iegal

Good luck tomorrow and prayers for you. Please be sure to keep us updated on your progress. Cheering you on!

Oh you look so pretty, can't wait to see what a change again at goal. WOW - keep up the great weight loss. Slow loser...ha ha. Work that sleeve!

So much better which is funny, cause i though it was good before. Now I strut, pose and shake like a hussy for my fortunate husband. Lucky me.

Wow, amazing story. You win twice. Did you play the lottery that day too? Congrats on such a great weight loss thus far.

Love it. No more "Q"

Congrats on such a huge goal. Stay inspired to keep your eye one the goal. Rather than saying you have a long way to go still, say "I am almost half way there." Hugs!

This is all good news to me. Postive comments, need to buy new clothes, not needing a bra that looks like a medival torture device. We are so programmed to NOT hearing nice comments about our bodies, disguising our shape that our recations are skewed. Ladies, what you rant about are all normal thoughts and reactions. At a year plus out, everything you have said, I have said before. All of them. Things will normalize, but it will be a new normal. Do not be frightened by how "easy" weight loss has become. All things will stablize. Take this time to learn new habits. Learn to love the morphing you. Hugs.

Yes- talk about having rose colored glassed before. I never realized just how overweight I looked. Though I dressed better to hide the weight. Today I carry a picture of me (2 days to 14 months out of surgery) pre op in my car. Many coworkers no longer remember me overweight, even those who have worked with me for over a decade. At my surgeons support group some newbies look and ask why am I there attending since I obviously do not need help with my weight. HA HA, little do they know, so I flash the old me. Also I have still not changed my DL picture so my ID gives me away. I am not ashamed but sad at what I see in my picture. Today I am not a better person, but I look a lot better. That means I am is healthier both physically and emotionally. No regrets, I love my sleeve.

Well, I did not feel "normal" until about six months out. Now, minus restriction and new habits I have more energy that before. Is your bloodwork coming back normal? Are you getting enough Iron? So, my advice would be to drink some watered down G2 gatorade (sugar free) starting after dinner until going to bed. This will up your electrolytes and potassium. Having enough liquids ups your blood pressure to healthy levels. Have you checked your BP in the morning? If you are dehydrated your blood pressure is lower which makes you lethargic. Hydration is essential. I still have a Protein cuppacino in the morning even at a year plus out from surgery. Remember we now eat for nutrition. Our bodies need to be fed properly. Learn good habits and learn the new you. Good luck! No regrets, I love my sleeve.

You might be having problems with the artifical sugars giving you the runs. Did your surgeon recommend these shakes? If not, call them. Watch for dehydration. Good luck!

Great topic. This will be my 2nd thanksgiving sleeved. Last year at 3 months out - I finally confessed to my mom that I had VSG surgery, she was clueless before then. My dad still does not know. So, my story is one of not everyone knowing about WLS. Now how to survive. First of all, rejoice you are sleeved so restriction is in place. Take a little bit of everything you might enjoy skipping the breads. Smash it down, not piling up high like before. Don't let foods touch, don't let foods run over to the rim. Plate will look full and your eyes will be happy. Educate yourself before hand with fun topics. Remember your new habits of eating slowly, taking small bites and chewing for the count of 20 for every bite. Talk a lot, be the one with upcoming holiday news, memories of past holidays, a current event. Most of all enjoy the feast. Feasting is not about how much we consume, but about savoring the tastes. Those of you newbies who are not eating full solids yet, take along a dish of butternut squash Soup for all to enjoy and say this is all your tummy can tolerate since it feels a little different. That is a truthful statement. With the sleeve you will be able to take a bite and enjoy. Yes, just a bite because our sleeve makes this possible. Savor the goodness. Thankful for my sleeve.

Wow, you are up and online already. Glad to hear how well you are doing. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Rooting for your upcoming success story, so keep us all posted. No regrets, I love my sleeve.

Congrats, you have worked so hard. I thought you had surgery in August 2010...or were you Sept? Well, if Sept, I am just two days behind you so we make a great team. No matter how many months out, you are an great leader who we all admire. Thanks for showing your sad, glad and bad *(*& photos which are amazing. Hugs.

Hate to be the bearer of bad new...but I have been on maintenance for almost 8 months (surgery was 9/17/10 - goal in early Feb 11) and I still am cold most of the time. Even living in sunny CA suffer from chills all the time. Now I carry a jacket in my trunk for those times when a restaurant is too cold or I am stuck. Suggestion - socks and fleece. Face it, better thin and cold than sweaty and obese. No regrets, I love my sleeve.

Well, congratulations all around...losing the presurgery weight and for being sleeved. So, an offical welcome to the losers bench. I am sure size 6 or 8 want to be friends soon. Hope you continue to have a speedy recovery. Remember to sip often.

So you know my bias - I did not even tell my own mother for over three months that I had surgery. My dad still does not know at one year out. My child did not find out except by reading my diet paperwork when i was out of town which was left out by me accidentally. This decision was so deeply personal to me. My husband did not find out about my desire for WLS until the day before consult and I sought out counseling prior to consult to ensure my dedication to this path. I paid for WLS here in the US, caught by not being medically obese enough to have surgery paid for by insurance yet doomed to slowly gain weight in oncoming years. So - why did I only tell my husband and two dear friends? Because this was all about me. Did my decision affect others, yes but indirectly. Am I ashamed I needed help? Somewhat. Today when a friend annouces to a store clerk...she has lost 80#'s this last year or to TSA agents who see my DL picture and do a double take - I confess about WLS. To those at work, church, neighbors, family members? No, I say I was under doctors care while drastically reducing my intake. I do not minimize the diet or work faced to lose weight, regardless of surgery or not. I was not and am not ready to face the rawness of the emotions which are so transparent to those who know me well. To acquaintences, YEAH VSG surgery. I scream YES for those who need WLS. Putting on my mask of bravado is easy for stranger so yes, I open up easily to others of no consequence in my life or those who have had a history with me. My weight really bothered me more than I admitted to anyone, enven myself. But the choice is yours always on surgery or another diet to lose weight. WLS is not shameful, just emotional and personal. Hugs on your choice. I have no regrets. And as my surgeon says - It takes courage to show who you really are.

Check out this article about VSG. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/woman-loses-130-pounds-months-radical-stomach-surgery/story?id=14859458

Drink a lot of water the next two days. Thinking good thoughts for you. Those 5lbs will come off with surgery. Let us know how you are doing!

You are right! The sky is the limit. Here is to you and the new exciting changes headed your way. It only gets better.

Hi Kurt; Send a message to Sleeve 4 me - she is coordinating next get together. Hoping i can go, but I think I will be out of town.

Hello future sleevers; Sounds like you are all preop and have the jitters. You are normal in your feelings but that does not mean you should be backing out or rescheduling unless you have not done your homework or do not trust your surgeon? Do you trust your surgeon? You understand there are some risks, limited risks. Do you know that WLS is for you? If you answer yes, read on. Know why you are doing this VSG surgery. Write down the top 10 reasons you are doing this surgery so that you can look back on hard days ahead. Yes, this journey is not without bumps or a thought of "what have I done." I will start you off and you all are to add another reason. VSG surgery is for me becasue: 1. I was overweight - I had tried so many other diets and could never keep the weight off for long periods of time. Yes, I really tried too. 2. I wanted to be healthy for me and healthy to enjoy my family. My kids hug me so tight and I can play on the floor with kids easily now. 3. I wanted to walk up stairs without huffing and panting 4. I wanted to wear a skirt or dress without shorts underneath so I do not get a rash on my thighs 5. I wanted to be happier when I look in the mirror and not have to listen to the angry voice of "such a pretty face, if you could only lose some weight" 6. I wanted to reduce my risk from future co-morbitities, cancers and other issues of overweight people 7. I knew I can do this, if given a fighting chance. I am willing to change and I can conquer my bad habits to ensure maintanance weight goal. 8. No, this is not cheating - I need this surgery to save me from me. Helped me be a winner I know I am inside. Let me look like I felt deep down, beautiful. Others now see me as I was always, if they had taken the time to know me. First impressions are so much easier now. 9. I want to have better chances at so many things on vacation or dream about doing someday. A helicoptor tour (weight limit of 250), a horse back ride, a roller coaster, a ballon ride, skydive, a bike ride on the beach. Wear a normal bathing suit on a public beach without shorts and a tshirt on all the time. 10. I wanted to not hide in the back of pictures or be the one always taking the picture. Lastly - scroll down and read the NSV (non scale victory) section to inspire you. Good luck my furture sleevers. I have no regrets.

Congratultion on becoming normal so well. Such a great story and thank you for sharing while being an insperation.

How exciting! Keep up the great work until you hit goal.

Went from an overflowing 38DD to a 34D. I know the men are disappointed that there are no before and after pictures...for illustration purposes of course. If post size is an issue, plastic surgery can be done. Ask Diva.

Sorry - no matter how much research you do you still will have an emotional moment of - "What have I done", just like that new hairstyle, home or car purchase or other. Logically - write a list of why you are doing this so you can remind yourself in that moment. I can lie to tell you the road is always easy with a sleeve. No, there are struggles. So when will you know this is right. When you decide you have hit the final point of no return. I can remember walking around with a strong resolve to NEVER be higher weight than what I was again. The surgeon did not convince me with all my questions, I convinced me. I needed the sleeve to save me from me. food was not the enemy, I was the enemy. Still a foodie just no longer a non stop eater. Why was this right for me? I have two close friends how have Gastric/RNY and nope, would not want to have those "experiences". Also, I am scared to death of needles so the fills of a band quarterly rules that surgery out. Plus, my surgeon said VSG was a better choice than Banding but he would put in a band if that is what I decided was for me. What is best for you? Fills, reroutes or restriction? No one has all the answers, at some point you must step out in faith to trust yourself. Hugs! I love my sleeve and have no regrets.