Tell me your story!

I am a 31 year old married mother to two miracle boys. I have PCOS and have struggled with infertility and my weight my whole life and finally decided a few months ago that if I kept things up I was never going to enjoy my kids, see them grow, and I was setting a horrible example for them. This decision brought me to the VSG. Surgery date was 2/24. Already down 30lbs including pre op diet. Would love to hear others' stories!

I'm 22 full time college student, full time worker. I have had weight issues my whole life. I was sick and tired of being obese, not fitting in my desk at school/ the movie theater. It was embarrassing. I never had much energy, my knees and hips would kill me after a long day at work. I tried dieting, exercise, but I always came up with excuses. I was embarrassed to go to the gym because the same people that work out all the time would have noticed I just keep getting bigger and bigger. I never considered surgery until my cousins wife had it done. She looked amazing. She also told me how much happier she was. I began my journey in 9/13, I had to do a lot of stuff before my insurance would consider approving me for surgery. They finally approved me! When I went in for EGD I found out I had H Pylori and a hiatal hernia. Finally I had my surgery 2/24/14. I have already lost 25lbs including my pre-op diet. I am so excited to see what happens in the future. Excited to go back to the gym, decided to make better food choices. It has given me a second chance! I will not go back to the old Heather. This is the new me

I am 33, struggled with weight my entire life. Have yo-yo dieted throughout my teen and adult years and am tired of feeling down about myself!

I am an RN and have two beautiful daughters! I don't want to be an embarrassment for them and I want to live a long life to watch my girls and future grand babies grow up!

My HW was 316, I am currently around 240. My surgery should be within the next month providing my insurance approves it! My sister had a sleeve in August and looks and feels phenomenal!

Single mom was 49 and health was slowly getting bad. Have 3 boys one with autism. Also RN. Long story short didn't want to die from something stupid. Sleeved on 5/1/2013. Was 310 now 177. I also work overnight and have a thyroid issue so just losing the weight was next to impossible on my own. Also maybe could have done it but I know me I could have gained it back and then some. Now I still can but I would have to really eat bad. I hope I will never do that.

I've been obese my whole life, I've tried every diet imaginable, I've lost then gained. I'm sure you all know the story. I thought about surgery a couple years ago and I chickened out.

My turning point this time is I'm approaching 40, I'm feeling aches and pains particularly in my hips. One day I was surfing TMZ and saw a picture of the lead singer of Color Me Bad (for those who dont know who they are they were a one hit wonder from the 90's, they sang I wanna sex you up) anyhow the lead singer used to be so thin and attractive and now he's so huge he needs a walker to get around. I decided I'd rather deal with weight loss surgery now than a hip replacement in a few years because I'm too fat. So here I am surgery is on st Patrick's day

Hi!!! I'm 49, will be. 50 in August. I've been married almost 30 Years. I have struggled with my weight since getting married. Always putting everyone else first. I decided it was time to put myself and my health first for a change. I had VS done on March. 5. I'm very excited to see results.

I M going to be 65 in May. In Sept 2013 I deceided I needed help with my weight loss. I have tried fad diets, weight watchers, pills...they all helped short term. I would always gain back what I lost plus more. I had sleeve surgery on Dec 26, 2013. I am down 45 lbs. I had the surgery to help with pain in knees and hips from being overweight my whole life. I feel FANTASTIC!!! When I get home from work (I work retail), I can walk up my steps instead of pulling my self up. I have not had a moment of regret. It took me 4 yrs of research and soul searching to finally decide to have wls. The bypass scared the crap out of me because of personally knowing several people who did not do well with it, including one who passed away from complications. The sleeve is great. I am at the point of reintroducing real foods back in my life, there are challenges, but I know I can do this! Have at least another 60-70 to go. Worth every minute of it !

ive been up and down with weight and just dont know how to diet anymore being at my heaviest was 226-219 at 5'1 makes me look stocky and uncomfortable with myseld have no energy to work out.

I am 51. I have been overweight since I have been in 2nd grade. I was the fat kid when there were no fat kids in school. I have never know what it is like to be at my idea weight. I have never known what it was like to shop in the normal size section of the store. I have been on every diet imaginable, even tried the phen/phen fad. Done Atkins, WW you name it, I have probably tried it. I have been on blood pressure meds for about 10 yrs. I finally decided I had enough. I was not going to do it on my own, I needed help. Even before my surgery I started eating healthy and plan on continuing if I ever get past this puréed stage ( yuck).

At 49, I was having a lot of health issues due to my weight, and looking down the road I could see the quality of life was going to be grim if I didn't get this under control.....being with my hubby for 30+ years, this is not something he signed on for oh so many years ago............but he loves me.

I didn't want the Gastric Bypass because of the mal absorption issue combined with a mineral deficiency my family has. I didn't want the band as I had heard of slippages and other problems.

Met someone who had the sleeve, and I started researching.......and here I am a very happy sleeved girl.

I could no longer be certain I was properly clean, if you know what I mean.

Hi, i am a 51 year old female who just had surgery on this past Friday, March 7, 2014. My son and I were both obese. We went to a seminar together and within months of that my son had scheduled his surgery and was ready to move forward. That was in Oct. 2012 and he has done tremendously well, losing 120 lbs. I have diabetes, hypothyroid disease, high blood pressure, asthma and fibromyalgia. I was tired of losing my breath from walking up my stairs to bed.Tired of looking at pictures of me looking like a Blow Fish, and tired of all of the medicines for all that ails me. I was kept overnight for 2 nights after my surgery due to not being able to keep my liquids down. However, since I have been home I am much better. Tomorrow I start my next phase and look forward to the Protein shakes and Soups. I cannot wait to see the end results. I know that this decision has changed my life and given me an opportunity to truly LIVE again. I look forward to my plane ride next month where I won';t need an extension for the seat belt. Btw, my surgery was done by Dr. Nicholas Bertha of the N.,J. Bariatric Institute in Morristown, N.J. He is the best there is and his staff is like an extended family to their patients. I am sooooo HAPPY!

Can anyone share their opinion of the best tasting protein shakes.Taste is very important to me. Thanks

Look in Pinterest under protein shake all sorts of ides

Valann, Welcome!

Everyone has their own likes/dislikes......I'm a huge fan of powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury and premier protein ready to drink pouches.....they are not thick like a shake, but rather like chocolate milk---I can't get down thick shakes

but I also mix it up a bit......for now I'm making a spiced pumpkin latte using the vanilla premier Protein drink as my base.....there are a lot of recipes on here and online in general...

Can anyone share their opinion of the best tasting Protein Shakes.Taste is very important to me. Thanks