Surely you are someone outside of your surgery and struggles with our weight. You have interests and dislikes and families- jobs and hobbies. And honestly- yes it is exciting to have this stool and to be on the journey- but hasn't there been enough focus all our lives on just our weight?

I know VST is dedicated to our VSG stories, but I sort of think that who we are makes our VSG surgeries that much more meaningful.

So I'll go first...

I'm Danielle. I'm 27 and I have three sisters and one nephew. I am unmarried and have no children. I work full time running the office for a respiratory company. This semester I am also attending college full time via online classes. I'm now also trying to squeeze in going to the gym three times a week.

I suffer from PCOS and had this surgery to help increase my chances of having a family of my own one day.

I am a TOTAL girly girl! I love the color pink, I like Hello Kitty the way others like Betty Boop or Tinkerbell, and I HATE HATE HATE spiders! I'm not much of an outdoorsie person- my idea of roughing it is five girls and one bathroom. That being said I do love to garden and can't wait for spring.

I love anything to do with 16th century european history and am a total fanatical nut when it comes to Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. My favorite movie and book of allllllllll time is Gone With the Wind. I love watching old movies with my mom- our favorites are Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, anything with Doris Day and the Tammy movies. We also make a point of watching A League of Their Own together whenever it is on tv. I'm close with my Dad but sometimes I feel like we don't have anything in common.

Prior to surgery I loved home cooked food! (Along with chinese and pizza hut haha) I still enjoy cooking for my family (One sister, my parents and I all live together for economic reasons) and resumed cooking them meals within a few days of coming home from the hospital. I have a dog, she is a chihuahua/yorkie mix. Her name is Gypsy and well... she is sort of a monster!! I <3 her tho!

Now it's your turn!! Tell us who you are!

I am more than just a surgery and weight loss. I am a mother of 2 beautiful girls whom I want to set a good example for as they grow into 2 beautiful women. I am a wife to a husband that depends on me during his own struggles with PTSD, TBI, and physical ailments from being in the Army (Infantry). I am an Equestrian and look forward to getting back on a horse in the next 2 to 5 years and training to do endurance riding and maybe even attempting Tevis (ride 100 miles in 24 hours) in 10 years. I am a Veterinary Technician who sacrifices my home life to work 10 hours a day to care for other people's pets. I have been heavy for as long as I can remember. My heaviest being right after giving birth to my oldest at 254 pounds. I have been active all through my child hood and into my early 20's but was never thin. My oldest wants to get into soccer and running while my youngest wants to get into volleyball. I don't want to just sit on the sidelines and cheer them on. I want to help them practice, teach them, and maybe even coach them. I want to run next to them in marathons. I want to ride horses with them and teach them everything I know. I want to be there when they have children of their own. I can and I will change my life. I go for my first appointment on July 25th. Fingers crossed that everything goes well for this opportunity because my body high-jacked the last attempt with esophageal issues.

Hi my name is Sylvia. I'm 41 mother of 2. My son is 15 and my daughter is 21. My daughter got my best years before I let my weight get me down. We were always going camping, boating, swimming, amusement parks. But 10 years ago I hurt my back and haven't been active since. I remember about 6 years ago taking my son to an amusement park waiting in line for an hour to ride a roller-coaster only to not fit in the seat. Thank goodness I had a friend with me and my son got to ride. I was humiliated. Haven't been back. I feel I've robbed him of a lot of experiences because I physically couldn't do it. Now he is starting to get big himself. When I hit the 300 mark back last August I new it was time to make some changes. I wanna be a better mother, wife, and reclaim my life. I was sleeved 6/22/17 and don't regret it one bit. I'm already down 34 lbs my feet and legs are no longer swollen and painful. My energy is up and my spirit has been lifted. I look forward to the future. It's about time I've done something for my self as well. I want to be active and have fun with my son before he grows up on me. My daughter is getting married in October and I'm excited and not dreading people seeing me feeling self-conscious. Also my husband of 22 years deserves to have his wife back. Really looking forward to our time. Ready to travel and just enjoy life. I'm so excited everytime I look in the mirror now. Can't wait to see how I will change in the months to come.

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Hi my name is Sylvia. I'm 41 mother of 2. My son is 15 and my daughter is 21. My daughter got my best years before I let my weight get me down. We were always going camping, boating, swimming, amusement parks. But 10 years ago I hurt my back and haven't been active since. I remember about 6 years ago taking my son to an amusement park waiting in line for an hour to ride a roller-coaster only to not fit in the seat. Thank goodness I had a friend with me and my son got to ride. I was humiliated. Haven't been back. I feel I've robbed him of a lot of experiences because I physically couldn't do it. Now he is starting to get big himself. When I hit the 300 mark back last August I new it was time to make some changes. I wanna be a better mother, wife, and reclaim my life. I was sleeved 6/22/17 and don't regret it one bit. I'm already down 34 lbs my feet and legs are no longer swollen and painful. My energy is up and my spirit has been lifted. I look forward to the future. It's about time I've done something for my self as well. I want to be active and have fun with my son before he grows up on me. My daughter is getting married in October and I'm excited and not dreading people seeing me feeling self-conscious. Also my husband of 22 years deserves to have his wife back. Really looking forward to our time. Ready to travel and just enjoy life. I'm so excited everytime I look in the mirror now. Can't wait to see how I will change in the months to come.

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Wow! You are doing GREAT! I was sleeved on June 14, and I have only lost 15lbs. (13 more pre-op) how are you losing so quickly? What am I doing wrong?? Congrats and keep it up!!


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Typical day. I get up drink a protein shake with 30 grams protein. Usually takes me an hour. Wait 30 minutes then start drinking water till lunch. Wait 30 minutes them do about 1/3 cup oikos triple zero Greek yogurt. I like strawberry and the salted caramel. It has 15 grams protein. Wait 30 minutes. Start drinking water. Drink all day. Then for supper I'll either finish the yogurt or if I'm not nauseous I'll puree 1/2 can chicken rice soup the small can. I take my time and savor it. About 30 minutes. Wait 30 minutes then back on the water. I use apple juice to get my crushed pills and supplements down just enough for about 2 drinks. And if I get hungry late I'll have a sugar free popcicle. I'm probably not getting enough calories but I'm getting my water in. And if I do the soup and I'm hungry still later I'll finish the yogurt for the extra protein. I had a bad hunger day one day so I made a protein smoothie I put one scoop unflavored whey protein powder, 2 packets splenda, about 1/4 banana and 2 strawberries with a little crushed ice blended it. Then I just sipped on it to keep hunger down. Plus I'm walking 1 mile everyday. It may not be tge right way but it's working for me.

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Wow! You are doing GREAT! I was sleeved on June 14, and I have only lost 15lbs. (13 more pre-op) how are you losing so quickly? What am I doing wrong?? Congrats and keep it up!!


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Sorry new on her but I posted my eating schedule on the timeline. Hope it helps.

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November 28th 2016 was sleeved and have over 200 lbs..[emoji109]

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I'm Michelle. 55 year old mom of 4. Wife of my DH who had RNY 11 years ago - he has lost about 90 lbs and kept it off. I am of stocky French- Canadian descent & my dad was abusive. I can still feel the knot in my throat as he made dinner time a nightmare until we cleaned our plates. I've struggled with weight my whole life, but as I look back I wasn't that heavy until adulthood. I am a low ish bmi vsg patient. My top weight was 225. I went into surgery on June 22 at 217. I have lost 23 pounds since my first surgical consult- current weight 200.6.
I have only told a few people that I had this surgery. Only one of my kids knows and aside from my husband, no family members.
I am tired of being so young and my body feeling so old! I want to live the rest of my life in a body that I love.

Hi, I am Jen. I am like only a few seconds into this forum. So forgive this newbie as she learns to roll here. I am 51 years old. I saw the surgeon I am going to use yesterday for the first time. He only does the sleeve but I wanted the bypass because I am over 400 pounds that was two months ago. However, I have lost 16 pounds since then. I had to I was and still am suffocating. Two weeks ago I was hospitalized for heart problems and it hit me as I told the nurse that I was good to meet my maker that my family is NOT good with that. I have lovely grand children and kids and a hubby and extended family as well. No, I am not ready. I want to live. So my local surgeon will only do the sleeve. I am legally blind and I cannot drive and hubby has a medical condition that keeps him from driving so I have to have the surgery close to home as my extended family all work. I am concerned that I will not be able to lose enough weight with sleeve but it is what it is. I will be having the surgery in about six weeks and I am hoping you guys and tell me what all I will need before the surgery. I am nervous about being able to pay for all the products I need I am so poor right now. So any help you can give me on how to economize but still get all I need I will be grateful.

On 7/12/2017 at 8:55 AM, fatboy45 said:

November 28th 2016 was sleeved and have over 200 lbs..

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I also have over 200 pounds to lose. Are you confident you will do that with the sleeve. My surgeon says I can do it. I am just scared i guess.

I also have over 200 pounds to lose. Are you confident you will do that with the sleeve. My surgeon says I can do it. I am just scared i guess.

Hi purplebutterflyjen...I was scared at the beginning but since my surgery I've accomplished a lot.. I've lost a total of 181lbs so far...I believe u can do it too..keep the faith

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hi all just a quick hello as im new here, and dont have much time now to write my story as they suggested in welcome email, but i wanted to make my mark here i like this forum, read a few comments, supportive people and nice community, glad to be part of it now

2 corrections, i must have clicked accidentally on florida, but i live in illinois (edited the info in profile but not sure when it will be updated), and im not sure why they are showing my BMI at 48, i didint write it, and when i had my very first consultation (about 6 mo prior to surgery) the BMI i got was at 51.9, and my weight taken that day was also lower then at the time of start of my pre-surgical liquid diet. my son needs me now, i will try to find time later to write more

I have been married for 2 years together for 6. I have 3 children from 2 previous relationships. I began struggling with weight as a teen until I began to run track. Long story short, messy divorce so my mother stopped caring so I began to hang around with people that I thought cared. Started smoking cigarettes at 15. Around this time my mother kicked me out, homeless and in 10th grade, and still a straight A student. One night while I was crying at the local coffee shop, with change I had begged strangers for, a classmate offered me to stay with her. That was my first night doing drugs. My life changed, no more track, but was finally thin. However, there were days I starved because it was either pay rent or buy food, at 16. Fast forward, abused drugs and alcohol for almost 20 years. Then years later, in my early 30's I went to jail. My mother had embellished a story that I had stolen over $30,000 of property from her home. I did go to her home, but I did not steal that amount of property. She had my children and also refused to allow me to see them. Fast forward. 6 years later I am clean, almost done with my MBA and am CEO of a non profit that helps people get sober. Mother still refuses contact. I gained a lot of weight as a result of, mental health meds, ability to finally buy food, and having a car. Surgery was a viable option. Had been almost 300 pounds for 6 years. Developed diabetes and pcos.

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Well, here goes nothing...

My name is Jim. I am from central California and have three absolutely beautiful daughters from two different marriages. They are smart too, which leads me to wonder where the heck they got their brains, because their moms and I definitely got the short end on that deal. lol

I was born with severely deformed feet and legs. Spent my entire childhood in casts and braces. Surgeries were the norm to get me to where I could walk (almost) normally. I was also incredibly skinny and had a voracious appetite. The standing joke was that I stored all the food I ate within my casts. Because we were also quite poor and depended on assistance, my parents insisted that I clean my plate with each meal and nothing was allowed to be wasted. Pasta was plentiful because it was so cheap.

As I got older, my appetite never let up, but I still did not gain weight. I was active and my body seemed to eat those extra calories with ease. Then, I hit 21. For whatever reason, the weight poured on. I went from 140 pounds to 175 in a few months. Then to 200. I felt like I was on a runaway freight train. I noticed with the increased weight, my feet and legs began to hurt more. My activity levels started to decrease because of the pain. Then, with the failure of my first marriage and the trauma of the disgusting divorce process, depression set in. I isolated myself and began to eat to take the pain away. Before I knew it, I was 250 pounds and my feet and legs were worse than ever.

Over the years, I managed to diet, but fell into the 96 percentile and always gained the weight, plus extra, back. A few years ago, I suffered a work related injury to my left foot. I was told that, because of the deformities and the surgeries, that my work injury would never heal. Essentially, I re-sprain my foot every morning when I get out of bed. Although minor, it is painful ... daily. I also learned that I had limited mobility in my ankle and that the metatarsals were trying to pick up for the slack that my ankle was leaving. In short, I was told that I need to find a different career or I would not make it to retirement. The only solution for my problem will be to fuse all of the joints.

In April, I went in to see my doctor and weighed in at 299 pounds. I am 5' 11", so I know that for many this is not as significant, but my BMI was 42. With a historical trend of increasing weight, HPB, sleep apnea, and severe joint pain, he recommended I look into the Kaiser bariatric program. This is where my journey begins ....

• June 29: Attended first orientation class in Stockton (299.0 lbs)
• July 03: Had a huge mental set back when I took my daughters to a theme park and was called out of line to see if I fit in the "test" chair.
• July 07: Attended official orientation at Bariatric Center in South Sacramento (298.8 lbs)
• July 10: Officially gave up carbonated drinks, alcohol, and caffeine. Started using post-op food plan religiously.
• July 21: First visit with Dr. Yenemula. Was informed I had already made goal weight (283.1 lbs)
• July 24: Attended nutrition class and that evening attended support group meeting (282.4 lbs)
• Aug. 07: Stopped by for official weigh in (270.2 lb)
• Aug. 16: I have my psych visit

I have been very limiting on who I have included in my journey. My mom, significant other (SO), and kids know. I have also told my boss (a close friend), so he is aware of the time I may need coming up. Everyone has been extremely supportive, except that my SO is insistent that I do not get the surgery. She has never had weight issues and is a gym rat (talk about oil and water). She believes that all I need to do is continue with this diet that, as of now, has been extremely successful.

The problem is, she has not been with me to see 20 years of struggling. The emotional and physical pains associated with losing, then gaining back more. She has not seen me getting dinner for the family on the way home and ordering an extra meal, just so I can hurry up and eat it before I get home for dinner. And, after wolfing that meal down, feeling the extreme shame in doing so.

For me, this is a much-needed physical tool that will assist me in maintaining what I am doing right now. With this surgery, I will be lighter and able to return to exercising the way I used to. I see the possibility of retiring on my own terms…not a doctor’s.

I am so sorry for this lengthy intro. Just started typing and it flowed. If there is anyone in my neck of the woods that is willing to chat (Stockton, Sacramento), I would love to learn more about your journey and maybe mutual support. While I value the support groups and do intend on going, I am not as comfortable in that group type environment.

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading.