NtvTxn

Good morning VSgirl - I don't know what the average loss is per week, but my average caloric daily intake was 675 when I reached goal right about 5 months out. I exercised very little. ( I know ME; I knew that if I became an exercise nut for a few months....I'd get bored/burned out quickly and stop....then what happens?? Would I re-gain? I know I've heard about RNY patients that do just that and then they start putting the lbs back on. I know their surgery is totally different, and I think OUR surgery is superior, just my humble opinion, but just in case!)

Anyway, I am most concerned about my arms, so I attended an exercise class 1x per week for four weeks. It was offered by a physical therapist that works for local bariatric surgeon. I wanted to get some ideas, to see if there was something I could do at home. I discovered I like the weighted ball and the band, both are good for my arms and the weighted ball is actually a pretty good over all workout. I got both for the house. I do one or both about four times a week. Both are fast and fun, I can do 'on the go'.

I'm 8 lbs below goal and nobody can say I got there because I'm an exercise guru!! I made some life style changes.....mostly the way I 'snack' - cutting chips, most bread, cold Cereal.....just eliminated a few things OUT of my diet...I did this MONTHS before surgery. I did things I KNEW could be forever changes. I hope this helps and isn't toooo wordy!

Definitely recommend Dr. James Davidson in Dallas now that I'm post op with no complications! I was referred to him by 2 other friends here in Dallas who used him 3 years ago. One of my friends' dad is a top plastic surgeon in Dallas and this is who he referred his daughter to use when she decided on the surgery. I'm not sure if you are part of the christian sleever group, but I have never felt more at peace with my decision that right Before the surgery when Dr. Davidson came in and asked if we could pray together before anesthesia arrived. He took my hand and thanked God for so many things, then asked God for guidance and a quick recovery for myself and my family. I could not have been any more calm and relaxed knowing this surgeon has a personal relationship with the Lord and understands what a big decision this is for people like us. Smooth as could be, anesthesia came in and they started 5 minutes later! Arrived home yesterday, walked two miles today and I am completely off pain meds already 3 days post op! I couldn't be happier!

My surgeon removed 85% of my stomach. I reached goal in just under 5 months and am now maintaining at 14 - 16 lbs below goal. I've had no problems and am eating just over a half cup of food at each meal, filling in with several Snacks a day to get in the 1200 calories I need to maintain. I have a 32 size bougie. I wouldn't have wanted one any larger. I'm really, really happy with the way things turned out!

Hi A Better Me - I am not 'NEW' - I had surgery almost two years ago by Dr. Davidson at Forest Park.....I am here to tell you it's the best decision I ever made in my life!!! Good luck to you, you'll love your sleeve!!!

Also, I stopped drinking with my meals a month prior to surgery, just so I'd get use to it.

I use Fitday to track protein and calories! I'm 27 months out and still log my food and I weigh every day.

I'm a revision from band to sleeve (Aug 8). I'm looking for buddies. I'm SpaniCB

Had the sleeve 16 months ago and I'm down 115 lbs.

I had my surgery March 29th....im alittle over 5 months out and have lost 103 lbs.

Surgery 5/30, 330lbs- currently 267lbs

I got sleeved on Aug 14th and I weighed about 301 pounds, I am now down to 269

When I get to my goal I want one that says "former fattie so f**k off"

So I have a hobby that I think is pretty cool. Thru this hobby I am able to express myself. I make t shirts and other custom items. In the past I've made shirts that say Fat dudes are in. But because I plan on getting this surgery here are some of the shirts I plan to make. I wanted to share them with you guys. I hope I don't offend anyone. If they have been done before I appologize . Thanks for stopping by

iegal, Your story is my story!! A year before surgery I would have done a happy dance if i could wear a size 14, now I wear 4's and 6's. I am at a place I never thought possible. I underestimated what could happen with this surgery. I reached my surgeon's goal in just under 5 months and MY goal, 5 lbs less, five weeks later!! The first time I slipped into a size 4, I DID giggle to myself, I wanted to go out and shout it to all the other customers at The Gap!!! I love, love, love my sleeve!!!

As others have said here already, your weight loss will be unique to you. I lost 17 pounds pre-op, and 21 pounds since surgery six weeks ago. The post-op loss could be considered slow by some, but the benefits of losing slower are important to me as I am over the age of 50. The slow weight loss is allowing my skin to snap back better so less extra skin so far.
The Sleeve is a tool and not an easy way out or a magic pill, but used correctly, it does work and keeps on working.
Stay positive!

You all are just really lucky. I'm 5'4 and 295 pounds and although I can lose a few pounds on my own (most was 50lbs), I always go thru a stressful period and revert to old soda habits and gain it all back + lbs. I've changed jobs 3 times in 3 years and have not been lucky enough to get with a company that offered group insurance. I was offered a job with the state of GA in March but found out that they stopped paying for the surgeries this past January. I was almost approved once and had my initial doctor consultation but before my doctor's office sent in the paperwork 2 weeks later, BCBS had changed the rules during that 2 week period and denied my surgery. Both my knees are completely gone primarily from me playing sports for so many years but now the weight is a burden on them. I'm tired and just plain tired of worrying about losing weight now. Like I said, you all should count your blessing because you really are blessed to have insurance that covered the procedure.

Goal in less than 5 months. I love my sleeve. Follow your surgeons diet plan, excercise and stay hydrated and you will be at a place you never dreamed possible. The other day Sleeve4me and I were laughing over her buying a size 4. Giggling really. But the crazy part was a year ago we both would have been estatic with a size 14. Now we are both wearing size 4. NEVER did I dream this big or "small"
No regrets. I love my sleeve.

My surgery was on May 3rd and so far with pre-op and post I have lost 31% of my excess weight. My total is 80 lbs so far.

I've lost 97 lbs since being sleeved in March of 2011 I started out at 230. I know wear a size 4 in jeans and a small in tops.
Sent from my PC36100 using VST

I was sleeved June 19th. Lost 25 pounds before the surgery and 35 pounds in the 16 days since my surgery. My personal goal is 180. Not sure what the doctor will say, but I am looking forward to being at that weight!

I actually record my losses by month and they are in my signature. I have lost 90 pounds in 11 months. I met my surgeons goal but my personal one is still 10 pounds away. My BMI was 40 and now its 25, a normal weight from morbidly obese. Everyone is different but I think you can expect to lose a good bit the first few months, then it slows.

I'm going to ditto what others have said that you will be able to eat about anything you ate prior to being sleeved. Although, your taste buds are likely to change and the things that you loved before probably won't be the same once you are able to eat them. Some people (like myself) become lactose intolerant although that seems to be improving as time passes.
Please remember that while in time you will be able to eat whatever you want (in smaller moderations), that you will need to focus on your Proteins first, veggies second, etc if you want to maximize your new tool. Treating yourself occasionally is not a bad thing, but depending on where you are at in your journey, understand that depending on how much you eat, will affect the speed of your weight loss and possibly contribute to stalls. Also, if they are your trigger foods that could lead to craving other non-protein/ unhealthy choices, then you are only asking for trouble. Try to wait as long as possible before you start "checking" to see what you can have if its not on your plan. You are in the honeymoon stage and you want to take advantage of that time as much as possible.

lol...oh my gosh! You are funny. I had my sleeve on June 11th and am down 45 pounds since my post-op weigh in on June 1st. My main concern was the excess skin. I know my insurance doesn't cover the cost of removing it. I am turning 45 in a few months and have young looking skin with no wrinkles. I am just praying this means my skin is elastic and will hold up well. When I went to a support group meeting, I brought this topic up. A woman in her 60's stood up and said I want to show you something. She took off her blazer, having just a tank top on. She swung those bat wings all over the place and said that she is keeping them and has grown to accept them. She had gone to a plastic surgeon to discuss having the excess skin removed. They told her that it would be about $8,000 and leave a thick scar from her wrists to her armpits. She decided that paying that much money to have an ugly scar left on her arms wasn't worth it. She told us that she now buys tops with Lycra in them because they hold it all in. If the choice was to have the bat wings or the weight, I am sure we would all embrace the bat wings.

I'm going to be brutally honest here. I was in traffic court yesterday and there were these two very large women. One had a cane and the other a walker. They were in their 30s-40s. They had to sit down in the seats and they could only manage to turn sideways and somewhat sit on the edge of the seats. One young man in his 20s didn't even really fit through the gate to go see the commissioner.
I was considering my life and how it has changed dramatically in only 6 months. This past week I reached the summit of a 10,000 ft. peak.. Seven months ago, you couldn't get me to walk down the street. I was even starting to avoid friend's parties.
I wasn't rude and didn't stare, but I started looking at these people who have so much life ahead of them. Out in line 1 out of 10 people were probably morbidly or super morbidly obese.
I thanked God for my blessings and just went to work.
Man, I want to tell everyone about this. Eggface is going to be on Ricki Lake, but we need more info out there.

I wont miss wearing a sweater over my top to work on the hottest days of the year because I'm fat and it hides my stomach.
I wont miss having to buy x-large and wearing a tankini.
I wont miss all those oversized tops in my closet .
I look forward too a whole new wardrobe. I look forward to going for a regular massage and not being the fat girl. I look forward to being sexy again for my husband and leaving the lights on. I look forward to a whole new life
Thanks UT Gal for starting this link!