thesuse2000

I don't know, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for you! I wonder if you can start the process again if they do deny you? I'm sure you'll have options for next steps. Stay positive. I'm sure you can get there.

Good for you! I too wish I could have done this at your age. I've also struggled with my weight since childhood. I'm now thinner than I've ever been as an adult or teen - it is really wild! Great that you can get a new start so early in life. It's truly life-changing in so many ways.

Beautiful!

Final weight still 166. In a stall, but I did hit my goal! Hopefully I'll keep it moving on the next one - thanks Susan!

I'm in! Thanks for keeping it going!

Yes - wishing you the best for a good recovery and fantastic results! Looking forward to seeing pics. Thinking more and more about doing this myself in a year or so...

Very cool - thanks for posting! Between the physical changes of the surgery, and the ability for exercise to change me on a molecular level, it really reaffirms that I now have the opportunity to change my life's trajectory and become a healthier person who will be able to maintain a healthy weight long-term. As someone who's been overweight my whole life that's a concept that's hard for me to get my head around. Thanks - this is very inspiring.

I take the Celebrate chewables too and have no problem. I tried switching to pills and those made me nauseous, so I went back to the chewables. Maybe try another brand that makes gummies? Per my surgeon's instructions I take two multi-vits a day - one with Iron and the other without. I take Celebrate chewables with Iron and buy the other one I get at the drug store - vitafusion multivites. The gummies are easier on my palette for sure. Not sure if the quality is as good, but at my 6-month check up all my Vitamin levels were checked and everything was perfect. Just make sure you get iron too! Wish you luck finding something that works.

This is a great thread - thanks all for sharing!

My achilles heel is sweets and I've been overindulging too much lately. This is a good reminder to reign that in.

I follow these rules:

• Daily tracking of everything i eat
• Avoid carbs as much as poss - focus on Protein and veggies for the most part and try to do complex carbs when i eat them
• I had started with a 100-calorie limit for sweets - and only eat them after a protein-filled meal. I've been going over that lately, so again, need to reign it in
• I don't graze, but I do sometimes snack - mostly before and after the gym
• I don't have set rules about exercise, but I go as often as I can - usually about 3x a week (combo of strength and cardio) plus I walk a lot. At this point I crave the gym - I worked till 8pm last night and went afterwards because I really needed the stress release, so this has become a part of my life
• I avoid drinking 30 mins after a meal - but not always before...
• Don't use straws or drink anything carbonated
• Get at least 60 grams of Protein a day - I'm eating more now, so it's usually over 100
• Drink at least 64oz of Water a day
• Don't always eat mindfully, but try to! I am "mindful" in my food choices - I try to stay in touch with what my body is wanting; the challenge is differentiating the body need from the head/sugar addict craving...

So far this is working for me, but need to stay on track with sugar if I'm going to make it to goal...

I get annoyed by people who act as though I'm a different person because of my weight loss, but I've got no objection to compliments! I think I look much cuter, sexier, etc. now and don't mind people pointing it out (as appropriate based on our relationship etc.).

Not sure whatb"ottermode" means, but I'm with lipstick lady on that one. A couple others are intriguing as well...

eorge Clinton was funkadelic

I agree with above. Hopefully it's nothing too bad, but of course - if it is, don't you want to get the care you need as soon as possible to address it? You've come so far, now continue to take care of yourself and get the help you need to fully heal. I wish you the best.

Good question. I imagine there could be variation in the way different surgeons work with the bougie - how closely they staple to it. really, it's a guide. Also - there's apparently wide variation in the length of people's stomachs. Taller people I hear generally have longer ones than shorter people, but like all body parts, there's variation. So that makes a big difference too in the total capacity of the stomach. The bougie size only impacts the width of the sleeve.

Is the size of the sleeve uniformly similar with one bougie size or does surgeon technique account for variances in size? I am a bit confused about this topic

I did start incorporating solids at 3 weeks - but soft solids like fish, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, soft-cooked veggies, etc. Each new food I introduced, I just took it slow - took one bite and waited a little to see how I felt. I actually never had any issues with any foods, but I was nervous early on, so I agree it's good to be cautious. I received detailed instructions - I think I was told to wait 3 months to eat salads and raw veggies and maybe 6 weeks or so for beef.

It's a perfectly valid question for you to ask. If your surgeon uses a size that's different from what you hoped for, you can ask for their reasons. I too was hoping for a smaller size, but when I asked my surgeon about it she explained why she would use a 40 or 42 for me - a little larger than she usually uses (I think in the 34-38 range) because I was a revision from band and she was concerned about scar tissue.

I agreed that avoiding complications was more important than a smaller sleeve - and she reassured me that the differences were really very small, and that I'd be able to be perfectly successful - and at 98 pounds down so far I feel good about it! I think I can eat more than some, but I'm good with that, and am still doing well.

Welcome to the new folks! I've had an overall positive experience at nyu. Wishing you both the best.

166 today!!

Down 6 from last week. Kind of shocking really at this point, but in the best way!

I'm down 98 pounds so far with the sleeve. I do work to stay on track with good food choices though. If I don't make an effort I can easily eat lots more food and gain weight. I went wild over the holidays and gained 6 pounds in two weeks. Probably much of that was Water weight from eating lots of sweets, but it was eye opening and let me know that I'll need to track my eating and avoid sweets forever. But - I don't feel deprived at all how I'm eating. It's just I need to work at avoiding mindless and emotional eating.

Bypass does seem to lead to better weight loss, but there are more health risks. You really need to stay on top of Vitamins and such or you can develop a host of health problems. In support groups I go to I've just heard a lot of stories about issues down the road with bypass. Mostly related to Vitamin deficiencies or intestinal problems.

Whichever you choose (with guidance from your doctor/surgeon too) just make sure to get your head in the game and prepare to change your relationship with food. The surgery is a great opportunity to do that, but if you don't make the most of it, it's not that hard to regain with any of the surgery options. I wish you the best!

I had complications after band surgery in 2008 - had a slip less than a year out after losing about 70 pounds. Had surgery to revise the slip in 2009, and still suffered from continued serious (really awful) night reflux after the revision which was not relieved until my band was completely unfilled (gained all weight lost over the following 5 years plus a few). Had sleeve surgery in June and had no complications whatsoever. Down 98 pounds as of today. SO happy with my sleeve!!

Sounds like a rough road! Great that you're finally getting the care and treatment you need! Wishing you the best with the second part of your journey!

Just want to add that I see a lot of posts like this, so you're very much not alone. You might want to search the site for regain etc. Also - take a look in the vets forum. I think that's where there's a thread about the 5:2 method, where you eat normally for 5 days of the week and 2 days a week you eat very low calories - about 5-600 I think. Apparently it really helps jumpstart losing again.

I'm about 7 months out, so in a different place for sure. But in the last couple months I'm finding I'm much hungrier than I was early on. What helps me feel more in control is keeping as low carb as I can. The more carbs I eat the hungrier I am the rest of the day. And eating more veggies helps of course to keep overall calories down at each meal.

Not everyone likes to track, but I just can't lose without doing it. It helps me stay honest with myself and think before putting things in my mouth.

Great you're catching this now! You can absolutely take control again.

Hi there - you should be just fine. I changed my date before surgery and all was just fine. I have Aetna too, and I think I had a 6-month window to get the surgery completed by once approved. Hope you can do it on time or soon after!

Was down to 171, but back to 172 today. Alas...

I agree with everyone else. Don't let anyone else make this decision for you. People think this a cosmetic procedure. They also erroneously think that diets work. Neither is true! Over 90% of peope who lose weight on diets gain it back, and usually end up heavier than before they started.

I have so much more energy already. I'm loving working out. I find myself running to get places when I'm not even in that much of a hurry! I've just got energy and am enjoying the freedom I now have to break into a run anytime. I'm certainly much less concerned about an early death due to an obesity-related illness. This surgery is truly life-changing.

Yes, there are risks. But the benefits outweigh the risks by miles.