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@@spdmonkeymama My BMI was 70 on surgery day. My doctor didn't require me to lose anything, but pre op I lost 33 pounds. I had my surgery in June at 402. I am currently 294... It's crazy.

@@spdmonkeymama That's where I am. Having been 435 a year ago, the fact that I'm currently under 300 is a dream. I am 294 right now and I remember graduating from high school at 292. I've never been under 300 as an adult, so this was my first goal. Now that I'm here, I'm struggling to figure out what my next goal needs to be.

My husband asked me if I was shooting for "onderland". I told him no, cuz I'm really not, but who knows how I'll feel as I get closer?

2 weeks in I couldn't walk long or far. I would literally walk every aisle in Walmart or Target and lean on the cart for support. Don't push yourself so soon.

@@tappingmom Interesting. I wonder if I am "comfortable" with the 230 because I don't want to be disappointed if I don't get any lower than that.

I was like 230 pounds in 8th grade , so I don't really know what it's like to be normal weight.

I wonder if I'll change my mind the closer I get to "goal".

My doctor set my goal weight at 230 pounds. Any more than that is gravy. Frankly, I'm ok with that as a goal weight, but I've noticed that many people's goals are those on the BMI chart for their height. Would you be ok if you don't get to that weight?

Just curious.

Around 7 months I noticed that I could eat a lot more. That's when it truly becomes a "tool" that you have to work. You still have to track your food and calories to make sure that you don't overeat. The goal is not to eat 2-4 tablespoons for life, but to learn how to eat the right foods to fuel your body and to stop eating when you've had enough. I find that people struggle to lose when they adopt the mindset that they can eat whatever they want because the portions are small, but when your stomach has healed, that simply doesn't apply. Once you're able to eat more, your food choices make a huge difference.

So I don't consider it stretched, as much as I consider that it's now the size that it's supposed to be and I have to do the work to eat the right foods and not overeat.

My nose runs when I get full. It just dawned on me about 3 months ago. I kept getting a runny nose and wondered why, lol

Good luck today! I know everything will go well.

As far as your grandpa's friend dying... was he going to his checkups? taking his Vitamins? eating properly? Getting enough Water? After WLS you have to be vigilant and diligent about these things.

They'll feel differently about it all when they see your success.

@@leag78 I would try ditching the processed carbs altogether... Were the baked nuggets breaded? I'd ditch the uncrustable altogether. I'm sure it's not providing the kind of nutrition you need. As far as Snacks go, try a sugar free Jello, a low sugar yogurt, string cheese, slice of lunch meat, boiled egg, or a couple baby carrots or mini peppers. I find that I have greater success with "real food".

I can see my collarbones and some "hollow" areas on my neck. My wedding rings are loose and my bras fit better over my back fat! LOL!!!

@@JamGuy I use myfitnesspal to track my intake. I've been doing low carb off and on for about 15 years and tracking calories as well, so I'm pretty familiar with the counts on most foods that I eat. What makes it easier for me is that I eat relatively the same things week after week and I keep my foods as clean as possible. I make most things and rarely go out to eat unless they have nutrition info available.

Keto is really the only way I'm able to lose. I thought the sleeve would change that, but nope! Although, I find that I'm able to better manage my cravings for carbs and avoid them. I use net carbs, but I don't worry too much about it since I rarely eat "non-keto" foods. Sometimes my carb intake will be a little higher from things like baby carrots, but again, I don't worry about it much.

@@Katnroyal ... awesome initial post. Thank you.

To the person (?) who asked about calories / Protein -- I count both. I use My Fitness Pal, which I use to plan and track my food / Water.

Below was my weight-loss eating plan -- not proselytizing at all (this worked well for me, but do what works best for you):

Months 1-4 - I averaged 800 calories/day and 80 grams of Protein (couldn't really eat much more than that during those months anyway)

Months 5-6 - I averaged 1,000 cals/day and 90 grams of protein

Months 7-8 - I averaged 1,200 cals/day and 100 grams of protein

I reached my weight goal (150 pounds) at 8.5 months post-op. Since then I've ratcheted up my calories and have slowly lost another 15 pounds and weigh 135 pounds. Now in maintenance, I'm eating 1700 - 1800 calories/day on average and still eating 90-100 grams of protein.

We all have different lifestyles, workout routines, activity goals. I am NOT a gym rat. I do walk a lot and am so much more active than I used to be. I'm 70 years old. Feel great. Look amazing for my age.

@@VSGAnn2014

I wonder if this is why I'm having such a hard time losing right now. I'm 8 months out and my doctor/nutritionist insist that I stay between 600-800 calories. Most days I get around 950 because there's just no way for me to stay that low and not lose my mind. I still have another 80-100 pounds to lose and I'm having such a horrible time getting the scale to move.

I am extremely carb sensitive so I try to stay under 30 per day.

I only wish the sleeve was available when I was your age. I battled trying to get under 300 pounds from the time I was 18. Now at 34, being under 300 is finally in my reach due to the sleeve. Don't wait! Don't spend another 10-15 years trying to "lose it on your own". There's a solution!

@@Cervidae Have you tried an adult coloring book? I LOVE them!

I only share with people I want to share with. Others I just don't say how I'm losing.

What do you say to those people that ask?

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I tell them that I'm eating a lot less and following a low carb diet. It's not a lie.

I only share with people I want to share with. Others I just don't say how I'm losing.

How old are you? I do believe at a certain age you know when you've met a person that meets your expectations, but I wouldn't call it love.

You're doing great! It just means that the swelling has gone down quickly and you're able to get liquids in. Once you move to food, you'll feel the restriction.

I will probably get my arms done, but I kinda don't care about my tummy and chest. So far, they are not terrible and a good bra and spanx's can make them manageable. However, these arms must go!

Sleeve has higher incidence of acid reflux. Things that have helped me is to not overeat ( lol, it happens), don't go to bed too soon after eating, and no carbs in my evening meal.

Having salmon tonight and total calories for the day is 869. I don't usually go over 900, but the steak was calling me, lol

I live on the "pre op" diet, but mine was basically a low carb low fat diet.... I personally do not prefer the liquid diet to break a stall. I might drop carbs or eat some carbs to shake up my diet based on how long I've been stalling and the foods I've been eating, but overall, I just ride them out. My body has a pattern of stalling for 2-3 weeks and then the 4th week I'll lose 6-10 pounds, pretty much EVERY month.

Ok. My surgeon keeps trying to keep me at 600 calories but it's hard to do with Keto. I'm losing plenty, I just wanted to know if anyone else was doing it.

I had steak for dinner and it pushed me over