step2respect

If ur using the phone app it wont let u see the pics on people profiles but if u sign on from a regular computer u will see them! U will get to see so much more by signing on from a regular computer once in a while you will see things u miss out on by only using the phone app, I know this from experience lol!
Here is my before & after so far, as I still have about 65 lbs to go to hit goal! My highest weight was 321 lbs & day of surgery july 18, 2013 I weighed in @ 314 @ the hospital, on my 1 yr surgiversary I weighed in @ 205 lbs! I now weigh an even 200 lbs making my total loss 121 lbs in 1 yr & 3 weeks! Can't wait to hit "One-derland"!!!
I also added a flipagram video of my whole progress for the first year of having my sleeve!!!
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http://flipagram.com/f/FnMVAw9oaO

my bmi was 69 @ 515 lbs. i was on a liquid diet pre op for 34 days!!! i lost 35 lbs in 34 days and shrunk my liver. the reason to shrink your liver is that they have to move it to get at your stomach that is BEHIND IT. also the higher your bmi, the greater the risk from the anesthesia(sp?). your surgeon is not the ceo of a Protein Powder company, so kick backs are not the issue. THIS IS TRULY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH. this will also be a test for you, how badly do you want this? bad enough to go through food withdrawl to save your life? three weeks of discomfort could mean a whole new lease on life. think long and hard on this. i am very grateful for what i have been given.

It's normal to worry and be nervous. It's a big surgery, and a big life style change. A few observations from someone who is three years post op.
As for complications, they are rare. However, if you get one, you have it 100%. Only you can decide if the benefit is worth the risk. I had thought about WLS for years, and until 3 years ago, it wasn't worth it. But it became more impossible to lose weight and I was starting to get complications from obesity.
Regarding permanence - it is, but not so much. At three years out, I can eat enough to weigh 300 pounds again. People don't want to hear it, but it's the truth. I spent the first year learning how to not do that, but it is a fight and a struggle every day. So, yes, you could sabotage yourself. You have to figure out how not to do that.
So all that might sound negative, but it's not meant to be. It is meant to be a dose of reality for what it looks like in three years. Having said all that, it was ABSOLUTELY worth the risk of complications (and I did have a minor one) and it gave me a fighting chance. More so than I ever thought possible.
The first year was a dream come true for me. The weight came off pretty easily and steadily, and I lost 145 pounds in 14 months. I went from a 26 to an 8. I've maintained over a year and a half, and while it's a daily struggle, that's worth it to me, too. I am worth the effort it takes. My life is much better at this weight than it was at 300+ pounds. Hands down, no comparison. Let us know how you do.

I understand the fear of being thinner. Thin = vulnerable. When we are overweight we are more or less invisible--and that can be very comforting for those of us that need to hide sometimes.
For me, the fear of never knowing my true potential because of my weight finally outgrew my fear of being thin. It became apparent that I would be facing a major fear either way, so I figured I might as well face my fear of being thin. Seemed like it may have a better set of rewards. :-)

OMG yes! Totally worth it. And you are worth it. The amazing health benefits by themselves are worth it!! Being able to get up off the ground, tie my own shoes, cut my own toenails, and polish them, reach my backside (you know what I mean here??).....so worth it!!

@BrightEyes42: Every time in the past when I started to really get the weight off I would sabotage myself and gain it all back plus some.
This was me to a T !! 25 years of doing it, kind of punishing myself by gaining it back because I didn't feel worthy of losing it.
Five and a half months out and nearly at goal and I couldn't be happier. I feel great and can do so much more. My only regret was that I didn't have this done before. Its life changing but in such a positive way.
Best of luck for a positive experience and speedy recovery. Remember the sleeve is a tool not a miracle

Absolutely! Everyone is different but... I'm 5 weeks out and I'm very lucky to have had no problems at all. With the exception of the 1st week post-op, I feel exactly the same as before surgery but now it takes a smaller amount of food to fill me up. They said hunger is supposed to go away but I still get hungry around meal time. I feel like I could eat anything (in a small amount) but I am choosing to pick healthy Proteins and they actually taste really good because I'm not eating junk and carbs anymore.
I lost about 10 lbs on the 2 week pre-op and almost 20 more in the last 5 weeks. I never could have lost this without the surgery. I feel great and have had to shift to my smaller size clothing. Again, I'm lucky but I would still do it again even if I had some of the side effects others experience. Good luck.

New York and my surgery is march 4th

YAY! someone else from Canada!!

@@heather5565 Hi Heather! I'm from Canada too - Winnipeg, Manitoba.

On the beautiful central coast of California in San Luis Obispo County

Am I the only Canadian gal here?
British Columbia, Canada

I'm from SC!!!!

Syracuse, NY

New York, October 12 is my day

Glasgow, Scotland

South Dakota

Queens, NY

I'm Minnesota too!

Seattle!

Things have changed fairly rapidly over the last month since I had surgery on November 20th and wanted to share my progress. I know that I still have a VERY LONG way to go, but I have been shocked at how much things have changed in such a short period of time. I know some info might be TMI, but I just wanted to share with those that might be interested. So, here is my 1 Month Post-Op Progress Report.
Weight Lost: 36.2 pounds
Inches Lost: 27.5 inches
Pant Size: 58 down to 50 waist
Shirt Size: 4XL down to 2XL-3XL (depending on the shirt)
Short/Boxer Size: 4XL down to 2XL
Distance able to walk: Was at 50 yards and now up to 3.0 miles
Time able to walk: Was at 2 minutes (to mailbox and back) and now up to 60 minutes
Back Pain: Pain was excruciating and now almost non-existent
Knee Pain: Pain was excruciating and now it's mild
Windedness: Got winded getting up off the couch and now can walk 3 miles without being winded
Washing/Wiping: Had trouble fully washing myself and wiping, but now have no problems