free4life

I just jumped on here today and found the Mexico and Self pay forum. So, I saw your post and wanted to chime in some recommendations to help you break your stall. I also think your body may be just "resting" after the extreme loss you've had your first 3 months. However, I'm going to give you some tips that I have learned and am trying to instill in my wls journey for the long term journey, and when you reach your goal and want to maintain that weight.
1. Log your food, every morsel/drink you are putting in your body on an app like my fitness pal. You are only a few months out but this is going to help you in the journey.
2. Be sure you are getting enough Water in.
3. Eat your lean Protein first, then the others.
4. Find a good support group, not just online but a hospital group or outside face to face group who will help you be accountable and encourage you.
5. Add Fiber to your diet instead of using laxatives. Now, if your doctor wants you on consistent laxatives this is something to discuss with him/her. I'm not a doctor, but I do think that eating higher Fiber foods, adding fiber, etc. could get you back on track.
6. Don't just get stuck on the number on the scale. Are your clothes continuing to get bigger? Are you feeling good? Your body may be playing "catch up". If you are doing everything according to the doctor's instructions (bariatric rules) then you will continue to lose.
Finally, you have done AWESOME!! Remember even at goal, this is a lifelong journey, so if you haven't gotten into a local support group or learning the behavioral aspects of overeating/overweight, I encourage you to look into this. It will definitely be worth it.

Welcome! I might argue that 100 in 3 months is incredibly fast... maybe your body needs a little break?

Haven't checked in for awhile, but I have posted pictures now of comparing before I had lap band, then before the sleeve and now my progress, along with my hubby's. He had about 20-30 to lose and did so with a special plan and exercise. He's almost to goal and I would like to lose about 30 more and then reassess.http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/gallery/image/19581-comparison-photos/ Not sure how to post pics but I think that link will take you to our progress pics! Have a great day everyone! Feeling good and know that I am BLESSED!

Dallas Area 2nd Informal Support Group Meeting!!!
Last month's luncheon meeting worked out so well, we're going to do it again, on Saturday March 23rd at 12:30 at Season's 52 in Plano at the Shoppes at Legacy!R
RSVPing is very important as I gave them a number last month that was larger than the number of people that showed up. If you RSVP and later find out that you can't make it, please let me know.
If you'd like to come or can't come and want to recieve emails about future meetings, please email me at kev.lev@tx.rr.com. Include your name, when you had your surgery or if you're pre-op, and how many will be coming.
Look forward to seeing all those who were there last month and some new faces this month!

19 pounds away from ONEderland! I feel like the little engine that could. I haven't been under 200 pounds in 7 years!

It is our own personal journey. I had to say that to myself over and over again. For those of you who are losing at a slower rate, you are still losing! That is a good thing. I am losing average according to my physician. On this sit,e I am losing slowly compared to others. However, as I said before, it is our own personal journey. Here is a before picture and then after picture.
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Looks like everyone is doing well on this thread! Congratulations! And for the "slower" losers (which I'm included), we are still LOSERS which make us WINNERS! I am down 39 lbs. as of today (I did weigh even though my weigh in day is Saturdays)! Last night I wore a pair of jeans that I haven't worn since about 2008/2009. I am getting close to my lowest weight (when I had the lap band) and closer to my goal, which I will attain by the one year anniversary of the revision to the sleeve! I have 46 lbs. to go to my goal. I am short so according to BMI charts that will still be "overweight" for me, however, I will determine at that time, if I need to continue losing or if the weight continues to come off.
I went and had blood work done and a saliva test for hormone deficiencies and my blood work was really good. She just told me to up my D3 some (which also helps with weightloss) and to be sure I'm getting enough Protein as I was on the lower end. I am also using a progesterone cream as I was deficient in that area. I usually get at least 60 but I think 70-80 is preferable for me. Don't want to lose muscle but lose fat!!!! I'm also excited about my A13 number. Two years ago it was at 6.8, then went down to 6.3 with the hcg diet. It is now 5.3! She would like to see it go down more and I know it will with the continued lifestyle eating and exercising that I've been doing. I walk, swim a couple times a week, doing 30 minutes of laps and then exercises in Water, go to gym at least once a week and will be upping that to 3x a week. I work out with a trainer. I have just over 6.5 pounds to get to onederland again and at that time, will have him measure me again! I will then report on my total inches!
All in all, I am very happy with my results thus far! This is my journey and I'm enjoying it, too. I still go out to eat, eat things I like, and don't feel like I'm "missing out". Just don't eat the amounts of ice cream and chocolate like I used to, but occasionally have some. Learning to eat for fuel and enjoy it, too, instead of eating because I'm emotional, bored, etc. Just thought I would check in with all my November sleeve friends!

I upped my Protein this week, and am now over half way to my goal!! 48.5 pounds!! Will be making my massage appointment as that is my treat when I reach 50 pounds lost! Woot! !!Woot!!!

I'm losing slow too. But I started with a trainer 6 weeks ago. Have not any weight in the last six months, but I think I lost inches. I have been extremely hungry ths week. Maybe not hungry...just want to eat. It's slow but I'm happy and feeling really Good. Everyone is doing great. Keep up the fantastic work!

Be positive Miss gigi2195 remember everyone loses weight differently and they say that the smaller you are the slower you lose!! Your doing GREAT!! Be positive you will make your goal!!!

-2 pounds!!!!!
Oh my god I have been stuck at 194 for weeks !!!! 192 today!!
I guess those couple of potato chips that accidentally found their way into my mouth on Super Bowl where ok.....
What??? Don't judge, I thought they were
jicama sticks!
Oh, I gotta go change my ticker !!

Well, I am right there with you, but I recognize that those who are younger, have more to lose, or overall have a faster metabolism will lose faster. I am also enjoying all foods, in smaller quantities of course, knowing that I am going to reach my goal and although it may take me longer, the choices I am making are forever. I am steering away from flour and sugar, bu this does not mean I never have a bite of these. I just know that sugar and processed stuff is unhealthy. This is a lifestyle choice and I'm learning to cook according to this lifestyle. The fact is that we are losing and getting closer to our goal. Be sure you are evaluating what type of calories you are taking in. Keep your Protein to at least 60 grams, and always drink your Water. I now weight 1-2x a week and not daily as the weightloss does not always show up daily for me now. Reward yourself for the loss so far by getting a new top, some new make up, a pedicure, or something that is a "treat" for you. (not food). Also, have you been measuring? Look at how much you are shrinking, too. For a couple weeks 2 different times since November, I stalled, but I was still shrinking in size. CONGRATULATIONS on your loss thus far and hang in there and it will continue to show on the scale! Stick with me and we may get there at a slower pace, but we are going to ARRIVE at our goal weight if we keep working with the sleeve! Keep moving, too, and get exercise, whatever that looks like for you!! The sleeve is a tool and the choices in which we fuel our bodies are up to us!!

Greeting everyone. I'm feeling great & I have been getting back to a normal life finally. Today I step on The scale after a week in I'm down again. YESSS. As of right now from my date of surgery 11/7 to now I am 92lb down.

I sent you a private message. You may want to do what I'm doing and start weighing once a week. As long as you are going down, don't worry about how fast you are losing. However, you may want to try and get in more protein and definitely more Water. I am drinking at least 8 glasses a day (64 oz) between my meals. I don't drink with my meals (same as band), but I do start my day with drinking a large cup (3 or 4 glasses) before I eat Breakfast. I take my prilosec (doctor gave me enough for 2x a day for 60 days, but I've missed some at night). This ensures me getting in water before noon. I then have the rest of the day to get in the rest. I always have a water bottle with me in the car wherever I go. I work with patients in Physical Therapy so no time to drink that much at work, but I do keep a bottle of water handy, so I can go over and take a sip when my patients want me to get water for them. I was trying to drink this much water before I had surgery, because I notice a difference in my energy level, my skin, and just overall body functions.
I also did not have to do a strict liquid only pre-op. My doctor wanted me to do low carb, high protein and I did that loosely, so I was only down about 1.5 lbs. before my surgery. I feel healthy and I'm losing all over. I've lost pounds but I definitely have shrunk in inches. I didn't measure (dumb me) but my trainer measured me, so I will have measurements now. Again, I decided to free myself from the scale and only do a 1x a week weigh in. I also am not competing against others but concentrating on the lifestyle change and plugging away. The biggest competitor I have is my own former bad habits, emotional eating, etc. These are the things that I need to leave behind!!
Well, keep on plugging away and we WILL reach our goal!!!

Thank you! After reading other people's post I realize that any amount of weight loss is amazing. We have all made decisions to permanently change our lives and it's great that no matter the amount of weight that we have lost up until this point we are all making positive healthy decisions about what we are putting into our bodies. We were not doing this 6 months ago!

Hello everyone , just checking in ... it's been awhile for me. Had a slight complication with nausea and vomiting , but things are on the mend now. Day of pre op 248.8
Day of surgery 241.8
CW 212.6
Total loss 36.2 lbs gone forever woot woot !'! It's coming off slowly but hey it's coming off and that's what counts.... less loose skin is the way I look at it. Finally cleared to up my exercise .... so look out 2013 , Here I come !!
Sent from my DROID4 using VST

Hello all! I was sleeved 11/15 and starting weight was 298. Today my scale read 253! 45 lbs gone FOREVER!! I hit a stall at week 4 and it lasted about 2 weeks, but scale is moving again. Down 2 sizes as well. I am so glad that this thread exist. It keeps me motivated and makes me not feel so alone in this journey. I cannot wait to see how we've all done this time next year!

I was sleeved nov5th;)
Day of surgery 240
January2013...204
Total loss of 36 lbs
Onederland is so close! I've been here for a couple weeks so I'm dying for a big loss

I was sleeved on 11-27, I was 265 the day of surgery and weighed in at 213 this morning!! Woot woot!!

I am stalled but we are traveling and eating out so am proud of myself!!!

Freja, don't be discouraged we all loose differently and don't cheat yourself of a great resource, this site. This site has be a wealth of knowledge for me. I've learned a lot to add to what I already knew.
Are you taking any medications still? I found that my meds are hindering my weight loss. So I know how it feels and what can do to your feelings & mind to see others going through the same thing at the same time and lose double, triple & quadruple the amount of weight! I had to tell myself that this was not a raise. I did this for my health more so than pounds lost. It will not hurt me if it takes me 12 months to get to goal just as long as I get to goal eventually. Keep in mind your genetic profile plans a big part in how your body responds. I will say don't get caught up in the pounds.Measure yourself weekly as I do you will see great change. And be rewarded with a week or two worth of NSVs from the tape measure, yourself & whomever you may have to help measure you...my husband gives the best NSVs! He cheered me up & cheers me on when I was feeling like you breifly. I have been stalled for 4 weeks, scales say not much has changed but the measuring tape says much has! So embrace this moment learn & grow from it. Plus, I'm sure it has been said but keep in mind the bigger a person is the more they will lose fast. And a plus for you to think about and this excites me...slower you lose the better it is for your skin to recover! Less need for plastics....all for that! Stay positive, keep reading because you are not alone sister. And guess what I am a December sleever, we are all in this together! Stay up beat...lol I ain't hard to find I'm always posting something....do some reflecting so you can see the bigger picture. Best of luck. Many blessings. This is a new year, time for new thinking and a new you! Shape up girl & get with the program!
XOXO
~CJ

Thanks for all the great posts. I am dealing with a slow loss as well. sleeved 11/15 and only down 28lbs. Really thought it would go faster. I am so glad to read I am not alone. But I will be a cheerleader for those who are going faster!!!! Went to see my Dr today. He was satisfied with the loss and told me any loss over the holiday has to be a plus. And he is right. Keep it up everyone!!

Happy for you, but I'd also like to slap you!!! LOL!!! (You men)