for the first year of life after the sleeve and posted faithfully every Sunday. I stopped after a little over a year, but thought this was worthy to share. I thought I would need implants but after some research, found out that a lift and reduction would be best and I am so happy not to have implants! I am almost 60 but for the first time in my life I now have nice breasts! My blog is www.queenofcrop.com I have more details of what happened there and yes, there are photos (that I couldn't post here). Haven't been on the forum for a while so I'm sure there are lots of new people here....hope everyone is having a very successful time of it. The forum was so helpful for me in my first year!

Thanks for responding! Wow, I posted that back in October 2011! I have now been at my goal weight for 6 months (blogged about it each week for a year at www.queenofcrop.com and no longer use protein supplements. (Although I probably should!). I'll check out the site. Hope you're doing OK too. Do you live in Amsterdam?

Happy thread!!! Good posts everyone.....at 15 months out, I feel so good; 59 years old but feel much younger. It's great to bound up and down steps (especially since I live in Amsterdam) and run for a tram and ride my bike in heels! Life is good!

That would be great and I'll post what I find out as well....can't wait to have nice looking breasts!

Hi Kshepa! I'm right there with you!!!! Although I'm 59 and married.....my poor breasts are so sagging and droopy and just pathetic. I put a bra on and am happy, but naked is a scary thing! I am going to have a breast lift and implants done in May; just trying to decide on the doctor. I am so hoping to have the incision in the 'fold' under my breast but I fear that because it's a lift as well as an implant they have to cut the nipple and then vertically from the nipple down. If I have to do it that way I will, but still trying to figure it out....was it PDX man or another guy who knew a lot about breast surgery....where are you? Do you know anything about breast lifts AND implants????

HI Motochic: Would you be interested in being featured in my Feb blog? I would need to have about a page of information from you and some before and after photos. I can write it if you can give me some info about you. Take a look at my ABOUT ME page on my blog www.queenofcrop.com/about That would be the type of thing I am looking for. I think it's fabulous that you had the strength to get out of an abusive relationship and maybe your story might help someone else. I have a lot of readers and you never know you who might inspire. Please email me at queen@queenofcrop.com Thanks and I look forward to hearing from. Congratulations on your success!

Fabulous story! I'm just about to head to bed (I'm living in the Netherlands now and I have to get up early to go to my Dutch class!). But will respond more tomorrow; would love to feature you in my Feb blog if you are up to it. More later! Dank u wel for responding and tot ziens! Sharene

If you have had a successful journey on the VS ride and would be interested in telling me about it, I would love to talk to you or email with you. My journey has surpassed my wildest dreams and I would love to know other people's stories of how they got to this point and how the trip was! Just respond to this post if you have an interesting story. Queen of Crop

I only had a 48 hour pre-op which sure worked for me! And yes, they gave me something to clean me out. Could depend on the amount of weight you have to lose and if you have any co-morbidities? But even though it's weird after the surgery, you don't have any cravings so it's really easy. I didn't eat for 8 days after surgery and it was no problem. Hang in there everyone....I am 15 months out, at goal and loving my new life!!!!!

Welcome sastexan4u! When you have a chance, you might want to read my blog....I was sleeved 15 months ago in my late 50's and I had about 85 lbs to lose; which I did in 11 months! The only sagging skin I have are my breasts so I am having a breast lift/implants this year. You will do just fine; you have an exciting year ahead of you but it will be weird at times.....I posted my progress every Sunday for a year. Start with this: www.queenofcrop.com/about and then go from there! Keep us posted! This forum is a great resource!~ Queen of Crop

Would love to know what you are having done.....can you email me? Shall we talk about it on my blog? I'm getting very excited but right now just looking at having the breast lift/implants done.

@ Laserskingirl My blog is at www.queenofcrop.com you might want to start with www.queenofcrop.com/about The reason I am replying to all is because if you are new to this forum you need to be sure you have your settings set to see the signatures of everyone. This is where you have links to blogs and you can see the ticker tapes of people and their overall signature lines. It was months before I had mine set and it makes a difference. The forum doesn't really want you to put links in to your blogs in the comment section (which I completely disagree with BTW). For some reason I think they don't like the self-promotion. But I have only written my blog because other people's blogs are what inspired me to do this (along with the forum). I'm not selling anything so I just don't see what the big deal is. But I get my hands slapped once in a while when I do. But I often get asked this question because newer people haven't learned to turn the Signatures on. Thanks again everyone. Have a great week!

Good morning to all.....@ RDOACTV......that was my exact weight when I went into surgery..(223 at my highest)..I'm only 5'3".....you will fabulous soon!!!!! The funny thing was, when I went into the hospital and saw so many people much heavier than me, I felt so little. But I was still in denial about how much I had let myself go up until the anesthesiologist said "bye bye!" Thanks to everyone for the nice compliments..... QofC

Hi Kristykay and the others! Thanks for the post...you are in for one exciting year! Please read my blog to give you an idea....it seems a bit surreal the first few months but every day gets better and better! Keep me posted! And if you have an interesting story to tell, let me know; I'm looking for someone to feature on my blog! Q of C

Feeling great at 15 months post op. Almost feels like I have always been a thin person; I think differently, exercise differently, don't obsess about food or calories or points. I eat anything I want, just eat small quantities like a thin person and I always feel satisfied. I eat healthy but I eat treats too. I drink coffee, wine. I exercise regularly and I weight myself every day. I've been at goal weight since about 11 months out (85 lb loss). I am 59 but feel 35. Need a boob job (probably will happen in May) but other than that, life if good! For those who say there are negative people on this site; I personally rarely see that. The people here have cheered me on, answered my questions, followed my weekly blog and have been a huge resource. Thanks every one! Queen of Crop

15 months post op at goal at 136 lbs (60 kilos) 5'3 started at 223 lbs 59 years old Reached goal at about 11 months after surgery I can eat anything at this point, but the nice part is, I DON'T! Now it's time for a boob lift and implants and I'll be good to go!

I was 58 years old at surgery, 223 lbs at my highest, (5'3") have been in the 130's (goal) for 4 months, no more HBP, no more high cholesterol, no knee or feet or hip problems, and I now wear a size 6-8. No sagging skin except for my breasts. I am looking into a breast lift and implants this year. Very affordable and the truth is, at this age no matter if I had been thin, they would be sagging, so I'm excited about having it done. If you are in your 50's if you want a glimpse of what your first year might look like, I wrote about my first year every Sunday on my blog. Start with www.queenofcrop.com/about and go from there, or just look at my last post in December for a recap at www.queenofcrop.com which shows 12 before and 12 after photos....as pdxman says, it's a no brainer....even in your 50's! Good luck everyone!

Hi rxtine....did I read your post right? You really had to go to 90 pre required visits? That's crazy! QofC