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I'm 5'2" and start wt was 247, surgery 5/28 wt 229 and this AM 3 wks post -op wt 214. Feeling great / loving the sleeve. My adult smallest was 115 and that was actually too thin 4 me. I am shooting for like 135/140. Since I am older I am very concerned abt the skin not havin the elasticity it used to have. ( forgive my ticker... I thought I updated it but it didn't work. Obviously I need guidance on how to update the thing!)

I need someone to give me a swift kick in the patooty! I am 9 weeks post op and haven't lost a pound since starting on semi soft foods 6 weeks ago. And that wouldn't be so bad if I was trying, but honestly I have no restriction and can eat whatever I want.. and often do. I don't count calories, don't drink enough Water and, aside from the occassional walk about once every other week, get no excercise. What am I thinking? I underwent surgery to get this weight off! Before I had the surgery I told myself that I was going to work hard and follow all the rules and sham on all my fellow banders that didn't do that. And now it's as if I am sabataging myself. This is suppost to be my last chance. Why can't I take this more seriously? I got my first fill three weeks ago (2ccs in a 10 cc band) Tomorrow I go back for another fill and hope to God that he gives me another 2 or 3 ccs. I need some restriction. I need to be reminded that I have this thing. Cuz right now, I have no reminders. On a positive note, I have an appointment on Thursday with a personal trainer. I will work out with him twice a week with the intention of doing cardio on my own two or three other days a week. I'm really agitated with myself. This was the most extreame measure I have ever taken to loose weight and I'm not even trying! Can someone give me some words of wisdom on how to deal with this? Please.:notagree

Please suggest

I'm at 5'1" and 175 down from 246. You can see that on my ticker though. I have been stalled out for month or more. I have begun to seriously hike (I mean climbing peaks and being on the trail for hours). I too am very happy and can do the things I love again, but it is frustrating after loosing so quickly in the first few months. I'm thinking of stepping back and maybe going on Protein shakes for a couple weeks -- or maybe just eating nothing but protein and getting back to the basics. Yes, I know I'm building muscle and retaining Water while they heal, but it really sucks. I don't want to go back to 110 pounds. I looked mal-nourished back then - even with my small frame.

Hang in there! My husband made burgers and fries for dinner for the kids and I thought I would loose it. Just keep thinking big picture:)

You look incredible! A true inspiration! Thanks for the tip on lifting, although I think being 22 helps with your skin bouncing back a little, too You were beautiful then, and even more so now

It's definitely not easy. I follow diets to the T, in fear of hurting myself. But my problem is with hunger. I think they forgot to remove that part lol. I'm now on full liquids but always hungry. The smell of real food and makes me even hungrier. I can tolerate 6 ozs of anything but I've noticed if I eat 6 ozs every meal I stall. So my number to keep loosing is 4 ozs or less per meal every 2 hours. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

Several years ago I had my first stroke, it had left me completely numb on my right side. After months of PT my body began to respond. Unfortunately, the meds and lack of movement had caused me pack on the pounds. I am a little short, so even 5 pounds made me look like one the umpa (on the movie Charlies's Choc. factory)... I was given a lot of steroids and could not stop eating. My family was very kind, never wanted to upset me, so I would comfort myself with food. A food did I eat..I remember sitting here in my living watching the movie "intimation of life" and stuffing heated grazed donuts one after another, ( I think I had downed 6 or more), at the same time crying watching the movie. Prior to my sleeve, I had gotten close to 275lbs, felt awful. I have three grand children and didn't have the energy to play with them. I really took a good look in the mirror and started crying my heart out, literally caused myself to have a panic attack. Self pity is dangerous. I started to stay in bed, no interest in anything..I was simply just here, non-existing. On the morning of Sept. 9, 2014 I called my doctor and told her I needed help. I was having thoughts that was not ones of getting better, but ones of despair and fear of dying. At first we tried the main stream diet plans, to no avail. Next, she sent me to a therapist to try talk therapy, it worked for a while until she wanted to continue to dig deeper; so we ended that. I had another mini stroke in Jan 2015, not as disabling as the first but enough damage to have to start all over again. But, it was a blessing. I had come to terms that the eating habits and my weight were my worse enemies So, at 279 pounds I went back to my doctor and told her, we have to do something..She agreed and I had my first visit with my surgeon.. I was told for the next couple of months I would have to do the diet to stink my liver and heed the strict diet plan he had given me. I knew was going to hard, but the life I had been living was not LIFE. I had been having problems with my knees for awhile and one day, I had just fell, crushing my knee caps..so, the doctor decide to do surgery. A total knee replacement. I had the left knee replaced three years ago..IT is not a easy recovery. My surgery went well. I had to go back to theory again. Back on steroids, developed the pumpkin face and water retention. I was ready to throw in the towel..But, out the mouth of babes..my youngest grand babies, age 3 crawled on my lap and said, while rubbing my tummy says "meme, the you get the bad bumps on your tummy and legs you can get on the floor and play cars with me and we won't have to sit on the bed to play anymore..well, my goodness, it was all i could do to not cry..I made a promise to him and myself..I will become a better fit meme. On Aug. 21, 2015 I had my sleeve done. To date (Nov. 29) I started at 252lbs, now at 218 (which I did gain two pounds, hoping water gain). I am going to only shakes today and tomorrow in hope that I loose those two pounds and more. I appreciate all the support I have been receiving..I will keep anyone in prayer for success and will post as I go through the next stage of living...,

My band was great until I got pregnant. My pregnancy was a complete surprise as I suffered through infertility for years. I was only 11 months out from surgery and down 80 pounds. I let Fluid out for nausea issues. A few months after having my son I started refilling and long story short it was too tight then too loose over and over and it took it's toll from February to when it had to come out in December. It slipped which means the stomach comes up over the band. I also developed a hiatal hernia so reflux was unbearable. Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

When I experienced my slip, I had reflux and coughed all night long. I couldn't eat anything after 5 pm, or I was up all night long. I had to have a complete unfill for 1 month and now have 2.5 cc in my band, and can eat but am loosing again, and no REFLUX!! Good luck, you sound okay. Karen

Can anyone tell me how long it takes for the swelling to go down after you get a fill? I had a fill yesterday, came home ate refried beans was good, by dinner couldn't eat a thing. Same thing today only I cannot drink hardly any liquids, whatever I try to eat I have to vomit it up! This happened last fill I had and went and had some taken out, then nothing I was normal could eat normal and did not loose any weight. I just want to know how long is it going to take before I can eat something?:wink2:

I was excited to find out how my one week apt, would go. Best case scenario lost 20lbs worst case scenario gained 5 - 10lbs. Well the envelope says .............. Down 18.7lbs in one week. OMG who is excited????? BUT to all you newbies this is not the norm. And I know this will not last loosing this much in one week but I had to share! Yes get my oatmeal that I have been wanting the last few days.

So let me get this straight, even though your loosing "Pounds" your actually looking thinner because your loosing "Inches" as well which doesn't reflect on the scare....did I get that right?

I took 6 days off, worked from home for the next 2 days, and I'm back in the office today. Feeling a bit tired, but it's Friday and I only have a few more hours to go. It would have been harder to return to the office today if it was a Monday and I had to do this for 5 days in a row. I'll be ready for that next week (2 weeks post-op), but not today. I've had a pretty easy recovery and I've really tried to take care of myself - have been diligent about getting in fluids, walking a reasonable amount, and getting rest. I went to bed early last night and packed up my lunch last night as well. I made sure to give myself extra time to get ready this morning and I'm wearing a pair of pants that are a little loose around my belly (actually, it's a pair of jeans that fit perfectly 2 weeks ago, but are now loose!) I think this is such an individual thing, though, and it depends so much on your recovery. A week ago, I could have NEVER imagined that I'd be back in the office. Was still very sore, was taking pain meds every 4 hours, and wasn't driving. Fortunately, I have truly felt markedly better each day so I was ready to go today. I'll be in bed by 9:00 tonight, though! Aren't I just a fun Friday night date?!

Hmmm... but I heard it's good to not lose too fast, less loose skin no? I want to try to lose 20-40 lbs the first mo.. that would put me at my avg weight for most of my adult life. I was in the 180s till I had more babies.

I was a total sausage! I am in smaller pants now, but the jeans I'm wearing today fit when I was 20 lbs heavier and are just feeling loose now. I figure my hubbie will say something about it next weekend. These are my favorite boyfriend jeans by Tommy Holfiger. Go figure they don't make this cut anymore. Next....

I need help I was 257 lbs before I had my gastric sleeve surgery on August 29,2017 and I lost 20 pounds before surgery with the shake the doctor gave me and now after surgery I only lost 37 pounds am 200 lbs exact now for the past 4 weeks I dont know whats going on but am loosing weight too slow I take all my vitamins and I deink lemonade every day but am not able to drink too much water or exercise because of working long hours what am I doing wrong I take all my vitamins

I also posted this in my bio... I just needed to vent and blog a bit. Here's my not quite elevator speech. I've always been the big guy. Chris Farley like, but not as funny. Fat and kinda slapstick, and willing to use my body to get a joke. I make the fat jokes on me before others can. That being said, I always said I was "fat and happy". There was a time when I wasn't fat and happy. I was fat. And I didn't like it, But I didn't do anything about it either because I was lazy. Eventually I just accepted myself, and that was good on paper at least. The lab results over years though were telling a different story. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. Borderline pre-diabetic. I probably have sleep apnea. Winded while walking any minority substantial distance. Running, not on your life. I also suffer from ostrich syndrome: If you don't admit that it is there, it's not there. Just stick your head back in the sand. Oh did I mention smoking? Quitting is easy, but not starting again is a b***h. For 20 years off and on. Poorly hiding it at times, too. Some how I was able to meet a great wife. Seriously the bee's knees. We have 4 boys together. I love them all dearly; they really are my life. I'm starting to see signs in a couple of them of developing bad habits. Eating way too much. Sitting around not doing much activity. It's scary. My wife is a bigger gal, too. And short. I never saw her as fat, though. However, I know she did. When she was in her late teens she struggled with anorexia. She worked through it. After our last child was born she couldn't loose the weight. She would work out, she would diet. She'd lose 60 lbs. Yay! My passive "fat and happy" ass would just be that passive and not support her like I should. Something about late night Taco Bell runs that would destroy that ****. She started exploring Bariatric Surgery last summer. I was pretty passive about it. I thought she's talk her self out of it. She didn't. She plowed ahead full steam. I went to her surgery consult, and it actually made me feel better. She'd go to her education classes. Mention things out of the little handbook they give you. I'd smile and nod. I wasn't listening. Then her surgery was approved. She asked me to go to her pre-op surgery class. She got in early so I could go, and I totally missed her asking if I would go with her. I knew it was happening, and she wanted to do it while I was in town (I travel for work). Missed the whole YOU NEED TO BE THERE thing. So she asks the night before if I'm going, and I was like WTF, yeah sure what ever. Turns out this class is the one, single most important class of this process.. The one they review all that **** you've been learning over the months (or years) on your journey. I go in to this class with the very minimal information. Like its happening and I know where but that's it. This class scared the everlasting f**k out of me. But I watched. I listened. And man... I was scared. You know how I said I didn't read much. The stuff I did read was about the sky high divorce rate of couples who involve Bariatric Surgery. I read one place as high as 85% after 3 years. My parents? Yeah, they divorced about 18 months post-op. Why would my wife who I love want to risk our marriage with those odds? The next two weeks I spent trying to convince my wife she didn't need the surgery. I took her to a fancy dinner. Promised to go on a regular diet and start exercising with her. She stood her ground. So then I told her I didn't want it to happen point blank. We screamed at each other. She stood her ground. Hours, minutes, I don't know what exactly... It was in the heat of battle, but she said she would't have the surgery and just blame me for her unhappiness for the rest of her life. OUCH. I almost said good and fine. But I couldn't do that. It was obvious this was important to her. She wanted my support and blessing. Not my ridicule or being told she can't do something. Did I mention this was happening on the one anniversary of her dad passing? God I'm an ass. She's my world... I can't have her unhappy. I left that match ugly crying. I was convinced my marriage just ended right then and there. 15 years. Good run, but nothing lasts forever. Who's side would people be on? Hers. I'm kinda a prick... Hell, even my step mom I bet would choose her. I was sitting in a parking lot smoking and thinking. The tears had stopped. Why was I against it? What was my problem? Self reflection can be painful. I realized I wasn't as fat and happy as I thought I was. I had an epiphany. I needed to change, too. So I scheduled a consult. Quit smoking as of 1/20. I did have one cheater on 1/21. As of 1/20 I weigh 327 lbs. I have a BMI of 44.5. I need to loose about 100 lbs. They fit me in an unorthodox manner to get me going sooner on the program because of my wife. I'm trying a sympathy diet as she's full liquid pre op at the moment. I'm still eating regular food, but for the most part not around her. It f**king sucks for me, and I can't imagine what it is for her. I was averaging about 3500 calories a day before I started this sympathy diet. Most the week I've been below 2000. I have 24 weeks to go before I will likely look at getting me approved. for a similar procedure.. She'll be at regular foods again by then (there is this whole diet progression thing). When I anticipated doing this I was thinking I could delay her so our timing was more together. Like some sort of fucked up couples massage. It didn't work out that way. She's going forward on Tuesday. I don't know if I can do this. The anxiety is suffocating. On top of all of this work has been bad. It's been kinda slow. They have me learning something new and I'm too distracted with this going on to give it the attention it deserves. People are noticing my heads not in the game. I cleaned out my desk yesterday because I thought I was going to get fired. I didn't. So now it just looks like I'm quitting because I don't have **** there. Well f**k.

You made some interesting points... ...I think self-love, self-acceptance, and self-esteem are critical when attracting a quality man or woman...or just simply being comfortable with who you are in your own skin, regardless of what Mr. scale says or a clothing tag. No, offense, fellas...but I think men are much more judgmental on appearance than women are...at least from where I am from... I agree self-confidence is very important.

well it does get better,but i can snack on lots of different things and stuff i shouldn't be eating at all. i am also for right now losing weight. i am sure it is because of the little amount of food i can eat. i also drink about 64-70 oz of fluids a day. most days i only drink a protein shake or an atkins protein bar for breakfast. a lite lunch and then for dinner a nice size piece of meat with at least 2 veggies on the side. don't know if i am doing all of the right stuff but we will see. i also take some king of prilosec every day for the acid and hunger pains that i was feeling. i managed to loose 2 more pounds from yesterday to today. go figure. good luck girl and keep trying. it does get better..

Hello, Has anybody had gastric band when at 35 BMI and had good results? I would be very interested to hear your experience as I have my booked for sept and still not sure of it being the right procedure for a secured weight loss. I am not convinced I will not loose what I need and/or on the time I would like to. CrisBela

No need to use dial antibiotic soap, either unless you have it and always use it. Current research says that it may be best to limit your use of antibacterial soaps unless your doc specifies it (like in Nanook's case)....often bacterial removal is incomplete and it just helps develop super bacteria! So just use your regular soap and routine, avoiding scrubbing or vigorously rubbing your surgical sites. The steri strips will stay on just fine and will eventually fall off on their own (or be so loose you can pull them off easily!) in 7-10 days post op.

I am having similar problems, on somedays I cant even get liquid down! thinking about calling but I don't want to get loosened, i've been down that crazy road and I don't like where it leads. I am loosing now again but I also know that I am not getting in the Protein I need! sometimes it is a vicious circle! I have my own thoughts, I feel as my body digests at an extremely slow pace and I stay full for a very long time. So when I try to eat my next meal which is sometimes a day later there is no room, also I throw up alot and I think that causes some swelling. Good luck... take it slow

Wow, I seems that ur going through a whole lot of different issues and drinking is ur escape , ur not alone lots of people are also go through the same thing they just don’t have enough courage to say it or write it out loud just as u have ! My husband is also shy and he drinks because he also feels he helps to loosen him up, however I try to tell him that I enjoy that person that he is and that he must learn to feel confident in his own skin and who he is without anything altering his personality, I would say the same for you!!! You need to get to know u and who u r without food or alcohol and learn to embrace that!! I am sure Ur a great person also surround Ur self with positive people and positive things!!!! Take care and I hope these words help!!! awill

I dont know why after the transition from liquids to soft or mooshie food i only lost 3 pounds its being 3 weeks and im stuck. I dont know if i should go back to liquids to loose more weight or this is normal. The difference now is that I eat fish, ground beef, chiken, refried Beans, cheese, and before was only broth and liquids. I dont know if i should keep eating broth again, instead of beans Soup and panera bread Soups. Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App