BayouGal85

I can look back to my first 20 posts on here and feel silly because I did the same thing.
When you're a newbie, you don't know how to navigate the site. It's especially hard if you're doing most of your surfing on a smartphone.
Maybe Alex's first message should include some instructions on how to better navigate the site, use the search, set up tickers, etc.
I don't always mind people asking the same questions, sometimes there are new answers. Being a newbie is part of the process, but we all have the option to pass over a thread if we don't want to engage. I will post if I feel I can add something useful to the conversation, to pay it forward in return for those who put up with me.
-Andrea

New rule: no one is allowed to post anything when they're hungry lol

Hi, if you could reach over there and hand me that asbestos fireproof suit I'd really appreciate it.
(Might want to grab one for yourself. )

Hello everyone. I am on here frequently.. Reading posts.. And I have to say there are three complaints/attitudes that I can't stand hearing about on here. Sorry for the rant but sometimes you have to tell it straight.
1. The "oh I just got sleeved a few weeks ago and I've stopped loosing weight.. What's wrong with me??!" Well first off obviously you did not read the hundreds of other posts from people complaining about the exact same thing! Stalls are normal and they will pass. If you think the weight is just going to fall off overnight you are sadly mistaken.
2. The "when can I eat pizza/drink pop or other *insert obviously unhealthy meal item here*??" Really you must have missed the part about this being a lifestyle change! If you continue your same eating habits you are going to get your exact same results. Just because you have WLS doesn't mean all those empty calories you choose to consume are just going to disappear. Your setting yourself up for failure.
3. The "I've stopped loosing weight.. Oh by the way I DON'T excercise" ok now this one seriously bugs me. I am pretty sure EVERYONE was given the same information about adopting some form of physical activity after getting sleeved. It's required to help you loose weight, tone that saggy skin and maintain your weightloss when you get to goal.. If your telling yourself "I just don't love exercising" then you are FOOLING YOURSELF. No one loves excercising! It will get easier after a while and more enjoyable sure. "But my bad knee/shoulder" oh boo hoo everyone can do some form of excercise even if its just walking or even chair excersises. If a 30 year old man born with NO ARMS AND NO LEGS can find it in him to play golf, swim, and play soccer then I'm pretty sure you can do some form of excercise! (See attached inspirational video)
So to sum up my rant.. NOTHING WORTH DOING COMES EASY! It takes work and the right attitude to be successful!
http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/How-Nick-Vujicic-Triumphed-Against-All-Odds-Video

three months out and not a single problem... i'm 28 years old, had surgery on tuesday and was back at work on Saturday morning. The only problems i've come across is head hunger and thats something that i'll just have to take one day at a time and deal with it.

So now, I'm 4-1/2 years post op and have lived with my sleeve a long time now. . What I've written below may not be something you want to hear, but it's a story that need to be told.
I lost 85 lbs with my VSG surgery in 2008, and for several years was very happy. I always thought my sleeve was a bit bigger than the doc told me it would be, but it did drastically reduce the volume of food I could put in my stomach. So I kept the weight off pretty well, even tho I never really reached my goal weight of 210. 220- 225 seemed to be my "floor", but staying there - or within striking distance was pretty easy. I'm 6-1 so that's not a bad spot for me. If it my weight began creeping up, it was easy for me to cut back a little and the weight would fall off.
But about a year ago my weight started creeping up 230, 240, 250... now 258. And some of my old co-morbidities began to return. Knee pain, cholesterol etc. And it was weight I could no longer seem to lose. And a developed a chronic cough. So a month ago, I visited my surgeon who had me do an upper GI. Uh-oh. Apparently the upper portion of my sleeve near my esophagus developed a big bulge where food can be trapped. And a visit to my PCP, confirmed that I have laryngopharyngeal reflux - the reason for my cough. The food trapped in a cul-de-sac in my sleeve was coming to see me in the night.
The fix is pretty easy. A revision. Trim it off, staple it up, pull out the excess. Basically the same procedure as before - just less stomach tissue to remove. So here we go again.... this time insurance will pay for it. I will be starting from a lower high weight this time. And hopefully after the revision the tissue won't be as stretchy. Also the bougie size he used before was a 40. He's dropping down to a 36 this time.
What I have learned over several years of intense interest in bariatric surgery is this: your sleeve or pouch WILL stretch. It's just a fact. Most people do rebound a bit. That being said, I would and will do it again in a heartbeat. I love being thinner.
Approved and date is set for July 25th

Ok here comes the bully! Cheating on a diet???
Oh my yes we've all done that!
BUT the after surgery "eating" plan is there for a reason it's not a typical diet. It is in place to give your stomach time to heal. Lets not forget that someone just went in the and cut and burned that sucker length wise, and then stapled it back together!!!
Your stomach is still swollen and numb. And chances are you won't "feel" much in there right now.
Like I said this is not cheating on a diet this is a dangerous thing to do. If you want to cheat wait until you are in the clear, trust me there will be plenty of time to cheat yourself then!

Remember everyone I know we are all dying to taste some real food but please do your best to follow your doctors instructions. I keep telling myself I am stronger than the food that I have consumed all these years that helped me blossom to 303 pds. Mind over matter..We are stronger than the food we put into our mouths. Take a walk, read a book, watch a movie, drink a few sips of your favorite Protein Shake (we can never get enough of those good ole Protein drinks) or just take a nap. Be strong

Down 65 pounds at 12 weeks post op

This is the first time posting any pics. I am a couple days shy of 2 mos post op. Down 46lbs.

Awww thanks Cat .... In time you will become an expert and be able to help others.

i made my 5 weeks Tuesday and I'm down 47lbs ( including pre op of course)
its like i'm so excited to go to my next dr's appt to get on the scale. I love seeing the other patients who were sleeved the same time as me.... the dr's office i go to has such an awesome support system!! time sure does fly because it feels like yesterday I was creating my username and password for here trying to find out info on being sleeved.

still lmao @ this one

I'm now 6 weeks post op and I've lost 52 lb including pre op diet. I've had dehydration for a week but feeling much better now. I'm thrilled with the loss and can't wait for the next 6 weeks to see how much I loose !!! I love my sleeve !!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

I think that's amazing, Lipstick! I wish I would have done that as well. I are so much before my pre op diet, I was completely miserable! I ate crap that I didn't even eat before and gained 10 pounds.
Taking control now is great! You may have obsessed over your food funeral before but you stopped it! That's admirable. If I had done that, I'd be at least 10 pounds lighter right now. You are one step closer to ridding yourself of bad habits than I was before surgery. I'm sure you'll have difficult days. We all do,but nothing in what you've posted indicates the need for professional help. Good luck with the pre op and surgery!

Aussie I was sleeved on 3-19-13 & couldn't be happier with my decision

Absolutely, you know your body the best.

That you can only lose 55-75% of your excess body weight. I'm currently at 104% so Don't you believe it!! = D

I'm the exact same here.... made 4 weeks Tuesday and for 10 days now i've been toggling between those three pounds.... I have an appt with my NUT today and hopefully we can talk about fixing this problem.... good luck to you both and i'll let you know the outcome of my appt today

I'm the exact same here.... made 4 weeks Tuesday and for 10 days now i've been toggling between those three pounds.... I have an appt with my NUT today and hopefully we can talk about fixing this problem.... good luck to you both and i'll let you know the outcome of my appt today

Awesome!!!! Glad to hear your doing better and good job on the 20lbs. I'm two weeks away today and getting nervous

Great idea!
Feeling good....getting my liquids and Protein in! No nausea, no vomiting. Still a bit tired, but hey, it's only been a week. Even had a normal BM (never thought I would be so proud of poo - ha ha).
I've even lost 5 lbs from surgery day to today....yes, 5 lbs in ONE WEEK! It still seems too good to be true. This may be the best thing I have ever done for myself.

So Glad to hear things went okay and that your feeling okay!!!! Excited for you!!