Good evening all! I was thinking that we should start a thread on this forum where we post an update on our progress, challenges, frustrations, or just a place for us to unload about anything we want to while on this unique journey. There aren’t many esg people out there compared to the other WLS so I thought that this particular thread could help us bond together. To be honest I feel so close to so many of you that I really want to keep that relationship for as long as possible. So even if you are preop I want us each to post an update on how their week has progressed. Please write whatever you felt was important about your week pre or post esg. It could be a that you’ve moved on to solids or you’ve lost a nice amount of weight for that week or you really struggled or perhaps you are starting to revert back to the old habits that got us here in the first place. Let’s try and update every Monday starting on December 4, 2017. My hope is we will become more accountable for our food choices and possibly stop any member from falling off track. Let us all make a commitment to one another and post our week’s successes and failures. If we had a successful week then we can guide others to do the same. If we’ve had a bad week then perhaps posting it will get us back on track. I know by now most of you are hating my long posts, lol, ?? but I think if we stick to posting our progress or lack of at least once a week we can minimize failure and encourage one another. Come on gang I hope you are all with me ??????

I’ll post Monday although I’m in the preop stage. I’ll post about whatever things I’m worried about leading to my esg or something I discovered about it for the week. Looking forward to reading all of the updates every Monday on this thread. We can do this!!!!

Hopefully those four kilos are more fluid retention which should be a temporary gain than an actual fat gain.

Hope you had a great holiday!

So its been a while since any ESGers have posted, hopefully everyone is still well and continue to have losses or are successfully reaching their non scale goals. Any updates anyone would be happy to share please?

Hi Again,

Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread but I thought a quick update might be useful. I have lost 2 kg so still not yet at my pre-holiday weight. But I am happy that the numbers are going down. This was exactly the danger zone for me in the past, becoming disheartened at weight gain and thinking, bugger it I may as well just keep eating.

Have spoken with the awesome physio and dietician at the clinic who have been guiding me back to making better choices. I am trying to tell myself that I am only 6-7 kg away from my goal. Its not that much (compared to 20kg ago) but yet it is HARD.

Currently working on increasing weight training and getting the snacking under control. I really want to be at goal by Christmas so I better get cracking!!

Mel x

On ‎21‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 1:29 AM, ASHLEIGH77 said:

Mel,

Thank you so much for sharing your information with me... so many people have asked me... Are you sure? Do you really want to do this? Aren't you scared? Why can't you just work harder to lose the weight... But during these questions and the 40 years I have lived, I realized that my entire existence since I can remember, I have always been the cute chubby girl. The funny fat girl. I am tired. I am so much more than just the outside, but i am not comfortable in my body. I want to be able to fun, bike swim and not get winded. I want to feel comfortable all the time, not when I am starving myself. I have been mentally preparing and trying to convince myself that I am doing this for me and no one else. I am doing this to be an example for my daughter that it's okay to be strong and be positive and it's totally okay to put yourself first. Thank you so much.. I really appreciate it....

Hi Ashleigh, How are you? How have you been progressing over the past few months?

Mel x

On 01/08/2018 at 8:26 PM, Melesg said:

Hi Again,

Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread but I thought a quick update might be useful. I have lost 2 kg so still not yet at my pre-holiday weight. But I am happy that the numbers are going down. This was exactly the danger zone for me in the past, becoming disheartened at weight gain and thinking, bugger it I may as well just keep eating.

Have spoken with the awesome physio and dietician at the clinic who have been guiding me back to making better choices. I am trying to tell myself that I am only 6-7 kg away from my goal. Its not that much (compared to 20kg ago) but yet it is HARD.

Currently working on increasing weight training and getting the snacking under control. I really want to be at goal by Christmas so I better get cracking!!

Mel x

I still read the ESG subforum, been trying to increase the activity here without much result. It's great to get an update from a ESGer.

Your scale weight may not be coming back down as quickly as you'd like but you have achieved a major non scale victory in getting through that danger zone!

Hi, All,

I had the ESG on November 15, 2017. I haven't posted in a really long time, so I thought a quick update might be due. At this point, I haven't lost any additional weight since my last post.

My spring and summer were full of parties, guests, business and school and church functions where I was surrounded by incredible food, drink at every turn. I must say, I am pleased that my weight stays in the same range (+-2 lbs) and I am able to eat much less. I learned that it is critically important to be mindful of the quantity of food. It is too easy to take one bite too many and it only becomes clear that it was one too many after the fact.

I have lost only about 15% of my original pre-op weight, so I am disappointed that I haven't lost more than that, but I have been able to live like I have always dreamed...I can start my day with a small breakfast and then I am not hungry until many hours later. I can order an appetizer and be satisfied.

I do regret that I did not go with the more invasive surgery. Ghrelin is still an issue for me and I learned that sometimes reflux can give a similar feeling to hunger, so I need to remember to take my antacid meds. As for the Ghrelin, I still take contrave and the combination of the ESG and the med seems to keep me really steady.

So, I was also afraid that drinking alcohol would be a problem, but it is not at all. Well, one needs to nurse the glass of wine or drink for quite a while longer than normal, but alcohol does not hit me like a ton of bricks (usually.)

A good vitamin is an absolute necessity. I have been using Secretagogue Gold (recommended by my Hippie-doctor (integrative med md)). If I don't take an easily digestible multi-vitamin, I have started to get nighttime leg cramps (and I am an absolute baby about them--screaming, dramatic:) As long as I take a good vitamin, I am fine.

I had to have foot surgery 6 weeks after my ESG and so I really stopped exercising until the past few weeks. I wasn't able to walk without pain until this summer, so I had to start back slowly and have just started jogging on the treadmill again. Maybe this will help me get off of this weight plane.

My sister had surgery the same day and has not had as easy of a time as I have. She is also stuck at the same weight and had to have emergency gall bladder surgery a few weeks ago. I think that was the source of a lot of her issues. She was having gall bladder attacks and thought that it was related to the ESG, but it was not--just a bunch of gall stones. She is much better now, although she is also stuck at the same weight as I am..(..sisters, sigh)

She spent a lot more time on the phone with the nutritionist trying to figure out why her weight had stalled...too much food? not enough food? too many carbs? not enough? I just keep reminding her that she hasn't gained any weight (not even after ice cream and other treats.)

So, was it worth it? $10K to lose ~30lbs? Well, yes, if this means that this is the new normal, which it seems to be. I can live like this. Eating smaller portions, no panic when I realize that there aren't any low carb items on a menu. I eat less, have less hunger and less body weight. Yes, this was worth it, but I do think that the laparoscopic gastric sleeve would have been a better choice for me in the long run.

My 1 year anniversary is just 9 weeks away and I would like to have more weight off by then, but I am really going to have to focus to get that done. I'll let you all know how it goes. Have a good fall! I will check back in around mid November.

Edited September 11, 20187 yr by smith.99
I just realized that I actually did lose more weight since my last post. I had lost an additional 4 pounds before I hit my plateau last spring.

On 11/09/2018 at 12:39 PM, smith.99 said:

Hi, All,

I had the ESG on November 15, 2017. I haven't posted in a really long time, so I thought a quick update might be due. At this point, I haven't lost any additional weight since my last post.

My spring and summer were full of parties, guests, business and school and church functions where I was surrounded by incredible food, drink at every turn. I must say, I am pleased that my weight stays in the same range (+-2 lbs) and I am able to eat much less. I learned that it is critically important to be mindful of the quantity of food. It is too easy to take one bite too many and it only becomes clear that it was one too many after the fact.

I have lost only about 15% of my original pre-op weight, so I am disappointed that I haven't lost more than that, but I have been able to live like I have always dreamed...I can start my day with a small Breakfast and then I am not hungry until many hours later. I can order an appetizer and be satisfied.

I do regret that I did not go with the more invasive surgery. Ghrelin is still an issue for me and I learned that sometimes reflux can give a similar feeling to hunger, so I need to remember to take my antacid meds. As for the Ghrelin, I still take contrave and the combination of the ESG and the med seems to keep me really steady.

So, I was also afraid that drinking alcohol would be a problem, but it is not at all. Well, one needs to nurse the glass of wine or drink for quite a while longer than normal, but alcohol does not hit me like a ton of bricks (usually.)

A good Vitamin is an absolute necessity. I have been using Secretagogue Gold (recommended by my Hippie-doctor (integrative med md)). If I don't take an easily digestible Multi-Vitamin, I have started to get nighttime leg cramps (and I am an absolute baby about them--screaming, dramatic:) As long as I take a good vitamin, I am fine.

I had to have foot surgery 6 weeks after my ESG and so I really stopped exercising until the past few weeks. I wasn't able to walk without pain until this summer, so I had to start back slowly and have just started jogging on the treadmill again. Maybe this will help me get off of this weight plane.

My sister had surgery the same day and has not had as easy of a time as I have. She is also stuck at the same weight and had to have emergency gall bladder surgery a few weeks ago. I think that was the source of a lot of her issues. She was having gall bladder attacks and thought that it was related to the ESG, but it was not--just a bunch of gall stones. She is much better now, although she is also stuck at the same weight as I am..(..sisters, sigh)

She spent a lot more time on the phone with the nutritionist trying to figure out why her weight had stalled...too much food? not enough food? too many carbs? not enough? I just keep reminding her that she hasn't gained any weight (not even after ice cream and other treats.)

So, was it worth it? $10K to lose ~30lbs? Well, yes, if this means that this is the new normal, which it seems to be. I can live like this. Eating smaller portions, no panic when I realize that there aren't any low carb items on a menu. I eat less, have less hunger and less body weight. Yes, this was worth it, but I do think that the laparoscopic gastric sleeve would have been a better choice for me in the long run.

My 1 year anniversary is just 9 weeks away and I would like to have more weight off by then, but I am really going to have to focus to get that done. I'll let you all know how it goes. Have a good fall! I will check back in around mid November.

Thanks for posting an update, its good to get ESG updates as it is still a fairly new procedure.

You've had a busy few months, hopefully things settle down for you and hopefully thngs improve for your sister!

Nine weeks? You can do it, you have it in you to do what you set out to achieve!

So kind of reviving this forum...! ESG was 9/25 and I’m down 23 lbs!!! Kind of stalled for 2.5 weeks but this past week I lost 4 lbs. pretty thrilled!

That's great, you are doing wonderful

8 weeks out and down 30lbs! Kind of surprised how quickly this is happening! I do stick to the dr recommendations (with exception of exercise....still trying to make my life accommodate that). It’s bound to slow soon I guess. I’m at 174 with a goal of 155. Very happy with my decision ?

Woohoo LynnV, not far off goal for you! Awesome effort

LynnV I am very proud of you and your success. You're a good example of how goodISH can be for someone. I salute You! Happy Thanksgiving and may this be the start of thinner memories!

9 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

LynnV I am very proud of you and your success. You're a good example of how goodISH can be for someone. I salute You! Happy Thanksgiving and may this be the start of thinner memories!

Thank you Frustr8! I’ve been very lucky that all has gone smoothly so far. Hoping you find some answers to your tummy troubles ? I’m sure they’ll figure it out soon and you’ll be on your way!!! Will be thinking about you ?

Hi everyone.
I have finally hit my goal weight!!!

I am over 2 years post ESG now and stated regaining weight steadily late in 2018. I was really worried I would be back where I started regarding my weight so booked a surgical consult to consider revision to a bypass or gastric sleeve. As the wait was 2 months to see the surgeon I wanted to see, I decided to see a doctor led weight loss clinic and start saxenda. I am glad to say that I am now at goal weight, 28kg lost over 2 years with my combination of ESG and saxenda. No surgery needed. For those of you who have had esg and who are struggling with hunger, this has helped me so much. I have mild restriction to meals from ESG but it was snacking that was killing my weight loss. The saxenda has helped this greatly. The combination of the two has been effective.

On 11/9/2019 at 9:39 AM, Melesg said:

Hi everyone.
I have finally hit my goal weight!!!

I am over 2 years post ESG now and stated regaining weight steadily late in 2018. I was really worried I would be back where I started regarding my weight so booked a surgical consult to consider revision to a bypass or gastric sleeve. As the wait was 2 months to see the surgeon I wanted to see, I decided to see a doctor led weight loss clinic and start saxenda. I am glad to say that I am now at goal weight, 28kg lost over 2 years with my combination of ESG and saxenda. No surgery needed. For those of you who have had esg and who are struggling with hunger, this has helped me so much. I have mild restriction to meals from ESG but it was snacking that was killing my weight loss. The saxenda has helped this greatly. The combination of the two has been effective.

Thanks for sharing your update and fantastic goal weight news!