happilysleeved

I drink 8oz of the Isopure grape first thing in the morning to get my day started. I'm 7 months out. One bottle lasts 2 1/2 days and I just drink it while getting dressed for work and I get 15g of quick Protein for only 60 calories! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I think some people get thrown by the word addiction. Am I a food addict, heck yes! Did I eat when I was stressed, yes! Did I eat when I was bored, yes! Did I eat in social situations, yes! Did I eat to celebrate, yes! I totally needed the sleeve to help me get into good habits and overcome that part of my brain that would tell me "You've had a rough day, you deserve that chocolate"! Now to me, that totally sounds like an addict! This journey has been more psychological than I ever could have imagined! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I think what most people on here are trying to say is that with our sleeves if we focus on Protein goals and Fluid and make good food choices we typically stay pretty low calorie. I am 6 months out and track everything I eat on my fitness pal. Each meal I focus on high protein, then veggies or fruit. I eat my correct portions until I am full but not overly full. Right after surgery when you are still healing the amount is less. I always plan my food and make sure I have protein with me, but I am also at the point where I can go out to eat and make good high protein healthy choices! I am so thankful for my sleeve. I don't think someone that eats foods like scrambled eggs, turkey, fish, chicken, cheese, yogurt and vegetables would be considered anorexic! I now eat usually between 800 to 950 calories and have about 20 more lbs until goal! Hang in there! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hang in there, this is great advice on the carbs and tracking. I am 6 months out down 60lbs with 25 lbs more to go. I found that the last few months it has slowed way down. I track every bite in myfitnesspal and my doctor says to keep my carbs under 100, but I tend to stay around 50. Since I always do Protein first I really don't have room for the carbs other than those in a bit of fruit. I know if I am patient and just keep on track with my protein and fluids it will happen! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm 6 months out, and when I go to the movies, I take a bottle of Water and I pop my own 100 calorie bag of popcorn and put it in a ziploc in my purse! And I might take some beef Jerky or a piece of sugar free candy! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Yesterday was my 6 month Surgiversary and I am so thankful! I began this journey April 2012 and had my surgery on September 14, 2012. I began at 225, I'm 5'3 and was praying this surgery was the answer! What I have learned is that the surgery is the tool, but I am the answer. I definintely could not have done it without the sleeve because I really feel like it gives me the power to stay with the good habits I have been establishing and helps keep me on track. I have also learned that it is still important for me to track everything I put in my mounth on myfitnesspal, and as long as I focus on Protein first, then veggies or fruit and drink drink drink I will be a success. Have I realized it is ok if I have a bite of dessert everyone is sharing, absolutely! But, whereas now I can just eat one bite and that is all! I also know that I never realized how powerful or brains can be in terms of what it tells me psychologically and what has been ingrained in my habits that I never even realized. It takes a while for my brain to see me now like I am instead of 5 sizes ago. I'm also amazed at how sometimes I will feel like I have eaten too much or eaten all day long and then I check myfitnesspal and I'm at 700 calories! So, I now know that the brain can be a tricky sucker with weight loss. I have also learned patience! If the scale doesn't move for a few days or weeks, at first I would try all the things we read to get it to move, I now realize that is the time my body is trying to catch up and adjust and I usually lose a size in those periods. I also think that is the time my skin seems to tighten up! Today, 6 months out, I have lost 60lbs exactly, lost 5 sizes from a 18/20 to 12's and 10's. And I have lost over 50 inches overall! I still have about 25 lbs more to lose, but I am so happy at my progress and I know if I just keep on keeping on, I'll get there. I truly believe VSG is the best thing I have ever done for myself!

Readytobeskinny, exercise is the one area where i am hit or miss, sigh. Right now with my busy work schedule and kids' schedules we get home after dark most nights so I'm walking on my lunch hour or definitely walking on the weekends, and I have some bands and weights and DVDs at home. But I have not been as stringent as I should! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm six months out and I think after 3 months, I would have a skinnygirl margarita every now and then, it is 100 calories and I make sure and log it in to myfitnesspal. And it definitely only takes one!

I haven't lost 90, but have lost 60lbs in 6 months and am about 25lbs from goal. I don't have very much loose skin at all, but I notice that when I am in a stall for a little bit, that seems to be when the inches drop and my skin tightens up a bit. So, I'm ok with the slower loss than some because everything seems to tighten up in between. I am working out with barbells and bands, but only at home and not at a gym. Just when I get home at night, nothing major.

femgem, congrats on your surgery being so close, you will be on the other side before you know it. Before surgery I gathered as much info from here as possible and some good tips were to try to have some things on hand so you don't have to run out a bunch at the beginning. I had measuring spoons, measuring cups, strainer and a lid strainer for cans, I also had lots of broth, boullion cubes, little bowls, plates, utensils, Protein powder, SF pudding. The most important thing when you first get home is walk,sip, walk, sip and repeat. Don't worry so much first week about protein more about Fluid and walking all that gas out at first! Let me know how you are doing! Sent from my iPhone using VST

What a wonderful story! Congrats on all the hard work, it is amazing what you have accomplished in a year! I am six months out and know this is the best thing I have ever done! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm coming up on 6 months as well on 3/14. I'm down 58 lbs with 20 or so to go. I have been in a stall for a bit so I'm trying to be patient. I have gone down 4 sizes in pants and am currently in a 10 and a M shirt. I absolutely love my sleeve. I still try to follow all the rules, which now is sort of a no brainer on what to order out, or cook at home. I eat Protein first, then veggies or fruits, drink Water all day long and try to listen to my body. I have also found that it is ok if I'm taking my kids to the movies and want to have a treat to have some popcorn, only I pop my own 100 calorie bag and take it in a ziploc in my purse! LOL. I can definitely eat a little more now 4 to 6 oz. so I try to put dense protein in when I am temped to graze! I think the hardest thing for me has been more psychological. I was not really even aware how people treated me when I was heavy until now that I am not! Also, some days I still struggle with what I see in the mirror and have to remind myself of how far I have come in only 6 months! My advice to anyone just beginning on this jouney would have to be to plan, plan, plan, log everything in something like myfitnesspal, because sometimes your brain tells you one thing and it helps to see that you really only ate 700 calories today! Also, to just be patient and stay on course!

I agree with everyone, I use small plates and utensils. I also pre-plan, cook and pack my lunches and snack for work and for the week. We have a fridge in the breakroom at work and so I always have hard boiled eggs, string cheese, greek yogurt and tuna in there. I am also a little OCD (ok a lot) was even before surgery and my husband swears I could eat for a week out of my purse! At any one time I'll have little packets of almonds, beef jerky, individual packets of peanut butter and a cheese stick in my purse! It makes me feel better to know that I always have good options with me if I get in a jam. I'm now almost 6 months out and I find that I'm not as worried about having it all with me as I was in the beginning. I now know that I can stop in anywhere and get a cheese stick or some nuts! I also cook a lot from theworldaccordingtoeggface blog with her little mini muffin protein bites. My whole family loves all the different ones!

I am right there with everyone else. I was sleeved 9/14 and everything seems to have slowed way down. I am still eating right, drinking, etc. etc. I'm down 57 almost 58 lbs and was right on target, then it seems like I've been stuck since January losing the same 2 lbs! UGH! I'm trying to be patient, but like NGM said I was hoping to be closer to goal at my 6 months! I see people who make goal by 6 months and I think what am I doing wrong! I have gone from an 18/20 to a 12 in pants and from a 1x or 2x in tops to a M or L so I know I doing all right, it is just very frustrating for the last month and a half!

MsLissa12, congrats on your success! And, I too have had similar reactions to greasy fast food! My kids call my heightened sense of smell my Super Smell, and I am 6 months out! If the kids get fries, I just think they smell very yucky! I really think this is an awesome thing! Fast food items I really used to like I cannot even look at now. Since surger I have not eaten at McDonald's, Sonic, Panda Express, KFC, etc. I have had the small cup of chili at Wendy's and ate half of it. I just logged it into myfitnesspal. I have also found weirdly, that I crave things now I never would have before surgery. I did not eat asparagus at all before surgery and now I crave it with my fish, my chicken, shrimp or whatever! I like it with a little olive oil brushed on and a little garlic and lemon on it! It is so strange! I also get colder that I ever did before, I wear a lot of trouser socks to work now! Hang in there you are doing awesome!

I just turned 42 a few weeks ago, am married and have an 11 year old son and a 10 year old daughter. I was sleeved on 9/14 and am almost 60lbs down and about 25 til goal! This has been the best journey! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I had mine done at Baylor Trophy Club and it is just as the poster above said Foest Park was, small, private facility, nurses were very attentive, everyone was top-notch and very nice not only to me but to my mom and husband too! They had almost gourmet meals for my family that was there with me and I think there were only like three other people on my floor the night I was there after surgery. I don't think you can go wrong picking either hospital, or Dr. Kim for that matter! I'm 5 months out and after reading on VST, Dr. Kim and his staff seem to prepare us very well and give us lots of information to be successful!

Went to Disney with my husband and two kiddos 9 and 10. We flew and stayed at one of the lodges in the park and one of the best things I did was go to grocery delivery site, it think it was garedengrocer.com and got a case of Water, Greek yogurt, beef Jerky, RTD shakes, nuts, cheese sticks, all of our normal Snacks and ordered snacks for my family. They deliver it to your room your first day there! We then carried everything we needed in to the parks in string packs and only ate our lunch and dinner meals out! Not only did it save us lots of money, but helped me stay on track! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I am 6 months out and I think at 4 months out I got some natures own multi grain 100 calories English Muffins and only ate 1/2 of one. I spread a thin layer of Peanut Butter and sugar free strawberry preserves on it, heated it for a few seconds and it made my mouth Water and was so yummy! Sent from my iPhone using VST

You should be fine, like others I went back to work about 10 days out. Be sure and pack tons of Water if you have to stand in line and appropriate food for your stage on the plan, Protein shakes or if you are on soft foods yogurt. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was also in a 3-4 week stall, just the same lb going up and down, but finally broke this week and now down 55lbs total with 30-35 still to go! I think it is funny that we all think we are slow losers, but if you look at all of us in September we are all around the same rate, so maybe we are just normal! I keep telling myself the weight did not get put on in 5 months so it is not going to all come off in 5 months and to just be patient, which is of course easier said than done, right! When I was in my stall, even though I was still eating 800 calories and getting in all my water and protein my brain was telling me "Well it looks like your are done". But I know that is not true, so just hang in there! My Nutritionist did tell me that the closer I get to lower BMI's the slower the weight loss would be and that was ok! He said to focus more on that than the number on the scale (also easier said than done, right)! He also said on the BMI chart the numbers are really old, and he would never encourage anyone to be at the low end of that range.

I'm 5'3 surgery was 9/14/12, SW 225 CW 170 so down 55 and I've lost 4 sizes but I haven't lost in 3 weeks now and a little discouraging! Just trying to hang in there! Still have 40 lbs to goal so I will just keep on going! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I get a tall skinny cinnamon dolce latte with one Splenda, 90 calories! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Before my surgery, my hubby was more scared than anything. We tried to talk about it several times and he was very nervous about me having surgery, etc. I had made a private list of the reasons I had for wanting the surgery and things I was looking forward to doing after losing weight. I decided to show the list to him and he admitted he was just nervous but supported me, and that really helped. 4 1/2 months later it has been the best decision I have ever made and mine and his relationship is stronger than ever! Sent from my iPhone using VST