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Wow! What a difference a year makes! I have been thinking about this day all week. One year... What a ride! Here are some stats: I am 1.1 pound away from being "normal" BMI; I am down 147.8 pounds total (121 pounds of that since surgery); I have lost 83.5 inches (18 inches off my hips ALONE / 12 inches off EACH thigh!); pants size down from loose 28 to 12 or 14; dress size down from 24 or 26 to a size 12. Some of the best NSV's: Buckling airplane seatbelt and not having bruises on my thighs from the plane seat arms; ability to get up and down off the floor so easily; my clothes have stopped falling off hangers; ability to fit in a "normal" robe when I go to a spa or even the doctor; crossing my legs; not sweating all the time; diabetes in remission and no diabetes meds; off cholesterol meds; ability to mow my own lawn without being so exhausted I had to lay down for hours afterwards. I know there are more.... How did I do it? Perseverance. Seriously one bite at a time. I ate poorly or too much, I got right back up and did better next meal - not tomorrow, not next Monday. My keys to success: Therapy and logging my food daily and having occasional checkups with my NUT. (It is good to have someone look over my food logs and say "careful on that, or try more of this"). I really think therapy though is my number one tool. I had some breakthroughs just this week in how I saw food and will continue to see this therapist for AT least another year if not longer. Oh and I cannot forget the support I received from friends and family. Were it not for those cheering me on and yet still staying out of my business (i.e. not constantly saying "should you be eating that"), I do not think I would have been so successful. And of course this incredible website. Without the advice and the ability to rant and read others experiences here, I would never have been able to do this! What do I eat: deli turkey, cheese, blackberries, blueberries, apples, tuna, pork tenderloin, lean ground beef (less than once per week), turkey sausage, turkey pepperoni, LOTS AND LOTS of chicken (grilled, boiled, fajita style, rotisserie, baked, roasted, etc etc), cucumbers, avocado, green olives, mushrooms, onions, occasional slice of bread (a few times a week), triscuit crackers (limiting myself to 2 or 3 at a time), did I say cheese LOTS and LOTS of cheese. I still have 1 Protein shake per day (30g protein) to make sure I get to my protein goals. I eat around 100 - 120g protein per day / 60-80g carbs / 45-55g fat - total calories 1100-1300. (I have been averaging closer to 1000 this last 2 weeks and I need to be sure t get those calories UP because I am ready to stop losing weight.) I cook for myself, so it is much easier to manage I am sure than others who cook for families. What didn't change: I am not one of those people that have SO much energy they cannot stand it. Nope. I am still a fairly lazy person. I hate that I am but it is true. I watch too much tv still and I still don't enjoy exercising really (and don't do it as often as I should). (I mostly walk and it is nice to know that I can go on a 2 mile walk without a lot of effort but I don't get that HIGH from exercising some talk about.) I want to be healthier and I will keep working on that part but I will never be a marathon runner or CrossFitter, etc. I still struggle with making food choices. The struggle is much easier than it used to be (most things don't even cross my mind to eat anymore) but I still crave salty Snacks. I give in sometimes but I am working on the addiction part of that. Not because you cannot have salty snacks but because it is an ADDICTION for me. And yes - I have loose skin. LOTS of it. My butt and boobs took the worst hit. You cannot see it when I am dressed and it isn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I am going to have it fixed. I am planning my first of plastics for this fall. I took money out of my 401K to pay for it. I do not need to be perfect, but I want to be able to wear sleeveless shirts and some shorts without being uncomfortable and I need my butt and thighs to be reshaped so I can fit in pants (which are tough to buy right now). I had some struggles in the beginning - I had a stricture which we didn't figure out until 3 months post-op so I was constantly vomiting. I stayed nauseas until 6 months post-op. The constipation is probably the very worst part and it has only really resolved in the last couple of months as I have started to incorporate more Fiber in my diet. (It is tough to get fiber in the beginning.) I thought I was a SLOW loser (average 10-12 pounds per month). I know now that isn't slow. It is just right. My best advice to people starting this journey - DO IT! Seriously - just do it. Just work the program. Use the tools - all of them - therapy, logging, NUT, restriction, Vitamins, exercise. STOP comparing yourself to others!! It will derail you! (PLUS I just don't buy into the "I lost 40 pounds my first month") This is your journey. No one else's. Everyone's journey is different and comparing yourself to others is defeating mentally. GO SEE A THERAPIST! Please... accept that you have a food "issue". I will buy that some of you don't but let's be honest, the overwhelming majority of us have food "issues" and until you face that fact, you cannot learn how to start to move past it. HANG IN THERE - just keep moving forward. You are going to be stunned when you look back a year from now... My journey is not over. The hardest part is just beginning - Maintenance. I have lost weight before but never kept it off, so this is the real test. Can I do this for the rest of my life? I truly hope so. I have a great head start by having developed some great new habits and faced some of my food addiction issues that I allowed to derail me in the past. I have some big changes in my life coming up job-wise and it is going to take discipline to make it work. I will keep seeing my therapist and keep my eye on the prize!

Does anyone take this? Or know anything about it?? I am trying to lose 10 more pounds and I was told this would be very helpful!

I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. After surgery I was given a maximum weight lifting restriction. Since it was so long ago I don't really recall the limit but it was around 10 or 15 pounds. That restriction went away fairly quickly. I think by the time of the first follow-up meeting where they removed the stitches after surgery, they eliminated this weight limit. The weight limit was in writing and most companies will honor the weight limit due to recovery from surgery. It means that certain tasks cannot be performed until you are healed. If you work in surgery, I would think most hospitals would comply with this requirement.

Oh my. So sorry you're dealing with all of this. Please keep us updated! My symptoms were vomiting nightly and daily, discolored stool, mucus in stool and massive leg cramping at night from no potassium or magnesium in my system because of the malabsorption. It took the docs WAY too long to diagnose and thus I suffered for 8 months. To the OP: The discolored stool is a big indicator of gallbladder or pancreatic problems. It's due to malabsorption. Rapid weight loss can cause gallstones and gallbladder attacks so definitely keep an eye on this and let your surgeon know. Wow, I'm so sorry. That is horrible. Are you ok now? Gosh, it irks me to know that your doctors took so long to diagnose you, especially when your symptoms are obvious indicators of a possible gallbladder problem. The same thing happened to my mom; she kept having weird bowel movements and back pain, which went misdiagnosed for so many years. Her doctor kept saying it was IBS, but she just wasn't convinced. Several years later, the back pain got much worse. One night, her back started hurting so badly that she was in tears (my mom barely ever cries, so I knew something was really wrong). My sister called 911, and she was rushed to the ER. Sure enough, it was her gallbladder. Her surgeon said that she was one of the most difficult procedures he's ever had; definite top 5 most difficult. He said her gallbladder was completely rotten, and as if it had been rotting for 10-20 years. He said it's a miracle that her pancreas was not affected. After her gallbladder was removed, the back pain went away. For years she dealt with that back pain.

I think I lost about 10-12 pounds also. However, my surgeon said he didn't even want me to TRY to lose weight until at least the first-third month post-op. He said you only need to be concerned with HEALING during that time; the (possible) swelling and the "trauma" of surgery will likely keep you from "overdoing it" during that time, as things will not go down as well and you'll feel full rather quickly. At about 3 months is when he actually was interested in starting to track my weight loss. Until then, they didn't even mention the scale!!! I think that is a good approach; you want everything to heal properlly MOST OF ALL and you need nutrients and calories (and vitamins) to accomplish that before you try to limit your body's intake. If you lose during that time, all well and good, but don't WORK AT losing during your post-op period. You'll do best in the long run if you concentrate on healing as your first priority. Best of wishes for you as you become the thinner, healthier person you will be very soon!!!

I'm being banded on 12/10

First of all it sucks typing on an iPhone. Second this may be really long. Well after missing my flight I was able to get everything adjusted by one day. So the next morning I was two hours early for the flight lol. Flight was uneventful but it was a cool 63 degrees when I arrived, I am used to 100 or more. Samuel was waiting for me around the corner and pulled up shortly in a very discreet white mini van. He's super friendly and we chatted the whole way. He pointed out a few interesting things and soon we were crossing the border. Not scary at all. A little run down and dirty but not scary. When we pulled up its not a huge hospital. More like a medical annex. Very modern and pretty. As soon as I walked in the lobby even the receptionist was asking about my flight. They were expecting me the day before so everything was ready. I got my allergy bracelet and was taken to my room. Ana the coordinator was so nice, also asking about my flight. I felt bad that they had to run around and change everything to get me in next day surgery, but she said not to worry. I signed far less paperwork than I ever did for a hospital stay. Less than 10 minutes later I was given a gown to change into and taken to blood draw. I am a hard stick so I expected a lot of pain, but she looked all over both arms for a good 15 mins before trying only twice. Because I hadn't drank since midnight on Sunday I was pretty dehydrated. Next was chest X-ray right down the hall. Then back to my room. They tried to look for a vein for the i but no luck. Dr. C said they would inly try twice because they could always do it once i was under, they didn't need to cause pain. but they got it on the second try. vI was given a pill and a sip of liquid to relax. Dr. C came in to tell me about anesthesia and to take a medical history, Dr. V came to discuss nutrition and post op care, then Dr. G came to discuss the surgery. It all seemed so fast and so sudden! I went for my height and weight. I lost 15lbs!! Wow. I went back to my room and was told I would be operated on shortly. Well three hours later and a much needed nap I was woken up and told to get ready. They brought in the gurney and I hopped on, put on my "sexy cap". Rolled down the hallway to the OR. It's very small. Not like the huge US OR. But everything looked modern and clean. I have quite a few tattoos and everyone seemed very impressed and asked me about them and my job. That must have been a distraction because next thing I knew, i was fighting the oxygen mask and I was back in my room lol. Now for the part everyone is waiting for... NO PAIN. I was prepared for so much pain and soreness I kind of freaked myself out. I had a very sore raw throat. I almost thought I didn't have the surgery! But the doctor said everything went smoothly. I slept through the night and the nurses came in with meds every few hours. Again I was shocked at the lack of pain. I even refused meds a few times just to make sure lol. One thing I had severe nausea. Every time I stood up I vomited. So there was no walking for me. But I had no gas. I guess the vomiting pushed it out. I was given a few extra bags of electrolyte because of dehydration and nebulizer treatments every 8 hours. Nausea and pain meds kept up the entire time. The first leak test, hard to describe the taste. Yucky but it goes away fast. Dr. V came in again and scolded me about walking, but since I have no gas pain or overall pain she wasn't too hard on me. I slept most of the day away until they brought the blue dye. It's a huge cup! But I was worried for nothing. It just tasted like... Blue dye. No leaks in my drain. So that's my story. Very simple, very easy. And I leave for the hotel today. Oh every nurse I had spoke English. And I speak a little Spanish so communication was great. If you have any questions about the small details, just ask away.

In a deeply emotional moment, I sat down and wrote a list in order of importance. I will share it here, in case it helps anybody organize their thoughts, emotions, and priorities. 6/25/2014 RNY Surgery Goals To be able to eat half a yogurt and be satisfied, full, and fortified. to no longer be consumed with healthy food shopping and meal preps, the miseries of weighing cabbage, and be satisfied with my minimal needs. to get off my blood pressure medication Lower my cholesterol to normal levels to beat the odds of my family’s heart disease to be able to navigate stairs without dislocating my knees to be able to walk down the stairs and see past my stomach so I don’t trip To be able to get up from a chair without leaving a sweat-spot to be able to wear dresses without leggings, and not chafe my thighs to see my knee bones and ankles to be able to pick up a tissue from the floor without waiting for more things to accumulate before bending down to be able to walk for more than 10 minutes before my heel spurs start throbbing to breathe easier for longer periods and not trigger my asthma to sing for two hours straight without throat pain to sit on the floor with my clients and play guitar. to send all my old clothes to Lisa and Beka be able to play a narrow-neck guitar play the violin without colliding my fingers enjoy airplane flights without stopping the circulation in my legs because my thighs are squeezed in between the neighboring armrests to be able to lift and move objects without throwing my back into spasms to be able to wear trendy shoes with less support be done with granny-panties to be able to buy size medium clothes on the sales rack to be a normal-looking healthy American

I have Kaiser. I'm able to email or leave a message for my doctors, are you able to do that? I usually remember questions after I leave my appt. I email. Usually my surgeon's PA gets back with me, but once the surgeon did himself. At my 10 day I'd lost 15 lbs. now I'm 20 days and have lost 2 more. I look at it as 17 lbs in 20 days, none of my diets were this successful. I lost 96 lbs pre-op and was losing an avg of 3 lbs weekly (some 0, some 6). Depends on that time of the month for me too. Per my surgeon, I'll be very swollen internally for weeks and need to focus on healing, liquids (64 ounces daily) and protein (60 - 80 grams daily) for at least the first 6 weeks. So that's what I'm doing. I've already had a fainting episode and "over-did" activity, trying to walk to much, too many errands, and I've become over tired and pain increased. I'm reminding myself to take it easy, day by day and weigh once a week and not really count it but every 2. (In one day my weight can fluctuate 3-4 lbs).

There is different degrees of pain for everyone. I had no gas pain so I was lucky there but I had bad pain for about a week in the incision he took the stomach out of. But in my case he had to go through a 30 year old scar and he said it took him an extra 15 minutes because it was tough. I stayed on the liquid pain medicine every 6 hours and it was bearable. My stomach. Looked like the himalaya mountains from all the Fluid they had put in me. I gained 10 lbs after the surgery but it left again within a week and my stomach was back to normal. That was surgery but now I am 3 months post op and down 52 lbs. I am also 66 years old. You young woman will do so much better. Just remember it is major surgery but it is well worth it. I could never have lost this much weight before. Best of luck to you all. Get r done, LOL.

I'm almost 2 years out from surgery, and still losing in drips and dribbles, I've loved almost every aspect of having WLS. I've loved the smaller clothes, the CUTER clothes, the stares, the compliments, ALL of it!! EXCEPT! I would like to write a memo to the designers of pants, blue jeans in particular. Dear Blue Jean Designer People, I love your product! It is roomy, durable, comfy, can withstand multiple uses without washing, it truly is the universal napkin! My only complaint (and it really is quite a serious and big one) is pockets. I have gone from a 24 to a 4. My legs have shrunk, my thighs have shrunk, all of the junk in my trunk...has shrunk. HOWEVER, the items that I like to carry in my pockets...HAS NOT SHRUNK!! When I was a 24, I could happily carry my cell phone, my keys, chap stick, I'm convinced I could have even smuggled small animals and children in my jeans pockets. I loved it!! If I didn't want to carry it, I popped it in my pocket! My HANDS even fit in my pocket!! Now, I'm lucky if I can squeeze a toothpick and half a penny in the pockets that you make for the size of jeans I wear now. I am thouroughly disguisted! Yes, I AM SERIOUS! I cannot tell you how many times since wearing size 10 jeans and under I have left my cell phone somewhere, been left with parched dry lips because I didn't have/couldn't fit my chapstick in the tiny fold of fabric that you try to pass off as a 'pocket'. I have wasted at least 16 hours of my life digging for keys that are lost somewhere in the bottom of my gigantic purse while juggling groceries, and simotaniously sweating/freezing the death. I am convinced that you are now in cahoots with the purse industry. Since I have been able to buy smaller jeans, instead of being able to cherish the extra funds, I've had to spend it on Much. Larger. Purses. I'm onto you, and your shenannigans! Don't think that everyone is complacent about your lack of design and the sham that you are pulling! I have almost enough mind to cut out your 'pockets' and sew in my own!! I'm watching, I know, and I am spreading the word!! Give me my pockets back!! Sincerely, One Pocket Lovin' Lady

Hi tried to drink your shakes and chicken broth often at least every 2 hours 2 oz also drink water it help a lot , keep drinking you pain medication as prescribed by you doctor, it must be gas if is a shoulder pain, the sugar free popsicles help also hope you feel better, keep walking at least 10 minutes three times at day it help a lot with the pain!!

Mine goes from 3 weeks to 6 weeks I scramble eggs with cottage cheese to make it soft and it's either that or you have to have soft boiled eggs I can have refried Beans Soups with low carbohydrates and no more than 10 grams of sugar I can have pureed cauliflower carrots stuff like that. I also could have thin deli meat. But it has to be real deli meat not the processed stuff. I can have applesauce with no sugar. And skinless fruit. No grapes. He doesn't want us to mashed potatoes or hot Cereal because there's a lot of carbs after 6 weeks we can add that what you have to to fill yourself up on Protein first. I can also have soy. I bought some soy chorizo and used it as a meat in a homade chili I made for the whole family they loved it. And of course Greek yogurt under 10 grams of sugar. Same with yogurt. And a half of a banana and only string cheese. Hope I helped my doctor gave me a menu. But remember every doctor is different. Good luck on your journey ♡ Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

I just had the sleeve 10 day ago. I do not have a thyroid. I will be on pills for the rest of my life. But as far as weight loss goes I have lost 25 lbs since pre-op so I guess it doesn't matter. If you don't have an endocrinologist, may I suggest that you go to one. They know more then the primary care.

What doctor did you go to? I'm in Northern NJ and am looking for a good physician. I have had two gastric bands erode through my stomach and would like to have the gastric sleeve vs gastric bypass this time. I'm not sure about going to my past physician, or possibly trying a new doctor. I have Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ and am thankful to hear that you were approved for the sleeve. Would possibly like to go to the same physician as you since you were approved for the procedure. Thanks "I have Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ and they got rid of the 6 month wait right when I went through the process to be submitted (dec 10). Before that time my friend had a revision from a band to sleeve and after 3 denials did get approved and didn't have to do the 6 month wait. Be sure to call because requirements change and you may not be aware. I was approved very quickly. Within a few days of submitting and approved the first time. I was very surprised. Good Luck"

Thanks everyone for the support. Tomorrow is the surgery - I will get this done. I am so nervous I want to cry. Since I started my liquid diet on 10/7 I lost almost 30 pounds. I feel better already, I cannot imagine what it will feel like to lose 100 plus. Please keep supporting me, my god the nerves are killing me.

Me too! I am in Coastal Connecticut and am getting sleeved 10/30 in the afternoon. No idea if it will get postponed due to the storm. Areas of my town have already started flooding....I have just finished 10days of pre-op Optifast....today and tomorrow are broth (gross) only. No idea what happens if I get postponed, or what I do...

I remember how hard the pre-op diet was and I only had to do it for 1 week! It was so much harder dealing with the mental hunger - harder than anything I dealt with post-op. What gave me the ability to lose 10 lbs in 7 days was eating almost no carbs. I drank low-carb Protein shakes and when I just had to have some real food, I only ate pork loin or chicken breast. It's tough to get past those carb cravings, but after 2 or 3 days they go away. If you have to have something sweet, try sugar free Jell-O or sugar free Popsicles. Wishing you the good luck.

the main thing to do is avoid reading posts the closer you get to your date - I did NOT do that and got scared to death - because naturally, you will focus on the bad. The surgery is NOT bad - I had some minor gas pain right after - but was never in any real pain. I'm now about 10 days out and if not for my looser pants, would not know that I had surgery at all!

I am 10 weeks post and a pound per day is above average. 2 to 5 per week is the normal range. Meaning you have done so amazing so far but a slowing down is to be expected. I have had 3 stalls and they are devastating. Follow your plan and things will happen. Exercise is very important. I think the holidays have been hard on everyone because of all the distractions. So glad to be looking at 2015 with a new focus

I've been keeping to under 1,200 calories. A Protein shake for breakfast, and for lunch and then a light dinner under 500 calories of lean meat or fish and veggies. 2-3 Snacks a day, each under 100 calories. My general day consists of snacks such a a sugar free Jello cup (10 calories) , fat free cottage cheese with sugar free jelly (90 calories) and my favorite, a bag of edamame (90 calories). I found these in the freezer section of Walmart. A box contains 5 or 6 individual steam bags which makes it convenient to take to work. I've found that you can't skimp on the Protein powder that you use. Your run of the mill Protein powder from Walmart tastes terrible and makes it hard to enjoy. BSL Lean Dessert protein powder is AMAZING!! I look forward to my shake every morning, they have flavors such as chocolate coconut candy bar, banana cream pie, vanilla and chocolate fudge. I haven't tried the banana nut bread, and I wasn't much of a fan of the cinnamon roll because I don't like cinnamon. Hope this helps!!

I was told by my case manager that for people that go the self pay route that any complication from the lap band surgery will not be covered. Is that true. I h ave BCBS of Tennessee. I am being held up now because I did not have a 10% weight loss in the last 5 years. So they say I need to loose that 10%, before I qualify. However, that would put me out of the BMI range, even though I have several comorbidities. The did say that it would not be held against me. I could do it in the pre-op diet. Any thoughts?

At 7 days post op I was told to change from 5 Protein drinks per day to 4 and add 1/2c. mash pot or applesauce and 1/2c. yogurt or pudding. So, I sort of moved into mushies at 1 week. I am only 2 weeks post op (banded 10/12) and am now fully on mushies. I saw my MD yesterday and he said for some people, swelling goes down really fast and they are hungry sooner than others. Don't worry about a thing. Be happy you have the o.k. to move to mushies. I do not think it means your band is not working. I think it means you are healing well. People keep telling me this stage is for healing (not weight loss).

Give it some time! I'm just over 3 months post op and I'm down 13 pounds. I just got my second adjustment last Friday so I am now sitting at 4CC and I think I couldn't take any more. I feel pretty restricted right now. I know I lost 12 lbs pretty quick post op, but then managed to fluctuate between a 10 and 8 lb loss...this week I've dipped down 4 pounds since my fill. I'm discovering that this is a very slow process and much of it is psychological for me. I am so used to eating larger portion and eating quickly. This band is reminding me that it's not possible anymore! Good luck!

Hi. I was sleeved Feb.19. In the hospital 2 days no complications. Went back to work in a week. Everythig seems to be going well. I have lost 26lbs. I am a very impatient person and want this to happen like yesturday. I know it takes time though. I have been overweight for most of my adult life. I love this site. Everyone has great advice and when I am feeling like this is going to take forever I read everyones post and I seem to be where I should be. I do get hungry especially at night (I work nights) at around 9pm. I just drink my crystal light and suck it up. Well I guess I am done. Just wanted to introduce myself.