As I look on the board, I find that I have a lot more weight to lose than most people. I have 250 lbs to lose. I am 440lbs and have a BMI of 69. That's a lot on my 5'7" frame. I am just curious if anyone else out there, especially post op VSGers have a lot to lose like me.

Hi there! I'm pre op and I was exactly 400lbs when I decided to do this. My surgeon wanted me to try to lose 40lbs (or 10%) of my weight before the surgery. That was August 18,2011. To date I've lost 50lbs on my own. God it was hard. But I did it. You're doc will probably ask the same for you. The sleeve is a good choice for "us" . I don't have my date yet, had a little hiccup along the way. But all is good now and I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT DONE! Good luck to you!????

I have the exact same stats as you. 5'7" and 440 lbs. I want to get to 160 but will be happy with anything. I'm on the preop right now and have lost almost 10 lbs. My surgery is scheduled for 3/1. I'm nervous but so looking forward to it.

Thanks for the replies. My doctor hasn't required me to lose any additional weight. I thought he might so I was holding out on having surgery until April. When I met with him on 1/26, he just did the consult, I had NUT consult and I was on my way. I then received a call 2 weeks later asking me to pick a surgery date. I picked 3/21! I have to do a pre- op diet so I will probably shed some pounds then. I also have to get an IVC filter a week & a half before surgery. I'm nervous and excited.

I have the exact same stats as you. 5'7" and 440 lbs. I want to get to 160 but will be happy with anything. I'm on the preop right now and have lost almost 10 lbs. My surgery is scheduled for 3/1. I'm nervous but so looking forward to it.

My surgeon gave me a goal weight of 190. I was aiming for 200 so he and I were in the same range which made the consultation a lot easier.

I have 200 to lose. I've lost over 40 lbs since my surgery on Jan 10. Check out the 200 + to lose forum. Several of us have posted there recently.

My starting BMI was 63. Now it's 56. Best wishes on your surgery! It'll be here before you know it!

I had 280 pounds to loose. I started out at 460 and have lost 5 pounds before sugery and was 410 on april 7, 2011. Today almost 11 months out I weigh 238. 58 more pounds to go. You can do it

I had 280 pounds to loose. I started out at 460 and have lost 5 pounds before sugery and was 410 on april 7, 2011. Today almost 11 months out I weigh 238. 58 more pounds to go. You can do it

How much did you weigh day of surgery and when was your surgery?

opps i meant 50 pounds

I lost 50 pounds beore surgery

Surgery was April 7th 2011 almost 11 months ago and I weighed 410 the day of surgery I see your having sugery on Thursday- it will be great - you will be in my prayers- You will love your sleeve

opps i meant 50 pounds

I lost 50 pounds beore surgery

Surgery was April 7th 2011 almost 11 months ago and I weighed 410 the day of surgery I see your having sugery on Thursday- it will be great - you will be in my prayers- You will love your sleeve

I'm so looking forward to it...I am kinda scared though.

It is very normal to be scared. We all were. But just relax and know that you are doing the best thing for your life. Let me know when you come home.

Glad to see this thread. I was just getting ready to check out the 200+ forum. Most of my time here so far has been spent in the band revision area.

I weighed about 385 when I got my band. Dropped to about 220. Back up to 275 during a pregnancy. Band removed September 2011. At my post-op for the removal I weighed about 310. I haven't weighed since then but I'm probably in the neighborhood of 330 now. Scheduled for sleeve surgery late March. Hopefully I won't gain ALL my weight before then, and will probably be looking to lose around 175 lbs (again) with the sleeve.

I see it, along with the lapband, most often used by people with "only" about 100 lbs to lose. And yes, 100 lbs to lose is significant, but it's not 200 or 300 and it is a much different "journey" with different circumstances. But I really really don't want RNY.

I also have to get an IVC filter a week & a half before surgery. I'm nervous and excited.

I also had an IVC filter placed. Let me know if I can anwer any questions for you.

my highest wieght was 540. my operation day wieght was 490 and now im sitting at 398. i had surgery on 11-8-11. i am 6 foot 4 . goal weight is 300 pounds.

On the AGB counterpart to this board, I was once asked why "super sized" members felt they needed a separate area than "regular" members, because aren't we all after the same goal?

My response was something to the effect of, "When my GOAL weight is your STARTING weight, no, we aren't after the same goal."

Today is my 10 month surgiversary. Ten months ago, I was in your shoes, nervous, not sure if I was making the right decision. I remember agonizing over the message boards trying to discern fact from fiction. I must have called my coordinator Louise Johnson like 20 times literally; and she picked up every time and kept me in a zen mindset.This is my experience...and I'll let my pics and videos speak for themselves.If you have made a decision to move forward with surgery; Dr Almanza saved my life, I'm forever grateful.

So the big day arrived and I found myself at the San Diego Airport waiting to get picked up by the shuttle to take us to TJ.It was me and several Canadians. Everyone was anxious. One couple seemed to be especially charming and I become fond of them immediately, On the ride to Jerusalem Hospital we bonded over our hopes and dreams and goals post surgery. Before we knew it we were pulling into the strip mall where Jerusalem Hospital is located. I had mentally prepared myself having researched the message boards. There was security outside, and when we walked through the door, smiles and welcomes and registration. We were led upstairs and the waiting game began.

I was the last to go in, being that I was the largest. It was awesome because I actually got to spend the day and well into the night getting to know Andres and Juan Betancourt. They were so amazing and real and down to earth. They answered all my questions and put me at complete ease. They made me feel at home immediately.I am so glad that I listened to my gut and followed through. They weighed me in at 381; I had lost 85 pounds since February on my clear liquid diet. (I can't stress enough how important it is to your recovery time that you follow through and do the preop diet. It makes the operation so much smoother for Dr Almanza.) If you follow the instructions pre surgery, you will be well prepared and the surgery will go like clockwork.

When I woke from surgery I was in extreme stomach pain-I have a low pain tolerance threshold as it is. Just giving you the facts...straight talk...there is going to be some cramping. We were all up all night walking the halls...noone was feeling chatty, more catty than chatty if anything. The couple I'd met, mentioned they would be staying at the Hotel Tiquan in place of using the recovery house. A five star hotel for a night or sharing a small house with a bunch of cranks post surgery patients...yea...was not trying to be around anyone. I choose to go to the Tiquan:WHICH WAS AMAZING AND SWANK AND I WILL BE RETURNING FOR MY TUCK SOMETIME SOON!!!

I would love to answer any questions that you or anyone else has. Please follow my links, check out my videos, contact me!! I know where your head is right now. You are taking back your life and making that first step on your journey to a new you. I cannot wait to see my family at the Jerusalem Hospital. My experience was amazing, and life changing. You will not be disappointed. To see my transformation video follow my link. I am also on facebook: www.facebook.com/J.starcatcher.F

Here is the link to my transformation videos: