Damaris67

One year ago I was a nervous wreck. I made the desicion. I had to go through 6 months of medically supervised diet before my insurance would approve my surgery. It seemed sooooo far away. I had so many fears... I did not believe it would happen. May 23rd 2013 is the day Dr Pleatman changed my life. guess what??? TODAY I REACHED MY PERSONAL WEIGHT LOSS GOAL OF 150 LBS!!! FIVE MONTHS, 1 WEEK AFTER SURGERY! It is possible. Time passes so fast, like a blur... and I am beautiful, healthy, and HAPPY! DONT GIVE UP! DON'T DOUBT! take one day at a time! Love to all, Damaris

It's been 5 months after surgery. My own surgeon looked at me standing in the waiting room, STARED, blinked, tried to focus, scratched his head... then heard me laugh and a lightbulb went on! I look amazing, feel amazing, and still don't drink 64 ounces of Water per day! ha ha! My primary doctor did every possible laboratory: I'm healthier than ever! My skin is clear, my blood pressure is perfect, my sleep apnea is gone, all the pain and misery is GONE. WENT FROM SIZE 16 JEANS TO SIZE 5! I look 30 years old! My teen girls are proud of me... I never dreamed this could happen... but it happened! I can eat everything I want, just a few bites and I'm good. I'm very lucky that I don't have skin hanging all over, just a pouch of fat still in my lower abdomen. My ideal weight is 129 lbs, that is 23 lbs away... I don't think I want to be that skinny because I'm 45. Hope to stop at 145, size 3 jeans so I can steal my daughter's clothes!!! ha ha

Thanks. I don't work out at all. It has to be genetics. I'm Latina and my mom is 70 years old but looks 50. Thank you Mom!

I was able to eat everything at month 3. I follow the main rule of Protein first and use LoseIt app to keep track of my protein intake. But I have no restrictions, except carbonated beverages like everyone else. Funny thing is that I don't crave the things that I used to love. pizza was my downfall... now I find it disgusting. I don't crave ice cream like before, I rather have greek yogurt instead. I LOOOOOVEEEE pita chips. I count them, eat them, get full right away. My opinion is that if you have many restrictions your surgery was not a sucess. I used the best surgeon in MI, paid him extra $ because he is worthy.

I posted about me not drinking water and the forum attacked me. guess what? 4 months after surgery: 58 lbs lost, all my blood labs came back excellent! and STILL not drinking all that water.

Yes I said it. Shoot me. I don't drink all that Water. I drink fluids when I remember. When I'm thristy. Just like before vsg. Guess what? I'm doing amazing. I've lost 45 lbs since May 23. I eat solids, 60 to 80 gr Protein per day. Vitamins and supplements galore. Have anyone read about water poisoning? Google it. I've seen people getting sick from it. I will drink when I'm thristy. My body has its own alarm system. I won't push water down just because that is the general consensus. There, I said it.

I said 'water' not fluids. Eating watermelon will put some fluids in my body, for example. I realize that water poisoning can ocur after drinking 91 ounces or more of water in one day. But what I'm saying is that ... well, I guess I'm tired of all the pressure of all the rules we have to follow to be sucessful in this journey. I'm following too many rules already... keeping track of all those ounces of water is just the tip of the iceberg. so I call it BS.

2 x 4: you will be FINE. I had everything you had. Cold and clammy? Your blood pressure to low. Go get a cuff, check your BP. You feel like hell that first month. You described symptoms we all had. Then one day...the pain is GONE. You will eat solids. You will have more energy. I can walk half to 1 hour, slow pace. No strendous excersise at all. Who cares? I'm walking. I've lost 45 lbs. My hair didn't fall much. IT WILL GET BETTER! ON MY WORD!

Here's my surgery...no sound, but TONS OF GORY BLOOD! Lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2BtyBV6nBE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is so weird...most people lose a lot the 1st month. Check your thyroid

Go ahead...eat the bacon...you will vomit and your mind will associate bacon with pain and vomiting. You will never crave bacon again.

Wow...if I was your age...

To those wondering "will this happen to me" ... Yes. I was anxious and scare before surgery. Today I tried on size 10 jeans. I won't stop until size 5 jeans fit me. That is how I look hot. I know, I know...shallow and superficial...but let me enjoy my moment. Let me associate the word "hot" next to my name. I need this.

I'm 5'3" too! but if you look at my picture, I have big bone structure. My feet are size 10, my ring size is 10 as well. Once I make it to 140 lbs I will be a size 5. I AM SO HAPPY! PS; I think I met the love of my life last week, he keeps calling me gorgeous all the time... ME?GORGEOUS? IS HE MAD? ... WAIT, YES, I AM GORGEOUS! thank you Dr. Pleatman, again! and thanks BCBS PPO! ha ha!

I'm 45 years old. Eating about 600 to 700 calories a day, on a good day. Mostly Protein. Some day have been bad. Don't get discouraged. Jeans sizes are weird. I have every size from 5 to 18 in my closet. The size 10 I put on has stretchy material. I tried on non-strech, the 10 didn't fit, the 12 did. I guess it depends on the make of the jeans. My dress size is large now. 14. The 12s are still too tight on my back. I have wide back and small hips. When I was size 5 in high school they called me "surfing board". Right now I have this favorite dress made out of jean material. The cut makes me have curves. I never, EVA had curves in my life. So I'm planing on wearing the dress every day from now on LOL

A GUY CHECKED ME OUT!

I read all the stories: complications, unable to eat or drink, drains! None of that for me. I lost 35 lbs as of today. My sleeve is not too big or small. Just perfect. I just LOVE Dr. Mark Pleatman for being so incredibly skilled and experienced. Love, love, love. I am in an incredible shape! I can EAT. Super small portions, but I can eat! I could have been one of those patients suffering so much post op...GRATEFUL! RELIEVED! THANKFUL!

I still have about 30 lbs more to go. Although my legs lost mass muscle and feel weak easily, I was able to do some things in the naked dept. that have not happened since 2000. Yay my new body! I hope I'm not the only one

I am tired of reading posts about meetings that people want but nobody is doing. I'm a do'er, not a want-to-do. So I will find a pretty place to meet outside, depending on weather . Independence Oaks or Bald Mountain. Somewhere peaceful. I will be the moderator. Message me. Will create email group. We are meeting the 1st weekend of August!

Aliekat55: the fact that you are a doctor automatically classify your opinion as biased. OP: call a lawyer...now more than ever.

Need...please post the name of your surgeon on the pre op forum. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. Go to OBESSITY HELP and write a review. What happened to you was medical malpractice. Don't make light of the situation! You could have died. Talk to a lawyer!

36 lbs down...went on a blind date with a man I met on a dating site. HE IS GORGEOUS and super nice. I think he likes me because he asked me to go out again next week, gave a super tight hug...and texted me as soon as he got home. YAY so exciting! New me! So much confident and happy...regardless if we hook up or not...tonight was a success!

I use " Lose It" application on my cell phone.I track EVERYTHING I eat. at the end of the day, if I have not eaten enough protein, I eat a greek yogurt. Here is an example; ( I don't drink shakes, gross ) breakfast; Greek yogurt lunch; chicken 3 ounces and 1 slice of watermelon because it is summer and i'm hot dinner: tilapia 3 ounces ( i cook it really good with onions and lemon juice) snack: 1 ounce cheddar cheese ( or any other white cheese) with 2 or 3 Kashi veggie crakers ( VARIATIONS: other snacks: 1 slice of 35 calories whole grain bread with a teaspoon of peanut butter and sugar free jelly or Special K protein plus cereal with Carbmaster milk or cottage cheese with a little bit of fruit or cheese with 2 slices of deli turkey or a Carb master ice cream bar, because it is summer after all and you want to have some ice cream. ice cream is definitively empty calories, so i found a nice brand of frozen yogurt with protein and low in calories) When I go shopping I try to discover new foods with a high content of protein. couscous, quinoa, lentils, etc. are in my pantry. I may eat a few teaspons of any of those with my main meat. The important thing is that you are getting your sleeve filled with protein mostly).

Boiled eggs are a waste of calories and sleeve space. Not enough protein .Research before you put anything in your mouth. I live on greek yogurt 14-15 gr of protein. Tilapia, chicken, red meat. Cottage cheese is high in protein. Special K PROTEIN PLUS cereal 1/2 cup with 1/2 cup Carbmaster milk. I don't have space for veggies or bananas in my sleeve. No protein? I won't eat it. Water? Yes, but not as much cause I forget to drink it. I take my Bariatric advantage vitamins and 1 iron pill every day. I am not doing ANY excersise but to walk from my cubicle to the mail room a few times per day. I've lost 35 lbs in 8 weeks. Ps: I take Wellbutrin. What is depression again? You gotta take something. See a doctor. Get serotonin levels up baby. Check your thyroid levels. You'll feel great.