Caliblonde

I started at 444 and am now 301. I got my sleeve on May 19, 2011, it was hands down the best decision I ever made!

Not at all...I'm still losing at a relatively steady clip. I don't have any cravings for carbs or bad for me foods after drinking a diet coke.

I think I underestimated myself this time around. I've been losing really really slowly the past couple of months. (Probably because of all the cookies and junk that's been around me) I've already lost 2 pounds towards my V-Day goal. I'm not going to change it, just hoping to blow my goal out of the water!!

Prior to surgery I really didn't do any exercise. I had constant back pain and any exercise just exacerbated it. Since surgery I keep saying I'm going to start but haven't really started. My New Year's resolution is to start exercising slowly - no weekend warrior stuff - so that I feel good about myself and so that I start a program I can actually maintain. I went to San Francisco in November and that proved to me that I CAN do it - we walked EVERYWHERE for miles and miles and miles and I didn't hurt and I kept up with my mom (who is about 150 pounds and very fit). So I've started walking a couple of times a week and plan to step it up very slowly. I don't want to look like I'm melting and flabby, I want to be toned!

I do lots of different things when I go out to eat. Sometimes I order off the kids menu, but at most places it tends to be the same stuff (mac and cheese, burger, chicken tenders, pizza) and I tend to not want that type of meal when I go out to eat. Sometimes I order soup or an appetizer which tends to be the best option for me. Many times I will end up ordering my own entree but it's such a waste for me because I can only eat a few bites and end up taking most of it home.

Before I gained a lot of weight I wore an 8.5 shoe, then I went up to a size 9 and when I was at my highest weight the 9s were tight on me. Now I'm back down to 8.5 for most shoes.

I weigh myself daily and have since about a month prior to surgery. I don't get discouraged by the numbers on the scale, in fact it keeps me motivated.

I started at 444 pounds and have lost 141 pounds since my surgery in May 2011. I still have about another 140 to 150 to lose. I'm all for having a buddy! Congrats on your 60 pounds by the way! If you haven't already start taking pictures of yourself monthly from all angles, you'll start to see a difference...trust me!!!!! I take mine standing in front of a door so that I have a point of reference.

yeah...no liquid calories here, my daily calories are too precious to waste drinking pure sugar. I only drink diet soda and carbonated flavored water.

As of this morning I have lost 100 pounds since my surgery date!!! 140 pounds since I started the entire process. Only 4 pounds to go until I'm officially out of the 300s forever!!!!!! It's been a while since I've posted on here, but I want to thank everyone for being supportive and positive. Having this as a support has been amazing!

Thanks! I love my sleeve!!

I've told a lot of people about my surgery. Everyone has been very supportive and I haven't heard any negative comments. I have had some people ask questions that annoy me greatly...mainly people who start fishing for information about how much I weigh such as "how much more do you want to lose", "what weight do you want to get down to", "how much do you want to lose total", etc. I know that they are just curious, but it feels very invasive for someone to basically be asking how much I weighed when I started.

I started drinking diet coke again a couple of months ago. I used to drink it every day, now I drink it maybe once a week and I have found that I really only like fountain diet coke, the stuff in cans and bottles is too fizzy and doesn't feel very good. I also started drinking coffee, again, not every day, but a couple times a week. I haven't noticed any ill effects from caffeine.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having difficulty getting the surgery covered through insurance. I think under the policy with the metabolic disorders the only one that might qualify would be the pre-diabetes. The other things are just as serious but they are co-morbidities not metabolic disorders. I would talk to your doctor about the diabetes to see if there is some way to get things covered on the basis of diabetes. I wish you the best!!!

Thank you all. It's been a great journey so far, some rough patches, but overall I couldn't have asked for better results. I'm thrilled!

I'm joining the Valentine's Day challenge. I didn't meet my Christmas challenge but I'm going to meet my Valentine's Day goal. I set an absolutely reachable goal and my New Year's Resolution was to get started on my exercise routine and that's what I'm going to do!

I am just about 6 months out from surgery and I have lost 130 pounds so far. I'm just about halfway to goal and I'm noticing that my weight loss has slowed quite a bit. I haven't really started a formal exercise program because it's not fun for me and I really haven't had any motivation to exercise since up to now the weight loss has been easy. I know that I need to start an exercise program but honestly don't know where to start, I tried an exercise video and some games on the wii and ended up over doing it and not being able to move for two days. What have you all found to be successful with regard to exercise?

I would love to do a 5K! Maybe I should just sign up for one so that I have something on the calendar to look forward to. Thin: thanks I'm pretty much doing the natural stuff as well, but probably need to create more opportunities for myself.

Thanks for the responses.

I had a catheter, they put it in while I was under and took it out the day after surgery. The only problem I had with it was I constantly felt like I had to pee (weird!!). It didn't hurt when they took it out, just felt weird.

Pacific Bariatric is in San Diego. They did my surgery and I am a very satisfied customer. They do seminars monthly.

Congratulations! Tatum is beautiful. I'm so happy that everything went off without a hitch.

I'm totally in on this one! I actually already started yesterday when I met my Halloween goal. SN--- Caliblonde SW--320 GW--- 195 CW-- 316lbs to goal--- 21

I officially hit my Halloween goal! I'm back to losing again and it's awesome!!!! I've already started my Christmas goal as well and may change it to make it a little harder for myself.

WOW! That's amazing. Congratulations