I'm open to help, assist, butt kick, pat you on the back... all that.

I absolutely believe in this tool with all my heart! It has done for me what I couldn't do for myself nor even the lap band was able to do for me either. It was the best find and I can't say enough how it's given me my life back!!!

I won't say I know everything, because I DON'T! But in my career I always say, if I don't know the answer - someone else does. I'd like to open the discussion for anyone who needs someone to listen or to answer those millions of questions that come with this life altering surgery.

Blessings to all!!! Your dreams are at your doorstep now with the VSG.

Hello. I have been sleeved for 4 months. I have lost 70lbs. and have lost 10 sizes(22 to a tight 12!). I need some motivation. I have not lost a lb. since Christmas. I have lost a size. I would just like to see that number on the scale go down. I have taken a good look at what I was eating, and adjusted (about 2 weeks ago) still no numbers lost. I just need to borrow someone else's positive energy right now, because I'm afraid that this is where my body wants to stay.

Hello. I have been sleeved for 4 months. I have lost 70lbs. and have lost 10 sizes(22 to a tight 12!). I need some motivation. I have not lost a lb. since Christmas. I have lost a size. I would just like to see that number on the scale go down. I have taken a good look at what I was eating, and adjusted (about 2 weeks ago) still no numbers lost. I just need to borrow someone else's positive energy right now, because I'm afraid that this is where my body wants to stay.

I believe with all my heart any sleever can continue to lose for as long as they want. You have to look inside though, and wish it true bad enough to keep going. I always get a little bluesy during the Winter. I LOVE being outside and walking amongst the warm sunshine. I'm a California girl 100% and this is bred in me!! Well in Winter I just hate going outside because it's so blasted cold!! (Boo!!) and rainy and gray... YUCK!! This always makes me less than excited and happy and guess what? My weight often stalls too. Well, let me rephrase that. This is the time of year where I would put on a lot of weight. Let me be real about that! However, I am beyond HAPPY because I didn't gain ANY weight this winter. Last winter I was losing, and this one I probably lost maybe 5 Lbs since November. Great!! I'll take it.

February I've decided I'm going to start seriously toning up and working on my belly area. I have no doubt in my mind that I won't achieve that. I've come too far now to think otherwise. This should be true for ANY OF US!! We have all come much too far to think "this is the end". NO way... this is just a fork in the road for you. Sometimes we need a little "shake up" to get things moving again.

Try this, it's already helped a lot of people here, and it's saved me from losing my brain when I would stall out: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/28139-the-basics-boot-camp/page__st__60

Good luck to you!!

*I* believe GOD would NEVER give me something more than I can handle. ANYTHING he puts on my plate, I see it as a meal to feast - not one to waste.

Did I ever think the sleeve might not work? Yes!! There were moments when I caught myself disbelieving. That said, I immediately told myself to stop!! It's all insanity and one thing I was never going to be was a self proclaimed failure. It's all internal, you are going to be what you make of yourself. Don't do that to yourself.

No one other than YOU has the power to call YOU a success and for YOU to really believe that. That is YOUR job.

Think outside the box, and always reserve the right to change your mind. It's YOUR life!! Live it to YOUR fullest extent, whatever that may be. YOU are beautiful, it doesn't matter who or what you are.

If you can't help lift someone UP, then don't spend your time bringing them DOWN. The RIGHT thing to do is just exit stage LEFT.

Don't waste your time worrying about how long it will take you to get to goal, when you have the rest of your life to get there. In my world, there is no end. This IS for life.

Can you eat anything you want now?

I can now yes. Pretty much nothing bothers my stomach anymore. I can eat a lot more too than first being sleeved, but it's still nothing compared to the general public so I feel confident along with my workouts I should be able to keep my weight off FOREVER!!! I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!

Excuses Excuses Excuses... Just take the bull by the horns and do what you set out to do. Become healthy, fit and fight for a better longer life!!!

Hey girl!!! Def sign me up,I love your whole mindset on things!!! I am 2 weeks and 5 days out and have lost 16 lbs since the sleeve. 30 lbs since the end of October!! =) It's too early for me to do exercises on my belly area but for future reference,what's your thing as far as trying to get rid of belly fat or flab. I know I will have the hardest time with loose skin on my belly as I have had 3 pregnancies,1 being a set of twins I carried to full term who were 7 lbs each! They did a number on my belly plus I'm fat lol so I am sooo scared for loose skin!

I'm having trouble eating. I just find that nothing really tastes good anymore so I'm basically living on Protein bars. I had surgery December 19th. I had gotten pretty bad before surgery about making meals for myself so this is somewhat of a continuation. I get hungry, but as I said - don't really have a taste for anything. (I can't believe I'm complaining about this!). I've moved from live to eat to eat to live, but I know I need more balance than just Protein Bars and Vitamins.

Any ideas of quick, simple meals that are balanced, healthy and tasty are welcome.

I'm having trouble eating. I just find that nothing really tastes good anymore so I'm basically living on Protein bars. I had surgery December 19th. I had gotten pretty bad before surgery about making meals for myself so this is somewhat of a continuation. I get hungry, but as I said - don't really have a taste for anything. (I can't believe I'm complaining about this!). I've moved from live to eat to eat to live, but I know I need more balance than just protein bars and Vitamins.

Any ideas of quick, simple meals that are balanced, healthy and tasty are welcome.

Hi there! It seems you are about 2 months out so you're likely able to eat almost anything. Probably not salads or steaks, but near anything.

I'll tell you what, I also didn't like to eat much then either. I had almost zero appetite and NOTHING was appealing to me. It was as if food was disgusting but I only consumed it because I had to, to survive.

I really really did enjoy a few things though. My favorites were cream of wheat, refried Beans with a touch of salsa, Wendy's Chili with some cheese added, I liked to puree some rotisserie chicken (it's actually really good) adding some mayo, eggs anything or egg drop Soup, or tuna and mayo. I was pretty limited on what I liked. I pretty much ate mostly chicken or tuna fish for my protein. I couldn't fit much in either.

I did supplement A LOT with Protein shakes because all I could get in were a few tablespoons of food at that time, and I didn't like to eat more than a few times per day. It wasn't even until about 4 months out that I started feeling semi-normal with my eating.

Take your time, it's no rush. Be kind and easy on yourself. Time will heal you and eventually you will be back to normal. Note too that this is the best time post op for weight loss, so take full advantage!! All the very best to you.

Hey girl!!! Def sign me up,I love your whole mindset on things!!! I am 2 weeks and 5 days out and have lost 16 lbs since the sleeve. 30 lbs since the end of October!! =) It's too early for me to do exercises on my belly area but for future reference,what's your thing as far as trying to get rid of belly fat or flab. I know I will have the hardest time with loose skin on my belly as I have had 3 pregnancies,1 being a set of twins I carried to full term who were 7 lbs each! They did a number on my belly plus I'm fat lol so I am sooo scared for loose skin!

Hi!! I almost missed this message! :blush2:

I never had babies, but I did carry around a lot of weight on my belly for a few decades so I suppose that's something... I can tell you this, semi-low carb eating is excellent for losing the belly fat. I did around 60g per day of complex carbohydrates during my weight loss phase. The only exercise I can truly say worked my abs too is running. It is the most excellent for overall body toning that I've seen. I'm picking it back up again and slowly but surely and getting my flat belly back.

Good luck!!!

Hi!! I almost missed this message! :blush2:

I never had babies, but I did carry around a lot of weight on my belly for a few decades so I suppose that's something... I can tell you this, semi-low carb eating is excellent for losing the belly fat. I did around 60g per day of complex carbohydrates during my weight loss phase. The only exercise I can truly say worked my abs too is running. It is the most excellent for overall body toning that I've seen. I'm picking it back up again and slowly but surely and getting my flat belly back. :smile1:

Good luck!!!

Yes!! That is awesome to hear!!! I would rather get new boobs then belly lol,and I don't want to do both so I am really trying to get the belly fit when I can. Thank you!!!