lilkim305

Thanks for your comment. I wanted to reach a broader audience so that's why I posted here!

Please join the debate on my blog, www.weightitgetsbetter.com

First of all, BREATHE! It sounds like you have gone back to some old eating habits in trying to manage stress. It also seems like you are trying to participate and be included in the food related things at work and home. The surgery is just that a surgery. Life will still go on as it did prior to the surgery. The choices you make are what will be important factors in your overall success or failure. I would also ask you about certain fears that may have started to surface regarding all of the changes that have taken place with regard to your surgery. In my case, I went along smoothly for approximately 9-10 months. Then I felt panicked about the weight loss, how some friends and family reacted to my weight loss,fear about my husband and will he still love me as a much smaller size than when he first met me and more. I also had fear of success and fear of being able to maintain my weight loss! It seemed in my case, a few of these fears hit me all at once and I felt overwhelmed. I reached out to my husband, surgical team and NUT rather than eat. Eating was my solution to my stress and emotions prior to surgery and I really wanted that behavior to stop. I am glad you reached out to talk this out! You have to view that as a major achievement and success! My advice is just take things slowly, don't beat yourself up, use these situations as opportunities to learn and make improvements and adjustments. Focus on one meal at a time. If you do feel tempted decide whether you want that treat or have one of your prepared items earlier than scheduled. Don't beat yourself up over your decision. It's OK to have a treat, just not every day! It's best if you plan a treat so it's a conscious decision rather than an impulse. I would suggest tracking your calories on an app such as my fitness pal or lose it. That will help you feel more in control and accountable.You can do this, you ARE already doing it. Please keep in touch I would love to follow up on your progress! Be well and be kind to yourself! You deserve it!

That is a great idea! Please include - being able to sit in a chair with arms!

I am a South Florida Sleever. I live in Miami.I am 1 yr 7 months post-op and have lost 215 lbs. I would love to mentor and support anyone who is looking for a buddy

Hi everyone! I have been reading all of the posts here and have a few comments. This surgery has taught me so much about myself both good and not so good. I have learned I had many misconceptions as an overweight person. As being overweight people, for some of us, such as myself, all my life, we have gone through enough torture about our weight. The idea of weight loss surgery at least in my opinion was to be free of that torture! Yet, having weight loss surgery didn't remove the constant worry. It really takes work to achieve and then maintain a weight loss goal with or without surgery. This is something that caught me off guard. I didn't expect it to be consistent work. But what I have learned in the 1 and 7 months since my surgery is that everyone has to work at maintaining their weight. That was a shocker for me. What I hear in these posts is that disappointment in not achieving a goal or a specific number. This is one of the reasons I am very,very thankful that my surgeon and his team didn't set a set goal for me. They asked me what my goal was which I said at 5"10" and female I wanted it to be 185. Then my NUT said we will see what your body will do. So first determine what your goal is. I too weighed 180 in high school but had a weight loss experience in college where I lost 135lbs and weighed 164lbs, the lower end of normal for my height. However, my body just could not sustain that weight loss, I got unmotivated and gained all the weight back and then some! Fast forward to 2014 when I had gastric sleeve surgery and have lost 218 lbs. I currently weigh less than my goal of 185lbs. This has been the biggest shock of all! I honestly didn't think I would achieve my goal. My idea was that I would be happy to be a size 18! I am currently a 12-14! Never in my life have I been this size! The main things I have done which I believe have really helped me are : Number one believe in yourself. Don't let negative thoughts or comments from anyone derail you. Be consistent, my NUT preaches this and it is true. Track everything you eat, this helps not only to keep track of calories, but to uncover patterns. Don't drink your calories. I think this has been a huge mantra for me. I have bad knees, which I would like to stop saying, so I will correct myself by saying my knees cannot perform to their optimal best. This could have derailed me entirely, but I just tried all different types of exercise and mix it up so as not to get bored. Some weeks are better than others in terms of how much I do. I normally try to do 3 days 60 minutes. I would like to improve on this though. Just stay active. Done sit on the couch. I used to watch hours of TV every night but now I hardly have time. Don't beat yourself up. This is not an all or nothing approach. I used to apply that approach every time I started a new diet, which would end as another failed attempt. With every meal, there is a new opportunity to improve and make a better choice. Look at what you have already accomplished! You are a success! Take a look at your original goals and decide if they are still what you would like to accomplish. If yes, then go for it, if not then re-write them and go for it! Whatever you decide know that you have many talents and gifts not determined by a number on a scale! That number on the scale does not define you! Go to your local support group and check in to this forum! I am only sorry I haven't been on more but as with many of us, we are going through our own issues and one of my issues has been that I didn't feel worthy to give any advice. So now I am on not to give advice but rather encouragement and support. Anything that I may say and share to help someone else is a personal goal of mine. Be well, take care!! Keep in touch

I haven't been on in a while and just see this post regarding surgeons in South Florida. My surgeon is Dr. De La Cruz with University of Miami. I had my surgery Feb. 2014 and have lost 218 lbs! Words will not describe how amazing he and his team truly are. I went to see all, and I mean ALL of the main bariatric surgeons in Miami before I chose Dr. De la Cruz! They have taken EXCELLENT care of me! The hospital staff and nurses are top notch! Please do yourself a favor and schedule a consult and go to their seminar!

Hi Lauriep, Everyone's process and journey will be different as we are all unique individuals, so I will share with you some of the things I did that I believe really helped me achieve above average weight loss results. For me, I just got my head prepared as much as I could beforehand. I had to come clean with myself and stop being in denial about how much I relied on food for more than just nourishment.I went back over the situations trigger me to eat, what are the foods that I have no control over and tried to come up with non-food solutions. I also leaned on my faith by praying and seeking the guidance of God to help me with this journey. I tried to have an open mind about what to expect with the surgery and also, one of the things that was important for me was to get rid of my all or nothing mentality. That mindset used to totally derail my weight loss efforts in the past. I read and read and read my surgeon's pre- surgery instructions and followed that same pattern with the instructions from my nutritionist. I made a list of the items I would need prior to surgery. I reviewed the forums here regarding what would be helpful for you to buy and have ready prior to surgery so that was a huge help. I remember taking my folder of instructions with me everywhere I went for the first few weeks in case I needed to review it while in the supermarket or pharmacy. I followed the rules exactly as I was supposed to and do those same things now, such as weigh and measure my portions, plan my meals ahead of time, have back-up protein bars in my handbag and desk at work. I always carry my water bottle and make sure to stay hydrated. One of the most vital things that I think has helped me lose weight so rapidly and also over 70 inches total, exercise. Once my doctor gave me full clearance to do full workouts, I got myself into the gym. In the beginning, right after surgery I was walking, but I knew I needed to do something more than walk. So, I went to my local YMCA which I had gone to for two years prior to my surgery and started with boot camp. Then I took the schedule of classes home and sat with my family's schedule and figured out what days would work best based on our activities. This area of making the gym and exercise a part of my life was huge because that is the one thing I would always make excuses about as to why I was not able to exercise. I would always say I didn't have time. I made a promise to myself that I would do this process and journey honestly and not try to make excuses or try to justify not following the rules, etc. So basically, for me, it has been about making a commitment to myself and give myself a chance to succeed. Its really many things put together to create a solid plan of action which helps you stay focused and have a successful journey. One other point that is something worth mentioning is the fact that this is not a diet. I don't feel like I am on a diet and I don't feel deprived even though I currently do not eat many things that I used to eat. I recognize that I am learning an entirely new way of eating and that black cloud of the DIET is not hanging over my head which for me is such a feeling of freedom that I truly cannot express adequately with words. I hope this helps you and hope it makes sense. If you have any more questions, pleas ask and I will answer you from what I have experienced. Best wishes to you.

I was sleeved on 2-12-14 and have lost 163 lbs so far! I feel great, no longer have sleep apnea and am off my blood pressure meds. I do so many things that I just was not able to do like exercise regularly. This has been one of the most life altering decisions of my life. I am so thankful and feel very blessed. By the grace of God and the skill of my medical team, all has gone very well. I started at 393 lbs and now weigh 230. I am 5'10". For the first time in decades, I am actually close to a weight loss goal.

Laurier, don't get distracted by the statistics. They are just that, statistics! If you focus on your goal, follow the rules of the sleeve, your doctor, medical team and nutritionist you should be fine. My story is this and I hope it encourages you to hang I there. I had VSG surgery on 2-12-14 and have lost a total of 163 lbs! Thankfully all has gone well so far and I feel great. I no longer have sleep apnea and I am off all of my blood pressure meds. You can do this! Please keep in touch and keep us posted.