juliarh

Welcome! We're so glad you are joining us and hope that your surgery and pre-op diet go well

You're looking great -- the weight loss is REALLY noticeable Keep up the good work!

Hey Chloe -- I'm sorry you're feeling so bad (hugs!) -- listen, don't beat yourself up. This is COMPLETELY NORMAL. You're in your first stall. In fact, most people hit a stall around the 3rd week or so. It happens because you've lost weight so fast that your body is saying, "Whoa!! I must be in a famine! I will conserve every bit of fat/weight I can so I won't die!" I think I've been through 3 stalls already -- and I might be in another -- but just so you know, ALL bodies hit this stage at one time or another -- it just happens -- if you were to graph out your weight loss, it would look like a stair step rather than a direct line downwards -- you lose a bunch, then nothing, then lose a bunch, then nothing. So, when you hit these stalls, start measuring yourself in a different way -- measure your inches, see if you have any non-scale victories, like doing something couldn't before -- OR even take up journaling your thoughts/emotions -- I do a vlog on YouTube that is really helpful to me -- and I get good feedback which is also a positive motivator. So, I hope that helps -- DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP!! You're not allowed! Take care and big hugs!

Wow! terrific weight loss -- you must be thrilled Yes, he's right -- everyone's ability to recover is different -- some have no pain, and others, like you and me, have/had pain -- go figure. But it's soooo worth it in the end. Glad you're doing well otherwise

Anna, I'm soooo glad you're back -- look how fabulously you done!! You look amazing

yep, yep, yep -- gotta agree with everyone -- PPI is the way to go -- like Prevacid or Nexium. Feel better!

Nice video! Keep up the good work!

Oh it is alllll worth it -- I can't believe how awesome this surgery has been for me and I KNOW that in the end, despite the liquid diet, despite the mushies, despite the awful protein crap, it is totally worth it! SOOO happy that you have your neck back! Hooray!

Whooot!! That's awesome! We all have our little mini goals -- goals that mean something emotionally to us -- those goals, I think, are the best goals to meet So happy for you!

Thanks so much -- I try -- sometimes I have a hard time figuring out what to say and sometimes I blab too much -- sigh.

I was 42 (I think -- gotta look at my ticker below) and I would like to be 24 (I think my ticker says 24 something) -- I want to be normal. That's it. Just normal Edit: yikes I was almost 45!

Hi and welcome! I'm 5 months out and I really don't miss food at all and let me tell you I was a full-fledged raving food addict -- used it for anything, good, bad, and just to eat. But I don't really want to eat anymore -- occasionally I will wish, like Blackberry, that I could eat more from a nice menu, but that's it. I know I can't eat much, and even when I think I might really really like it, my tastebuds have changed soooo much that I don't enjoy what I'm eating as much. Suffice it to say I eat to live now, instead of living to eat.

Hi Lara! Welcome! I don't think you're alone in feeling nervous -- having had surgeries myself prior to my sleeve, I too was nervous. Some other really active posters here that have had the revision are Tiffykins and LilMissDiva -- I know I'm forgetting some, but they're very helpful about revisions Good luck to you on your surgery -- I know it will go great!

I think it's an awesome compliment!! As for whether you do it, I think if you really enjoy it and have the time, go for it!

So glad you're here!! It's nice to have long-termers amongst us I'm only 5 months and little bit out and I still am quite restricted and have no real desire to eat either (which is good) -- my concern, though, is when I get to goal and maintenance and whether I'll be able to eat more (I don't want to disappear!) -- were you able to increase your eating to maintain or did your losing just stop??

Congratulations!!! Whhhooo Whoo!! So glad that ugly stall is done with and you are feeling better -- don't you just love, love, love this sleeve??

You and I think along the same lines -- -- I drink it for the same reason!

Congratulations!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the sleeve -- it's wonderful!

I was one of those secret sleevers, but my weight loss was too much and too noticeable. I had told my parents and that's it. (Hubby and kids knew of course). The main reason I didn't tell was fear of rejection, negative reaction, etc. I'd spent 20 plus years in my emotional cocoon and was worried that if I said I needed help to lose the weight there would be negative comments. TODAY, however, I just told my extended family, via email and video (I live outside the States, so a phone call just seemed weird.) (Video is on my YouTube channel if you want to take a gander). And you know what?? I got the most beautiful, loving, supportive emails from my extended family -- my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my cousins, you name it. Made me cry. I was just soooo worried that my victory would seem less to them, but they were so happy for me. I think this may be one of those days I might never forget . . . . Anyhoo (while I'm tearing up) -- you never know who might be the biggest supporter of you -- I never expected the in-laws to be supportive at all -- and you never know who you might be helping if you do tell. Thanks to Tiffy for pushing me in the right direction -- Not that we need to blast it from the mountain tops, but withholding it when asked only causes more stress (at least in my experience). Just my 2 cents

Wow, couldn't have said it better myself -- remember our sleeve is only a tool -- if we don't use a hammer correctly, we probably won't hammer a nail very effectively -- and the same is true for the sleeve -- we know (or should know) that the sleeve does not do all the work for us -- it is not the miracle cure -- it is only a tool to HELP us get to a healthy weight -- the rest is up to us -- what we put into our mouths, whether we exercise, and whether we take our Vitamins and drink our Water is not dependent on the sleeve

Truly truly awesome -- congrats!!!!

wow, I am sooo glad you're ok!! that is truly scary. I never in a million years would have suspected that someone could have an allergic reaction to Miralax. Thank God you're ok! Big, big hugs!

Thanks Globe -- this was really interesting -- especially this statement: Now the researchers saw that both activities lit up and sensitized portions of the animals’ endocannabinoid systems, intimating that the endocannabinoid connection may lend both exercise and dessert their appeal. In other words exercise and sugar both light up the same areas of the brain, and give the same type of pleasure -- no wonder I can't wait to get outside!! It's my new sugar!

Ok, it's weigh in day for me -- so here's the stats for me so far: SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal juliarh.........211.2..................210.4.........186.2.........24.2

Hooray Sarah!!! Sooo happy for you!! you are just rocking that sleeve