Willow216

Beautiful!! (And you've only just started...LOL)

You look Fabulous!! Congrats on your success. I've reached my 6 months and lost about 65lbs. I was hoping for more but I'm very happy!! Wishing you a constant and continual successful and Happy Journey!

I did the same thing when I was free to eat what I wanted. I'm a sugar addict and I had a few things I shouldn't have had but I had this surgery so I wouldn't have to give up too much just as long as I didn't eat a lot of it. I'm losing the weight (albeit slowly) but I am getting there. Much success on your Journey!!

Thats Amazing!! It took me 5 months to do that, LOL. Congrats!

I took off two weeks but I could have been back in a week. I had my surgery on a Wednesday and was running around by that same Saturday.

I still eat out occasionally but it is usually a waiste, I take 3/4 of the meal home with me and eat it over a couple of days depending on where I am eating out at, if it is a restaurant this is what happens. I can't do the Micky Dee's (Mcdonalds) or any of the fast food anymore that food doesn't appeal to me anymore.

Congrats! You story is Wonderful and I have learned a few things I didn't know, Thank you and I wish you continued success on your journey!

Hi Everyone, This might be a dumb question but I have to ask since this has been bothering me all day. I haven't fit into a sze 12 jeans (Levis) since I was around 160lbs (back in 1998), but, I noticed that all of the sze 14's I was wearing were getting baggy and I just took a leap of faith and put on a sze brand new sze 12 Levis and they FIT . I don't understand, I am 194lbs as of this morning how can I fit in sze 12s when at 160lbs I could barely squeeze into them. Believe me, I am not complaining I am just wondering, I was a sze 18 for the longest time, did the jean sizes change or something? I always wore Levis jeans (Stretch) so its not like different brands of jeans that the szes and fit are different from one brand to another and I always wore Levis Stretch. Is this happening with anyone else or is it that we really do lose inches before the poundage. I appreciate any info anyone can give. Thanks Guys!

Isn't it Awesome We are Actually Doing It!! Just knowing I could fit into my 12's makes me want to walk an extra mile to my 3 miles I already walk a day.. Hop, Skippin and Jumpin!!

43 here and Lovin It!! I cried when I turned 40, I thought all the fun is over.. That is a total LIE I have come to the point now that my kids are grown, I'm starting to look real cute and feeling like my life has just started!!! I have a feeling that the 40's are going to be my coming out party!!!

Thanks Everybody for the responses! You all are GREAT! I guess I just have to learn to just appreciate my situation as it is. And to respond to ASHERJE. I thought about what you said about adjusting the Jeans sizes so today I am wearing a pair of old jeans sze 12 Levis that I had since 1997 and they are fitting snug but they are on and I wore these when I was 160 so its not size adjustment in this case. Thank yous Guys!! I totally LOVE my VSG people!!

BarrBdoll and CoolBreeze: Thanks for responding, you have no idea how this is freaking me out..LOL I didn't think I would get into this sze for at least another 30lbs and here I am strutting my stuff all over work in my brand new sze 12s and feeling guilty cause I am still 194lbs and I know I shouldn't be wearing these yet. I guess I am just going to have to be thankful and go with it. Its just weird that inches go first before the lbs, but where are the lbs hanging out once the inches are gone. Things that make you go: HMMMmmmm! (Arsenio)

I love the Isopure Cookies and Cream, it is sweet but I like it, it taste like a vanilla shake to me, it mixes well without grit or aftertaste, the Dutch chocolate is great also also (in my opinon) I even use Torani sugarless syrups in my Dutch Chocolate to make a rasberry/choco shake and for me its delicious. I haven't tried any of the other flavors (shakes) though. The Isopure drinks though I found disgusting they all tasted like bone to me and made me gag. Other people did not like Isopure for a number of reasons of which I did not experience like aftertaste of the whey Protein, Grittiness, Thickness, I did not have any of these issues with Isopure and it gives me my full protein for the day (mixed with Skim Plus Milk) and I have been using it since prior to my surgery. Everybody's tastes are different because I have tried Muscle Milk which I found disgusting and alot of people on this site found it great, this goes also for the Atkins shake and unjury etc. So you really are going to have to find out for yourself by trial and error on what you like because you will get a million different answers here. Best of Luck and Well Wishes!!

I was going for the Lap Band in the beginning till my first appt with my Weight Loss surgeon and the nurse who took my vitals was telling me that she had the "Band" and all of the problems she had with it, slippage, pain, infection etc. She wound up going for the "sleeve" and she said compared with the "Band" the sleeve was absolutely no problem and she lost way more weight and quicker than she did with the whole year she had the "Band", I took her advisement, I usually don't do that with someone I don't know but I had a good feeling about it and I had the "sleeve" done and it is working perfectly! I am very grateful to her.

Hi Everybody, I Love Reading all your Introductions!! Here goes my little 2cents worth. My name is Angela I am 43 yrs old I work for NYS Workers' Compensation, I have two grown children a son 26 and a daughter 20, and 3 grandchildren 3yrs,1yr and 9 months. I am also a Christian wholeheartedly, though sometimes my kids have me forgetting that (LOL) I'm sure the Lord understands. I totally love the wonders of nature, Rain and Thunder Storms, First Snow Falls, the smell of fresh cut grass and the colors of Fall, there is nothing more beautiful for me then the picturesque colors of Autum that alone proves to me that God Loves Us. I also have an obsession for owls.. I have no idea why I just think there fascinating and beautitul. I have always had sort of a husky shape so gaining weight was not a problem for me, I went through a bought of bulemia as a teenager for a few years and other sort of "Trying to Stay Skinny" methods since most of my friends and peers were "Stick Thin" but once I started having children it got harder and harder to take care of myself then a divorce and I decided I needed to stop smoking cigarettes that totally ballooned me to 253lbs which totally sneaked up on me or I really was oblivious to what I did to myself (excuse) either way I didn't want my grandbabies to grow up with a Na-Na who couldn't play with them, especially since I am not that old. I had my sleeve on 3/14/12 and it has been the best decision of my life, I feel totally blessed to have been able to have this surgery and I feel Great and people are now starting to tell me I look more like my daughters' sister then her mom. (WOW that is soo cool) I am also blessed to be able to come to this site and see how even though no-one knows anyone personally on this site, everyone here is so helpful and willing to help anyone who is going through a rough patch or simply has questions and needs info by people who have been there. This site got me thru alot and it is truly a comfort

I have an egg Mcmuffin every morning, the only thing is I really can't eat the muffin part cause breads are too heavy on my sleeve still but I eat the inside, besides by the time I finish the egg and canadian bacon I am stuffed, since the egg mcmuffin on whole is 300 calories it kinds gives me an idea of the carolies I eat in the morining without any worry since I really don't eat the bread part. So try it out it won't hurt.

I don't think the sweats will be very comfortable after the surgery. I couldn't think about wearing any kind of pants the first week. I understand how you feel about hospitals and nurses, I don't like them either, they bothered me every hour on the hour to check this or that, but I had to have patience, they were doing their job and I have to say they were very caring. I wish you the best for your surgery.

Isopure Zero Carb is the best I have found, the Dutch chocolate and Cookies and Cream are delicious and I don't have to add anything else to them except my Skim Plus milk. Two scoops give 50 grams of protein, has zero carbs and with 2 cups of skim plus milk I have my full 72 grams of protein for the day. I get the Isopure online at "Supplementwarehouse.com" and I get a free shaker everytime I order and I usually get it delivered within 4 days. I have so many others and I just couldn't stomach them at all but this one is like drinking a regular shake.

Bronx here also!!

Same here, the only clothes I would buy were dark colors, pull over shirts that were long enough to cover my big butt and squeeze into sze 16's and 18 jeans (not to mention ugly underwear). But now after a few pounds lost I have been finally able to buy some maxi dresses, skirts and cute colorful blouses, I am out of the 2X's now I am fitting into XL and Large blouses and I wear a sze 13 jeans now and most of the people I work with don't recognize me I'm starting to fell like a normal woman. What a new life I am able to have now and to think I am not even finished yet. I got 30lbs more pounds to go before I start hitting Victoria Secret, WoW I can't wait! Gelens Change don't sweat it you will be there before you know it so start saving that money for a whole lot a cloth shopping! Right before my surgery I started shopping for stuff I liked even though I couldn't fit into them at the time and now I do, so for the time being find a couple of things that your really want that might not fit you now but know that eventually you will. It was kinda therapeutic for me knowing they were in my closet waiting for me.

Mederma was the best for me also, I have had other scar issues including stretch marks from pregnancies (which were a very long time ago) and it worked wonders for me. Good Luck!!

I was allowed pureed food in the hospital (thought I couldn't eat it) I started eating pureed foods by the 3rd day when I felt better, but my doctor handled things a little differently than a lot of the recommendations I have seen on this site so maybe you should inquire with your surgeon or the staff.

Congrats!! Great News, I've always heard of delayed dates this is the first date I have heard get moved up. Keep us informed and I am wishing you a safe and blessed Journey!!

Thanks for posting, I know its hard for some people to give out this kind of information (its was difficult for me) but we are here for everyone on this site and there is no judging and posting the information does help everyone.

Wow you got a DVD on your surgery that is so cool, I would've loved to have seen my surgery. (I think?) LOL