Carrie's Journey

Just curious how much weight you lost each month. By low BMI, I mean about 60 or so pounds to lose total. I'm a super slow loser and I want to get to goal! About 20 more to go, and it'll probably take me 4 more months at my turtle pace. Month 1: 16 lbs, month 2: 5 lbs, month 3: 8 lbs...

I am 4 1/2 years out and I drink zero cal energy drinks. They go down fine and have for awhile. I probably didn't have any carbonated drinks for at least the first year. I have regained a bit but it was from a pregnancy and eating crap. I'm going back to basics tomorrow but I'll continue with my energy drinks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 4 1/2 years out and will be going back to basics starting tomorrow. I was at goal for 2 years and then my regain happened with my last pregnancy... I haven't been able to follow the plan since then. I'm super bummed about this but I'm motivated to get back on track. My goal is to lose 30 lbs!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I took the medication religiously and had my gallbladder taken out one year after my vsg. I probably had gallstones before... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 31 (almost 32) and was sleeved 7/31/12 by Dr. Cirangle in San Francisco. Anyone out there who was sleeved at a similar time so we can go through the stages together, sort of? I was a lower BMI: 32 so weight loss is slower for me but the experience should be similar. I'm at Day 10 and have lost 11 lbs. Anyone interested in keeping in touch like pen pals?

How many days are you staying in Mexico? Do you think you'll be ready for the travel back home?

Since not many people know about my surgery, I had to come on here to share about my surgerversary! I was a low BMI'er and self-paid a ton of money and this has been the best decision of my life. My high weight was 220, day of surgery 190, current weight 140. I'm 5'5". I'm trying to take off the last couple of pounds but I'm super happy at 140 and so is my surgeon. My bloodwork was awesome and I'm feeling great. Here are some pictures. Even one with the fabulous Dr. Cirangle!

I love them. My favorite is the Apple Pie. At a year out, they're not as filling as before and they don't always satisfy my sweet cravings. So now I only eat one if I want to eat something worse (like candy). It's a good substitute for snacky food but I don't use them as meals.

You guys are all too kind. I never imagined I could weigh 140. It was so much fun seeing the scale when I was losing. Maintaining can be difficult if you don't watch it. I weigh every day and if I see the number go up, the carbs go down. Those damn carbs. Still hard to conquer and I will probably always be addicted to them. When I cut them out, I'm in control again. I still eat too fast. Restaurants are not fun. Some of my favorite foods: ProtiDiet hot cocoa every morning mixed with instant coffee and sugar free raspberry syrup nectar Protein shakes Light & Fit greek yogurt. Apples (extremely filling) Quest bars, although they don't seem to be as filling anymore. I use them now as a substitute for crap food. Nuts, although they are totally a slider for me. "Bread pudding" made out of an egg custard and cottage cheese. banana nut protein muffins are to die for. Hungry Girl's turkey veggie meatloaf muffins. Grilled cheese rollups (lunch meat rolled around string cheese and grilled). Fave is ham and cheddar. Fave work lunch is chicken Caesar salad. There's more that I can't think of...

A pretty $17,500. Best investment of my life.

You had him too? Yes I love him! My husband thinks I have a crush on him. Lol

My Walmart grocery store. I don't eat them often but this looked good and convenient. We'll see how it tastes.

Has anyone tried this one?

Yep. Twice a day for 6 months.

I'm a year out next week and I can definitely eat a lot more now. I don't measure, but I still have a lot of restriction when it comes to solid, dense meat like chicken and steak. Maybe 3 oz or so? I can eat more fish, like 4 oz. And I can eat a lot of soft food - greek yogurt 5 oz easily. I can drink as much as I want. A 20 oz shake can go down pretty quickly if I'm thirsty and haven't eaten in awhile. Sometimes it depends on the day (when I'm hormonal it seems like I can eat all day long)...

I'm a year out and I just had my gallbladder removed after a bad attack. It was enlarged and I had lots of stones. We talked about the possibility of the surgery being open depending on scar tissue but everything went fine and it was done laparoscopically. I just have a few extra scars. I would consult another doctor for sure...an open surgery would be such a longer recovery.

Just had mine out about 3 weeks ago. Same story...extreme pain under my ribcage and back, felt like I was in labor or having a heart attack. Had a stone in the common bile duct. Surgery was a little harder than the vsg for some reason for me. The gas pain is the worst. Just pop the Norco for a few days.

Banana-flavored Greek yogurt? Yes. It's by Dannon Light and Fit, I believe.

I am in love with these Protein muffins. I'm a year out and just recently added back some oats, but these are still pretty healthy. banana bread protein muffins Ingredients 3/4 cup Ripe banana (about 1 large banana) 3/4 cup Egg whites 1/2 cup Plain low/non fat greek yogurt (I used banana) 3/4 cup Oats 2 scoops Protein powder (I used a combo of nectar Banana Cream, vanilla, Chocolate-all good) 1/4 cup Granulated Splenda (you can probably leave this out if you want) 1 tsp Baking powder 1 tsp Baking soda 1 tsp. Cinnamon I threw in some chopped walnuts and when I made chocolate banana muffins (pictured), I added 3 semi sweet chocolate chips on top. Yum! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray. Silicone liners are awesome...Will stick otherwise. Mix (wet with wet, dry with dry, then combine). Divide mixture evenly between 12 muffin tins. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Dr. Cirangle had me taking Actigall twice a day for 6 months. I lost most of my weight at that point. I am a year out this month and I went to the ER 2 weeks ago for what turned out to be gallstones in the common bile duct (OUCH). I had a ton of stones, and had my gallbladder removed. I have my 1 year follow-up with Dr. Cirangle next week so I'm curious about what he'll say. I may have had stones long before the sleeve, and had no symptoms. Or I may have developed them after, regardless of the Actigall. Who knows. I'm just glad it's all over!

He uses quite a few hospitals but I don't know which ones besides the one in SF, San Jose, and Concord. I paid part cash and the rest I used our paid-off truck to finance through our credit union. So the interest rate is low. They were super accommodating and got me in within weeks. It was because of a cancellation they had. I also work at a school and with surgery on the 31st, I had 3 weeks to recover before going back. It couldn't have worked out more perfectly.