Scorpion11

I'm only 45, but 90+ pounds later I do have a bit of a turkey gobbler neck and way more wrinkles around my mouth and eyes. I'm not too worried about it. I just started using an "anti-aging, firming" face cream and will see what that does. My insanely droopy boobs and sagging skin on my ass and knees are much worse than my face and neck wrinkles. But I definitely like being saggy and wrinkly better than being fat. No plans for plastics.

Its time for another challenge! This challenge will be beginning with the first weigh in on Friday September 5th. From there on after, weigh ins will take place Fridays. Last weigh in will be Friday October 31st. This will allow a total of 9 weigh ins in all. I will post the link for the spreadsheet once its the week of. Few reminders. -Weights will be entered in whole numbers. -please post weigh ins here in this post only. -we are all here to support each other..so questions posted here will be answered by anyone else willing to help. -if you want to adjust your goal weight, just add that in any reply to this post. -if you miss a weigh in...no biggie. Just report back in the next week. -this is an amazing tool to help us all! Make it fun, challenge yourself, and cheer on the rest of the pack! -I'm no excel expert. I can do only the basics. So this isn't a fancy spreadsheet by any means. But I will keep it up to date and do my best to report the onderlands and other big crossings as I am able to. I do have young kids and I also work too. So some weeks i'm not able to update until a few days after report in day. It will be done. Lastly, you will know it is updated once I have liked your post. Have fun with this! Challenge yourself in new ways! Join us for the halloween challenge!
http://track.bariatricpal.com/track/click/14368495/onedrive.live.com?p=eyJzIjoiOWQzWk13NnlkVFk5b0pfVlFPcHJsZk9uRHFzIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjoxNDM2ODQ5NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL29uZWRyaXZlLmxpdmUuY29tXFxcL3JlZGlyP3BhZ2U9dmlldyZyZXNpZD1CQUQ5QzlDODg2ODE4QTU5ITM5MCZhdXRoa2V5PSFBQ3VCX2F6MTNrZnluZ2tcIixcImlkXCI6XCI4YzBjYzFmNWJlNTM0YjhhYmVhOTBiMjA4YWY5NmZhMFwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjlhZmViNDQ4MGIyMGM3NWY2M2JlMGI2MjY0ZmQwN2I2YzUzMzljZGFcIl19In0

Monday, 8/18/14
Weighed in at 222. Not moving at all. Grrrr!

I was sleeved in January 2013 and lost a total of 80 pounds in the first 12 months. Even lost through the holidays last year. But since I hit my 1 year mark over 6 months ago, NOTHING. I've even gained a few pounds and have to get tough to drop them back off. I don't even feel like I had surgery. And lately I'm SO hungry. Ugh!

Monday, 8.11.14
Weighed in at 220

202. ONEDERLAND here I come

Mocha, keep getting your fluids!!! Hope you feel better soon. Sick is not the way we want to lose weight...

I had a lower body lift, and a inner groin thigh lift and a Brazilian butt lift almost 3 months ago. I did this all on the sly since I decided to have the surgery after taking a month long cruise, so I only could take a couple of weeks PTO time that I had. So after two weeks I was back to work, sitting mostly, it wasn't bad for me at all as I had no complications and I felt great, not too bad for being 60 years old...Everyone is different I guess...

I would be really surprised if anyone will take the drain out except your surgeons office. I work for doctors and they will not touch anything another doctor put in but ER may call your doctor and get the ok for them to pull it. Liability. It stinks that he is too "busy" to pull it. The medical assistant or nurse will probably pull it anyway.

Alcohol numbs the stomach and in return you get the feeling that food is not such a problem anymore. While you still get full...you do not experience the general malaise associated with eating...or more so swallowing and waiting for the food to get into your stomach. At the same time you get a little buzz and life seems...for a short while...to be a little normal.
Be careful my friends...it is a dangerous slippery slide that can grab you in an instant and pull you down quickly.

Hi CaliGirl,
I had my sleeve last year 11/14/13 wiry Dr Quicili in Burbank, CA. He's known to be the best of the best. Not only for WLS but as a surgeon for many other medical needs. #1 for WLS in So. Cal. Google him, I'm in Glendale and all doctors I asked about Dr Quicili knew of him and his history and all recommended him. These where doctors I was seeing for injuries, orthopedics and primary doctors, to Obgyn doctors.
He performs his surgeries in your chose of hospital either St Joseph's in Burbank, which is across the street from his office building or at Cedar Sinai in Beverly Hills. I had mine at St Joseph's as it was conveinant for me and my primary doctor suggested St Joe's vs. Cedar's, she told me St Joe's was known to be much cleaner and to review infection reports to compare. Very true fact.
St Joe's was awesome from the days before I had to pre-register to moment I walked in super nervous day of surgery to when I was taken into surgery room in icu until I was ready to be moved up to my recovery room, to day I left the nurse walked me our to my car(hubby driving). I felt very well taken care of and attended too. The best part was the floor I was recovering on, I knew other patients from the wls group and seeing them at Dr Q office. Felt like a family and that particular floor is designated to all wls patients and others such as hernia, gall bladder etc... So the nurses understand and attend to your needs with appropriate experience and lots of LTC and truly understand your liquid diet needs and intakes. I loved how much they knew and were able to not only comfort my pain but my emotional nerds as well. It felt like a family all around experience.
Highly recommend Dr Quicili. One thing I will share is he's a super busy doctor and sometimes follow-up appt took longer than expected but well worth it. He's staff and nurses are all very kind and caring.
Sleeve Surgery is the best things I could of done. Tough at first with new life style changes, but it does get better and easier month by month. No regrets!!
I'd be more than glad to answer any questions. Feel free to private message me.
Best wishes and good luck!! : )

You've lost 89lbs from your highest weight and 54 lbs from your surgery date. I think that's great! Everyone loses at different rates. If you are following your doctors orders, eating the right foods and exercising, you're going to do great! As long as the scale is moving in the right direction, who cares how long it takes? I know we all want "instant thin", but we we're overweight for years, the weight is going to take time to come off.
For me, I'm only 2 1/2 weeks post-op. I lost 8 lbs the first week, 5 lbs last week and so far this week, I haven't dropped a single pound, but I'm not going to let it discourage me. Sometimes the body needs to re-set. I know the weight will come off when my body is ready to let go of it.
Hang in there, you're doing great!

Highest Weight: 299
Day of Surgery: 264. Mover 21, 2013
Today: 210
Very depressed and feel I'm not moving fast enough!!
Where are you? Is this "normal"??

Search '3 week stall'. In the search function on forums. All the discussion you could ever need on this point is within there.
Don't freak out. Happens to all of us. Some, sadly, more than others.

FORGETABOUTIT! Just don't focus on the weight loss and it will start coming off again. Happened to me too.

Besides Biotin what are some good pills to take?

[ATTACH]47001[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]47002[/ATTACH]
Hw 344 Sw 326 cw 225
10/22/13
33 yrs old

Hi I'm on the process of getting all my tests done. But I'm still not sure about my Dr. When I asked her how many surgeries (sleeves) she said 100's that sacred me a bit! I want a top hospital with a very experienced Dr. Please help????

7/28/14
Weighed in at 223 today, lost 1lb
Whomp! Whomp!

Monday, 7/21/14
Weighed in 222

I have to give out a big huge thank you to Evolving!!! You have been the cheerleader since Bea stepped aside, and I ???? you for it. We all do!! I have 2 small kids and a pt job that keep me busy...and those times when you post, you keep us all going and point the group in forward progress mode!!
And here is my little confession for the group.
My in laws were in town for two weeks. Living with us in our tiny 2 bedroom apt, with my hubby and our kids. We live in a large apt community, where I work also. But having them in my space for that amount of time wasn't so terrible.....it's seeing their eating habits that left me often times repulsed. I never thought I would get to that point..but after seeing father inlaw cook eggs with half a cup of vegetable oil, I was shocked.
Then, hubby and I were hit with a huge realization.....we could come and go as we pleased without having to plan out a babysitter!!!! It was like the gates of heaven opened up to me! so,. We went out every day. Had at least one meal out everyday. But you know what, I still made the good choices each time.
I'm far enough along post op to know that yes, I could choose the fried and fatty stuff...but I didn't want too. I knew how I would feel afterwords. Mentally and physically. So I would start with a side salad first if the main selection wasn't too great..making sure I filled up first on veggies. Otherwise I'd just dive right into my meat selection straight away.
I'm proud of myself. I didn't gain a thing. I didn't lose either. The stress of having 6 of us in a 1000 sq ft apt didn't allow me a loss. But...I did learn something far greater....it's that I do have the confidence and ability to make great healthy choices...not because I have too...but because I want to fuel my body better.
That folks is an amazing power to feel over yourself.
Stay strong you guys!! Make the change you want to see. Start today. No excuses!!

Congratulations Alex!!! 11 years kept off and maintaining!! That's outstanding!! Great job!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring for others as much as for yourself and creating this website and app! It's truly helped me from the beginning to this day on my sleeve journey.
Your truly inspiring and motivating to so many of us!
Thank you again for all you've done for our WLS community!!
Best wishes and keep up the fabulous and successful journey you started 11 years ago!!

So I am sure no insult is intended by these remarks... but it might be read that way. On another thread, somebody implied Dr Sauceda's work looks like a hacksaw or something like that... it simply isn't true and really people should think a bit before slamming someone else's choice like that. Different people scar differently but mine are flat and are fading fast and surely do not look like a hacksaw or any such thing. As a member of his Facebook support group I see a ton of before and afters. Some of these ladies start out still significantly overweight and the improvements are astounding. It is life changing. Not everyone will get down to a 23BMI - and is just wonderful that he is able to help them anyway.
I want to clarify something to people reading... plastics are all about tradeoffs. i don't care who you chose - whether you stay in country or out of country - but sometimes comparisons are apples to oranges.
I could have gotten even tighter results had i stayed local and gone with an AMAZING woman in the Seattle area who has 25 years of before and after photos. I mean, her work is really incredible. However, that was over 3 surgeries and a crapload of money. In fact, she wouldn't even quote me on all the surgeries since it was going to be so far in the future. I had to think long and hard about not just the time off from work, my hobbies, impact on my active life and how long it would take to see the "end product". Even if I had gone out of country 2-3X it would have been a multi-year project. I found recovery to be long and difficult. I have a farm - I had to have help for 2 months due to lifting restrictions! I got a bit sad at giving up (temporarily) my active lifestyle. I can't imagine doing that over and over again - I am pretty sure I would never have done more than the initial surgery since it was such a burden to make all that work.
Also, the care situation in the USA is terrible. Most surgeons here in the SEattle area do it in a clinic and send you home the same day. Somebody drives you back the next day for a follow up. I am so glad I was in a clinic for 3 days, i really value the care. That is my personal... I don't know, hangup I guess. I wanted nursing care and couldn't afford to hire a private one here locally!
I was 49 when I had my plastics, just turned 50 in june... and I am done with all that reconstructive work. my results are great, I am very happy with them and I spent enough time at the gym and the beach to see that my body is better than 80-90% of the women over 40. I declare victory!

By the time I went to the hotel I could use the restroom, walk down to the Breakfast area, take a shower by myself. The nurse visited everyday at around the same time in the morning and was there for quite awhile - an hour? The doctor came every day too (except for 1 when he had a very long surgery) but his visits were typically short - 10 minutes maybe. I had his cell phone number too. The hotel staff was also very "tuned" in and available. English was spoken at the front desk and the housekeeping staff (room cleaned daily), and the Breakfast lady were very friendly (daily hugs!) even if I didn't always understand them.
I was there with a friend which was wonderful, but many do this alone quite successfully.