Slim2013

God you too? 5 1/2 months out - bout to start the 4th week stalled.. 50lbs to go

Nope. I'm done with diets. I know the HCG diet works, but I'm done with all that. I do it with the sleeve or not at all. My body has been abused enough and this last chance at a new healthy me is it.
I'm about 10lbs from a healthy goal and I'm in no hurry and I don't care about stalls because weightloss is going to happen as long I live the way I'm supposed to. It's a personal self contract I've made.

A friend of mine got banded years ago....and she wanted me to follow suit. No way would I ever have WLS, there was no reason medically, I was healthy as a horse. I did feel down after I HAD to go shopping when I HAD to have something new. I did always feel like the biggest girl in the room, I did hate to have my picture taken....but I was healthy, I had a husband who loved me big or small. No way, hell would freeze over first.
Well three years passed and my friend had lost 60 lbs and she had not died. Ok, positive things, but still.
At 2 o'clock one morning, I got up to go to the bathroom and my tummy was in my lap.....right then and there, I made the decision to do it. Yes, I think clearly and come up with great ideas in the middle of the night, some times I'm in the bathroom, sometimes I just wake up and something comes to me.
The next day, I told my husband I'd made this decision. I was firm about it, not wishy washy. He was not on board with fixing something that was not broken. I had no health issues, I wanted to have fun shopping and feel good about myself while I was younger (49 yrs) and while I was still healthy. Vanity and preventive maintenence, priorities rule!!
That was Dec 2009, my DH wanted me to do research. I did, I read every single thing I could come across. I found a support group and started attending, and so did he. This guy became my biggest cheerleader!! He attends all my group meetings, even asking questions and taking notes when need be.
I found a doctor in Texas, our 'home'. We were at that time living out of state, but I knew I wanted someone in Dallas or Houston to take care of me. I knew we would be moving back at some point. I first thought I'd get a band, but the more I read and heard, even though my friend did ok and did not die......it wasn't the best choice for me. I chose the sleeve procedure after days upon days of talking to different doctor's offices, and after obsessively reading everything I could find. I attended the seminar in Dallas in April and in June 2010, six months after that fateful 2 AM decision, I did it.
I never, ever, ever regretted it. Not one minute of buyer's remorse. I've loved every single second since I woke up in recovery!!!! It is a wild ride and the most fun I've ever had!!! Clothes started falling off me, people started to ask if I'd lost some weight, which can be uncomfortable some times. A saleswoman called me LITTLE. LoL I have bones and my mom was wrong all those years, I am NOT big boned!!! I love my collarbone!!! It's my favorite NSV to this day. I'd wake up and all of a sudden have hip bones and my shoulders feel so boney now days!!!
I finally got use to going to the Missy dept instead of the Women's. That was hard and it is STILL difficult to get a size that fits. I tend to want a size larger. It takes a long time for your head to catch up with your body!!!
I'd read on this forum somewhere that we should get a disposable camera prior to surgery. Have someone take a picture the day before or day or surgery, then once a month on the date of your surgery. I did that, and then after my 1 year anniversary.....I got it developed. Wow, those pictures laying side by side from the previous year, I saw my transformation. I highly recommend doing this!!!
I reached my doctor's goal in just under five months. My goal, five lbs less, a month later. My total loss is anywhere from 81 - 84 lbs, depending on the day. I lost 23 of those lbs prior to surgery. I have been maintaining for over 2 years now. I had a hard time stopping the weight loss....is this possible???!! Yes it is! I added calories and gained back to where I was comfortable.
Would I do it again....in a New York minute! Forced Portion Control, that is what I needed. I still make choices, but I don't feel deprived at all. I'm not hungry, my new hunger is an empty feeling, which makes making wise choices much easier.
I weigh myself every single morning, first thing. I've done this from the beginning. I log my food on line and I weigh and/or measure my food when I'm at home. This is part of my life, it's like a game. I love it, it also keeps me aware of what's going on with my body. Even if it isn't the wisest choice, I am aware of everything that goes into my mouth. No more mindless eating.
I need 1150 - 1275 calories per day to maintain. I do not exercise, not really, so I knew that I'd have to make life changes I could live with, that would allow me to accomplish what I wanted. I get anywhere from 60 - 95 grams of Protein per day, almost without fail. It's all been pretty easy for me.
I think I eat pretty much like a naturally thin person. This is my new life, it's fun. I feel good. It is possible to lose all you want, still enjoy food and maintain, but this is not a magic bullet. You can't have 85% of your stomach removed then eat chips, ice cream, drink alcohol, milkshakes and eat food from a drive through, and expect to be successful. We still have to make good decisions.
'Nuff said!!

Im 8 days post op, and Im down 14lbs. I think there are some very important facts we all need to remember. First, the scales are our enemy! Most want to weigh in daily and expect losses but as many have pointed out we are losing sizes and not always weight. Either way we are getting where we want to be. Second, we didn't put the weight on overnight, and cannot expect it to come off overnight! This is a journey (marathon) not a instant fix (sprint)! Keep the faith, stick to your plan, and stay off the scales! We all will get there, but at different paces! We just have to remember why we made this choice, stick to our decision, and WORK at it!! We all knew going in this is a TOOL to assist US not a instant cure for being fat!!

OCC is phenomenal !! Staff was great. Dr Ortiz is wonderful and cute! I was sleeves yesterday and I am now at the hotel. Everything went great. Except for the collicky pains to the drain site and the burping... All and all great experience.

OCC is phenomenal !! Staff was great. Dr Ortiz is wonderful and cute! I was sleeves yesterday and I am now at the hotel. Everything went great. Except for the collicky pains to the drain site and the burping... All and all great experience.

Good morning all. I was sleeves yesterday. I'm up as waiting for the shuttle to takes us back to the hotel. No nausea just colicky pains right where the drain sits. Other than that it was a great experience. I lost a total of 24 lbs pre op. they first have meet the nutritinis, then the cardiologist, followed by lab work and Iv, meet the surgeon, then change into gown and sexy paper underwear. Then u walk into the surgery room lie down, and in a few minutes lights out. The next thing I remember is waking up in my room, wondering if they ever operated on me. Slightly sore. My thought burned a little from the tube. All and all very good experience and excellent staff!! OCC is top notch!! Me and Dr Ortiz pre op

OCC is phenomenal !! Staff was great. Dr Ortiz is wonderful and cute! I was sleeves yesterday and I am now at the hotel. Everything went great. Except for the collicky pains to the drain site and the burping... All and all great experience.

Good morning all. I was sleeves yesterday. I'm up as waiting for the shuttle to takes us back to the hotel. No nausea just colicky pains right where the drain sits. Other than that it was a great experience. I lost a total of 24 lbs pre op. they first have meet the nutritinis, then the cardiologist, followed by lab work and Iv, meet the surgeon, then change into gown and sexy paper underwear. Then u walk into the surgery room lie down, and in a few minutes lights out. The next thing I remember is waking up in my room, wondering if they ever operated on me. Slightly sore. My thought burned a little from the tube. All and all very good experience and excellent staff!! OCC is top notch!! Me and Dr Ortiz pre op

Ok guys... I'm in my suite. I'm pre oped. I'm leaving now

good luck to all the February 19th sleevers!!!!! this time tomorrow we will be done and resting!

On my way to the airport... Tijuana here we come. Sleeve is tomorrow mourning!!! Couldn't be soon enough!! Good luck to all Sleevers this week.

It's not only the price, but it is the service, environment, and expertise. I am an Critical Care Nurse practitioner. I have been researching this for over a year. I could of done mine here in Miami for 10k, but none of the groups around me were a Center of excellence, most centers near me also performed these WLS in normal hospitals. Big turn off. Hospital acquired infection rates are at an all time high. I feel much better knowing that the center that I'm having mine done does only WLS... That's it. So no chance of a flu outbreak, catching something from another patient due to poor staff hand hygiene, etc. Also these centers specialize in this and they not only provide the surgery but the full service and experience. It almost feels like luxury but affordable. They depend on people like us to keep business running so they're work is top notch. But of course you'll have to really think about what is best for u.

I vote for a wonderbra.
I finally figured out where they got their name from. It's because when women take them off we wonder where the tata's go??

I have really been going back and forth as whether to post here or not. I guess I am sort of a "forum person" in my hobbies and areas of interest, but I have to be honest, I have avoided posting on this site or even looking at it for a couple of reasons. I found this site only a few days before my surgery but when I found it I found more negativity and frightened people then I found inspiration. Actually, I have gone here and gotten the (bleep) scared out of me by a few posters, every time I see their posts I get knots in my stomach. The main poster that does that to me has a screen name that starts with the letter "i". Everybody is terrified of leaks and all the negatives of this surgery and I just haven't been able to relate to many of the topics. Below I will share some of the basics of my journey so far.
First off, I am a 35 year old male who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. I wasn't fat my whole life, I actually weighed 218 when I was 19 years old. That was pretty close to a "perfect" weight for me. I got into a business where the guys I worked with partied, ate, and drank to excess. Over the years I ballooned to 445 lbs which is where I have been for the past 2-3 years. In 2010 I was considering the lap band but chickened out. I was back on in 2011 but chickened out again. In 2012 I HAD to make a decision because I was put on Metformin for borderline diabetes and Lisinopril for borderline blood pressure as well. That was it. I started again with the nutritionist appointments and made an appt. to see my surgeon who is located downtown Chicago a few miles from my house. My first appt. with him was in early October 2012 and he suggested a VSG instead of the lap band because of the large amount of weight I wanted to lose. I left thinking about it and did the rest of my pre op requirements such as upper GI, psyche, EKG, etc. I saw my surgeon again on November 14th, 2012 and we decided on the VSG (which I really didn't know a lot about). We set surgery for December 21st, 2012.
Because I am a big fella, my surgeon put me on a 28 day pre op liquid only diet (to shrink my liver and loosen my skin) which I started on November 23rd, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving). The first few days were tough but I have very strong will power and stuck to it, following the requirements to the letter. I didn't cheat even once. Again, not even once. After about 12 days it was smooth sailing and I just plugged away and kept up the exercise plan that I had been doing for over a year which was just walking 1.5 miles, three times per week at my local YMCA. I didn't weigh myself even once the entire plan and weighed myself the morning of surgery. To my astonishment I lost a staggering 49 lbs!!!!I I couldn't even believe it, to be honest with you I began to sob like a little girl! I went from 445 to 396. I was just so shocked. My surgeon told me that I broke his practice record which was previously 45 lbs for a pre op diet. Again, I LOST 49 LBS IN 28 DAYS!!!
On the morning of December 21st, 2012 I was ready for surgery at a major hospital downtown Chicago. I arrived, valet parked, checked in, and was laying on the table prepped for surgery within 1 hour just waiting for the anesthesiologist. I was in surgery about an hour and a half later and the surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I am going to cut the details of my hospital stay down so readers aren't sitting here all day reading. Any questions just ask me. I wanted to leave the hospital the next evening but my surgeon said that he wouldn't allow me to break two records and that I should stay another night. Quick recap, I was checked into my room after surgery at 6pm Friday night and was discharged from the hospital at 11am Sunday morning, less then 48 hours after entering my room.
Upon arriving home I checked my weight, expecting to have lost a few lbs, and actually gained back 2 lbs due to all the fluids that were pumped into me. I was back up to 398. My recovery went ok I think, I was in a lot of pain along my largest incision which is about 3+ inches wide. I was on Tramadol which sucks. It took me 9 days to finish the 25 pills that I was prescribed since I was skipping doses. I was home on Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning I was off to the YMCA where I walked only one lap around the track. I limped around and talked to my friends there before going home. I was back at the YMCA on Friday and actually walked 5 laps (a half mile). I finally weighed myself on Friday, one week after surgery, and I was down from 398 to 391. I weighed myself again on Sunday afternoon and I lost another 4 lbs from Friday to Sunday, 9 lbs in 9 days, ending up at 387 lbs, 58 lbs down in 38 days.
So that's basically that. It's been over 10 days now since surgery and I am feeling like a million bucks. Here are the "scary" parts. I am using the term scary because after reading this site I would have thought I was going to die from this surgery. I HAVE NOT been nauseous even for one second since surgery. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT thrown up, or even gagged for that matter, not even once. I AM ABLE to drink 60ozs of Fluid per day. I just started puree on Saturday, 8 days out, and it's been perfect. I had 4 ozs of low fat cottage cheese (which I LOVE) today as well as only one Protein Shake, a bowl of Tomato Soup, and plenty of Water. I AM NOT hungry, EVER. I just eat to live, that's it. Today I feel the best that I have felt since surgery. Every day gets better. My goal is to lose 220 lbs, 100 in three months from the start of my pre op diet on November 23rd. I WILL do it.
I know I left out a bunch so fire away (or ask any questions that you want).

I'M APPROVED! I'M APPROVED!!! Got the call last Thursday. I have been rescheduled to March 7th. Only two weeks and four days. I start the liquid diet on the 21st FOUR DAYS!! I am beside myself. I seriously did not think insurance would approve it. I am not a very optimistic person sometimes. Something always happens to burst my bubble. But not this time. I have been gathering what I will need for the liquid diet. I am going to rock this thing. Can't wait for Thursday. I know that sounds crazy, but anything to prep me for the surgery I will do in spades. Look out world, I'm comin' tra la tra la

Ballermom I meet with my surgeon tomorrow. So far I am not on any pre op diet. Im sure I will be given more instructions tomorrow, but my Weight Loss Center said I didn't require losing weight to shrink my liver unless over a 60 BMI. I find all these different posts interesting on the differences in procedures. My surgeon told me they lower the head of the operating table and that moves everything out of the way and allows an easier and quicker surgery. I will update more after my appointment tomorrow. In the mean time I have been watching portion sizes, and calories to maintain; but enjoying some last "favorite" meals before surgery. I want and need the change, but no since having it without enjoying a few last meals I will have to do without.

Lots of good recommendations here. Keep in mind though, you are embarking on a lifestyle change. It is quite normal to resist these new healthy drinks. I would challenge you to try and develop your tastes & condition tour stomach to accept the highest quality Proteins
I have no disagreement that all shakes mentioned here are acceptable options. But, lets be honest, how many of times can you drink a shake before you are just sick of it? I occasionally do drink premier Protein, mostly out of convenience. But, they are not the best option, good, but not the best.
I have several go to Protein Drinks. All of which I needed to adjust to, but all of which I love now.
powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chocolate splendor mixed with unsweetened almond milk.
Unjury chicken Soup. I mix it in warm Water then nuke it (keeps it from clumping this way)
Syntax nectar fuzzy navel w/ocean spray Cran/Peach on the go packet. Mixed in 24-33oz of cold Water. Very light & refreshing.
Syntax nectar cherry w/ocean spray Cran/Cherry on the go packet. Mixed in 24-33oz of cold water.
Syntax nectar chocolate Truffle. This is heaven in powdered form. I'll mix it into a small amount of unsweetened soy milk and heat it for some of the best hot cocoa substitute you've ever seen.
These are all Whey Protein Isolates. The best protein you can get. And yes, they are a bit hard on the stomach till you get use to them. But, you can always mix less protein into what you are making till you are use to it too.

Amazing job! In fact, I think you may have to consider getting new glasses in the future.......your current frames are looking too wide for your new slim face!

So I am down 70 pounds since having VSG on December 10, 2012 so though it was time for some pics.

Lifesaveremt and ktishernamo congrats... I know how u feel. I can't wait!! I'm on the 19th!! I leave Monday..

Glad to hear ur doing ok Tami88. Happy New You Valentines!!