BonnieJuneE

I had my surgery one year ago exactly (11/27/10) and I've lost 164 lbs. I now weigh 161 lbs and have been maintaining with in 2 lbs for about a month now.

Thank you ladies! This is actually an old post and things are still going well. I am now 11 months out and plan to make a long video on YouTube as well as post here at my one year mark. Just a quick update since this post was made: I'm now Down 160#'s, weighing in at 165. So I'm at what I'm now calling my personal goal. I look forward to sharing more next month.

Hi there! I haven't been super active on the forum lately but I'm trying to change that and your post just happened to catch my eye. I am 5'8.5 and the day of surgery (November 27 2010) I was 325#. Now 10.5 months post op I have lost 155#'s. I am 170...5 lbs under my Dr's original goal of 175. I have made YouTube videos along the way if you would like to watch my journey. Please see the link in my signature. Good luck on your journey and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. :-) ~Bonnie

Hi Everyone And thank you for your kind words. I just uploaded 2 new videos to YouTube (only because it was too long to be 1 video) If you would like to check it out please look in my Signature below and click the link. Thanks!

HELLOOOOOO Everyone!! I am so sorry that I have once again been MIA for a while. After I made my last update (6 Month Update-Down 115 lbs!!!) I was so busy with the wedding and new job that I didn't log on for close to a month. Then when I finally tried to access my account I was unable to do so. I have been going back and forth with the Admin's for the last 1.5 months trying to gain access to VST. I have TRULY missed all of you guys! (Especially my SO CAL Sleeves Group!!!!) Now that I have access again I will try to be a lot more active on here like I used to be. :-) OK, OK, UPDATE TIME!!! The wedding was absolutely perfect in every way. I will be making a YouTube video on Saturday and I will make sure to put pictures at the end if anyone is interested in checking them out. My Job has become something that is very fulfilling and I enjoy going in to the office every day. I am so busy some days that I forget to breath but I never forget to get all of my Protein in. I am now down 143 #'s at 8.5 months out which is only 7 lbs away from the goal that my Dr. set at 175#'s. I think that I will be "Comfortable" at the Dr's goal of 175 but I want to let my body stabilize where it is happy. As or right now I really don't know where I am going to end up because this is the smallest I've ever been in my adult life so I cannot say what "Normal' is. I am still loosing consistently every week so I think that my body is going to go below 175 no problem. In the last 2.5 months I have seen the most drastic changes in the way that my body looks and fits in to clothes. I see it in my progress pictures; everything is really tightening up. I FEEL small...Even my harshest critics told me that I look like I am 145ish and guessed Size 8 pants. (Which I laugh at because those number are so foreign to me...lol) Realistically I am in Large-Medium Shirts from regular department stores and Size 10-11 Pants Depending on the Brand. (5'9") I have sooooo Much more to talk about that I will address in my video on Saturday so please watch it if you want more of an update. I'm really looking forward to being active again and can't wait to meet some of the newer users that I've missed since being away!! Thank you all again for the nice comments on my 6 month update!

Hi All and Thank you for all of the responses. This was actually my 6 month update that got bumped to the top when some one commented yesterday... :-) I am now 8.5 months post op and will be posting tomorrow with a new update. Sorry I've been MIA for a while I will explain everything when I post tomorrow. Thanks again!! :-)

Thank you every one for your kind words and encouragement. I'm very glad to hear that my videos/ posts have helped some of you. To answer this: I guess you can say that I have followed a "plan" but really it is just making sure my body is getting what it needs. I always drink at least 64 oz of Fluid a day. I make sure I get at least 70 grams of protien a day but it is usually more (closer to 80-90). I stick with lean protien (seafood, chicken, pork loin, leans red meat, ground turkey) 99% of the time. I ALWAYS keep a few things cooked and cut up in little pieces in the fridge so they are easy to grab if I'm headed out or home for a quick lunch. I stick to under 30g of carbs a day if I am not working out. These carbs usually come from fruit or vegetables as well as veggie chips. On the days I go to the gym I eat closer to 50 grams of carb because if I don't eat more carbs before I work out I get dizzy. I have not had a problem with dairy but I find that the carbs always run high in regular milk so I drink Unsweetened Organic Soy milk to cut back on carbs and give me more protien. I also follow the "golden sleeve rules." No eating and drinking together and Protien First!! A normal day may look like this: Breakfast -Unjury Protien drink- (1 cup Chilled decaff coffee, 1 cup unsweetend soy milk, 1scoop unjury protien chocolate splendor, torani sugar free syrup) I sip on this all morning long while at work. Over ice it is amazing and tastes like I real treat. Snack- String cheese or turkey Jerky Lunch- what ever I have prepared ahead of time for that week. IE: cooked chilled Shrimp or a hard boiled eggs or roasted chicken salad (with veggies no mayo), grilled steak strips. Snack- Veggie Chips or fruit Dinner- always a protien and some kind of veggie. I cook other sides like Pasta or rice for my fiancé and may have a tiny bite but not very often. If we go out it is almost ALWAYS for sushi and I just get sashimi, no rolls or rice still. "Dessert"- I still love sugar free popsicles so we keep those around but I will usually have another 1/2 scoop of chocolate protien powder warmed in decaff coffee about 1.5 hours before we go to bed. Or I make protien pudding Popsicles that are really good as well. On days that I work out I will add a half piece of toast with some Smart Balance spread and jam, or some cheese and crackers about an hour before I work out other wise I get really dizzy. All of these are just a few examples of a "typical" day. I have a huge variety of foods that I cycle through often so that I do not get bored as well. Hope this helps!! Thank again everyone!!

Hellllooooooo Everyone! I know I have been MIA for a while but I have been extremely busy with all of the new things going on in my life. (New House, New Puppy, Wedding that is now in 7 days, New job) I hope you understand. Yesterday (May 27th) was my 6 month surgiversary but I decided to stick to my routine and not weight in until this morning. Before I got on the scale I though to myself (Like I have MANY times over the last 6 months) "I did everything right this week but I know the weight loss has to slow down at some point, so its OK if I don't pull a big number." I got on the scale and I was down another 4 pounds from last week!!! Bringing my total in 6 months and 1 day to exactly 115 lbs!!! I started this journey at 325# and I am now 210#!! Here are a few things that have really stuck out in my mind about my journey so far... Since surgery I have not gone one week with out losing. I know this will change and some point and I am prepared for it because I though it would have already happened by now. This probably isn't normal but it is possible. I stick to my plan and it pays off. :-) I have been making You Tube videos since 6 weeks post op, as well as taking progress pictures and measurements weekly and those 3 things have helped me get through this journey mentally more then I can even begin to express. You can not see what other see unless you take these pictures along the way and TRULY look at them. It is hard to look back and see where you started but it feels damn good to see where you are at now and how your body is changing. PLEASE TAKE PICTURES AND MEASUREMENTS!!! It will truly blow your mind! With the removal of the Ghrelin it has been like some one flipped a switch in my head and I no longer have a constant nagging hunger. Eating is no longer something that consumes my every though, it is still enjoyable but not all encompassing. I am able to go out with friends and not be ashamed to order the quantity that I really way. I can go to sushi and not leave with an empty wallet or with my head hung in shame over how much I just ate. I can go to a BBQ with friends and not be worried about if they are making enough food or think about if I should eat before I go so I don't end up hungry... I still feel no physical hunger. I know I need to eat and get enough nourishment so I plan my day accordingly and still enjoy what I eat. I love cooking and that has not changed one bit. I cooked healthy before but it was just in HUGE quantity and I am amazed that I DO NOT miss sitting down to plow through a plate of food. Exercise is now something that I actually enjoy doing again. I am not saying that if you have always hated exercise you all of a sudden love it now, but for me I used to enjoy it... Until I got so big that it was uncomfortable to even bend down to put on my gym shoes. I do not enjoy mindless walking/ jogging on a tread mill... I love resistance training and hiking. You have to find something that works for you. I do not go to the gym 5 days a week, nor do I feel that I need to. I try to go 3 times a week at least, some times 4, but lately with all the new stuff going on it has honestly been more like once or twice a week. I know I need to step it back up but the weight loss is just about the same when I exercise and when I don't. I exercise for my over all health and to build/ keep muscle tone. My hair has gotten substantially thinner but I had really thick hair to start with... When I went in to have my "mock up hair do" done for the wedding, the stylist said that it is already growing back in and you wont be able to tell at all in 6 more months... She also said that when it is dry and naturally down you can not tell at all. The loss started pretty heavy 3 months post op and has slowed down over the last few week. So be prepared for hair loss but know that is does get better. There is SOOO much more I could write about but I feel like I am rambling so I'm going to stop... :-) However I would like to say THANK YOU to all of you on the board that have unknowingly answered so many of my questions along the way and I look forward to being able to help others the way you have all helped me. If you are new and have questions feel free to ask away... ~Bonnie

It's was great seeing everyone today!! Bummed I missed the group photo op though. Haha. See you all next time!! :-)

You look AMAZINGGGG lady!! Can't wait to see you at the next meeting!!

Just watched your video meggie...Great Job! I look forward to seeing your progress!! Hope my videos help answer any questions you may have. Julie was one of the first people I watched as well and she continues to be an inspiration as I progress on my journey... I can only hope that I inspire someone like she has for us! :-)