PamelaAM

Congratulations on getting over that hump. I know that I was SO happy to be on the other side of surgery even though I had two really bad weeks of nausea before it subsided. It's all SO worth it! Now that I am almost 4 months out I am just thrilled with my sleeve! Congrats again!

It's been really slow for me - only about a half of a pound per week now but I hit the half way mark this morning and was excited! Never in a million years did i think I could lose almost 53 lbs in 4 months! So I'll take the slow but sure route and get to my goal hopefully sometime in 2011. YAY!

Don't worry!!! It happened to ALL of us :-) Just keep doing what you are doing and it will come off. There is something about that 3 week mark where your body just wants to hold on and sometimes even gain - but it is temporary! I've been having stalls for a week at a time now and I am almost 4 months out. But the good news is that ultimately the scale keeps going down (eventually) and in the past it would have been only going up!

Isn't it just amazing? I can't wait until I get to my goal and can go through my life without panicking about gaining all of the weight back like in the days of old :-)

I totally hadn't lost before my pre-op appt and was panicking as well but my surgeon was "ok, we don't really expect that people really do it". I was shocked. In fact after my pre-op I proceeded to lose another 5 lbs just to prove him wrong!

Congratulations!

what a great way to Celebrate 2011! Keep us updated on your success!

I am eating 5-6 times per day at about 200 calories per session since they told me I had to get my calories up to 1200 a day now that I am over 3 months out. I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner but also have small "meals" in between that consist of maybe a yogurt or a couple of thin deli turkey slices with a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese rolled up into it. My nutritionist just told me that I also have to make sure to get between 100-130 grams of good carbs in as well each day.

You look amazing! You have lost so much in such a short time - great inspiration!

So I had my 3 month post op visit with the nutritionist as well as a PA from my surgeon's office. First the nutrition was telling me that when I hit the 6 month mark that I can only eat 3 meals and NO Snacks. I said "really"? I asked her to explain to me what the advantage is of eating 3 large meals vs 6 smaller ones during the day. I shared that all of the diet plans that I had every been on stressed the importance of eating smaller meals so that you don't get ravished in between. I told her I had NO intention of eating 3 big meals a day but would plan on sticking to my 6 "meals" of 200 calories each. She just looked at me and said "well, that would work too". Well then why are you stressing "absolutely NO snacks". Sheesh! Everything I have ever read AND other nutritionists that I have spoken to have all said that the more frequent smaller meals are healthier. Any feedback??? Second, the PA told me to wean off of my PPI. It was kind of weird because I had stopped taking them a month or so ago and when I went for my last appointment, the NP was appalled and told me to get back on them, so I did. Now the PA is saying I need to get off of them but to wean off slowly because if you stop cold turkey your body will actually produce MORE acid. So I am going to wean off but was curious as to whether you all are still on PPIs or no? Everything else going well. They said that they expect people to be at 50% of their weight loss at 1 year and I am almost at 50% after 3 1/2 months so I guess I am doing well. Weight loss has slowed to about 1/2 pound per week or so but I'll take it. And I know if I could ever get my butt to the gym more often that would really help. Bottom line is that I have lost 52 lbs in 3 1/2 months and am thrilled!

So happy for you!

Yep, it doesn't really matter if you are getting all of your Protein or not (of course you want to get in at least the levels that they recommend). hair loss is inevitable with this surgery. The PA explained it to me really well last week - she said that when your body goes through the shock of the surgery and the subsequent rapid weight loss, that it freaks out thinking it is dying and it sends ALL of its energy to your major organs in an attempt to save you. Your hair is simply NOT a major organ and suffers and dies basically while your body is saving those organs that you need to live. Makes sense to me. Doesn't make the hair loss any easier. I am almost bald on the top now and it is awful :-( I had very thin, fine hair to begin with and half of it is gone now and I am only at 3 1/2 months! One of my friends who lost her hair during chemo said to just bite the bullet and shave my head and wear wigs but I can't get myself to do it. I've bought 5 wigs now but just can't get used to wearing them. It really is awful! But would I go back? NO WAY! Down 52 lbs with another 53 to go and I feel better than I have felt in years. :-)

I was especially excited to read your note because as you can see below, out numbers were almost identical and I will be thrilled if I am at my goal after a year!!! You have definitely inspired me today!

You look amazing!!! 100 lbs in 6 months - that is fabulous! I hope I can do that! You really do look amazing!

Simple answer. . .I am 57 yrs old and have lost and gained the same 100 lbs over and over and over again since I was 16 years old. Don't wake up and be MY age and STILL be 100 lbs overweight. Do it now - the sleeve is an AMAZING tool! I am already down 52 lbs in 3 months and I know it won't come back this time!

She actually showed me a meal plan that had 3 distinct meals laid out. There was a ton of food in each meal - all of the food that I actualy spread out over the day. She said that they want to get you used to eating only 3 times a day and not eathing anything between. Sorry, doesn't fit with what I know works well for me OR the advise of every other diet out there.

I am 57 and had my sleeve on September 27th of 2010. Would have LOVED it this had been available when I was 20 years younger :-) My life would have been way different! I love that so many of you young people are taking hold of your health NOW!

I seem to now have problems with lettuce, refried beans and avocados. . .no problems at all prior to surgery. Weird. . .

Oh my goodness I wish I would have known a couple of weeks ago - I was just in Nashville and could have packed up a whole other suitcase and brought it to you! I'm coming back on the 23rd of February but you will probably be a whole different size by then. Get in touch with me tomorrow at pmarquardt@pancan.org or call me at (909)744-7300 and let's see what I can send out to you. It's always tricky with this surgery because you are only at the different size stages for such a short period of time.