AllyJonesVSG

Almost 3 weeks and then 3 lbs. dropped off in 3 days, so I guess it's my body adjusting. I'm only 4 months out though and all these stall/regain posts are starting to make me nervous. Good luck with it and I hope it ends soon!

I finally found one that 1) I don't despise and 2) has 30 grams!! of protein. Ensure Max Protein. I have it over crushed ice-when they stay icy cold I tolerate them better. And 30 grams helps the daily total tremendously.

Being totally candid here, it wasn't that bad. First off, you have lovely IV meds in the hospital so there's no real pain there. Then they send you home with more pain meds--USE THEM. There's no heroism in resisting your pain meds; that's what they're for. On the third day, I think, I even took one an hour before I was supposed to, because I was hurting, but other than that, by the time the pain pills ran out I was fine. Didn't even need Tylenol or other OTC meds by then. The nausea/weakness/etc. lasted for a few weeks, though, and as I've said before here, be prepared to be weak/tired/have regrets for that first month. Just keep thinking : I can get through one month of unpleasantness for a lifetime of better health. I'm sitting here writing this to you being only 'overweight' for the first time in a decade--no longer obese--and I feel so amazingly better that it's like a miracle. Don't let fear of pain stop you from saving your life. That's why God invented pain pills, after all. Good luck!

Of course I hit a stall right after I posted this but today is the day!! Officially 'overweight'!!! Whee!!!

I have been in the "obese" category for so many years and I just realized that in only one more pound I'll be officially down to "overweight" - which may not seem like much of a victory, but sure feels like one to me. I'm wearing another pair of my college kid's jeans today - size 14! - because I don't fit any of mine (again). And I feel SOOO healthy. So glad I did this. I'm GREAT at losing weight, but horrible at keeping it off, so this? This is wonderful.

This is one of the smartest, most common-sense things I've read anywhere about WLS. Thanks.

You can do it!

CONGRATS!!!

Give it some time. I was where you were. Just expect the first month to be hard, and look forward to month two. I promise it will get better. I'm only 3.5 months out and 55 lbs. down. It's an amazing feeling!

Congrats!! I need to do this!

I'm not late 50s but will turn 55 in November which was the impetus for me to do this. My dad died of a heart attack at age 55 and I was sending myself right down that road. My first month sucked, because I hate sweets and there are no protein shakes that taste like popcorn, LOL, but I feel AMAZING. Total loss of 55 lbs as of this morning and I am so healthy and happy and moving and feel better in every way possible. My only regret is that I didn't do this 10 years ago!

Florida here so I get it. If you can't afford a gym membership, at least go walk in a mall where there's AC. It doesn't help anything if you get dehydrated and pass out. Good luck!

I have one! My teen daughter has been raiding my college for clothes from my "old days I'll never fit these again but I refuse to give them up" bins for a couple of years now. This weekend, she gave clothes to ME! She came home from college and gave me two pairs of jeans she doesn't like because I am down to a size 14!! And a few tops that fit me too. It's crazy. I wore trendy skinny jeans of hers (now mine) Friday and couldn't believe it was me!

I'm hoping to start a food/life hack discussion here, so we can share things that help us in the journey for everybody's benefit. I've started doing a big batch of cooking on Sundays, so I have easily accessible food during the week. I just did a big batch of grilled chicken that I can add to salad or eat on its own this week for lunches. I also cooked a filet that is big enough for 3 servings for my new smaller stomach. Plus I cooked spicy ground turkey to add to salsa & veggies for lettuce wraps or add to beans for chili. It helps me be far less tempted to snack on junk or processed food when I'm too busy to cook during the week. How about you guys? Thanks for any ideas!

I was 150 when I was 30 years old, just before starting treatment for infertility issues and then getting pregnant. Got back to 170 3 years later after my second baby, so I'm shooting for 170. I figure best weight of 150 + 10 lbs for each kid = perfect goal weight for me. According to the Medical BW quoted here, I'd be at MBW at 155 (5' 11") so I'm fine with 170. I can't believe I'm only 49 lbs from there!! 100 lbs seemed IMPOSSIBLE. 49 feels like it's so close I can taste it!

The gastric sleeve chart says expect to lose 60% of your excess weight in a year. But I'm almost there already! I want to lose 100% of my excess weight in a year. Or even by New Year's Day!

that's brilliant. i never thought of the thrift store! going to try that.

Oh, and I'm officially in the 2-teens today, which I have not seen in more than a decade. SO EXCITING. I will have a serious party when I hit the ONE hundreds, which has been more than 15 years ago, I think.

I just feel So Much Better. In all ways. Sleeping better, moving better, working with a personal trainer, everything. Knees don't hurt, easy to get out of the bathtub, can tie my own shoes easily. All the things that were so awful before are so much better. I feel like a new person.

Macy's must have heard us, because I found this in Glamour online about stores with plus-size sections, so I guess I'll try it again: • Macy’s came out on top for all of us. At the Herald Square flagship in NewYork, the plus-size department on the seventh floor is stocked with designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Melissa McCarthy, and Rachel Roy. Marie Denee of thecurvyfashionista.com, a size 16/18, gave Macy’s in Atlanta similar raves: “It was the best representation of plus-size fashion in a department store, taking up half the floor.” Amarachi Ukachu of amarachiukachu.com, a size 18/20, felt similarly welcome in the New Orleans location: “I found a sign that read ‘sizes 16 to 24’ with an arrow leading the way—which made me immediately happy.”

Yay for you!!! ANd how freaking awful is it that Macy's puts plus sizes in a single scary back corner like plus-size women should be ashamed? HATE that.

So I just hit the halfway mark to goal - 51 lbs. down and 3 months out - and mostly I'm thrilled. But yesterday I spent the entire day feeling like a loser because "why did I let myself get that big to begin with????" "How could I have done this to myself???" I'm trying really hard to focus on how wonderful this journey is, but my messed-up mind keeps wanting to obsess on the mistakes I made in the past that got me to 272 lbs. I'd really love some advice/tips from those of you who've battled this mind-trap and won. Tks.

You are so wise and so kind to reach out to me when your own struggle has been so much harder. Thank you. I'm putting a card on the wall next to my computer that says "I SAVED MYSELF!!" so I can remember. xoxo

Congrats!!! It's great and crazy all at once, isn't it?

You're right!! Thanks!!