Let's get to know each other before our surgery...I'll go first.

My name is Amy (37 years old). I live in central FL with my husband and two kids, 3 yo DS and 4.5 yo DD. I work in IT doing technical writing and operational readiness. I love photography and have a small side business, and when I'm thinner, I really enjoy running and spinning.

I was banded in Nov 2009 at 374 lbs. From my banding until Dec 2011 (2 years), I lost 198 lbs. I was thrilled! Despite the occasional vomit and inability to eat certain foods, I was still 99.9% happy with my band. Right after Christmas this year, however, I got a terrible upper respiratory infection. I coughed and coughed and coughed. I coughed until I puked, which caused a slip.

I got a complete unfill in early January. Once the slip was fixed, I started getting fills. But then my band developed a leak and slipped once again. Since the surgeon I was seeing was less than helpful, I found a new surgeon, Dr. Domkowski, who finally treated me without acting like I was crazy, as my last surgeon did. Based on his recommendations and test results, we decided to do the removal and sleeve in two separate surgeries.

Dr. D removed my band on August 3, 2012. Because of the extent of damage done by the band, including scarring and pulling the fundus through the diaphragm, I am waiting around four months to be sleeved. I'd love to be banded on November 25, which would have been the three year anniversary of my band.

I've gained about 70 lbs since December. Sigh. The good news is my surgeon is not at all concerned about my weight gain. He is 100% convinced that I'll lose it all once I'm sleeved, since I was so successful with the band. I'm a bit of a goody two-shoes, and I followed the rules to a "T", and I intend to do the same with the sleeve.

I hope the next four months fly by!

Maybe everyone could write down3-5 things they eat? Other than yogurt and cottage cheese.

I'll start:

1. I eat, 2 oz. of lean hamburger sauteed with mushrooms or scrambled egg.

2. I make TJ's Morningstar Tomato and Basil Pizza buger. 120 cals 10 pro,6 fat, 7 carb

3. TJ's spinch and kale bites. Portion is 4, I can only eat 3, so 3 is 105 cal, 4.5 pro, 5.2 fat and 9 carb

4. TJ's Organic Butternut squash soup, 70 cals, 1 Pro, 0 fat, 17 carbs

5. Miso broth 10 cals, .5 pro, .2 fat, 1.5 carbs not nutricious but a good filler

6. TJ's frozen pizza with carmelized onion, ham and gruyere cheese, I eat 1/4 pie, 35 cals, 1.5 pro, 1.8 fat, 3.2 carbs

7. Whole Foods, chicken pot pie, I eat 1/4 pie, 80 cals, 1.5 pro, 4.8 fat, 8.5 carbs.

8. I recently discovered an expensive treat at Whole Foods called Raincoast Crisps, 6 peices is the portion, 130 cals,

4 pro, 3 fat, and 13 carbs.

So 4 through 8 are heavy on the carbs but believe it or not, near the end of my day, I am often short carbs and fats, and up to 60 on proteins so I need some of these to balance and also break up the monotany of eating.

I use my fitness pal to plan ahead and see what I need for the day. I never eat after Noon without checking first to see what I need, to achieve my goals. I am not perfect but I am trying very hard to be. Tomorrow, I have my support group and a nutritionist is going to speak. I will take notes and share later.

Looking forward to new ideas.

Ainslee

Hey guys,

1. Great Value Italian Style Meatballs in a crockpot with cream of mushroom soup. Six is a serving. I can only eat three.

2, Chicken thighs, no skin or bones in a crock pot with hot BBQ sauce & cranberry sauce.

3. Chicken taco soup. The recipe is on the VST site. Go to the home page and do a search.

4. Benetino's Bistro Sensations Chicken Links. One link is a serving and that's all I can eat.

5. Red pepper hummus and celery.

That's my list and I'm excited to hear more suggestions.

Please tell me foods' date=' exercise step by step what you're doing to be so successful. I need help. I've gone in clothes size but weight pounds are so slow nov 20 sleeved and only lost 35 pounds! I'm frustrated I too want to be in onederland.[/quote']

What was your BMI to start?Mine was right about a 40 on my day of Surgery 11/7 .I have lost only 40 lbs since then but I am not freaking bc I have seen a lot of people with BMI like mine that don't lose as quickly as higher BMI folks You are only 2 weeks behind me and 35lbs in 11-12 weeks is not bad at all....

I was sleeved on November 19,

Down 54 lbs.

starting BMI 52.23

Current BMI 43.31

Able to stop taking bp meds

Cholesterol levels are great

I'm the happiest I've been in a long time!!!

Yeah! Congratulations.

I was sleeved on November 30th

Down 43 lbs

Starting bmi : 40.16

Current bmi : 33.18

Looking forward to onederland.... only 5 lbs to go ! Congratulations to all November sleevers on your success so far.

Sent from my DROID4 using VST

What's going on sleeve family I hope everyone is doing well. I myself am feeling great. For some reason today I seem to be hungry all day. Today I weight-inn and I and moving again.

Start 470

DOS: 444

Current 336.2

Well, checking in again folks! I'm still plugging along here. Not losing at any record speed, but I'm down 33 lbs. since Nov. 10. I basically eat all foods but steer away from breads, sweets, and processed type carbs. Just bought George Stella's cookbooks to do low carb living lifestyle. Tried some sweet potato muffins today and they turned out pretty good. I still do a protein shake on most days and use Nectar by Syntrax Chocolate Truffle with skim milk. It's low carb but good taste! This is to supplement my other food so that I'm getting in at least 60 grams of protein. I also bought some chip type crackers called Beanitos that are not bad for carbs and have protein and fiber and are non-GMO, no corn, no wheat, made of beans and flaxseed. I do half a serving for 7 carbs and use them with tuna salad, so I have something crunchy. Trying to add in a bit more fruit and veggies cuz that is what I lack.

Also exercising about 4-5x a week. I do laps in the pool on 2 days and then do other exercises in the water, walking and workout in gym at least 1x a week. My mom visiting and she likes the pool for her arthritis so I'm making the best of doing laps for cardio and over all exercise. Once she leaves, I will go to the gym more.

I'm also having my thyroid and hormones checked to see if I have any imbalances since I'm at "that age" (50). Hopefully, if I'm out of balance, then the bioidentical hormones will help me. Trying to be healthy overall and changing my lifestyle so my eating is part of that lifestyle change.

Hello fellow Novemeber sleevers! Do you think that I am on the super slow end of loosing or am I more normal than I think? Thanks for your input! I am 8 pounds to being under 200 pounds which is super exciting but I'm concerned about my pace I seem to get stuck for long periods of time and fluctuate a lot. Thanks again! And go Niners!

Sleeved on 11/23/12

Surgery weight: 240

BMi: 37.6

Today's weight: 208.4

Bmi: 32.7

Total loss: 31.6 pounds in 2 months and a week and a half.

I definitely wouldn't say you are slow. I started at 248 and I'm at 198 now. I also had the flu for a week and I could barely eat. So- no- I do not think you are slow at all!

Hello fellow Novemeber sleevers! Do you think that I am on the super slow end of loosing or am I more normal than I think? Thanks for your input! I am 8 pounds to being under 200 pounds which is super exciting but I'm concerned about my pace I seem to get stuck for long periods of time and fluctuate a lot. Thanks again! And go Niners!

Sleeved on 11/23/12

Surgery weight: 240

BMi: 37.6

Today's weight: 208.4

Bmi: 32.7

Total loss: 31.6 pounds in 2 months and a week and a half.

Well, I am right there with you, but I recognize that those who are younger, have more to lose, or overall have a faster metabolism will lose faster. I am also enjoying all foods, in smaller quantities of course, knowing that I am going to reach my goal and although it may take me longer, the choices I am making are forever. I am steering away from flour and sugar, bu this does not mean I never have a bite of these. I just know that sugar and processed stuff is unhealthy. This is a lifestyle choice and I'm learning to cook according to this lifestyle. The fact is that we are losing and getting closer to our goal. Be sure you are evaluating what type of calories you are taking in. Keep your protein to at least 60 grams, and always drink your water. I now weight 1-2x a week and not daily as the weightloss does not always show up daily for me now. Reward yourself for the loss so far by getting a new top, some new make up, a pedicure, or something that is a "treat" for you. (not food). Also, have you been measuring? Look at how much you are shrinking, too. For a couple weeks 2 different times since November, I stalled, but I was still shrinking in size. CONGRATULATIONS on your loss thus far and hang in there and it will continue to show on the scale! Stick with me and we may get there at a slower pace, but we are going to ARRIVE at our goal weight if we keep working with the sleeve! Keep moving, too, and get exercise, whatever that looks like for you!! The sleeve is a tool and the choices in which we fuel our bodies are up to us!!

I definitely wouldn't say you are slow. I started at 248 and I'm at 198 now. I also had the flu for a week and I could barely eat. So- no- I do not think you are slow at all!

Thanks! It's good to know that I am not alone!

Well' date=' I am right there with you, but I recognize that those who are younger, have more to lose, or overall have a faster metabolism will lose faster. I am also enjoying all foods, in smaller quantities of course, knowing that I am going to reach my goal and although it may take me longer, the choices I am making are forever. I am steering away from flour and sugar, bu this does not mean I never have a bite of these. I just know that sugar and processed stuff is unhealthy. This is a lifestyle choice and I'm learning to cook according to this lifestyle. The fact is that we are losing and getting closer to our goal. Be sure you are evaluating what type of calories you are taking in. Keep your protein to at least 60 grams, and always drink your water. I now weight 1-2x a week and not daily as the weightloss does not always show up daily for me now. Reward yourself for the loss so far by getting a new top, some new make up, a pedicure, or something that is a "treat" for you. (not food). Also, have you been measuring? Look at how much you are shrinking, too. For a couple weeks 2 different times since November, I stalled, but I was still shrinking in size. CONGRATULATIONS on your loss thus far and hang in there and it will continue to show on the scale! Stick with me and we may get there at a slower pace, but we are going to ARRIVE at our goal weight if we keep working with the sleeve! Keep moving, too, and get exercise, whatever that looks like for you!! The sleeve is a tool and the choices in which we fuel our bodies are up to us!![/quote']

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

hi i am katie 58 years old, from western ny. starting weight 275ish 9 weeks sleeved, nov 26, now 240. not feeling right yet, slimming, gurgling,constipated. my neck looks terrible. down 2 pants sizes. and i hate my surgeon's office, doubt i am going back. more importantly i no longer have sleep apnea, and the arthritis in my knees is much improved. i love this web site,i have learned alot, and found alot of encouragement. love to see updated

90 grams of protein is way too much. Please check in with your Doctor on this.

I get 60 and he doesn't want me to get more unless I am doing major gym workouts, with weights and such.

I aim for 70-80g of protein per day. I've read several VSG diet plans from different doctors and hospitals and this seems to be a good range for all of those plans. I've never seen a plan that recommended less than 60 though, always 60 as a minimum.

I personally do 2X premier protein shakes (30g each, 160 cals = 60g protein for 320 cals)

I also do an egg, ham and cheese omelette (small one) which is another 16g of protein. So that brings me to 76 grams of protein and 450 cals.