PhatGurl80

Good evening ya'll. This is my first post in about a year or so. My surgery was September of 2011 and I got to within 10-15lbs of my goal by that following June (2012). It stayed there for a good year or so....then slowing crept back up and now i'm about 20lbs more than my lowest weight. Which now brings back to 35-40lbs away from my goal. I fear some times that my sleeve isn't working anymore. Maybe I didn't train myself as good as I could have during that initial phase. I still continue to try to be physically active (I've done the Tough Mudder and recently the Spartan race), but that sleek, lean body that I almost had is now faded away. I know this may sound vain or idiotic...but I REALLY wanted to be in the best shape before my husband and I get pregnant for the first time. I keep procrastinating thinking that we'll get serious about making a baby once I'm at my goal weight but at this rate, I'll be 40 before that happens and the liklihood of an easy pregnancy lessens with time. I'm now 35. I'm so glad that I logged back in to see these posts that document everyone's long term progress. Perhaps I'll check in once a week or so to get my head back in the game. Thanks for listening ya'll

Love this thread! I am at my two year mark and my lowest weight so far was still 25lbs from my goal. But somehow I lost that drive and reverted back to bad habits (not eating in the mornings, eating late at night, snacking mindlessly). Now I'm up 15 lbs and have really been feeling awful. I feel like I'm failing and I had this really expensive, risky surgery for nothing. Hopefully by reconnecting with this forum I can snap out of it and move forward out of this abyss.

Wow that is great! I've done about 10 so.far and time is still around 40-43 minutes!

Definitely build up to that. You will be surprised how exhausted you actually get just from walking! 2 weeks post op I started walking around my block for 15, 20, then eventually increased to about 45 minutes. It was only a few months before I was able to run my first 5K and I've been doing them regularly ever since. As a matter of fact I just did the color run and it was so much fun. My next goal is to finish an 8K. Currently I'm 17 months post op.

Lol. My husband has surely noticed my boobage is smaller. Used to be in 44DD now I'm a 38C! I love the size..but him? Not so much!

I don't think it has any adverse affects other thanw gas. I avoid carbonation because my tummy just can't handle it. Too uncomfortable and I'm just about 18 months out. I think you can just judge it by how it makes you feel.

I'd recommend you do SOMETHING you'll have to wrap your head around this full lifestyle change. Incorporating exercise as early as the Dr. says its safe to do so will help you get through this adjustment a whole lot easier. I'm not saying you have to jump into a P90X routine, but even a brisk walk in the evenings will help tremendously. It will also help take some if the "edge" off because this whole procedure is so taxing on the psyche

Hey there. I'm in New Orleans and had the surgery in Mexico a year ago. I had a very easy recovery as far as not having anything go awry with my healing. No leaks, no gall bladder issues. I did battle fatigue during the first month or so, but as you increase the calories, that tends to get better. I can count on 1 hand how many times I've actually vomitted from either eating too much or eathing something that just didn't agree with me. It probably took a good 5 or 6 months to learn how to judge the portion sizes of my meals and drinks. I've stuck with the advice of not drinking with my meals too. If ya'll want to get together one day and just talk, let me know! I'm up for it!

Hello everyone! Well, I don't even know how long it's been since my last post. I know i haven't been the best at documenting my journey or updating on my status. 10 months into post-op surgery there are many things that have changed in my life. Not just the dropping of over 70lbs, but I also got married And, I wont' be looking back at my wedding photos 10 years from now cringing at how big I am. I started off this journey weak and tired. I was so frustrated and angry at myself that I've actually let myself become so overweight. I was 5"6', 31years old, and weighed right at a whopping 270 lbs! I decided to get the surgery after my friend went through the process and was successful. I decided 9 months before my wedding that I better do it now if i"m going to do it. Since then, I've had to learn how to live a whole new life. Although I feel like i went through a fairly easy recovery stage, eating in and of itself is still a challenge for me. I am stronger and healthier than i've ever been 10 months after surgery. With that said, my "i'm full, STOP!" receptors aren't as strong as I thought they would be. I go through daily occurrences of being overly full. I have battled extreme cases of acid reflux (which I new take a daily medication for). Today I am at 197.00 which is only 22 lbs away from my final goal! I have no wedding to look forward to, but I have my whole life to look forward to. Kids...anniversaries...new homes...all that seems a bit brighter now that I have been through this process. I love me now and that's probably the best benefit that I can see coming from having the Vertical Sleeve. Enjoy the picture...that is of me and my new husband

Hey you guys email me and we can set up a meetup in New Orleans or Metairie. We could try meeting up at one of the parks for a walk and to share our stories Vtkeeta@hotmail.com

Hey there. There have been a couple people I've connected with who live in New Orleans and has gone through the surgery. I have yet to meet anyone face to face but would love to be a part of the group. Are you on Meetup.com? I am also an organizer of a couple Meetup groups in the area: Couch 2 5K Meetup and NOLA Newbies Meetup...

Hey Sleevers! I do have to say, I am feeling much better than I did a few weeks ago. Was it the St. John's Wort? The Holiday Spirit? Increased Exercise? Or, it could be a combination of all of those. All I know is that I was really in a funk and it sucked big time. I'm feeling so much better and I think I've even found the motivation to get back on track with my journey. Prior to surgery and my pre-op diet, I weighed a whopping 269/270 lbs. I NEVER in a million years thought I would actually get on a scale and see that number pop up. The reality hit that I was LESS than 50lbs away from weighing it a 300! That really depressed me and although I already had my VSG scheduled, I just felt so helpless and even a bit unbelieving that this surgery would really work. Today 15 weeks post-op, I weigh in at around 220. I say "around" 220 because for the last couple weeks it's been jumping all over the place between 221 and 218. That's fine that it's not stationary, as long as the overall trend is a lower number. The weight loss has most definitely slowed down, but i'm trying not to let that discourage me, I am trying to have faith in this surgery as it's gotten me this far. Of course everything is not all rainbows and lolipops, there's are so many obsticles and hurdles that you must get over...just as many hurdles as it took to be qualified by insurance. Here are some things that I am still struggling with: 1) Eating slowly - 15 weeks out and you would think that I would have learned this lesson by now. By nature I've always just been a fast eater...inhaling food. The habit of putting food on my fork before I've even had a chance to chew and swallow the last bite has just been part of my life since I was a child. During these weeks that I"ve been eating regular food, I often time dread it because I do not want to go through that tightness of my chest and heaviness in my belly. Some of the things that I've tried to combat this problem is to count how many times I chew. I try to chew at least 25 times before I swallow. In between bites I've started to put my utensil down completely while I chew and swallow, only to pick it back up once all the food is gone out of my mouth. Another trick i use (which my fiance hates)is playing with my phone while i"m eating so that I have something else to distract me and slow me down. Like I said, it's definitely a struggle, but every now and then I succeed in eating a meal that is not uncomfortable. 2). Eating Too much at one time - This kind of goes hand and hand with the last one. Bites that are too big and going in too fast is a ticking time bomb. Luckily i've only experienced the "sliming" and vomiting just a handful of times...it's definitely not a regular occurrence for me. To combat this issue, I've tried cutting my food into itty bitty little baby bits and eating those individually. I know I can do much better with measuring out my portions ahead of time, which would probably help me out a lot in the long run. In fact, I just bought a new hightech food scale to help me with this (Merry Christmas to me!) 3). Water In-take - I've really fallen off the wagon on this one. Prior to my whole VSG journey, I was actually pretty good at this. I have a 64oz mug that I would fill with ice/water at the beginning of my work day and it would be gone by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. But now, I feel so full from my meals, it's been really hard to also intake water (or any other fluids). Any suggestions on this one would be greatly appreciated. For the first 8 or 9 weeks I didn't drink any coffee at all, but gradually I started with this mornign habit again. Perhaps, for every cup of coffee I drink I could drink the same amount in water first? Or, maybe just go back to lugging around that 64oz mug lol. I guess I could.... 4). Daily Exercise - Honestly, i'm not displeased at all about my exercise. I started with light walking almost immediately after being released from the hospital in Tijuana. When I got home I continued with walking around my neighborhood every night and even got in some walking during lunch break at work. At around 4 weeks, i was on the Elliptacle and stationary bikes, then around 8 or 9 weeks, i started with weight training and a boot camp class that was 3 times a week. I've enrolled in a 2nd bootcamp that's twice a week and started a yoga class. However, although I've active, I know I can do a whole lot more. Exercising 2-3 days a week isn't bad for maintaining, but I definitely want to keep losing so I know I much amp up the amount of exercise I do in the week. I hate that it gets dark so early nowadays becaus it makes me not want to do ANYTHING after work. 5). Just Saying NO - Christmas cookies, pies, cakes, candies, potato chips.....you know the deal. They get offered and I take a piece. Why can't I just say "NO"? 6). Eating the right foods at mealtime - Again, this kind of goes hand in hand with just saying NO. I'm going to blame the two men in my life for this one. LOL. The little one wants pizza rolls all the time and his dad wants Panda Express all the time... But enough excuses I know that this is one of the things that kept me from being successful in other diets that i've done. The inability to just make the choices that I need to make in order to get the job done. I have done some things to help me out when all they want is junk. I've pre-grilled some chicken breast which I keep in the fridge when I need a quick meal. Protein shakes have also been my savior. However, the more often I can eat the right foods at mealtime, the better off I will be. 7). Eating several times a day - This one is very difficult for me. I know I should be eating breakfast lunch and dinner with snacks in between. But, most often times I feel too full after my regular meal to go for a snack. Maybe I should make the meals and snacks the same size? Feedback on how to do this would be greatly appreciated! So, as you can see, there are still some things I've got to learn and some things that I can improve on. It still amazes me that I can wear clothes that have been sitting in my closet for the past 7 years because they were too small. Now with about 45lbs left to lose until I reach my goal, conquering these things will be the key to my success. Most importantly i have to remain positive and celebrate every victory no matter how small, not to over analyze a "stall", and stick to the plan. I wish everyone much success and I will share a before/after picture very shortly. Happy New Year!

Congrats! Im approaching 6 months post op with Dr. Garcia and ive had no issues. Have a speedy recovery!

Just stick to your plan, and you'll do fine! My first Mardi Gras post sleeve as well

Happy Valentine's Day everyone one! Today I'm at 210.6 -- I"ve been kinda of wavering up and down between one or two pounds, but i'm counting the 210.6 as reaching my goal! SW - 270 Weight at beginning of Challenge - 221 Challenge Goal: 210 Current Weight: 210.6 Ultimate Goal: 175 I'm getting closer to Onederland! I can almost taste it

You had me at "bacon-wrapped shrimp".....yummmmmmm

LOL. I was surprised by the tube too! I've never had ANY type of surgery before and I remember waking up with that tube and I started panicking! They must of saw me struggling so the tube was taken out pretty quickly after waking up. But sheesh!

Regular pills make me ill too. I started taking adult gummies that I found at Sams Club. I like them because you can kind of just suck on them and let them melt in your mouth. So far, almost 5 months out, I haven't had any issues with them.

Congrats, you are doing great! @Iowa, I asked Dr. Garcia for my surgery video when I was there in Sept. My fiance also managed to get a pic of the removed stomach. Ack! They probably have it on disc and might be able to just burn u a copy.

Glad to hear you are doing well!

Congrats! Get some rest and have a speedy recovery!

I have been using bio oil since Sept/Oct but my scars are still dark and very noticable. Perhaps its because darker skin tone? Would love to hear from anyone of color about what worked for them. And if its too late to switch to something else...