MouseOnTheMile

Awesome! Your skin looks amazing, have you been working out a lot to tone or just good genetics?

Awesome!! What an achievement, you best give us pictures ASAP! 100lbs is my goal, I'm over half way there three months post op and I'm 8 pounds from Onederland!

Yeah, popcorn\chips are a major slider for me >.< I don't partake often but when I did I noticed the difference easily.

^^ This. I am so thankful for this thread. I personally never had anxiety or doubts. But in particular, Back2Barb's recount of her experience came at the perfect time, a couple months before I set my date at OCC. I printed it off and gave it to my parents to read. Here was a woman describing her experience that wasn't an ad or a paid representative. It was enough to help put my parents at ease, and that's a big accomplishment. So thank you B2B

Good question! I hope this gets lots of responses, I'm interested to see the answers.

I am three months post op today and down a little over 50lbs (I have a goal of 100 down so already half way there ) I have also had a Mirena IUD for the last two and a half years, which I love! But I don't get a visible menstrual cycle anymore, makes it hard to figure out when things are going down. I believe I'm in my TOM now because I am more emotional and a few other calling cards (Water retention, bloating etc). Before surgery I had "bottomless pit" syndrome (sister suffers from it too) that on our menstrual cycles nothing fills us up. I never gave any thought to this side effect for after surgery but now during this noticeable influx of hormones, I find I can eat more than normal before feeling "full" or "satisfied" or "oh no what have I done". Is this normal? Has any one else noticed this phenomenon even after a surgery that shouldn't leave any extra space in my tummy for hormone changes? Should I be concerned? I'm still losing weight every week and although I'm not gouging myself by anyone's standards, I do notice the increased allowance my sleeve has been giving me with meals this week.

I've had my Mirena IUD for around 2.5 years, I'm three months out of surgery and down a little over 50lbs. Maybe that's slow by some standards but I'm happy with it (half way to goal!!) and my birth control.

Congratulations Madam! I have always been a fan of your posts, so clever, so eloquent. It's an art form lost on most people these days, especially when on the Internet. Did you have any sort of "Onederland" celebration?

So yesterday I was talking with my sister about my surgery and she said something that has been very hurtful to me and try my best, I can't shake it. I thinks it's because I tolerated her negative attitude towards my surgery beforehand. I thought maybe nearly three months out she'd be happy for me. But she appears to be quite bitter about losing her security blanket as "the skinny sister". My sister is not overweight by most standards. She's thick in the thighs and ass and fairly slim everywhere else. Healthy build I'd say. But she's not happy because she is heavier than she was 5 years ago. Alas, most non-dieting or exercising people would be happy with not watching what they eat and barely gaining. But I think she's scared I'm gonna be some stick thin model, making her fat by default. Anyway, what she said was: "I would never have what you had done. It's just an easy way out. To be miserable with food for the rest of my life and never enjoy another meal. Plus when I get to my goals, I'll be much much more proud of that accomplishment than you will when you get to yours." Then she got up and walked away. I always expected I'd have people that felt that way.. But my sister, super close in age to me, hell we are even roommates now as adults, who has seen me struggle with my weight forever, who has seen my panic and dismay whenever I need to dress up for a nice event, who has been through my shopping trip depressions... I thought she'd understand and be the most supportive. Sadly that's not the case. Sure there are times when eating is a chore and not enjoyable like it used to be but while that can be a challenge depending on the day, it's reassuring. Reassuring that food doesn't control me anymore. I still enjoy something's sometimes and that's what I think healthy eating habits can be. And I'm alright with that. Is it an easy button? I'm not going to lie like some zealots on here, so far, in the beginning, yes it has been easy. Especially in comparison to the lose and gain of every other attempt at weight loss I've tried. But I'm not deluded. It will not always be this way. It's going to become a battle. Anyway. I'll stop ranting, it's something we all struggle with. It just frustrated and cut me deep.

Prime rib (fat trimmed), mashed potatoes and a bit of broccoli (some veggies are still hard to eat depending on the day). I'm nearly three months out

You look awesome! Congratulations!

You got this! On preop, steamed cabbage and steamed broccoli were my absolute best friends haha

I started eating beef around 6-7 weeks out after I was cleared for solids. Never had an issue with beef, except when I eat too much by accident haha. chicken gives me a lot more trouble.

Meow! I've always been a sucker for men in glasses. You are looking hot! Good work!!

Welcome!! Glad to hear your experience was an amazing one too

Bought my first pair of non-plus sized jeans and they FIT! Buttoned them without muffin top! Stats: Age: 25 Height: 5'7 Surgery Date: November 12, 2013 HW: 260 SW: 245 CW: 213

As far as I know, everyone in this thread went through Dr Ariel Ortiz at OCC as the title states. And as far as I know, we all had wonderful experiences through him! So obviously he's the only one I would recommend.

I agree with what was said above, turning it on at all will incur roaming charges and roaming will slay you. OCC didn't have wifi while I was there and the Marriott did but every day or two wed have to go get new codes/passwords for it

Did you go to OCC? When was your surgery? None of that stuff was approved by the NUT for my preop.

Anyone is free to add me: Mouse0nTheMile (the O in On is a zero) My diary should be open and hey, I chart everything and I'm not a purist, I eat some stuff I shouldn't, in small amounts and I'm honest about it. I've fortunately never had flame for it.

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Had my surgery with Dr Ortiz on November 12th 2013 and I second every thing said above, no real complications except for a bit of swelling in the upper portion of the sleeve the first day which made drinking nearly impossible. I brought it up when I went in for my barium swallow, they took it seriously, checked me out to make sure nothing was askew, and in the end I only needed a quick anti inflammatory shot to sort things out. Even my scars look WAY better than I expected, the incisions looked remarkably better than most of the ones I had seen on this forum. Very thin and fine and he didn't stitch the outside, used surgical adhesive so there was no additional scarring. Maybe that's inconsequential to some, but I really appreciate little details like that, it just shows the kind of thought and consideration that OCC have for their clients. The staff and experience was lovely, way better than I have experienced in Canada ever. My father came with me and he loved that Dr Ortiz came in and personally spoke with us (my dad even light heartedly threatened him with what would happen if he messed me up and Dr Ortiz laughed and shook his hand and told him he had a daughter too and knows what my dad must be feeling, as well as reassured him that he would take care of me in surgery as if I were his own) and we made some friend among the other OCC attendees. All in all a great experience in general, not even just for a surgery. I would have been comfortable going alone, they hold your hand through the whole process so it's not like you are just left on the side of the road with vague directions. You don't find such hands on experiences like this one often, especially when it comes to medical procedures.

I'm two months out and rarely find a food that doesn't agree with my stomach. Aside from lettuce, I haven't really tried raw veggies, but I love fruit. Beef and fish are easier to digest for me personally than chicken is.

Congratulations! You are a major motivator and source of comfort not for just OCC'ers but for everyone on this forum. Thank you for your insight into this process.

I weigh monthly. Then I don't see stalls or obsess