Reason to Believe

I use to not have one..then when it came it was really really heavy. I became severely anemic cause of it. I think your obgyn should be concerned because when it comes it may be out of control since you haven't had one.

You all are so incredibly helpful. I was ready for some lashing, didn't get that. Didn't get babied either- which I don't want or need. I got reality- which I need. This is all so enlightening and helpful. Each of you are right and this mentality is how I ballooned up as big as I did. Thank you to my bari pals. I am glad I came back to this app today [emoji7]

Update: My husband went back to his doctor and he said he had a sinus infection that was causing this.
He has lost 22lbs now and doing a lot better.


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I was shocked by the drain, I was never told I would have one and all my pain came from the drain while in the hospital.
I was shocked that I could not start any liquid until after my leak test which was almost 24 hours later, my mouth has never been so dry.
I didn't expect to regret it so much at first. The first month was hard and I constantly questioned and second guessed myself.
I had a ton of muscle pain from the large incision that popped up weeks after surgery. It was hard to sleep for over a month.
But most importantly I never expected, at 6 months out, to feel so normal or to have lost so much weight. I'm 97 pounds down and 67 from surgery and it's the best feeling ever.

Need some feedback from sleeved folks 18 months-2 years out. I just had my year visit with my surgeon's office. HW known 336 SW 303 CW 194 GW 136. The doctor said that I should aim for GW 170, that I am being unrealistic in my goal. That would still leave me overweight for my height bordering on obese. Do you think reaching 136 by my 2 year anniversary is unrealistic? That is 58 lbs in a year. Although they were thrilled with my results, I am feeling discouraged after my visit.

Thanks so much, everyone. It isn't even the numbers as much as the labels. I want my weight to be "normal" rather than overweight or obese. I am taking on board your advice to just keep going and not focus on the labels. I am going to have to work on that a bit. Otherwise my head seems in the right space.

Thanks so much, everyone. It isn't even the numbers as much as the labels. I want my weight to be "normal" rather than overweight or obese. I am taking on board your advice to just keep going and not focus on the labels. I am going to have to work on that a bit. Otherwise my head seems in the right space.

Wow, I was going to say something about weight loss statistics and how averages don't predict individual success.... but I like the answer that @LittleLizzieLilliput gave so much better!! that is a great way to think and I am going to follow your example.....I'll just keep going until it feels right!! Love it.

Here's what I told my doctor when he asked me what my goal weight was:

I have no idea what my target weight should be. How could I? Or anyone really? I have been overweight since adulthood, I have no idea what weight I will be at when I feel like I've reached the point where I'm ready to Maintain. In fact, I feel that setting a goal weight now would be entirely arbitrary and I don't want to set goals that are not realistic or obtainable.

He said he was very happy with that answer and felt it was completely accurate. He said that we will monitor where I'm at as my appointments go by and we can determine when we feel I've reached the point we are both happy with.

On my last appointment a few weeks ago, I was at 177 I think, he said I still have a lot to lose. I was happy he said that because even though I'm in a size 12-10 I really feel like there is so much more for me to do. I'm glad we are both on the same page here.

But my point is this: For us setting a goal weight can be partially arbitrary. Unless you were thin as an adult most of us don't' really know what our body's best weight is gonna be. And remember, you are working with your doctor but if you want to keep trying to improve your health and your physical situation, you can do that. Your doctor can't stop you.

I totally agree with XYZ. Get to the 170 then see what you can do. Don't ever be discouraged or let folks set limits on you. Sometimes you know what you're capable of. I wouldn't be fixed on a certain number . A healthy BMI range is probably realistic.

Hw 326
Sw 324
Cw282
I know its not much and i have long way to go but im not giving up.

My highest weight is more than yours but my height and goal are similar, so I hope that's not unrealistic! I honestly have no idea what will happen, and will take what I can get in terms of loss, but you've done great so far--I'd just take things as they come. Meet the doctor's goal first and then see what happens when you continue eating right and exercising. Good luck!!

My experience is like @Sosewsue61's.
For me, there was no one event that broke the camel's back. I've had to deal with so many issues over the past 15 years or so, including needing seat belt extenders, not being able to buy T-shirts, getting winded on walks, hating seeing myself in the mirror, and so on. But then, in January or so, I had an epiphany. I realized that all of the things I've done simply have not worked, regardless of whether or not I stuck with them or bailed out quickly. This included private trainers, nutritionists, and four attempts at Weight Watchers.
So, there was no single thing that pushed me over the edge. I just had an a-ha moment when I knew I needed the surgery.

It wasn't any single moment, but I did have 'break through' of sorts in February where I realized I am worth more than these layers of fat and deserve to get rid of them. I am tired of waiting to be better and I have limited years left, as I am 62.

I've told everyone that I work with, all my family and lots of my friends. I have not really shared it on Facebook. I have been blessed with an awesome supportive group of people

I've told everyone that I work with, all my family and lots of my friends. I have not really shared it on Facebook. I have been blessed with an awesome supportive group of people

I've told everyone that I work with, all my family and lots of my friends. I have not really shared it on Facebook. I have been blessed with an awesome supportive group of people

I've told everyone that I work with, all my family and lots of my friends. I have not really shared it on Facebook. I have been blessed with an awesome supportive group of people

I told everyone....i was so excited to get my surgery... after surgery everyone has been so supportive...Plus they know not to bring me junk food now

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I am beyond ecstatic. I am now below 300 pounds! I started at 540 pounds on October 29, 2015 when I started this whole journey. I had surgery on May 29, 2016 at 480 pounds and Now, 10 1/2 months later I weigh 297.8! I have not had a 2 in the front of my weight in FOREVER. I only have 98 pounds to go until I hit my goal! (Which may change, I'm more going for a clothing size goal now more than a number goal )

I used to have to be on oxygen all the time because I was so fat I could not breathe properly. Now I can walk for over an hour with no break and not be out of breath! I am so extremely happy with my progress!

I used to HATE getting my picture taken, it was the WORST. Now I love getting in front of the camera, I ASK for pictures to be taken! This is the craziest thing for me. I feel pretty for the first time in a very very long time.

I started out at a size 6x (36-38) and now wear a an 18/20 on top and 22 on bottom. I even wear leggings now!

I have a large hanging skin on my stomach which I am having removed on June 5th! I will need a revision surgery when I get to goal but I am very excited for the surgery and the relief it will give me.

Here are some before and after pics for you guys!

Perfectly said. Someone came up to me the other day and said, "don't you wish you would have lost the weight before your daughter's wedding." Meaning, don't you wish you looked skinny in her wedding photos. I thought about it a long while and realized, I have no regrets. That was me a year ago, this is me now. I don't cringe looking at the pictures, I think, girl, you had some issues. Slowly, I am figuring them out and letting them go, one by one.

Today I had an "ah-ha" moment. It took 4 years, but I think I get it! It was triggered by this before photo popping up in my Facebook memories from 5 years ago, (coupled with my most recent post-op photo taken last week, down 120 pounds since surgery in 2013). (attached below)
....And then reading the following quote on a friend's post:
"Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe it's about unbecoming everything that isn't you so you can be who you were in the first place."
I've struggled for years since losing the weight after surgery with questions of "is this the 'real' me, or am I just pretending and the 'real' 'fat' me will resurface sooner or later?" "Can people really change long-term?" It felt like the obese, sad, self-hating "me" was a monster waiting just below the surface to re-emerge. Give enough time and the right circumstances, the "real me" monster will rear it's head and I'll find myself back at nearly 300 pounds.
Guys! I get it now! It's not about change. It's not about the "sticking power" of change. It's not about willpower or determination. It's not even about counting carbs, Protein, calories, and ounces of Water. Sure those are tools that help. But it's not about that.
It's about doing the hard emotional work to figure out why I was hiding myself behind 150 excess pounds. It was about allowing myself to have a voice and using it. It was about demanding self-respect and respect from others. It was about leaving behind, painfully as it was in some cases, the toxic people in my life who emotionally damaged me. It was about processing the feelings that I didn't allow myself to feel for 18 years.
Once I realized this, once I did this work, I could little by little shed the layers that hid who I was. I don't hate myself anymore. I'm not even angry at myself for letting myself get to be 300 pounds like I was when my journey started. I realize now that I was coping. I was doing the best I knew how to do at the time. I look at that person in the "before" picture below and I feel compassion because I know she did her best.
I'm able now to let go the "fear" - and trust me, it's a literal fear - of that "real me" monster re-emerging from just below the surface. I can let it go because I realize, this is the real me. It was actually opposite. It was all the hiding I was doing under the emotional eating and the 150 excess pounds that was hiding the "real me."
So I have to on some level disagree with those who say this is a process of change. Sure, you have to change your behavioral choices with food and exercise or none of this will work. But for me it was not "becoming a new person" or "changing" who I am as a person. For me it was about simply allowing myself to feel and allowing myself to return home to who I was before I was hurt and who the universe intends me to be.
Feel free to check out my blog linked in my signature for more of my journey!

Walking down the street as usual with my earphones on ( u know, the fat blockers .. to fake like u didnt hear the fat commentaries ). Instead i walk past a really cute guy, much younger than me and i hear, hey beautiful. Of course, its not to me, my fat brain says. So i casually look over my shoulder to see who he's talking to.... wait a minute, holy crap, there's nobody behind me, wth, is he talking to me, huh??? So he must've seen the dumbfounded look on my face and says... you look beautiful in that dress. Awww, I smile, say thank u, wave and move on. Lol. HOLY CRAP, i just got a hey beautiful.
.... she gets home, lol, shakes booty.

GASTRIC SLEEVE.. U ROCK.
Hope you all have a great "hey beautiful" weekend.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!
just a little message to throw out there because im excited!!! as of this morning I am down 216 pounds
from 465 to 249 in almost a year AMAZES ME! I hit a stall for a month and stayed at 277... I really thought my weight loss ended lol
but I changed things around and I started to lose again! the stall sucked!! it made me feel awful for some reason..then my co workers reminded me how far I've come already. this surgery wasn't an easy way out, it still takes a lot of work mentally and physically to get to where we want to be! so for those of u who are at a stall just remember its temporary and don't beat yourself up. I've got 50 more pounds to lose to reach my goal of being under 200lbs. (I never ever thought I could say that) and 69 pounds to get to my drs goal of 180.
im almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, he doesn't require a pre op diet. Not even full liquid the day before surgery. Just advises to not have a large dinner. Then, there is no swallow test. Most of the blogs I've read the patient isn't allowed any liquid until the next day, after they pass a swallow test. He does a test during surgery to check for leaks, so you're given ice chips immediately after surgery. That night you're encouraged to try Jello, Water and a shake. These are good differences from others....as I'm pretty sure that pre op diet would have done me in. I'm 7 days post op, and feel pretty good. With the exception of head hunger and fatigue. But, both are manageable.