Velena

supersweetums, that dress is beautiful! and you are gorgeous in it! Thanks for the inspiration.

Congratulations Jenn31MA!

I have been enjoying decaf coffee for about a month now. I sleep better now too, before I was artificially hyper from the caffeine. Now I sleep through the night and I find I don't need the caffeine to wake up in the morning. I still have an episodes of being tired after lunch, so I go for a brisk walk now instead of reaching for caffeine. It seems to be working. Good luck with whatever system works for your circumstances, that's the beauty of our tool!

I've been eating small salads for a couple of weeks. It makes my stomach gurgle but I love my salads.

no mine didn't, he told me to stay away from aspirin etc prior to surgery.

I also want to take self defense classes, I've always wanted to but felt I was never in good enough shape to do it.

You look great, I can really see a change. Congratulations!

Ok, here's my real dream. I never went to a dance in school, no prom because I didn't have a boyfriend and back then plus size prom dresses were unheard of. I want to buy a slinky, blingy, sexy evening gown and go out with my husband. I don't have a clue where we would go LOL, I don't care if we go to the movies, I just want the experience.

Kayaking, belly dancing, salsa dancing, and running a marathon

I really started this journey 2 years ago, I set a goal that I would weigh under 200 by my 50th birthday. I weighed @265 at the time and hadn't changed that weight in years of trying. I worked hard, I ate right (I thought) and exercised as much as I could. I lost 10 lbs. I went to my Doc for help. She put me on Meridia. I lost another 20 lbs. But I never got under 200. After I came off the Meridia, I gained the weight back. Last summer when I started my Vertical Sleeve journey, I weighed 265 again. I thought I was destined to weigh that much forever. My diabetes was starting to go crazy and so was my blood pressure. Since my surgery on Sept 5th, I have lost 66 lbs and I'm off my medications. I feel great and I have energy. Sometimes I forget that I had the surgery but after a few bites, I figure it out again. Best of all, I now weigh 199!!!!! I haven't seen Onderland since high school. I love my sleeve!!

May I add that initially, I was not getting 800-900 calories post surgery. My diet consisted of 8 oz of protein shake in water sipped throughout the day, additional water sipped and possibly 4 oz of soup with 1oz of protein shake. I don't think that added up to 800 calories. That was my diet for the first week post surgery. It didn't change much for the second week either.

thanks, I'm going to print it out this time.

You're even more beautiful now, way to go!

Jordan1923, I just started riding a bike again this winter too. I haven't been on one in @30 yrs. It came back to me better than I thought it would. Enjoy your new bike and have fun!

Ok, I'm in! highest weight: 265 Surgery weight: 245 (9/5/12) Current weight: 194 (1/30/12) Goal weight on Valentines Day: 180 Good Luck to everyone! Time to rock our sleeve!

Stalls are normal and they happen, don't worry, try to eat what you can, as much protein as you can and keep drinking liquids. It will pass when your body figures out that you're not starving. Good luck!

I think we're sleeve sisters, I love the elliptical and the lap pool. I jog around the laps in the pool when there is no one else there. I find it very hard to eat more than a couple of bites in the morning but by the evening I can usually handle more food. Unlike you, I've had some issues with vomiting although that is getting more rare now too - maybe I'm learning finally! Thanks for sharing, it's nice to know we're all in this together.

I have UHC also, BMI was above 40 and I had co-morbidities of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I didn't have to do the 6 months of diet with my PCP, but they wanted proof that my BMI has been over 40 for the past 5 years. I got the copies from my Doctor's office and my PCP wrote a letter stating why it was medically necessary. Keep calling the insurance company. If someone can't tell you what your policy covers, ask to talk to their supervisor. Keep pushing them to tell you everything you need to do and ask for it in writing. Make them send it to you or the bariatric doc in writing. You've been paying for this insurance for years and UHC covers the Vertical Sleeve - make them work for you! You can do this. Good luck and keep us informed please.

It's the end of December, on Jan 5th I will be sleeved for 4 months. I still have a hard time believing the weight will stay off in the long run - although I have to admit that I never lost this much weight on my own and I haven't looked like this since right after High School. I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror or window reflection and I do a double take. I'm wearing size 14 pants and large shirts which I haven't worn since I was 21. This is an amazing journey. Some days are harder than others. I get frustrated at being full after a few bites, especially when something tastes good. I usually end up eating too much and paying for it by feeling sick and nauseated for a while afterwards. I need to learn to be happy with the small bites I can eat and not push it. Of course there is loose skin everywhere, but I'd rather it be loose than full of fat. I want to start seriously working out and seeing just what I can do now with my new body. I would love to get toned as well as thin, that would be a first for me. I'm so glad I had this done. I am hopeful for my future and excited to see what I can do now.

I have the same experience, the cup size is the same but I had to buy full coverage cups because the loosie goosie skin just "oozed" out of smaller cups. Sorry to be graphic. I'm going to try toning them but if not, I'll just keep on buying full coverage cups in smaller size bras.

sounds great!

LOL, thanks for sharing, I can totally relate. I never noticed the extra skin on the fingers until just now LOL. Oh well, I'm happy I've lost the weight and I'll work on toning or look into plastic surgery later. Loved your post!

I was sleeved in Sept. At first I was just sipping and even that felt strange. I can now take a mouthful of water and swallow without pain but I don't try to guzzle anything. Just take it slow, it gets better but not back to the same as it used to be. Be ready to drink the water over time - while you are working out this summer - not in one gulp afterwards. Be sure to keep drinking, it's very important.