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Sleeved 12-19-2016 Hw-274 Sw-268 Cw- 203 Gw- 175 This forum is totally my sounding board.. lol Here I sit, almost, 5 months out of surgery, 71 lbs down from my high weight, and feeling bad about my progress... I feel like my lose has slowed dramatically. Only losing about 10lbs a month. Hair falling out by the handfuls. Still struggle with my protein intake. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE seeing the overall progress I've made, just the day to day is a struggle. Also, anyone avoiding buying cloths? I find myself avoiding buying cloths because I am afraid to try things on that may be too small.... I have been wearing the same pants to work since right after surgery. As you can imagine, they look ridiculous but I can't seem to give them up. In the back of my head, I think, "save them for when you're fatter again"..... surgery doesn't fix the mind.. that's all on us. I also find myself hating when people say I'm "getting skinny". My head says, "I'm nowhere close to skinny and never will be" and "Sssshhhh, don't jinx it!!" Anyway.. just ranting really.. I hope everyone is progressing and loving life!!!!

Oh wow... I think it's crazy how different the guidelines can be for the same surgery. But great job on the weight loss!!

I think most people have heard horror stories about people who have had serious problems with RNY and they assume that VSG will be similar. Many of my friends and family members were supportive of me, but not necessarily supportive of the surgery, because they were afraid I would have serious complications and come to regret the surgery. Then there are those people who have never had significant weight problems, who think that those of us who struggle with obesity are either uneducated about nutrition ("don't know how to eat"), or gluttonous, or lazy, or totally lacking in self-discipline. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "Well I just ___________" (blah, blah, blah) Yeh...well I've heard all their self-assumed dieting expertise. It makes me want to barf. Come on...why does being at a normal weight give a sister who eats Lucky Charms for Breakfast and a big bag of M&M's every day for lunch the idea that she is entitled to give me dieting advice??? (I kid you not on that one.) As someone who has lost well over 500 pounds over the span of 30 years, I think that I know a little bit about how to diet. I also know that diets have had a horrible effect on my metabolism, fat storage hormones, and appetite regulating hormones--and actually sabotaged every reasonable effort that I have made to maintain any weight loss. I refuse to honor people's uninformed, presumptuous opinions about anything related to my weight or weight loss decisions. I've been valiently fighting a battle with obesity my entire life, and I think that this surgery is the best option that I have to improve the quality of the remaining years of my life. I don't expect anyone who hasn't fought the same battle to comprehend why I would voluntarily allow a surgeon to remove 80% of my stomach...how could they even begin to understand? You deserve whatever it takes to be healthy and have a better quality of life! Would anyone dream of telling someone with breast cancer not to have a mastectomy if they had previously elected to have a lumpectomy, but were still having problems? Hardly. Don't let other people make you feel guilty or ashamed. Do your research and trust yourself to make the best decision for you!

I am new to this site and looking for people to help me along my weight loss journey. I have one more appointment with surgeon and dietitian before my paperwork is submitted to Aetna. Then the dreaded waiting game begins.

I just finished day 6 and I'm right there with ya! I've been drinking so much and following my Optifast and the scale has barely budged! It has reminded me why I need this surgery, bc if this was a diet with the intentions of getting me to my goal, I'd fall off the wagon! It's terrible eating the same sweet crap all day every day and then no encouragement from the scale! UGH! I'm so afraid of my appt on Thurs not showing half the loss they expect(15-20 lbs in two weeks) ....but I am so trying to remember how fortunate I am to have this opportunity for surgery. We will be successful!!! Good luck, I'm on Nov 20!

So today is 16 days post-op. I am back at work and seem to be fairing well. I had to stay an hour and then some over yesterday and was running all day. I was completely wiped when I got home. I was a little sore too. But I am still healing so that is to be expected. Talk about a welcome back! Anyway today is a new day. My weight is now down to 240.4 offically this AM. I was going to weigh every Friday but I felt lighter this morning so I hopped on. So now I am down 25 pounds since the 2 week diet and 18 since surgery. CRAZY! I am so not even going to complain or compare my weight loss with others (which I thought I would be obsessed with this, its a control thing). I am not a slow or fast loser in my book. I am just losing! I remember being so happy on WW and hitting the 25 pound mark! It took me about 2 months and I thought that was quick! I lost that in little less than a month with my new tummy! I am still worried about a leak or something going wrong. This while not easy has been a prettty uneventful and my tummy has responed well to everything I have put in it. I guess I am waiting for the bottom to fall. Don't know what that is about. Some of the issues I am dealing with... Fatigue. I feel normal but then BAM it hits me and I am down for the count. This happens when I am busy and not taking steady sips of water. (like yesterday afternoon at work hauling a portable x-ray unit around and having to walk up and down 2 flight of stairs about 6 times in an hour) Bathroom issues. I have always been regular, now I go days and NOTHING. I am taking extra fiber and milk or mag (twice now). I don't feel bloated but I guess I am not taking in much so much doesnt need to come out. I know gross but true. The damn main insicion. I am ready for it to heal and the internal stitch to pop disslove whatever it does. Heat I am ready for fall so I can get out and excercise. I am not a treadmill kinda girl. Even listening to music or watching a show I get ansty and bored after 15 mintues. Thinking about joining a gym so I can switch it up when I get bored. But I am not walking/jogging in 105 heat! My period I have not had a period since end of May beginning of June. NOT NORMAL for me. You can set your clock by my cycle. First I thought nerves and stress now I don't know. I know I am not pregnant. My surgeon know about this and my PCP told me to let my body heal before getting concerned. But it worries me. H.Pylorus My surgeon got the report back from pathology and my stomach was very inflammed and tested postive for this. So now I have to have a strong 2 week dose of antibiotics to resolve this. Have to wait unitl I am eating regular because they will wreck havoc if I am not eating. Apparently lots of people have this but never know unless it causes problems. Which I was having prior to surgery. So those are my issues which are all minor! I thank the Lord for watching over me and hope I continue this journey with only positive results. I want to post pics but I am waiting for the 1 month mark! My face is where I see it the most. No more chin(S)! I now have ONE just ONE chin! My nose is smaller too! Not so WIDE. Weird never thought noses got fat until I compared it with my "skinny" pics back in the day. Now it getting back to "normal" lol. Well that is all folks until next time!

I had my evaluation today and it sounds like mine was very similar to k2k07's experience. My doctor (Michigan/UofM) was wonderful. We talked though my expectations of the surgery, what weight-loss methods I had tried in the past, and what were some of my strategies for making the wls work for me. I actually worked with two people today. The first man (I can't remember if he was a Doctor or not, but said to call him by is first name) administered the tests. When those were competed, I had the meeting with the Doctor. They were both very nice and supportive. It was an emotional 3+ hours, because it's very draining, really looking at yourself and going though the self-evaluation process. However it was not a bad experience at all, and maybe even a little enlightening!

Your body is just adjusting. You may have a big loss in the next month. You might not lose a pound but you might lose a pant size. If you don't lose over a couple of months try kicking up your physical activity a little. You are lighter now so it will feel like less than you expect and that may be all you need to kick start the loss. Hormones can also play a big role. I am with Jack though a plateau is better than a gain.....and I seem much more prone to those currently. Hoping to get a banding date April 15th. Unfortunately my surgeon is on vacation soon so I must wait. I only hope I don't last supper myself up the scales. Good luck!!!

Hi everyone, my name is Lisa and I am a 28 yr old female. This is the first time I have been on a site like this. A little history is that I am a 2X brain cancer survivor and had to take heavy doses of steroids to get the swelling under control. My entire life and body changed completly. Previous to all of the medical problems, I was working full time and was also a full time nursing student in my last semester. I also worked out 6x a week and was in excellant shape. Because of the steroids I gained about 60 pounds, and now have avascular necrosis in my lower extremities (my bones are collapsing) in the last 2 years I have had an unsuccessful hip surgery, a total hip replacement, and decompression of my ankle (holes drilled into the bone to try and get blood to return). Any ways, I went to the doctor this morning and he suggested that I look into having lap band surgery because my weight is causing enormous pressure on my bones. I am a little torn about several things and I thaught that mabye I should try to talk to some people that have had the surgery done that can tell me first hand what the recovery is like, and if they were satisfied with the results. Also I have been reading alot about people lossing their hair and I wanted to see how true or often that is the case. Please let me know! =) Thanks, Lisa

I like that last statement. So true! Congratulations on your weight loss!! That's amazing. My negative side always seems to take over. I'm not scared of the surgery. I've had several before. I know it is more the complications after if they happen because I'm self pay and I think. "oh Lord, what is something happens and no one will take care of me because I can't afford it and insurance won't pay because they didn't pay for the surgery to begin with.??"... That kind of thinking consumes me. Thank you though. Getting these positive comments helps me so much!! I love this forum and love reading all of the success stories of the people who have made it. God Bless!

Good Luck!! I am doing the Avon two day walk in Boston on May 17th and 18th. Walking everyday has really helped with the weight loss. It is so easy to drink all the water that I am supposed to.

I think if you have a few and they are spaced far apart they are probably lipomas, but if your fat feels like tons of marbles, it is likely changes as you lose fat. I have noticed this during weight loss attempts in the past and have noticed it much more strongly now.

I am 11 months Post-surgery and I am doing great. just hit 100 lbs lost and 5 lbs past my goal. feel great. the hair loss has been bad for me also. I get the same comments, "STOP LOSING" it is a bit irritating but oh well they mean well. just another way to say I look good. so this point in not really trying to lose weight but I'm still losing about 4 lbs a month. Sent from my SM-G930V using BariatricPal mobile app

I would agree that an eight week stall at five months out would be a good reason to contact your medical team. And though it sounds like a cliché, weight loss or gain is usually directly related to calorie intake. Are you logging your food? If not, My Fitness Pal is a fantastic app that is free and highly recommended by many (myself included). It's easy to use and has a huge food database that has just about anything you can imagine. It also has a bar code scanner that makes scanning in packaged foods a snap. Research has repeatedly shown that folks who log their food are more successful at losing weight and at maintaining their goal weight. Stay focused on following the protocol as closely as you possibly can, stay active, and stay away from the scales for at least a week and two would be even better. You're gonna love the new you!!

How tall are you? Your doctor is possibly suggesting a weight that places you in the healthy BMI range - can’t tell without your height though. There’s nothing wrong with setting your own weight loss goal. A lot of people are very happy to get to a weight that is less than what their surgeon originally suggests & they find it easy to maintain. As BigSue suggested, you may reach your goal than decide to lose more. Losing the weight can motivate you to lose more. I lost an extra 11kg (24lbs) from my surgeon & my goal. I wasn’t intending to, my body just kept slowly dropping weight even though I kept upping my calories. It seems to have finally settled & I think this is where my body wants to be. And I’m very happy where I am too. Good luck with your surgery.

I still go to support group, havent missed a month since i had my surgery, and i go for alot of reasons, for myself to stay motivated and to be there to answer the questions for future bandsters who are stuggling with the choice and have questions that only a current bandster can truthfully answer. its unfortunate that the "psyc" component really doesnt prepare people for the changes that come with weight loss. i truely belive that the screening is a fricken joke. fill out a questionnaire, put down what you know they want to hear and spend an hour with a psychologist asking you generic questions about your expectations from weight loss surgery and boom, you're cleared just like that. no follow up, no 2nd, no 3rd no 4th screening, no required post op session. its not surprising that so many people struggle with post op eating disorders and body dismorphia issues. the good thing is that we have a forum like this where we can discuss our issues with each other, support each other and hopefully be honest about our successes and our failures with the band. ive seen both of your threads and looked at your pictures countless times and your are both so beautiful and are so giving to share so much of your personal stories and photos of this process on this sight. i appreciate you both and i wish us all total success with our minds, bodies and spirits!

Since I've visited this forum. I've lost 33 kilos! I looked in the mirror this morning, curled my hair, put my best skirt on and jacket and went for a job interview. I went to McDonalds afterwards because my fiance wanted a burger and low and behold, when my fiance went to the bathroom a guy walked in and looked straight at me for a while, I smiled and he blushed...Then he checked me out when he thought I wasn't looking. Best feeling in the world! I just hope he wasn't looking at something like a booger on my face or something like that. I've got another 30 or so kilos to go, but I'm feeling pretty good right now :-)

You really do have a great start here with this 25. I think your body may be getting used to what you are giving it. My personal trainer, surgeon, and dietician reccomend mixing things up a bit to get your body to reset. Try eating more calories than you usually do one day, and then less than normal the next. Adjust your exercise from a jog to a yoga or weight training session one day a week. Even drop the Protein intake one day and focus on a balanced carb/protein ratio (7g of protein = 15g of carb). Before I had the band I would do this when my weight loss would stop and it got me going again. Since I've had the band, and its only been a month, I did this for a few days and was able to bring some loss the following week. Keep on going, we all know you will get over this hump.

I hope you don't have to go as far as Kansas, but Dr Fearing at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center is great. She was my surgeon and I just really liked her. Good luck. I live in central Oklahoma and was wondering if anyone could recommend a dr in OK, TX or KS?

I dont mean to be nosey but you got approved fast I have BCBS PPO and will be on a tight deadline to get approved and get my surgery done this year...but my question is this and certainly dont answer if you dont want to...I just wanted to know what my chances would be of getting approved quickly as well....what is your bmi and do you havce any comorbidities...again dont answer if you dont want and i hope that you dont view me as being too nosey...but i just was wondering...my 6mo weight loss is up dec 14...and my insurance will change in january...right now they pay 100% of the lapband but in january they will only pay 80% and I will have to pay my $400 ded. on top of that.....thanks and CONGRATS!!!!!!!

I spent more time filling out a bubble answer questionnaire than actually speaking with the Psychiatrist. She was friendly, asked about my background- including history with weight, failed weight loss attempts, did I understand the surgery and complications and did I have support at home. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920AZ using the BariatricPal App

hey My name is Traci, and I have been where you are, and it truly sucks ass. In Feb and March of this year I was the same way. It killed me to get up and get off the couch. I would rather of stayed in bed than I would walk around the house. The more I didnt want to do anything, the more I gorged on food. I drank over 24 Mt dews a week, fountain drinks every single day...32 o's...and just really didnt care becuase what the heck, I was already fat, what was a few more bites or one more drink??? I started my weight loss journey In April. Got approved and was within 1 month away from surgery....I was sooooo ready. The start of May I bought a single speed bike from Walmart, and started riding 2-3 miles. Damn, it use to just kill me..... Once I was approved, I went in for my surgery consult, and immediatly started the liquid diet....DAMN...that was the hardest thing.....I cheated, but not in big ways...Like I would have some lunch meat or something...but no huge things. My surgery went so well, and I was determend to make this work. At first there is not real tightness in the band, so it is definatly will power to stay motivated. The first few months I lost 10-13 lbs each month. The past few, I am down to 6-8. It stinks. I started cyclying more, and bought a hybrid bike with gears, and have been riding usually on the weekends anywhere from 15 miles to 42. I just completed my first 40 mile ride last weekend.... Some days it seems like it is harder than others, and I slip and drink a soft drink or 2, or eat something I shouldnt...but............. Last night I was able to go into a NORMAL store and buy a dress.... It was a awesome feeling and wonderful motivator. Dont give up on yourself......Just know that it is normal to eat allot before the procedure is done, it is what they call last supper syndrome, and allot of people do it everyday until there surgery. IT IS NORMAL> As far as being tired....that will get better....try walking just a little....any little bit will make you feel so much better....and soon, you will be walking miles. Please feel free to PM me, or email me any time if you would like to talk. I am from Indiana... Traci

Timbergurl, I totally feel your frustration!!!! I was banded 2 days prior than you and I am stuck at a 16lb weight loss!! I keep gaining and losing the same 4lbs!!! I also work out like crazy doing both 30 mins of cardio and maybe 45min to an hour on weight lifting. Im tracking my calorie intake and I am not eating all the "wrong" foods and its driving me nuts!! I am also starting to believe that this "tool" is not gonna work for me!! I have had 3 fills and at a good restriction but still nothing is happening. My question is....What am I doing wrong:confused:??

I think 25 lbs. is awesome. Don't beat yourself up when you should be celebrating! I was banded February 15th and have now lost 34 lbs. There have been times since being banded that I don't lose and it gets frustrating but I now know that if I keep on doing the right things, the scale will start to move again. These first few months most doctors want us to heal and adjust to this new lifestyle and do not expect huge amounts of weight loss from us. At this point in the game it's a bonus. Hang in there and know that you are not alone. You are doing great!

Well you could get a full detail description of the requirements for weight loss surgery. Sometimes that helps and you have a less chance of receiving any surprises