sabrina4you

Brazcan- Let's do it! I'm all for having a "take back the sleeve" suport group.

I want to do it too! Lets make a group?

I think we should challenge ourselves to just go 1 week at a time. That way we can look at smaller goals and work towards that. No celebrating until we hit say 5 pound lost.

Sabrina- let's do this reset together!

I need a reset too!!!
I was sleeved 04/03/2012...not one complication and loved it! It's the best thing I've ever did for myself. I do tell my friends that it's the easiest but also the hardest thing...Easy because the weight just fell off but hard because it's always a mental game. Ahhh but I digress...
My lowest recorded weight was 159lbs...although I think my lowest was at 148lbs (after gall bladder surgery). I am now at 182lbs. GRR...I'm so disappointed in myself BUT I know that I can do it. I want this 20lbs off and I will get it off. I've been planning my meals and starting trying to get in my Water (emphasis on trying) and I start bikram yoga this weekend.
160..you're calling my name!
Wish Me Luck !
PS. If anyone needs an accountability partner...let me know

I had surgery on Aug 26th of 2013. I went from 289 down to 173 by the end of Aug 2014. I have since been sabotaging myself, finding excuses and not doing what I am supposed to be doing. Since August I have put back on 18lbs. I weighed myself this morning and the # is now 190.8lbs. I am so mad at myself.
I've been telling myself for a few weeks now that "today is the day I start back on track" and then I go back to my grazing ways and not utilizing my gym downstairs.
As of this morning I am holding myself accountable!.. I am going back to my Protein shakes, logging in my food and exercise journals everyday on my fitness pall, I'll be picking up a new pedometer today (I can't find mine) and I will not be the statistic and regain after all of the work, heartache, and struggles that I had to overcome. I will not allow myself to go back to the person I was that had major weight related medical issues, no energy, low self esteem etc.
TODAY IS MY NEW DAY!

I was very glad to see this topic. I am about 2 1/2 years out, never made goal (by about 15 lbs) and this fall gained about 10 lbs back. I know the grazing has killed me. Also, being able to better tolerate carbs too.
I have been trying to figure out what to do to get back on track. This week I statted with shakes as meal substitiutes with a nice high Protein low carb dinner. Hopefully I can get back on the right side of the scale movement.

Hi everyone, it has been 1 month since I posted my weight. When I first started my reset I was 187. Now 5 weeks later I'm at 172.8 This has been hard but so rewarding. I found my willpower. Yesterday at work my team had pizza party and brownies and Oreo balls. I went into the room and talked and everything. What did I eat.....absolutely nothing. I drank my Water. Everyone kept trying. To get me to eat and I was like no I'm dieting. In my mind I was thinking if I eat that then I won't lose tomorrow when I get on the scale and that's not worth it. This struggle is real but I truly believe we can achieve our goals and be successful....trying for 6 to 8 more pounds by my doctors appointment whic is March 27.

Sorry thats snacking at night i need to real get my life back I feel like a failure and that I went through all that pain and suffering for nothing. Today my best friend mom is intp surgery imma try and get on her diet to get these plds off I remember my first month I lost 37 plds

Very brave of you to go to the doctors. I'm avoiding mine.
Every other day I need to restart again. I have gotten a few good days in a row then fall off the clif. I weighed this morning and I'm at an all time high from my surgery on 8/2013. But I'm trying again this morning.

u can do this. What I have done since my restart is to drink at least 36 oz of Water before 11. That takes my hunger away. Also I drink Protein Shake around 11 or 12. Once I finish this I start back on my water. 64 oz by 2-3 pm. Then have my yogurt. When get home eat my 1 lean Protein around 7 and drink more water. After the 3rd day u will be fine

I am 16 months out. I never made goal I still need to lose 40 pounds . My lowest weight was 173 in August. I had gained weight and was at 187 at my dr. Visit last week. Needless to say my surgeon challenged me to lose 10 pounds in two months. Told him I thouj my sleeve was broken. Turns out I have been grazing. I kept saying few snack won't hurt me. They have killed me and Im so mad at myself. I'm going to Paris in June and want to look fab.
This week went back to basics and have lost 6 pounds since monday. I have gone back to basics as everyone on here suggested and it works. 1 Protein shake in morning , greek yogurt for lunch. Lean Protein for snack when get home from work. Additional lean protein around 7 pm. Also have gotten in all my Water something I never did before. Keeping my carbs at 20 grams and my protein at 90. I am so grateful. That I have this forum to see that I'm not alone on this journey

@@Janice1968
hi
nice to be heard
hope you having been seeing more things that apply to you
things that help you
we're a bunch of good egg
some are a little cracked though
stick around
always nice to have a nice smiling face around
hope you are doing well
keep up the great job
good luck
kathy

I am 3 years out and maintaining a major weight loss (I went from 308, got as low as 140 and am hanging out in the mid 150s right now).
Anyway, I have been having more trouble with hunger, cravings etc and I think it has alot to do with my boys living at home again so I have food in the house that calls my name (bread, potatoes, sometimes junk food) again. Also, I am steady dating someone and for reasons i cannot grasp, that seems to be fattening - well, I am not going out dancing and stuff as much as I used to. Final issue is that I am suffering some physical issues that have interferred with my working out so i thought it would be good to get a tune up with a good NUT.
I think we talked through a couple of areas of improvement - you guessed it going back to basics! I have gotten out of the habit of focusing on hydration for example. They are now saying 64-100 oz of Fluid consumed at least 30 minutes post meal.
She said i eat more quantity than she thinks a typical sleever should be able to eat. I don't measure, but I eat from a small side plate so i am not sure about that, but it is true i can eat a good sized salad etc.
Anyway, the thing I learned that i thought was very interesting is she had a model of the sleeve tummy which is shaped like a banana. the "stretch" receptors are at the bottom and the top of the sleeve. So, I always eat Protein first, but I don't always LITERALLY eat protein first. Example, a salad with salmon on it - i have the salmon chopped up into the salad. She has suggested that I eat at least half the salmon first, before any lettuce because that "dense protein" will hit that receptor much firmer and I will feel more satiated. So, LITERALLY eat protein first and then eat the veggies, greens etc. I think I used to do that quite carefully, but i eat a lot of mixed foods now (salad with meat in it, egg dish with veggies and low fat turkey sausage mixed in it etc). I will try this.
She also really recommends the mini meals every 3 hours - so 5 mini meals. She said that if you get overly hungry, you can often eat and then maybe 1-2 hours later you are hungry again (and repeat) - referred to it as the boomerang effect. I am not sure about this one, during the weight loss phase I ate 4 mini meals. I have done 5:2 and found that the fasting can reduce appetite (as well as other health benefits of fasting). I am skeptical on this one.
Since I am struggling a bit through the holidays, and no way am I successful at 5:2 right now, I am going to try following her advice.
So, 3 years out as of Dec 11 - and so very pleased with my results and life with a sleeve!

Hey, I am a little over 2 years out, I've gone from 250 to 160-165 and I decided to get to 140-145. Right now at 5'6" I am large for my frame and height. I range from sizes 4-6 and still wear some 8's. What bothers me is that I still have a stomach and loose skin combined. I know I'll need plastics one day but right now I have to save money for my wedding in 3 months!! Anyways, I need some advice on starting over. I haven't worked out in a few months because I got "bored" with my routine and scared to try new things. Should I just start over with liquids? I still have restriction and try to stick no low low carb, like 20-30 a day because it keeps my blood sugar perfect (type 1 diabetic) . I need help with these last 20 pounds.... Please!!! Thank you!

Welcome new Southern California VSG Support Group members! What can you do here? Introduce yourself to us Contact another local VST member who maybe has the same surgeon (search under surgeons) Attend an open meeting & bring your spouse or friend (contact Sleeve 4 me) to get specifics Please feel free to send me a message if you have any questions or just want to reach out to say HI Our next meeting in Rancho Cucamonga is in November 2013 - 1st Saturday at 10AM. We would love to hear your story beyond the words posted on this site. We are a diverse group with men, women, pre-op, veterans, private insurance, Kaiser, self payers ... so you will fit right in. Most of all, we are here to encourage each other.

AHA! lol, that's what I thought you were saying. Then I saw the 2 year response and was like f- that (figuratively). I'll just keep the panni, then

Im talking about sex. Had my panni 3 1/2 wks ago

Pre sleeve
Post sleeve

I know for me, and probably for a lot of us, I went into VSG with expectations: I'd be happier with myself, my body, and with that I know just like when I would diet when I was fat, came the sense that everything else in my life would be affected by it and somehow better.
Prior to VSG, my life often centered around food. Either I was avoiding it to lose weight (that never worked for long!) or binging on it and feeling guilty. My weight affected my mood, my joy, my pain- everything since I was a teenager. I imagine many of us can related to that.
The body of mine that was technically obese 2 years ago, now is at a BMI of 20 (yes, 20!) and getting a lot of praise and attention. I got married this year to the love of my life, and things are generally stable and positive.
What I didn't expect: depression and anxiety. The story I tell above sounds like it should lead to a place of extreme inner peace, joy, and self love. In fact, over the past 6 months, it's been the opposite. Once my thoughts and goals were all centered around getting my weight off, it was basically my #1 interest in life. Analogy: it's like I've been a rock climber all my life, but now I've climbed Everest, and there is no where else to go. Has any other VSG vet else dealt with this?
I say it all feeling a sense of guilt- there are people who are vets still struggling to lose weight, having personal problems, and health issues. I feel as though I should be told "what the #$%^& is wrong with you?! Enjoy your life you spoiled brat!"..but it's been extremely tough on me, particularly as I've reached my goal.
I'd love to hear from others who have dealt with this kind of issue after surgery. I know depression immediately after happens commonly, but I did not expect to feel it come on at this stable point more than a year after surgery.

Yes! I hated getting advice from people on how to lose weight - especially when it came from someone who had managed to lose weight. It somehow made me feel worse, and like more of a failure.
Of course when someone personally asks me, I open the gates and let the information flow! (Along with the support, of course)

Something very interesting and puzzling happened to me today.
All my life, until the surgery, I had always looked at "normal" girls, or even slightly chubby girls and thought that if I could look like them, I would be happy. I never wanted to be skinny, and would have been very happy with being a voluptuous size 12 or 14 - a large. I looked at other overweight women, and compared myself to them. Am I heavier than her? Do I look like her?
Today, I was in the library, and there was a table with 2 very obese women, around my age. One of them kept shifting around, and adjusting her clothes.. and I was reminded of how uncomfortable I always felt before I lost weight. I was uncomfortable in my own body, and it affected the simplest tasks like sitting and studying.
Then, I was standing just behind one of those girls in the restroom, while waiting to wash my hands. She stepped over to let me use the sink, and quickly took a glance at me in the mirror. Was she also having the same thoughts I used to have less than 2 years ago? Could she be thinking that she would like to look like me? Imperfect, but relatively normal?
I initially looked at her and almost had to catch myself from passing judgment on why she may be overweight. Why wasn't she doing something about her health? I immediately felt guilty and confused on why I would think such a thing, considering that was me. That STILL IS me. I have to work on the new me every minute of every day.
After that, I almost wanted to let her know that I understood... that I was her once upon a time, and still fight the same battle.
I kept quiet and went about my business while she went about hers, of course. I felt guilty and anxious, but extremely proud of myself.
I was her once, and I made a change. I worked to find a solution, and then worked even harder to become that girl I wanted to be. I'm not perfect. I have loose skin, and I've got saggy boobs way before the age to have them. But I'm healthy. I'm in control of my weight, rather than my weight being in control of me. I am victorious.

Cowgirljane...a while ago I joked on this forum that when I made it to goal I wanted to have a Tshirt made that said "former fatty so f*** off." Sometimes I still want to wear a shirt like that. Too subtle?

I too have thought about the people treating us differently.
Okay, complete strangers/men - well that is to be expected. I decide to take the glances and occasional "approach" as a huge compliment. Maybe they are only interested in hooking up, I don't care since I am not doing anything or seeing them, but I choose to view that attention as positive is all I am saying. Hell, that is what I wanted for years, to not be freaking invisible and I am NOT!
People that I have known.... well, I look at it from a positive angle too. I can see that i often used sarcasm, my physical size, intellect and logic all sorts of barriers to being loving to me. I often acted reserved and "proper" whereas now I just throw my arms around someone to give them a hug. I just do less and less of that pushing away.... no wonder people are "friendlier" to me - I am friendlier to them!
Very large/overweight people ARE less approachable. It is sort of like a person who is outside the norm of anything (dwarf, giant, in a wheelchair, etc etc) there is something a little awkward about just daily interactions. Most people aren't intentionally mean (in my opinion) but they don't find a 300+ pound woman relatable. There is also the fact that everything from well fitting clothing to being able to physically keep up makes it harder to do alot of cool social things. I again chose to see the positive of just how many people accepted/loved/respected me just as I was. The fact that they are so much more huggy, and seem to invite me to the inner circle more I chalk up to ME being different - not just skinnier but different.
I realize there are mean people and I realize that many have judged me, but frankly i can't change how anyone else thinks/feels but I can impact how I choose to experience it and feel about it.