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I can not believe it has been 9 months already. I am still incredibly thankful for the progressive I've seen. I can only equate my nine months with the much more famous 9 month period we all know, the progress towards birth. I feel that my journey has very much been a rebirth. I am no longer the person I used to be. Not only am I physically smaller, so many other things are different about me. I have a better attitude about life, feel more confident and resolute in who I am and what my capabilities are. I no longer look first for reasons I can't do something, rather now I'm wondering what can I do. My loss of the emotional crutch I had in food has caused me to be more emotional and deal with those emotions. It has been a wonderful and eventful journey. Here's a wrap up of where I am today: Total weight lost since initial consultation (Nov 23, 2010) -256lbs Weight loss since surgery (Jan 10, 2011) -220lbs Current weight, lowest since 6th grade 236lbs Current weight as a percentage of my beginning weight 48% No longer taking blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and no longer wear a CPAP. I have shed all the co-mobilities I had at the beginning of this journey. Thank you all for reading and for providing me a very valuable outlet and support on my journey.

You hear so much about protein, protein, protein but no one told me I could get too much protein - YIKES!!! I am probably one of very few people that actually enjoy my protein shakes. Since Day 1 they have never been a problem for me to drink. I had my surgery on September 20, and I thought the weight would simply melt off. I've heard about stalls and slow weight loss I just never thought I'd be in either one of those categories. After all, I'm dinking my protein, taking in plenty of liquids and doing well with food. Exercise is another story all together, but I digress. On post-op day 19, I called my physician's office to ask a few questions and before I hung up I asked if it were possible to have too much protein and was told yes! My protein shakes are 28g and I have 3 of them a day. That's already 84g of protein. Greek yogurt is 16g. That's 100g already and that's without my soft meats (I'm in the mushy phase). Tuna, salmon, talapia, etc. is protein. On average I was getting in close to 135-140g! That's too much. Not to mention, protein builds muscle so if you aren't walking or exercising you may gain. Of course if you're just coming out of surgery you can't really exercise but you can walk which I haven't been doing. No wonder the scale isn't moving!!! My doctor said to decrease the protein (keep it between 70g-90g a day) and get moving! I have lost some weight. I've lost 30 pounds since surgery, and I know I have to take it easy because it's only been 3 weeks but I still need to do my part. Too much protein...who knew!!

I took pics (posted on my page) the night before my surgery 6/26/11 and on each anniversary date of my surgery every month. On the pics you can definitely see the changes I am going through. I also took my measurements along the way too and even if I hadnt my clothes tell the story! All of my fall and winter clothes from last year are too big, I can no longer wear 16/18's I have moved into 12/14's my goal is to be in 9/ 10's by January. So keep track of your weight and measurements month to month so you have some idea of your progress , best wishes !!!! Two fingers, One Love ! CAMMYD*:-)

I write about this stuff on my blog. The band does not EVER help me make good choices, I have to do that. But I have mine tight enough so that eating requires thought and patience, and once thought and patience is added to the mix, I tend to make better choices. My theory has always been that the challenge (for success) is to see HOW LITTLE you can consume, not HOW MUCH. Making this mental shift is critical. When someone says I can eat anything, I think, but why are you? The challenge is not to see what you can still eat. The challenge is to diet until you get great restriction, which can take some time.

Carol, Step 1 - Hang in there Step 2 - stay as close to the plan as you can Step 3 - keep hanging in there The band *will* work. Prior to this past Monday (10/10) I was quite disgusted with this whole band thing. Just last week, I could eat what I wanted, when I wanted, then be hungry again in an hour. Pizza, fried chicken, Pasta, BBQ, nothing phased me. I had my 5th fill this past Monday, and I can tell this one is the "magic" fill. I am hitting the wall after about a cup of Cream of Chicken Soup. I've never experienced this full feeling so quickly. It's taken me 5 1/2 months to get to the 'green zone'. Please, please, hang in there.

I posted that exact same post one week ago today. You will see it " I need help, fell off the wagon" I got all the same advice you have gotten. I took a really hard look at my life and my decisions. What I discovered about myself, is that I am a self sabotager. I know I am not supposed to have soda, but I do it anyway. I know I am not supposed to have an apple fritter, but if no one is looking what is the harm. The problem was, that I was not looking either. I started the 5 day pouch test on Monday. Monday was HELL, but Tuesday a little better, today, much better. You have to make a decision. Do you want to be fat or not. If you do, give up. Eat what you want, don't excercise, become complacent. If you do not want to be fat, do the 5 day pouch test, get a fill, see a therapist. I spoke with my pastor at church. I know it sounds weird, but he does not judge me. No one judges me like I judge myself, which I suspect is your problem too. You can do this, IF YOU WANT TO. Its up to you.

First, congratulations on losing 70lbs. :clap: You have a right to be hurt. Her response was catty. My read on it is that she has things, perhaps her own weight, that she has issues with. That said, I have learned when it comes to FB and family and friends, it is often best to ignore comments like that. She obviously has no clue how hard it really is to lose the weight, even with the band. My suggestion is, the next time you post a weight loss victory on FB, preface it by including "all this hard work - calorie counting and 6 days a week at the gym are really paying off - I've lost ##lbs!

Congratulations on your decision! When I read your post I identified with so many of the things that you said -- my BMI is about the same as yours, I was diagnosed in 2010 with Type 2 diabetes, I have PCOS and high blood pressure. I never thought that I would need surgery to handle my weight problem either -- but my doctor explained the sleeve surgery to me and I did my research. I definitely need the help in losing this weight and getting my health back on track. My surgery was on 9/23/11 in Plano, TX and I am already off of my blood pressure medicine AND my diabetic medicine! You are doing the right thing for your health and happiness. I wish you all the best!

i started my journey on 10/6/2011 the day i was scheduled for my consultation with my bariatric doctor Dr. Andre Graham ...actually my primary care physician referred me to him because i of course am overweight with a BMI of 57, recently diagnosed with diabetes. high blood pressure, leg swelling, PCOS..just to name a few...i never considered weight loss surgery because i thought it was something i could do on my own with diet and exercise..for one i was active since the day i was born through out high school and then when college time came i of course put on the freshmen 15+++ i really dont know what happened honestly! so i have been battling obesity for 9 years..which is not alot according to some but it was enough for me... i was married, then divorced (happily btw lol) no kids...moved away from my hometown and moved to Dallas where things just spiraled out of control...fast forward my current boyfriend had a major scare and ended up in the hospital due to medical conditions related to his heart and weight and at that moment a light bulb clicked over me and i was like...this could be me...made a doctors appt and low and be hold found out things i didnt know i had...losing weight is a roller coaster..up down up down and uuuuuup..never able to lose more than 6-10 pounds at a time! so super frustrating. left dr grahams office with a smile on my face knowing that the end of my struggles is right around the corner. i know its going to be hard work before during and after but this is something i HAVE to do for myself..and i will do it! my insurance is really good so i know it wont be that financially binding for me thank GOD.. look forward to seeing my own progress my family is very supportive and my mom is already ready to come take care of me after surgery lol

I'm sitting at work and just finished eating a chicken tamale from Trader Joes. thinking to myself! I want to create a blog where we all can share our opinions,thoughts, ideas, and journey. I enjoy giving useful tips and tricks and eating, exercising, and just living a happy life before and after the surgery if you choose that route. If this is your first time here, please introduce yourself and dont feel limited to throw what ever our there this is not a topic thread so please make yourself at home!! First I'd like to discuss who I am and how I got where I am I'm 24 years only, highest weight EVER 260lbs... ( I feel thats a little to big for my age) SO I've decided to have the gastric sleeve procedure and my surgery date is scheduled for 11/9/11. I didnt notice but I was eating approx. 4000 calories a day! which caused me to gain an additional 45 lbs on top of the weight that was already there! Was it binge eating? NO.. I simply enjoyed going out with my friends, drinking, clubbing and eatting! This was my life for 2 years straight. I carry my weight in my stomach and thighs so considering i buy stretchy jeans i never noticed that I was gaining all of this weight! I'd eating McDonalds for breakfast ( 2 sausages Mcmuffins with cheese please??), taco bell for lunch ( 2 bean and cheese burritos no onions with sourcream, an order of cinnamon twist and a small soda) and maybe even mcdonalds again for dinner ( Big Mac Medium Fry and a coke)! I was happy and this is where i ended up! I didnt want to be one of those people who created a blog after accomplishing my goal and cganging sides! NO I wanted to allow you all access to my progress because a little inspriation goes a lonnnng way!