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I know what you mean about losing 100# and trying to imagine what that would be like. I am a LOT farther out than you considering my band time as well as my sleeve time and I've lost 132#. I never thought this day would come. During weight loss it is exciting each time the scale goes down, but after you get to goal and have time to think about it it's different. You sit back and think, "WOW! I lost a person!" Hind sight is the eye opener with WLS, that is when you figure out all the stuff you learned while you were losing it but didn't realize you knew it. If I knew then, what I know now... things would have been easier in some ways and harder in some ways. I have a box of Velveeta cheese in my cupboard. One day after I lost about 20# I was at the store and I realized... I've lost **10** of those! That's a lot of Velveeta cheese. Today when I need to get back on track I look at that old, nasty, expired, gross cheese and realize.... I have lost 66 of those. Melt that and glue it to your hips! That's a lotta lotta lotta cheese. That box is probably freeze dried by now but I do not care. I will never throw it away. That was what kept me realizing just how much I was losing and today it's my icon. ;o) In my wildest dreams I never thought I would reach a point where I had over 100# to lose. When I finally looked at myself and realized I was pretty darn fat and it was time to do something about it I just got depressed and ate more. Today I look back and I think it was all worth it. I wouldn't want to regain but I'm glad I have this journey. I have learned more about myself than I ever would otherwise. I have skills and knowledge that I wouldn't have if I hadn't have lost all that weight. I think there is something about being a 100# plus - person. Meaning, those of us who have over 100# to lose. It's just different, the mindset, what we learn, what we experience. Hard to explain but it's different emotionally and physically. I'm not saying it's better or worse, it's different. I'm glad I got fat because I wouldn't have had the journey. Someday I will be the wise old lady down the street and all the little children are going to want to come to my house and hear my stories. I already have a ton of them! But it's a journey like this that will create that little old lady I'll become someday. Lisa, I see you as being exactly the same. I think you will be the cool old lady down the street that kids will love.

Yes, I had a sleeve done in Mexico 10 weeks ago. I'm fortunate that I didn't have post op depression, but I have had post partum depression, and it sucks. I actually found a homeopathic remedy that helped with that. It is called Depressequel, though I'm not sure how easy it is to find anymore. It is nasty drops that you put under the tongue. You aren't alone in this, and things WILL get better. Get out a piece of paper and pencil, and write down all the happy things you have done in your past, and all your hopes and dreams for the future. Focus your mind on the positive.

I've lost over 30 inches from my chest, stomach, biceps, thighs and calfs. I'm down to 246 pounds for a total loss of 66 pounds. I went to Goodwill today and bought a 17.5 shirt, a XL sweater and a pair of 32x30 Wrangler slim fit jeans! I can clearly recall being in southern California and looking for 33 pants. I would have been 9 or just turned 10 as we moved to Oregon a month after I turned 10. Sad but true... This fat man can kiss my saggy ass !

I just had the surgery on Dec 23rd and it says not to lift over 10-15 lbs for the first 6 weeks on mine. My port is up on my shoulder and not close to my abdomen. I have had no problems and it was much easier than i thought it would be. I have had no solid food for almost 4 days now and have not been hungry at all, even during Christmas dinner at my sisters.

Mike, the two people I know asked me not to post their problems, so I deleted what I wrote in respect of their wishes. Having a LapBand is just as dangerous as any other surgery. Hundreds of things can go wrong, from problems with anesthesia and drugs to band erosions. I've asked why Inamed claims Dr. Lopez has the lowest level of complications. Why do we hear every Lopez problem but we don't hear about other surgeons' complications? If Lopez has the lowest, that means all other surgeons are having a fair share of problems. So far all I am is frustrated with the lack of honesty because I don't know who to trust. Trust in a surgeon is very important to me, and when surgeons aren't reporting complications to Inamed, which they are required to do regardless of how menial they believe the complication to be, that's a huge breach in trust that should make people think twice. Even if the surgeon does everything immaculately, things can and do go wrong. It's not a reflection on the surgeon but the nature of practicing medicine. I would rather have a surgeon tell me he's had 10 complications than a surgeon that claims he's had zero because there's no such number as zero when it comes to practicing medicine.

Bondgirl, wanna a job ....part time...I get free membership for working at the Y. I know the steel creek Y is hireing subs...but that would get you a charlotte membership. You could ask at your y if they are hireing. I get free day care while working and the new law (might be nc) says I can only work for 2.5 hours while my kids are in day care...so yah shorter shifts and still a free membership. Plus there is pathways. It's based not only on income but expenditures. I know my y is looking for more child care folks that can work like 10:30-1:00 shifts occassionally.

I think its great that you chose the sleeve. If i knew of the sleeve i would have done the same thing. I had the lap-band 10 months ago and very little weight loss (18lbs). I an having problems with the band not holding restriction for no more than a few days after a fill ( i have had 10 fills in 10 months) i have another appt. On aug5 to discuss the band. I wonder if insurance will cover the sleeve if i would need to have surgery again to replace the band???????

Here I can help you feel I bit better about your "slow" losses. I was sleeve 10/1 and down 44lbs.......you have lost at a really great speed. Don't be too down about it.

My surgery is scheduled March 1st but I will be there from Feb. 28 - March 10 because I am having some dental work done as well. So I will see you there! Do you know which hotel you are staying at? I will be at the Lucerna. Can't wait to meet you there! Tracy

I think anyone having extreme pain say 7-10 days post op your incisions shouldn't bother you that much, however if you get the leaking syndrome that could cause a lot of pain. Maybe just get checked out Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've noticed a lot of variance in what people have to do to get WLS. I've been in my program since September 2014, and my surgery is May 20. Some people have hardly any program time, and are scheduled for surgery in a couple months. I don't understand why it's so different. I wonder if there is any difference in end results. Or in ability to keep the weight off long term. I guess it made me a bit angry at first at how long I had to wait, and how much I had to do. But now I am grateful for the length of the program and process I have gone through. It gave me time to really consider what I was doing. But then again, my last dietary appointment my nutritionist told me she had a man in her office, a week after surgery, trying to eat shrimp. So maybe it makes no difference. I've had more time to really work on issues I have with food, with a therapist. (my own idea). It has also given me time to give up things I needed to, like smoking, caffeine, soda etc. It's been a long journey already, but I think it prepared me well. I have a 10 day liquid diet that I start on Monday. I believe that's going to help to ready me even more. The real reason for the long liquid diet is to shrink the liver, so the surgeon has more room to work. Perhaps not everyone needs that.

I was taking care of my two children the day after the surgery; well, to the extent that I took them to daycare that morning. Seems to me a 10-mo-old isn't that strenuous to care for, so unless the baby is already mobile and needs to be chased I'd say you'll be good to go the following day. Especially since there are two of you. Congratulations on your banding and good luck!!

I wouldn't. I had to do liquids the day before. I had my last meal before 10:00 am the day before.

Thank you. I appreciate it. I've been trying to consume a 10 calorie pack of Jello for two days. I think today I will be finished with it. Just an example of what it is like on day 2 post op. Water is going well. I think I will get in at least 60 oz. today. Meds are done for the day except another dose of Omeprazole. I also need to go by my local pharmacy so I can get help with the Lovenox shots. I bent the needle yesterday before use. FYI...don't take an Oxy and try to watch a video. Epic fail for me. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My husband and I were at a family function and someone took my photo without me knowing and they sent everyone copies of all the photos they took. This is an excellent reminder for me of where I am at in this early stage in my journey. The photo serves as a great motivator. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

I don't recognize the person in the pictures from 10 years ago. I am still surprised I was that big and really did not feel like I was. I am so thankful for Wls ... to just live life at a normal size. The world is easier to navigate in now. I will NOT go back! Keep going forward and know you have cyber friends here to help!! Best of luck!

I tried to be patient and not panic. Unfortunately I'm finding myself wallowing. I've lost a total of 5 lbs since my surgery which was 10/21. Even the people who refer to themselves as slow losers lost more than this. Im seeing my nut and surgeon in 4 days. Im following everything as prescribed by nut and surgeon. I'm logging my food. Cals are 700-900 per day. Protein at 65-80 gms daily. I'm exercising daily for 45-90 mins. Ive read other blogs online where RNY didn't work for people and they never really lost weight or it took them 2 years to lose 40 lbs when they needed to lose 120. Someone please share if they also started excruciatingly slow but then the weight loss ramped up later on. I need hope!! Panicked venting over. Thanks

Here's the article from Butter's signature - it's a great read. It's long, but really worth it. Stalls really stink...but, they will happen. I just struggled thru a 2 weeks stall myself. It wasn't easy and I was mad most of the time. I'm hoping it's over. Weight Loss Stall or PlateauA weight loss stall or plateau is an extended period of time during reducing efforts where is there is no weight loss according to the scale and no loss of inches according to the tape measure. This is why it is so important to take your body measurements before surgery, so you'll have a reference as your weight loss progresses post-op. We suggest you take measurements of your chest, waist and hip, neck, upper arm, thigh and calf. Be aware it is very common for your weight loss to "stall" shortly after surgery. Diana explains the reason for this below. The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days. What You Can Do About a Stall or Plateau If you are experiencing a post-op weight loss stall or plateau further out there are a few possible causes. First, check that are you really in a stall. If the scale has stopped moving you may be losing inches, so check your measurements. Too Many Carbs? Carbohydrates can start sneaking into your foods without you being aware of how quickly they are adding up. For more information on carbs, see our section onCarbohydrates. If you are struggling with your weight loss you may want to examine your daily carb count. You can try to keep your carbs under 50g a day and see if that makes a difference in your weight loss. Do not eat carbs before bedtime as it triggers insulin and initiates fat storage. There are some great web site resources you can use to keep track of what you are eating. Fit Day Spark People - If you join Spark People also join the DS group. The Daily Plate Calorie King For more tips on keeping a food journal see the Personal Nutrition Guide. Eating Enough? If you are under-eating or go more than 4-5 hours without eating, your body will shift into fasting mode, slow your metabolism and conserve your stored energy (fat). This can contribute to a weight loss stall or plateau. Make sure you are eating small meals or small Snacks throughout the day and also ensure you meet your daily Protein requirements. Try eating some protein with every meal or snack. For more information on protein requirements see our section on Protein. Drinking Enough? An adequate level of water in your body aids in the effective breakdown of fat. The daily minimum recommendation is 64 Fluid oz of water a day. If you are in ketosis you will need to drink even more water to ensure the ketones are flushed out of your system. You may also need more than the minimum amount of water if you are exercising or live in a warmer or dry environment. Exercising? Exercise can increase your metabolism and burn fat. Strength training will build muscles and will boost fat burning. In a stall you can try increasing your volume of exercise or changing up your routine to overcome a weight loss stall or plateau. If you have been doing mainly aerobic activity, try doing a bit of strength training, and if you have been doing mainly strength training, try an aerobic work-out. The High Fat - High Calorie Stall BusterMany DSers swear by the fat/calorie shock as an effective weight loss stall or plateau buster. Having a day of higher fat and calorie eating followed by a returning to consistent low carb eating can sometimes "shock" your body back into weight loss mode.

8 of 10 for me... hope I don't "run" into the 2...lol

hell, i got 2 of 10. I guess i better get me some mase.

I was told 30/30, but was battling hunger, so I experimented a bit and am doing 10/50 and the hunger issue is much better. I first tried 30/60, but also had the problem of not enough drinking time.

Congrats ladies! My date is official just got word that my insurance company approved me! 10/10@12:00

Im not gonna sleep either girl! Im with my mom right now..she is in a rehab facility. One of the reasons I am doing this is for her. With my back,knee issues i have i cant tend to her like i would like...she is my everything and being here with her comforts me... 10 hours for me! I have so much to do when i leave here...

I was and still am afraid of shopping- gone from 20-22 to a 10-12 and I want to cry every time I go in a store I am overwhelmed

So I was where you are now... I was sleeved on 10/6. I ditched all the Protein that everyone suggest prior to. I went and got the pre-made premiere shakes which were a lot more palatable and easier to get down. And one 11oz shake has 30g of protein! But you can now make low fat yogurt smoothies... you can do cream soups strained ... it's going to get better I promise. Cottage cheese... I swear I can say I was you. It will get better. Hang in there! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App