kmwheel

Sorry if this question is in the wrong forum. I am from central Illinois, but I'd be willing to drive a few hours to a MTF that will do the sleeve. I have been researching the band and got the referral, but now I'm having second thoughts about it. I can't figure out which military hospitals actually do VSG because I know it's not all of them. My spouse is active duty.

I was sleeved 9/14/2012, went from 232 to 154, and the only time I stopped losing was very recently when my water aerobics class (at the city pool) let out for the summer. I was doing a musical in community theater at the time, with lots of singing and dancing, and running around behind stage. After I finished that, bam...no more weight loss. I even gained a couple of pounds back...yikes. So, I just went and joined the Y today, because there's no way I can take a hiatus from activity for the entire summer like that. I can't walk outside when it's 105...just can't do it. Weight loss is slower now, but it's still happening.

I was stuck at 160 for what seemed like forever, and then just started drinking a ton of Water. I drink 20 oz. as soon as I wake up in the morning and then keep that going through the day. I've also been eating a ton of plain greek yogurt. I stir in different toppings to keep it interesting. So within the past couple of weeks I've dropped 4 more pounds, getting to 156. My personal goal is 140.

Surgery date 9/14, SW 232, current weight 160. It's hard to stay away from sweets...they don't bother me a bit.

I was with Dr. Kelly in Tijuana 9/14/2012. Cost was $5500 inclusive, and my husband traveled with me. With expenses and flight, I think we spent about $6500 total. I have had zero complications, recovery was quick, and I felt that the care they gave me was above average. I just wish I could have done it sooner. At 5 months out, I've lost 64 lbs., so my average loss is 12.8 lbs. per month. I think one of my biggest surprises from this journey is that I enjoy food more now than I ever have...I just don't need to eat as much!

I lost an entire size in my feet and went from a wide shoe to a medium width. Lost a whole closet full of shoes, but what I've gained is so much more.

I'd be writing angry letters or speaking to management about something like that. Disney is supposed to be so great about accommodating people with special needs, and I'd say having 85% of your stomach removed counts as special!! I hope that the rest of your time was enjoyable and you've been able to find decent foods to eat. Boo on them!

You could very well be right about that. I know that before my surgery, I would eat until it actually hurt me...and still keep eating (and I think I had reflux, too). When I started my pre-op diet, I started feeling better, and I've felt good ever since. I didn't really trust the first surgeon since so much seemed to get messed up by her staff. Maybe she was reading someone else's results?? LOL

Valentine's Day will be 5 months for me and right now I'm at 169 (hello 160's!!). I started at 232, so that's about 12 lbs. average per month. It doesn't really come off in an even way, though. Sometimes I'll go for a week or two not losing and then lose 2 or 3 lbs. in a week. I'm thrilled to have lost 63 lbs. and it just freaks me out that I have 29 lbs. to go to reach my goal.

The first surgeon I went to told me I had a hernia and they'd repair it when they went in. Her office screwed up my insurance paperwork, so I went self-pay with a different surgeon. My actual surgeon said he didn't see anything in there that would be worth repairing. I have had zero issues with it if there is one. There's no way something like that could heal on its own, is there?

Amazing adventure. Thank you so much for sharing. You had me in tears at some points. It's a very similar experience to mine.

I am 5'4" started at 232 (9/14/2012 surgery) and I'm 170 right now. My surgeon didn't set a goal for me. I just figured if I could get in the healthy BMI range, I'd be thrilled (140 lbs. would be the top of that for me). I go up and down a few pounds on the scale, too, but I do like to weigh every day just to keep myself in check. I was on blood pressure meds before, so I also want to make sure I'm not eating too much salty stuff. To tell you the truth, anywhere I end up will be great with me. I just want to get somewhere stable that I can maintain so I can start buying clothes!! By the way, you look awesome, starsleeve!!

I am just in a "plain" water aerobics class three days a week for 1 hour, and that costs $40 a month. When my husband deploys overseas, we get a free family YMCA membership. I checked the website and it looks like they have many classes every day, including Aqua Zumba and different levels of classes. I'm really looking forward to trying that...if I can do a lot of classes, maybe it will make the time go faster.

I had the same thing happen where I was "outed" to a stranger (waitress) by a friend. I just gently remind them that it's my story to tell and I get to choose where and when. She probably is proud, and/or not really thinking. I think jealousy can be an issue, too. I've been really lucky with my friends...they all seem genuinely happy for me, but I also rarely even talk about my weight loss or other issues...good or bad. I'm just trying to be as "normal" as possible out in the world. I can still remember, though, going out dancing with a friend (back in the olden days) and there was a hot guy who would not leave me alone. She seemed pretty pissy about it, and on the way home said, "I guess he just likes BIGGER girls." That was definitely not something a friend would say. I could have gone on and on that maybe he liked girls who were pretty, nice, had a great personality...etc., but the truth is, heavy or skinny, we all have our insecurity demons...and I'd much rather have mine than somebody else's!

I still get those pains, too. I am almost 5 months out. When it really hurts, I take a Gas-x gel cap. Otherwise I just try to wiggle around until it comes out one way or the other.

If the G2 is too sweet for you, you could do like I do and cut it with half water. I get the N2 (generic G2) from Aldi for about $.60 for a 32 oz. bottle. I like the purple the best...let's not call it "grape", lol. It definitely helped me get through the first few months...I just couldn't get enough water. Somehow the half and half was able to go down better and I'd be able to get the 64 oz. in.