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Hello, my surgery was Jan. 21st 2013. I started out weighing 360lbs and wearing 4xl shirts and size 44-46 waist pants. In the last 9 months I have lost 140lbs and now weigh 220lbs and wear xl shirt and down to a size 32-34 waist pants. Here is before and now pictures since a picture might help you more.

Here is the link to the unjury Cheese. http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/high-protein/mac-n-cheese/proteind-cheese-sauce

They also have turkey ones. I didnt like the ostrich or elk ones.

For anyone who likes cheese popcorn, Unjury has a protein cheese powder. I take some pop corn and put it in a baggy with the cheese powder and shake it up. Gives you some protein with the snack.

Not sure how far out you are but my go to snacks are quest bars, mixed nuts, or ostrim sticks (protein packed slim jim).

Its mostly head hunger. Once you start getting fluids in and start protein drinks that will go away.

Here is a list of companies that will send you free samples. This thread is pinned in food and nutrition section of the forum. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/90613-list-of-bariatric-nutritional-companies-offering-free-samples/

Everyone is different. So one person might lose more than another or lose faster or slower than someone else. If you are willing to put the time in and do the work you can lose 100lbs with the sleeve no problem. I am 9 months out and have lost 140lbs so far. But I started at 360lbs so I had more to lose. I also work out 5-6 times a week. Lie said it comes down to what best is for you and how much you will work to get to where you want to be. Just do as much research before you decide. I started with thinking I wanted the band and started everything just to drop out and wait almost 2 years before coming back to have the sleeve surgery. I was mentally ready for the surgery and want to do more research before hand. This is a great site to ask questions and learn.

I like to add another to this list that just drives me up a wall. I go out to the bar with friends but I don't drink and just get Water. I get hit with "why are you not drinking" I either tell them about the surgery or just say I am DD. Later on when everyone gets drunk I get asked again by the same people that asked me before. It made me not want to go out to the bar any more. The sad thing is even friends that know about the surgery ask me why I am not drinking when they get drunk.

After losing a lot of weight I am cold more than I was before. I dont have that extra person to keep me warm. Before surgery I would have 3 fans going when I was sleeping. now I have one fan on low setting and that is getting to be to much and might have to start adding more blankets.

It comes down what you believe is best for you and your lifestyle. I choose the sleeve because I thought the bypass was for the extreme. For people that could get up and move. 400lb plus people. If you are going with the bypass just because of the dumping to prevent you from eating the wrong things you might want to look into why you want this surgery. You are going to have to have will power and its not easy you will have to work at it either with the bypass or the sleeve. Its a tool that helps by helping you not eat so much. It doesn't force you to eat right, follow the rules, and work out. all that is on you. Again its up to you what surgery you choose but I wouldn't put you in the extreme category by looking at your profile.

Well in the hospital they pump you full of water. That could be one reason. Dont stress up just yet your body is healing. You just had major surgery and put a lot of stress on your body. Give it time to heal and stay on track with your diet.

I am 9 months post op and have lost 140lbs so far. I have to say all my tattoos have held up pretty good. But I dont have any in areas common for loose skin like my upper arms, stomach, or thighs. I have a half sleeve one my right are and a qourter sleeve on my right arm then a dragon and dagger on my right caf. All of them have held up. Here are some pictures. in the first one you can see my qourter sleeve and in the seconf my half sleeve that will be a full sleeve once I hit my goal (20 more pounds).

Hey, I am 9 months out and have been on a stall for about a month and a half. But in that time I have droped a shirt size and pants size. So yes I am not loosing weight per say I am shrinking. I am also lifting and working out so it might be the growth in muscle making it seem I am not losing weight but really I a losing fat and gaining muscle. Stalls are normal. Your body does it because its change and adjusting. Also you need to get back on track go back to the basics. get the Protein and Water in and small meals every 3-4 hours. If you can get a workout in when you can. got to change things up. Hang in there

I eat 2-3 of the quest bars a day and they fill me up. I eat them slow. The cookie dough ones I put in the microwave for 15 sec and eat it slow with a fork. I am only 9 months post op so this might change later with them not filling me up but right now it works. I eat 5-6 times a day and get about 130g of protein in a day.

Hey, yes this is pretty normal. they pumped you with tons of fluids while you were in the hospital. Dont let the numbers fool you. That weight will come off pretty quick.

not trying to burst anyones bubble but be careful with some of the ohyeah bars. Some of the flavors are not that great for you. here a article I read the other day about some Protein bars that are just as bad a candy bars. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/7-nutrition-bars-that-are-worse-than-candy I stick with Quest Bars they are awesome. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/7-nutrition-bars-that-are-worse-than-candy

So Monday will be 9 months since my surgery (Surgery date was Jan 21st.). I started at 360lbs with a 54bmi. Was in 4XL shirts and size 44-46 pants/shorts. After 9 months I have lost 140lbs now weighing 220lbs and my bmi is right around 30ish. I am now in a XL shirts and in a size 32 pants/shorts. I workout almost everyday of the week from running, the gym, and Jiu-Jitsu. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. I am very open and love to help. Here are some pictures

I had no problems with any of my tattoo's. But all my tattoos are in places that wouldn't be affected that much. my forearms did lose some mass but no where near enough to cause issues. The big one you see in the picture in my now photos I got a week after surgery. I am working on the loose skin in my upper arm by lifting and try to fill it out so I can finish the sleeve.

Thanks everyone. Still have 20lbs to go to hit my goal of 199lbs. but i feel great and have tons of energy. If anyone has any questions about what I am doing or eating or anything just let me know. I am always around if anyone has questions or needs help.

The money in my first picture is my friends wifes tips from the night before. It was all ones and we we teasing her saying you sure you dont work at a stip club. lol.

I fellow my program almost to the T. I eat 5-6 times a day. I drink a Protein Drink first thing in the morning and another one after my work outs (if I don’t work out I don’t do another protein drink), followed by my Vitamins. Around noon I eat a Quest bar then have 2 regular meals meat protein and some veggies for my first and second brake. Then another quest bar later in the night around 11pm. When I do feel like I need a little something I eat some fruit and nut trail mix or some string cheese. I do treat myself to sugar free frozen yogurt once a week or some sugar free chocolate milk.

Just go to the first post of this thread and go down to the Vitamins. Click on Wellesse and send them a e-mail asking for a free sample and if you want tell them what you need them for. They will send you out samples.

Thank you so much. No I don't do coupons I don't have time to do so. I am to busy living now that I lost most of my extra weight. Just did another 5k race over then weekend and have another on in 3 weeks.

Great news everyone Alex was able to get the edit button fixed for posts past a month. So I will start editing this on the main page again. Ill be adding a few things this week to it and maybe making it more simple by changing the links to that company's contact page to make it easy to e-mail them for free samples.