To Be Thin 2011

Congratulations! It is so awesome to actually see in photos how far you have come...good for you!!!! I am very happy for you, thank you for sharing!

Just a suggetion.... 5 day pouch test.... I just did it last week because of sloppy eating & drinking habits, I was snacking throughout the day and not losing like I should, etc.. It worked for me, helped get me back on track. The pouch test takes you back to surgery....liquids for 2 days, soft solid protien only day 3, etc.... If you follow it to the letter it is suppose to cleanse your body from the carb cravings and help get you back focused on your sleve, like when you first had surgery. Below is the link: http://5daypouchtest.com/

Hi! I just had to share this with you all,, especially anyone else out there that may be starting this journey on the very high end. Please see me stats below.. I started my WLS journey at a very high weight. Reality is most individuals on this forum are just starting their journey at my current weight or less! If you are on the high end of the scale, do not be discouraged!!! I had a personal goal of wanting to lose 100 lbs by my 9 month start date (Pats) -- and Sunday was weigh in… I DID IT!!!! 103 lbs lost in 9 months. Gosh what a great feeling, I cannot put into words how much this meant to me. It was hard, anyone who thinks having the surgery just makes the weight fall right off of you is a fool…it takes much effort and it takes incredible determination. It all is so extremely rewarding!!! I know I still have such a long way to go, but for today.... I am very Happy! Next goal: “Onederland” --- Oh it feels good to just type the word! LOL!!!

Congrats on your upcoming surgery! If truth be told, I bet each one of us had thoughts similiar to your going through our heads b/4 surgery. I wanted this surgery so desperately, and to this day I am so thankful that somehow I made the choice I made and had the surgery. I owe a large portion of my success on determination ... I was determined not to fail, I knew this is it....this was my last option and I needed to do it. Make your mind up on what you want, make your mind up that this is going to turn your life around and lead you on the path you want to take for a healthier you..... If you have the determination and drive to to this...and you follow doctors advise, you will succeed... It is hard, you will be tempted to stray...but stay strong until you reach goal!!! Good Luck

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!! Your comparision photos are incredible!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Great post! I want to know too, for those of us that cant afford gym membership &/or trainer.... HELP!!

Hi Samantha, congrats to you that you are taking the first step and seeing someone to talk out your issues,,,, that is awesome, be proud of yourself for that!!! Good luck in hitting your goal,, you have done great so far, keep it up!!!

Started January 3rd at 334 lbs...

Hi!!! I just did the 5 day pouch test last week! It truly, truly helped me... I followed this one: http://5daypouchtest.com/ And I did NOT budge from what it said.... it was hard, but I held to it and I lost 4 pounds!! also, on this site is a recipes tab... I found the recipe for an amazing soup that I made on day 4 - loved it and made it again yesterday for my family! It is called: LoCarb pumpkin & Sausage Soup here is the link. http://5daypouchtest.com/recipes/days1_2a.html#pumpkin Good Luck & keep us posted!!!

Ivy, It will be the best present you could ever give yourself! Good Luck!

Wow, you are doing awesome!!! You will be hitting the 100 loss mark in no time!

I can relate! Once my hair really started falling out... I have to go outside on the porch and brush my hair... it is crazy stupid how much hair I was losing daily, litterally by the handfulls... it just made it easier to go outside each morning and brush my hair and I dont have to look at it all over my bathroom sink & rugs!

Hi! I count my calories, carbs & of course protein! I try keeping the calories between 800-1000, carbs under 45 and my protien needs to be around the 70 g mark.. but again, I am a larger than normal person... I walk, outside if possible if not I am on treadmill... I do 3 miles approx 5 days a week. I really had a tough time in July & August.....looking back now, I really feel I was not pushing the Water as much. It also was a very socially active copule of months and enjoyed a few cocktails which impacted my weight loss. I am back on track now and so badly want to hit "onederland" by Christmas! I cant think of a better Christmas present!!

There must be something about the Pumpkin & Sausage Soup!!!! I am currently doing the 5 day pouch test to break a stall and on Day 3 is this wonderful soup! I made it last night, replaced the heavy cream with lo-fat half & half, replaced the sour cream with fat free sour cream... It took just less than an hour to make and my husband and I LOVED it! There are different versions of the recipe, the link below is the recipe I used, quick, easy and Loved it! We are making it again on Sunday for potluck at church! http://www.5daypouchtest.com/recipes/days1_2a.html#pumpkin

WOW, How awesome for you and such a great post! Congrats to you!!!

Congratulations! I love reading posts like yours! How awesome it must feel.. Onederland it a huge goal... and I am anxiously trying to hit that goal too! Very Happy for you!!!

Hi Janet Have you considered the 5 day pouch test? I had read other postings on this topic and looked into it a couple of times. I know I am not as far out as you , but I kind of got sloppy habits in July & August vacationing, weekend drinking, and eating, etc.. I needed to get back on track and get motivated as I still have a LONG way to go in my weight loss journey. I started the 5 day pouch test on Monday... it's hard.. but it is helping me mentally and physically to get back on track and back in the mode of losing weight, eating healthier... below is the link... Good Luck... http://5daypouchtest.com/

How awesome! Make sure (if possible) he goes with you to dr. appts, my husband went to my PATS with me and actually got to speak with the nutritionist and it really helped him understand the foods that I would be eating after surgery and how important protien is, etc... He attended 2 meetings with the NUT with me and 2 visits with my doc prior to surgery. I was very, very grateful that he was able to go (I scheduled the visits on his day off),, My husband is so supportive and has changed his eating habits that he has lost 38 pounds since my surgery!!! LOL!!!

Totally understand, same happened to me with my sister, my mother. I swore I would never tell anyone else. After about 3 weeks,,, I had a weak moment and told my best friend... she reacted worse than anyone, saying such hurtful things like all I needed to do was excercise.. wow... anyway, I have told maybe 4-5 other people and now, almost 9 months out all I can say is I truly, truly in my heart wished I would have kept my big mouth shut and not told anyone. It is not so much now about the negativitiy... it is my friends or the 2 co-workers I told.. they feel this was the easy way out, and do not give me any credit for actually losing weight, eating healthy and excersising... they just have me labeled as "oh,she had surgery to lose her weight".... WLS helps, but you still have to put forth a great deal of effort. It is hurtful when people label you -- I so regret telling anyone my personal business. So... if I could offer you any advise, remember how you feel right now, cause it will be like that as you drop pounds, the attitude of certain people do not change... especially the ones that think it is so easy to just have WLS and all is fixed!

Hi... I know it is hard to try to do this, but PLEASE... like above post said, try to only weigh yourself once a week. It will help avoid the yo-yo flex you are seeing and the frustration you are feeling. Just my 2 cents!!!

Hi! You are doing great! Your like 3 months out and 41 pounds down,,, that is GREAT! I do understand what you are saying about showing a nice weight loss, then nothing for a week, 2 weeks, even a 3rd week, then boom.. a nice weight loss... I have that going on all the time which is why I started just focusing on my monthy loss.. it usually averages out to 2-3 pounds a week. Taking measurements does help... I have noticed a week or two with not even losing a full pound, but I lost inches on certain measurements My first 2 months, I was showing a good 2-3 pounds a week loss, but once I hit the 3 month mark, my weight loss changed. The month of July & August was harder for me as we were vacationing alot, socializing more, etc.. I still have so much more to lose that I know I need to get back on the track with counting food intake, calories, carbs and protein! Good luck to you,, and keep up the hard work, it pays off in the end!

Wow, this one is a tough one because I can see it from both sides. I am 50, my husband and I lived for fun on the weekends with our friends. Alcohol was very much part of our social life. My surgery was January and I totally stayed away from any alcohol for 6 months per doc recommendation. It was very different being around the same group of friends, being out on the boat, or camping with our friends without drinking. I did it because I was determined to follow doc advise and like Tiff said above, I did enjoy just being with my friends and hanging out,,, the fellowship of being with friends! Then I tried crystal light with cherry flavored vodka and loved it.. Now I am “almost” at 9 month mark and I have allowed drinking to back into my weekend activities…not smart.. I regret it and my slow weight loss is reflecting it. Summertime boating and camping is done now where I live and I have vowed to get back on track of no alcohol until I reach goal… In hindsight I wish I had never touched the stuff until I reached goal because it does bring in sloppy eating habits as well. For me... although my doc said I could drink after 6 months.. I wish I never had.

Centrum liquid multi vitamin... Wal-Mart under $10. a bottle You can do your dose of liquid vitamin swallow it and chase it down with your favorite crystal light or other drink.

I got mine at Wal-Mart as well...Over the counter in the Vitamin isle. "Spring Valley" brand name, sublingual liquid B Complex with B12. 59 doses in a bottle, one bottle cost $6.00 I do one dropper full every other day.