newrose2427

Welcome! Congratulations on your new journey! I know how hard life has been being at such a high weight myself. My highest was 339! I was sleeved on 3/10/15 and have lost 36 pounds so far. Pre op I weighed 296. I still want to lose 180 more to hit the BMI and weight for my height. It's not the 200 you were looking for, but it's sure close in my eyes lol! I didn't post my weight at first either when I first started visiting this site, but as days went by, and reading all the other posts, my confidence got a little higher and higher. So finally I said what the heck! It's a weigh loss forum and why are we all here? So now, I'm up front with everything.
Right now I'm experiencing the dreaded 3 week stall.. Been on it for a week now :-/ . Trying to stay motivated, I know it won't last, but dang it! It can get discouraging.
So far my little tips that work for me: Never go past 3hrs without eating! I find if I do, I'm desperate for something and eat WAY too fast, and that hurts!
Water water water.. Or G2 Gatorade.. Fluid fluid fluid. I find if I don't get enough fluids, NO ENERGY!
And I try to get all my Protein in the first couple times I eat for the day. I'll do a Premier Protein shake for bfast (30g protein), and then if I'm on the run I have a premier Protein Bar for snack(20g protein). Then when I do eat the rest of the day, I already know I got my protein in for the day.
The gym is a must for me. I go 5-6 days a week. This is new to me. I started a month before my surgery. I find that on days I don't go, I beat myself up. Plus I feel much better after wards, plus I LOVE THE EXTRA ENERGY!
I hope these encourage you. I know it's easier said than done. But I promise I am one to tell you, if I can do it, so can any one! Good luck to you!

Welcome! Congratulations on your new journey! I know how hard life has been being at such a high weight myself. My highest was 339! I was sleeved on 3/10/15 and have lost 36 pounds so far. Pre op I weighed 296. I still want to lose 180 more to hit the BMI and weight for my height. It's not the 200 you were looking for, but it's sure close in my eyes lol! I didn't post my weight at first either when I first started visiting this site, but as days went by, and reading all the other posts, my confidence got a little higher and higher. So finally I said what the heck! It's a weigh loss forum and why are we all here? So now, I'm up front with everything.
Right now I'm experiencing the dreaded 3 week stall.. Been on it for a week now :-/ . Trying to stay motivated, I know it won't last, but dang it! It can get discouraging.
So far my little tips that work for me: Never go past 3hrs without eating! I find if I do, I'm desperate for something and eat WAY too fast, and that hurts!
Water water water.. Or G2 Gatorade.. Fluid fluid fluid. I find if I don't get enough fluids, NO ENERGY!
And I try to get all my Protein in the first couple times I eat for the day. I'll do a Premier Protein shake for bfast (30g protein), and then if I'm on the run I have a premier Protein Bar for snack(20g protein). Then when I do eat the rest of the day, I already know I got my protein in for the day.
The gym is a must for me. I go 5-6 days a week. This is new to me. I started a month before my surgery. I find that on days I don't go, I beat myself up. Plus I feel much better after wards, plus I LOVE THE EXTRA ENERGY!
I hope these encourage you. I know it's easier said than done. But I promise I am one to tell you, if I can do it, so can any one! Good luck to you!

So excited to join the 100 pound club!! After battling my weight for 30 years this is a tremendous milestone. How will I Celebrate? SKYDIVING! I've wanted to skydive for 25 years and was always too heavy. Realizing a dream is the best part of this process and made watching everyone eat through the holidays worth it!

@@LipstickLady It puts a smile on my face everytime I see a recent picture of you. It gives me real hope that I will one day actually see my goal weight. Although I am just shy of 4 months post op, I'm finally starting to see the difference in my weight loss. Pictures are a wonderful thing.
Thanks for everything you do, and the wonderful person you are. You are and will continue to be my motivation. Love you to LIFE, J!

Congratulations! You look fantastic!
I too find myself stopping when I pass a mirror and saying Is this really me?
I hopped on the scale this morning and wow, I am down 90lbs in six months! I have another 56 to go to hit goal.

My surgery was almost two years ago and I've been "at goal" for over a year. I am still amazed when I see pictures of myself not fat.
The kid in this picture is a size 2. I am not. Ha!

Welcome! I am saddened to hear that you were feeling judged by some Forum members--the place where you should feel safest. Know that you are not alone!
I am a slow but steady loser. My pieces of advice:
1. Find Protein you like and get your recommended grams of Protein in every day. You will lose faster, protect against hair loss and will feel great! I drink Isopure Zero Carb (I like the orange, grape and fruit punch flavors).
2. Celebrate every 10 pounds. Looking at the "BIG" number of what I wanted to lose was overwhelming but the 10 lb milestones were attainable. My celebrations were a new purse, a massage, a new pair of pants, etc. Not food.
3. Surround yourself with supportive people and accept compliments graciously. You will see some changes before others and others will see some changes before you do. Focus on the fact that you are losing enough for people to notice and you are getting healthy.
4. Find exercise that you enjoy or can at least tolerate.
Last but not least, I am a work in progress on the emotional eating issue that got me to 389 pounds. Now I ask myself, "Am I really hungry or am I thirsty?" "Am I really hungry or did something just happen that upset me?" Stopping to query myself helps focus me and then I make an informed choice instead of just eating.
Best of luck on this journey--it is quite a ride and I am only half-way there!

I think you are at the right place for support. I have come here preparing myself for my life post surgery and I feel an enormous kinship with a lot of my fellow sleevers (pre & post).
That being said... "what is working for you" (that you asked) is my sleeve family - here - and YOU being honest about your weight and why you are here.
I don't feel alone.

I have lost quite a bit of weight and if I wanted to get to the proper BMI I *still* have 200lbs to lose. I am doing quite well, taking it one day at a time and feeling better with each pound gone. I've never hidden any of my stats.
One thing I suggest you look at now is your relationship with food. Things like emotional eating, boredom eating and family/peer pressure can sabotage all your good work.
The board can be a great source of encouragement. Welcome!

Welcome aboard! I wish I only had 200 lbs to lose... LoL! I had my surgery done one month ago today and have lost 45 lbs as of my last weigh in Monday!
Thankfully I haven't pushed it and have not had any complications or even thrown up once!! I've even been out to costco and Walmart shopping and getting the stuff I needed, which may not sound like much but considering I hadn't shopped for myself in almost three years I consider that an accomplishment!!
Just take it slow and if you have any questions or need encouragement just ask!!

Welcome to the site, and I hope you find the support you are looking for, I think you will! I am not what you were looking for, but I just want to say that no one here should judge you, and shame on them if they do...it's NOT what this site is about. You are here as legitimately as anyone else, and deserve ALL the support you need and/or want. You just ask all the questions you want, someone is bound to answer! You are NOT alone in this, we're here for you! All the best to you on your new journey!

I am so thankful for this site and everyone sharing their experiences and wisdom - I feel much more prepared for my surgery next week. I just decided to not "hide" my weight from my profile anymore despite my fear of being stigmaized (I already had one person comment on my BMI on this site) because I am ready for this surgery, this change and I do not have the energy to worry about judgement from others anymore. Plus, I was inspired by a few of you who are honest about your weight in your profile.
I am seeking others who have 200 lbs or more to lose and are willing to share how your journey has been and anything you've learned. I am happy for anyone who is ready to make this huge life shift, but I've only seen a handful of posts from people, like myself, who have so far to go on the scale. I am taking it day by day and trying to heal the things that led to my overeating and obesity while learning these new skills to take care of myself and eat healthfully.
What is working for you?

Almost 5 months out, and I finally hit that 75 lb mark. Took some pics to celebrate!

I lost 26lbs on my 2 week pre-op diet and the rest since. I now loose around 10-14lbs a month. I eat 3 meals and 2 healthy Snacks a day as that's what my stomach allows. I get in 60g of Protein most the time but obviously days it can be hard and I'm drinking plenty especially when I'm working out.. I think everyone is different and my nutritionist said I'm doing great so I don't think it'll cause a weight re-gain in the future as I had countless classes years leading up to the operation and I've done well learning how my body is reacting to everything. This may not have been a negative comment but I just thought I'd be clear that I done my research way before the operation and I'm still learning so it's all good oh and I'm the same with sweet things, can't tolerate it at all! Worth it though.

I'm doing well. I hit six months on 3/18. I'm due to get weighed in the next few weeks to update my weight, but overall I feel great. Past few days I haven't felt like eating so I'm doing 4 small meals instead. I'm working out 5 - 6 days a week.

Each person is different I don't think that she is losing too fast she said she is exercising and sticking to the plan. I am 5 days post op and I am trying for 129 lbs in 8 months joined the gym and I am going to get a head start on this new life. Why be negative?

Great job!!! Keep it up!! Keep posting!!!

So today I am 6months post-op VSG. (Was sleeved on 6th October 2014)
So far since pre-op I have lost 106lbs and feeling incredible. Still finding days hard where I don't feel like eating and the next, the head cravings come on strong but I just exercise it all out! How is everyone else?

I asked my doctor if I can stretch my sleeve or do damage by drinking 120+ oz of Fluid a day, some of it rather quickly. He said that the Water will find the easiest path out of the stomach -- that is -- down into the intestines, long before it can ever stretch the sleeve. In fact, the sleeve is mostly muscle, so it's not very stretchy at all. You would almost have to stretch it intentionally by constantly packing it with dense food -- and Water is not dense food. Good news!

Okay guys..I started back at work and my whirlwind job makes it way difficult to consume liquids and eat because I'm always on the go. I'm sure so many of you can relate.
I've taken to doing shakes through out the day just because they are easier to transport, I'm able to be less mindful of the size of bites and the number of chews. Probably not the best bc I don't wanna be on shakes indefinitely, but I'm only 4 weeks out so I think shakes are still super normal to use.
Here's my question:
I can drink 14 ounces of a shake super fast. I can drink a 16oz water bottle over a series of three slightly spaced "chugs."
Am I doing anything super harmful to my sleeve? When I eat food, I feel restriction at about a quarter cup (if it's super dense. Maybe a half cup of something like yogurt)
I don't want my quick drinking to stretch my pouchie poo out.
On the plus side---I'm meeting my protien and liquid goals daily lol.
Any thoughts?

Well I'm a new post op, little over a week, but I already have a NVS.. For the first time in 20 years, I'm under 300 pounds! I almost fainted when the scale read 286!

It depends on you. Some people are self conscious about eating slowly or eating differently. I'm not. I was back to eating out probably around 4 weeks post op which was when I was allowed soft foods. Since then I have been to several social functions and eat out as much as I did before surgery. If the waiter takes drink orders I either order nothing or just order Water and push it away. I also end up with lots and lots of doggy bags. In fact depending on where I eat, I actually order with the doggy bag in mind. Most meals leave me with a doggy bag that I can get 3 - 4 additional meals out of.

The memory loss is by far the worst part of it. Forgetting things that prior to the surgery were mundane at best. I'm planning on seeing a neurologist here soon just to make sure that its only from my VSG and not something more serious like a tumor.
I also know that because of the memory thats whats causing the depression to actually take in harder. I really do want this to pass cause where this should be the most joyful time in my life, seeing that joy right now is down right impossible.
Case in point last night I went to Wal-Mart of all places to try on clothes. The last time I could fit anything from Wal-Mart was around 95-96. I've been buying my clothes from big and tall stores every since. Last night I was in clothes from Wal-Mart that actually fitted comfortably. A feet that I should be very proud of. Yet still not up mentally.

I am not sure I was depressed - but i felt "not myself, not quite human" for the first 12 weeks post op. It was sorta strange, like I felt as though I was an observer of my own life, kind of a surreal feeling. Is that depression? I have many theories as to why I felt that way, but it did pass. I would say by around 6 months post op I was becoming... jazzed, excited, happy, astounded even...
My theories of what causes that weird, unsettled feeling:
-Fat acts like a body organ and releases hormones. It is well documented that rapid weight loss releases stored estrogen. Sometiimes that makes people feel very emotional. I felt stupid, couldn't remember things etc
-Many of us probably used food to help "quiet" feelings. Could we perhaps be starting to "feel" some things were weren't used to feeling? how unsettling to wake up one day and realize that you just cannot, under any circumstances continue to live with XXXX in your life that you tolerated for a long time, with the help of a little food to bury your true feelings.
-Wow, it's kind of hard adjusting to the water/food/vitamin schedule. Felt like a freaking full time job. I was so huge nobody could even SEE my weight loss until I had lost about 50#.
So, those early months I was parting ways with a close friend (food and obesity), realizing aspects of my life really sucked and needed to change, spent huge energy on managing my food/water/activity/vitamins etc etc AND I was still HUGELY FAT. That kind of thing could get a girl down if she let it...

I very rarely post before and after pics, but I feel safer doing it here than I do anywhere else. Since I'm only 9 months out (I was sleeved 6-30-14), I consider myself to be a work in progress and not necessarily at my ultimate "after." I've lost 100 pounds, though, and I'm very happy where I am. I'd like to lose a bit more, but if I was told that I had to stay at exactly the weight I'm at now forever, I'd be blissfully happy.  

I have a wonderful rebuttal but it's not appropriate here.
Okay...I can lose weight, your thing will always be small.