GotItDoneInHarlem

These were taken 365 days apart. 298 to 165. 133 in 10 months. Feeling too thin and look better with another 10 pounds on me, but gaining weight is a more enjoyable struggle.

Thanks. I was cubby as a kid and then thinned out in high school and college. Wasn't until 2007 that I started gaining some weight and then when I started taking psychiatric medications for depression and anxiety I put it on like crazy. 170# in 2005. 210# in 2008 245# in 2010 260#in 2012 298#in 2013. I believe part of my "shrinking" well was that I wasn't morbidly obese my whole life. That, Water, and compression shirts. I have some loose skin, but I feel lucky that it's not terrible and should be able to fill some of it back out in the gym.

It's water, or poop, or maybe a menstrual cycle, or your body adjusting. The further out you get the less 1 pound will freak you out. Just hang tight. You'll gain a pound, stall for 8 days, and then lose 6 pounds over night. It's weird like that.

Rules I lived by in the early days: 80 grams of Protein as your goal 64 oz of liquids (sugar free popsicles count!) Keep sugar under 10g per serviing Choose low or non-fat products I tracked all my food and if I saw that the combination of fat and carbs was going above 50% of my total caloric intake I'd slow down on carbs and replace with protein.

Thanks Rovobay. I feel like I need luck. I'd really love to gain and maintain weight with actual foods if possible. Living off Protein shakes pre and post surgery really made me begin to hate them. I've been having some as need-extra-calories Snacks but I've also had some reflux issues and aspirated once. I've attached my weight loss graph that I have and is maintained by a Withings scale. I weight myself every day. Seeing the bobbles up and down and the average curve has helped me learn and feel that swinging a few pounds each way isn't anything to panic about. All of this happened with absolutely minimal working out. I didn't step into a gym for 7 months and did no cardio or anything different from my previously sedentary life, so I'm at my lowest weight and don't have a lot of muscle on me. I'm averaging only 2 maybe 3 workouts a week at best and that hasn't been going on for very long. I'm below my goal weight and the last 5 pounds came off my face and aged the hell out of me (or this is what I would have looked like at 36 without having ever gained the weight). I look better with more weight on, but have been struggling. Eating crap and empty carbs can help but that's REALLY not the direction I want to go after a life changing surgery and completely transforming my relationship with food.

Thanks for the compliments, my boyfriend thinks so too.

Mavsfan... I hit plenty of stalls. Definitely one at three weeks and then maybe once a month after. Stalls happen to everyone and you will lose the weight. I had stalls as long as 2-3 weeks. At a month out and exercising, you may want to increase your calories. Stalls are one way the body protects its reserves. Feed it a little more and it'll start burning again. Check with your surgeon of course for guidance.

I went from 298 to 165 in 10 months. 133 pounds. The first 113 fell off by June and I was sleeved in December I thought I was stabilizing at 185, which was GREAT, but them lost more when work got stressful. Probably 10 pounds under where my body wants to be, but THRILLED. Have to fully stabilize my calories intake and add muscle now.

I went from 298 to 165 in 10 months. 133 pounds. The first 113 fell off by June and I was sleeved in Devember 17, 2013. I thought I was stabilizing at 185, which was GREAT, but them lost more when work got stressful. Probably 10 pounds under where my body wants to be. Who has experience gaining weight? I'd love to put on 20 pounds of muscle but the calories requirements of working out to gain muscle are huge and I have a hard enough time putting it back on. Thoughts?

Had a protein shake earlier (homemade with a magic bullet which causes it to be frothy for a while) and I drank it fairly quickly. Had definite sensation of fullness and needing to burp. Kinda burped but now I have some chest/stomach pain when breathing. What gives? I'm 8 months post-op.

I am six months post-op. I have been vigilant in my new eating habits and have lost 113 pounds in 6 months. Yesterday I started feeling discomfort on the right side of my chest. It hurts when I cough, burp, or swallow (solids or liquids). I can also trigger it by tucking my chin to my chest. The pain is uncomfortable but tolerable, a solid 3-4 out of 10. The pain is best described as something between a cramping sensation and a gnawing discomfort. Additional factors. I rear-ended another car in a MINOR accident yesterday, but was certainly suddenly jostled although not violentlty . I've been on roller coasters that rattled me more since surgery, Also, I had some curry for the first time on Sunday and that REALLY upset my new stomach and system with pain and reflux. I do not have a fever, increased heart rate, and my blood pressure is perfect. I don't take NSAIDs and treat my stomach like a baby. I take 40MG of opeprazole twice a day as per dr. I understand that no one is truly qualified to diagnose me on here and that the appropriate response is see my surgeon; however, I have only truly started to become concerned this evening as the pain went from a 3 to a 4 and I have a job that demands me for 10 hour days for the remainder of the week. I am traveling out of the country on Saturday morning. I intend to call my surgeon's nurse practitioner for an emergency appointment with her or my surgeon and if available I'll MAKE the time. So my questions are: 1) Has anyone else had a similar experience with similar symptoms? What was the end result? 2) Is this an urgent matter that cannot wait until I return to the country July 7th? Specifically, if it was an ulcer is that considered an emergency for sleevers? If my surgeon is not available and they can't squeeze me in what other options should I explore? 3) At what point and with what additional/worsening symptoms would you decide to go to the emergency room and should I try to get to the same hospital where my surgery was done? 4) Is there any value to waiting it out and seeing if some lingering muscle soreness from my fender bender (that I can trigger it by tucking my chin makes me think it could be referred muscular pain) or is or just an angry curry stomach? 5) Worst case scenario for me, do I go to the ER and attempt to insist on a swallow study/CT scan or (even worse) an endoscopy to rule out everything. I am going to the Dutch island of Curacao off the coast of Venezuela and don't think they're probably the best place to go for an expert opinion on chest pain that MIGHT be related to my sleeve. Thanks for reading.

Do you want surgery? If so, stop eating sweets and anything that's not on plan. Make your decision.

Done! Wish to see results when complete.

I have no restriction with liquids!

Totally normal. You need to slow down and pace yourself. You'll be ok.

I had the sleeve done. I started at 298 and am 198 today! First time in 9 years!

I can't believe it but I made TWO major milestones this morning! I've lost 100 pounds in 4.75 months (add 2 weeks of pre-op diet to be fair) AND I'n in Onederland! This has been the most amazing journey for me. I couldn't be any happier AND it's not even over yet! My only regret was waiting so long and doubting myself.

Besides the obvious amazing weight loss I've had (80 pounds since December 3rd) I have changed in the following ways.... *My life doesn't revolve around food anymore *I am more confident *I no longer take 2 blood pressure pills or a cholesterol pill *I am in a relationship after hiding from others for years *I have more money *I have more energy *I spend more time with family and friends *I sleep better *My back doesn't hurt every day *Sex is back *I look younger *I feel younger *My skin is better *I enjoy shopping for clothes *I just FEEL better This and so many more things. Like almost EVERYONE on this site, my only regret is waiting as long as I did.

What isn't working for you? I see you've lost 69 pounds and are 15 pounds from your goal. I'm confused.

All of you are going to do GREAT! Everyone gets nervous and that's ok. The time will fly by and then you'll be on the Loser's Bench!

I can't believe it. I've lost 80 pounds since my high weight. 73 since the beginning of my sleeve journey. This has been the best thing I've ever done!

I got the compression shirt online. Spanx makes shirts for men too! Friggin expensive but I love them. Honestly, I believe that wearing one has helped with everything shrinking well. I had 120 to lose when I began my journey, and having lost 72 so far I can say that I am very please with how I am shrinking.

Thanks for your support everyone. your success stories help a lot, but I gotta add that I'm GAY, in NYC, and I'm HIV POSITIVE. It's a seriously delicate balance to spread out those disclosures.