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I lost 15 pounds my first month, and a 11-12 my 2nd and 3rd. With pre-op losses down almost 70 now at almost 4 months. And I feel vey successful! And when I look at data for weight loss that verifies that indeed I am doing better than average. I'm not sure why so many people are disappointed with losses like this. I'm so thrilled with how fast I'm losing - all while not feeling deprived. I hope you can find a way to enjoy your success and stay positive for the long haul. To me, I'm mostly looking ahead to being able to maintain a loss. Yes - I've lost quickly in the past, but I've never been able to lose as much as I wanted, and was never able to keep it off.
Bottom line - you're doing great! Stay positive - it will help you stay on track in the long term.

Great job! just don't eat the tortilla that isn't healthy. I order tacos but never eat the tortilla, bread, Pasta anything like that.
Congratulations!!!!

GIRL!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING THOSE PICTURES!! You are brave, but who cares of our excessive skin?! (lol) You are skinny and I will be skinny someday soon also. I rather have my skin like that and be skinny and healthy. (if that makes any sense) I know that will be a issue w/the weight loss but you are gorgeous. Again, I rather have excessive skin and be healthy(skinny) than overweight and in bad health. Congratulations!!! and God Bless you girlfriend!
GREAT JOB!!!!!

One word "BASTARDS"! ((((hug))))

sugar free popsicles are the way to go

You can also try LIGHT Yoplait yogurts those are good also. Sugarfree puddings are great also. Sugarfree popsicles are great also.

@@VSGAnn2014 nice reply. thanks for that info

I'm only typing here what I've read and researched online. I have no personal knowledge other than that, so here goes:
1. For several months post-op, your new tummy is still swollen and healing. So the capacity of your tummy is smaller than it will be eventually (say, a year post-op) when the new stomach has completely healed. This conforms with what I see patients 6-8-12 months out saying about their increased capacity.
2. The portion of your stomach that remains post-op is the LEAST stretchy part of your stomach. I've also read that the maximum amount that anyone's new tummy could stretch is 70%. By that measure, your capacity after 70% stretching would be 1.7 times more than it was before stretching. So if you're eating 4 ounces before your sleeve stretched 70%, you could eat 6-1/2 ounces after it stretched. If you were eating 6 ounces before your sleeve stretched 70%, you could eat 9-1/2 ounces after it stretched. Neither of those are big increases.
3. Nonetheless, some WLS patients develop an "ability" (ugh!) to pack more food down into their gullets. I've read (and been told by medical staff) that some people develop a tolerance for storing food in their esophagus while the food below, in the stomach, eventually empties down through the pyloric valve into the intestine, making room for the food in the esophagus to then go down into the tummy. Again, ugh!
4. Some patients learn how to eat more food by grazing / snacking throughout the day and night.
5. Some patients also increase their food intake simply by not eating in accordance with their doctor's instructions. Instead of always eating Protein first, then veggies, and only then simpler carbs (if they have room), they make simple, processed carbs (like crackers, breads, pastas, Cookies, ice cream) a larger proportion of their diets.
6. Some patients also are unable to stop drinking sweetened and high calorie drinks (sweet tea, sugar sodas, high-calorie coffee drinks, etc.). In other words, it's not hard to cheat the sleeve.
The sleeve is a tool. But WE operate the tool.

I am not so sure you could have stretched your sleeve out this soon after surgery. Also how could you tell? I suppose you could eat a lot more. I do not believe the sleeve can actually stretch that much. Of course you can eat around your sleeve by grazing.

Check out this article on Governor Christie and the Lap-Band. Feeling a little famous at the moment

GIRL!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING THOSE PICTURES!! You are brave, but who cares of our excessive skin?! (lol) You are skinny and I will be skinny someday soon also. I rather have my skin like that and be skinny and healthy. (if that makes any sense) I know that will be a issue w/the weight loss but you are gorgeous. Again, I rather have excessive skin and be healthy(skinny) than overweight and in bad health. Congratulations!!! and God Bless you girlfriend!
GREAT JOB!!!!!

Hello! I'm not here to say anything bad to you. But it seems that you are buying stuff that your not suppose to and bringing into your house. If you don't buy it and bring it into your house then there isn't anyway you can be eating it..correct?
Just going to put a list of items that I have in my fridge to eat when I want to eat or when I'm really hungry.
Protein shakes, boiled eggs, cheese sticks, turkey slices, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free Jello, yogurt, salad, sugarfree drink powders, lots of Water, chicken salad, tuna salad, etc.
I know its hard believe me ive been there and I think we all struggle w/our eating habits. But I believe in the phrase "It's me time" and you have to begin love yourself enough to chose the right choices when it comes to eating and exercise. If we don't take care of our self who is going to take care of us? There will be times that we fall off the wagon but we must get back up, dust our self off and get back on the horse. (as they say). Good luck and God Bless!

Morning sheltermann, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will be fine and be ready for your journey. My surgery was 7/28/14 and its the best thing I ever did. I'm down 30 lbs and I love it. Just keep sipping and walking, walking is the best advice we all can give u. And most of all be patient and you will be doing great. See you on the sleeve side. Speedy recovery! YOU GOT THIS!!!

Hello! I'm not here to say anything bad to you. But it seems that you are buying stuff that your not suppose to and bringing into your house. If you don't buy it and bring it into your house then there isn't anyway you can be eating it..correct?
Just going to put a list of items that I have in my fridge to eat when I want to eat or when I'm really hungry.
Protein shakes, boiled eggs, cheese sticks, turkey slices, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free Jello, yogurt, salad, sugarfree drink powders, lots of Water, chicken salad, tuna salad, etc.
I know its hard believe me ive been there and I think we all struggle w/our eating habits. But I believe in the phrase "It's me time" and you have to begin love yourself enough to chose the right choices when it comes to eating and exercise. If we don't take care of our self who is going to take care of us? There will be times that we fall off the wagon but we must get back up, dust our self off and get back on the horse. (as they say). Good luck and God Bless!

Hello! I'm not here to say anything bad to you. But it seems that you are buying stuff that your not suppose to and bringing into your house. If you don't buy it and bring it into your house then there isn't anyway you can be eating it..correct?
Just going to put a list of items that I have in my fridge to eat when I want to eat or when I'm really hungry.
Protein shakes, boiled eggs, cheese sticks, turkey slices, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free Jello, yogurt, salad, sugarfree drink powders, lots of Water, chicken salad, tuna salad, etc.
I know its hard believe me ive been there and I think we all struggle w/our eating habits. But I believe in the phrase "It's me time" and you have to begin love yourself enough to chose the right choices when it comes to eating and exercise. If we don't take care of our self who is going to take care of us? There will be times that we fall off the wagon but we must get back up, dust our self off and get back on the horse. (as they say). Good luck and God Bless!

What type of reply are you hoping for?

Morning sheltermann, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will be fine and be ready for your journey. My surgery was 7/28/14 and its the best thing I ever did. I'm down 30 lbs and I love it. Just keep sipping and walking, walking is the best advice we all can give u. And most of all be patient and you will be doing great. See you on the sleeve side. Speedy recovery! YOU GOT THIS!!!

Morning sheltermann, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will be fine and be ready for your journey. My surgery was 7/28/14 and its the best thing I ever did. I'm down 30 lbs and I love it. Just keep sipping and walking, walking is the best advice we all can give u. And most of all be patient and you will be doing great. See you on the sleeve side. Speedy recovery! YOU GOT THIS!!!

Morning sheltermann, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will be fine and be ready for your journey. My surgery was 7/28/14 and its the best thing I ever did. I'm down 30 lbs and I love it. Just keep sipping and walking, walking is the best advice we all can give u. And most of all be patient and you will be doing great. See you on the sleeve side. Speedy recovery! YOU GOT THIS!!!

Morning JM...I had the same exact experience. I had no complications and was able to drink w/o any problem. My first post surgery I had to see for myself on the xray machine of some sort that I have the sleeve done. I had to drink a liquid and was able to see the liquid go down my throat and stomach(size of it). So yes it is working, but still take it slow. I had some experience with drinking too fast or too much. Good luck and Congratulations!.

Autumn thanks for being so candid. These photos do not deter me. Like you, I know after the sleeve surgery life will be so much better. Saggy skin is Very small price to pay to be healthy.
By the way, good job on the weight loss. Wishing you continued success

Im ecstatic!
The decision to get this done changed my life. I was on a wheelchair because of my weight and only after 2 months I am another person...a standing and walking person.
It feels great to want to do something and actually be able to do it.
I am not living my life on the sidelines anymore.
I owe my life to this surgery!
65lbs to goal weight
here I come!

I had several my step dad would call me NONA or Blue Bear due to a robe that I had. They thought it was funny. My mother allowed him to call me that and said he was just playing. People don't think about what they say affects that person. I already had a dark secret inside of me in my childhood years. And there is where my weight increased. As the secret grew in years so did my weight. As a child I didn't have a say so what happened to me, but as a ADULT I HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS TO ME NOW! So I am living my life now. Sorry for the ranting on, but just hit a nerve on this top. Sorry again..

I had several my step dad would call me NONA or Blue Bear due to a robe that I had. They thought it was funny. My mother allowed him to call me that and said he was just playing. People don't think about what they say affects that person. I already had a dark secret inside of me in my childhood years. And there is where my weight increased. As the secret grew in years so did my weight. As a child I didn't have a say so what happened to me, but as a ADULT I HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS TO ME NOW! So I am living my life now. Sorry for the ranting on, but just hit a nerve on this top. Sorry again..

So much of what CGJ said resonates with me. Insulting ones body image, especially to children, is detrimental. While I was never called a particular name, I was teased. One memory my mind clings to was when I was in the 1st or 2nd grade. One girl that loved to taunt me, told the boy that I liked, "Kathy, the BIG FAT PIG likes you!" I was mortified. Devastated. Obviously, because I still remember it. I endured things like kids saying, "Boom-baba-boom" as I walked past. And I wasn't even that big. As a child I wore 14/16 from the husky sizes. As a teen I ranged from a 7 to a 14. I was always chubby and overweight, but never obese. But the taunting and acts of my loved ones taking my plate away and telling me that she (my mother) couldn't take me shopping at 5-7-9 (a store that sold only those sizes) because I ate too much, really affected my body image. It lead me to bulimia as a teenager.
By the time I got to college and became obsessed with exercising and eating right, I would still continue with the vomiting. I would fall into my cravings, gorge myself, feel guilty, vomit, and then run for an hour. Even though I was a size 4 and confidant to wear shorts and little dresses, I'd still have episodes where I would find myself repulsive. I'd sit in front of a mirror in my underclothing and cry because I was so disgusting. My boyfriend (now husband) wasn't even allowed to touch my stomach, even though it was flat. All the taunting led to self loathing. It was weird. I was extremely confidant at times and completely insecure and hateful towards myself at other times. Mercurial, I know.
I'm happy to report that all that self loathing is a thing of the past. I gained confidence as a mother. I'm blessed with a husband that loved me thin and obese. Never made me feel obese or commented that I needed to lose weight. We have four children, two of which whom seem to have inherited my appetite and are a little over weight. However, my husband and I never make them feel inferior, use "endearments" that insult their body image, or make comments about their weight. Since my surgery we have tried to teach them about healthy choices. We only have healthy options at home now and we try to make their journey here at home a healthy one.