sarahbjc

I too have the same feeling that you do at this time. My surgery was May 2013 and this month is the first month that I tracked a weight gain. I seem to bounce between 150 and 155. Today I am 152.
I have tried the tips already mentioned (tracking food and Water, cutting out the "junk" and getting Protein first.) I find that I can get 50-60 gm of Protein a day. I manage to take in about 72 oz of Water.< /p>
I have decided that 150-155 is an ok weight for now. I am wearing a size 8 (which is a size I have never worn as an adult) I am staying positive that the last 25 lbs will come off with time if I stay on track. If I stay this weight for a while, my body must need the break from weight loss. I am hoping that my skin will tighten up while I am working off the last few pounds. I do not look at this as a failed surgery because I am 115 lbs lighter than when I had the surgery.

At my salon we sell REF dry shampoo and Aldo BedHead has 2...1-rock a holic dry shampoo & 2- oh bee hive dry shampoo...all are aerosol and work great just have different smells!

Really praying I do not experience this since my hair is fine, thin, and short to begin with! And I don't think I can rock the G.I. Jane look very well.

My surgery date is set for July 14! So excited and nervous. I'm 24 and have struggled with my weight my entire life. I've never had surgery before and I am very scared of the recovery process. Currently on the low carb pre op diet and doing fairly well. I've lost about 2 lbs. Anyone close to this date and want to be surgery buddies ? It'd be nice to have someone to share this experiment with that understands.

@sarabjc... We can compare notes and help each other through!

Hello there, my fellow PCOS'r!
I'm almost 8 months post op...I'm much older than you (44 years old). I commend you for starting your journey now and not losing many years like I did. I went into this hoping my only regret is that I didn't go thru the surgery sooner and that is my only regret.
I was diagnosed with PCOS and metabolic syndrome a few years ago - I finally found a doctor that would listen to me and she wanted me to get better. I would only have a few periods a year - some say I was lucky, but OMG, they were bad and I would lose days to feeling bad. I, too, looked forward to a life of gaining more and more weight and feeling increasingly bad physically, not to mention the mental/emotional struggles that came along with that.
Since surgery, WOW, what a difference. Almost immediately I started feeling better. I chucked the Metformin about 2 weeks before surgery (with my doc's approval). My periods are now like clockwork and not bad or painful any more. My acne which I've had since about 13 years old is gone - my skin is clear. I feel strong and have more energy than I have had in my adult life.
As for carb cravings - I was a carboholic pre-surgery. Now, they aren't important to me. I used to love bread - good crusty artisan bread. Now, I really don't care if I have it or not. Bread actually makes my stomach feel bad. I went to Olive Garden the other night and had 1/2 a breadstick - I didn't enjoy it. I would have never thought that a year ago. Pasta no longer has it's clutches in me - I can eat a couple of bites of it, but prefer chicken, it just feels better on my stomach. I don't care if I have another potato, but I still enjoy a french fry or tater tot every once in a while. Tortilla chips are a slider for me - I can eat a lot of those, so I just keep them out of the house.
hair growth has slowed down a bit, but it's still there and I still have to tweeze. It's OK though - I'll take the good with the bad.
Best of luck to you. Again, I admire the fact you're doing this while you're young. You're going to do great!

I was diagnosed with PCOS about three years ago. I've been hospitalized twice for bursting cysts and haven't had a "regular" cycle without birth control in a very long time, if ever. Instead of never showing up, it's light and constant for like 2-3 wrote out of the month and let me tell you, that's no fun. The insulin resistance has made it super hard to loose wrought. I give it my all and still end up defeated at the scale. I've tried every version of weight watchers they've thrown at me in the last few years, going veg, and even a biggest loser program through my school. My doctor put me on Melton and phentermine which worked until i had to take a break from it.
All that being said, I am so excited to finally beat PCOS!!! I'm 22 and for a long time I've imagined myself constantly growing fatter as I got older until diabetes took over my body and I ended up so big I wasn't unable to do the things I love. I'm an opera singer and my body is my instrument. And I've been terrified that in spite of my efforts I would never be healthy enough to sing like I want to. (The whole fat opera singer idea is becoming more and more obsolete as directors are requiring more active stagings and crazy moving sets and movie theater broadcasts)
And now I begin my pre-op appointments next week and I am just so excited to finally do something that works and that I can be successful at, instead of a bunch of called diet attempts.
So I'm wondering what to expect. For those of you who are post-op, how do you think having PCOS affected your VSG journey? And how has being sleeved affected your PCOS? I get awful carb cravings. Do they go away? Or at least recede a bit? Has it affected chin hair growth? My goodness I would love not to carry tweezers with me everywhere I go!!! But either way, I can't wait to be a happier, healthier me!

Hey there . I'm 5'5" and 258. I'm scheduled for surgery on July 28th! So excited and can't believe it's finally here!!! I'm 35, a mom, wife and OB nurse. I've struggled with my weight my entire life. I can't wait to see what the future holds after surgery.

July 16th, name is Pamela. Hello everyone.
Had a june 25th date then my surgeon got called for jury duty and couldn't get off! I was mad, and then sad, went through 10 days of liquid wasn't so bad but to be deep into it then have to just stop. That is the only thing I will have to do again.

We are having to use some of our retirement savings to pay for the surgery. I am going to dr. Borland in new Iberia, Louisiana. He is well recommended and cost is $9800. We just cannot qualify for a loan so sorry but if your doctor offers financing then try the company he recommends . Usually it is called creditcare. Dental offices use them as well. Hope this helps in some way.

I too went to Dr Thomas Borland! I'm 5 months out and feeling wonderful! No complications, no regrets.
$9800 flat with no hidden fees!

Hi! I am a hairdresser and am two weeks post op. I had the sleeve on June 27th.
I am headed back to work tomorrow. I also took two weeks not sure how things would go. I have so many friends that all had different recovery times so I was taking a guess that two weeks would be plenty.
Overall, I feel like I'm ready to go back and get back into the swing of things. But, I have had such a hard time getting all my Protein in and in the first week all my Water. I have just felt so weak and blah that I am a little nervous. I am planning my food and drinks that I will need throughout the day and gonna try and stick to it. You know as hairdressers, we get so busy we forget to eat or drink anything, sometimes all day! So it's really gonna be different.
Good luck and just remember to do what the Dr. says! You'll b happy you did it!!

I have a few friends who are fixated on the number, too. I tell them that I am not worried about that because it's a marathon and not a sprint. Usually shuts them up.

I understand where you're coming from. I'm a hair stylist and I see lots of people!! Some people I've told but I haven't told many because you never know how people may react to having WLS. Some of my clients who have known me for a while still bring it up every time I see them, which is nice and everything but I had the surgery...I appreciate your support but I don't want the CONSTANT reminder that I had it done. Let's move on and live our lives. Some of you may feel differently about keeping it secret or not wanting a reminder you had it done.. I don't like when people ask me 'how much have you lost?' I know they are there for support and they are proud but I personally think it's rude for clients or people in general to ask that, it's another thing if it's your best friends or a family member. Just always remember to keep your head up and know you did it for yourself and yourself only, not everyone needs to know every single detail about your new life.

Hi Cassie, I was afraid to tell my husband too. He is always supportive and he too is a twig. The problem is... he is a chef and shows his love by cooking for people. I finally told him that I wanted to do it and he said "why? I love you the way you are." I told him that I love myself too but I really need to like myself and I don't. After him playing the devil's advocate for an hour or so, he asked how he could help. It's two weeks until my surgery and he walks with me every morning, makes sure I'm hydrated and makes sure I get enough Protein drinks in (even if I don't want one!) Maybe I created a monster LOL. My son is the one that is having a hard time with it, he's 25, and he just wants me to be safe during the surgery and have no complications. I think we are blessed to have this tool to help us. Do this for your 2 year old!!! Do this for you and your future and your SO!

Dr. Thomas Borland in New Iberia and from New Iberia

I totally feel ya. I am 11 days post op and I went shopping with my mom the other day. She was so hungry so I told her let's go have lunch. She ordered a sandwich and a cup a Soup and I had just a cup of vegetable soup but mainly sip the broth. I was looking around the restaurant and everybody was so happy eating sandwiches, salad bar, baked potatoes and having soda. At first deep inside of me I felt like I made a mistake I'd rather be fat and eat ven tu have to suffer like this. But then a lady walked in the door around 400 pounds. She waddled to the counter and order The Lord of Meatballs subs with a salad bar that she loaded with cheese ranch and croutons. I watched her eat and she was not happy she was feeding an addiction. At that moment I was so happy that my broth filled me up. I was happy that I made the choice to change my life so that I was not her. Its hard to see other people doing things you can't do now but in the future months we can eat food again. And the small portions will change our lives forever. Just stay strong write in a journal focus and pray.

Let me ask you something: why are you afraid to get healthier? Why should you let other people stop you from being the healthiest and best you are? What right do other people have to do that? You are giving them that right when you say that.

Just wanted to finally post my experience with Dr. Borland in Louisiana. I chose him because his self-pay price was only 9800 (my hubby wasn't comfortable with Mexico!) and he does the surgery outpatient (I had no desire to stay in the hospital)
His receptionist isn't the friendliest woman in the world, but she does answer all questions you have. You get your pre-op testing done at home with your own doc. From the time I inquired about surgery to the date of my surgery was less than 1 month.
You choose and pay for the hotel you stay at. I flew into New Orleans, and the drive to New Iberia was a few hours. You can also fly into Lafayette but its much more expensive. After surgery, Dr. Borland visits you at your hotel several times per day.
The surgery is done at the New Iberia Surgery Center. It's not super high-tech looking inside, but the nurse was very kind and competent and the whole surgery itself was a breeze.
Dr. Borland does not use a drain, and sent me back to my hotel with these inflatable stocking things to use to avoid blood clots. He prescribes liquid Vicodin for pain (I didn't use it--couldn't keep it down) and a suppository that helps with nausea and also puts you to sleep. My pain was very minimal; my biggest problem the first few days was vomiting up when I tried to drink.
I had surgery on Thursday and flew home to Wisconsin on Sunday with no trouble. Dr. Borland is available by cell whenever I need him, and always helps me out with questions.
If you're looking for an affordable surgeon in the US, I would definitely recommend Dr. Borland. He is top notch. He even gives you a flash drive with a video of your procedure, if you want to watch your sleeve be born
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!! And no, I was not paid to write this review. Haha

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

I'm Jessy. I'm 18 years old, a high school senior, and I'm about a month away from graduating.
Ever since about fourth grade, I've been obese. I've always been the "larger child". My parents have tried their hardest to help me lose weight, from diets to exercise, but nothing ever helped. I always heard people say "oh she's young, she'll lose the weight in no time", and yet I've never been able to, no matter how hard I tried. Temptation was too strong, resources were lacking, and an overall lack of motivation didn't help at all.
Around 6th grade, I stopped menstruating.Upon seeing a doctor, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and a Pre-Diabetic. As someone from a genetically diabetic (type 2) family on both sides, I was a likely candidate for the latter if I did not lose weight.
The idea to go under the VSG did not come to mind until about my junior year of high school, as my weight increased along with my deficiencies in immunity, energy, and general health. There were many difficulties insurance wise, but finally I was approved and my surgery took place on April 14, just three days after my 18th birthday. It's been six days, and I am currently down about 10lbs, more than I've ever lost during my failed dieting regimes.
I am determined to reach my goal weight of 125lbs, which is a healthy weight for my stature, not just for my health but for my self confidence. I want to lead a new life as I move on from high school to college. Honestly, I can't wait to buy some cute clothes~

this is a great post idea. I am writing this from my hospital room less tha 24 hours post VSG. I really don't know who I am right now. I am certainly on a journey. One that has taken me thousands of miles from my home and my children. I am running away from being the funny fat chick. I am not sure why.I started this journey six months after I lost my mother. I am not sure why I didn't know who I was anymore after she's was gone. I just knew that I didn't feel ok in this body any more. I put on 25 lbs since have died and everything on me hurt. My knees, my back, and my heart. It wasn't enough to just be me. I am sitting here now questioning who or what it is I want to be and I know the possibilities are endless. I want to be the mom who has the energy to play with my kids and the wife who my husband is proud to be with. I actually wouldn't mind being the funny chick in size10!!

Perfect i'm looking as well! My docs office is supposed to call Tues to confirm surgery date of July 15th! I'm 32 5'7'' 264 pds of nervous excitement...i've never been at a thin healthy weight my weight has always been a struggle and i need a buddy or ten to go through this journey with!!

Hello! I have my first consult on June 12, and with my surgeon on the whole it takes about 2 months (it did with my co-worker anyway) so I'm looking at an August date, maybe Sept. I'm 27yo, 5'8", and 277 lbs. If anything, keep us all updated on how it goes for you!!

I am set to have surgery around the last week in July. I am 29. I am currently 5 foot 7 and 261 so I am looking for someone with similar stats or surgery date to talk to and become friends with to go through this journey with together