Georgia

Well just checked it out and she does NOT have cancer!

I understood the same - pancreatic cancer. Hmm

Congrats! 62lbs in 3 months! Amazing. Welcome to "onederland!"

From what I've read the new "in" Vitamin is D. Most blood tests until recently didn't screen for it or it wasn't considered highly important. Now that it has been linked to strokes, breast cancer, colon cancer and the list goes on. Plus bone health. See below info Vitamin D deficiency is associated with obesity, but it is not clear if inadequate vitamin D causes obesity or the other way around," said the study's lead author, Shalamar Sibley, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota. In this study, the authors attempted to determine whether baseline vitamin D levels before calorie restriction affect subsequent weight loss. They measured circulating blood levels of vitamin D in 38 overweight men and women before and after the subjects followed a diet plan for 11 weeks consisting of 750 calories a day fewer than their estimated total needs. Subjects also had their fat distribution measured with DXA (bone densitometry) scans. On average, subjects had vitamin D levels that many experts would consider to be in the insufficient range, according to Sibley. However, the authors found that baseline, or pre-diet, vitamin D levels predicted weight loss in a linear relationship. For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol - the precursor form of vitamin D and a commonly used indicator of vitamin D status - subjects ended up losing almost a half pound (0.196 kg) more on their calorie-restricted diet. For each 1-ng/mL increase in the active or "hormonal" form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), subjects lost nearly one-quarter pound (0.107 kg) more. Additionally, higher baseline vitamin D levels (both the precursor and active forms) predicted greater loss of abdominal fat. "Our results suggest the possibility that the addition of vitamin D to a reduced-calorie diet will lead to better weight loss," Sibley said. She cautioned, however, that more research is needed. "Our findings," she said, "need to be followed up by the right kind of controlled clinical trial to determine if there is a role for vitamin D supplementation in helping people lose weight when they attempt to cut back on what they eat." The National Institutes of Health, the University of Minnesota, and the Pennock Family Endowment at the University of Minnesota funded this study.

I have found that I have to eat small portions every three-four hours. I am at 8 mos out and this has evolved over time. I started at the beginning with three basic meals and a small "snack" such as some fruit but was always very weak and light headed because I wasn't able to get enough protein down at a time. So this works better for me. Of course, it's obvious that protein is the better choice! "Sliders" are very tempting at this point!

Guys, I lost LOTS of hair - it started around 4 months or so and from what I see (at 8 months out!) has not stopped yet! My hair is so thin on top you can see SCALP all the way back! I'm thinking of buying some of that "spray on" stuff guys use for bald heads! lol Seriously, it is bad. BUT I've lost 100lbs and gone from a size 20 to 8 so it's worth it!

Wow! You all look great! Congrats!

Well, to answer truthfully-yes, I have Lots more wrinkles! My face has sort of " fallen" in on itself! Lol. BUT others say, "you look so much younger!". I am 57 years old so knew I would have this but 97 lbs gone, no drugs, no sleep apnea, size 8. I'll take it any day! And yes, fillers here I come! Ha!

Yes, please. georgiasm1@yahoo.com Thanks!

To bail out the sinking lap band companies, perhaps?

OMG! Now, ya'll are scaring ME! I am at goal and have found that "sliders" are easy to eat! A few chips here, a couple of pieces of candy there because of the fact that you cannot eat much at a time. I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK THERE! So... the obvious is - eat healthy, exercise and watch what we eat. I don't think denying ourselves completely is the answer since the majority of us would never make it anyway. Moderation has to be key.

Someone asked about before and after pics today. Here are some of mine. Surgery June 2010 VSG. Have lost 97 lbs. Gone from size 20-22 to size 8-10. I am at "goal" but will probably lose another 10 pounds. Highest weight 250. Now at 153.l VSG works!

I just wonder why it's so much harder to eat in the morning versus the evening. Anybody else experience this. Maybe 4-5 bites at breakfast if dense protein, maybe 1/2 of a sandwich with very little on it or less at lunch and bigger amount ( not too much though) in the evening. Now, of course, it varies widely by the type of food. Chicken is still the hardest thing for me to get down or dense meat at 8 mos out. Any comments? Also, do any of you eat very small amounts several times a day instead of 3 bigger meals. Seems to have evolved into this but don't want to become a grazer either! Worry about regaining ultimately.

This sounds fantastic. Have you ever used light cream cheese?

Yum! Will Try it. Wonder if you could use a sausage patty ( the pre-cooked kind) ?

Nada! Zero! 97 lbs gone At goal and looking forward to the future a slim, healthy woman!

SN............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.........Lbs to Goal Avilda..............275.................187..............177..............10 Cwalker..........250.................180..............170..............10 Ibejjo...............249..................249............229................20 Juliarh.............230..................230..............215...........15 Kimmes............239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.........225.................210..............199..............11 LeslieH...........212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva.......235..................235.............220..............15 Mommy2Girls....275.................240..............228..............12 Moni luv..........190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK....317..................283.............267..............16 pattimomof3nj..203.4..............167.1..........155...............12.1 Sailorgirl...........240.................220..............200..............20 Secret Surgery34..........205........179.......165.........14 Sleeve 4 me...166..................166.............154..............12 Yolanda240.....236.................203..............170..............33 Nannieg. 250. 153. 150. 3

Wonderful news for you! First of all, I had very little pain. I assume you are having it done laproscopically. I had it done 8 months ago and don't regret it at all! You won't either. Good luck and enjoy the ride!

My NSV weighing less than my husband for the first time in our 37 year marriage! Amazing feeling!

Tif,how tall are you. Tryiing to gauge where I can go down to. At 153 and 5'7.5," now. Want to get down to about 140 or so so that I have"wiggle room"

I cannot believe it! Just bought two SIZE 8 skirts! Coming from a 20 to an 8 in seven months is unbelievable to me. I am a firm believer in VSG. Now, how are those of you that have reached goal keeping from losing MORE?

NO REGRETS! NONE!!!!!! As said earlier, only that I couldn't have had it years ago!!!

Okay, I hate to be one of those people who "self diagnose" (lol) but I think you've just done it for me! The hypotension thingy. I have the exact same issues - started out with hbp before weight loss - now it's the opposite and most of the time when I get up from laying down or stand too fast, I have to stand perfectly still (learned this the hard way!) for a few seconds until the lightheadedness and "black spots" go away! Hmm - also my blood sugar goes way low at times - anybody experiencing that?