Holly5.3

I am down 90lbs and I too still morn food. I have good and bad days. But I do feel much much better. But still have problems with what I see in the mirror. (other people see that I look better than what I see) I am hoping that will go away with time. But still so thankful for my sleeve.

Today is my 6 month surgiversary! I am down 75 pounds. Slowed down significantly since January. HW 255 CW 180 and still losing VERY slowly. I have lupus so exercise is minimal. So, I'm pretty proud of getting here. Only 30-40 more to go! Blessings and best wishes to all!

Hey October 2012 sleevers! I'm curious to see how we fared on our first 6 month journey. I weigh-in tomorrow (I only weigh myself once a month on my surgery date, the 11th) so tomorrow morning I'll wake up with a drum-roll until I step on the scale and see the numbers. I feel my clothes getting looser, but I also know the loss has slowed down considerably since January. I see my surgeon on Friday and had blood work done. My major problem is my addiction to food. The over-eating part, wanting to just stuff myself sometimes and I can't -- it's not easy. Physically, I feel terrific - no more apnea, my back and feet aren't killing me-- lots of energy. But I also feel a little sadness inside, like I lost a friend (I know - I'm pathetic!) Can anyone relate?

Wow! You hit the nail on the head, Hippy Uncle! I think the part about being disappointed in myself in not being strong enough to fulfill my dreams and aspirations, definitely caused the self-hatred/abuse cycle in my life. My blessings in life are many and I've gotten used to ignoring them and focusing on the negative! I have been praying for God's help to get through the food addiction, as I've done with other addictions in the past-with great success. I've been struggling for a couple of months now and I stopped visiting this site, rather than ask for help. (1st step-acknowledge the problem. I was ashamed to say I felt like I still want to stuff!) Thank you so much! You made my morning so much brighter. God bless you and your day!

Wow! You hit the nail on the head, Hippy Uncle! I think the part about being disappointed in myself in not being strong enough to fulfill my dreams and aspirations, definitely caused the self-hatred/abuse cycle in my life. My blessings in life are many and I've gotten used to ignoring them and focusing on the negative! I have been praying for God's help to get through the food addiction, as I've done with other addictions in the past-with great success. I've been struggling for a couple of months now and I stopped visiting this site, rather than ask for help. (1st step-acknowledge the problem. I was ashamed to say I felt like I still want to stuff!) Thank you so much! You made my morning so much brighter. God bless you and your day!

Hey October 2012 sleevers! I'm curious to see how we fared on our first 6 month journey. I weigh-in tomorrow (I only weigh myself once a month on my surgery date, the 11th) so tomorrow morning I'll wake up with a drum-roll until I step on the scale and see the numbers. I feel my clothes getting looser, but I also know the loss has slowed down considerably since January. I see my surgeon on Friday and had blood work done. My major problem is my addiction to food. The over-eating part, wanting to just stuff myself sometimes and I can't -- it's not easy. Physically, I feel terrific - no more apnea, my back and feet aren't killing me-- lots of energy. But I also feel a little sadness inside, like I lost a friend (I know - I'm pathetic!) Can anyone relate?

Thanks to pre-op testing (Sleeved 10/11/12), I found I had 3 hernias (pop 'n fresh dough-girl, am I!) - hiatal, ventral (belly) and the 3rd by my c-section incision! The hiatal was repaired during the sleeve and I think my discomfort was more from the hernia repair than the stomach surgery! Twisting, bending and reaching was out for at least 3 weeks. I tried to return to work to soon and the pain from moving too much too soon sent me back to bed for another week! Tylenol worked wonders - better than the narcotic meds prescribed by my surgeon. Good luck - you'll feel great soon!

I am 6 weeks post-op and feel like all you guys! Eating isn't orgasmic like it once was, which is a good thing, except that's yet another thing to get used to! I miss my Water straight without Crystal lite, etc. Salads are now my fantasy foods! I probably won't be able to eat even a tiny one for another 3 months-I cannot tolerate most veggies I've tried. I could be depressed over it, but I've got bigger problems in my life so my food and weight issues are insignificant to me right now. I'm just glad that I feel terrific, except for tiring easy and needing 12 hours of sleep (including a nap) every day. The weight is coming off, a little slower now, but it's coming off! Just think of where you'll be in a year from now-we will all be close to, if not at goal-it will have been worth every sacrifice to me to weigh in the 100's again. I can't wait!!

I'm 53 and happily married 22 years- I've never sat on my husbands lap (he's tried to make me but I won't let him!), and he's never picked me up-ive weighed more than him since my first pregnancy and my daughter turned 19 yesterday! Times they are a changin'! I should weigh less than him in the next month! Yaaa!

I thought I'ld start a thread asking for recipes for the puree stage that you couldn't have survived without. I started this stage yesterday and spent a good hour scrolling thru posts offering ideas before I went grocery shopping. I thank God for someone suggesting Hormel Chilis. They had turkey, beef and one can left of chicken and white bean. Had the chicken just now-heated about 2/3 cup in microwave. Put in Magic Bullet to puree. It looked weird but boy was it tasty! First thing I've eaten in about 5 weeks that satisfied my taste buds! I could only eat about 1/4 cup, so next time I know to heat up only 1/4 cup at a time until I can get more down.
For dinner, I'm making a ricotta cheese casserole, also an old recipe I found, so I can have Italian as everyone eats pizza after trick-or-treating!

I agree with above post. You are a calmer being on the inside -animals sence that! It sounds like natures beauty is being reflected back from you. Beautiful!

Melissa, girlfriend, your surgeon is right! I just made it to 'onederland' (slang for going under 200 lbs.) the past month. My surgery was Oct 11th-started pre-op diet Aug 11 weighing 278. Today, almost 5 months post-op and I weigh 197! I haven't weighed under 200 lbs in 20 years-since b4 my 2 daughters were born and they are 18&19! I never thought I'ld see the day-like you I've dieted only to stall and regain. I look and feel better than I have in many years. Is it easy? He-- no! I stll have hard days, but with my diabetes reversed and sleep apnea gone, I now have the energy and drive to live my life to the fullest. Not just being worried about having a full tummy. Good luck-we're here for you!

Stalls or slow weight loss be damned! Think about what you want to look and feel like. Say it out loud, "I am a success story in the making! I am doing this!". I believe we can create our destiny...keep thinking, saying or posting that "the sleeve isn't working for me" and it won't work. It doesn't work -we do the work. Even more so after surgery than during Pre-op and surgery and recovery. It's the lifestyle changes we must embrace after the sleeve together with a positive attitude about our future success that makes it happen! Some posts become rediculous- negative energy won't help anyone here! Just sayin'........

Stalls or slow weight loss be damned! Think about what you want to look and feel like. Say it out loud, "I am a success story in the making! I am doing this!". I believe we can create our destiny...keep thinking, saying or posting that "the sleeve isn't working for me" and it won't work. It doesn't work -we do the work. Even more so after surgery than during Pre-op and surgery and recovery. It's the lifestyle changes we must embrace after the sleeve together with a positive attitude about our future success that makes it happen! Some posts become rediculous- negative energy won't help anyone here! Just sayin'........

Stalls or slow weight loss be damned! Think about what you want to look and feel like. Say it out loud, "I am a success story in the making! I am doing this!". I believe we can create our destiny...keep thinking, saying or posting that "the sleeve isn't working for me" and it won't work. It doesn't work -we do the work. Even more so after surgery than during Pre-op and surgery and recovery. It's the lifestyle changes we must embrace after the sleeve together with a positive attitude about our future success that makes it happen! Some posts become rediculous- negative energy won't help anyone here! Just sayin'........

Last night I had alcohol for the first time since August. I was cleared to have alcohol in Feb. but didnt really have an occasion to. I had staight raspberry vodka (mini bottles) and i took little sips of it with my peach Crystal Light. Over the course of 3-1/2 hours I had two mini bottles. I was pleasantly buzzed- not drunk (I was at a charity bowling event). I felt totally sober driving home after coffee and a piece if a Protein bar...it was all good! yaaa! I was scared but it was fine!

Last night I had alcohol for the first time since August. I was cleared to have alcohol in Feb. but didnt really have an occasion to. I had staight raspberry vodka (mini bottles) and i took little sips of it with my peach Crystal Light. Over the course of 3-1/2 hours I had two mini bottles. I was pleasantly buzzed- not drunk (I was at a charity bowling event). I felt totally sober driving home after coffee and a piece if a Protein bar...it was all good! yaaa! I was scared but it was fine!

Last night I had alcohol for the first time since August. I was cleared to have alcohol in Feb. but didnt really have an occasion to. I had staight raspberry vodka (mini bottles) and i took little sips of it with my peach Crystal Light. Over the course of 3-1/2 hours I had two mini bottles. I was pleasantly buzzed- not drunk (I was at a charity bowling event). I felt totally sober driving home after coffee and a piece if a Protein bar...it was all good! yaaa! I was scared but it was fine!

Last night I had alcohol for the first time since August. I was cleared to have alcohol in Feb. but didnt really have an occasion to. I had staight raspberry vodka (mini bottles) and i took little sips of it with my peach Crystal Light. Over the course of 3-1/2 hours I had two mini bottles. I was pleasantly buzzed- not drunk (I was at a charity bowling event). I felt totally sober driving home after coffee and a piece if a Protein bar...it was all good! yaaa! I was scared but it was fine!

Take my advice from a 'been there, done that" girl - if the opportunity does occur, be classy and hot, and polite. But if they ask you out, reply that you've changed in appearance only, you've always been beautiful. They, however, are shallow and ignorant. Was then and still are. Sorry, I deserve better. Nice see'in ya! Believe me, sweetie, the right guy will notice you!

Hi there! I'm a young 53, sleeved Oct 11, 2012, and have gone from size 24 (278 lbs. Last August) and I am now 200 lbs, size 16. People say I look 20 years younger! Mind you they can't see under my clothes, the flabbedity, sagetty skin, but with my Spanx on and a good bra, the image looks pretty good. Naked is a whole different thing-but my husband's not complaining, believe me! I've hit my first stall, other than that and a little Constipation early on, it's been great! Looking forward to life instead of just looking forward to food! Good luck!

Take my advice from a 'been there, done that" girl - if the opportunity does occur, be classy and hot, and polite. But if they ask you out, reply that you've changed in appearance only, you've always been beautiful. They, however, are shallow and ignorant. Was then and still are. Sorry, I deserve better. Nice see'in ya! Believe me, sweetie, the right guy will notice you!

I'm 5 months postop tomorrow and am struggling with depression the past few months. Dr said it was estrogen released from fat cells as weight is lost. The more rapid a loss, more estrogen is readed causing more havoc to emotionality. I may look good and feel great, but emotionally I'm a mess. Hope this phase ends soon!

Thanks for the pix! The difference in your appearance in only 6 months is truly amazing! The sizes you went down is awesome! That's when it's fun-putting on clothes the next size smaller! Keep up the great work!

Melissa, girlfriend, your surgeon is right! I just made it to 'onederland' (slang for going under 200 lbs.) the past month. My surgery was Oct 11th-started pre-op diet Aug 11 weighing 278. Today, almost 5 months post-op and I weigh 197! I haven't weighed under 200 lbs in 20 years-since b4 my 2 daughters were born and they are 18&19! I never thought I'ld see the day-like you I've dieted only to stall and regain. I look and feel better than I have in many years. Is it easy? He-- no! I stll have hard days, but with my diabetes reversed and sleep apnea gone, I now have the energy and drive to live my life to the fullest. Not just being worried about having a full tummy. Good luck-we're here for you!