Lissa

Kathy, It's called a set point (not sure where I read that). It's a weight where your body was once very comfortable. I stuck at 262 for what seemed like forever because I was at 262 for a couple of years on my way UP the scale. It only makes sense for the body to stick there on the way down the scale, too. It's a place that is familiar and comfy for your body. Keep doing what you're supposed to be doing (protein, water and exercise) and the scale WILL move!!

Gman, At the risk of someone accusing us of needing a room again, I love you! You always say the perfect thing to make us girls feel better about things! In a thread awhile back, one of the guys posted that most guys are thinking "Boobs! She's got boobs and she's letting me see them!" and they're NOT looking at areas that WE worry about. I think that any man who has the privilege to get intimate with me had better be concentrating on telling me what he likes about me, NOT on critiquing my skin issues! Just like BBJ's man said, things may not be perfect, but they're his imperfect things.

Thanks, Dot. I just try to keep it real, but polite.

You don't need a scale at home! Unless it's to weigh your food. The scale is an ugly, harsh, lying little wench, IMO. I can weigh up to 5 pounds different depending on how I stand on my scale.

You will still be able to enjoy food post op once you're back on solids. You'll find a way to stay off regular food for a month. It's not even all that hard post-op to do it. It's a tiny little blip on the timeline for HUGE results! Good luck!!

The risk of dying during surgery is low. It's way more dangerous to drive a car like most of us do on a daily basis. The risk for leaks is also extremely low, about 1% overall. It's 100% if it's you, so this is definitely something you'll have to think about. Talk to your doctor about it until you are comfortable with his responses, or find a new doctor. A leak CAN happen, but they're pretty uncommon. Look at the complications forum here, though. 99% of the people that I know of who had a leak say they would still do the surgery again once they've recovered from the leak. That speaks volumes to me. Good luck!!

Eating from a baby spoon is a really good idea! I still do it. What are the signs of a leak? You'll know very quickly. Big things to look out for are lots of vomitting and lots of intense pain. How do I avoid getting a leak? The best thing you can do is stick to your doctor's dietary plan and remain hydrated (drink your water!). Do you have any additional advice for me in the future???? I could give you tons of advice, but most of it won't be applicable to your situation. Ask questions as you progress and use the search button in the upper right hand corner. TONS of info is available here for us. Things you wish you had done? I wish I had taken my measurements sooner. They are a huge help when you're stalled and having a tough time. What are some things I can do to help my healing process? Stick to the diet, work on getting your Water and Protein in every day. What are some good liquids I can have?

Oh, it will definitely be small enough. liquids just slide right on through our sleeves. Solid foods take awhile. Even at 9 and a half months post-op, I still feel very full after a dense Protein meal. Sometimes I have to wait over an hour to drink anything, even though I only "have" to wait 30 minutes. It will be fine!

Pip, I was already considering WLS, but that conversation made it something real instead of an abstract idea in my head. There's nothing like knowing you have to save your own life to make you do what you should, hmmm? It's now 11:53 pm.

What if I have complication after complication? What if you don't have surgery and you have complication after complication? You could develop diabetes (like my aunt) and have to have 20+ surgeries to try and save your eyesight and your arm mobility, oh and your gangrenous foot because you stepped on a stone and developed a bruise but you didn't go to the doctor for treatment. For these 20+ surgeries, you spend about six months total in the hospital. One surgery versus 20+ surgeries. I chose One. What if I can ever only eat a few bites? I'm 9 months out. I can eat about 6-8 oz at a meal. That's more than a few bites and more than enough for me to get to experience any flavors that I want to try. What if I really could have done this through diet and exercise??? The age-old question. Could I have done it on my own? I doubt that I could have done it on my own AND kept the weight off my body. What if I die? Do you drive on a daily basis? The risks of driving are higher than the risks of surgery. As I'm planning to purchase my plane ticket tomorrow (which makes the surgery a real event), I am getting scared. If I let go of food, who will I be? Great question. This is your chance to reinvent yourself into a whole new person! Has anyone else ever questioned at the last minute? I think every single person who has WLS questions themselves just before surgery. It's normal and natural. You'll do fine! Good luck!!

Add more exercise, decrease your calories, but you may actually have reached the total loss for your body. If you've already been exercising (I see no reference to it), then you may have put on enough weight in muscle to make up for the difference. Are you happy in an 8/10? How do you feel? Are you alert and energetic and ready to go, go, go? If so, you may be at goal, even if it is higher than the number you decided you wanted. Also, how much loose skin do you have? Loose skin weighs a lot more than you think. I've been told I'll probably have 20 pounds of loose skin at "goal", so my surgeon and I raised my goal from 170 to 190. Even Fitness_Diva (Lil Miss) weighs somewhere around 160/170 right now, and she's TINY. But, she's very muscular, so she is definitely proof that muscle weighs a lot. Good luck!

Go, Cathy, go! You're almost there!

There are definitely some internal stitches near the largest incision site. You probably pulled it some with changing the battery and then laughing like crazy today. I had mysterious pains here and there, but everything was okay. I'm betting it will be the same for you! Good luck and keep us posted!

Change up the temperature of what you're drinking. That should help with the tummy spasms. Go to warm or hot beverages and see if they don't go down easier. I know it sounds stupid, but slow down on what you're drinking. Smaller sips may help to keep the spasms from happening and, those spasms may be your full signal for now. It's definitely trial and error when you're first sleeved. As for the Protein shakes giving you diarrhea, are they milk-based? I developed lactose intolerance right after surgery and cannot handle straight milk in anything. Try mixing your Protein powder in Water or in soy/almond milk. I can't help with the bruising or tummy swelling, sorry. I was giving myself shots in the abdomen that caused bruises. I just kept my shirt pulled down over them so I didn't have to look at the bruises! Lastly, stick to your liquids. Your sleeve is swollen inside and can't handle the extra effort to push through anything that requires effort, like solid foods. Don't eat anything that's going to cause your sleeve to do extra work. It's got all it can do right now to recover from the surgery. If you're hurting from liquids, anything that you could chew is going to make that even worse. Give your sleeve the time it needs to heal so that you don't end up having a leak. It's very tender right this minute and can't do any more than heal. If you feel like you absolutely have to chew, use some crushed ice and chew until it melts. The bonus is that you'll get extra water in from that! Good luck! This stage will pass more quickly than you think.

Yes, protein bars. I actually look forward to my morning protein bar now. I also snack on Clif bars when I want something sweet. I wouldn't have touched either one pre-op!

I'd go for the elliptical myself. A treadclimber has more moving parts to worry about and, IMO, doesn't give as many options as the elliptical for working out. You can find stairs anywhere to walk, but the elliptical lets you work out different muscles by going forward, backward, and varying the intensity of both the foot and arm movements.

Lots of us have some abdominal pain on the left or right side a few weeks out. I'm not sure what causes it exactly, possibly healing/dissolving of internal stitches? Ask your doc about it at your appointment, but it's probably nothing. Of course, if you have a fever, bleeding, or the pain is super bad, call your doc or head to the ER.

TJMom, You do what you can do where you're at right now. You will get out of that wheelchair permanently! Patience and perseverance are the keys. Please keep me up to date on your progress! Frumpy, Thank you! But, everyone here helps me every day, too! It's a circle. The more I give, the more I get.

Missmarbe, I feel the same way you do! VST is one of the biggest links in my success. I always feel inspired again after I've come here! You're doing great. Just keep on doing what you know you're supposed to do! You will get to your goal.. 51 pounds lost already is GREAT!! (I feel like Tony the Tiger now!)

Ben, Just watching Jane Fonda always made me tired as well. I used to try to do the Sweatin' to the Oldies stuff. I wonder if I could do it now (without laughing like a nut of course)! Good luck with the weights. I hurt like crazy when I first started and sometimes I wonder if I've lost my mind, but keep at it and it will get better. 20 minutes a day is a great start!

Everyone has the three week stall... or almost. It's normal for our body to say "Hey, wait a minute here!" and take a break from losing... and it doesn't only happen at 3 weeks. I've had a couple of stalls in 9 months, and one spot where my weight loss was incredibly slow. BUT, and it's a big But, during the stalls is when I've lost inches and sizes. I walked out of my pants during my first stall, and I've watched my body reshape itself literally during the last 3 months of super slow weight loss (compared to weight lost at the beginning). Just this morning I noticed that my tummy has changed shape completely in the last few weeks. Keep to your plan during the stalls. Eat your Protein and drink your Water. Change up your exercise and either add or remove something. I changed from the recumbent bike to the elliptical and I'm going to add in the arc (killer elliptical) in a few days, just for some variety. Most importantly, ditch that lying scale from your brain. Take your measurements and then re-take them when you feel like you're stalled. Watch the inches come off your body and enjoy living this new life and journey that we're all taking. Good luck! I know you're going to do fine!

Everyone has their own individual journey to follow. You have chosen the path that is right for you, so you walk your path. Hold your head up high. You've done all you can do. Maybe, just maybe, she'll see you get to goal in a healthy manner and it will inspire her to clean up her act. If not, you can't do anything more to help her. She's grown and she will do what she wants to do. Good luck to YOU on YOUR journey!!

All of you here at VST are truly my family and my support system! Who else would I celebrate one of my new birthdays with??? So, I now have 3 birthdays, June 12, August 30 (surgiversary), and September 12 (my date of biological birth). Thank you all for being there for me every single day!!!

I follow Graystonia and Mr Smiley in FL, oh, and Strangely Normal. I need to add Foresikchick.

Kitten, Hopefully the antibiotics will take care of that abcess in a hurry! Feel better soon! I'll pray for you.