Velena

This is the only place I can share this and know that people will understand. I tried on size 14 jeans today at Target, and they fit! They looked good. I can't believe how small my legs look in them. I don't EVER remember wearing 14s, even in high school I wore 16s. This sleeve is amazing! Does anyone else have to fight the urge to go up to plus size strangers and share your surgical success story with them?

Fantastic! I am so happy for you, I just reached onderland myself a few weeks ago for the first time in over 25 yrs.

Congratulations!

I'm rh- and was sleeved in Sept. No problems at all.

If I go out to eat, I usually order the soup. Or my husband will order a meal and share it with me. I went to a Mexican place and ordered a shrimp quesadilla off the children's menu, I still couldn't eat it all but it tasted great and at 1/2 the price, I didn't mind leaving some of it on the plate. I've been alternating between senior menus (hey, I'm 52, close enough) and kids menus. Sometimes it's just frustrating because the kids menu is all fried /tasteless stuff. Then I order what I want and ask them to bring a to go box with the meal cause a lot of it's coming home. Then I try to eat very slowly.

Do you have the Biotine (I think that was it) spray for the hospital? It moistens your mouth after surgery. I couldn't drink anything for the whole day and being diabetic I got very bad dry mouth. Look for it at Walgreens if you want some. Tip for Unflavored unjury, it works good during the first week on liquids if you mix it in broth or creamy soups - but mix it slowly or it foams. Once it gets mixed in there really isn't any flavor, You sound like you have a great attitude and you're well prepared. Just be ready to walk and sip, sip, sip. I didn't have any problem walking or even going up stairs afterwards, I just had a general lack of energy. Good luck and let us know how you are!

You look fantastic! And after only 3 months! Just wait and see what the next three months brings!

I'm wondering what's going to happen to the girls too. I'm half way to my goal and I am still the same cup size but it's more loose skin than firm breast. Sorry it that's TMI. Are there exercises I can do for this? I'm about to go buy new bras that cover the girls more because it's hard to keep them where they belong because they are so loose now. (Sorry to the guys out there), Maybe a boobie tuck is in my future?

I'm only three months out so I don't really know. How many calories do you eat a day? Do you track that? It sounds wrong but sometimes if you increase your calories (protein) you may start losing again. Good Luck!

Ready, Momofthing and Newgrandmother: So sorry you've been sick, Sounds like you've been keeping yourselves on the right track with OTC meds and trips to the ER when needed. Hang in there ladies, we'll make it past all this and have a great New Year! And a much healthier, thinner New Year too.

I confess that at 3 months out, I still eat too much. So much that I threw up again yesterday from eating too much too fast. That makes me feel like a failure. I ate a sliver of birthday cake at work and it went down good! I can't visualize myself thin either. I'm supposed to loose another 60 lbs to reach my "goal" and I can't even imagine what the will look like or feel like I'm thankful for this forum because there is no where else in my life where people would understand what I'm going through.

I told everyone about the surgery and about my diabetes and high blood pressure and obesity going away. I hope I can help others decide to take control of their life and use this tool to get healthier too.

I'm so sorry you had that episode. That does hurt! I hope you're feeling better soon.

Good luck!!

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!!

I was sleeved Sept 5th. I started the Biotin a month ago and started using the thinning hair shampoo then too.

Congratulations, you look fantastic!

Have you tried using the shampoos/conditioners for thinning hair? I've been using that along with taking Biotin and I haven't noticed a lot of hair loss yet.

I stalled for two weeks. It sucked but it broke eventually. Hang in there!

As of today, I have met my goal of losing 10 lbs by Thanksgiving! Challenge start weight: 213 Todays weight: 203 This was my first challenge & I'm still in mega loss time - @ 3 1/2 months from surgery. Congratulations to everyone who tried & lost, that was really the goal from the beginning.

I used to go to those places. I loved the sugar free yogurt and used to put the fresh fruit on top. I can't even imagine how small of a serving I would be able to eat now. LOL.

Thank you for breaking that down realistically for me. I feel much better now and I know I can handle Thanksgiving like that.

Is anyone worried about Thanksgiving next week? I'm worried about two things. 1 - that I will try to eat too much and end up in the bathroom YUCK. and 2 - that I will feel deprived because I can't even manage a taste of all the goodies much less the huge servings I used to eat. Will I be able to make healthy, wise choices when faced with the traditional Thanksgiving feast? Any tips, does anyone have a plan of action to share??

I was sleeved on Sep 5th, it was hard to deal with at first but I would do it again. I'm off the high blood pressure medicine and most of the diabetes meds and high cholesterol meds. I feel great, have a ton of energy and love looking better and feeling better. I should have done it sooner!

I'm so glad you both made it safely home...awesome job of keeping up with the dog!