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It will happen, follow the plan. You may still be carrying some Water weight from all the IVs and fluids you received in the hospital. Also if you start off weighing less the weight comes off slowly. Here is a URL that may help you put your loss into perspective, http://bea.amaya.com/PercentEWL.html. This site shows the percentage of excess weight loss you have lost When you compare yourself to others it often times is not a realistic benchmark. I am losing slower than others but expected it to be that way due to several factors. I am okay with that. It's not a race and I will get to my goal.

NothingUpMySleeve, How far are you out from your surgery? I am 9 weeks now and remember being very tired. I had a lot of energy the first week after surgery, had band removed ad sleeve performed, then had another surgery 10 days later. I attribute a lot of my tiredness to this and then getting a pretty nasty cold 3 weeks post op. The tiredness let me at a little over one month post-op. I hope you do post updates down the road stating you no longer regret the surgery since there is not an undo afterwards. Good luck with your weight loss journey.

Angel, Glad to hear your goal. We can help each other with our exercise goals and cheer everyone on toward their goals.

Here is one thread about members being cold. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/290470-anyone-else-cold-all-the-time/page-2#entry3298144 There are others out there as well.

SMART is used in many goal setting scenarios. Every year we have to set department and personal goals at work, then they are submitted to management and approved. Throughout the year we track progress throughout the year. Happy to say I met all my goals this year for work at 100%. Professor Edwin Locke is credited with developing the SMART system.

I have UHC and my deductible was $500 and maximum out of pocket was $1,000. Any services i had performed at the hospital I paid the amount they estimated it would cost prior to the procedure. This included EGD and motility study. The hospital called me to let me know what my estimated charges would be for the surgery. I paid that on the morning of the surgery during the admission process. Any other procedures I had before I met my deductible had to be paid. I also incurred co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions even though I had met my deductible. The best thing you can do is check with your surgeon's office and the hospital where your surgery is occurring so you are familiar with their financial procedures..

Arts, please keep Skippy under control, he is starting to visit and talk to me too.

I am from St. Louis and now 9 weeks out. Down 27 pounds.

In the past months, the next month's thread is set up prior to the current month's end.

At three months I can have trail mix, nuts and citrus fruits At six months I get beef, steak, pork and alcohol in moderate amounts

While I am new with the sleeve, I had a lap band for 6 + years which makes me a revision patient. When I had my band put in, I never thought it would have to come out. I planned on being a one time wls patient. I am so fortunate to have gotten a second chance. This has to wok for me for several reasons: because my insurance company only pays for one surgery unless there is a device failure or complication related to the surgery. Since I am a revision patient, I have the baggage of knowing that one surgery didn't work already, I am over 50 post menopausal revision patients tend to not lose as quickly as a virgin wls patient. I believe I have the right mind set and this will work. In my opinion it seems many people think I had wls, I am guaranteed to lose weight. I can continue to eat what I ate before but in smaller amounts. It amazes me when people are posting how they are eating foods too early. As a previous poster said if following their own opinion worked, why did they have to resort to WLS? I guess I fall into the mean category when I post replies to people on these type of topics of eating too soon. I tend to get a lot of flack. I am not perfect with my eating and do not profess to be. As Butter said during the honeymoon period it is easier. This is the time to make good choices and install the healthy eating habits that can get you to your goal at the end. WLS is not a magic wand or pill you can take and it automatically happens. It requires hard work and once you get to goal, then the works begins to stay there. As all of us have been on diets before and lost weight, you know the major reason we regained the weight and probably more is because we didn't maintain healthy eating habits and possibly quit exercising. I am off my soap box now.

I would check with your ins. co. also especially since it is so close to the end of the calendar year and make sure any past meetings will count if you switch surgeons. They may also be able to recommend a surgeon. Good luck. Sorry you are in such a bind.

I had one instance and I rang my call button, got a shot and it went away. I am 9 weeks out and have not gotten sick once since having surgery.

My doctor included right after surgery as week one. Week one for me was Clear Liquids and a Protein drink a day. Week 2 was full liquids and puree Soups plus protein. It depends on what your doctor says. If they give you instructions, that trumps what anyone else tells you.. My doctor's office gave me a very detailed pre and post-op diet book. It had food for each week through week 8. I wrote the date each week started to make sure I didn't move ahead by accident. I still have two more groups to go. I get additional items at 3 months and 6 months. Good luck to you in your journey.

Laura, well said. It's not a one size fits all. I was the same way with cigarettes when I smoked. I quit and after 9 months had 1 and was right back where I had been before I quit. It took me many times to quit. I knew it was like alcohol to an alcoholic one and hooked. I am happy to report that it has now been 28 years since I have had a cigarette.

I am up a couple but back on track. I plan to make 2014 my last New Year's that losing weight is my resolution. Only 45 pounds from goal.

I mentioned it a bit back and i think Fluffnomore may have also. My doctor's office said to make sure the pillowcase is not white to avoid it getting mixed with the hospital linens. I used my pillow in the hospital to sleep on and on the way home as a buffer between the seatbelt and my incisions. It was a big help.

Has the January challenge been started yet?

I lost over 80 pounds today! Bet that statement caught your attention. I actually did. I rode my bicycle today with the carrier and two grandchildren in it. The combined weight is over 80 pounds and once I finished riding I was no longer carrying it. Got in 12 miles today in 60 degree weather. Tomorrow in the 30s and Monday 21 for a high. Crazy weather here.

What I heard and what happened were completely different. I had no pain from CO2 gas. I didn't have any with my lapband nor with my gall bladder surgery. I had one time I felt nauseous in the hospital got a shot and it went away. I had my lapband removed and the sleeve performed on a Friday, came home on Sunday and was off pain meds after Monday. The leak test which I had read horrible things about was not bad at all. I think what I imagined was much worse than the actual thing. You will have some pain because it's surgery, but it isn't anything that pain meds can't treat. I have had several surgeries which some consider some of the the worst, and do not consider myself to have a high pain tolerance. It is very manageable. Good luck to all with their upcoming surgeries.

How long do you want to read? I could write a book with all my bad habits. It's not that bad, but currently I think the bad outnumber the good. Right now my main focus is to get in my Protein consistently and increase gym time. Once I get these under control, I'll take on a new goal.

Fluff, I thought I saw you in your children, but when I look at the picture of your husband as a baby, I see him. I am with you I like the Mr. Magoo picture too and all the pictures of your children as well as everyone else's. My grand children stay at least one night a week with us. This past week we have had them 3 nights since my husband and I were on vacation. They moved back in June 2013 after my son got out of the Army.

RJ, Congratulations on reaching Onederland. With your journey, it seems appropriate to reach during the holiday season. Quite an accomplishment. Keep up the good work. Very happy for you.

Fluff, how old were your children in the pictures you posted? We had a party after everyone in our lamaze class had their children, and one woman's mother told her to give her a picture of the baby she wouldn't be ashamed to show people. The picture taken at the hospital was pretty bad from what they said.

Madam Rev, They got their eyes from my son and his wife. They both have blue eyes and long eyelashes. I am the only one in our family without long eyelashes.