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Surgery was July 29'15, started my pre-op diet on July 11'15. Down 70lbs. I am still "in progress" with 55lbs (ish) to lose, but wanted to share my pics!

Surgery date: July 30, 2015

8 months out and hit 143lb loss today!    

fruit is a slippery slope for me. Once I get that charge of sugar all bets are off and it's cake time. I plan on avoiding it.

Beware of reduced fat Peanut Butter (or reduced fat anything). If you look at the label you will see the fat is reduced by adding corn Syrup. Not only is corn syrup not good for us, my surgeon specifically instructed us to avoid anything with high-fructose corn syrup.
Reading labels is critical.

15 weeks Post Op SW:307.9 CW:244.6 total weight lost so far 63.3

7 months out and down almost 85 lbs - 2nd picture was taken on halloween

Before

After
The first picture is at my highest weight (350). The second is today (238). I am two months post op and started my surgery at 286. Lost some weight pre consultation and was at 310 in January when I started my sleeve process. This has been the best thing I have done and I do not regret any of it. Hoping to get down to 185.

I had a horrible eating day and want to get back on track so I'm in to start this challenge tomorrow. I was going to start out with 3 days and then see if I want to do the full 5.

I'm in the minority. I told all my friends and family on Facebook, and will pretty much tell anyone who asks (if I'm in the mood). I've had nothing but support and love given to me since day one. If someone has said anything derogatory, it hasn't been to my face, lol. I think they know better.
I will get some weird reactions when I tell people I don't know very well. I just think some of them don't know how to react, and some seem supportive, but who knows and frankly, who cares.
Like I said, I'm in the minority. Most choose to tell very few people if any, and that's okay too. I've just always been an open book, and wanted as much support I could get. It's really helped motivate me. But we are all different

First off, you have a sleeve. You don't have a pouch that can stretch. The stretchy part of your stomach has been removed. Worrying about stretching your stomach is pretty unfounded.
Second, eating a lot of sugar and starches is not a good idea, but once you have done so, you are going to have a difficult time until you get the sugar out of your system. Eating sugar will set you up to crave sugar. The best thing you can do is go cold turkey and not give in to any cravings. They will go away.
Third, your post is so full of negativity. I understand your feelings, but ironically, I just came to BariatricPal to post a link to a very good article about changing negative self-talk. I think you might find it beneficial in this situation. You made a mistake. That is ok. You are not a mistake. How to kick negative self-talk to the curb
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/02/health/end-negative-self-talk/index.html
Fourth, the advice I would give is to forgive yourself, reflect on your feelings, create a plan for how you will deal with similar situations in the future, and go back to basics.
We are all human and we all make mistakes. It's what we learn from them that will help us move forward.

So, my one year surgiversary was in August and I've been thinking of how to Celebrate the success of the past year with my Bariatric Pal friends. What can I add to what hasn't already been said? What were my experiences that can inspire and help newcomers? What were the challenges I faced and overcame? What makes my story so much more special than anyone else's? I came to the conclusion that the answer to all of those questions is, everything and nothing. For all of us the journey is unique and it's our most special accomplishment, but all of our journeys are very familiar and the same for many who came before us. But if I left this post right here, you'd say he lost his enthusiasm along with his weight, so let me tell my story (I promise to keep it short but sweet).
I've been overweight most of my life, I made countless attempts at getting it under control, I'd lose 10- 50 lbs. and slowly lose ground only to gain it all back. Sound familiar? In the meantime life went on, career, marriage, kids, house, bills, you know, right? Being young we feel invincible, yeah I was heavier than fit people but I could handle the weight. Of course, I was more of a spectator than a participant but I always figured I'd take care of it some day. Family, job, good times and bad times,there's always something that took priority over losing just a few pounds. But time rolls on, and occasionally I'd try another perfect weight loss answer, but ultimately it wasn't permanent and it was just another failed attempt. When I hit my fifties I noticed more muscle pulls, back injuries, knees were aching more, out of breath sooner, heart was working harder. So in my mid fifties I was put on meds for elevated blood pressure, shortly after statins for cholesterol. At sixty I was put on a CPAP for sleep apnea, and meds for pre diabetes. It was getting real, I was seeing the damage of carrying all the extra weight, but my doctor was keeping things under control, no worries. Then my hips began failing, I could hardly walk, I needed a cane to get in and out of chairs, I didn't want to move. I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he said the pain was from compressed cartilage caused by my weight, so I asked what we could do, he said "nothing, the damage is done". I think that's when I said enough is enough, I'm destroying my body and my future was heading towards life as a sick and handicapped old man. So I had a serious talk with my PCP, looked at my options, did research and made my decision to go with WLS at 62 years old. On my day of surgery the surgeon asked if I was ready, I said "let's do it", and I never looked back.
Here I am 14 months post surgery, no more meds, no more CPAP, no more diabetes, I walk miles with almost no pain,and otherwise feel fantastic. I'm now doing things at 63 that I wouldn't have tried doing at 53, I went from feeling like an 80 year old to feeling better than I ever remember. I was in size 3XL shirts and pants with waist size of 46", today I can wear large to medium shirts and 34" waist pants, now I can shop off the "normal" racks. I've gone from the sidelines and into the game, I'm stronger and I have more energy, I can walk, run, and climb, and play, I feel young again. I'm still not used to the face that stares back at me in the mirror, there was a heavy guy looking back for the last 40 years or so, now I see a leaner more vibrant looking man, it's strange but I'm getting more used to him.
So that's what makes my journey a special success to me, yours may be similar and it may be different, but it will be your special journey. I'm still learning to live with my sleeve, you can't erase years and years of lifestyle overnight, but after a year it's becoming more normal to listen to my sleeve and pay attention to what and how much I eat. If I can offer any wisdom, its to make your decision and then own it, go ahead and commit 100%. I know a lot of people regret not doing something sooner, but we can't change the past, we can only change the future. Best of luck to you all and thank you for your stories and experiences, I have learned and still learn from them.

Weight loss is not Fluid or constant and doesn't happen just when we want it to. Our bodies are weird. There are so many other factors than the calories in/calories out thing going on. I wish it was that simple. Maybe it wouldn't have taken me over a year to lose 85 pounds while stalling many, many times along the way if it was.
Doesn't make it any less annoying. Believe me, I know.

Here is the link to the new challenge:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/354722-holiday-weight-loss-challenge/?p=3996955
It's called the Holiday challenge.
Based on the people who voted, I chose to do a longer challenge =)

I started out working out 5 days a week. Now I only work out 4 days a week. Decided to go back to school for my PH.D. So time gets in the way. ????

@@wannaBthinsoon I don't know because I chickened out and drank a shake.I also brought a shake for lunch....maybe tonight.

Feeling Great! Sleeved 6/23/15

100 pounds and 11 months in between

Count me in. 3 hours per week.
Current weight: 195
Goal weight: 180

Count me in. 3 hours per week.
Current weight: 195
Goal weight: 180

You look great!! How often do you work-out??

Pistachio and other nuts are a good calories, there is a huge difference between calories from plants and calories from a Twinkie, my nutritionist told to snack on them also I can't digest meats so pretty much nuts and Beans are my main source of Proteins. I lost 110 lbs in 7 months, eating nuts and beans.

Well my 5 days are officially up! I'm going to bed soon. I want to thank everyone who joined in and did this with me. I also want to thank the ones who didn't but stopped in to encourage us that were. It been a "different" kind of 5 days to say the least. It hasn't been too hard but willpower is amazing when you actually use it. We will see what tomorrow brings but as far as the 5 days is concerned we kicked it's butt!! Hopefully this is just the kick in the pants I needed. I made a promise to myself that I would never allow myself to go back to the old me. This surgery was a "gift" and I'm not a Indian giver!! I hope you all found some success with this Be bold and be blessed!

Count me in. 3 hours per week.
Current weight: 195
Goal weight: 180

That moment when you catch your reflection in a window or mirror and notice "holy crap I am shrinking". It happened to me a few times in the last week. Love it!