PreciousCargo

Don't do it,, there are severe consequences. Even two years I willn't touch a soda,, it makes me have a terrible pain in my chest. They have some sugar free popsicles that are great. Good Luck!

I have used it and I do think it changes the flavor tremendously. But then again maybe the flavor varies according to what you mix it with. You may want to try it a couple times yourself to see if you like it or not. Personally, I hated it....

I had the gastric sleeve surgery approx two years. My start weight was 324 pds and I had orginally got down to 190 pds. Since June of last year I have put on approx 12 pds. I would like to hear from some veterans that are a year or two out and have put on weight. I need some advice that will help me get back on track. My downfall is grazing and eating a lot of sugar. I am also a vegetarian so I am falling short of hitting my Protein levels. I don't want to regain all that weight. Any helpful advice would be great.

I remember once I had to have a belt extender. Boy was I embarrassed. Our having an attendant ask me how much I weigh because the weight capacity was 300 pds. Now 144 pds lighter I don't even have to care about those things any longer. Great job you have done!!

In January of 2012 I had my weight loss surgery. Initially I lost 134 pounds. Recently I gained 10 pounds back due to ignorance. I use to be on this site constantly looking for support. It does help to read others success stories. Giving praise or advice to each other provides that support. Anyway, I named this post accountability because we do need to be responsible for our actions. It is great to have the surgery and be successful. But what happens when all the glory subsides. You became relaxed in your diet, old habits begin to creep, etc. Yes, due to a recent job loss I allowed the depression to set in and begin those bad habits. Eating cookies, chips, etc. I had to set down and reevaluate myself. I will not allow myself to regain another pound. To lose ten pounds is nothing compared to the 134 pounds I had initially lost. I remember those numbers on the scale 288, 262, 233, etc... I still have restriction when I eat, but it is the grazing that is becoming harmful to my continuing success. When I was going to the seminars prior to weight loss I remember meeting a gentleman that had the gastric bypass surgery and regained all the weight and more, 425 pds. Holy sh-t! No, it will not happen to me and don't allow it to happen to you. Stick to the program, it is not a quick fix. I am a food addict, like those that are addicted to cigs, etc. it gives me pleasure to eat and eat. But I remember barely being able to walk up those stairs now I can run up the stairs. Going to a store and buying a large shirt, I use to wear a 3x. It is great to hear the praise when I meet someone on the street that doesn't recognize me. So, I would like to hear from those of you that had the surgery and how you have remained on the path or have you ever regained a few pounds. I agree it is not a quick fix and you will slide back into old habits if you allow yourself. Good Luck!!!

I had several complications after my surgery. I was hospitalized for dehydration, continuous vomiting, etc. Everyday is a struggle to drink, take my vitamins, eat my protein and constipation. There are days I feel like I have stretched my stomach and some days I don't want to eat. There is also the struggle of head hungry. When I am depressed I eat and I have realized I can eat a small bag of potato chips compare to a few bites of vegetables. But, this is what I do know... I would do it over again... And every day I am on that scale weighing myself, one pound of weight and I am adjusting my diet. It is easier to lose two pounds compare to the 134 pounds I lost. Good luck to you!!! You got this....

Today is my 1st anniversary... I felt it important to share my thoughts on my weight loss journey to help others. In November 2009 I began a six month weight loss program required by my insurance for the lap band procedure. My highest weight was 324 pds. By the end of the six months I weighed 290 pds. However, I seemed to have some conflicts with the doctor and decided it was in my best interest to seek another doctor. Well, time got away from me and it wasn't until 2011 that I again began seeking another doctor. During the process I ran into several individuals who had the lap band surgery that weren't successful. I decided to look at other options and decided the vertical sleeve was for me. In June 2011 I went to my first seminar weighing in at 311 pds. I had to start the whole insurance process again which was frustrating especially the psychological part. Finally, I was approved and in December 2011 I became my pre op diet weighing 308 pds. On January 20, the day of my surgery I weighed in at 288 pds. Several people tried to talk me out of the surgery during this process but my mind was made up that I had to do this for me. The surgery was hard, I was hospitalized longer than the usual stay and returned 10 days later for another several days. It was hard adjusting and I was stubborn and didn't necessarily want to conform to this new way of life. However, as of today I weigh 195 pds, which is my doctor's goal. No longer am I considered obese just overweight. I would like to lose another 15 pds and hope to be successful this year in meeting that goal. My life is much better mentally and physically. I have a wonderful partner who has helped me through my journey and provided support when I was frustrated or felt like I was failing. My ways may not work for you but I would like to share with you what works for me. First, I started taking depression medicine which helps me mentally and I don't feel the need as much to eat when I am stressed. I weigh myself everyday and eat accordingly. It is much easier to lose 5 pds than 50 pds. I don't count calories or carbs. I am a vegetarian so I do have to watch my protein intake because I was losing large amounts of hair after the surgery. I do watch my fat intake, and will allow myself a treat occasionally. I can't eat any sweets that have larger than 12 grams of sugar or I get ill. I have noticed I can eat several cookies but only a few ounces of vegetables. So, I do try to wisely choice my food everyday but it is hard at times and I still slip up. I eat about five to six meals a day averaging about 1,000 calories. I battle with constipation everyday and it seems to be a losing battle. Your body functions differently after the surgery. It is important to take your vitamins. My sagging skin is upsetting but as it was told to me "fat kills extra skin doesn't," so I am learning to adjust to it. My advice to everyone is don't wait any longer, do this for yourself and improve your quality of life. The journey may be frustrating but every pound you lose is a celebration. Good luck to all of you on your journey.

Wow, I thought I was the only one that experienced this feeling. Some days, I feel so much restriction and can't eat but a few bites. However, other days I can eat about 2/3 cup of food. I am glad I still have this restriction because at times I feel I am stretching my sleeve.

A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, we all experienced this stall and several more along the way.

Even lifting willn't totally firm your excess skin. I definitely will need plastic surgery, I lost a lot of weight rapidly. I am going to wait two years like they recommend though.

My doctor says it takes two yrs for your skin to fully shrink.

So I have lost 124 pds since January I am holding steady at 200 pds. I am not sure I want to go below 190 pds though. Is it wrong to not want to be totally skinny but have a little weight on you. I recently started at a new job working in a prison and I think a little weight is necessary to tumble with these inmates. However, really I just don't want to be that thin like a barbie doll. Also I think to myself my skin is already sagging what would another 50 pds make it look like. Anybodies thoughts welcomed.... Also do any of you find yourself falling back into your old eating habits?