JanineVSG

You look great, Janine!!!
I still haven't had any photos taken - except for the bi-monthly ones that I take to see my progress. I have however lost 28 lbs and am feeling great.

Re. nausea - I was doing exercise this morning and drank some cold Water and immediately had nausea - I wonder if it's linked.

I am not sure I have any worthwhile advice, but I just wanted to let you know that I hear your struggle and I hope things get better for you. Stay the course; 2 weeks will fly by in no time at all. If you feel like you're not getting enough support from your spouse (which it sounds like you aren't), just know you can always find support on this forum.

My silly reward for Onederland was going to a trampoline park with my bestie:)
Which we did tonight:)
So hear ya go....all 199 pounds of me flying with the girl I've known since I was six.
Sorry for the blurry pix...neither of us thought to switch our phone cameras to sports exposure.
For anyone who has a Sky Zone near them....this is an AMAZING work out! According to my fitbit, I burned 450 calories in half an hour of jumping around like a maniac!!!! And way cool discovery.....they do a fitness class on Wednesday nights! An hour of jumping aerobics for ten bucks! Woot!

I am not sure I have any worthwhile advice, but I just wanted to let you know that I hear your struggle and I hope things get better for you. Stay the course; 2 weeks will fly by in no time at all. If you feel like you're not getting enough support from your spouse (which it sounds like you aren't), just know you can always find support on this forum.

Hey sleevers, how y'all doing?
Here's a 2 month update from me.
(btw, I watermark all my images so no one can steal them. I recommend everyone does this for their wls photos!!)

I am not sure I have any worthwhile advice, but I just wanted to let you know that I hear your struggle and I hope things get better for you. Stay the course; 2 weeks will fly by in no time at all. If you feel like you're not getting enough support from your spouse (which it sounds like you aren't), just know you can always find support on this forum.

Great job 👍👍👍

June 17
vs
March 18
4.5 months post op

Nice job everyone! I'm down 41 lbs since 1/11/18 surgery. I can not seem to get below 200. Seems like its always been this way all my life. Been walking but am going to attempt to start doing some jogging today. It's been several years since I've been able to run because of my weight. I feel better but as you all are all to familiar with it is hard. Keep up the great work everyone!!

One thing we don't talk about is the link between mental health issues and obesity.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758035
Everything from the biology of some mental health conditions contributing to extra weight....to behaviors (lack of sleep, poor impulse control, addiction, emotional disregulation)...to the weight gain side effects of meds used to treat them.....a massive number of folks with mental health issues are heavy.
Not to imply we all struggle with mental health issues....but a big chunk of us probably do.
Put a population prone to mental health issues together in a room...and it might get interesting.
I absolutely agree with cocojay on all points. We should make efforts to always be kind and try to live and let live.
It's important to keep in mind that posters here and on all weight loss message boards might be suffering from mental health issues that limit their self awareness, emotional regulation and tact. Not playing apologist for crappy behavior....just sayin....there's a reason. Having a good reason for behaving like a turd doesn't absolve you from accountability, though.

Venting*** sorry
So i'm in several other online support groups right. And i've started volunteering at my local surgery center support group too.
But lately in 2 of my other online support groups i've been seeing a ton of negativity and body shaming smaller sleevers/ by passers. It's so rude to me.
I just feel so bad for anyone that has to go through that. Someone recently posted something about people being in the 200's not needing wls, and that they should not post their before and afters.
First off, aren't we all having the same struggle? Both physically and mentally.
Secondly, nobody really knows another person's reasoning behind their decision. If your insurance is paying for it, it is because they are obese and possibly have other co morbidies. So i'm all for any and anyone feeling like they need to make a change to keep the weight off and get healthier.
I just think some people should attempt to be a bit more open minded or just not say anything. This post i'm referring to literally started a cyber war, which is so crazy to me. Nobody would ever judge someone for being much larger and deciding to go down the wls route...just saying.
I think everyone should feel welcomed and supported.

One thing I've noticed reading this board for a while, is that we've all got a lot of valuable insight. Some amazing success stories here. Some amazing works in progress. Really good people with some terrific advice.
But we all have a lot of prejudices, too, about what works and what doesn't, and what would really help people if they only listened! LOL
And there is nothing quite like being on a stall, or being hungry, or learning to cope without your favorite lifelong coping mechanism....to make you grouchy and indignant about why people stubbornly won't listen.
Can we agree that not even the doctors have this crap figured out to any kind of consensus?
Some of us have had terrific success with eating Keto. Some of us eat a buttload of carbs and do great.
Some of us are exercise maniacs. Some of us are working hard to get to 5000 steps a day.
Some of us won't touch a taboo empty calorie treat food...because it's a slippery slope that shouldn't be tempted. Some of us feel the need to master eating taboo foods in moderation to prove that we are in control and have "conquered" food.
Some of us eat 600 calories a day. Some of us eat 1200 a day.
Some of us are ok with moderately consuming alcohol. Some of us are not.
Some of us are horrified by artificial sweeteners. Some of us use them by the boatload.

And here's the really shocking part:
People in BOTH CAMPS on all of these points...have been doing really well.
How cool is that?
The more I listen to all the different stories, the more convinced I am that there are a LOT of ways up this mountain. (Also cool!)
Here's another interesting question...
What's success?
For some folks, success is having a low normal BMI, and being an athlete.
For some folks, success is fitting a certain size, looking a certain way, feeling attractive, getting perfect plastics and looking like a model at the end.
For some folks, success is hitting some other goal. Being able to fit in an airplane seat, Being able to play with kids and be active.
For some folks, success is getting diabetes and blood pressure and other health concerns under control.
For some folks, success is weighing under 200 pounds and not sweating it much beyond that.
For some folks, success is being mobile, being independent, going back to work, and being able to take care of themselves.
There are a lot of different versions of what success looks like. And not everyone's gonna want the same thing.

What your group of doctors says....I guarantee you....will not be anything like what another group of doctors says.
There are no hard fast answers about what works and what doesn't. What we've got...are a lot of valuable personal experiences with a LOT of different programs.
All worth sharing.
But no one has THE answer for everyone:)
Sometimes I hear....but what about the newbies? Don't we owe it to them to set a good example?
No, we really don't. We owe them our honesty. And we owe them the credit they deserve...to do their homework, read a LOT of stuff, consider all the various opinions about everything.... and figure out what they believe and what works for them:)
Just my $.02
Opinions...as always....will vary:)

I recently received my surgery date and it's on April 24th. Since I received my date, I have told a few people in my closest circle of friends and family. However, I have received a little pushback from people who I thought would be supportive. For example, my mom keeps trying to find excuses for me to push back my surgery date by saying things like, "oh let's wait until after you finish building your house" or "oh it's a stressful time at work right now you should push it off." I've just been standing firm and saying that no time is ever going to be perfect. Then today, one of my close friends stated, " I am worried about you because of everything going on right now (budget cuts at our job and reorganization occurring)." I know they care about me but I am tired of having to defend my decision to have a healthier lifestyle.

Most folks and most doctors will say kiss them goodbye forever.
They're empty calories and the carbonation is uncomfortable. There's debate on whether they'll stretch your pouch/sleeve or not.
For the most part, you'll hear they're not a good idea ever again. Plan to give them up.

I can’t believe the difference! This surgery changed my life, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done!
Pre-op: 296lbs & size 20-22
1.5 years post-op : 160lbs & size 8-10

Five days is better than no days. Stay on target for the time you have left. Goodbye meals are a myth. You will be able to eat these foods again, just in small portions and hopefully with less desire some months from now.
If you were on a preop six month diet that you followed fairly well and lost some weight you will probably be alright. A lot of this depends on if if you carry weight in your abdomen or hips and thighs to begin with.
If you watch a bariatric operation, you can see the liver hanging down and see why it would be an issue if it was too large. Stay on task the time you have left. There have been people that have been cancelled, although it seems rare why risk it?

Ok, this is demented....but my best friend and I are going to a trampoline park. LOL. We met when we were six and see each other every week. She's more like a sister. That one person you laugh your butt off with no matter what you're doing....that's her. Love her to pieces. Should be a hoot:)
Also, hubby and I are doing the Water park we did on our honeymoon this summer:) 25th anniversary! We're recapturing our hippy cheapo honeymoon, complete with camping, horse riding, playing in Lake Michigan and going down The Funnel of Fear:)

You look awesome!!! Congratulations on all your hard work!!! [emoji322]

Ok, I was put up to posting these by another poster who shall remain nameless.
Here goes...
This is a pic of me, my kiddo and my mom....taken in June of last year when I started this whole weirdness. 270 pounds...unicorn shirt on the left.
And the rest are me in the last week or so:) 199 pounds today.....30 or so pounds to go, but making progress!

Janine : Wow! 5x a week! That's great! I've only just started with 2x a week (plus of course walking and gardening etc.). I'll up it to 3x a week in April (I get 9 sessions at a physiotherapist, basically monitored exercise, and finish those beginning April). I'll then start my fitness membership up again and do Aquagym 3x a week.
My stall seems to have stopped for now - I upped my calories from 900-1000 per day, and for some reason that has helped (or exercise, or something else! Who knows...)

Hi sleevers!!!!
I had my surgery on January 08/18.... so far 52lbs down!!!
Feeling great, my hair is falling a lot but am fine with that!!! Hope u guys are happy with your sleeve


Instagram: itsgretchen

Holy cow, man. "Maybe a bit of self hatred would have done you some good" but then, also, "Well too allow your body to get to 400 you can't love loved yourself that much"
You're right. I didn't love myself.
When I was 3 years old, I was raped. I was raped as an infant, as well. I grew up hating myself and everything about me. I wanted to protect myself, so I ate and ate and ate, finding comfort in food. I wanted to shield myself. I wanted to be disgusting so I couldn't get hurt again.
I hope you are proud of yourself. That was a very hurtful thing to say. Thank you for reminding me how far I have come in how I feel about myself, though. I had value at 456 lbs. I'll have value at my goal weight, too. We all need to be nicer to ourselves, because if we are more understanding of what we're going through and why we eat the way we do, we'll be able to take better care of ourselves.
I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. I will not let that control my life any longer. I have come a long way. I'll go even further once I block you. Have a blessed day.

Great replies everybody. I want to be clear that I don't think that people who started with a low BMI have it easier! What I'm saying is... people need to be cognizant that there a lot of people who start off with really high BMIs. So when you talk about how fat and disgusting you were at a certain weight, you might be talking about someone's goal weight. Does that make sense?? It can just be hard, PERSONALLY, to see someone talking about how disgusting it was to be, say, 50 lbs overweight when you have over 200 lbs to lose. You know?

This is just a little rant about my number one pet peeve....
People mentioning their starting weight and talking about how disgusting it is really bugs me. Like, when people are saying they started at 250 lbs and putting a shocked or vomiting emoji (😱🤢) or whatever.
I get that it was a lot of weight to you. But a lot of us have starting weights of 400+ lbs. It would be a DREAM for me to weigh 250 lbs!! I haven't weighed that much since I was probably 17!
I know that this has like absolutely no real effect on our journeys, but it was bugging me. And what's a rant and raves forum for if not posts like this one?
Be nice to yourselves!! You had feelings at your SW too! Don't put yourselves down! Let's keep working hard!

Don't get discouraged. Sleevers lose for 18 months. Stalls are just part of the process. Be patient, consistent and just keep following the plan.
We've all been there. What you're experiencing is normal. Don't panic and don't despair. It's gonna be ok.