AshleyMidwife

As of today I am now down 168 lbs! And my BMI has gone from 72 to 48!! I can now buy my bra's from Victory Secret! I have NEVER been able to do that. Not even in high school! And the way I feel is AMAZING!! The first picture was taken around this time last year, the middle I'm not really sure. I believe it's on the picture. And the last is from about a month ago!
 

Lately I've seen a TON of posts about lucky sleevers that drop 100 pounds in six months.
Congrats to them and to their loss. And I would never, ever begrudge anyone the right to crow about a fantastic success. It's part of why we're all here, to share the ups and downs of this surgery!
But frequently, these posts are followed by folks that feel frustrated because they aren't losing at the same pace. All too often, we forget that everyone loses at a different pace. It's easy to lose sight of the real goal (long term maintenance) in the face of the scale goals we set for ourselves. And it's also easy to forget that this isn't a race and that there's no special prize waiting at the end for reaching goal more quickly.
I would like to contribute my loss pattern so that people can see that there is more than one way to achieve a goal. Being successful is about reaching your personal goals, overcoming your personal food demons and maintaining your weight loss for life. It's not about hitting goal in nine months.
I encourage everyone else with a slow loss story to contribute their successes here as well. It's hard to research this surgery and find only the stories about extremes - people completely thrilled with surgery or people that regret every minute of life post op. The same goes for loss. When people search out stories on this, it's too easy to only find rapid loss or stall posts but nothing showing the more realistic and moderate journey many of us take. The sleeve is a permanent tool that does not have a special window of easy weight loss. There is no reason to feel discouraged when you haven't reached goal at one year out, or even two. There is nothing preventing you (short of your own body's natural stopping point) from achieving or re-achieving goal at any point post op.
I lost 60 pounds in the first five months after my surgery.
And I slowly lost 32 pounds over the next seven months.
It took me another five months to shed the final 15 pounds to my goal.
I lost 107 pounds over the course of 17 months. I stalled twice for nine weeks each time. I had months where I only lost one pound. I regularly experienced a gain of three pounds around my cycle, and often only lost weight in the last week to ten days of the month, after sitting at the same weight for nearly three weeks.
I am a success, and at 2.5 years out (and currently pregnant) I still have good, healthy eating habits and maintained my weight loss quite easily. Even 30 weeks pregnant, I am still wearing a size 6/small (in maternity clothes, of course) regardless of how I feel about my expanding body!
I learned what was important on this journey and am in better health today (not just physically, but mentally and emotionally), than I have ever experienced as an adult.
Good luck to those currently on their journey, and I encourage everyone to share their stories here so that newly sleeved folks can see that slow vs. fast loss doesn't really matter in the end.
~Cheri

For 8 years I have dreaded my company's black tie holiday party. It's a fashion company so - everyone is a stick. The first two photos are of holiday party past. The last is this years dress. -73. Happy happy that dress is a medium!

6 1/2 months rny post op. Down 105 lbs and from a size 22 to a 10/12. I'm so happy I've changed my life forever! Living life to the
fullest.

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One year down 78lbs after my sleeve


I'm at goal now

Hi everyone!! I was sleeved 12/5/12. Today is my Surgiversary. I'm 5'4". I started out at 227 day of surgery. I'm down to 151. My Doctors goal weight for me was 150. Although I'm very pleased with my weight right now, I want to lose 11 more pounds to get to my personal goal and hopefully a size 6. I wear a size 8 pants and medium shirt and they're starting to get a little loose. I absolutely love my sleeve and am so grateful for the quality of life it has given me as well as the health benefits. My primary care physician cannot believe all of the health issues that have disappeared with my weight loss (high blood pressure, low oxygen level, joint pain, asthma, etc)! I'm posting my before pic from the night before surgery and a pic my husband took tonight. All I can say is thank God for the sleeve!

Hello all, I'm 7 months out as of November 30. In a few days I'll Celebrate being 44 yrs young. At 166 pounds well below my 1st goal of 185, then 2nd goal of 175 with a height of 5'9"+ I can say I'm smaller than I was at 13. I could not have dreamed being below goal this soon. I can go up amd downstairs with not being out of breath, cross my legs, take up less space in the chair. Park farther from the store walk long distances. And get all my protien intake done. I love my sleeve. :-)
The hardest part has been your head realizing how your body has changed. I tried to still wear plus sized clothes but had to come to grips with shopping on the "other" side of the store. Challenges have come during the weight loss journey my mother was ill and died in October. August my gallbladder had to come out. A kidney stone in November and a sinus infection now. But thankful I'm still healthy and can celebrate memories of my Mom with my family this Christmas & New years. How are you feeling?

Great day today! Gas pains gone. Had more energy. Still not getting all my fluids or Protein in but I'm doing my best. Down 6lbs as of yesterday.

Hi
I came home yesterday. The pain was more than I expected but it is all worth it. I showered today and went out to do some errands. I'm still taking pain meds at night as I can't get comfortable. I never was a back sleeper. Thanks agin for all the best wishes.

I’m in the dreaded three-week stall and it sucks. I knew this was coming. I knew it was going to happen. I thought I even prepared myself for it. I have preached to others that it’s not big deal. That it’s your body saying, “Whoa, what the hell did you do to me?” and, “Your body needs to figure it out before it loses more weight.” I know all that, but it doesn’t make it suck any less and it doesn’t make me any less pissed off. There, I said it. I’m pissed off. I said it again.
Rationally, it makes sense. My body is wondering if it’s a time of famine, so it’s not going to allow it’s self to lose any more weight until figures out that this is the new normal. This may take some time – I’m in a Facebook group where some people who had their sleeve operation in November stalled for three weeks. That’s a major blow to my already fragile psyche! After years of yo-yo dieting, when you don’t see the scale move, that when you find the donuts, or bread, or Cookies or (insert vise here). That is not an option. Eating a donut or other off-plan food will not only make me sick, even worse, it could damage my sleeve. It’s also not an option because I must be accountable for my actions. I need to be an adult. I will add that accountability and being an adult sucks, too! :-)
So, I am writing this post as much for me as for anyone that reads it. The three-week stall will most likely happen. Try to prepare yourself for it, but know that no matter how much you prepare for it, it’s still going to be difficult when you go through it.
What am I going to do about it? I’m going to keep on keepin’ on. That’s all I can do. I am going to stick to my plan – 3 meals and 3 shakes per day with 80-90 grams of protein; just as the doctor ordered. I’m going to continue going to the gym and walking on the treadmill. These are the two things that are going to help me achieve my goals. I cannot lose sight of that. I also know that this is temporary. My rational mind knows the arithmetic behind calories in vs. calories out. I’m consuming 600-800 calories a day right now and I’m burning about 250 on the treadmill daily. That formula will equal weight loss as soon as my body realizes we’re going to be OK. I just wish my body knows what my brain does!

Nothing much prepares us. The best advice anyone ever gave me was put away the scale for 2 weeks and get on with living life. We don't want our weight to define us....yet we often let our losses (or lack thereof) dictate our happiness. Let's not do that anymore.

Just finished my pre op appt with Dr. Troy Houseworth. Consents signed, questions answered, bloodwork drawn.... This is real! Monday morning at 1030 I'll be on the sleeved side! Super nervous, but I know I'm in good hands. I worry about complications, but he says luckily I'm one of those people who are low risk for complications (barely met criteria). My parents and boyfriend will be joining me at the hospital. Thank god I'll need people to take my mind off things. Wow, can't believe I'm almost there!

Its gas pain. I've been walking since 1 hour after surgery. The incisions are tender but feel better rapidly. I also wanted to update you all that I finally pooped! Sorry if that's tmi but boy do I feel better! So much so that I asked to go home and they are letting me

How are all the December folks that got sleeved already? I am drinking my Protein Drink watching my coworkers chow down on pizza and birthday cake. Yum my Protein Shake is delicious! If I say that often enough maybe I'll believe it. Nut appointment tomorrow am

So, I just wanted to congratulate all of you on your new adventure!
I had my sleeve done last December (2012) and have had great success!
The liquid week (or two for me) was rough and the first week after surgery was no walk in the park ---- but after that you are gonna feel better than you ever could imagine!
My highest weight was 225 and my lowest (now) is 118! I am not sure if I need/want to lose anymore.
Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have! I am here to help!
Brittany

I am a December 18th sleever, first time poster and user on here. My wife had her surgery November 11th. We made a decision last march that once our daughter recovered from her open heart surgery we would begin this process. I'm proud of my wife and where she is and looking forward to my new beginning. My preop diet starts Wednesday. Good luck fellow December sleevers....

I agree most of the bariatric patients that I have met have been RNs. So sad.....we need to do better about caring for ourselves. I am a Labor and Delivery Nurse and hate being heavier than my pregnant patients. No more.....I'm now 65# less than before! Size 14 to Size 2! Glad I did it!

Nurses are caretakers. Which is ironic, because we often forget to care for ourselves.
Nurses also tend to lose their identities in their profession and family roles. Meaning that identifying as a nurse becomes part of who they are, not what they do.

I am having surgery where I work because many of my coworkers that have had the sleeve spoke very highly of the surgeon. I am not concerned about privacy because I work on maternity so no one on the bariatric floor knows me. However, I'm not really telling any coworkers except the ones that have had the sleeve.
I am currently doing my 2 week preop diet which is basically just 1200 calories/day, then liquids for the last 2 days and it's really hard working 12 hour nights. There is constantly food around from patients and coworkers, especially on night shift because we have limited cafeteria hours. I'm really nervous about coming to work after surgery, even though I know that I won't jeopardize the integrity of my sleeve by eating things that I shouldn't.
Also, one of the reasons that I am having this surgery is because I am starting a nurse practitioner program in January and I don't want to feel like a hypocrite when I advise my patients on making healthy lifestyle choices. I am really excited, but also increasingly nervous as my date looms on 11/25.

I am also a nurse and agree with JanetPRN, Aaliyanah and the study. It has been difficult balance. For me the long busy days that are mostly on your feet makes it difficult to exercise before or after work. Especially with the plantar fasciitis I developed from work. Also at my job we cannot keep any food or drink at the workstation. Often times while on your break, you are interrupted and do not get to finish. I feel like I'm always eating on the run. I also feel the pressure of being a better example for my patients. How can I instruct a patient on diet and exercise? For the record, it took me a long time to decide to have this surgery. Most of my colleagues including myself do not want any type of surgery because you know too much. I am not having the surgery where I work because I wanted to maintain my privacy and also release control over to someone else. Whatever the reason, occupation, etc. I wish everyone well.

1) this study says a lot
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/study-finds-55-percent-nurses-overweight-obese/story?id=15472375
Researchers at the University of Maryland's School of Nursing found that 55 percent of the 2,103 female nurses they surveyed were obese, citing job stress and the effect on sleep of long, irregular work hours as the cause.
The study, which measured obesity using estimates of body mass index, found that nursing schedules affected not only the health of the nurses but the quality of patient care.
"Health care professionals are often involved in providing advice or care to patients that relates to things that aren't totally under control in their own lives. It's not uniform for health care professionals to eat well or avoid tobacco," said Dr. David Katz, the director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center.
Keith-Thomas Ayoob, associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said nurses are just as susceptible to health problems as the rest of society.
"Before we were health professionals, we were real people. Just because we became health professionals doesn't mean we stopped being members of regular society with all the problems that go along with it. It illustrates that knowledge alone isn't always enough to produce behavioral changes," said Ayoob.
The same is true with smoking, Ayoob said.
"We all know smoking is bad. It doesn't matter if you're a doctor or a nurse or a plumber. You might postulate that your interest in health would be higher if you were a health professional, but a lot of doctors and nurses smoke," said Ayoob.
"Nurses need to understand the importance of taking care of themselves before patients or their families," Ayoob said.
To combat the high obesity rate among nurses, Kihye Han, the author of the study, proposed more education on good sleep habits, and better strategies for adapting work schedules. She also called for napping at work to curb sleep deprivation, reduce fatigue and increase energy.
The 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses found that more than 40 percent of nurses who left nursing said they did so because of irregular and long hours, indicating that better scheduling could help nurse retention.
Han also proposed increasing making healthy food more available, and allowing enough time to consume it.
For instance, Han recommends on-site farmer's markets to serve health care workers who work nonstandard hours, healthier vending machine choices or having food delivered to the work unit.
"There's an awful lot conspiring against weight control in nurses. The solutions are ... giving the nurses the knowledge and skills they need to manage their weight, and environmental reforms, like having opportunities for physical activity breaks in hospitals, and having nutritious food options readily available 24 hours a day," Katz said.
"Nurses, who dedicate themselves to helping others," said Katz, "deserve that support from us."
2) I think that, by nature and training, we nurses are more apt to do extensive research before having any procedure done. Maybe doing all this extra research is what leads us to this site and helps us to find each other.

I also have the "RN" in my user name. I am proud to be a nurse, but not too proud to admit I jeopardized my own health by becoming overweight throughout the years.
For me ,too many long 12 hour( plus) shifts meant skipping meals because I was too busy for a break, but then only too overeat at home.I also rationalized that I was too tired too exercise. We are trained to educate our patients about health maintenance , but often ignore our own advice.
When I decided to take on WLS, I probed medical journals ( ANA/AMA) , docs, surgeons and nutritionists. In some ways, I had to really look hard at VSG because my only experience with that patient population was the people who had significant problems. ( like RJ had).
I believe being a nurse can give a person some credibility on forums. We combine scientific knowledge with an empathic ear. It doesn't hurt that gross bodily sounds, smells or functions don't faze us!

Maybe because they are nurses. And maybe they are proud that they work in the medical field. Maybe they have experience in healthcare regarding recovery of the sleeve. Maybe they know more then the rest of us.
But when I was in the hospital recovering from my surgery trouble. Not one nurse on the floor had any idea of what happened to me... As I stayed there 5 months they soon learned. They were first horrified that I had the surgery but then realized that it was the best for me and they helped me beyond anything I could have hoped for...The LPN's were also a great help. Cleaning staff and Drs.
My surgeon told me that no nurses ever asked him any questions about the procedure until I was a patient. He was thrilled with the change and was going to set up some classes for those who asked the questions....
If I did not have the support from the entire staff..I don't know whether I would have recovered....
The head nurse however was a rude, ignorant twit...I will never forget her joy in screaming at me because she could...I was not able to retaliate at that time...She was the only problem I had that should never have happened!!!!

I used to have 2 chins. Now I have 1 chin and one turkey waddle. I hate it. It's not as bad as the second chin, but it's not good either. Sorta looks like a chin-gina

Two days on the preop liquid diet and I'm down 7lbs!! Wow! Speechless .....