Here are my 8 month post-op pics, along with a new pre-op picture of me I discovered tonight. I have to say that I feel like a whole new person... and, just for reference, I've probably lost almost as much as the bride in the picture weighs!!

Well done lissa. Its always a pleasure reading your posts you send out lots of positive vibes and you look fantastic.

Thanks, Nixi! I try to stay positive. Maybe it helps my karma somewhat? LOL

Holy cow batman...you look marvelous!!! Whoo hoo!! You keep rockin your sleeve Lissa, and thanks for all your insight, advice, words of wisdom and shoulders for all of us whom you have helped.

You have so much to be proud of bravo,

Sandy

*EXCUSE MY DIRECT AND BLUNT LANGUAGE* Damn lady, you look fierce!!!!! You have that "sexy and I know it" pose in your post-op pic and you are. Keep up the good work and keep taking more pictures. Not only will you encourage those of that are newly sleeved but I am sure these compliments all help a bit. You look fabulous!

Lissa, you look great!! Inspiring to us newbies.

you are always my inspiration! You look mahhhhhvalous!

Hey Lissa, you look great, what advice would you give someone who starting like myself. I was sleeved on Tuesday, and I'm feeling like ****, barely have ate anything, and horrible pain in my stomach, shoulders and back

You look great such an inspiration

Sexy Lady, I'm not sure what kind of advice you're looking for? Do you need help figuring out what/how to eat, drink or where to start with exercise?

Sexy Lady' date=' I'm not sure what kind of advice you're looking for? Do you need help figuring out what/how to eat, drink or where to start with exercise?[/quote']

All of the above lol! All I kno is that I'm on Clear liquids for two weeks

Okay, here's what I'd advise to anyone just starting this journey:

1. Take your measurements pre-op. Keep track of them as you lose weight. When you stall/plateau, and we all do it, take your measurements again. Stalls are when I seem to lose sizes and notice the inches going away.

2. Stick to your post-op diet religiously. Your doctor has prescribed this diet because s/he feels that it's the safest diet to avoid complications with your new sleeve.

3. Start walking as soon as possible after surgery. Always try to do a little more than you did yesterday.

4. The minute you're released to lift weights, start lifting weights. I do a lot of low weight, high repetition work and I started out doing 10 reps of the simplest arm exercises I could find. Biceps curls, triceps extensions, skull crusher.

5. Be patient. You didn't gain all this weight in a hurry, so you won't lose it in a hurry. It will still seem incredibly fast when you get to goal.

6. Visit a therapist to help you learn how to deal with the life changes from VSG. We wouldn't be here if we didn't have food issues.

7. Drink your 64 oz of Water daily. Get in your Protein daily. Repeat and repeat.

8. Join My Fitness Pal or one of the other food logger sites. It's tremendously motivating.

9. Look for the Non scale Victories (NSV) every single day. It will help you stay positive about your journey and will give you motivation when yours is flagging.

10. Stolen straight from FavoredOne... ENJOY THE JOURNEY. This isn't a race. You don't get extra points for not eating properly or for being the fastest/slowest/most average loser.

Does that help any?

Okay' date=' here's what I'd advise to anyone just starting this journey:

1. Take your measurements pre-op. Keep track of them as you lose weight. When you stall/plateau, and we all do it, take your measurements again. Stalls are when I seem to lose sizes and notice the inches going away.

2. Stick to your post-op diet religiously. Your doctor has prescribed this diet because s/he feels that it's the safest diet to avoid complications with your new sleeve.

3. Start walking as soon as possible after surgery. Always try to do a little more than you did yesterday.

4. The minute you're released to lift weights, start lifting weights. I do a lot of low weight, high repetition work and I started out doing 10 reps of the simplest arm exercises I could find. Biceps curls, triceps extensions, skull crusher.

5. Be patient. You didn't gain all this weight in a hurry, so you won't lose it in a hurry. It will still seem incredibly fast when you get to goal.

6. Visit a therapist to help you learn how to deal with the life changes from VSG. We wouldn't be here if we didn't have food issues.

7. Drink your 64 oz of Water daily. Get in your Protein daily. Repeat and repeat.

8. Join My Fitness Pal or one of the other food logger sites. It's tremendously motivating.

9. Look for the Non scale Victories (NSV) every single day. It will help you stay positive about your journey and will give you motivation when yours is flagging.

10. Stolen straight from FavoredOne... ENJOY THE JOURNEY. This isn't a race. You don't get extra points for not eating properly or for being the fastest/slowest/most average loser.

Does that help any? [/quote']

Yes it does, I just need some reassurance that this pain will get better

Aww, Sexy Lady. I didn't even address that; I'm sorry. Yes, the pain will get better! It's tough to do, but the best cure for that is to get up and move as much as you can. Walking really helped me work past the pain I had, not to mention it started the toning process. Everyone experiences pain differently, so yours may feel worse than others right now. Do you have pain meds? If so, use them if needed. There are no awards for not using the pain meds. If you need them, USE them.

In a couple of weeks you'll be feeling much better. In a couple of months, you'll be down 30 pounds and the joy of that will make this pain seem like nothing compared to the joy you're feeling. Good Luck!! :0

You look wonderful - congrats!

You look fabulous - what a difference - it is amazing how we all have changed but sitll come here to this site to share.

I am a justice of the peace and often cringed at my photos which I knew would be in everyone's albums or mantels for years. I performed a wedding last Friday night and stood up there with a new feeling (54lbs lighter after 3.5 months).

Thanks for always being so positive - the sleeve is a great tool which has brough to many of us a new sense of being