smryan

Thanks for following up with us *newbies*! Your post was inspiring and you look amazing but better yet, I'm happy to hear you FEEL better!

So, I have not been on here in awhile. Actually several of us broke off in a group on Facebook that had the surgery on the same month. I thought I would come back on here today to share my success story. It's only fitting since my journey really started here. I was in the exact same spot most of you over two years ago. First the lurker, just reading everything I could to figure out if this is what I wanted to do. I admit it, I was scared. I thought if I just keep trying harder, more time..I can lose on my own. This seemed so extreme!! However, the longer I waited, the more weight I gained, the harder it was to move, the more pain I was in. My blood pressure was OUT of control in a bad way. I was a stroke waiting to happen, and my blood sugars began to rise. So I finally "knew" it was this or I will be disabled, diabetic, worst dead before I reach 65. I have been watching my father slowly deteriorate from obesity and I decided I would not let this happen to me. I was spiraling, and spiraling fast! I received a lot of criticism, some even from people I really loved and needed, but it wouldn't change my mind. This is my life and my life to save, so you have to just let those entire punches role. If you let that get to you, it just feeds into that past behavior and insecurity that drives most of us to eat in the first place. Getting this surgery is NOT the "fix all" folks. If you are considering this surgery, or going through the first stages, you have understand the fundamentals to the success of this surgery is changing from the "inside" out. Or it's not going to work. Get your head straight first, because trust me, you are about to be tested psychologically and emotionally regardless. At least get a head start on yourself, and get some good solid coping skills together because I will be honest...it's hard. People will tell you hundred times over..."You took the easy way out" ha!!! That's a laugh! This whole process, our whole lives, our issues...all of it....this has never been easy...and either is this. That being said...let me now get to the good part!!!

I am now one year and four months post surgery May 2012. I have lost a total of 115 pounds and I have maintained my weight at 130-132 for the past 10 months. The farther I get from surgery the easier and easier it is to tolerate and eat different food, including bad foods...hence why its important to change eating habits first!!! If I were not careful, I could gain it all back, small bite, by small bite. What is nice is I DID do it the right way and worked on the inside first, I tackled the head first...and when i thought I did enough, realized i even had more work when challenged further post op. There is a mourning period....or at least for me, and from many others I confided in, for them as well. I actually felt sad and depressed...i went through the period of ...oh my god...what did I just do? Did I just make a mistake? Oh no!!.....(I now know I didn't) But I had to go through it. It was a roller coaster for awhile. So NOW I am at a place that food no longer holds the same meaning to me. I am no longer a slave to the food if that makes sense. Ironically, I like to cook more now because it's all about finding that healthy great flavor in the matter of a few ounces. So quality verses quantity. I admit, I even forget to eat sometimes. Losing the appetite was definitely one of the biggest advantages to this surgery. Not everyone is so lucky, and some days I actually do feel like I could eat a horse, even though I can only fit an ear inside my tiny tummy, haha!! The best part for me was getting my blood pressure under control. My blood sugars under control, and I no longer have pain. If anyone goes and reads my old blogs from before surgery, all I ever complained about was the pain...oh the pain...It's actually funny to read because only once in a long time do I get pain in my joints and back now. In fact I went Boogie Boarding in San Diego last weekend IN A BIKINI!!!! Sometimes it's like you are looking at a stranger in the mirror, it takes a little while to identify with the new you, and that actually causes mixed emotions, more "issues" to deal with. The attention you receive will change..it's not always comfortable. And yes, I continue to still get the negative nelly's that want to try and bring me down, or are insecure, or jealous, or whatever their reason for being down right inconsiderate and tactless about it...but like I said, let it roll. It's their issue, not yours. You are saving your life; you are extending your life. This is your journey, no one else’s, don't let anyone else ever dictate how you feel or what you choose to do for yourself. If you have to, some relationships may just fall apart, its unfortunate, but it's realistic, it does happen. I hope most of you have supportive people in their life that they can turn to no matter who else doesn't stand by your side. If you don't, really utilize this site and these people on here. There are so many great people here wanting and willing to talk with you and support you through all stages of this. Stay strong, even at your weakest moments, remember...it does...and will get easier and better. Good luck and peace you all!!! The before and after picture I attached was actually completed at 11 months post op, so the skinny pics were from 5 months ago, but I look the same, just a little tanner, haha!!!

Thanks for coming back here to share this. I can tell you still remember how much the encouragement, and the FRANK talk, means to those of us early on in the journey. It's a HUGE help to some of us to hear the TRUTH from the veterans as well as to see that success is, indeed, possible. Again...thanks so much!

I was sleeved 8/13/13
HW 283
SW 271
Todays weight 244
39 down total!!
My 3rd week i did have a stall but losing again. Slowly but surely

So, five month anniversary and I sometimes can't quite take in all the changes in life over that time. Short period, monumental change.
Am I the same person? Yes, I am. But I feel as if someone has polished me. I feel shiny and full of energy, like I did many years ago. I am calm, confident and happy, emotions that have been buried beneath misery, uncertainty, frustration and anger. Not all weight related but summed up by my failure to deal with my health and weight.
Life is now full of endless possibilities. I see no barriers. I am even considering taking up running. Me, the girl who was told from a child that I was built for comfort, not speed.
I mentioned this in another post but I am beginning to like how I look, all of me. Yes there are some lumps and bumps but so what? I have restarted a social life and hosted a dinner for business colleagues last night with 4 courses. Didn't even panic - chopped up the starter and hid it round the plate: ate most of the piece of fish; had some sorbet from the pudding; and ate some oatcake and a bit of cheese. Sounds a lot but wasn't really - but no one noticed other than the man next to me who said he liked a woman who didn't fuss about her food, lol. If only he'd known :-))))) Now to get on with the next challenge, dating - eek!!!
When I had the surgery, I did so with great hope of change but not sure what it would look like. Now that I am here, I am not sure I can actually explain what this all means to me. It's pretty overwhelming to be down six sizes, there are times I barely recognise myself, lol.
I can tell you all the things I can now do that I couldn't before. But I wish you could see inside my head and see the new me or feel the pleasure I take in life now. This surgery has given me a second chance ... and I will not waste it.
Thanks for listening :-)))))

I'm right at 5'10". I've been 200+lbs since puberty so I have no idea what I'll look like at goal. I go off of what my sister weighs. She's 5'8" and when she weighed 165 she was a twig and I could see her bones. She looks stunning at ~180, so my goal is 175-180ish, but I figure I'll just get to where I look and, more importantly, feel good and readjust my goal accordingly.

6 month post op 54 lbs down I need to tone badly! Was a size 22/24 now I'm size 16! I have to start toning ! Wish me luck !

I think we (myself included) need to take a step back and stop stressing. I know that we are in this together, but I've found myself worrying over a stall, comparing my progress post op to others with surgery dates near mine, and at times wondering if I will be one of those people that the procedure didn't work for. If you are anything like me, I spent YEARS lamenting over my insignificant weight loss or significant weight gains. Now I have a tool that in three weeks has worked better than an entire year of weight watchers, and yet I'm all chicken-little-the-sky-is-falling because I'm not losing FAST enough?? Admittedly, patience is not my strong point. When I thought about it in those terms, I felt like I was poo-poo'ing all of the amazing progress I've demonstrated so far. Seriously, when have I EVER LOST 30 pounds in two months? So if I'm stalling right now, so be it. I know my weight loss will come.

I have to say two things. First I do 2% because I'm not opposed to a little fat in my diet. But the 0% tastes ok too, I just feel it doesn't stick with me that long ( I eat this as a meal not a snack)
And the Danon light and fit? Be careful with all the ingredients including cornstarch to thicken it
(Not a true Greek yogurt) same with the yoplait Greek not true Greek it's milk Protein concentrates and Gelatin, bean locust gum to thicken....
But hey it's better than an Oreo!

Still do ALL the fun stuff with family and friends, but just try to not make food the "honored great guest of honor"

When I had my endoscopy they saw one but when my surgeon was doing my surgery it was nowhere to be found. I was told this is common in some cases. When they opened me up there was nothing to repair!

Follow YOUR doctor's pre and post op plans to the letter. Don't be swayed by what others are doing on this sight. I found when I turn that part off, I do better. For example, some will have liquid only pre-op diets, others don't (I didn't). Some will be on liquids/protein shakes only for 1 week and then graduate, others don't. Listen to what your doc/clinic instructs you to do and stick with it. I have followed my instructions to a T and lost 19 lbs. before surgery and 8 lbs. post (including the extra weight I gained immediately after surgery from bloating and fluids). Don't 2nd guess it, just do it. Take all supplements they recommend and drink a TON of Water. Be prepared for exhaustion for a while. I'm just shy of 2 weeks post op, have 0 pain anymore but I'm so tired it's unbelievable. I allow myself to nap (which is very hard for me). You can do this!! Once you are through surgery it will be a blur and you can focus on the real work ahead.

Follow YOUR doctor's pre and post op plans to the letter. Don't be swayed by what others are doing on this sight. I found when I turn that part off, I do better. For example, some will have liquid only pre-op diets, others don't (I didn't). Some will be on liquids/protein shakes only for 1 week and then graduate, others don't. Listen to what your doc/clinic instructs you to do and stick with it. I have followed my instructions to a T and lost 19 lbs. before surgery and 8 lbs. post (including the extra weight I gained immediately after surgery from bloating and fluids). Don't 2nd guess it, just do it. Take all supplements they recommend and drink a TON of Water. Be prepared for exhaustion for a while. I'm just shy of 2 weeks post op, have 0 pain anymore but I'm so tired it's unbelievable. I allow myself to nap (which is very hard for me). You can do this!! Once you are through surgery it will be a blur and you can focus on the real work ahead.

I will be 2 weeks post op this coming Monday and I'm right with you! Exhausted and napping during the day (which is frustrating as I'm usually a go go go kind of girl). I'm glad to hear this will soon end (crossing fingers). Best of luck to you!

I am two weeks out. Returned to work yesterday. Doing great. I understand what you mean by not wanting things to touch incisions. It gets better pretty quick. mine are just itching now. YOu sound like you are recovering well. the best way I get my 60 oz Protein in is the unflavored Unjury in Decaf coffee 2x a day and Soup 1x a day.

Had my surgery on march 28th. My hw on march 14th was 340lbs as of this past week I weigh 255lbs. That's 85lbs in 5 months!! Beyond happy just got to keep going!!!

I want to take a second and explain why I listed this in Success Stories, as opposed to other forums that depending on the individual it might seem more relevant. I put it here because it is not just relevant to veterans, or it is just about food, or coping, or 'finding myself'. It is an NSV; in addition to everything else I consider it a vital part of who I am now and wanted to share with my support community.
I have come to adopt a way of life now, or honestly I feel more often anymore that it has adopted me, it is something I have come to call my "True North". It is a paradigm shift, it is incredibly simple but seems so deceptively complex, but it is not complex at all. It is the small steps that along the way have helped me cope and become who I needed to be in order to succeed post VSG.
Everything I do I ask myself, gently, is this making me happy? Is this helping me heal? Sometimes it is physical as I experienced complications, or mental as I deal with losing my Mom (she died a week after my surgery). Maybe it is the dreaded combination of the two - the head hunger and thirst and heartburn for some noteworthy examples – just constant questions of “does this put me where I need to be”.
I just return to the Goal of Me, by asking am I healing by doing this? Is this lining up with my needs and goals and abilities? If I were a compass, by doing this, am I pointing to my True North?
At first I shouted it at myself and it was so harmful, looking back, I had this strong person, yet really frail and tired and I almost pushed too much. I was able to catch myself, with the extraordinary love of my Husband - I will never understand how he even stood me sometimes. I don’t question it too much however, and that is a part of the process. I just try to reciprocate and shine back to him what he offered to me. That comes back to the True North. I love to love my Husband. It is the ‘N’ on my compass, so I reciprocate all I can. food is that way now also. I love the foods that love me back. In the process I try to stay away from any treats or the thought process that would associate a poor choice of food from being a "treat". Each bite for me I try to make it an active choice, an aware process and I tell myself "I am not what I was, I am not what I will be tomorrow, and this gets me there, while celebrating this moment." Food is for me to guide now, not the other way around. I FEEL alive when I eat bright, colorful, foods full of life. I am the energy 10x returned for the energy expended to learn about, choose, and prepare and even grow my meals. Exercise is much the same, and of course there is the less fun moments like work, traffic and bills, bunny poop and mosquitoes and Mondays. I just make an effort to live each moment, and in that instance also gently keep my needle pointing ‘N’.
Be awesome to yourself and keep pointing ‘N’!
Namaste.

I agree totally with smryan. I'm 11 days post op. If I absolutely had to, I could work and probably could have at one week. That said, I'm still exhausted. I can do about an hour or two of stuff and then I need a nap. I took 2 weeks off work, which will end up being 17 calendar days and I think I'll be more than ready to go back next Monday. Good luck!

You look amazing and I bet you feel a ton better, too! I'm a week post op and I'm also 5'9"! I appreciate you sharing your meals - I'm still in the liquid phase and cannot wait to graduate 9/19!

Hi, I am 5'9 and six months post OP, and feeling fabulous. My highest weight was 313lbs, I now weigh in at 217 my goal was a hundred pounds in 6 months but i surely am not complaining of the few I am short. I'm extremely excited to see what the next 6 months has instore for me. I have 47lbs to go and would like to achieve my goal over the next six months. I still have 2 Protein shakes a day, one with just Water and the other I use almond milk, PB2, and a banana, our fruit and spinach. One of my favorite are pineapple and coconut with my Protein powder. I also consume one small meal usually that of meat and veggies. I take in two Snacks throughout the day, usually either cottage cheese, or string cheese. No yogurt for me I eat alot of Jello, I make it with cottage cheese and cool whip, this is a great treat for me. My family has been amazing support

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Welcome, welcome and Welcome!
You and Mom are among friends here...
One hint...
You WILL lose weight, as fast as your body can if you follow your program.
But that said, you do NOT know how fast you will lose, so
You said "Goal: 140lbs, by December 2014"
You might lose faster AND you might lose slower. Don't add the pressure of a 'date certain', you are in this for the rest of your life!

As of today I am 7 months post op and have lost 100lbs.... I am so happy I want to scream it from the roof!!!

I'm almost 50 and was just sleeved Monday. I too am looking forward to a healthier me! Glad I stumbled on this forum.

I'm almost 50 and was just sleeved Monday. I too am looking forward to a healthier me! Glad I stumbled on this forum.