jh5497

I've lost 56lbs since surgery August 9, and 99 Total over the past 18 months. The only way I believe I look like this, is by staring at this picture! I have a whole new outlook on life and my happiness level is through the roof (and I wasn't unhappy before)!

Getting real close and I can't help but think am I going to be the one this will not work for???
The surgery works and it will work for you if you use it properly. It will give you control over your eating.
Will something go wrong???
It could, but the odds are very very low. After all it is major surgery. But what is your life going to be like if you continue on the current path?
Is this real???
Yep
Will my life change for real??
I can guarantee your life will change, starting the moment you're wheeled out after surgery!

Yes, it happens to me every now and then. I also go through phases where I completely lose my appetite and have to force myself to eat and feel like spitting out food while I'm chewing.

After I was 3 months out and cleared for exercise, I started with the Biggest Loser Power Sculpt DVD every second day, and using an elliptical on the alternating days for 40 minutes. I was surprised how much exercise my body could handle before getting tired and how easy the DVD became after 3 weeks. I am now using Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones on the alternating days because it is so much harder!
To keep myself motivated, I signed up for fitspiration on Facebook, so I see their post in my newsfeed. I have found now that I'm in a routine and have made it a priority, I don't have as much internal conflict about working out. You never regret a workout and when I'm done I don't guilt myself and think "I should have worked out".

I use a ton of WW principles and still count my "points" when I can't track online. It's a great program, just not permanent weight loss (at least for me).

I used to be a hair dresser and nioxin products work well.

Love love dr Garcia and A Lighter Me
 
 

I'm thinking about puting down my Deposit tomorrow with Ready 4 a Change. For a surgery date of jan 7th. Has anyone used this DR? And how was there Experience? Thanks for Sharing.

I have had some soda, but I pour it out into a glass and stir it and flatten it a bit out of paranoia. I sip it and like another poster said "burp" just like before. I find it's a nice treat, but it would take me all afternoon at work to finish a glass (1 can).

Depending on your med, the length of time you've been on it, the amount of the increased dose, drowsiness could be a side effect!

2 weeks pre-op I was about 232, at 2 months out (including the 2 week pre-op diet) I am 199

I never would have imagined wanting to wear make up -- lots of it. And learning application techniques. And Having a skin care regimen and following it for more than a day.
Now that I'm no longer hung up on my "disgusting body" as I felt it was before, I'm beginning to take so much more pride in my appearance. I was surprised by how much I enjoy spending that extra time on myself since pre-op I couldn't have been bothered with washing my face more than once a day and just patting some powder on my skin.
I feel like I want to take so much better care of myself now and in turn with that, the more I do take care of my outside, the better I feel about myself (on top of practically being a skeleton)! Haha!

I never would have imagined wanting to wear make up -- lots of it. And learning application techniques. And Having a skin care regimen and following it for more than a day.
Now that I'm no longer hung up on my "disgusting body" as I felt it was before, I'm beginning to take so much more pride in my appearance. I was surprised by how much I enjoy spending that extra time on myself since pre-op I couldn't have been bothered with washing my face more than once a day and just patting some powder on my skin.
I feel like I want to take so much better care of myself now and in turn with that, the more I do take care of my outside, the better I feel about myself (on top of practically being a skeleton)! Haha!

I never would have imagined wanting to wear make up -- lots of it. And learning application techniques. And Having a skin care regimen and following it for more than a day.
Now that I'm no longer hung up on my "disgusting body" as I felt it was before, I'm beginning to take so much more pride in my appearance. I was surprised by how much I enjoy spending that extra time on myself since pre-op I couldn't have been bothered with washing my face more than once a day and just patting some powder on my skin.
I feel like I want to take so much better care of myself now and in turn with that, the more I do take care of my outside, the better I feel about myself (on top of practically being a skeleton)! Haha!

I never would have imagined wanting to wear make up -- lots of it. And learning application techniques. And Having a skin care regimen and following it for more than a day.
Now that I'm no longer hung up on my "disgusting body" as I felt it was before, I'm beginning to take so much more pride in my appearance. I was surprised by how much I enjoy spending that extra time on myself since pre-op I couldn't have been bothered with washing my face more than once a day and just patting some powder on my skin.
I feel like I want to take so much better care of myself now and in turn with that, the more I do take care of my outside, the better I feel about myself (on top of practically being a skeleton)! Haha!

Yep.. half on here beleive it will strech the sleeve and the other half dont. Pop makes some people really uncomfortable because of the carbonation. Some are just fine. Some drink from straws and some dont for the same reason. You just have to decide what you believe. Search some past posts it may help. I personally have a diet coke about one a week. No problems for me.

I crack myself up...the other night we stopped at Cracker Barrel ...I used to get the "big breakfast".......what was I thinking? I ate the over easy eggs and was STUFFED..........oh well.....usually my 4 year old and I share so she ate the rest..........it is weird what your head wants and what your stomach can hold is two different things.
On the good side.....I am down 75 lbs.....YEA!!! Went from a size 22 to a size 14 (which is LOOSE) ..........
Not in the fat girl sizes anymore...........get to go to the normal racks which is kind of weird..........

I'm pretty much having the same things now that I had pre-op, but less, though I now choose things that are more doggie-bag friendly. Soft tacos from Chipotle were an early addition and good for when I was travelling - leave the tortilla behind, but most everything else in them were in my mush/soft Protein plan - chicken, rice&Beans, salsa, cheese, guac; you can order a single taco, or get the standard meal of three and have two leftover for other meals. Steaks work fine, and then I have leftovers that I use in salads that I make at home. Fajitas are a good choice at mexican places, as are the tacos and enchiladas - I will have the corn tortillas in the enchilada now at six months out, but I have been somewhat lucky in that Protein hasn't been a big problem for me so I have some flexibility in what I have. chicken Parmesan at our local family Italian place is also a routine dish - I can usually get three or four meals from one of Vito's dinners (and still have room for a bite of his Tiramisu)! At places like Panera, I will get their half sandwich and small Soup or salad and have one for the meal and the other for a snack later or the next day. I don't have a lot of entree salads like I used to, mainly because they aren't that doggie-bag friendly.
So, you are not deluding yourself on that issue - it may take you a longer or shorter time to get to the point of having semi-normal restaurant meals, but it will happen - that's one of the benefits of the VSG; it's just that, as before, we do need to be careful of the overall calorie count of restaurant meals, particularly if they are a regular thing long term.

Ok, so there are lots of reasons this could be happening. 1 -- grief. You are greiving the loss of food in your life, the role it played and your relationship with it has changed, and I know for me that was a big deal. 2. as our bodies lose fat, those fat cells release estrogen that can make us emotional. I cried one week post op because 12 years ago when my sister got married, I wasn't old enough to go to her bachelorette party.
Don't beat yourself up about your decision, that will not help anything. Remember how excited you were pre-op and how much you wanted this? This is a new begining for you and your daughter! This is the start of a healthier, happier life!

I had surgery August 9 with Dr Garcia in TJ and overall it was a great experience. I'm 2 months out and don't have any complications. This was the best thing I ever did and I knew before going it would be. My family was skeptical and thought they may stash drugs in me or take out an organ or maybe I would get to San Diego and picked up, robbed and left in TJ. My mind went through lots of worst case scenarios and I reassured my family it'd be ok, based on the same posts you probably read! It's really this awesome and safe (or at least in my case). And I'm not being paid by anyone either! Haha!

Just got the best news in the world! I've been wanting to do my surgery with Dr Ortiz but was quoted 6500, well, now he's working with alighterme and guess what??? $4500!!! This is perfect timing and I'm beaming from ear to ear

Ok, so there are lots of reasons this could be happening. 1 -- grief. You are greiving the loss of food in your life, the role it played and your relationship with it has changed, and I know for me that was a big deal. 2. as our bodies lose fat, those fat cells release estrogen that can make us emotional. I cried one week post op because 12 years ago when my sister got married, I wasn't old enough to go to her bachelorette party.
Don't beat yourself up about your decision, that will not help anything. Remember how excited you were pre-op and how much you wanted this? This is a new begining for you and your daughter! This is the start of a healthier, happier life!

It sounds like you may be dehydrated. Please call your physician or go to the ER. This can be very dangerous.

I used Dr. Garcia and had a great experience with him. When I was asking him about how they take care of complications he said he hadn't has a leak in 3 years. I'm not even 2 weeks out yet, but I'm doing well with my sleeve, no pain since day 3 and my incisions look great.

WOW!! I'm not a "private" person per say but I can relate to this post... There are indeed a lot of folks that think that WLS is the "easy way out".... I would say that 95% of these folks have never battled with their weight.. I have been very successful with my sleeve surgery dropping almost 100 lbs in 6 short months.. I had absolutely no pain, no gas, no nausea and other than walking have done no major exercise.. Has this been easy for me??? YES!! and I thank GOD for that but I am far from the norm. We differ in the fact that I feel that I have been given a platform to some extent and want to shout to the world how this surgery has changed my life!! Those closest to me know my battle and those that don't?? I could care less what they think. I was an athlete in school yet have been overweight my entire life and have tried diet after diet, boot camp at the gym, hiring personal trainers, etc... to lose at the most..... 30lbs???? The easy way out is exactly what you said... Settling for another failed diet or straining my back at the gym... for what??? I just turned 38 and feel that my best years are ahead of me!!! I finally have control over my weight and easy or not... It's the BEST feeling in the world!!!
Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far!! I wish you nothing but continued success!!!