haragl

starting weight 338 currently 219 !! whoo hooo sleeved 9-6-12

Started pre surgery weightloss on September 4, 2012 (weight 364). Surgery was on September 18, 2012 and as of today August 8 I'm down 140 lbs.

I had my surgery done by Dr Lisa Hawver. She is based out of Mercy Hospital. The surgery was done at Mercy Hospital in Washington, MO. I went in on a Monday morning and was out Wednesday am. She has an office now in O'Fallon also. She is excellent. She is board certified. There are support groups that meet in Washington and at Mercy in St Louis. I have had no problems and am very happy. Great follow-up and office is very good to work with, they return calls fast. Her phone number is 636-861-7870.

I am 50 and I have never:
been sweeped off my feet (carried) by a man
worn a 2 piece in public (have in my backyard but only there)
been comfortable having a family picture done with my children
worn less than a 16 that I can remember
been up in a hot air balloon
not have the inner thigh wear out first on my pants

What I have done:
went to Russia by myself and adopted two wonderful children
had great friendships
realized that I am a dang good person and I deserve to be loved--learned to love myself first
has someone who wouldn't let me hide my body from them and made me feel sexy even though I was heavy
bought a house on my own
have been on a cruise, snorkled, swam in the ocean
moved to Idaho to go to college not knowing anyone
moved to Missouri, from Georgia, and built a new life for myself with my children

I see weight loss as a way to be healthier and more confident and to try and be the BEST Me I Can Be!

I think we have to cut ourselves some slack sometimes. Sometimes a cookie is just a cookie. I know we are all trying to be so good and not fall from the path but sometimes we just have to eat a cookie. The important thing is that we get back on the path. A slip is not the end of our journey just a bump. Sometimes I think we are so hard on ourselves that in the long run it does us more harm than good. We have to look at food as food and not the enemy. A cookie is just a cookie unless you eat the WHOLE pack, then it's a problem. I say enjoy it, savor it, make that the best cookie you have ever eaten then put it behind you and move on.

Hey it happens to all of us. No need to apologize. It's so easy to slip back into old patterns because for us that was our "normal". You know what you did that you shouldn't have done and you know what you need to do so DO IT! We all need to cut ourselves some slack sometimes. It's hard to be good all the time and we are in this for the long haul. Good luck and stay the course. If you slip then just grab hold of yourself and get back on track. Take Care.

Hey it happens to all of us. No need to apologize. It's so easy to slip back into old patterns because for us that was our "normal". You know what you did that you shouldn't have done and you know what you need to do so DO IT! We all need to cut ourselves some slack sometimes. It's hard to be good all the time and we are in this for the long haul. Good luck and stay the course. If you slip then just grab hold of yourself and get back on track. Take Care.

Hey it happens to all of us. No need to apologize. It's so easy to slip back into old patterns because for us that was our "normal". You know what you did that you shouldn't have done and you know what you need to do so DO IT! We all need to cut ourselves some slack sometimes. It's hard to be good all the time and we are in this for the long haul. Good luck and stay the course. If you slip then just grab hold of yourself and get back on track. Take Care.

I am 50 and I have never:
been sweeped off my feet (carried) by a man
worn a 2 piece in public (have in my backyard but only there)
been comfortable having a family picture done with my children
worn less than a 16 that I can remember
been up in a hot air balloon
not have the inner thigh wear out first on my pants

What I have done:
went to Russia by myself and adopted two wonderful children
had great friendships
realized that I am a dang good person and I deserve to be loved--learned to love myself first
has someone who wouldn't let me hide my body from them and made me feel sexy even though I was heavy
bought a house on my own
have been on a cruise, snorkled, swam in the ocean
moved to Idaho to go to college not knowing anyone
moved to Missouri, from Georgia, and built a new life for myself with my children

I see weight loss as a way to be healthier and more confident and to try and be the BEST Me I Can Be!

I am 50 and I have never:
been sweeped off my feet (carried) by a man
worn a 2 piece in public (have in my backyard but only there)
been comfortable having a family picture done with my children
worn less than a 16 that I can remember
been up in a hot air balloon
not have the inner thigh wear out first on my pants

What I have done:
went to Russia by myself and adopted two wonderful children
had great friendships
realized that I am a dang good person and I deserve to be loved--learned to love myself first
has someone who wouldn't let me hide my body from them and made me feel sexy even though I was heavy
bought a house on my own
have been on a cruise, snorkled, swam in the ocean
moved to Idaho to go to college not knowing anyone
moved to Missouri, from Georgia, and built a new life for myself with my children

I see weight loss as a way to be healthier and more confident and to try and be the BEST Me I Can Be!

I am 50 and I have never:
been sweeped off my feet (carried) by a man
worn a 2 piece in public (have in my backyard but only there)
been comfortable having a family picture done with my children
worn less than a 16 that I can remember
been up in a hot air balloon
not have the inner thigh wear out first on my pants

What I have done:
went to Russia by myself and adopted two wonderful children
had great friendships
realized that I am a dang good person and I deserve to be loved--learned to love myself first
has someone who wouldn't let me hide my body from them and made me feel sexy even though I was heavy
bought a house on my own
have been on a cruise, snorkled, swam in the ocean
moved to Idaho to go to college not knowing anyone
moved to Missouri, from Georgia, and built a new life for myself with my children

I see weight loss as a way to be healthier and more confident and to try and be the BEST Me I Can Be!

Garden burger makes a vegetarian hamburger that is to die for--the chiken dishes are okay but the hamburger is fabulous!---also eating alot of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese--90 calories for 13 gms of Protein

Garden burger makes a vegetarian hamburger that is to die for--the chiken dishes are okay but the hamburger is fabulous!---also eating alot of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese--90 calories for 13 gms of Protein

Please don't feel bad about posting a popular topic again. I was in an 11 week stall. I did everything I could think of: increased Water, increased Protein, increased exercise. I lost 14 lbs on pre diet and lost 10 lb is 17 days post op. I thought this is great! Then I hit the wall and didn't lose a pound my next visit or my next visit. I was almost 3 months out and had only lost 24 lbs. To say I was depressed and upset is putting in mildly especially when you read on here about "pounds melting off" or people losing and "not exercising yet". I read all about stalls and wondered "will I be the one that this doesn't work for"? I think we all feel that sometimes. I reevaluated my diet and dropped my carbs and most importantly RELAXED. Then I stepped back and looked at what I have accomplished. All total I have lost 45 lbs and havent gained it back. I went thru Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years and didn't gain. I have more energy, I feel better, some of my clothes feel looser, I am in a pair of pants with no stretch a size down from a pair that had stretch, I am eating healthy and exercising which will extend my life, and I see changes in my body-definition, less fat when pinched, my wrist is smaller and I can feel my collar bones. Sometimes we get so caught up in reaching the finish line that we miss the changes along the way. It will happen! It has to if you are eating less and moving more. All bodies are different and sometimes we are rabbits and sometimes we are turtles but we will all win the race. Best of luck and Relax. Stressing about it can and will cause your body to hold onto the weight.

thanks for posting this. it is very discouraging sometimes to read of the large losses and to be one of tghe slow losers. It helps to remember that losing is the key not how fast or how slow. Thanks again.

I had my surgery done by Dr Lisa Hawver. She is based out of Mercy Hospital. The surgery was done at Mercy Hospital in Washington, MO. I went in on a Monday morning and was out Wednesday am. She has an office now in O'Fallon also. She is excellent. She is board certified. There are support groups that meet in Washington and at Mercy in St Louis. I have had no problems and am very happy. Great follow-up and office is very good to work with, they return calls fast. Her phone number is 636-861-7870.

First of all, take a deep breath. You are going to be fine. Any time you have a surgical procedure it's a little scary plus you are starting on a new journey to health and that's scary also. I can tell you my experience and hope it helps... I had little to no pain--I never took any of the pain medication or the nausea medication. They will get you moving the first day and that is very important. You will be a little sore but walk, walk, walk. The walking helps to work out the stiffness and also helps get rid of the IV fluids from surgery. Your mouth will be dry from the anesthesia so take a good lip balm. The chance of dying is very very slim. Anethesia is very safe these days and you will be monitered very closly. You will be very sleepy the first day so ask family to let you rest and come the next day for visits. Take loose fitting clothes. Take you some books or things to do because morning TV will drive you nuts. Let the nurses know if you need anything at all, they are there to help. Most important the more you move the better you will feel.

A woman who is considered one of the most beautiful women ever, Marilyn Monroe, had an hour glass shape. We are now going the other way from our idea of beauty as being model thin to recognizing that WOMEN have curves. I am a pear myself and I just tell people with a smile, "Yes, I have a hour-glass shape, just a little too much sand in the bottom half". Look at some of the beautiful women around today, Jennifer Lopez, Sophia Vegaro, Scarlett Johanson, Jennifer Lawrence, they all have curves and lets not forget the classic beauty of Sophia Lorenz. Be proud of your curves! As long as you know you are beautiful you will project that to the world. Confidence is beautiful!

A woman who is considered one of the most beautiful women ever, Marilyn Monroe, had an hour glass shape. We are now going the other way from our idea of beauty as being model thin to recognizing that WOMEN have curves. I am a pear myself and I just tell people with a smile, "Yes, I have a hour-glass shape, just a little too much sand in the bottom half". Look at some of the beautiful women around today, Jennifer Lopez, Sophia Vegaro, Scarlett Johanson, Jennifer Lawrence, they all have curves and lets not forget the classic beauty of Sophia Lorenz. Be proud of your curves! As long as you know you are beautiful you will project that to the world. Confidence is beautiful!

First of all remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. I can say that because I know how you are feeling. I was sleeved on 9/24 and have only lost 43 lbs from my high weight and only 35 from my pre-surgery weight. I did really well at my 2 week follow-up and lost 13 lbs but then haven't lost anything since. I too can eat anything. The most important thing to remember is that as long as you are losing and not gaining you are ahead of the game. If you can't enter your food before you eat it then write it down and do it as soon as possible. Stick with the basics, like you are doing, Protein, Water then everything else. Try to plan your meals and figure out the calories and everything the night before that way if you are mindlessly reaching you are reaching for the right things. If you slip then you slip and you just get back on track. You will hit stalls thruout the weight loss journey but just keep doing what you are supposed to do and IT WILL COME OFF. We each lose at our own speed and though it's easy to be disheartened when you read about someone else dropping the weight or it just melting off and yours doesn't seem to be doing that just stay strong and know that you are making great changes in your life that will last a lifetime. Good Luck.

First of all remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. I can say that because I know how you are feeling. I was sleeved on 9/24 and have only lost 43 lbs from my high weight and only 35 from my pre-surgery weight. I did really well at my 2 week follow-up and lost 13 lbs but then haven't lost anything since. I too can eat anything. The most important thing to remember is that as long as you are losing and not gaining you are ahead of the game. If you can't enter your food before you eat it then write it down and do it as soon as possible. Stick with the basics, like you are doing, Protein, Water then everything else. Try to plan your meals and figure out the calories and everything the night before that way if you are mindlessly reaching you are reaching for the right things. If you slip then you slip and you just get back on track. You will hit stalls thruout the weight loss journey but just keep doing what you are supposed to do and IT WILL COME OFF. We each lose at our own speed and though it's easy to be disheartened when you read about someone else dropping the weight or it just melting off and yours doesn't seem to be doing that just stay strong and know that you are making great changes in your life that will last a lifetime. Good Luck.

I went back to Minnesota for two weeks over Christmas and New Years and did good eating healthy at most meals, but why are there so many snacks! I had way too much sweets, snack foods, and alcohol, I fell of the wagon hard. I am a strong willed person though and snapped right back into VSG mode as soon as I got home Tuesday afternoon. I will say that I still used Portion Control and kept semi track of calories in my head and I did lose 5 lbs since leaving 2 weeks ago.
Now for the fun part! All my family and friends were blown away by my success and everyone was so proud of me! We went out dancing at some of the country bars and I brought my newly learned Texas two step skills and a lot of people wanted to dance with me. I never could get attention at bars before. My favorite part was when the band played Copper Head Road and 4 great looking girls started doing the line dance and while all the guys stood around watching them my new confidence had me right in between them rocking out (Thanks Texas for teaching me to dance lol)
The point of my message... Were all human, we make mistakes. I have worked very hard to get where I am today and for two weeks I let lose again and embrace my new self. It proved to me that all the hard work I have done is paying off. We just need to be strong enough to know when enough is enough and get back on plan.
I missed my goal of 100lbs by NYE because of the decisions I made, but the smile on my face and the happiness in my heart meant so much more than any number on a scale could ever mean!
My NYE Picture!

first thing is to say to yourself it happened and it's over. Don't beat yourself up. We are all involved in a new process and we are all going to have our set-backs. Now go back to the basics--get your Protein and your Water. If you are tempted to eat things that you know aren't good for you stop and ask yourself, Do I want this bad enough to undo all the hard work and good that I have done? chances are the answer is Heck NO! Also look at a picture of yourself before you started and look at one of you now, sometimes that is enough to help you find the willpower to JUST SAY NO! Good luck and remember it was just a slip, the whole train didn't derail.

first thing is to say to yourself it happened and it's over. Don't beat yourself up. We are all involved in a new process and we are all going to have our set-backs. Now go back to the basics--get your Protein and your Water. If you are tempted to eat things that you know aren't good for you stop and ask yourself, Do I want this bad enough to undo all the hard work and good that I have done? chances are the answer is Heck NO! Also look at a picture of yourself before you started and look at one of you now, sometimes that is enough to help you find the willpower to JUST SAY NO! Good luck and remember it was just a slip, the whole train didn't derail.

first thing is to say to yourself it happened and it's over. Don't beat yourself up. We are all involved in a new process and we are all going to have our set-backs. Now go back to the basics--get your Protein and your Water. If you are tempted to eat things that you know aren't good for you stop and ask yourself, Do I want this bad enough to undo all the hard work and good that I have done? chances are the answer is Heck NO! Also look at a picture of yourself before you started and look at one of you now, sometimes that is enough to help you find the willpower to JUST SAY NO! Good luck and remember it was just a slip, the whole train didn't derail.