@DomLorenVSG

I'm a collegiate swimmer/water polo player and my team and I have come to one conclusion- Sally Beauty Supply and it's Generic's line is a god send. Specifically we ALL use GVP Smoothing Serum - Compare To Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum, (http://www.sallybeauty.com/smoothing-serum/SBS-264130,default,pd.html?cm_vc=SEARCH) and several of their other off brand- they are just as good if not better and a fraction of the price. We have to wash our hair 2 to 3x's a day which is horrific and leave to seriously damaged/dry hair, these products can be found on any female at any time on our team Here's some general ones we use too for shampoos and conditioners: http://www.sallybeauty.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-SA-Site/default/Search-Show?prefn1=brand&prefv1=GVP&start=0&sz=48

I'm also tracking my weekly changes and I definitly see patterns. I'm a woman, so you best believe mother nature plays a big role in this. My goal is to lose -3 lbs a week, but I've been kind of all over the place. I also workout 2 to 4 hours a day swimming 5 days a week. This has been my journey thus far: Height: 5'9 Heighest Weight: 216 1st Goal Weight: 169 Sleeved: (8/17/2012): 216 lbs Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5) Week 7 (10/5): 187.0 (-3.1)

Stalls happen to everyone! I haven't had a stall last more than a week- that being said I'm working out like crazy, so anytime I see the number 4 or 5 days in a row I get really concerned, but eventually it will change. I'm also convinced our bodies are adjusting. On the weeks that I lose very little, the week prior or after I tend to lose more. Our bodies have to catch up and balance out as well. Have no fear! This too shall pass!

The only part that I will add, is to the fizzy drinks 7 weeks post op (all the other information was identical to what I would have responded), I can't get ANYTHING carbonated down. It hurts. Like drinking battery acid. I've attempted several things including beer- and it was a no go. I've given up attempting. Not a habbit I want back anyway.

Actually a bit smaller! Each doc uses different French Boguie sizing (a way to measure how big your stomach is...). My doctor is amazing and actually has an entire youtube channel dedicated to explaining, and showing things, and answering questions. It was SOOOOOOOOOO valuable to go through all his stuff before surgery. Take a look! : http://www.youtube.com/user/Endobariatric Good Luck!

So just adding in my two cents (nicely written blog entry I might add) that I have 1 rule when it comes to discussing weight loss with other people. THEY MUST approach the topic first. PERIOD. I will never offer my information, my experience, or journey with VSG unless someone ASKS ME how I did it, OR they start about how unhappy or miserable they are and don't know what to do- then I tell them, encourage them, and inform them. Walking up to someone, writting someone about such a personal topic without them asking for it is no different then walking up to someone with a same sex partner and expressing your religious or personal beliefs on them. If unwarranted- keep it to yourself. If asked for- then freely give. That's where I find the fault in all this.

And here is his Youtube channel that I really found to be the most effective tool of them all. http://www.youtube.com/endobariatric

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) Surgery - Hospital (2 nights) - Hotel (2 nights) * - All ground transportation * - Preop blood test - Preop Chest X-ray - Surgery - Anesthesiologist’s fee - Surgeon’s assistant’s fee - OR nurses’ fee - Dr. Alvarez’s fee - Nutritional information - Discharge medications - 24 hr support from Endobariatric.com staff in the U.S. and Mexico Here's his website: http://www.endobariatric.com/candidate.htm

I'm from Auburn, AL and I too have AL BCBS- and they would not approve me with my additional issues because I was no morbidly obese- they ignored all my other issues such as insulin resistance, and severe PCOS with countless hospitalizations. Through a friend I found Dr. Alvarez at Endobariatric- not going to lie, wasn't cheap at $8,700 but the Birmingham and ATL docs wanted $30k out of pocket. SO I went to mexico and went with Dr. Alvarez. Hands down best surgery/hospitalization I've ever had. They were better than any american doctors or team of nurses. They treated me likea princess and while I was scared to death, Dr. Alvarez and his team are pro's at what they do and specialize ONLY in VSG maxing out at no more than 3 surgeries a day. My sleeve buddy and I agree it was the best choice we've ever done, and I'm so glad I did it in August. He also has a ton of Youtube videos out there explaining things and a fabulous book I wish I had read- BEFORE my surgery. If you get denied, I wouldn't even bother with BCBS anymore and look at personal financing.

Be careful about hunger vs Acid!!! This is a very common misunderstanding! People think they are really hungry when in fact its the stomach making an over abundance of acid, and then you eat things like crackers to calm the acid!!! Make sure to be takinga PPI (like over the counter prilosec or nexium) your doc should have prescribed. When I get really hungry- it's almost ALWAYS because I forgot to take my PPI. For a few weeks I was taking it twice a day- any day I miss or forget I suddenly get ravanous around noonish- so make sure to take your meds! If not you can get them cheap over teh counter as well!

Personally, I'm breaking it down by week, my minimum goal is -2 lbs a week, my optimal goal is -3.5 lbs a week. If on average there are 4 weeks in a month thats a range of -8 to -14 lbs a month. So I don't think you are that far off at all.

Well this will be short out of frustration. When I weighed my self Wednesday I was sitting pretty at 188, when I did my official weigh in on Friday I was at 190.1, for a total weight loss of -1.5 this week compared to last Friday (and since I'm being 100% honest with myself I'm going with my Friday weigh in Number not the lowest number I saw during the week). NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. In fact I was so frustrated I waited until noon and re-weighed myself on Friday and still no change. I had to leave for a trip at 1pm on Friday and got so distracted I ended up running behind and running out of time to update my numbers or blog on here (hence why I'm updating today in stead of a couple of days ago). The only silver lining to my numbers going up and down so much in a few days is that I KNOW THE CULPRIT. I'm not regularly going to the bathroom. THe past 3 weeks I have been, suddenly something this last week changed and I haven't been able to go in about a week or more, and my body is obviously reacting. Things I'm doing to combat the situation: 1) Taking a probiotic EVERY DAY to get back on track. 2) I'm doing dissolvable miralax in my coffee every other day. 3) Taking a vitamin every day. Drinking water is not a problem, nor is working out. I've got those two things down solidly. But when your body isn't working properly there is no way your going to see effective weight loss. I even feel bloated right now. It's an icky terrible feeling of being desperate and wanting to shed the toxins out of your body with no idea when it is going to happen. Frustrating. I should be thankful I'm not in a full blown stall, BUT I workout soooo many hours a day, only seeing a -1 bs weight loss AND FEELING bloated is just a big fat NO GO. So I'm focusing on taking my medicine, hoping I get some regularity back and crossing my fingers this week is better than last week. Height: 5'9 Heighest Weight: 216 Current Weight: 190.1 (Total weight loss since surgery -25.9 lbs) 1st Goal Weight: 169 Sleeved: (8/17/2012): 216 lbs Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5)

Agreed, I think a lot of the "hunger" symptoms I have dealt with and other people described are really acid issues. I take over the counter prilosec as well at least once a day, days I don't take it I see a huge difference.

** might add that when I got my divorce, my counselor said if it were between being along and being a single parent for the rest of your life, or being with him and continuing on like this - no dating, no other options, nadda, what would you choose? Hands down I said I'd be relieved to be on my own as a single mother without the headache of him. And that's how I realized my own truth. If you're ready to be alone and know you can be happier without him, than do it. He will always be there for your kids, wether he wants to or not- they know who their father is and thats their relationship not yours. You got to do you!!!

Do you think a lot of why you put up with him and the non-sense for so long was because of your weight and self esteem? That you thought he was the best you could get and that you had to settle? Sounds to me like you have very little respect for him as a man, and father figure, or husband. And I don't blame you at all- your weight kept you tied to someone you didn't truly love because you felt like you were stuck. And now... you're not stuck anymore! You're going to have so many options! And it sounds you really don't need him around to do anything but hold you down! Spread your wings and flyyyyyy girl!

I will say, that the ONLY friends who have not hit serious stalls (that didn't last more than a few days or a week) are the ones who workout regularly. They lose -1 to -2 lbs at minimum every week, and if they do stall is not for very long (usually their bodies just adjusting). I see a big difference in the people who work out versus the people who do not and are battling stalls. They are bound to happen to everyone, but how your body reacts and the rate at which you lose is directly relational to how much you work out!

** and I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY encourage people to try water aerobics, several sleeve friends have had a LOT of success with it, getting back into shape. Easier on the joints and just as good if not better than most land workouts!!! Great cardio and good or tightening up skin as you go!!!

My doc finally cleared me to be back in the Water again 15 days post op. I have a pretty crazy workout schedule. I play collegiate water polo 4 nights a week for 2.5 hours, and I swim on the University’s Master's Swim team on my lunch 3 days a week for 1.5 hours. The first 2 days were the roughest, I was extremely sore and exhausted. Doing this much working out on such little calories is daunting and not for the faint of heart. I'm 6 week out tomorrow and don't remember the last time I felt this good! I will say that doing team/club sports is night and day different from going to the gym on my own. I'm lucky to stay focused enough to do 45 minutes on an elliptical or treadmill, whereas when I get in the water I'm not staying place, I'm engaging with other people, being pushed by my team members, and have a coach guiding my workouts. I never get bored. My mindset is not to just survive practice, but to be one of the best, swim the fastest, throw the ball the hardest, and be an MVP. When I do get out of the water whether it was water polo or masters swim- I'm Jello, my body is completely exhausted and I feel like an Olympic champion (minus those sweet little gold medals). I have several fitness goals this semester, and I'm so motivated to get into the best shape ever, regardless of what the scale says. Our first ranked NCAA tournament is this weekend. Bet your bottom I've been going all Kong Fu Panda on my workouts-and the bonus?- I'm going to lose weight. I <3 my sleeve.

You got this mamma! You are sooo close I just know you are going to hit One-derland in the next few days!!!!! I remember killing ourselves for weeks or months, and you can do this in days!!! As for the ex, well it's called a break up because it's broken- and apparently the man is defective if he's blind not to see how awesome you are doing. He has to be going out of his way NOT to see your progress. Maybe we can put him in a boat with a couple of my ex's and send them off into the sunsest together? From the sounds of it, he will never acknowledge your weight loss, and just find new ways of brining you down. I don't know the man, and maybe you think he's amazing in every way- BUT this... fyi- YOU ARE AMAZING and deserve only the best and he's a fool for not breaking his neck to be with you. End Rant. Muah!

5 weeks post op and I've got to say it's been one of the worst weeks EVER to date. The fact that I even lost any weight at all was absolutely amazing to me, and possibly a first. I'm going to give a brief summary of this weeks events: Started the weekend with my grandmother ending up in hospice/emergency care with a diagnosis of death sometime in the next week, driving 18 hours to say our goodbyes in right before she slipped into a coma the day after we arrived. Got home and I got into a car accident Weds, followed by my home being broken into that following evening. By the grace of god, my car is not damaged and nothing was stolen (I was home and scared the intruder off and police took care of it from there). Sounds like a crappy enough week? It was. My nerves are shot. My coping mechanisms are barely holding on. A lot of praying, deep breathes, etc. And the icing on the cake of this week? Mother nature decided to make her appearance this week and I've been battling just to have enough energy to function and covered in acne. So, we are just going to say that this week needs to hurry up and be over as of today. And preferably, September can move right on along. I'm ready for the sunshine to break through the clouds. I only lost -1.9 lbs this week, and I'm totally okay with that! God bless my sleeve! It keeps me honest and on the right path even when I'm failing... so here's to better weeks, and better days ahead! Height: 5'9 Heighest Weight: 216 1st Goal Weight: 169 Sleeved 8/17/2012 @ 216 lbs Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9)

About 15 minutes after I posted this blog this morning I got the call that my grandmother passes away. My grandmother was the first person to hold me when I came into this world. On Sunday I had the previlege of holding her hand and telling her how much I loved her. At 9am est this morning she passed away quietly holding my grandfathers hand. She held out long enough to make it to their 60 year anniversary. She was just that damn good. Heaven's got another angel today.There just won't be another dame like her. While my heart is breaking, I'm so glad I could be with her this past week. I'm certainly jealous of the angels in heaven.

I just read this... and then did the math and realized I'm at the exact same point as you!!!! I'm 5 weeks today as well and half way to my first goal!!!! I made two goals first to 169 for my highest allowed healthy BMI and second to my dream weight of 145! Awesome! Thank YOU for sharing! Progress is awesommmmmmmeeee!!!