JanetPRN

I love it , I am going to steal - I am now 52 years young! If I were to get a tattoo , it would have to do with the grandbabies also.

I want to ride on a motorcycle. I have always been too self conscious because of my fat butt, but I see a day I might actually try it!

Wow wow wow!

I'm still here also.( September 24th) Doing well , feeling great. Down 60 lbs and 5 pant sizes. I made my 5 month picture yesterday and can not believe the transformation in that short time. I wish I kept it track of the inches, though. I must admit that this has been so much easier than I expected, and I actually enjoy the eats things are now. Keep checking in September buddies!

I had to change my reflux medication from protonix to Dexilant. That helped me a lot. Another thing I figured out early on was my thirst masqueraded as hunger, and in fact, it still does. You are quite early post -op, so you are probably both hungry and thirsty. Give yourself more time. Good luck!

I have NEVER posted a picture of myself anywhere, This was another step outside my comfort zone and your kind words made it easier for me, many thanks!

Holy moly! You look like your own little brother! Well done.

I always use a compression garment of some sort to manage my "Spillage".I liken my my body to a pair of panty hose; once you try on the hose, they never go back to the original shape. Neither will I, and at age 52 , my goal is to manage the saggies and extra skin. I have many different brands compression garments , but my favorite is Kymaro., from those dorky infomercials. I buy mine at Bed Bath and Beyond and save $ especially when I use the 20% off coupon. They hold their shape well and really do manage the muffin tops and give good support. They are definitely no frills but cost less than Spanx and Flexees. Good luck!

I love all the " Losers" on this thread! It has given me inspiration along the way . Here is my 5 month shot . The first pic is 8 days pre-op , next is 1 month post and the full length is this week , 5 months.

Honest answer- if I want a cocktail with friends , I have one. One is the key . I can't afford to waste my precious calories on alcohol , and since surgery, one drink goes a long way! My first drink was 8 weeks post op. I think one of the biggest reasons for caution (bedsides the empty calories) is the possibility of cross addiction from food to booze. That's another reason for my " one and done" style.

174.6 today

For me , the fact that the band can be reversed was a minus , not a plus as many consider . My personal opinion is that I was entering WLS with a commitment for a permanent solution to my obesity. I actually know a woman who had her band deflated prior to going on a cruise! What type of commitment is that? 2 other issues for me were the amount of follow up required with the band ( not my strong suit) and the high revision rate I saw as a nurse. I have not regretted my decision to get a VSG even for a minute. I am consistently losing weight, and have not felt deprived at all. Good luck with whatever you chose .

175.6 this week

175.6 this week

I'm sure by now , you aware of the infamous 3 week stall. Your body needs to readjust your metabolism. Stay the course and one day ( literally!) you will wake up and realize your pants won't fit and the scales drops. Don't expect huge losses , consistent weight is better for your body and skin in the long run. What tracker are you using? I use my fitness pal for good intake and a Fitbit for activity tracking. It keeps me honest with myself and shows the correlation between activity , calories and my weight loss. My guess is if you are staying "on program" you will have a very plea sent surprise next week! Good luck

I can't quantify these numbers for you, but I will suggest an app that I use daily. It's call"Get-2-Goal" in the iPhone App Store. It is very simple weight loss tracker that plots out your weight loss according to your surgery date and puts it on a graph that show Above average , Average or Keep working. The also have a progress table for expected WL @ 6, 12 24 months. I have used this tool for 5 months and I consistently fall slightly above the average line, for example , at 5 months I weigh 176. The "average" weight at 6 months based on my stats is 172 and @12 months is 150. This app is free and really helps me track my progress. It also showed me that as of today I am 72% towards my goal weight . It gives me a nice little affirmation.

My stats are close to identical to yours. HW was 234, SW was 227 and 5'6". At 19 weeks I am 176. Like you, I have a week where nothing happens and then the next week the loss seems to double up. So far only some slight hair shedding , not true hair loss . How about you? I'm hoping I'm out of the woods on this. You look wonderful , thanks for the inspiration and validation!

Love the attitude of gratitude ! WTG!

My CW : 177 Goal is 170

It gets better! Sip , walk and rest when necessary. Those should be your priorities for the first couple of weeks. Let us know how you are doing.

My quick " go to" meal is eggs ( scrambled or sunny side up) topped with tomatoes or avocado with a side of chicken sausage. Quick , easy and full of protein.

I went for my 10 week follow up and the doc on duty ( not my actual surgeon) told me that he thought I should have lost more at that point. Dam near broke my heart. I didn't go back for my next appointment. Flash forward , I am now almost 5 months out and have lost "only" 57 lbs. that number for me represents a 69% excess weight lost. Not too shabby in my opinion since 60% is average at 12 months. I will suggest getting a fitness/ activity tracker ( I use a Fitbit Flex) in addition to My Fitness Pal. The 2 together make a powerful team. They keep me honest with myself . Food does not have to be boring either. Spice it up, find new recipes. I avoid artificial sweeteners if possible, as they seem to create sugar cravings in me. I was not a big water drinker before and I am still not. I make my own infused waters with fruits, berries or cucumbers and I'm dining much better than with my fluid intake . Never underestimate the power of water. It will fill you up , flush you out and keep the wrinkles away! My point is, this journey is all about you; it's not your medical team, your friends or family. The level of commitment remains your choice. I wish you health and happiness !

I am grateful for so many things: - Crossing my legs easily - Unsubscribing Lane Bryant emails - Skinny jeans that are baggy - Shoveling snow without sweating

177 is final for me, thanks for all your hard work with this.

Woo hoo! Keep up the good work!