iegal

YEAH. I was not aware of how long you have waited for surgery. Excited to give you a hug of support on May 7th!

I still struggle with that but I am getting better. Sometimes, I go into the big girl cloth section and select an old size to try on. Just habit. Sounds like you are doing very well with the sleeve! Congratulations.

YEAH Coop. Have faithfuly watched you continue on, even though you are not a "fast" loser. Love your attitude and commitment to making the sleeve work. Celebrating the pound loss with you!

Ahhh - how wonderful that everyone is anticipating having to shop for new clothes...and looking forward to it! Drawback is that you do spend a lot of money, but try thrift stores (I shot threw size 12 in 2 weeks) and many of my clothes had tags on them. Careful about hanging onto clothes since sizes vary from maker to maker. I only buy deeply discounted sale items for now. Gotta love the sleeve!

Welcome Nicki; While I never had a lapband, several participants on this site have been revised. Make sure to check out the link on this website, scroll down about a quarter of the way and look for topic listed in purple BAND TO SLEEVE REVISION. Think you will find a lot of similar stories and support from those who have already been down the road you are soon to travel. Best wishes!

Do you have a pre-op diet plan which lists all of this information for you? If not try these vsg diet plans: http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.pdf or http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/bin/c/a/nutrition_sleeve.pdf Hope this helps and is the guideance you are seeking. Good luck on upcoming surgery!

You make me tear up with your story. IMO you should consider the T-shirt your are wearing as hug from your little brother since you can now wear it at the beginning of the journey to a new healthy you.. Excited you are so close to surgery date. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Which isopure are you drinking - the 40grams of protein in a glass bottle from GNC or the little plasic bottles? Agree about refrigerating it for several hours, when it is cold it does taste better. Another tip is to drink out of a travel coffee mug so you do not smell the protien which was a problem for me at times. TIP-don't blend it with ice since I tried to make a smoothie with it one time, what a disaster. Wishing you the best during your recovery!

Hello fellow VSG maintainers: I have been with you all for about 2 months now - Met my personal goal of 10lbs lighter in early March before my six month aniversary. Down from a size 18 or 20 to today a size 4 or 6 depending upon maker. Over 75 lbs lost and I am thrilled with my new life where I feel better emotionally and physically. I hike upon occasion, ride a bike, go to the gym, stroll along the beach in shorts and tank top and can enjoy a shared chocolate malt with my DH without anyone staring at me "do you really need that?" Loathe to admit that now I still struggle with food, just as you said Orgeondaisy. It is all about choices and I have not been making the best choices but am able to maintain since my calorie count is still low. I have experienced headaches from not drinking enough fluids which is totally my fault. Rare occasion, but I have felt dizzy from not eating enough/ I sometimes forget to take my Vitamins or Calcium suppliments. No one pays the price but me. Does anyone else struggle? I logically know the sleeve is not a cure so I need to take charge of me. Want to be a healthy sleever not just a goal sleever.

Great information above by Tiffykins. Not much to add...but there is a thread on this forum specifically for what you will need and suggestions from other vsg patients. Go to > FORUMS > scroll down to GENERAL SLEEVE SURGERY DISCUSSIONS > select OFFICAL WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR SURGERY topic. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery!

Luv the pics - such as amazing transformation already. You are a great testament to making the sleeve work for you. Way to go Becca!

I did this as an outpatient surgery, so I had surgery at 10AM, home by 5PM that night. Was it easy? No. Was I happier in my own bed? Yes. So, I had lukewarm tea, peppermint was my favorite (caffine free), G2 gatorade the first 2 days. Third day on I did add in clear liquid Protein and chicken Soup. There is a great thread on here - under general sleeve surgery discussion called "what you will need for surgery." Or google "cornell sleeve diet" which has some great information for after surgery diet.

Great questions *My personality has not changed. I no longer hide in the back of all pictures, meetings, groups. *Weakling? Hmm, I was not one before and I did not become one. *Do I recognize myself in the mirror? Sometimes looking in the mirror is more of a reality check. I was not a self loathing fat person, just a disappointed one. *Ego-maniac...not by a long shot. I stick up for fat people now. Amazing how many people are free with their comments now that I am part of the "thin" group. I am very vocal about feelings, all people being human and it being fat is not all about self control. Love shopping for normal size clothes and want to wear my size label on the outside for the world to see. So that might be egotistical. *I am still a people pleaser at times, but not as often. *Changes- people treat me differently now that I weight less. Better, like I am somehow more intelligent or more worthy of their time. I am capable now. I can hike freely with my family, I can walk without my thighs rubbing togethter causing an embarassing rash. I like the new me. *Surprises - how everyone views me differently. I have not changed, I am still a good person. Loosing weight allowed others to see me in a better light. *Ahead of time - wish I new about the sleeve years ago. Walked into my surgeons office expecting to get banded. He suggested the sleeve for me, then I found this AFTER choosing to get sleeved. Hugs to this forum for reenforcing my decision for the sleeve. I love my sleeve.

Dear insperational LilMsDiva; You are a success. Why when not at goal? Each day I see you post, you are willing to make adjustments to reach goal. You are working out consistantly. You eat differently. You do everything right and most of all ... you never give up. You may be discouraged on a day, but you do not give up and move forward. A natual leader never accepts defeat. You are amazing! Thank you for always be open and honest with us here on VST forum, letting us share in both struggles and victories. A salute to you!

Excited your recovery is going so well. Welcome to the losers bench!

Welcome Mini-Gil; Thanks for your great story of no regrets on sleeve. I too am still loosing my hair at almost 7 months out, but I did not start losing hair until 4 months out. Hoping it stops soon. From what I have read on this forum from other experiences sleevers, not much you can do to prevent hair loss. Yet some use Nioxin shampoo and swear by it. I am almost to the point of trying that too. Love your excercise program and that you run 5K's several times. Strength training is important, not just eating less. Way to work the sleeve!

Congrats on being 3 months out and you have lost quite a bit - 46 lbs. Now - you need a reality check. If using you stats from last three months that means In six months, you will have lost approx 100 lbs or 1/3 of your weight you want to loose, right? What diet have you been on that you have lost close to 100 lbs in 6 months and KEPT IT OFF FOREVER? You will not always be fat nor will you lose weight at the same rate as your husband. Celebrate his success and celebrate your too...even if lower #'s. scale is going down. At 349, you have a lot of weight to lose, so give yourself the grace and time to do this right. Be merciful to your body and understand it is going through radical changes. You can do this. Start excercising (walking/light weights) more to lose more wieght. Track your food intake. Then shake things up a little. I have faith in your ability to stick to the plan. Hugs to you.

Thank you for taking us back to weight loss basics 101: 1) Keep track of every bite you eat Congratulations on a 4 pound weight loss!

You need to get another big laugh and realize that you will no longer be attractive to this creep cause you are looking good and still loosing all the time. That alone is a great reason to get the sleeve... Ewww

HA HA...I thought I was the only bony rear end. Sad that I resemble my grandmother from behind. Also sleeping on my side is now uncomfortable since the hips bones have no padding. Ah - the complaints of the skinnies. What a joy to have these burdens. Gotta run, watching an ad on TV about Brazilian Butt excercises.

Couple of ideas: 1) BCBS of IL covers it...as of Nov 2010. Is is possible for you to buy insurance from them, get a transfered policy and self pay insurance for a 6+ months and then get sleeve? This might be cheaper than shelling out $20K. 2) Appeal and ask why other BCBS agencies are covering but not MN 3) Remember you must have BMI of 35 with 2 comorbidities or BMI of 40 with no comorbidities for BCBS Good luck and keep us posted

Congrats! May 10th come soon for Karen H.

One week ... and I flew 4 hours to present at a week long conference. Then I took the second week off to stay at home. Too much too soon for me, standing up and talking all day. Did not get hydrate enough, not enough protien so I was wiped week 2. If you can take off the time to learn new habits without financial worries or job worries...do it. Good luck!

Thank you for all of your words of encouragement along with an update. Now I know what my goal will be and where I will be in 2 years continuing for the rest of my life. Hugs to you and congratulations on taking charge of your life!