MichiganChic

When I was about 2-3 weeks out, I wouldn't say regretted it (that's not in my nature) but I really did wonder if I made a mistake sometimes. I was worn out and just felt lack-luster for about 6-7 weeks. I remember a time when eating was such a chore, it wasn't worth the effort. The longer time went on, the better it got. Now at 2 years out, I have no regrets at all. It a lot to adjust to, and we all have to figure out how to do that in order to succeed. You should do a search on this topic. It comes up more often than you'd think, and people get pretty passionate about it for some reason. There are a few people who never make peace with it, but I think most do. I hope you can! For me, the outcome was well worth the difficult early days....and even the difficult days you have when you are further out and can eat more than you want to be able to.

@@windycitymom Your stats look great, congrats. I often think that if I worked from home I'd be 300 pounds again. Having easy access to food all day would be too great a challenge for me, I fear. It's one of the reason I struggle on weekends. I agree that moving your office should help. I also tend to eat when I'm tired. It's like a switch that goes on at 9 pm. I'll get a sudden urge to eat and then realize it's about 9. I always say nothing good happens after 9 pm, lol! I seriously go to bed every day right around then. It makes me a little sad to know that after 2 years and massive weight loss, I still struggle like that. Still lose control sometimes - and I absolutely pay the price on the scale when I do. I had hoped that by now, new, better habits would be stronger than the old, bad ones. Anyway, I had a bit of a rough weekend, and both days I came in between 1500-2000 calories. I'm paying, because I'm up 3 pounds. I was going to fast yesterday, but didn't make it - came in at 850. So, that's more in line with a normal day in weight loss mode, so I'll try to hit 500 today. I'm just pissed at myself because while I didn't go crazy, it doesn't take long to hit 1500 calories, and I know what will happen when I do. OK, I'm going to shut up and move on. I know what to do. Hope everyone else is doing better than me!

You look great. I had lower body lift and brachioplasty in August and was off about 3 weeks. I have a desk job, but I am a nurse, too. If I had a traditional floor position I think 6 weeks would have been needed. I just had a leg lift and breast lift/augmentation 5 weeks ago. I went back at about 3 weeks, but I'm still uncomfortable lifting. It feels strange to lift, push down or apply pressure when opening jars, and I can just now comfortably bend over and pick things up from the floor. I would suggest plan for 6 weeks and you can always go back early if you're up to it.

@@MiTurner247 I am also 5'4", and can't seem to get below 160. My body likes to hang at 165, and I have to fight to get below it. I've been at this weight for a year. I've tried eating less, exercising, but so far this seems to be where I'm stuck. I try not to just think about that elusive number on the scale, but it's hard not to! I do think that if I would stay below 900 calories indefinitely and exercise daily it would probably go lower...but life gets in the way. I think you look great, and from that picture, you don't look overweight at all! I go round and round with myself (and I'm sorry, but I subject my family and BP friends to the crazy loop playing in my head). Right now I'm trying the 5:2 to see if that will make a difference. If not....I am going to try to be happy where I am and work to become stronger and more fit, and focus on mainlining the loss. We know how easy it would be to go back up! Congratulations on your success!

Congratulations! So happy your recovery hasn't been too difficult. I know what mean about being boxy. I was pretty concerned right after surgery. Before, I had a small waist and was pretty flat from the side view, especially above the waist. For the first couple of weeks I was also boxy and looked like a barrel. It's been 5 months now, and that's subsided. I was much better after a month, but the rest of the improvement has been gradual. The skin removal improvement was immediate, but the shape was more gradual. For the most part, I was given my pre-obese shape back. My clothes are looser, but I still haven't bought anything new. I had a second round of plastics December 12, (thigh lift and breast lift/augmentation) and so now all that swelling has returned, so I am waiting for that to subside. I think things continue to shift and improve for up to a couple of years.

1. I would absolutely do this again. I'm two years out and could have never lost and kept this weight off. 2. I was surprised at how difficult the recovery was for me. I had a mild post op infection and I never got a quick increase in energy. It was very gradual and took months. The most shocking thing for me was how little I need to eat to lose and maintain my weight loss. I need less than 900 to lose. I was also pleasantly surprised that the sleeve makes that possible with a reasonable amount of effort.

I refuse to eat anything I don't like. I eat full fat cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, butter, and salad dressing, if I'm going to have it. I don't eat all of those things all the time, and when I do, it's a small, measured amount. I work it into my calories for the day. I rarely drink milk, but if I do, it's whole milk. I don't eat much bread, rice, or Pasta, but I do on occasion. I also take advantage of some "diet" foods like Quest bars. One fat free thing I do eat is Fage 0 fat greek yogurt - because I like it.

I have weighed every day since surgery. I don't flip out if it's up a pound or two, but I do cut back. I track and trend it weekly. Now that I'm maintaining, I take an average monthly.

Yes....there is nothing like knowing you can shop anywhere BUT stores that cater to 14+ sizes. I still remember my first purchase. Way too big now, but such a sense of freedom and success! Honestly, it's one of the major things that motivate me now. I used to send my thin young daughter into those stores in the mall to check the sizes to see if they went up to a 14 when I was losing. I felt like I was a fraud trying to shop there, and didn't want to go in only to discover nothing would fit. And here's another thing - once you get to goal, you can amass a wardrobe in one size and wear till worn out or out of style. You don't have to keep shopping because you need the next size up! It can be economical to be thin....or not, because shopping is so fun!

I think that's pretty common. The closer to goal, the harder it is to lose. I've been struggling with the last 10 pounds for a year. My dietician says that most people end up in the 26-27 range, and they think that is quite successful. I'm 52, so a BMI of 27 is actually considered normal for my age by some calculators. But it is frustrating, I'd like to see a BMI of 25 just to see how it looks and feels, even though even if I never lose another pound, I'm definitely way better off. I'm normal and probably smaller than most of the female population my age.

I just started using NewGel+E recently. Too soon to know if it is going to work. I have lots of scars from LBL, thigh and arm lifts.

My family was worried and thought I looked good like I was. I did it anyway and they were supportive, but my parents have forbidden any more surgery. I'm 52, lol.

This is a major surgery, and I think there is more to consider than just commitment. I think it's a matter of risk vs. benefit, and what your risk tolerance is. The risks associated with surgery are low, but if you have a complication, it can be life threatening or disabling permanently. You might want to review the complications thread and think if the risk is worth the benefit to you. I see you are trying again to do it on your own and your BMI has already dropped, so good for you. It's hard with or without surgery. Statistically, a 10% drop in weight gives you many health benefits. Good luck, whatever you decide!

6 weeks for me.

@@VSG AJH yay for you! So glad you dropped some. Georgia and CGJ, It is edema, and I do know that, but I was feeling sorry for myself this morning, lol. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to stick with it. I am secretly hoping I'm losing fat under the swelling, and some day that will go away and I'll wake up at goal!! It's just like the old days when I was fat and wished every day that it was just a bad dream and wanted to wake up thin, lol. Honestly, weekends are such a struggle for me. I look forward to them and being away from work, but I dread them a little because there is ample access to too much food, and the wrong things. Always somewhere to go, something to do, people coming over, doing nothing so thinking about food....the list is endless why I have a hard time keeping my intake under control. Does anyone have this problem? How do you deal with it? It was ok when I was recovering from surgeries and maintaining, but now I'm feeling like I really want to get goal so I have to be strict.

I had a lot of weight to lose, and I had clothes in many sizes. So at first, for probably the first 60-70 pounds, I had things I could wear. As all of it got to be too big, I watched for sales and bought super inexpensive but high quality items. I was lucky and needed things as they had big winter sales. Seriously, like $10 for shirts and pants. I found that I could find lots of things in the "normal" people sized in XL like that. So I bought things a little snug, and wore them until they were a little big. I don't look good in dresses so that was not an option for me. I always made sure I had enough outfits for a 5 day work week, and one decent pair of jeans, and a couple tops. I honestly didn't spend much even though I shopped perpetually. I never had much in the closet, but I did have enough to get by on and feel good wearing.

Premier protein RTD shakes Quest bars Quest chips Vitafusion Bariatric advantage Wonder slim

@@Queen of Crop great job! I agree it is such a good feeling to be able to do and succeed at it! Funny how people survive just fine without all the junk food and packaged/prepared food we have at our disposal here. I try to avoid a lot of it, but it does work its way in here. I've had a stellar week. Came in right around 500 calories both fast days, and right around 1000 on the feast days. I GAINED 1.5 since last Friday. Sigh. I was surprised because my clothes are looser and I look like my abdomen is about 6 inches thick from a side view. My arms feel tight though, and I know my legs are still swollen, but I really did expect to drop a little. Now I'm remembering why I weigh this much.....because it won't come off! I think the 1000 calories must be the culprit. I have said over and over that I have to go below 900 to lose. I guess I thought the 500 calorie days and intermittent fasting would help, but maybe not. I can't exercise yet either, so that doesn't help either. Maybe I need a 4:3 plan lol! I'm hoping you are all doing well and have better results than me!

Congratulations on your personal revelation. I'm sure you'll get to where you want to be. Isn't it surprising when the light bulb goes on and we are able to connect the dots to really understand what we really knew along?

How many calories are you eating? Are you weighing and measuring your food?

I would be interested. I would look at a variety of products, including vitamins, food products, and protein drinks and foods. I am not interested in auto ship, probably.

@@VSG AJH I know what you mean - my reality wasn't what I wanted to hear either. It really brings the words "it's a tool" (in reference to our sleeves) into crystal clear focus. No magic going on here, just hard work. But so worth it to me! However, at least the work pays off, now. This is WAY easier that with no sleeve. Also, as @@CowgirlJane mentioned, no shaking from hunger. I had that my whole life and I LOVE that it's gone. I pray it never comes back. So my weight is sort hanging where it's been since last summer. I got lots of the bloat off, but still have lots of Fluid in my legs and a little in my back. Low calorie and low carb is really helping to keep fluid retention down. I look thinner through the torso than I ever have, so I guess I'm losing some of the swelling from my August surgery. That didn't take long at all, lol. Who knows, maybe I'm actually 15 pounds lighter without the Water weight??? JK, but it does kind of drive me crazy. So I came in under 1000 calories yesterday, and it was more difficult than usual. It's been very stressful at work, and I'm a stress eater! I can't believe that after all this time, it's my first response to think to eat. While I didn't give in, I was a little shocked about how much that felt like real, physical hunger. Today is a fast day. Wish me luck - I have a stressful job and there is no reason to think today will be any easier. I'll let you know how it goes. Keep up the good work, ladies. I love to come to this thread and see how you are all doing! You help keep me motivated.

I love my Vitamix! I have the professional one, too. Makes soups and smoothies and nut butters and on and on. However, it's a lot of money if you don't cook a lot or want to make things like that.

@@feedyoureye you said it. We can never let up.

@@VSG AJH I am one who has to eat 900 calories to lose. It's pretty absurd, but it's true. It was quite a revelation when I discovered that. I did eat too much to get so obese, but that sure explains why diets never worked. It also explains how I was able manage my weight in high school and college - I hardly ate! I don't buy into the starvation mode theory. I ate 800-900 calories the first year and lost most of my weight during that time. I started maintaining at 1000-1100. So, I am hoping to get off a few more pounds quickly with 5:2, utilizing around 900 calories on "feast" days. Not much of a feast, lol. I think you already know you are not losing on 1200. Many programs keep their patients on 800 calories, so maybe you want to try? I quickly realized Im not one those people who can listen to their body,either. My body is useless in telling me to stop eating. I've made peace with it. For now, I like being thin better than I dislike calorie counting. Once in a while I get tired and take a break. It's my new way of life.