goddess04

Hi beautiful!!
You're so funny. I wish I could help you with your height and age goals but I think that's out of my reach. I'm sure your amazing and lovely just the way you are. Plus being tall isn't that great, I'm taller than all the men I want to go out with!!
Pizza on the way home from the hospital... depends on why you went to the hospital. If you were there having wls surgery hahaha no. If you were there visiting a sick friend than yes by all means!
I had plastics in Mexico and paid 13,500 for a neck lift, breast lift, and Tummy Tuck. It all came out absolutely amazing. My surgeon was the best of the best. Worth every penny.
My bariatric surgery was complicated because I had to have my bypass reversed and converted to a sleeve. I had seven surgeries in all. Bypass, gallbladder removal, exploratory, reversal and conversion to a sleeve, stricture dialation, granuloma in my belly button, and plastics. I couldn't eat solid food for almost a year and became extremely malnourished. During the course of the early surgeries I became physically addicted to narcotics. I had to go to detox to get off of them. Also wls triggered anorexia for me and I had to get treatment for that. So yeah. Complicated. Not to mention the huge life altering experience weight loss can be.
The hardest part for me has been maintaining without continuing to diet. I realized I could not continue to live in a diet mentality or I would either remain anorexic or regain all of my weight. I had to get therapy and learn to eat intuitively. I also had to let go of trying to have the perfect body and obsessing about my weight. I had to decide to allow my body to choose its desired weight without interference from me and to be body positive and embrace health at every size.
I would say thank you to keeping up the good job... but this isn't a job. This is life. Weight is not your "job". We weren't out on this planet to be skinny and perfect. There are a million other more important things in life than what size ones body is. It's wonderful to have a good relationship with your body- practice self care and self love. But treating your bodies shape like it's your job to make it perfect and it's something that must be done in order to be a valid person... no. Life is so much more than that.
I am very happy with my body right now but I have accepted that I am so much happier letting go of perfection. If I gain some weight back... that's okay. I deserve to be happy, nourished, and my body deserves to be healthy.

Hi all- I'm a vet, had my wls in 2014. Lost to goal and then some and have successfully maintained. I have also had all my plastic surgery and am just living a happy life now.
I am here because I want to be supportive of others. Bariatric surgery was very complicated for me and I feel I have a lot to contribute no matter where you are on your journey because I have really struggled myself. I want to be there for newbies and other vets who may need support down the line.

This surgey changed my life, almost cost me my life, and gave me back my life. If you want to talk I am here and never going to judge you.

I am five years out, and I know your pain. I gained about 15lbs of the weight back and now have started to get back on track with my eating. As previously stated, diet is more important than exercise. I work out on a regular basis but my eating was not on track as it should had been. Portion Control is key and you really have to kick carbs to the side. It goes back to eating to live, not living to eat mentality. It is very hard, and takes a lot willpower. Having a support group might help you, or another sleeve buddy may help. It really does come down to how bad you want to lose the weight you have regained. The first few weeks, you will fight head hunger and it will be a battle to get back to the basics of eating. Once you get your eating on track, start incorporating exercise. After so many years out, you will need to start working out and living a more active lifestyle. I am here if you need it, but a lot of this will really come down to willpower. Keep us posted, and I wish you the best of luck.

I haven't been on these forums in about 2 years but decided I needed serious help and was hoping to be inspired again as I was 4 years ago when I had surgery. The bottom line is I've fallen back into old habits. I've regained almost all the weight I lost. Have had many false starts. Can't seem to stick with anything. I'm eating like a truck driver (no offense to truck drivers). Feel out of control. Weighed myself this morning. Refreshed my fitness app with new goals and started reading here. Words of advice much appreciated.

@@Mooseknuckle Yes, when I was just a year post-op, the weight did just fall off, slowly but surely. When your are as far out as I am, not so much lol. Like I said, when I did a drastic clean eating diet, I lost about 15lb over 2months but I wasn't able to stick to it. I do it clean most of the time which is why I haven't gained an insane amount of weight but will admit to liking my snacks! Hummus and triscuits are my thing right now.
I didn't see the post that offended you but hopefully we can continue to encourage each other on this journey to being healthy.

@@Wolfgirl78 I actually have 40lbs I would like to lose. I was maintaining in the 180s (low 190s on a bad day) for a few years and now I'm averaging 200. I'm seeing a slow increase instead of loss so I want to take action before I gain even more weight. Although I'm considered a success because I lost 80lbs, I never reached my goal so that's what I'm hoping to achieve.
I had not heard of this procedure either. I had to youtube and google it but found some good information. The surgeon goes down the esophagus to the stomach to make it more narrow with stitches. I like that there are no incisions and is considered a safer procedure than laproscopy. Some patients can be discharge the same day. Look up Apollo Overstitch to see the video of the sleeve revision. There are several different techniques for the different types of weight loss surgeries.

@@LadyK44 Thanks for the encouragement! I also spoke to the bariatric center about a doctor supervised diet so I will discuss that at the appointment as well. I'm just a little frustrated because I've been working out, got a trainer, modified my diet, but haven't seen any real results. I think I am fairly fit as I completed a 5K the other week so I'm not sure how I can get these last 40lbs off. I'm always open for advice!

I never made it to my original goal either. Like I stated earlier I'm now 6lbs away from my lowest weight and 9 until goal weight, so I have 15lbs left to go. However, my overall weight I wanted to lose is 44lbs. I've lost 29 since April. It just took some discipline to get back into the habits I made that first year post op. I'm finding its like riding a bike though, and now that im back into the swing of things, it's become habit to weigh, measure and log my food.
Good luck to you, whatever you decide!
@@LapGyrl
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@LapGyrl
I'm 4 years post op. Sleeve
I've never heard of an overstitch. Can you tell me more about it? I'm curious.
I also had some regain issues. In the last two month I buckled down and am only 6lbs away from my lowest weight now.
Once I started making sure to eat Protein dense meals again I found that my restriction is still great, considering I'm four years out. I can still only eat 3-4oz of Protein at a time. I had also got out of the habit of logging my food, weighing it, etc. I'm back to doing all that and the weight is coming off steadily.
Is your restriction not as good anymore? To me, it just seems kind of drastic of have another surgery for a 15-20lb regain (that's just my opinion).
And congratulations on your success! You've done well! My inbox is always open if you want to talk.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was married at the beginning of April in 1999. One of our wedding gifts were season passes to Six Flags over St. Louis. At the time, we were young and actually lived in the same town as the amusement park, so we were so excited to be able to just pop over whenever we wanted. The first time we processed our passes, we headed directly to Batman the Ride. Back in the day, the seatbelts attached to the overhead locking mechanism clipped in between the legs. As we were trying to get on, it was evident that my seat would not close. The kid working the ride asked me to hold on. He pushed it tight against me by using his feet against the seat in front of me and clipped me in, at the same time, my fat legs were clipped into the locking clip. I was in terrible pain and terribly embarrassed, so I didn't say a word. I endured the ride with it's twists, turns, and loop de loops. I walked away with a severely bruised inner thigh and and even worsely battered pride.
I never rode another amusement park ride.
Years passed, I had kids who very badly wanted to go to Six Flags. I decided that I would buy season passes about 4 years ago because I was trying to lose weight and I thought that while I can't ride the rides, it would be a good opportunity to get some exercise and walk around. For the first two seasons, I didn't even try to ride anything. I just walked from ride to ride and held stuff while my hubby would ride with the kiddos.
Two years ago, I started my first steps into making a real change in my life. I have always been against weight loss surgery, so I started on a ketogenic diet and started walking like it was my job. I lost about 35lbs, tried to ride Batman, wouldn't close (now the clasp is at the top). I got out, did my walk of shame and moved on.
At the end of 2016, my dad told us that he wanted to die. He was retired, 59 years old, in renal failure from refusing to take care of diabetes for years, and three hours a day, three days a week were too much to ask for him to continue his life. We went on a roller coaster of our own for about two months where he would go on hospice, be almost dead, and then freak out and go to the hospital, swear he was going to go to all his appointments, and then go right back on hospice after the first dialysis appointment. In February of 2016, he passed and at the end of that, I had gained 60lbs. At his funeral, I looked at my husband and said, "If there is something that you could do that would save your life, so that you could be there for your family...why wouldn't you?"
Duh. Light bulb.
30 days later I was at a seminar and I started the 6 month medically supervised diet and jumping through all the other hoops. I had my vsg on 10/26/2016 and at the beginning of December, I went toe to toe with this elusive beast and was once again denied. ( I needed like an inch)
Yesterday, on my 5 month surgiversary, I slayed the dragon! I laughed and cried the whole time. After, I rode every dang ride I could find and I had a blast. (I didn't even realize it was my surgiversary until I started writing this)

Hi, I'm a little over 4 years out from VSG. So, I reached my goal and beyond within a year of surgery. About 2 1/2 years out I started regaining and finally put the breaks on that in January. It has actually been easier than I thought to lose the weight. I need to lose 25 lbs to get back to goal and I have already lost 14. All I have done is cut out the carbs. I had let a lot of bad habits sneak back into my life -- iike diet soda, sweets, and carbs. I have cut all of that! I'm drinking more Water and trying to stick to Protein. I think this far out going to Clear liquids and all of that would be too difficult. I had hoped when I got the sleeve that I would never have to diet again. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Still, now I feel like I have a fighting chance. Also, even if I'm battling 25 lbs, I'm going from "overweight" to "normal" on the bmi chart and not "severely obese" to "obese".
Even though the weight loss battle is still a definite fight, I feel like I have so much more control. Still feel like it's the best thing I could have ever done for my health!

@@Valentina how is everything?!
Maybe one day u all could share some pics when you're up to it and better[emoji2][emoji102]

My insurance paid for breast lift and panniculectomy. I don't know what the doctors office said. They just said it was approved. I didn't ask any questions lol. This was after seeing about 7+ plastic surgeons. Their office wouldn't submit it or they flat out didn't take the insurance

Oh my goodness it's been awhile since I've been here! I only see a few names I recognize!
I had my sleeve on 06/12/12. I lost 102 lbs.
unfortunately I have gained 35lbs within the last two years. About a month ago, I started weighing and logging my food on mfp again. I started gaining when I stopped logging my food and making myself accountable. Since I started logging again I've lost 14lbs. So now I'm 21lbs away from my lowest weight and 27 away from my original goal weight. I'm going to do this. The good thing about my sleeve is even though I fell off the wagon, it's still here to help me.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had WLS in 2013 and lost almost 170 pounds in 10 months. This year, I decided it was my year to finally get my flaps removed. What a difference!!! I hope everyone can see the attachment.
My surgeon was excellent, very caring, and most importantly very experienced and knowledgeable about what he does. Couldn't be happier!

I am so excited that I finally have my lower body lift booked for June 8, 2017!! I'll be having the LBL and Lipo to my thighs! I wanted this procedure so badly last year, but it just wasn't meant to be! On the plus side, we had an additional year to save more money (and ended up having even more than we thought we would need!) and I'll have enough PTO to take 5 weeks off for recovery! Last year I learned that short term disability does not cover this procedure as it is elective. That's part of the reason I couldn't have it last year. I just couldn't just justify paying for the surgery AND taking the time off to recover unpaid (since I hadn't saved up the vacation time). This is the icing on the cake for me, and such a huge part of my transformation! I have been looking forward to this since even before my sleeve surgery!!! So excited to finally have all of my hard work really show!

My insurance paid for a complete Tummy Tuck, with the exception of the reconstruction of my belly button because that was not considered medically necessary, so I paid $2,200 for a belly button :-)

I lost 132#'s in 6 months after my RNY. I gained 8#'s back and have maintained my 124# loss for 3 years. Sept 2015 I had a Panni done. My insurance paid 100%. But with that being said, I wish I would have paid the extra for a Tummy Tuck at the same time. The PS removed 10 plus #'s. But he didn't follow thru with what he had promised he would do. I was left with more issues on my upper stomach and needs Lipo now. In order to get insurance to cover even the skin removal you need to document every infection that you get. I had documented my infections with my PCP, my Surgeon, and my Dermatologist and I took pictures myself. If you can afford it get the full blown tummy tuck with muscle repair. If only I would have known things would have been different. Good Luck

Some first-impression thoughts:
What about a couple of qualification criteria?
1. To me the most important qualification criterion for veteran status and forum participation should be the length of time since their surgery date. For me, 18 months seems about right. FTR, I can't imagine that anyone other than a complete loon would lie about their surgery date just to troll a veterans forum.
2. I don't think it's critical or even relevant that the person has been a member of this board for a long period of time -- measured either by time on the board or number of posts made on the board. Yes, they should have been around long enough to understand the community and to give members a sense of the veteran's ability to contribute. But those "longevity" bars should be set fairly low. I'm purely spit-wadding here, but am thinking at least 1 month and at least 50 posts.
Finally, the value of such a forum would be that veterans who know their way around WLS could seek and receive input from other veterans who also know their way around WLS.
I don't mean for this to sound "elitist," but some of the least helpful threads here are those in which a veteran who's struggling with regain or physical changes (maybe even late-stage complications) or life stresses have asked for input -- and people who aren't even 6 months post-op or, worse, haven't yet had WLS, chime in with irrelevant comments, advice, or distracting newbie questions.
Finally, for anyone reading this thread who wonders why there's a need for such a veterans-only forum, here's why: Veterans don't hang around any message board to answer the same newbie questions over and over. Newer members 6-12 months out can handle those kinds of questions.
But just like newbies, veterans need support for THEIR issues. If they don't get that support here, they leave. If that happens, no one will be available to address the questions of those who are approaching maintenance -- which, IMHO, is even more challenging than the weight loss phases.
My two cents' worth.

I am a newbie and had my surgery on May 27th and have had issues since. My surgeon said I could have flat Soda if that helps. Right after I had surgery I had no interest in food or drink and was in a ton of pain. I ended up taking dilaudid for 3 weeks and I also had mild nausea so I took zofran every so often. I finally was feeling okay again and then 2 days later the extreme nausea hit. I took my 8 mg zofran and it did nothing, I thought maybe I was hungry so I tried to eat..huge mistake. I threw it up and the nausea got worse and then the pain started. I gave it another day and when I still felt so sick I went to the ER. Just the smell of coffee made me want to throw up. I could not be around food or think about food I was so nauseous. I ended up staying in the hospital for 9 days and they did an endoscopy to open up a kink I had in the connection from my stomach to my intestines. They put a picc line in and I had to give myself infusions every night to give me fluids and nutrients since I couldn't eat or drink. I did not eat or drink anything for over a month because of the horrible nausea.
I finally was able to start eat and drink a bit a month or 2 ago but I still have issues getting enough Protein and Fluid in. I am trying all different Protein drinks and powders but I'm really only able to eat a yogurt small amounts of Protein throughout the day. Right now my intake st each meal is a 5 oz yogurt or 2-3 oz protein and 1 oz veggies. I had been giving myself those infusions all the way up to a week and a half ago. That was when I had my second blood infection from the picc line and landed me in the hospital again.
I often read the stories of others experiences and how great they are doing and I can't help but be jealous. My surgeon assures me that this is normal and it happens to a few people after the surgery. He said it should go away after a few days or months, they aren't sure. Well it has been months and I'm still suffering. It has been a long road. I had my gallbladder removed last Tuesday and went home from the hospital on Wednesday. I was back in the ER on Saturday and am now in the hospital again awaiting results from tests to see why I am in extreme pain with vomiting...
Even though I have had a really tough time I don't regret the surgery. It's saved my life.
Starting weight:540
Surgery weight :480
Current weight:383
I wish you the best of luck!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I drink carbonated diet beverages daily. I drank them with a straw for years, but I am now three-years post-op and I just drink them the way I used to- can, bottle, glass, whatever. Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Pepsi, sugar free Red Bull, Diet Root Beer...I have no issues with carbonation. I lasted on the whole "no diet soda" rule for about 6 weeks and I've had it ever since.

Yes I drink Coke but only small sips haven't been able to finish one

I specifically remember the OP asking the vets this question? Why do we have newer post ops answering?
Look, no offense, but when we are newly post op, we have a tendency to be pretty rigid with the "rules" and like to see things in absolutes and 'nevers' sometimes. But something you'll learn as you hopefully get to your desired goal weight and then learn to live in maintenance is you find what works for YOU, not someone else. Is it important to adhere to the basic rules of WLS for long term success? Absolutely! But with those, you will find things along the way that will also fit into the equation of living a successful post bariatric surgery life. And 'nevers' and 'always' won't necessarily fit into that equation for everyone. The rest of our lives is a long time.

Well Good Day my fine people.... lol
Today is November 10, 2015 and today is year #6 Lapband journey end... 7 is just beginning..... Age 47, My highest weight 230, lowest 140. Now 145. 5'2" tall, Largest size 20 now, comfortable size 8, Was a 44H bra now size 34H, was a 7.5 shoe now 6.5. Self esteem and confidence... ZERO, Now... Through the roof.
History.... I was 41 when i decided to take back my health and life. I had a few friends that had the GB, Sleeve (not as popular back then), and LB..... A couple of which i worked with or had worked with in the past. One in particular was my friend Paula (LB). She was my mentor and guiding light through everything... In fact her partner had her LB the same day, so she was at the hospital with the both of us.... I had told only very few people at the time that i was having LB done. The few i did tell were for the most part were supportive. Except for the most important one... MY HUSBAND.... But, i got through the post op diet (on vacation) with only one slip and went into surgery that AM weighing 220lbs. Of course my husband said... then why do you need this... Pahhh. My weight loss was slow by most standards... but now i see it as a blessing. I followed the rules.. (except for no Mt. Dew). I averaged a few lbs per visit... and at first i was disappointed. But then i started exercising (zumba, cardio, and later weights) and it really kicked in.... i lost 60lbs the first year and 20 the second. Which i know is not a lot by some standards... but for me... i could not have been happier. My husband started to come around... he himself started losing weight and working out, sex was great too. But then his (what my gut said was) girlfriend move to Fl. and he let it all go to crap again... oh well. The sex went back in the crapper again. I won't let that get me down... life goes on and we shall see if we hit the 25 years of marriage next month.
I have done what i consider very well with my band. No complications (knock wood). I have the LB System in place, according to My LAP-BAND Journey Patient ID Card i have the 10cc band, but my dr. says its the 14cc.. I lean to believe its the 14 as right now i have 10.5cc in my band. I do stay away from the bread, rice, grits, dry meats, Pasta (as much as poss) and fried potatoes. My go to is still Soup. I love soup.... I normally eat yogurt with granola and coffee for Breakfast. lunch is normal something pretty small like a salad (have to be careful, sometime have trouble), soup, grilled something... dinner something pretty small in size... last night i ate 2 nacho chips...the round ones with Beans, ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and guac on each one.
so... truth time... I have not exercised in three years... i know, that is terrible... but it's the truth. Reason, my husband cancelled the member ship because he said we could not afford it.. But im fixing to start back anyway. I had my Tummy Tuck 2/15/2012 and i could not be happier with the results. My scar is not that noticeable at all.
My advice to new WLS patients...... Know what your getting into. Research the hell out of everything. Make sure you pick the best doctor for you. Go to support meeting before, during and after. Don't expect to go in surgery fat, and come out skinny.... WLS is not a magic pill... You will have to work at it EVERYDAY FOREVER!!! Maybe not the exercise... but the eating. Take before pictures, you won't be able to see the differences... but pictures never lie. Take during pic and after pic. Limit your weighing in to once a week or less. If not you will become obsessed with the scale. Set many small goals and an over all goal. Don't get down on your self for a gain. Just get back on track. I put back some weight and got back to 162.... and i said... no way in hell am i going to be one of "those" people who gain it back. Don't be ashamed of the journey you are choosing. Embrace the fact that you chose to take you life back your just using a tool to help. Just like a diabetic uses insulin, are a heart patient uses a pace maker... All the same stuff.
Be prepared to lose friends... some people can't handle the "new you" and will try and sabotage you. I learned that my fat friends love me fat because i was one of them and made it all acceptable. My skinny friends could not handle the new me because i was now competition in the group for attention. Your true friends will rise to the top... Trust me on this.
Remember.... Everyone's journey is different, don't judge your self by someone elses. We all gained weight for different reasons... and we will all lose it differently. Be your own biggest cheerleader...

I'm three years post op. I think the biggest mistake I have made was to believe that I was "normal" . I felt good about my weight for the first time in my adult life. People were nicer to me. I was nicer to me. It felt really good. But something clicked in my brain. I was angry for losing all those years that I didn't & couldn't live a normal life. I was angry for losing my Father to Alzheimer's. I was angry that I had to move in with my Mother (my choice but not easy) to help her after my Father died. So what do I do when I am angry? Yep, you guessed it, I eat. All of a sudden I felt as if I had starved myself for three years so I ate whatever I wanted. I didn't plan any meals and I grazed all day. That's what normal people do, right? Anyway I was maintaining for a year ,even though I didn't reach my goal. Then maintenance turned into fighting 3 -5 pounds, up and down, up and down. Then it turned into weight gain that refuses to budge. I'm up 18 pounds and I know what I'm supposed to do but I don't know why I don't do it.