Velena

Congratulations! Great job and the best is yet to come!

It's cause for celebrating, as of my weight this morning, for the first time in 25 yrs, I'm not "officially" obese! I'm overweight!!! BMI is 29.9. I feel so giddy I could start dancing at work! I know its an arbitrary number, it doesn't really mean anything, and my weight will fluctuate and put me back in the obese category for a while. But today I will enjoy being overweight!

Wow, you look awesome, thank you so much for sharing your success!

Please don't feel guilty about bringing your kids to the gym, that is a wonderful way for them to see how to maintain a healthy weight when they are adults. Especially if you tell them how happy you are to being going there. Let them experience fitness as something fun and daily and hopefully they won't have any fitness/weight problems when they are older. GOOD WORK MOM!

I would say you are doing everything right! You were beautiful before and now you're awesome! Great job. Are you feeling better, more energy etc too?

You look wonderful!

I had to buy sweaters/cardigans for the first time in my life. I can actually layer clothing and look and feel good! I love it!

I think it varies by person. Some doctors leave a slightly larger sleeve than others too. As long as it doesn't hurt and you stop when you are full you should be ok.

Have you talked to your doctor? It shouldn't hurt that much

Since you are having trouble getting liquids down, try a suppository instead. Believe me, it works!

Thank you, my sister lives in Battle Creek and is thinking of having the surgery done. I'll let her know about Dr. Foote.

You look fantastic! Way to rock that sleeve!

Broke my stall, down 2 lbs. Finally! I was beginning to think that I was done losing. Congratulations to everyone else that broke their stall!

Congratulations, you look fantastic!

they removed my drain before I came home. Your energy will return and more! Just give yourself some time and take care of yourself.

I had a drain, the removed it just prior to checking me out of the hospital. The nurse pulled it out, it felt strange but not painful. On the plus side, my surgeon had just stopped using caths prior to my surgery (thank goodness). Glad I avoided that. Good luck!

Lost 71 pounds in 4 months.

I can see it, you are slimmer and younger looking, keep up the good work!

I've been stalled at 194 for the past 3 weeks. I know it's crazy but I'm starting to think that this is as far as I will go (I was sleeved 9/5/12). So to add to the craziness, I decided to buy some clothes. Granted 3 of the items were on clearance but two tops were full price. Have I given up? Am I crazy? Am I really stuck at this size (which granted is smaller than I've been in 30 years)? It's a week later, my stall broke and I'm down 2 lbs. My secret desire is to buy a slinky, bejeweled evening gown and go out with my husband for our 10th anniversary in May. So just for fun I went to Dillards this afternoon and tried some on (I wear size 14 now). I tried on several short dresses that also looked good. But the real surprise was the floor length, purple, bejeweled evening gown, halter top and low scooped back. It fit and it looked WOW. I couldn't believe it. Of course I didn't buy it because I have no idea what size I'll be by May, but that was fun! I wish I could have taken a picture to post on here. I just had to share this here.

Congrats! That's great!

Funny thing is I noticed a few weeks ago that my thighs weren't rubbing together anymore when I walk. If you're looking for a precise size, for me it was size 14, under 196 lbs. I've always had big thighs, my main form of exercise now is walking and cycling. I guess those miles under my sneakers are paying off.

I didn't have a revision, but this surgery has changed my life. Since surgery I am no longer on insulin, high blood pressure meds or high cholesterol meds. It has saved my life. I was scared too, and there are no guarantees, but this tool really works. I eat pretty much what I want still, I just don't want as much. I don't know if you have co-morbidities or not, but they were the deciding factor for me. Good luck and let us know what you decide. We'll support your decision either way.

I've eaten out on trips a few times since surgery. Mexican is my favorite restaurant, the beans and grilled shrimp usually work well for me, also the a la carte menu usually means I won't get too much food. But I still ask for the "to go" box when I order LOL. If I'm in a group that goes for something else, then I will check the kids menu for something high in protein but low in fat, or the appetizers or the soup of the day. I don't worry about eating out, the left overs are meals for the next few days or my husband will help me eat them-as long as I order something he likes too!