dominique

I started out a 22w. I'm 4 months out. I'm now a 16w. For me I have been dropping about a size a month. I started at 236 pounds and am now 191.

Thanks everyone!

I went through this too. I was going crazy with getting in fluids, protein, and supplements. I felt obsessed. It was all I thought about all day long. Now at 4 months out it is routine. It just takes a while. Stick with it and it will get better. I know that sounds trite, but seriously, that's what it takes. Progress, progress, progress!

I lost inches everywhere else except my boobs at first. I would find smaller tops that fit my waist and hips but were too small for my boobs. Now at 4 months out I have gone from at 42C to a 38C.

I tried popcorn at about 3 months. It did not hurt and I was surprised at how much I could eat. I haven't tried brownines. I usually scrap the toppings off 2 small slices of pizza. That's all I can eat. But I did eat some of the bread during our recent move.

We are still "together". As together as I can be with a homelss man. I still love him. I did not expect things to turn out the way they did. But I do have to take care of myself and my daughter. She moved in with us to go to college when she lost her job. She finishes in December. I told him to give me a year until my lease is up and we'll reassess. But I expected him to move on with his life. I guess at 73 he is finding it hard to do. His family has not known anything about what has been going on. He didn't want to tell them. But he is not taking responsibilty for himself. So I'm getting the family involved. I'm not ready to just drop him off at the closest street corner, but it may very well come to something like that. And the thought of that just terrifies me. I hope they can talk some sense into him. In the meanwhile if you guys think of anything I should be doing to get back on track that I've missed it would be great. You guys have always been so supportive. Thanks for being here.

So April 20, 2012 was 4 months from my gastric sleeve surgery. I started out at 236 pounds. I’ve been thinking a lot about where I am in my journey. I can eat 3-4 ounces of meat and 2-3 ounces of veggies. I can now eat and actually feel full. I don’t feel like I’m stuffed and choking on my food. My sleeve doesn’t feel uncomfortable or hurt when I eat most of the time. Chicken still feels uncomfortable at times. In the beginning I was so frustrated that I would never be able to eat somewhat “normally” again. Coordinating my meds, food, protein, supplements, and liquids has become routine. I still have to be vigilant, but I don’t feel like I’m “obsessed with food” so much. I gained 10 pounds with my surgery. No one warned me about that. It took about 6 days for that weight to come off. I’ve lost 45 pounds since my journey began. My biggest problem, my waist (I’m apple-shaped – worse for the heart), is 3 ½ inches smaller. At 1 ½ weeks out, I went through a 4 week stall. I thought the surgery was a failure and that I would always be a big, fat, unhealthy mess. I had put SOOOO much faith in the surgery, I guess expected immediate results. The stall finally broke, I lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks, and hit another stall for 5 days. The scale was stuck at exactly 204.0. I wanted to hit Onederland so bad, but had to be patient. I finally hit 199 on 3/9/12. I have not been losing weight gradually. Even when I do lose, I gain back, lose again, gain back, lose again, with an eventual net loss. I still have stalls but don’t stress like I used to. It’s going to happen when it happens. Apparently I am a slow loser. But at least it’s a loss. I’ve had to learn patience. I started out at size 22-24. Today I put on size XL pants. I wear 14/16W shirts. I can fit some XL shirts. I had an NSV – I had to tighten the armband for my IPOD because my arms were smaller. I’ve started hiking again. I can eat some spicy foods finally (love it!). My hair is thinning now. My inner thighs look like elephant thighs with the loose skin. I guess wearing a bikini is out! (I'm 52 years young anyway ) I’m doing good and don’t regret the surgery at all. Screw the stalls! I will be triumphant! The bottom line is, IT IS GETTING BETTER! I had a hard time believing this in the beginning, but this website and all of you have been a godsend, giving me faith. Thank you all for being here! ! !

Well, VSG surgery is a big change and a lifelong commitment like any other big change and lifelong commitment. It’s a journey you take in steps. Since you already have sobriety under your belt and are taking your meds, you have a great beginning. This site is a wealth of information and support. There is another site, www.gastricsleeve.com , that is also helpful. It seems to be geared more towards younger people (I’m 52) so you may like it better. The good thing about recovery programs is that you learn to accept life on life’s terms. This can be applied towards VSG surgery. In fact I apply many of the recovery principles toward my VSG journey. I have been sober only since 10-31-11. But as time goes on it becomes more and more apparent that I SHOULD NOT DRINK with this new stomach. Especially not the way I drank. It would be caustic for me and cause more health problems than I would have had with a regular stomach. That being said, it is overwhelming to think that I can NEVER drink again. Luckily we have the one day at a time principle to help us get through things so that they don’t seem too overwhelming. I apply the recovery principles “in all my affairs” including my VSG journey. You’re probably luckier that others because you have a recovery program to help you with your VSG journey. Good luck!

Like everyone said, this is normal. My boyfriend also bottles things up. Just talking about this to your husband will probably make him aware of his feelings. He will know that he is not the only one. In the meanwhile, you have us!

smallgirlsxthree you remind me of myself. Completely lost and full of anxiety in the "normal" clothes section, waist and hips porportionally smaller than the boobs, just hit 199 3 days ago! I love this site. It's great to know I'm not the only one. Congrats on Onederland. Hope the interview went well.

I've eaten out twice since being sleeved 12/19/11. The first time was Red Lobster with supportive friends. I did not mind taking leftovers home. The second time was a Chinese buffet. THAT was harder. I felt like I was wasting food because I couldn't eat more. Messsed up, huh? No wonder I got to where I was! I noticed the food did not taste as good. I tried a couple of greasy things and wanted to throw up. I did not overeat though because I'm still getting used to how much to eat and was so afraid of overeating. I keep protein shakes in the car and drank one of those a couple of hours later. However, I am glad that I can now get some fast foods (like Wendy's chili) when I'm on the go. I got tired of only drinking a protein shake or eating a protein bar when on the go.

I just hit 199 3 days ago. It's the smallest I've been in 20 years. I already like saying my weight. You go girl!

Congrats on the NSV and the anniversary!

And it's Onederful! This is my first goal post op. I'm almost 3 months out. I started at 236 and today I'm 199.2. I feel great and don't regret my decision.

Thank you everyone! I'll be 52 Friday. What a great birthday present!

I also hate to barf, but I decided I would hate stomach problems even more. So I barf. Better safe than sorry. It is a learning process. I'm better at judging how much to eat now. I'm almost 3 months out.

My drinking something hot (tea, broth, whatever) really helped me.

My doc said to make sure the meds don't have NSAIDS. I have to take something with Tylenol (acetaminophen).

Can't wait for you to join!

I'm from LA but I went through Cedars. I did not have to lose weight before surgery. But my journey from first visit with my primary care physician for referral to actual surgery was about 9 months.

Congrats! I hit 199 today too!

Every time I try to join this group I get an error: Invalid link: Security key for this page is invalid. Anyone know what to do?

I just started my 10th week yesterday. I started this journey at 236 pounds. I was 221 the morning of my surgery. I weighed in at 202 this morning. So 34 pounds so far. I’ve lost 3.5 “ in my waist, 2.5” in my hips, 2” in my underbust, but only 1.5 “ in my bust. I’ve been hoping that I would not lose my boobs and have been grateful so far. Until now. A couple of my size 16 tops fit in the hips and waist – but not in the boobs! So now I’m hoping I will lose more in my boobs, but not TOO much! This must be a case of be careful what you ask for – you might get it! LOL!

I can watch TV in bed with only one pillow now because my stomach isn't in the way! It is less stress on my neck.

It does get easier. I was a little more developmentally slower than others. It is a process. I too felt like a baby learning to eat and drink. I wanted to cry like a baby too! I was sooo frustrated sometimes. I just started my 10th week yesterday. I did not feel somewhat "normal" until about 6 weeks. Everyone deveops differently. I'm sooo glad I did it! It seems like you have a handle on things so far. You seem very positive. Good luck on your progress!