JaneJaneDoe

Thanks everyone for you feedback/stories. Being a low BMI, I have just been wondering if there are others out there like me. There are; and it's good to know.
I am a 33 BMIer. I have struggled for ten years with yoyo dieting. Most recently I lost down to 155 and maintained it for about six months. Then ballooned back to 195. I had been prescribed phentermine by my endocrinologist, plus I was going to a boot camp at 5:30am M-F. After boot camp, I would come home and run 3+ miles. Then sometimes at night walk with my hubby. Some days I was exercising three hours a day! It's crazy to think about. I enjoy exercising, but should it really take three hours a day to maintain a normal BMI? And the phentermine gave me horrible headaches and kept me from sleeping at night. I know it was hard on my body. After gaining back the weight, I tried to do another round of phentermine, but I just hated taking the pill every day that gave me massive headaches and gave me horrible insomnia. I cried recently at the doctor because they now want me to do a sleep study... I snore horribly. I asked, "if the results are bad, where do we go from there?" The doctor said, "CPAP machine." I cried. I don't want to treat the symptoms of my problem. I want to treat the real underlying issue... the weight. So even though I am a low BMI, I feel it is worth the surgery to have a permanent solution for a real problem. I know if I am not proactive to get my weight under control, I will continue to balloon and become diabetic, on a CPAP machine, on blood pressure medicine, etc.
I have read some ridicule from those higher BMI folks aimed at low-BMIers for ever considering surgery. It seems odd that they are ridiculing because they have probably felt similar ridicule in their lifetimes from being an obese and/or morbidly obese person. I don't quite understand the judgment. That judgment has kept me from posting at times, but I am a lover, not a fighter. I certainly can look past it and find a "safe" place to continue my journey. Thanks for all the positive that I have found on these forums. I will say, the positive does outweigh (no pun intended) the negative; and that's what matters.
So low BMI people, continue to post and share! Thanks in advance!

Just an update for those pre-op people who are wondering how post-op people are faring. It really helped me to read about other's experiences when I was pre-op and scared, nervous, etc, Hopefully this will help some of you.
Surgery: 12/31/14 (currently I am a month and a half post)
Height: 5'4"
High Weight: 195 (at first pre-op on 12/5/14)
Surgery Weight: 188 (no pre-op diet required for me)
Today's weight: 168 (27 total pounds lost... 20 since surgery ... lost 12lbs in the first 12 days, since then I'm losing at a rate of about 2lbs/week)
FOOD: I was on a liquid diet for first 8 days. I was extremely hungry day 8, same day as my post-op appt. Surgeon said to start slowly trying to eat real foods. I have and can eat ANYTHING now. I've thrown up ONCE, when I ate some chicken too fast at 14 days post op. Last night I ate about 4oz of filet mignon, a couple bites of au gratin potatoes plus a 1/2 glass of yummy cabernet (2012 Charles Krug, Napa). It was wonderful, zero issues. Drinking LOTS of Water... aim for 64oz of Water per day; I don't always make that goal, but I try (my massage therapist said she can really tell that I am super hydrated bc my skin looks great). I am eating Protein first with a total daily calories of ~500-600. Some people say they are not hungry the first year post; well, I have been. I'm okay with it. I just plan and always have a cheese stick or almonds to curve my hunger, not to graze on or snack on... just a few bites to curve until meal time. I stay away from bread, Pasta, and most sugars. I have a couple chocolate kisses when I just have to have some.
PYSCH: I have had ZERO depression. In fact, the reverse. I'm much happier knowing I have this TOOL to help me. Please know you still have to PLAN and follow an eating regiment; the sleeve is not a magic solution to our obesity. I am feeling great. sleeping great. Zero headaches (suffered from migraines). My snoring is just about gone!!!
EXERCISE: I have logged 56 miles since my surgery (started walking on treadmill two days post). Hoping to run a half marathon again in the fall.
WORK: I returned to work on January 5th, just 5 days post-op. I work in an office, thus no manual labor.
PHOTOS/MEASUREMENTS/CLOTHES: I took pre-op photos; I can't wait to take the after photos. I'm holding out until I'm close to my goal weight, then I will take the after photos. I also took pre-op measurements and have lost over 26 inches. Today I cleaned out some of my closet... giving away eleven pairs of size 14 pants... going to Goodwill donation!
WOULD I DO IT AGAIN? Hell YES! My hubby has been so encouraged watching my success, he has scheduled to have the surgery March 9th!
Good Luck to you all!!!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Thanks everyone for you feedback/stories. Being a low BMI, I have just been wondering if there are others out there like me. There are; and it's good to know.
I am a 33 BMIer. I have struggled for ten years with yoyo dieting. Most recently I lost down to 155 and maintained it for about six months. Then ballooned back to 195. I had been prescribed phentermine by my endocrinologist, plus I was going to a boot camp at 5:30am M-F. After boot camp, I would come home and run 3+ miles. Then sometimes at night walk with my hubby. Some days I was exercising three hours a day! It's crazy to think about. I enjoy exercising, but should it really take three hours a day to maintain a normal BMI? And the phentermine gave me horrible headaches and kept me from sleeping at night. I know it was hard on my body. After gaining back the weight, I tried to do another round of phentermine, but I just hated taking the pill every day that gave me massive headaches and gave me horrible insomnia. I cried recently at the doctor because they now want me to do a sleep study... I snore horribly. I asked, "if the results are bad, where do we go from there?" The doctor said, "CPAP machine." I cried. I don't want to treat the symptoms of my problem. I want to treat the real underlying issue... the weight. So even though I am a low BMI, I feel it is worth the surgery to have a permanent solution for a real problem. I know if I am not proactive to get my weight under control, I will continue to balloon and become diabetic, on a CPAP machine, on blood pressure medicine, etc.
I have read some ridicule from those higher BMI folks aimed at low-BMIers for ever considering surgery. It seems odd that they are ridiculing because they have probably felt similar ridicule in their lifetimes from being an obese and/or morbidly obese person. I don't quite understand the judgment. That judgment has kept me from posting at times, but I am a lover, not a fighter. I certainly can look past it and find a "safe" place to continue my journey. Thanks for all the positive that I have found on these forums. I will say, the positive does outweigh (no pun intended) the negative; and that's what matters.
So low BMI people, continue to post and share! Thanks in advance!

I'm the last of the December group. Sleeved 12/31/14. I'm doing pretty well. I was able to have two bowel movements on 1/2/15 which shocked me because I typically constipate very easily. I was thinking it would be a week before I would be able to go. I stayed in the hospital one night. and have only had pain Rx twice (at night before bedtime). I only have one incision that bothers me; the other incisions don't bother me at all. Tried to get out and run a couple errands with hubby today and was fine... except for lack of energy. I know I'm not getting enough protein/calories. I log everything on myfitnesspal app. My weight started at 188 and today was 183.4... almost 5lbs down in three days (I'm 5'4"). Would love to hear updates from all the other December sleeves.
Happy New Year!

Just an update for those pre-op people who are wondering how post-op people are faring. It really helped me to read about other's experiences when I was pre-op and scared, nervous, etc, Hopefully this will help some of you.
Surgery: 12/31/14 (currently I am a month and a half post)
Height: 5'4"
High Weight: 195 (at first pre-op on 12/5/14)
Surgery Weight: 188 (no pre-op diet required for me)
Today's weight: 168 (27 total pounds lost... 20 since surgery ... lost 12lbs in the first 12 days, since then I'm losing at a rate of about 2lbs/week)
FOOD: I was on a liquid diet for first 8 days. I was extremely hungry day 8, same day as my post-op appt. Surgeon said to start slowly trying to eat real foods. I have and can eat ANYTHING now. I've thrown up ONCE, when I ate some chicken too fast at 14 days post op. Last night I ate about 4oz of filet mignon, a couple bites of au gratin potatoes plus a 1/2 glass of yummy cabernet (2012 Charles Krug, Napa). It was wonderful, zero issues. Drinking LOTS of Water... aim for 64oz of Water per day; I don't always make that goal, but I try (my massage therapist said she can really tell that I am super hydrated bc my skin looks great). I am eating Protein first with a total daily calories of ~500-600. Some people say they are not hungry the first year post; well, I have been. I'm okay with it. I just plan and always have a cheese stick or almonds to curve my hunger, not to graze on or snack on... just a few bites to curve until meal time. I stay away from bread, Pasta, and most sugars. I have a couple chocolate kisses when I just have to have some.
PYSCH: I have had ZERO depression. In fact, the reverse. I'm much happier knowing I have this TOOL to help me. Please know you still have to PLAN and follow an eating regiment; the sleeve is not a magic solution to our obesity. I am feeling great. sleeping great. Zero headaches (suffered from migraines). My snoring is just about gone!!!
EXERCISE: I have logged 56 miles since my surgery (started walking on treadmill two days post). Hoping to run a half marathon again in the fall.
WORK: I returned to work on January 5th, just 5 days post-op. I work in an office, thus no manual labor.
PHOTOS/MEASUREMENTS/CLOTHES: I took pre-op photos; I can't wait to take the after photos. I'm holding out until I'm close to my goal weight, then I will take the after photos. I also took pre-op measurements and have lost over 26 inches. Today I cleaned out some of my closet... giving away eleven pairs of size 14 pants... going to Goodwill donation!
WOULD I DO IT AGAIN? Hell YES! My hubby has been so encouraged watching my success, he has scheduled to have the surgery March 9th!
Good Luck to you all!!!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Cash pay in Texas. $14,500 total. Included hospital, one-night stay, surgeon fees, anesthesiologist, and all post-op appts for one year.

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

I have had three C-sections and they were MUCH WORSE than the sleeve. I went back to work (PT desk job) five days after my sleeve. I was tired and moved slow, but was fine! My hubby went back to work (FT desk job) in seven days. The pain is minimal and absolutely nothing like a C-section (in my opinion).

I have had three C-sections and they were MUCH WORSE than the sleeve. I went back to work (PT desk job) five days after my sleeve. I was tired and moved slow, but was fine! My hubby went back to work (FT desk job) in seven days. The pain is minimal and absolutely nothing like a C-section (in my opinion).

I have had three C-sections and they were MUCH WORSE than the sleeve. I went back to work (PT desk job) five days after my sleeve. I was tired and moved slow, but was fine! My hubby went back to work (FT desk job) in seven days. The pain is minimal and absolutely nothing like a C-section (in my opinion).

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Perhaps he meant something else, like: "The sleeve will help you lose 40% of your excess weight quite easily. But to lose more than that and to maintain your weight loss long-term, you'll have to exercise the new tools and behaviors that are critical that all WLS patients should learn.
None of the WLS procedures produce a patient who never again has to calculate their food and exercise choices.
Surgery alone will NOT fix your weight problem.
Those who succeed the most the best the longest are those who understand this and accept this.
If you can't do this, I agree that WLS would not be a good choice for you.
And if you do suffer from anxiety / depression / other emotional challenges, you would be very well served by receiving psychological support. Untreated, those challenges would make WLS pretty difficult, I imagine.
Very best to you.

Wow wow wow.. Thank you janejanedoe for posting your before and after photos.. So inspirational.. You skin looks amazing no extra skin... My surgery is 4 days away this is just the inspiration I need!!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Well, I was six months post this week and finally took some comparison photos.

195 lbs - high weight
188 lbs - surgery weight
144 lbs - today's weight (well, 143.3 lbs, but I rounded up)

I am 51 pounds down and only NINE pounds from my goal weight!!!! And, I have lost 61.25 inches... crazy! Hips are 34" and wearing size 4!

Hey there everyone!! Tomorrow marks my one year anniversary of having my surgery. It has been a roller coaster ride and still is. I am down 100lbs. I started out before the preop diet at 247lbs wearing a size 24. I am now at 147lbs in a size 9-10(depending on the clothes of course ). I am able to wear some of my 16 year old daughters clothes. I never thought that would happen to me. We look at my pictures from April of last year and my kids tell me they did not think I was that big at that time. BUt now they see it. My confidence level is going high. I still have about 20-25lbs I would like to lose but I feel good. I will be putting pictures up when I get home from work.
Have a great day.

This is such an interesting topic and it still shocks me everyday. Normally I would never do this but I just had surgery and am having a difficult time swallowing any food right now.
I wanted something other than pudding or cottage cheese so I had my husband warm me up a can of Campbell's home style chicken noodle Soup. (You know, the little red and white can).
He warmed it up and put the whole can of Soup in a mug for me and then handed it to me. I laughed and said you know this is actually 2 servings of soup and I will be lucky if I can eat 1/3. He went and poured out 1/3,of the soup into a new mug for me. It took me 15 minutes to eat and I still had half of what was originally in the mug. I told him to cover it with Saran Wrap so I could have it for dinner later.
He is still shocked by how little I can actually eat.
I swear every time I get a meal at a restaurant I could just scream. They serve you enough food for 4 whole meals.
When will restaurants start to realize they really are half the problem.

Isn't it GREAT??
Sometimes when I look around at the amounts that other people are eating, I am astounded that I used to eat that much and then some. It just goes to show how little food we need to actually survive and thrive on!

I started at 33 BMI and today (5.5 months post) I am 25.1 BMI.... almost in the healthy range! I have loved, loved this journey. I have never been depressed at all. I think I'm right on track and I have set my goal to settle in the 135-145 range (ideally 138). I believe I am right on track and so very happy I did this. I do exercise. I run/walk (and yoga). In the last twelve days, I have logged 41 miles. I think my running/walking/yoga has extremely helped my skin tighten. My cellulite in my legs has greatly improved and I'm actually wearing cute shorts this summer (first time wearing shorts in years!). Self pay $14,500.
Surgery: 12/31/14
High Weight: 195
Surgery Weight: 188
Today's Weight: 146 (weighed 145.8 after my run this morning)