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!

3 months out and I've lost 53 lbs' date=' I'm off insulin, metformin, high blood pressure meds, cholestorel meds and more.

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Awesome job. Keep it up..

I forgot to post my before & after pic if me at about 3 1/2-4months

Wow. You look amazing..

I'm pretty bummed. Sleeved on November 29th and I've only lost 40 lbs. I was 228 in my day of surgery. I feel like I'm losing at snail pace. I'd really like to get to my first goal of 150 by May 1 but I don't see that happening.

Not alone. Sleeved 11/14. Lost 34 pounds. Soooo slow and frustrating. The last few days my appetite has been out of control. I'm back to feeling like I want to eat everything? Hope I didn't screw things up..

I'm losing slow too. But I started with a trainer 6 weeks ago. Have not any weight in the last six months, but I think I lost inches. I have been extremely hungry ths week. Maybe not hungry...just want to eat. It's slow but I'm happy and feeling really Good. Everyone is doing great. Keep up the fantastic work!

I upped my protein this week, and am now over half way to my goal!! 48.5 pounds!! Will be making my massage appointment as that is my treat when I reach 50 pounds lost! Woot! !!Woot!!!

Looks like everyone is doing well on this thread! Congratulations! And for the "slower" losers (which I'm included), we are still LOSERS which make us WINNERS! I am down 39 lbs. as of today (I did weigh even though my weigh in day is Saturdays)! Last night I wore a pair of jeans that I haven't worn since about 2008/2009. I am getting close to my lowest weight (when I had the lap band) and closer to my goal, which I will attain by the one year anniversary of the revision to the sleeve! I have 46 lbs. to go to my goal. I am short so according to BMI charts that will still be "overweight" for me, however, I will determine at that time, if I need to continue losing or if the weight continues to come off.

I went and had blood work done and a saliva test for hormone deficiencies and my blood work was really good. She just told me to up my D3 some (which also helps with weightloss) and to be sure I'm getting enough protein as I was on the lower end. I am also using a progesterone cream as I was deficient in that area. I usually get at least 60 but I think 70-80 is preferable for me. Don't want to lose muscle but lose fat!!!! I'm also excited about my A13 number. Two years ago it was at 6.8, then went down to 6.3 with the hcg diet. It is now 5.3! She would like to see it go down more and I know it will with the continued lifestyle eating and exercising that I've been doing. I walk, swim a couple times a week, doing 30 minutes of laps and then exercises in water, go to gym at least once a week and will be upping that to 3x a week. I work out with a trainer. I have just over 6.5 pounds to get to onederland again and at that time, will have him measure me again! I will then report on my total inches!

All in all, I am very happy with my results thus far! This is my journey and I'm enjoying it, too. I still go out to eat, eat things I like, and don't feel like I'm "missing out". Just don't eat the amounts of ice cream and chocolate like I used to, but occasionally have some. Learning to eat for fuel and enjoy it, too, instead of eating because I'm emotional, bored, etc. Just thought I would check in with all my November sleeve friends!

It is our own personal journey. I had to say that to myself over and over again. For those of you who are losing at a slower rate, you are still losing! That is a good thing. I am losing average according to my physician. On this sit,e I am losing slowly compared to others. However, as I said before, it is our own personal journey. Here is a before picture and then after picture.

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Freja!!

You look great!! Look at you!

Slow loser? I think not !

It is our own personal journey. I had to say that to myself over and over again. For those of you who are losing at a slower rate, you are still losing! That is a good thing. I am losing average according to my physician. On this sit,e I am losing slowly compared to others. However, as I said before, it is our own personal journey. Here is a before picture and then after picture.

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You look great, girl. And I know you are feeling it. Great job.

Ainslee

Here's my before' date=' 2 months out & 3 months out pics. Down 61 lbs as of today! Sleeved 11/15.

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Awesome!!!!

I'm pretty bummed. Sleeved on November 29th and I've only lost 40 lbs. I was 228 in my day of surgery. I feel like I'm losing at snail pace. I'd really like to get to my first goal of 150 by May 1 but I don't see that happening.

Don't be bummed 40 is still good!I was sleeved on November 7th so I am 3 weeks ahead of you and I am down 45 lbs since day of surgery. I was 218 and am now 173 I am working out more in hopes of bumping up my loss.My surgeon is still pretty impressed with my loss and he said it is good for someone starting from where I did You are doing great the scale is moving in the right direction !

19 pounds away from ONEderland! I feel like the little engine that could. I haven't been under 200 pounds in 7 years!

Don't be bummed 40 is still good!I was sleeved on November 7th so I am 3 weeks ahead of you and I am down 45 lbs since day of surgery. I was 218 and am now 173 I am working out more in hopes of bumping up my loss.My surgeon is still pretty impressed with my loss and he said it is good for someone starting from where I did <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> You are doing great the scale is moving in the right direction !

You are doing great! Forty pounds is a lot! Try picking up forty pounds and you'll see.

I know how you're feeling. I felt the same way. Just keep eating right and exercising and the weight will go.

I swear I get at least 50 to 60 grams of protein a day. I was sleeved on 11/20 and my hair is falling out. Is anyone else having this problem? It really is quite upsetting.

I swear I get at least 50 to 60 grams of protein a day. I was sleeved on 11/20 and my hair is falling out. Is anyone else having this problem? It really is quite upsetting.

I am having the same problem. Sleeved 11/19 and get about 50 grams protein a day and my hair is falling out like crazy. I am getting worried. Last week at my 3 month appointment my NUT told me it was completely normal and will stop around 6 months. I am scared I will have no hair by then! Thank goodness I started with a thick head of hair!