Success with VSG

[jenpez 113]

It occurred to me that not many people who have no problems really tell their story and that people doing their research may need to hear some success stories. I am a lurker, I read some of the posts on some of the threads some of the time!

In May 2013 I weighed my heaviest ever at 234lbs. I have spent my life and a small fortune going to various diet groups, mainly weight watchers, but also others that provide food etc. I have also done every diet imaginable. I cannot remember ever feeling thin, I remember my first "diet" at about 7 years of age. My parents were fat and are both now dead from Type 2 diabetes related illnesses, I could see the writing on the wall.

In June 2013 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I had terrible pain in my knees from arthritis and decided I had to do something drastic. I had never heard of Grehlin, or leptin or gut biomes. So I started some serious research into weight loss surgery and so did my GP (PCP). He found me a surgeon and on August 7th 2013 I had my Sleeve surgery.

In the first 12 months after surgery I travelled to Houston for 2 weeks, to New Zealand for a week to the UK for Christmas, to Sydney (Australia) for a long weekend, to India, Israel and Jordan, and then back to the UK for 5 weeks to visit my grandchildren. While in India I turned 60 and on that day I weighed 60.6 Kg (133.8lbs) I don't usually travel this much it just happened to be the year.

Despite all of the travelling and having to find the right food to eat I managed to just continually lose the weight, no stalls, no complications just round about a kilogram each week.

Of course I lost some hair, I expected to. However because I had done a lot of research I was not overly concerned and It is all growing back quite well.

Some of the things I did along the way are:- I tracked every meal every day on MFP. I walked every day, not a lot, just enough to make me feel good and exercise my dog. I only weighed myself once each week. I tried my best to get the right amount of Protein and Fluid in but it was really about 9 months before I could actually manage to do this. I was, and still am religious about not eating and drinking at the same time, or drinking my nutrients, the only nutrients I drink is my once a day skinny Cappuccino which is my morning snack and gives me 7gm of Protein. I stopped the Protein shakes at about 6 weeks post op mainly because they are carb loaded and they don't meet my no drinking nutrients guide lines. I took, and still take, Vitamin 'gummies' on most days. My blood levels have been great and I am sure this helps.

Now I am 14months post op I have weighed between 54 and 55kg (120-123lbs) for the last couple of months. I now no longer track on MFP because I pretty much eat the same or similar things each day. I still walk and have even been known to make a mad dash across a park to catch the dog! I have added some low GI things to stop myself from continuing to lose, mainly nuts and also things like 'low fat' instead of 'no fat' yoghurt and the occasional piece of 'fat' cheese, and I mean occasional, not daily or even weekly. I get about 60 - 70gms of protein each day and the rest of my diet is low GI, I eat fruit and small amounts of veggies and some bread and sweet potato, really a normal diet. I don't add or have any sugar apart form those that occur naturally in fruit and veggies. I can eat about 3/4 cup of food in one meal if it has dense protein and about a cup if not.

My butt must have been HUUUUUGE because I now have so much skin that when I sit, I sit on layers and folds of skin and it is very uncomfortable. So on November 17th I am having a butt lift and blephoroplasty (eyelid lift).

This is the best thing I have ever done in my life. I have a wonderful and supportive husband and family. I tell people if they ask sometimes and sometimes I don't. I don't really care what they think, part of the freedom of being 60!

There have been a lot of people on this forum along the way who have come and gone who helped without even knowing and I sincerely thank them. I have never been this skinny in my life and I love it!

[Rubygirl 32]

Jenpez, Thank you thank you for such an inspiring story. I am 59 an going in 3 months for the sleeve surgery. Your story sounds much like mine and I too want to go into my 60's healthy and fit. Thanks for sharing.........I am so inspired.

[Cody's mom 247]

What a great bio! Congrats on your success and your butt lift, nothing can stop you now!

[mindylynn 7]

Thank you for the good positive story! I love the journey & success you have shared!

[mollyaz 6]

Thank you! That was very helpful and encouraging. It helped me solve my stalling problem.

[bobbyswife 862]

Thank you for sharing. I have fibromyalgia too. Did the weight loss help with that? My Dr.'s say that it isn't confirmed that it will, but they've seen cases where it helps. Also, did the surgery cause you to have a flare?

[mz.newlife54 103]

Congratulations on your success. May i ask your height and how long it to for u to get at your goal weight?

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Very encouraging. At 9 1/2 months, I have to reboot myself every day to keep from falling into a deep blue funk. I appreciate you sharing your story.

[jenpez 113]

Thank you for sharing. I have fibromyalgia too. Did the weight loss help with that? My Dr.'s say that it isn't confirmed that it will, but they've seen cases where it helps. Also, did the surgery cause you to have a flare?

No more fibromyalgia since surgery and my surgeon never wants me to have ibuprofen again! I have once had some arthritis after a very long walk over rough ground but relieved with paracetamol.

[bobbyswife 862]

That thrills me to pieces. Thank you so much. I am hoping and praying that my fibro goes away or drastically changes, too. I miss working out!

[jenpez 113]

Congratulations on your success. May i ask your height and how long it to for u to get at your goal weight?

I am 5'6" or 167cm. No body ever gave me a goal weight. Everyone just supported my weight loss on the way down. I have been around 55kg since the middle of July so I guess I have stopped losing and this can be my goal. I am quite happy being this weight.