MoniqueA97

Update-Went for the echo stress test today and everything went great! My ultrasound tech told me in aroundabout way that everything was fine. Saw the doctor and he said that everything looked great..I Rocked that treadmill! So grateful!

Can someone please tell me what do your cellulite thighs look like after WLS?

Update-Went for the echo stress test today and everything went great! My ultrasound tech told me in aroundabout way that everything was fine. Saw the doctor and he said that everything looked great..I Rocked that treadmill! So grateful!

Just got my date on Friday! March 7th baby!!!! I am soo very excited.

Good luck to all of us Marchers. Welcome to s new and healthier us.

To eat! Your body still needs that baseline nutrition to keep itself running efficiently. Eating less than what is recommended will not only slow down your healing, but also your metabolism and weight loss.
Like Chris says, don't compare! Everyone is different!

I would like to lose about 20 pounds before surgery. I am not required to do a liquid diet beforehand but I need to incorporate healthy eating habits beforehand and I would like to maximize my weight loss. Go for first weigh in on 11/29 hope to have vsg by 3/13.

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
Sent from my iPad using VST

So it has been a year. To the day. Wow! Just…wow.
Progress has been steady. Had a slip up but I am back on track. I think there for a little while I felt bullet proof, you know? Nine months out and I was doing well. I have an additional metabolism issue (genetic) that I knew I would not be the high end loser, so I was comfortable with my loss. I had a foot injury, couldn’t run for a long time, couldn’t do as much of what I normally do as often…and let some bad habits creep in as I dealt with inactivity (inactivity = boredom for me). Holidays were approaching and I was really feeling the loss of my Mom (My Mom passed away a week after my surgery, unexpectedly). So I slipped. Then I caught myself and got right back up again.
My “last diet” began in January of 2011…I lost some after months of trying, kept it off a little, and about the same time it began to creep back on I was diagnosed with a tumor in my stomach lining – call it serendipity or what you will…I had to have a lot of my tummy removed anyway, I had lost weight I did not want to put back on, and long story short: “last diet” 1/2011, diagnosed w/tumor 10/2011, sleeved 1/4/2012.
I was self-pay more than insurance covered anything, because the insurance argued I could get the tumor removed endoscopically, grrrr…but oh well and bills, bills, bills later (paid but disputing a balance w/ with my insurance) sleeved…and I would pay so much more, in hindsight.
It has been a crazy journey, so many NSV, so much rediscovering myself….I am nowhere near done. Support from this group has been so important…
I am back into everything I missed, trying new things, and there is something about this – doing this now – it is like I am discovering a whole new me. At 39 years old, I am coming “into my own” at the same time I am adapting to my new body…it blows my mind still…
Size 14 for now…will maybe try for 10, but 12 would be great. At 5’10” and built like a linebacker, rather than a ballerina it’s a good size for me.
Wish me perseverance, and strength - and the same to you all…
God Bless.
Namaste.
Always.

Nine months out, started at BMI of 39-something, almost 40. Originally set my goal at 150, then as I rapidly lost weight, felt that 150 would be just too thin and revised my goal to 160. My surgeon's office agreed with 160 as a good goal for me.
Yesterday I had my nine month checkup, and I weighed 166 on my home scale in jammies, 165 on the office scale fully clothed. I am really happy with my current weight. I do have loose skin and a small belly pooch because of it. If I had a Tummy Tuck, I am certain I would be at 160, but I'm not sure yet if I will take that step. If I do, it will be in a year or so.
Meanwhile, I think I have lost to the point I want to be! I fear that instead of my pooch getting smaller, my legs will just get skinnier and my butt will just get flatter! Husband and friends agree, as did the physician's assistant yesterday, it's time to stop losing! I go in Thursday morning for a Base Metabolic Rate to determine how many calories needed per day to maintain current weight.
Wow! It has really been a quick and easy journey! I have been so blessed to have sailed through the surgery, to never have hit a stall, to be able to eat almost anything I want and in portions larger than most can eat. I still truly love to cook and serve food, and I still truly enjoy food!
Life is just too good! Santa came to see me too! First time in a long time that I don't outweigh Santa!!

I had nearly 80 to lose when I started... and I'm hypothyroid so it felt unattainable considering that I NEVER lose consistently and I ALWAYS lose SLOW! But here I am... Two months out... 37 pounds down and happier with this decision than anything I've ever done since finishing college! I just wanted to come on and share my progress pics since today is my surgiversary! Here you go and if my undies offend you I'm sorry... they just show progress very well . Top row pics were taken the night before surgery - bottom row were an hour ago.  

Hi all!
Just wanted to share with ya'll an update on me. I'm currently 10 months out and my only regret is not having done this years ago!! I feel so great about my progress and am just about 35 lbs from my goal. I have pretty much stuck to the program, I am not as good about taking Vitamins as I should be, but I know it. However, labs at 9 months were great! So I guess I can't be too hard on myself. I'll go ahead and post before and afters so you can see where I came from and where I am now. Please don't hesitate to ask questions, this site was so helpful to me at the beginning...
HW: 368 lbs 2/20/12
CW: 215 lbs 12/18/12
Goal: 180 lbs

No, it has nothing to do with my weight. I'm private about my marriage, my job, my financial status, my children, etc - none of which are related to my weight. I've been this way at almost 300lbs and at 160lbs. Why is it that because I'm different than you, then there must be a reason and hopefully I can get past it so I can be more like you?
You may think I get uncomfortable easily. You're entitled to that opinion, but I am happy where I am. I like keeping my private life private. Why is that a negative thing?
I'm not saying it's wrong to shout it from the rooftops if you're so inclined. Why is it wrong to not want to share?

I hear a lot of chatter about "honesty" and "lying", etc. If someone asks me a personal health question, I am under no obligation to answer it. I'm not sure why it's even socially acceptable to pry into someone's personal medical situation. Weight loss is a medical situation - whether it be by surgery, medication, doctor supervised diet, or any other method. What if the person had cancer or some sort of serious medical condition they did not want to share, and that's why they've lost weight? Are they too obligated to go into their diagnosis and explain that's why they've lost weight, because "honesty is the best policy" and we don't want a "web of lies"? No. No. No.
I wouldn't ask how someone's boobs got bigger and expect they tell me they had augmentation. I wouldn't ask someone why they look 10 years younger and obligate them to tell me they had a face lift.
I put it in the same category as people who ask a newly pregnant woman if the baby was planned. Not an acceptable question, yet somehow is still asked regularly by many.
We live in a society of over sharers. I'm horrified with the things people share on Facebook and even face to face. It's created this expectation that all people are ok with leaving their personal life as an open book. There are still many of us that are private about our private lives. I don't appreciate the insinuation that because I don't want to share the intimate details of my internal organs that somehow I'm a liar or ashamed of my choice. Not the case at all. I just don't feel like other people need to know MY medical history.
Comments on weight loss should start and end with...."You look great!" That is an acknowledgment of the loss and leaves the window open for the person to go into how they lost it - should they want to. Not every person is an open book and it is never appropriate to put a more private person on the spot. Better to be safe than sorry.

I had my surgery early November. I told my friends an family. One of my friend stop talking to me. But I dnt give a shift! Being depressed is nt a good thing! I worked hard at pre op and self pay through the father up above. So am gonna flaunt every pound of it. Cause this is the newme@32!!!

I am only a month out, but I am thinking of my new relationship with food sort of like breaking up with a bad boyfriend. We had our good times, but "he" hurt me and was not good for me, so I am moving on. The new relationship with food I am now experiencing is so strange to me. I am not hungry at all, but sometimes wish that I was hungry. I do miss the pleasure that food used to bring to me, because now it does not really bring me pleasure. I just eat because I know I need to. Very strange feeling. As I am beginning to lose weight (21 pounds so far), I am beginning to see my mourning for food as a trade off for the weight loss. I believe as I lose more and more I will care less and less about the feeling that food used to bring me. It's really hard to explain. Even though I am experiencing this mourning for food right now, I still have NO regrets. Every time I am able to take a good, deep breath (which I could not a month ago) I am thankful for my decision.

I am just over 3 months out. I see the foods that I love and am completely satisfied after taking just 1 bite! I never believed this would happen for me.
Last night a friend (who was sleeved on Oct 30) and I went to the support group meeting. It is about 1 1/2 hrs away so we went out to dinner afterwards. We ordered the shrimp appetizer. It had 8 medium sized shrimp. We each ate only 4 and were stuffed. As we saw plates going by with mountains of food we both commented on what an incredilble amount of food it was and it was hard to believe we ever ate that much!
My problem has always been Portion Control and the sleeve has absoultely solved that problem for me. This is the best decision I have ever made!
Keep a positive attitude and just follow the directions of the bariatric team. I have never thrown up or felt sick. It has been so good for me. I am so happy and wish I would have done it long ago!
Good luck to you.

At over three years out, I can honestly say I have not once regretted this surgery. I feel better, I look better, I am healthier and my confidence has improved ten fold. What was important for me was to really change my mindset. I was very much a volume eater. Sure, there were and still are times when I turn to food in response to stress, depression, etc. But, in being honest with you and myself, my main problem was I just love food, especially the yummy tasting, not so good for me foods. So, I have had to retrain myself. I have had to work on tracking every bite I put in my mouth. I love my sleeve because with it I can eat anything I want. However, I don't allow myself those special "wants" until I have eaten a healthy amount of Protein, dairy, fruits and vegetables for the day. And when I am eating something I especially love, and feel a bit jealous because others are able to eat more, or upset because I want to eat more even though I know it will make me miserable, I just have to remind myself that it's okay, I had some, I enjoyed it and now I can stop because I know I will be able to enjoy this food again another day. I don't have to binge on it, because it isn't like this is the last time this food will ever be available to me.
In the first six months to a year, aka "the honeymoon phase" I really had no interest in food. I never thought that would be possible, but it does really happen. There were times I actually forgot to eat! Holy moly, me, forget to eat? No way! But, I did. Food no longer held the same power over me. Now, at my present stage, I can honestly say I still don't experience what I believe to be real hunger, just the old demon of head hunger. I think I want something, even though I'm not hungry. When that happens, I drink a glass of Water or eat a piece of fruit and that usually satisfies me.
So, yes, no regrets and my sleeve is till working for me at over three years out and I happily and confidently recommend it to anyone considering weight loss surgery.
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17+ months out here. This is a common question. How do you fundamentally change your relationship with food just by having a surgery? Yes, you can limit your intake, but it takes awhile for the mind to catch up. Yes, there is some mourning which occurs after awhile, but then you see the scale move and the pants slip off your hips and things begin to just get better.
There is a change, for sure, but for me, I wanted a change. Needed a change, so I was ready for it. I don't regret my decision in the least. It was exactly what I needed because I, too, loved to eat large quantities and snack constantly. I love the feeling of being full and that feeling is still satisfied with the sleeve. It just occurs much quicker than it did before. I can eat whatever I want. Last weekend I went out with the wife and had lobster tail, asparagus and scalloped potatoes. Very limited quantity, but I was completely sated. It was great. Had more for lunch the next day.
When I am out with friends or co-workers, I ask for a to-go container when I order. As soon as my meal arrives, I quickly toss in no less than two thirds of the portion and spread the remaining around my plate. I gingerly eat my meal and nobody notices a thing. It has never been a problem.
I no longer crave food and snacking is not a part of my life anymore. I know ... sounds crazy, but it is true. I eat to live, not live to eat.

I did feel an immense sadness in the weeks immediately following surgery. My mind felt on fire with thoughts of wanting to eat. I also ate mostly for comfort and it took me many weeks to adjust psychologically to the fact that it is not physically possible to fill my emotional needs with food now. I did try several times to over eat with the same result, vomiting!!! I can't tell you for sure when the head hunger eased for me but I am 9 months out today and I have a totally different relationship with food. I would totally do this again. The weight loss is awesome but for me the ability to have food be in its proper place in relation to everything else the world has to offer is priceless.

I am 8.5 months out. I am down 113lbs and would have surgery again in a heartbeat. But no i didn't wake up from surgery feeling like a different person. I still love food, but I am happier and satisified with a lot less. When I am out and watch others eat I can't believe I used to eat that much an more. I think the way I eat now is more normal than the way I ate before.

Run a marathon
Take my kids to Disneyland
Start looking at myself in the mirror again..full body
Shop, shop, shop
Rock my DH world by trying many new positions

YES, YES, and YES! Your question is very valid and very important. I've had my sleeve since July and I'm still adjusting to a lifestyle that is different than any other I've had before. I have envied others at the table who are eating everything they ordered. Although no one has commented on my eating habits being odd. They envy what they thought was my self-control. I have been disappointed after preparing a wonderful, albeit small, meal and only being able to eat a few bites. When I'm stressed, I miss the relief and comfort I got from food. But since my pre-op diet in May, surgery in July, I've lost 80 pounds. I exercise and eat properly and I've never been happier. THIS is why I had the surgery. We never get it all, do we? And we tend to mourn lost relationships, even ones not good for us. So it's a matter of priorites and this is what I wanted more than the relationship with food. My only regret is not having done it years ago.
Good luck to you and welcome to the forum.

I'm going to Disney World!! LOL seriously, I want to take my children. I was so ashamed of planning a trip like that and not being able to enjoy myself on the rides or something as simple as walking through the park(which is several acres big) would have been too much for me, not any more. Also a Disney cruise, before I would look at the pictures of the boat and get teary, thinking will I be comfortable in a stateroom that small? NOT any more! I have so much more energy now, I will teach my girls to rollerblade/rollerskate, jump rope, hula hoop, dive of a diving board, all things I used to do before I packed on so much weight, I've lost some weight so far and I'm finally starting to feel like me again. One last thing is to wear all of the heels in my closet

i've had a running list of things that i've been keeping for YEARS that i swore to myself i would do again once i lost my weight. well, surgery is within the next 4-5 months and my list is out...
When I lose my weight I'm going to:
-start running again, and eventually run my FIRST marathon!!
-get all my size 10/12 clothes out that i have in bins in my basement and wear them again
-run around with my kids and NOT get short of breath or dizzy
-be able to get ALL my work done everyday at work without leaving exhausted!
-try some of the super short hair cuts i LOVE but would look ridiulous with right now
-wear a pair of jeans with my cowgirl boots TUCKED in!!!! first time EVER
- shop at Lerner New York again (it's been so long i think they have a different name now)
-buy some super cute dresses and start being feminine again
- stay up late with the hubs on friday nights watching movies like we used to years ago (i'm too tired now)
wow...so many more things i can't wait...how about YOU??