wishes

Wow, two journeys. You look great, and I hope your new life in Atlanta is as fabulous as you are!

That's awesome! You both look great!

No, keep shouting it from the rooftops. That is awesome!

Haha, that is awesome. Work it, lady! You look amazing.

Congrats! I can't even imagine everything that has changed.

Heck yes. I definitely feel the restriction. I feel it with everything.

1. Staples get removed. 2. Probably not, there really isn't anything in your system to move. 3. Yes, it will get easier to move around, but definitely baby yourself a little. Everything will heal faster if you take care of yourself. 4. I feel full when there is a tightness. I didn't really feel a lot of gas, so not too sure about this one. 5. Personally, my pain medication made me really sick to my stomach. I stopped taking it the day after I got out of the hospital, but to each their own. Congrats on a successful surgery! Hope you have a quick recovery.

Hey, I am so glad everyone is starting to feel better and moving along in their progress! This is awesome. Crazy how much weight everyone is losing. I really hope my scale starts moving again its officially been like 13 days, but I am trying so hard to stay positive. I hate the early stalls.

Aw, they will notice. That is such awesome weight loss though! Congrats!

Woohoo! Congrats! That is awesome.

I like sardines, deli lunchmeat with cheese, egg salad, scrambled eggs with cheese, rotisserie chicken, sashimi, pretty much anything that isn't pork or red meat sits well with me.

What Bryn said.... I have sooooo many stretch marks. At least, I just found out today my insurance covers breast lifts!

Hey, I remembered reading a post by LoquaciousLaura about getting plastic surgery after WLS, and I called about the CPT codes: 1. Mastoplexy (breast lift): CPT code - 19316 2. Brachioplasty (arm lift): CPT code - 15836 3. Pannulectomy (tummy tuck w/ muscle reconstruction): CPT code - 15830 4. Thigh lift: CPT code - 15823 I spoke with a UHC Choice Plus representative today, and she said that each of these procedures "could" be covered with a pre-determination from insurance, even the brachioplasty but each has the potential to be cosmetic so they would need the information from my PCP or surgeon why it is medically necessary.

I love sashimi. It sat really well for me. The fish is nice and soft and full of protein. Love it!

I agree there are wrong ways to lose weight as mentioned before. I don't think WLS really is at the top of people's minds. I say keep exercising and don't let this comment keep you away from a class you love.

I love the month to month updates from everyone VST, so I thought I should post my 1st month update. Well, today October 1st marks my 1 month surgiversary! I am so excited to see that word typed out. In some ways, I can't believe 1 month has come and gone so quickly and in other ways, it has been going at a snails pace! I started my weight loss surgery journey at 257 lbs with a BMI of 45, but my highest recorded weight was 271 lbs with a BMI of 48. I can't believe at 21 years old I was morbidly obese. I feel like I have missed out on so much of my life being obese. I stopped going out with my friends. I did not feel attractive in front of my boyfriend, and I hated being in pictures. However, just starting the weight loss journey again has given me so much hope. I mean since May 2011, I have lost a total of 45.6 lbs and a total of 59.6 lbs since my highest recorded weight. And I kind of can't believe that I have lost 18 lbs of that has been post-op! 18 lbs in a month! That has never happened before. That means altogether since the start of my weight loss surgery journey..... I have lost 33% of my excess weight. I am a 1/3 of the way there! Right now, I am in the dread three week stall, but I know that if I keep pushing my fluids, Protein, and exercise the scale will move again. I am not going to get down about this, and I know I wouldn't have such a positive attitude about this if it wasn't for the great supportive people here at VST. Best so far: I feel just like normal. I just eat smaller portions of soft foods. I am getting all my fluids in, but my acid is really sucky. Lucky, my surgeon let me switch to omeprazole twice a day. It has really helped. Worst so far: The first couple weeks I had like no energy. I didn't want to do anything, but getting in more calories REALLY helped. Also, the stall, but the inevitably happen, so I am just going to roll with it. Can't wait to see where the next month takes me! P.S. When I take photos today, I hope I can add them to this post!

Wow, that is such an amazing transformation! Congrats!

That's awesome! What an amazing accomplishment!

Wow, really? Do you know if they also cover tummy tucks? I also have UHC, and that is something I definitely want to check into.

@Foxbins: Haha, you know I have. I broke them in this summer, and I just started back at the gym today! I am so pumped. I think I might make a mile goal like Lilmissdiva for the end of Oct. 31st. Setting goals really helps keep me motivated. Wow, thank you so much everyone! It really means a lot to me to have this forum to share stories with everyone here and give and find support. There are just so many amazing people here.

Congrats! Quite the NSV.

Yeah, I hope so that the next couple decades are filled with much more happiness. I've spent over 2/3 of my life obese. I am so ready for this change.

Haha, looking good, lady! It is great to see you dancing!

Wow, what a difference. You look great!