Vicki1955

I too was sleeved on 5/29/13. I have had several stalls and over the past 3 months my weight loss has slowed to 1-1.5 lbs a week (at least I am still loosing!). I just started wearing a size 12 pair of jeans! I have donated all the 28-26-24-22-20-18 sizes to Good Will. I have a few 16 and 14 that I wear so I can still see that I am loosing the weight (though when I look in the mirror I don't feel there is that much change in my appearance). I have not worn smaller than an 18 in over 15 years.

VSG on 5/29 and am down 89 lbs so far...been in a stall for a couple of weeks and am not happy about it...anyone else in the same boat?

I stalled for two months strAight month 5 an 6 finally loosing again

VSG on 5/29 and am down 89 lbs so far...been in a stall for a couple of weeks and am not happy about it...anyone else in the same boat?

I went to a support group and the nutritionist told us that now that we weigh less, we need to increase our exercise. For example, we used to be able to burn 100 calories in 10 min of walking or elliptical. Well now, its only 75 calories because we weigh less. Stay the coarse on healthy eating, but up your intensity on your exercise. Also, this "stall" is common. Although we are not dropping rapid weight, over the coarse of a month, we drop the same. The scale might not move for 2-3 weeks, but then all of a sudden you lose 3-5 lbs. I had my surgery May 28, 2013. First 5 months, 10 lbs a month easy. Now its more like 5-8 lbs. Remember, you still want to lose it slowly. That is the overall most healthy!

It was asked of me last weekend if I could clarify one thing about WLS, if I could make one notable point that has not been mentioned what it would be. So I thought, hmmmm….
We are constantly reminded that after WLS our stomachs have gone from being a sources of distress, these large cavernous things that CAUSED us to be overweight, FORCED us into eating poorly, etc. to valuable tools we use to lose weight. We have changed our stomachs to be sure. What, however did we change them to? VGS is generally a laparoscopic procedure that removed most of the body of the stomach. Starting generally below the pylorus, the suture/staple/cauterizing procedure extended along the length of the body of the stomach and removed the greater chamber, and may or may not have removed the fundus. So now what, what does that mean?
Now we have our tool. We eat less, we have to. The weight comes off. It may drop like a rock or progress slower. Different body types, health issues, meds, and still the foods we choose to consume will help determine this. So we have a tool for weight LOSS.
Then we maintain. Now we just eat less and it stays off, right? If you have been on the forum for even a little while you will see it is not always that easy. There are still many questions, lots of issues and answers still to be figured out, each in our own way and time. Many questions are about how to use the tool in maintenance.
BUT this post is not about maintenance; it is about the in-between, one of the less mentioned but in my opinion more profound things we do with this tool that affects our success. I define success not by an ideal size or shape but ability - ability to be a size that allows me to be active, and healthy, and off at least some medication, to name a few things. These are not the only goals I have, but they are the achievements I have that I now use to have a far superior lifestyle to the one I had before.
A big shift I have undergone is that I recognized that my tummy did something I did not expect. It provided a way to eat less and it has definite, defined physical ways it has assisted me, no doubt. Mentally it has assisted and even raised more questions! Beyond that, however, there is something more, and whether or not I embrace it I think is the true test of how successful this will be for me. I am talking about the “gap”. I have tried to find any reference to it in the articles and such that I spend a bit of time reading but so far I have not found that many.
The gap I refer to is that space that we never met successfully when we dieted. The ‘ –‘ in yo-yo. That point where the adulation of successful weight loss, and health and compliments began to lose momentum. It lagged with stress of home life, maybe. It was the burger and fries when, honestly, even if it had been a lackluster salad one could have ordered that instead, heck ordered TWO, whatever to be full – but did not. It is the sinking feeling one get when 50 lbs. of weight loss did not make the ailing marriage better, or the bills did not pay themselves. Maybe the issues that were under those layers were still there and still hurt. food was there, with food came feelings of comfort and simultaneous guilt, and a yo-yo began before the weight even crept back on.
Here is the “gap” the ‘ –‘ in yo-yo, and here is where our new friends, our new tummies, kick in. I think it is much underrated in the WLS journey. Our sleeves fill the “gap”. In between that space that we could not overcome, that ‘– ‘ in the yo-yo. We do not eat the burger and fries, we cannot overindulge by volume. We have a means to bridge that gap, if we want it. I think our longest terms of success can be affected by how we choose to take advantage of this bridge over the gap. Better habits, educating ourselves on food choices, understanding what got us here, learning to forgive and set vanity aside. Repairing the mental damage from being in the shells we were in, this is something our sleeves offer us that we did not have before. Much more important than just eating less and as vital as exercise - we have time. Time to recover before we even stumble, time to get equanimity from our minds and bodies at the same time we do not regress to bad habits and start that journey back up the scale.
We have time to make time – days and months and years to in turn create space to enjoy those days and months and years. If we did not gain a day from this, we gain quality. You know the sayings about rather have quality of years over a lot of years? We get an opportunity for both!!! From VGS and the bridge it gave over the “gap”.

Surgery date 5/29 I am down 53 lbs and 4 pant sizes...starting to really feel great...lots of energy...so happy with my sleeve!

Surgery date 5/29 I am down 53 lbs and 4 pant sizes...starting to really feel great...lots of energy...so happy with my sleeve!

My surgery is tomorrow. I am a bit nervous to start a new life's journey at age 63. I am an only child and do not have any real sisters to confide in. So I would love for any of you to be my SLEEVE SISTERS.
I live in Louisiana and moved to a new city after Hurricane Katrina several years ago and left all my friends.
I pray I am doing the right thing.

Never in my life have I had food spoil since getting sleeved (6/19/13). Since I'm just eating a 1/2 cup at each meal there are plenty of left overs, food savers have plum full both the freezers , I use to be the one that ate the left overs but now I've learn to buy less and my food bill has gone down. So far I lost 65lbs and feeling pretty good about myself.

you said Protein chips so I ordered Kay's Naturals Protein Chips....chili nacho, crispy parmesan, and cheddar cheese kruncheeze...I don't think this is the same as yours...oh oh

I am 7 months post-op, down 126 pounds and happier than ever! I want to lose 20 more pounds to be at my goal weight!
Starting weight- 296 pounds
Current weight- 170 pounds

Thanks...just ordered the Protein chips in three flavors...hope they are yummers!

Sorry, NtvTxn, but I have to disagree a bit with you here.
Most of the Protein bullets/shots out there are, to put it bluntly, crap. It may SAY it's got 42 grams of Protein or more, and it may even say it's whey protein - yay, right? Nope. Look at the nutritional information. If collagen based protein comes before whey in the list, and if the whey in the list isn't whey isolate, then this is probably NOT a good bullet to do to get the most bang for your buck, as it's likely the large majority of the protein is actually collagen, which our bodies don't use effectively as protein. You may find that only 10 or 11 grams of that protein can actually be used by your body. The only one that was recommended as acceptable to me was one that's called "Yes, Whey" - I think you can find those at some of the supplement/nutrition stores like GNC, but I haven't looked for them myself.
Now, if all you need is to get an extra 10 grams of protein, it's your call, but those things taste nasty and aren't cheap. A better option might be to find a way to mix unflavored protein into some of the stuff you're eating - you don't necessarily have to take it as a shake. Think about a Soup, for example.

Congrats....that has to be an amazing feeling...can't wait.

According to whom, and how far out? My surgeon says his average is 80-90% of excess weight lost initially with a small rebound weight gain typical, but not up to 60%.
Also, it's said on this board over and over again, but you decide where you fit on that. If you think the surgery is a magic bullet and you don't have to change anything except the amount you eat, you probably won't hit 100%. If you stick to plan 95% of the time and exercise regularly, you'll get a lot closer.

March 21, 2012
Today...
I love my sleeve! Best thing ever. Just wanted to post some pics to help the new sleeves see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Actually I've read that a stall is quite normal. It's simply your bodies way of adjusting to the changes happening to it. I am down 61 pounds and 3 months out. I've stalled 3 times so far. all which have lasted for about 2 weeks, I haven't changed anything but then again I have not needed to go "back to basics" because I've simply been doing the basics. That being said I believe "back to basics" means following precisely what your surgeon and nutritionist has asked you to. I think the most common "basics" are: approximately 64-84 oz. of water/day, 60-95 grams of protein/day, low carb, low - no sugar, taking all your required Vitamins and minerals and moderate daily exercise.
Those are what I've seen across the board so far in my 3 months but, again, it all depends on what your surgeon and nutritionist has come up with for you specifically.
For some, they go all the way back to liquids and purees..whatever works I suppose

I decided to post this so we can all remember the basic rules to succeed with vsg. I have noticed my weightloss has slowed down allot mostly due to eating too many carbs. Im in the calorie range my doc wants to be in but my carbs are high. according to his book if you stall or plateau its either 3 things:too much carbs, not enough exercise, or your building muscle. For me i think its the first 2. Here we go!
1. I will exercise 5 times a week for 30-45 minutes.
2.I will watch my carbohydrate intake
3.I will try to eat 3-5 meals per day with no unhealthy snacking in between
4.I will drink 8 glasses of Water per day
5.I will eat a minimum of 60-70 grams of Protein daily
6.I will honor my commitment to good health and healthy choices
7.I will have follow up care appointments with my doc as needed
8.I will always take my Vitamins
9.I will weight my self once a week
10.I will remember that this is my own journey and not compare my self to others
11.I will always keep in mind that practicing my new habits will make me healthier happier stronger and more energetic.
This is what I turn to when I fall off the wagon sort of speak. I need to drink more water,eat more protein,exercise more, and drink more water. Gotta keep my head in the game. Thanks to my Dr.Alvarez for his awesome book about vsg. Hope this helps others

I'm going on vacation for the next week and leaving my scale at home. Sure hope it has good news for me when I return.

Today is four weeks since surgery...just went through the dreaded week 3 stall which lasted a full week. Got on the scale this morning and was down 1.5 lbs so I hope I am on the downward trail once again. I know they say the stalls are just part of the journey but it is worrisome when you are only eating 800 calories and nothing moves. Still very excited and looking forward to what comes next..little things are getting easier like getting the work shoes on and getting in and out of my Mini Cooper..Yippee

[ATTACH]14027[/ATTACH]
226 pount before now 136 pount

I had been researching why you can stall and then suddenly lose a bunch of weight in a matter of a day, and I encountered a lot of talk of the "Whoosh Effect." Here is an interesting article about it:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html
It makes sense! What do you think?

One thing that irritates me is that people who do not know that I've had surgery do not notice that I've lost weight. I don't get it. Those who know, encourage me, and notice when I wear something new that is much smaller. At work they say Johanna is just melting away. I see a neighbor or person at a store that I've known for a long time and they don't notice??? I've gone from a size 24 to a size 16 so it's not like there's not a major difference. It doesn't bother me per se, I did this for me and for my health and have to keep pinching myself to realize this is for real but I just don't understand how someone could not notice??? Anyone else experiencing the same experience with people who don't know you've had surgery???

I would eliminate the broths for a day and see if that helps...they are loaded with sodium and make you retain Water.< /p>