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CurvyCakes, welcome! I was sleeved in August, and it was the best decision I've made for myself.....was wearing a very tight 22, and now wearing size 14......and the health benefits from the weight loss and exercise trump everything else. March will be here before you know it, good luck!

Congrats! It'll be here before you know it!......I just passed the 5 month mark and couldn't be happier with the results.....welcome to BariatricPal, and good luck with this journey!

Hi Everyone! My stats are below....just follow the dancing butterfly. LOL My weight loss has been stagnant for about a month and a half......have not gained an ounce, have not lost an ounce........BUT have gone down 2 sizes during this time..........and still LOVE my sleeve. The other day I tried on size 16.........and they fit, loosely.....tried on the 14's.....knowing full well they wouldn't fit.............but they do!!!!! had some bloodwork done, and my liver function tests and blood sugar are all within normal ranges......couldn't be happier. I haven't been this size in 25+ years......and there were times I could not imagine I would ever be in a size large again......this tool of ours has given me such hope that a healthy BMI is attainable..............Happy new year everyone! Thank you so much for sharing your progress!

Has anyone found a healthy granola? I gave it up years ago.....too much fat/calories (I think )

I think we all have weight loss goals. After getting below 200, my next goal was to weigh less than my hubby.....177. When I hit 176 I did my skinny dance (glad no one took a video while I was acting silly) Yesterday hubby asked what I weighed.....169.....he gets on the scales, and, you've got it, he's 169, fully dressed......I couldn't tell him that's what I weigh buck naked.....totally took the wind out of my sails........I'm very happy for him....he's a skinny guy but carries a little weight around the middle (envision 1/2 a basketball) that he wants to lose. As I keep aiming for the finish line, I know I'll hit that goal [soon], again. Happy New Year everyone!

I haven't posted to my "blog" here in a while.....things are going good......still very thankful and happy to have had the sleeve......BUT there is ONE thing that really bothers me as a post op patient........ And, here it is: It's very difficult to cross my legs while I'm sitting at my desk. Ha Ha Ha Ha I can remember not being able to cross my legs, for many years...........74 pounds down, and I usually sit with my legs crossed...because I can.

One word of advise (ok, maybe a few), purchase some samples rather than buying a large container.....you can find them online, here are some places I bought samples: unjury.com, Nashuanutrition.com, and bjsbariatrics.com Some of us like premier Protein (these are containers of already mixed up, ready to drink drinks)....they are not thick like shakes....costco sells them, but you can buy a 4 pack in walgreens or walmart....they are 160 calories and 30g protein Make sure you look at the labels.....not all protein drinks are equal.....some can have more calories, carbs, and sugar while having less protein.....I found I can no longer tolerate thick prodein shakes (unjury, Premier Protein, click, and chike aren't thick) I bought click, and love the double shot expresso mocha decaf........BUT it has more carbs/sugar and less protein than i'd like.....so I use it as an occasional protein supplement..........sometimes I let it freeze a little and it's like a yummie coolata....even my skinny hubby who is a finicky eater and set in his ways will drink this when I freeze it a bit or serve it over ice......Anyway, hope this helps.

I think they are trying to be supportive the best way they know how.....perhaps she figured providing dinner for the kids would give you a break (maybe?). I told my husband B/4 surgery: "if I'm not eating, I'm not cooking".....he thought I was kidding........he had a rude awakening LOL Good luck......with my experience, early out every day was different and filled with challenges, but each day got better and better the further out I was......wishing you the best.

Way to go!!!! Love your positive posts about this! I'm 50 and in a 30+ relationship.......and never, ever, got naked in the day light.....or any light LOL (even when I was young and wearing a size 6.....was never comfortable in my own skin) Now I am uninhibited.....hubby now sees me naked, I'll walk around the house naked........and clearly not close to my goal yet LOL Good for you, thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing your experience and pictures......they are nothing shy of amazing......you done good!

I got this same attitude from my mother when I told her my surgeon's goal is 127 (the heaviest I can weigh and still have a healthy BMI)....She means well, but she was not a happy camper, thinks I'll be underweight....she forgets I used to weight 110 throughout my teens and as a young adult-----and back then my doctor felt 110 was too heavy for my frame that being said, I feel like a hypocrite.....met up with the person who introduced me to VSG a year ago, and I think she is now too thin......and no, I didn't share my opinion with her.

Sounds like I'm the odd man out here.....I did not have any food funerals (nor mardi gras LOL) I'm glad I refrained---I think it would have been harder for me preop and post op if I had indulged I also held to the preop diet...I didn't want to jeopardize my surgery......I had been told not only was the preop diet to shrink the liver, but it would also give the surgeon confidence their patients would be compliant with their surgeon/nutritionist's food plan post op. Wishing you all the best!

Gelica, Sorry you're having such a tough time of it....Thank you for sharing your experience---it's important for people considering this to see that there can be complications.......wishing you the best.....hope things get better for you real soon. --patty

Thank goodness I'm not the only one......except I did something like this at someone's home who didn't know I had surgery, I was horrified.......it's not like I could scoop some of the food up and put it back in the bowl...LOL....I just moved it around on my plate.....

Five months out, and I just had a drink (well, a few sips of it anyway)........I had a lemon drop martini, and was asked if I wanted the sugar in the drink or on the rim.......I told him to leave it out, and it wasn't too bad.......I only had a few sips.......was never a big drinker anyway.......

If you haven't done so already, you may want to meet with someone who specializes in addictions/food issues.....to get to the heart of the matter of why you aren't sticking to the preop diet-----because that will follow you no matter if you have surgery or not (at least that's true for me) Good for you for putting a hold on it if you are not ready.....some people get to this point, change their mind, and later on revisit WLS again. Having surgery was the most difficult decision for me to make--I struggled with it, drove my husband crazy......but it was the best decision I made (it isn't perfect, but I wouldn't change it for the world)....Whatever you decide, wishing you the best of luck

Try checking out the world according to eggface. Here are her pureed recipes: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html She's also got some Protein shakes/smoothies here: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-favorite-protein-shake-recipes.html Like others said, I just tried one ingredient items to start with, using a hand blender to puree them....adding a little Water or plain greek yogurt if it was too dry.

You are absolutely stunning! And, look at that flat stomach! Congratulations!

I was talking with a woman who worked in my building, and I've known her for 16 years--however, I haven't seen her since they moved my office to another building a few years ago..... We talked for a few minutes---she helped solve an issue we were having......I thanked her, and when I started to leave, she asked "have we met before?"..... I explained who I was, and she looked very confused.......I pulled out my drivers's license, and said "you may remember me like this"..........she still had a hard time believing it. LOL I don't think that will ever get old!

Not to worry.....I had my gallbladder out years ago....my period stopped the day before, but during surgery it had started with a vengence.......they were used to it......didn't even blink an eye......it shouldn't have any effect on your surgery.....good luck.

Joan, I really researched this, read whatever books I could on the subject, talked to folks who had VSG, in hopes I was well informed before my surgery. There are days where its frustrating that my eyes are bigger than my sleeve, and there are times that I'd like to have a bigger meal once in awhile.............but I remind myself those big meals helped get me to 244 pounds......the head hunger/food issues I had preop, I still have, and working on them......those don't go away. That being said, I am so very happy I had the sleeve......every single aspect of my life has been improved, I'm no longer in chronic pain, and I finally have hope that I can get to a healthy weight again...........I hope this helps...........good luck next week!

I had a whole list of instructions and surgeon's expectations for life after the sleeve, and one is absolutely no carbonation.......I had a soda the day I went to that initial informational session in April.......and haven't had one since......and I loved soda.....I'd drink diet or regular, whatever was available. HTH, good luck!

I'm a little late to the party, but this was my experience: I walked while in recovery...this was my choice, I asked if I could. The first two rounds I was flanked by two nurses because my eyesight was blurry from surgery, I wasn't steady, and I walked slowly.......the third round I was on my own with my hubby by my side for company and "just in case". By the time I was in my room later that day, I tried to walk every hour.....I don't think they expect you to walk a huge amount immediately -- and I got the impression the decision when to walk was decided on an individual basis. between being afraid of the gas pain I heard people talk about, and having the roommate from hell, walking was good LOL (I didn't experience the gas pain until around day 4, and it was just a little bit of soreness in my shoulder/arm) Good luck!

I use hot Water, put the instant thermometer in, and when it reads 140, I stir in the powder, and haven't had it clump......I really like this......I made turkey soup recently, and add a small spoonful of the meat/veggies into the unjury chicken for a change. As a last resort, you can return it.....they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Good luck, hope this helps!

Karla, does your doctor have a back up plan for when he leaves? If not Dr. Aranow over at Middlesex has a great reputation and is very experienced. My doctor is Craig Floch, and I couldn't be happier....best before and aftercare you could want.....plus his practice is very responsive......One thing to consider in choosing your doctor is the long term.....is his/her office and support groups close/convenient to get to There is a support group at Middlesex Hospital....preops and post ops the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Mondays of the month at 6:30.....I have been going there even though my surgery was in Bridgeport.....good luck......PM me if I can be of any help.