TonyaA

My picture is from one month post op (I'm now 2 months) and I'm knocking on 44's door in a few weeks, BUT most new people that I meet think I'm at least 10 years younger and now that I'm slimming down, I feel 10 years younger!!

Greetings B'ham Sleevers! I had my surgery on July 24th at St. Vincent's East and Dr. Schmitt was my surgeon. He and his staff are great! I had minimal pain after surgery, haven't even popped the top on the liquid pain meds! I took a week off work to recover and just finished my first week back at work. Overall my experience has been very positive. I am just now getting my 64 oz of fluids in daily. I have bought some high Protein products from Bariatric Choice which has helped me get my daily Protein in.
I would like to meet other Sleevers from the area. I am planning to attend the support group meetings that are held monthly at St. VIncent's East.

I was so sure that I would be my surgeon's "poster child" for VSG, no such luck... But after my 3.5 month follow up with him yesterday, he was happy with my progress. I am down 54 lbs and a couple of sizes. I've had stalls and now the dreaded hair loss. I make sure I take my supplements and my Biotin daily.
We are all special... we took the necessary steps to better ourselves! Good luck everyone!

I was so sure that I would be my surgeon's "poster child" for VSG, no such luck... But after my 3.5 month follow up with him yesterday, he was happy with my progress. I am down 54 lbs and a couple of sizes. I've had stalls and now the dreaded hair loss. I make sure I take my supplements and my Biotin daily.
We are all special... we took the necessary steps to better ourselves! Good luck everyone!

Okay so last night my hubby put a fire on in the wood stove and soon we could small this unfamiliar small. We then noticed that the chimney was on fire and my hubby then called the fire department to see if there was a way for him to get it out....
They sent 3 trucks, sirens and lights going all the way down our little street and woke all the noisy neighbors up. I grabbed one of my hubby's coats and went outside and leaned against the garage door as they started to come down the driveway. Hoses, extinguishers and ladders started showing up along with 10 firemen. They busily took care of business and the chief came over to me and told me all was okay and not to worry...I said that's good and I stayed in my place while they climbed onto the roof and sprayed Water and extinguishers down our chimney.
While leaning on the garage door I reached into my husbands pocket and pulled out 4 Halloween chocolate bars.... I did not even give it a second thought and downed all 4 in about 2 seconds....I realized what I had done after as I started to feel sick as a dog...I looked at my hands and there was the empty wrappers as evidence of my crime....
So easy, so fast....I showed my husband and he laughed and said lucky you, you at least got chocolate....I once again stared in disbelief at the wrappers in my hands....
I can't believe how close to the surface my addiction to food is still here. I wonder if I will ever get a hold of it...Not using food as a comfort for troubles...
As a side note!!!!!!! Firemen are so hot when they are in uniform.....That was the good part of all of it....dang!!!!!!!!!!!

Deleting

Surgery date 7/24/13
Start weight 288
Current weight 236
Down 52 lbs! Shirts down 2 sizes and pants down 3 sizes!
This has been a great journey so far and can't wait to see where it takes me!

Take a deep breath...... Regroup..... Now tomorrow is a bran new day. When you get up take your Vitamins, start counting your Proteins. Just put all this behind you and start new. I may not know you personal, but I have faith in you bc you cowboyed up and talked about what's going on. I admire you for that.

12-26-12
Starting weight 393
Surgery weight 350
Today !!! 219

I am 1 month post op and I am hearing from people that other people (at work and amongst other friends) are asking what I'm doing to lose weight because I'm "shrinking"! I had been sitting here after a cold walk feeling sorry for myself because I wanted candy, but when another unsolicited compliment came in from my fiancés best friend, it cheered me up! And he has NO idea about my surgery. Pre-Op W: 262 CW: 236.3

You look great, keep up the good work!

I have the same thing happening to me, it's so amazing that my pastor only recognized my face and made me stand up in church and told everyone how amazing I look. I felt so good.????
My co- workers only recognizes my voice.

It's no wonder he didn't recognize you. You may feel the same, but you look totally different. Equally lovely, just different. Having people do the double take must be so fun. Congrats on your fantastic weight loss!

You look wonderful!!!
The FBI's face recognition software may have a hard time with you. :ph34r:

After losing 117 in all and in less than 10 months I guess I shouldn't be surprised when we people I've known a long time don't recognize me but I think I still look like me. I mean, the weight loss is pretty obvious but it's still me. I even looked at some face comparisons and I just don't get it. A family friend we've known for more than 14 years stuck his hand out to shake my hand as I was going in for a hug. After a very awkward pause and then my husband walking up behind me he realizes it was me. I'm still me.

At the end of the day, you have to decide. I don't think you'll find a doctor that would say you were at low risk for all sorts of morbidities with a BMI of 35. When I started the process of getting approved, I only had mild hypertension and was 36. However, every time I went for a physical, I was terrified I was going to be told I had developed Type II diabetes. Every time, the doctor told me I was at high risk for it.
I too had tried most diets: Atkins, medifast, nutrisystem, normal and regular dieting. All worked in the short term but eventually I regained my losses plus more to the point I had a BMI of 47. All without having anything that a low level blood pressure medicine couldn't take care of.
After my last physical in which I was terrified of being diagnosed with diabetes and having gone through another post-diet regain, I decided enough was enough. I couldn't let my fear of diabetes motivate me to lose and keep off any weight and I was tired of letting my size be the first thing people noticed about me. I started looking at lap band and quickly realized sleeve was the better option for me. One of the big draws for me was that I was not a snacker or grazer; I liked large meals. And looking at many posts here and seeing what other sleevers eat in person, I don't think it would be a big deal socially. Many guys eat a 4-6 ounces at a meal, which would be a decent dent in a plate at a meal. It is tough for the first couple months as we ease back into normal foods and getting to the 4-6 ounces we can eat at a meal. I'm still in that process right now and it is still odd. The other night, I went to dinner with friends, ordered some bisque and ate about 3 ounces of the liquid. Same thing at lunch last week. I'm only 13 days postop though. I'm realizing that socializing and eating huge meals are completely independent on each other. In fact, I have enjoyed it more as I am less focused on devouring the huge plate in front of me and more on chatting up friends.
I too am very social. In fact, my very first post on these forums was in the Man Room asking about socializing after the sleeve. I love going out to bars, clubs, concerts, sporting events, etc. I do it all still without any issues. I haven't started back on any alcohol yet and likely won't for a while because in my mind, if I made this huge decision, I'm doing it right. I enjoy alcohol like most of us, but I've enjoyed it plenty on my way to a high BMI. Many, many sleevers drink and I will again eventually. But I still go out and have fun at bars and whatnot.
At the end of the day you have to decide whether you want it or not. It's a hell of a decision and one that everyone naturally questions during the process. Socializing is one that I think you will find ends up not being an issue folks worry about.

Down 51/52 lbs! (depending on the day and Water weight LOL)...4 1/2 months out. Looking forward to losing even more! Yay!

What our nutritionist said (and this is where the show title comes from) is this:
"Plan on seven bites. Four bites of Protein. Two bites of vegetable. One bite of starch. Wait ten minutes. If you're still hungry, go have another bite or two of Protein or vegetable."
In all, you should be able to eat about a 1/4-1/2 C meal within 30-45 minutes, and that will usually equal out to 7-10 bites.

Okay I am going to try a post todays weight on my scale. I have not seen this number on the scale in such a long time! I simply cannot believe it.

Thanks guys :-) I was upset & scared at first, then I was angry, and now realize it's yet another incident in my life where I can clearly see the hand of God on me. I am truly blessed :-)

For me my whole family are great at gorging and eating unhealthy. I decided the holidays for me will be more about the emotional aspect. What I mean is....focusing on the love I have for my family and just enjoying their company. I had my 44th birthday this Sunday and no cake or gourmet cupcakes my daughter usually gets me. My brother offered to take me out to dinner. They forget. Lol. What I decided to do was jut enjoy the family time. We laughed a lot as I ate my sugar fee pudding. Lol. We also were thinking about doing some service or volunteer work and giving back to our community on the holidays. My daughter work for Starbucks and they require it. So she has done a lot. It may be our new tradition and get the focus off food. I hope that inspires you! :-). Best wishes!

You don't need to feel mentally horrible too! Just take it as a learning experience. Now you know! Make tomorrow a brand new day. You can do this!

You look great! I'm about 10 weeks out, down 48 lbs. I need to upload new pics. I love buying clothes two sizes smaller than what I was wearing!
Keep up the great work!

I think you look amazing right now....