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I am still not at goal. I started at 233 when I had my surgery end of Nov and a little over 5 months out I am down 53lbs and still have 30 more to loose. I have had to let go of every expectation I had and just realize I am going to get there. I might not get there by my birthday next month, or even by summer this year, but I am going to get there and after I get there, I won't care that it took longer. In my experience, only here people care, in real life everyone asks me how much I have lost and they are very happy for me. If I whine to my friends in real life that I am a slow looser, they put me in my place. Even my fitness obsessed friend said she can't loose 10 lbs in a month the healthy way. 8 if she is lucky and that is not consistent. So just realizing you will get there and will it really matter that it took you 1 or 2 or even 4 extra months than you planned?? than you will be happier and more relaxed in this journey. Just keep an eye on whats going in your mouth and enjoy the ride.

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share my success. I have had a struggle with my first 10 weeks with my sleeve. It was not an easy initial transition. However I have stayed the course(no other option) and did my part to accept and embrace my sleeve and with good results. I went to my doctor for my 10 week follow up after my 2nd scope/dilation and things are looking up. I haven´t had complications since last Sunday and according to the scale ( I don´t have a scale-just wait until doc appointments to weigh in) I have lost a total of 55+ lbs as of yesterday. I am now 282.6. I am very pleases with myself and am even more motivated to continue my journey forward. I was cleared to go back to work next week too. I am getting better, feeling more motivated and getting ready to really take on the weight loss focus of this journey. I just wanted to share with those of you who may be struggling with adapting to your sleeve, or those recently post op. It can and will get better. We are all so unique and so are our journeys. If you are struggling today, just continue along the journey. It is okay to get frustrated, and even sad, but also know that you will get better and feel better at some point. After 9 weeks of feeling miserable, things finally fell into place for me. Thank you to all of the vets and newbies who offered me support either directly via post or by sharing their own struggles and successes. I would have struggled so much more if I had not had my VST community to support me these last 10 weeks. OMG....I have lost 55 lbs in 2 months....mind bomb! It is so surreal that it takes the mind time to acclimate. Next goal is to work on loosing another 45lbs. That will be a 100lb weight loss. I have to have milestone goals along this journey to enjoy those victories. Doctor wants me to get to 188ish as my goal weight(haven´t been that weight since senior year in HS). He said that is based upon my height(5´7) and wanting me to be below BMI of 30. Of course I had to ask, what the time frame was for that goal. He said within the next year and a half. I figure that is manageable. Before the sleeve, I would have not believed it possible. So onward and upwards. I guess I will try to figure out how to post some pics now. Have a great day my friends and stay positive.

Hello all, I am getting ready to begin the process for getting the sleeve hopefully. I have my first appointment this week with my Medical Doctor and psychologist. I hope I can get approved for real. I haven't been to the doctor in years almost 10 so I am scared with what they may say and if that may have any complications. I'm 480 6'6. I am pretty active. I just started back working out. Been playing basketball 2-3 times a week. Don't have as much energy as the competition lol. Any tips on how I can be successful??

Walking along with the usual weighing all my food and tracking. I used to walk with weights until I injured myself. Not worth it for me, an injury sets you back. And my Dr friend told me off about doing. It isn't really necessary. I maintained my muscle by eating 1 gram of protein for 1 pound of lean muscle mass, every day. I've lost 180 pounds and only 10 of that has been muscle. I still have 125 pounds of lean mass.

I'm 5'9" and weigh 185 and fit comfortably into 12s. The 10s are a bit snug yet.

I'm 180 right now, 5'2 and wearing a 10/12 or a 31 in designer jeans.

NeverBeTheSameAgain i "think" losing 10 lbs in a month is good (average) - so you are on track w/8 1/2 lbs gone i have heard also that if you are slightly "bigger" the weight comes off quicker and easier not necessarily true but remember - we're all different we all lose weight in a different time period never, never, ever compare your weight loss with someone else I'm sure you are doing everything right eating vvvvery slowly getting in all your Water, not drinking during meals waiting 45-60 minutes after you eat before you drink again chewing into small "shreds" of pieces as long as you are following all the rules - its almost impossible not to lose weight you are on such a small caloric intake maybe still on puree'??? being sad takes more energy try and smile (easier said than done) i can see in your lovely face you will succeed good luck kathy "God Grant Me Patience, Just Hurry Up About It!!"

My surgeon requires two day of liquids after a band adjustment. So, I had some time to reflect and figure out how I was going to stay on track. I thought the best place to start would be by doing reading and further reflection. I decided to read a book I purchased somewhere around the time I was banded, but never took the time to read. The book title is Before and After: Eating and Living Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach. Some of the things I summarized from reading her book that have really hit home for me are: Even after all my research, I wasn't prepared for how day-to-day living would really be after weight loss surgery until I lived it. What I realize now that I didn't quite grasp before is that the band only keeps you from becoming ravenously hungry and restricts your intake -- that's ALL it does. The hardest part of being successful with WLS depended entirely on me and my choices. As I moved from liquids, to soft foods, to solids, my daily food challenges grew. At some point I let "life" overwhelm me and failed to develop personal strategies for dealing with my emotional issues or eating habits. I also expected my band to do more for me than I was doing for myself. Now I completely understand that if I want to be continually successful, I MUST: GET MY HEAD IN THE GAME. not drink and eat at the same time. eat like I had the gastric bypass focusing on getting in protein first, then veggies, then fruit in that EXACT order and control the portion sizes/ratio. AVOID high carbohydrate foods because they are the DEVIL reincarnate. Don't EVER act like I don't know what carbohydrates are and there's no label to read. If I do, the only one I'm fooling is me. My band, my body, and my scale have proven they will not be easily fooled forever. build up to EXERCISING at least 5 day per week to lose fat instead of muscle. Take dietary supplements morning, noon, and night. Hold myself accountable by tracking my weight weekly and my diet and exercise. KEEP MY HEAD IN THE GAME. First thing this moring, I created a weigh-in chart through the end of calendar year 2008. According to my estimates, if I average two pounds a week, I should be at or below goal (150) before the end of the year. Is this goal set on perfection? Nope, it's set on continually striving to reach my goal in small achievable increments. Is this goal attainable? Well, I really don't know yet. The lowest weight I can ever remember being is 156 and I was 19 years old at the time. So it will be interesting to see where my body lands on the weight scale with continously applied effort. For now, my sites are initially set on getting back to the January 24, 2007 weight of 224lbs, from there I'll be working on breaking the 200lb threshold, then my focus will turn to achieving a healthy BMI of 29, which will put me at exactly 190lbs. Hmmm, now that I'm thinking about it. I'm going to update my weigh-in chart to include BMI changes for extra incentive. Since my surgeon only sees follow-up patients on Wednesdays, I've decided that will be my weekly weigh-in day. So, I will take and record an official naked weight every Wednesday even if it's a day I'm scheduled to see the surgeon. I will also record the clothing weight on those Wednesdays as well. I still have to come up with a plan that addresses all my issues and not just identify what I've failed at doing in the past and a documented weekly weigh-in chart. I need a plan that helps ensure my success. That will definitley be a bit harder. So, I'm going to have to address one issue at a time as soon as possible. My next appointment with the surgeon on 13 February and I want to ensure that both our scales show my effort.

I do. This is the reason my plastic surgeon recommend I gain weight cuz I have extra skin and only enough fat to fill my boobs. In other words I don't have enough fat to transfer to my butt & places to curve me up. So come April I have 4 months to gain 10/20 pounds you won't notice since it will be sucked out.

Give it time, i also thought i had too much skin , but as it turns out i went from a size 24 to a size 10.... I had surgery 10/3/12........ Only time will tell.....

Hello everyone I was sleeved on 10/31/16 just about 2 weeks post-op. I have noticed some extreme changes to my emotions. Just about anything makes me cry, then I'm happy again lol. Does anyone know the reason for this or has anyone experienced this as well? Down 30 pounds. Does it have to do with dying fat cells? LOL Sent from my SM-N910T using the BariatricPal App

Hello everyone! Keisha from New Jersey. Tomorrow, September 6th @ 10 am for me. Super excited and praying the best for all of you! Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using the BariatricPal App

I my surgery done on 3/10 and my husband is the only person that knows or that will ever know. this is not something i choose to share. my 27 year old daughter lives with me and has not clue. you can do this. i wish you well. tell the co-worker that you have decided to change your way of eating and if you need her advise you'll ask for it. perhaps she needs a life of her own. good luck and keep us posted!

Thank u guys so much, I totally thought I was insane not to tell anyone but my two bff ' s. Like how could I be so "selfish" not to even tell my mom. Truth of the matter my bff ' s are the least judgemental people in the world. One actually use to be overweight and lost about 70 lbs herself so she really understands. I am the kind of person that likes to show results, I do not broadcast my personal business. First they will ask why u doing it, but later will ask how u did it. As for my coworker, she is only about 10 lbs lighter than me, and so surprising that she almost doesn't think she has a weight issue either. One Day she told me she had old clothes she couldn't fit anymore and asked my size. Without thinking I gave her my size, but once I hung up with her, it dawn on me that she really didn't have clothes for me. And she just wanted to know my size. And if I were just a little bigger than her, than she was content with herself. She does sneaky underhanded shit like that. Needless to say I will get the last laugh before this summer is over. : )

Not sure if you are religious but I think of this verse when relatives interfere. When my husband and I struggle it is because we are two not one. Mark 10:6-9 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Good luck!

I think it is from the hernia repair. I had a 10 hour back surgery in May of last year and it didn't make me hoarse. Didn't think about comparing. Thanks!

I had my surgery Dec 21st 2012. It was at year end on purpose because I knew I would have all that time to recover. I could have honestly gone back in a week but I'm glad I had an extra week to chill. I've seen people go back in about 7- 10 days and do fine, but every person is different. Just remember to take it easy, no lifting for 10 days post op and if you need to sit and rest, do it. I felt fine but I was just tired. Around 8PM I hit a wall and I was done for the day. It took me a few weeks to really feel like myself.

I am on the praise team at our church and sang 10 days post op. I was a little winded but it was nothing major. Within a month I was fine.

My dr. was against salad until you are past the 6 week mark. I'm not sure that he is big on salad anyway (because it is not dense filling protein) but I just recently in the last 2 weeks have had 2 salads (I'm 10+ weeks out). I make sure to eat my Protein first, then I had a few bites of salad (and enjoyed them!) Anyway, that is my surgeon's notes.

You werent wrong for PRECISELY the reason you state - two adults to a couple of kids. Quicker, easier, and its what family change rooms are for. We still use them and my kids are 12, 10 and 5. I refuse to send my 12 year old boy and 10 year old boy into a men's changing room alone. There's just no way that they're doing that in a huge public place like a swimming pool! They will not let me see them change, lol (they seem to have no problem walking in on ME in the shower!) so I stand outside the door. If that pisses people off so be it, they're not going in the change rooms alone.

I wanted to get the unflavored one but I don't want to go overboard buying things. I have the chicken broth one. How do you usually prepare it? @@cindyw41 I prepare mine with my Keriug coffee pot Water, or microwave the water, boil it. Pour in about 8-10 ounces water in cup, put ice cubes in to bring water down to 140 or a bit less. Then put 1 scoop of chicken broth into cup and stir good. Done! I have put a scoop of unflavored into my coffee, I have to use 1 tsp sugar and creamer. But the water has to be 140 or a bit under or it won't mix well at all. I have a meat thermometer I got when I started I go by.

Hey Guys, Thanks a bunch for you support! Talked to the hospital today, appointment got bumped up to 10:40am... Cuts my freaking out by 80 minutes if nothing else! Mike, what sort of challenge do you have in mind? A little cometition sounds good! I also have wedding pics as a motivating factor so I am ready to go. No one has commented on how surgery affected their handicap... I guess I don't want to know! I too will post as soon as possible post op. It might not make much sense as I hear Demerol is pretty good, but I will definitely let you guys who are eagerly awaiting your own surgery how mine went. Thanks again for your support guys. Looking forward to the year of the Q. Q

This thread was just what I needed I was begining to think that BGH (Buffalo General Hospital) was the only choice in Buffalo. I just got off the phone with a friend that had a bypass done with Dr. Caruana and she could not speak for Dr Vilianco but said the staff there was amazing. Unfortunately they close at noon on Friday so I will have to wait till Monday to call them. I was extremely put off by BGHs lack of compassion, I understand being backed up but I was basically thrust into voicemail twice to leave a name and address to mail a application package to when I called for information. I had to call a different number and get a different person to get though and get permission to pick up a package. I went in person and they had to make sloppy photocopies of the forms while I waited ten minutes. They did not even put that package in the mail till a full week after I had called, it took 10 days to receive from the time I left the voice mail and in reading the cover letter they warn "don't call us we will call you" and it takes "two to six months for a first appointment". No thank you, I will find a practice that is more interested in my business than that. If they are that "backed up" they should be hiring additional staff. I look forward to calling and meeting with a the staff at Synergy Bariatrics.

I was having this same problem and spoke with the NP yesterday. She said to take Prilosec each day for 7-10 days, to have full liquids for a couple days and to limit spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol for a week. The Prilosec has made a HUGE difference. I haven't had any heartburn since I started taking it a couple days ago. She said the stomach lining in the pouch can become irritated and these changes can help it settle down. Good luck! Joan