SerendipityHappens

I'm not sleeved yet, but yes, I've lost my period in the past due to VLCDs and lots of exercise. I had always thought that it was just low bodyfat% that can trigger absence of periods and surely that wasn't a problem for me with my BMI of 50ish!!! When I talked to my doctor about it he said that it was not unusual cease menstruation on a VLCD.

Oh wow, your problem is the whole reason I am considering this surgery in the first place. I have made many pushes to lose weight and have been somewhat successful in the past, but only on a VLCD. When I count up my calories consumed vs calories burned, I always show a HUGE deficit on paper that should translate into huge pounds lost, but it actually winds up just being ounces lost :-( I made one more push last year to lose. I bought a body bug, I counted every calorie and logged it faithfully and I lost far FAR less than expected. I finally just resigned myself to the fact that my body simply does not REQUIRE all the calories that people are telling me it does! I've been doing some research on metabolism, and did you know that some people actually try to lower their metabolism in order to have longer life? Yeah, it's true. apparently, if you are able to lower your metabolism and only eat what that metabolism requires and manage to avoid obesity, you can add years to your life. So now I'm embracing my slow metabolism as a good thing. I'm done with trying to raise it, I just need to learn to feed it properly for ME and if that means 600 calories a day to lose and 1000 calories a day to maintain then THANK GOD for the sleeve... because I think it will be pretty hard for me to do this... but without the sleeve it would be impossible.

What is the cost with Dr Kelly? Also is it all inclusive or do you need to book your own hotel/ground transportation? Anyone have the number to his TC? His website is having issues and is listed as an attack site so I can't get the info from there. THANKS!

WOW! When you are starting in the 300's, ONEderland seems like a million miles away but you made it in just 8 months?!? Amazing. It's hard to believe that I could be joining you before the end of 2013. (especially if I meet my preop goal of 299.) Thanks for the inspiration!

Some people have lipoedema. google it to see some severe cases. If you have lipoedema, you'll lose some weight off your legs, but you may never have "normal"legs. My sisters and I all have it. One sister is 158 pounds and a size small on top and a size 14 pants. Even my youngest sister who weighs just 120 pounds has fat legs. She was a competitive wrestler in high school and wrestled at 112.... her top was a 00 with every rib showing and her bottom half was a 4... yeah, I know a four is not exactly HUGE, but when you're top is a 00 and you weigh 112 pounds, a four is big. People would sometimes call her Nani because she was built like Nani from Lilo and stitch.

Thanks everyone... I have a feeling that I may have some painful lessons coming my way.

I am looking forward to surgery in April! I'm super excited but also a bit worried because I take HUGE bites, eat fast and hardly chew. I try to change this behavior but I always go back to the huge bites and barely chew it.. even when I'm telling myself to CHEW, my body is just swallowing it. Has anyone been able to overcome this behavior with the help of the sleeve?

I am 5'5" and 330. Highest weight was 360, but that was several years ago and I've been bouncing between 315 and 340 for the past several years. I am hoping to have surgery the first week in April and I want to be under 300 pounds by then... even if it's 299! In Lane Bryant sizes I wear a size 24 or 26 top and 28 bottom as long as it is "generous" through the legs. I'm definitely a "pear"

YES of course you can! The reverse is also true in that you can exercise a lot and not lose any weight. Weight loss is MUCH more tied to diet than it is to exercise. Of course exercise is essential for optimal health so we all should be doing it regardless of if it helps us attain our weight goals.