valkyrea

I was 180 when I got married that's my first BIG goal but of course I wanna get under 200 that will be big for me!!! I was 140 in the 5th grade and never remember wearing less then 16 woman's clothing so I'm not even sure I can lose anymore lol it will be very odd to me I am 30 and have had 3 boys and I can't wait to live and be free from this prison of weight I have been in dr so long!!!

I was sleeved June 3rd so I'm a little past 3 months but I wanted to share my pictures anyway. I started at 280 and I was 209 Sunday(my weigh day).

9 months ago (Sept 4, 2012) I went in to have my surgery. This was my last attempt to get back the life I loved and missed so much and little did I know at the time that it would be the best decision I'd ever made for myself. I want to share this because I remember looking to these boards trying to find out what to expect and how to know if I was making the right choice. Only you can decide what's right for you, but after everything I'd do it again 100x without hesitation. I had a few small hurdles to overcome after my surgery, but they were small in comparison to the reward I feel now. I will be forever grateful for the decision I made. I couldn't walk without feeling miserable, going out made me feel terrible because I never felt good about the way I looked after gaining the weight and I just wasn't living life to the fullest. I wish I'd had the surgery years ago, but what's important is that I had it. 9 months ago I was in a tight size 20 jeans and XXL tops. Today I'm wearing a 9 in jeans which are super loose so I’ll probably be going down another size within the next couple of weeks and a small or medium in tops. Knowing I can walk into any store and buy clothes makes me jump for joy. Every time I pass Lane Bryant I say a quiet thank you that they were there when I needed them and then smile because I know I'll never need them again. I can go into any store I want and try on and wear nearly anything I want. Don't get me wrong, there are still things I see that I love and I'm not able to wear just yet, but I'm almost there and I could not say that a year ago. I'm going to touch on some of the things I had so many questions and curiosities about so that maybe I can help someone else with the same concerns.
First of all, my BIGGEST concern throughout this process was the possibility of hair loss. I had very fine hair to begin with and it has never been extremely thick. It was perfect for me, but I didn’t feel like I had any to spare. At pretty much exactly 3 months out the dreaded Hair loss started and my heart broke. I was terrified that this was happening to me. I was finally having success at losing weight and now I had to deal with something else that would make me feel bad. I was losing hair with a vengeance and I remember saying to myself, “it’s going to be okay, just roll with the punches and it’s going to stop before it gets too bad” until one day I realized I had thinned enough on top that it was noticeable and I broke down and cried. Listen up ladies; this is about 98% likely to happen to you so mentally prepare for it so when it comes you don’t lose your mind. I wasn’t happy, but I was prepared as much as I could be because I’d done the research. I had beautiful and long straight blonde hair. It was my staple and always had been. I held on for as long as I could and started getting weekly salon treatments to help with regrowth (which if you can afford worked AMAZING), but I did finally have to cut my long locks into a cute and sexy short style. I have NEVER had short hair and I was terrified, but because I was no longer “fat” it looked amazing on me and gave my hair the volume it was lacking since it was so long. It is still short (I have since cut it again bc I loved the way it looks so much) and all of the hair I lost is coming back in thanks to my treatments and the hair loss coming to a stop. I think it stopped falling out after about 3-4 months so it was a while before I noticed I was no longer losing fist fulls of hair. I kept my long hair in a cute braid to the side or French braided for a few months before I finally cut it because it was thin enough at that point that leaving it down just wasn’t an option anymore or everyone would have noticed.
Another concern I had was “what is my body going to look like after this surgery if I lose a lot of weight?” Well, I needed to lose a little over 100lbs and have lost 92 so far. I feel very lucky because it isn’t too bad. My arms underneath are a little flappy, but I also haven’t worked out like I should and am currently working on that and can tell it’s getting better. My tummy is pretty much what I expected. I do not have any loose skin there at this point (and don’t think I will), but it’s not my favorite to look at for a few reasons. I have a ton of stretch marks, particularly on my lower tummy area) and since losing weight they definitely make it hard for my lower tummy to not hang a little. Now, I have seen some bad pics of bellies and mine isn’t horrible at all, but I don’t love it. I also hate my surgery scars because I want to be able to eventually show my stomach in a swimsuit and they will keep me from feeling comfortable doing that. I want to get a Tummy Tuck, but that will have to wait for now. I did do a consult and the doctor wants me to wait until a year out and then of course I have to figure out financing. She did say, however, that I won’t need a full tuck because my muscles underneath are in great shape so technically I’ll only need the panniculectomy done. She is trying to get insurance to approve that, but I don’t think it will happen because it doesn’t look horrible or hang much at all and I can’t imagine they will cover it, but we’ll see. My breasts are another area that has been significantly affected. They are much smaller than they were (although still considered large and well-proportioned for my body size) and they are hanging down lower than they should now. This again seems to be because of the stretching (stretch marks). They could use a lift and the doctor thinks around 350cc’s implant to fill in where the skin is loose. I’m hoping to have this done at the same time as the tummy tuck. All that said about the surgeries I’m looking at, I could never do the surgery and I would still look great guys. So, if you’re concerned about not having the money for surgery later on, don’t let that be a deterrent. I still look pretty fabulous naked compared to a year ago. I have had a thousand compliments on my change in appearance since my surgery and the men I’m around are falling all over themselves and not just any men, but the hot and fit ones, so don’t let something like a few imperfections keep you from following through with your surgery because if I never get plastics done I will still be more than okay with the way my body looks and I have done virtually no physical exercise up until recently. I saved this for last because it is for me the one place I do have some loose skin. It is very little, but trust me, I hate it and it’s something I can’t help but notice and it’s my inner thighs. I’m very short so for me my fat distributed more to my backside and thighs than anywhere else. I was fat all over, don’t get me wrong, but this area took a lot of what the rest of my body couldn’t hold so when I lost weight, that area became very flabby because it’s such a fatty area. Again, I have not worked out like I should so I KNOW I can improve this by leaps and bounds which is what I’m working on now. I will try to update you on that progress later on for those who are interested. I am hoping to eventually get it to a point where it’s virtually unnoticeable and think it’s possible aside from the stretch marks which I could care less about for the most part since even the skinniest people I know have those.
As far as my body, that is all I can think of that were huge concerns of mine going into this last year. I really do look amazing and feel like I’ve won such an amazing prize by getting my life back. It’s been so long since I was smaller I hadn’t realized how much differently I was treated from before I gained the weight. It isn’t right, I will agree, but there is a definite difference and I was even extremely confident for someone who was overweight. I always thought people treated me the same, but now I’m realizing they didn’t. I am called sweetheart and darling all of the time now where I didn’t get that as often before. I’m constantly complimented on my clothing, hair, smile, face, jewelry, etc. I have always been very fashion conscious so I did get compliments when I was bigger, but nothing to the magnitude that I am now. It really does make you feel amazing and I can’t stop smiling. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of walking into a room or up to someone and having them call me “skinny”. Some people take offense to that from what I’ve read on these boards, but I think everyone is also entitled to their opinion. For me, it makes me feel like all of the effort I’ve put into making healthy eating choices and watching my portions to aid my sleeve are just being complimented every time someone says “Oh my God, you look amazing”.
And, this post has gone so long that I’m just going to briefly touch on food and stalls because I read a lot about that before and after my surgery too. I think everyone is different and should treat this surgery in such a way that will benefit their weight loss goals. While I was definitely addicted to food for a period of time after gaining weight, I have not always been big so for me, after the surgery, I did not miss food at all and I know everyone isn’t so lucky. So, I have been able to possibly indulge a little more than someone who would never be able to stay on the wagon if they did. My diet is pretty lax compared to most I see on here, but I also do not eat much at all even almost a year out. Up until recently I was still only eating 3-4 bites before becoming full. I think that is different for everyone. I usually do something small in the mornings (egg or oatmeal) and then eat pretty normal the rest of the day. I try to make healthy choices such as choosing a lean Protein, but if I have a bite or two of a side it’s usually what everyone else is having. The beauty for me is that I only eat a bite or two and if you can’t do that then stay away from the carbs because it isn’t worth damaging your weight loss for. I look at it like this, I spent 8 years eating myself to death so I’m going to skip the pie or cake because I ate enough of that for a lifetime. If there is cake, I’ll take a bite of my husbands if I just really want to try it, but usually it doesn’t appeal to me at all. I have stalled a few times throughout, but unlike some, I don’t worry about it because I know I’m eating small portions. I was stuck at the 150 mark for probably longer than any other stall (a complete month with not losing even a pound) so I went back to Protein shakes for Breakfast and then made sure I was only eating lean Protein for lunch and dinner with minimal carbs and I’m now down to 145 so that proves to me that if I’m stalling I can break through with a little effort on my part. Another thing that I know is controversial is sodas. I used to drink Dr. Pepper like crazy and since surgery I will admit that I do have the occasional Dr. Pepper. Now, that said, by occasional I may do this once every three to four weeks and when I do it’s one of the tiny 90 calorie cans. Again, I am not easily persuaded back into old habits so if you are DON’T do it! I just want one occasionally and I don’t deprive myself of it. Some people can’t even tolerate it anyways so it’s not an issue. I tend to be able to tolerate most anything. The only things that have changed pretty drastically are that I don’t like the taste of milk anymore so I don’t drink it at all where I used to drink a glass every couple of days. I can’t stand it now. I also can’t really eat anything super spicy anymore which makes me a little sad. I love jalapenos and used to eat them with everything and I just can’t handle it. It doesn’t hurt my belly, but gives me horrible acid reflux/indigestion so I just don’t go there. I have eaten ice-cream a couple of times and it was bad. I had symptoms similar to dumping and that will make you stay away forever because it’s no fun. I think it was because it was liquid and ran straight through so quickly because if I eat something sweet that’s solid such as a small brownie or cookie (which is rare, but does happen once in a blue moon) it doesn’t have the same affect. Again, I just think everyone is different. I was never one to eat a lot of sweets or snack so it is pretty much a non-issue for me.
I really hope there is some useful information in this post for those of you who are new or thinking about surgery. I just know I would scour the boards for hours trying to find info and compare notes and find people that were close to me in size and stature. It always gives you something to look forward to. If you have a specific question about something I didn't talk about here, feel free to ask me. I'd be happy to answer it for you.

Here goes girl! I have a closet of little black dresses that are too big now! I found a duplicate of my favorite one in a thrift store in a M... I usually fit a L but this one fits just fine.

tiffany1406[/b] welcome to our happy "little" group
ask any and all your questions - you'll get good answers
read the boards - you'll see a lot of good information
sorry your hair hasn't grown back yet - hopefully it will soon
weight gain, 7 lbs..............
good for you - you are being pro-active/wanting to nip this in the bud!!!!
as Arts137 correctly suggested - go back to basics
like going back to kindergarten!!!
maybe do only liquids for a week, get a little jump on weight loss, then get back to all the rules
If you forgot any...............
stop drinking about 20 minutes before you eat
never, ever, ever drink with your meals/food
wait 45-60 minutes after you eat before you drink
drink at least 64 ounces of Water a day
eat very slowly
put utensil down between bites
small mouthfuls chewed to a zillion pieces
Protein first - 60 gr a day
watch the carbs and sugar
do you/can you still go to a NUT???
you've lost 144 lbs
thats wonderful!!!!
you were successful before
I know you will be successful again!!!
get back on that horse - and ride to the finish line
I have confidence in you
i see the determination in your beautiful eyes - and more slender body
good luck
kathy
congrats

Oh, I can relate. I just cancelled myself 2 days before surgery. In my case, few doctors take my insurance. I did find another one who is very good and does take it, but like you he insists I go to his seminar on Oct. 4th. I'm not sure what I'll do. Some of my hoops I jumped thru will be a year old in Oct.
If I wait much longer, I may have to redo them. I don't want to do that so I'm seriously thinking of going with my original surgeon. In my case, my surgeon is the best around, but he and his P.A. are troublesome.
In your case is everyone in his office nasty or is it just one person? What's the surgeon like? Can you talk to him about this? If it's just one person, then you won't have to deal with her much, if at all, after surgery.
If possible, I would talk to the surgeon even if it means scheduling another visit. See how he reacts to the news.

I agree! I feel that I made the right decision. They never once apologized nor did she call me back after I left message saying I was cancelling! I am tempted to go there tomorrow, sign a release and ask for my file so that I can begin my journey elsewhere!

I got a wild hair and decided to make a white russian: vodka, cream, coffee liqueur. I only had coffee not the liqueur. It was ok tasting, did not give me much of a buzz, burned my tummy, and filled me up almost immediately.
No getting drunk here.
I was nauseous for two days.
The vodka is destined to be used as cleaning Fluid.
First time I imbibed since sleeving.....and the last.

You guys are HILARIOUS!
I don't feel so much shame now knowing that I am in good company!
Kobe Grill is my Walmart story. Again, not proud.

We went to a hibachi grill. The one that cooks the food in front of you. Well this place apparently puts teriyaki sauce on EVERYTHING. Ugg. My scallops & shrimp blew out my a 15 minutes later in their bathroom. Later when I took my daughter to the bathroom they had an 'out of order' sign on the door! LOL. Seriously? It's not like I **** all over the wall.... I didn't miss the toilet. I PROMISE! We made a hasty retreat and never went back. Sorry Kobe Grill.

i pray and hope that I will have a horrible reaction to cake which I LOVE (If I'm ever dying in front of your eyes, please offer me some and watch me come back to life) but my sleeve appears to be super-accommodating and doesn't seem to mind anything! dang it.
Except maybe cake if I'm lucky and ever desperate enough to try it?

Have you considered joining the 5:2 group. I hear they're having success.
I'd urge you to go back to basics-maybe do a 5 day pouch test? I'm told thats a good way to beat back the carb monster.
Maybe make a pro con list about foods that conflict you- like bread- pro-tastes amazing con-doesn't help me reach my goals
Sorry youre having trouble & youre right that person who said stop eating s$$$ is an "lint licker"
allons-y

This is a life long struggle and you will highs and lows with the foods that you are eating. I just finished one of those lows but here's the deal..........YOU CAN'T EAT THE TRIGGER FOODS EVER! I am not yelling that at you but nicely emphasizing that to you. You have to constantly look at new recipes and change up your foods. The mundane day in and day out same old foods will just bring you way down. This is a struggle that I am trying very hard to change. This new life requires really does require a lifestyle change and it does take making yourself do it to succeed. If you have a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods around you I would suggest that you check them out. They have all kinds of foods that fit into our diet and are fun to experiment with. Treat yourself to something special that is just for you and not for the rest of the family. Today for lunch I made a caprese salad, cheese cubes W/olives and a fruit medley of pineapple, strawberries, and blueberries. That sounds like a ton of food but it was actually very small portions but it looked and tasted awesome and no bad carbs! Carbs are addictive and kill your weight loss. If you aren't getting exercise then try taking a walk or a bike ride this will lift your spirits! I am so glad that you reached out for our help that alone means you are trying! Good luck to you and please keep talking with us!
Just read your previous post and I truly understand where you are right now. It's tough and it sucks really sucks! You were correct to reach out and I hope what I said you don't take the wrong way. It was heartfelt and sincere. Hang in there!

I did not post that looking for "permission" to eat junk. I was sharing my struggle and hoping for some encouragement to get back on track. And partly I was posting just to be accountable to myself by making it public. I was being honest.
I really find that there is a lot of negativity and judgement on this forum.
The best advice I've gotten so far was the suggestion about a therapist. The rest is just nasty and judgmental. And to the person who said "stop eating ****"... You are about 4 days out, right? I hope for your sake you don't struggle like I am at 4 months, but at 4 days food made me sick. That changes over time and it does get harder. I'm not making excuses for my choices. Just being real and looking for some help.

I think only you can answer if sleeved life is right for you. Are you tired of gaining weight? Tired of feeling hungry all the time? Tired of people not really seeing u? Tired of always being tired? What do you picture the rest of your life being without this surgery? Those were the questions I asked myself 3+ years ago. Your life does change and food turns into an energy source not something to do of to fill a hole.. But you have to change your mind set. If your going to do it... Jump in whole heartedly!!!!!!

For a few weeks before my surgery I started having second thoughts. I was really scared, mostly of the surgical process itself. However, I'm 3 weeks post-op and really glad I went through it. Even though I still weigh 386lbs (started at 657lbs on 9/20/12), i no longer feel like "the fat guy". I know I'm gonna shed the weight and it won't define me anymore. I have a new found confidence and so much new energy!

Cassie laid it out quite clearly.
I know you wanted to hear from recent sleevers of which I am not but when I considered your statement, "this is such a massive life changing decision" I asked myself, "What has changed in my life?"
Outside of all the positives: health improvements, energy increases, ease of buying clothes, etc., and the negative: occasional heartburn, the only real change that has occured is that I eat less. My stomach talks back to me now whereas before it just put up with whatever I shoved down there and complained later.
The social changes are insignificant to me. My friends understand or they are not my friends and no problem. I have lost no one through this, apparently my friends and relatives really loved me.

Ladies -
Only you can answer the ultimate question of whether this is right for you or not. Your surgeon can advise you on the risks of surgery. Weigh that factor heavily.
There is a plethora of information on this site about the trials and tribulations of pre-op and post-op weight loss. While I certainly Celebrate individuality, I see many threads of commonalities in the postings here. Meaning... there are other people just like you. Look for them. You may even want to contact them. Ask what you are really worried about....
I was sleeved in June of this year. So most of us June sleevers are about 3 months out or a bit less. 99% of us are past the physical issues related to surgery and now dealing with stalls and avoiding old habits again. I would suggest reading the June 2013 sleevers trail of messages where you will see the good bad and ugly as about 100 people went through this process.
In my humble opinion, the physical repercussions are relatively minor compared to the mental and emotional ones. Each of us has their our own set of challenges but there is a great deal of crossover.
Build a strong network of people close to you in real life and perhaps a few key supporters online that really "get it" and "get you".
This is not easy but either was being overweight with no hope in sight. 24+ years of just getting heavier, trying every diet, exercise plan, gaining after pregnancy - I am surprised I am still sane.
"Did I try hard enough?" That is the self-sabotage question of a lifetime. I asked myself that long enough and was becoming my own worst enemy. Finally, for me, I just said to myself - "The results are in and these people with sleeves are really doing it. I just don't want to live like this anymore and I don't want even more problems when I age." There is a posting about the Straw that Broke the Camels back here. I would suggest you read those postings. VERY compelling statements about what brought people to this point. I suspect you will see yourself in a variety of those postings.
"Did I try hard enough" can imply that this step is not a hard one. This process/journey is by no means easy. So I suspect when you're on the other side of surgery you will say "Damn right I have!!" Pat yourself on the back for figuring out that this is going to work for you and get ready to work with a tool that you have been looking for all of your life.
I wish you both the best of luck in your continued journey. Feel free to reach out to me privately too. The best is yet to come.

Good Morning Everyone,
I woke up this morning and weighed myself.....I have lost a total of 50lbs since starting this journey.
My heaviest weight =289 lbs Nov. 2012
Prior to pre-op diet =266 lbs Aug. 12th
Day of Surgery =251 lbs Aug. 23rd
After Surgery =259 lbs Aug. 25th
22 days post-op =239 lbs Sept. 17th
Woohoo for me.......happy dance, happy dance.
Oh, I also had a NSV yesterday.......I fit comfortably in a size 18 jeans.

This is why I'm doing it. I have a 2 year old son and is extremely playful and active. I can barely keep up with him without being in pain and when we go to the playground, I have to sit down and watch him and my husband (who is in a bit better shape than I am, but contemplating VSG) playing with him. If I can't keep up now, where am I going to be the rest of his life? Sitting one the sidelines? No way.

Thanks you guys! So many emotions today! I just keep thinking of my three year old son. I'm doing this for him! He asked me a few months ago, "Run with me, Mommy!" And I couldn't and it was the worst feeling ever! I want to run with him more than anything in the world! I'm just scared! I hope I'm doing the right thing by having surgery! I've tried for years to get it off by myself - but nothing has ever worked! So here's hoping this is my shot to finally get healthy!

1 week post op. Finally got some decent exercise in. 2.7 miles walked! Feel great. As always getting my Protein in right now via shake. Rule of thumb when y'all start walking or any exercise protein after!!! Helps recovery time! Anyhow....y'all will heal and get on your feet. Listen to your body and when ready Start Moving! We all didn't go through this for nothing. Remember it is just a tool! If you don't start changing the thoughts in your head to help change the patterns in your life. You will be right back where you started before making this decision sooner than later. I wasn't always overweight. Graduated high school a normal 130lbs. Bad decisions mentally physically and spiritually put me at my hw of 260. Don't get me wrong. I gotta kick my arse out the door at times to do it but it is so worth it! We can all do this!!! Hang in there!!!!

So I'm at the hospital! In my gown! Nerves are high but I'm ready... Mom and boyfriend are here with me. Waiting on my IV and finishing my registration. 8am surgery! Lets get sleeved!

Today is my 36th birthday and for the first time in 30 years I am not overweight. I started my WLS journey 1-1-12 (surgery 2-14-12) and since then I have lost an entire person. I started at 335# and a size 28. Today I am 160# and a size 8. I am 20# below my surgical goal. It is a very shocking transformation and I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. I am less than half the weight I started out at and wear about 1/4 the size clothes. Mindboggling. I don't even recognize myself, let alone people that haven't seen me in awhile. I don't plan to try to lose any more because I am getting way too bony. I am in the process of trying to have plastic surgery though. I believe when that is done I will be a size 6..possibly even a 4/6. Unbelievable. I am a large framed woman and never would have believed it was possible for me to be this small. A 16 was my goal because it was the smallest I could ever remember being.

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