tigerbelle

thanks for that update post...I also haven't been around here for a while...I am almost 15 months post-op so don't really consider myself a veteran yet..lol...I am disappointed in myself, because I haven't lost any weight since around November...didn't do great around the holidays and have had some medical issues the past couple of months which have made me almost house bound...I hope to make it through all of that in the next couple of weeks and rededicate myself to reaching--or at least getting closer to--my goal weight...until I had these recent health setbacks, I was actually doing quite well with my diabetes control (not so much these last couple of months)...I am praying to get that back in control as that was more of a motivation for me to have the surgery than the weight loss itself...I hope all are doing well and would love to hear some more updates--especially from my fellow May 2013 sleevers

I just made my one-year surgiversary and am not totally pleased with myself...I have basically been at a standstill since around December...I got on a bad eating track during the holidays--not so much the quantity of food but some sweets and carbs like bread...I've also not been able to get into a regular exercise routine and have an injured toe now and in a boot and supposed to stay off the foot...that has been for a month now and I've seen a few pounds creeping back I am resolved to get back on track even if it means going back to the Protein shakes and writing down everything I eat...I really thought that I would be close to my goal when I was one year out, so I am disappointed...still I do not regret having the surgery--a positive thing is that my type 2 diabetes is under very much better control--that makes me happy I wish everyone well and wish we would get some more May 2013 group responses...I also miss the old board format

I just realized that today is my 6-month surgiversary...I am sort of neutral right now--not displeased but not truly pleased either...my surgery weight was 268....this morning the scale read 212, so that means a 56 pound weight loss...I have been a slow loser and don't exercise the way I had planned (very low energy), so I am not displeased with the weight loss so far in total--as some other May sleevers recently posted, though, most of my weight loss was in the first 3 months...these last two months have been extremely slow in weight loss, making me fear that this is just about it for me...I still have a lot of weight to lose to reach my goal or close to it (I set one year out as my time frame)...if I thought I would lose another 56 pounds over the next 6 months, I would be hopeful...I would be at about 155 lbs at May 9, 2014--perhaps I can do it if I an gather the energy to begin a consistent work-out routine, which is definitely my goal between now and the beginning of 2014...wish me well, fellow May sleever friends

you are beautiful...congrats on your success

congrats on great success :)

great update, T....I am curious as to what a day in your life is like (eating wise) now that you are (very successfully) one year out..also, what kind of workout/exercise regimen are you now on? thanks and kudos to you

hi, K8ee...of course, I don't wish Hair loss on anyone, but at least the two of us know we aren't alone in this...your experience sounds almost just like mine...I hope both of us get at least some of our hair loss back!

Wow! one of the most amazing and inspiring update success stories I've seen in a while...congrats on your hard work....truly life-changing

it's still iffy for me when I eat salad or raw veggies--especially lettuce...I try to minimize lettuce salads, even though I love salads, because it will sometimes go right through me, if you know what I mean

wow...everyone is doing great from the last several posts...bravo! the weight loss has been very slow for me...it didn't help that I was on a cruise all last week and was off my plan...I gained about 3 pounds but was bloated so I think there was some Water weight...I am down one of those pounds since I've been back....I am right at about 50 pounds in a little over 5 months...I am not totally pleased but I am accepting where I am at...I am not going to give up!

on a different note: a question for my fellow May sleevers--have you experienced noticeable hair loss? how bad and when did it start and/or end in the process? about a month ago, it started for me and has been worse the last couple of weeks...I had thought I had "escaped" it once I was past 4 months but apparently not

thanks for the feedback, y'all...I am at a little over 5 months, and about a month ago (so around 4 months), I started very noticeable hair loss...I have also been keeping up my Protein and Vitamin requirements and thought I had "escaped" the Hair loss risk...I was wrong apparently, so now I am just wondering how long this is going to last and if I will see any re-growth

what has been your experience with Hair loss? I am interested in anyone's experience who is willing to share...did/are you experiencing hair loss? when did it start and how long did it continue? did your hair grow back to the way it was pre-surgery? how bad would you say the hair loss was? did others seem to notice your hair loss? anything else you care to share? thanks

wow...congrats on your success!

I am almost 5 months out, and I still have mixed experiences with the amount of food I can eat...sometimes I am surprised at how much quantity-wise I can fit in my stomach (even though I might feel a little uncomfortable after eating)...then other times, I am surprised that I cannot even finish a small portion...hang in there! you will learn as you go--just try not to get discouraged

Jess, I lost about 100 lbs when I was in my late 20s, and I did it along with a strenuous exercise program...I had no problem then with loose skin issues...now fast forward to my being 51 and had a VSG in May...so far, I've lost just over 50 lbs, and I am having some issues with loose and flabby skin already...part of it of course is my aging I think in general and not the weight loss alone....as others have said, genetics and other factors play a part, but I would think at your age and with a 100 lb weight loss, you have a good chance of avoiding loose skin issues...best to you!

amazing! congrats, and happy surgiversary!

NSV = Non-Scale Victory

congrats, Teeny!

any update? did I miss an update in another post?

I think you've got the right attitude...as long as you are enjoying occasionally going out socially, you never know when you might hit that perfect connection...I also have a few Indian friends and co-workers who had what I would call "semi" arranged marriages, where the family "suggests" the partners to date but don't insist, and it sounds like that is the situation you are in...as I am sure you know, of course, a lot of those "arrangements" that result in marriage turn out to be wonderful matches where the couple feel perfectly suited to each other and fall deeply in love...all the best to you...you are beautiful, and I congratulate you on your success

thanks, marci...this cruise we are going to nassau, st. thomas and st. maarten...I have been on this itinerary before, but it's been awhile, so I am excited about it...plus, it's my first time on this ship (Royal Carribean's Allure), and it's supposed to be one of the largest and nicest in the fleet

HW 278 (size 18)

SW 263

CW varies between 222 and 217 - in ANOTHER stall

I feel like such a slow loser!! My body has changed, but nothing really drastic! My pants are baggy, but I am still wearing a size 16 and can barely squeeze into a 14! When I read how well everyone else is doing and see these dramatic pictures where some of yall look completely different (although I am very happy for each one of you) I get so depressed. I have seen people that I have not seen in several months and no one notices a difference. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I feel like I am destined to be fat forever.

I understand how you feel...my experience has been similar, as you can see on my ticker...I am also in a stall at 217...I had very much hoped to be in Onederland by my 6-month surgiversary...I am one month away and don't think there is any chance I will lose 17 lbs in a month...but I am focusing on the positives--one being that I have lost 50 lbs and the other that my blood glucose levels have been much lower, and I am almost completely off my diabetes meds

hang in there and don't get too discouraged!

keep up the great work!

thanks for all the advice and feedback, y'all....I am taking all this in and processing it

I am just going to put this question out there and ask for feedback of all types...be as blatant and harsh as necessary...I am thick skinned...I am going on a cruise next month...it will be my first cruise--actually first vacation--since my VSG...I was sleeved on May 9th, so when my cruise starts I will be at 5 months post-op...to date I have lost a little over 50 lbs--not as quickly as I had hoped but my health is getting better and the scale is still moving downward (although slowly most weeks)...my main problem right now--and what I think is the most contributing to my slow weight loss--is my lack of true exercise...and that is primarily a factor of how low my energy level is plus the standard excuse of long work hours this summer...as for my eating habits, I am generally pleased although I know I could do better--I am definitely not a role model for sure...my average daily calorie intake is around 800, and I generally get all of my Proteins and Vitamins in and do just ok with my Fluid intake...my food choices are about 75-80% "good"...about 10% "mediocre" and then the other 10% definitely not on-plan...I only have a bite every once in a while of starchy carbs (bread, potatoes, rice, etc.--I never have anywhere near a serving--it's more like a single french fry or a bite of bread...I don't eat sweets or Desserts at all...what I do occasionally cheat on is something like fried foods--even though my quantity will be low, it's the food itself that is a cheat...for example, 80% of the time I eat lean meats like turkey or chicken grilled or fish grilled...but the other times I will cheat with a fried chicken finger...or a drumstick fried...I will sometimes even eat a few fried shrimp instead of the griled version...my big splurge food is peanut butter--I know it's high in calories, but I love it and it never makes my tummy feel bad--at least every other night I have a tablespoon or two, sometimes as my meal

ok...sorry for going on so long but I wanted to give you the background for my question...if you are still reading, that is as I said, next month I am going on a cruise...part of me wants to just take that week and do my best to "forget" I even had WLS--other than the amount of food...in other words, even though I cannot eat a large quantity of food, especially at one time, I just want to eat whatever I am in the mood to eat--even if it's bread....or french fries...or fried chicken...even if I can only eat 5 french fries...and if I want to have a cookie, for example, I want to eat one, even if that becomes my Breakfast for the day...my question to you and the feedback I want is this: how much damage could this do? I don't really mean physical damage (since I will be 5 months post-op), even though feedback on that is welcome...I am also not extremely concerned about possibly gaining a couple of pounds....but to be honest the main "damage" I am concerned about is emotional damage; i.e., starting down a slippery slope by allowing myself to go so completely off my dietary plan I am worried that I will like the feeling of eating what I want and that this will make it difficult to get back on track once my vacation is over

ok....lay it on me...as I said any and all feedback is wanted

very good advice here...I can't really add to it, except to say please hang in there...things do get better, but for now you need to just concentrate on following the program your medical team set for you