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15 days post op and feeling pretty good- however, starting to get hungry and haven't lost anything for the past 5 days. I'm on clear liquids and protien shakes only, have lost 21 pounds so far.. Any thoughts? Guess I'm starting to feel a little down/discouraged

Please remember the first month is for healing, not weight loss. I know you're ready to get going with this, but give it time

Anyone using visalus shakes. I'm post op day 4 everything I drink gives me terrible gas and discomfort I'm at a loss I'm only getting in 400 calories per day at Max and not all my water I feel crappy

Geez, you guys sure have a lot of assholes in your life! I tell everyone that asks about my weightloss that I had surgery.....friends, family, clients, acquaintances. The responses I get are support, congratulations, and curiosity. I answer their questions and they share some of their weight loss stories or how they "knew someone who hasn't done as well as me". I'm proud of my accomplishment and they are happy for me. Then we move on to other topics with warm fuzzy feelings about going to Mexico for WLS. Thumbs up for conservative, rural redneck eastern Idaho!

I met for my pre-op appointment today, and I start my two week liquid diet tomorrow. I'm so excited, but yet worried that I will fail. As with previous weight loss attempts, I had all good intentions. I'm going to be band and determined to succeed!! What did you not crave after you were healed from surgery?

Hello everyone I'm from Virginia I was wondering if there is anybody out there who is also in there 12 months supervised weight loss program for insurance approval stage I'm really discouraged about such a long waiting period. It just seems almost unfair but I thought maybe is I foynd someone who was also going through it, it could be fun or even if someone has already been thru it it be nice to share some of my thoughts

Thank you so much II'm going to have to get up like at 3:30 AM so I can shower and wash my hair and I have to take my son to a friends house so he can get on the school bus unfortunately his school won't be open that early. I can't believe it's finally happening

Well i was printed to share my story, so here goes.. I'm 26, Mexican-Iranian... That's important because that means that I was raised on rice and corn tortillas. I'm female btw. Both of my parents work two or three jobs, so I was also raised on costco and walmart a frozen meals, like lasagna and chicken and rice... My sister has a disability which mean the I spend the better part of my early childhood in the waiting room of various doctors... Speech therapy, occupational therapy, at the ER, an the mental health therapist... But that not to being said to make you feel sorry, rather so you know that I again was subject to cafeteria food, Jello from the nurses and McDonalds. In high school one of my cousins said I was fat, and a kid in school said I had too much facial hair on my arms and cheeks... Thus the body image phase hit. And so did the diet programs... Slim fast, Jenny Craig, weight watchers, curves, just To name a few. In college I got a personal trainer and a dietician an got put on phentermine, then my knee cap popped sideways and I had to get knee surgery, that was 2009. Then I severely sprained my ankle and was on a boot for 6 weeks... So what brought me down this path for the Sleeve.... I need surgery on my other knee, same thing that happened on my right knee, reconstruction. Due to my weight says the doctor. I've got plantar faciitis on both heels of my feet, that doc said to "to try to loose 50lbs".. Like that was easy before. Ha. I've got pinched nerves on my lumbar and on my neck... That doc said to loose weight, that'd help. And lastly I'm pre-diabetic. My pcp said I'd for sure be on diabetic meds within the next 6 months if no change is made to my weight. No let me also say that since I moved away from home in 2006, after high school, I became semi-vegetarian...eating fish or chicken twice a week, pasta-rice-or-bread three times a week.... Also in high school I learned to cook for the family, and since dad is vegetarian, I learned all sorts of recipes to make. So it's not like I was eating out all the time or eating junk food all the time. So surgery was on 12/4/2014. Thanks to my crap Obamacare insurance I was dropped in June and either way this surgery is not covered. My dad had a good year financially and with the self-pay discounts at the hospital, my dad was able to get a loan for the procedure. Did I mention Ive been living at home with the parentals for the past two years, and I've been in grad school the last two years. My knees feel 1000x better. I've lost 25lbs so far, and even my heals don't get the stabbing shooting pain that they used to after walking for more than three hours. Only negative so far is that I haven't been able to take my anti-depressant/anxiety meds Effixor because when I take it I feel dizzy, light headed, nauseous, weak and that lasts for hours. That's me. Not sure why I had to share.

To me it would depend on whether your doctor told you to stay on liquids until surgery. If so than no don't eat a meal. I had lost my required weight (30 lbs) as well as an additional 20 and was not on a liquid diet. So I did have a small meal for lunch the day before. Please remember many people don't have horror stories of never again being able to eat a favorite food. So I would say why insist on eating pizza or chinese before your weight loss surgery when you will be able to eat it (if you must have it) a month later?

http://www.bcbsm.com/mprApp/mpr.do Here is a link to the BCBS-Michigan medical policy. Looks like the do cover it for weight loss of over 100 pounds provided you meet the other criteria. Relevant text pasted below. This procedure is considered reconstructive and not cosmetic if either Criteria A or Criteria B are met. Criteria A: Must meet all of the following requirements: The patient has had a documented massive weight loss of at least 100 pounds or whose panniculus hangs below the level of the pubis as a result of bariatric surgery or dieting; and The panniculus is so large that it causes uncontrolled intertrigo (which is unresponsive to conservative therapy including topical drying agents, corticosteroids and appropriate antibiotics), skin ulceration, skin necrosis or chronic intractable low back pain; and Sufficient time has elapsed (a minimum of six months) so as to ensure maximum weight loss and weight stability. OR Criteria B: The surgery is performed on an abnormal structure of the body, caused by a congenital defect, developmental abnormality, trauma, infection or tumor and is accompanied by a functional impairment. Exclusions: Surgical repair of diastasis recti, a separation between the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle, is not a condition for which abdominoplasty would be indicated. ___________________________________________________________________________

I have never been able to take Vitamins without upsetting my stomach ( before or after surgery) BUT I discovered gummies and they saved the day. I double up on Flinstone gummy multiple vitamins and take 2 Vitamin C gummies a day. I take small bites of each gummy and chew...chew..chew. Goes down with ease. Also Viactive for Calcium, Vitamin D and K, chewy chocolate that actually taste good. My hair and nails look the best they have in years! Who knew...

I suffer from RA too and i haven't seen any difference in the pain but i am a little less stiff so walking is easier but not stairs ans things like that. Actually last week i had an extremely painful attack of gout arthritis, which i never had before. My dr said that quick weight loss can bring it on. So much for not hurting. My sister and my best friend both suffer from RA as well and they've never been one pound overweight in their life. So i guess it's just not realistic to expect that it will go away just because we lose weight but i'm sure that it will be more manageable since we will take off some of the stress at least. I mean they hurt but they can still walk around and go about their chores. At 451lbs when i had an attack i could barely move around the house without help. Talk to your dr about your exersice routine. Although working out is very good for you on many levels the wrong kind or the wrong intensity can be bad for your RA. I'm not allowed on the treadmill of the step master. My friend was told to stay away from the bikes. Hope you feel better again soon. :wub:

Hi All I'm new to the group - Im 6 weeks weeks post surgery and my weight loss has just stopped!!! I'm not sure what's going on. I'm not a cheater so I dont think its my diet. I am stuck at 205 started at 243. Thats a nice weight loss but not at all where I want to stop. Anyone have any suggestions!!??

What words, phrases, cliches have you heard that resonated with your weight loss journey? "Words are units of energy" is something I heard once. I started using that phrase when I have struggled with journalling. The more I write about and talk about my feelings and what is going on with me, the more energy is expended. "Tears weigh more than fat." I heard this on a weight loss reality show recently. Being able to feel my feelings and shed some tears is also critical for me. Anyone else have something that works for them?

Stalls typically last 1-3 weeks, but they can be longer. It varies from one person to the next, so there's no telling how long it will be for you. There's a lot of superstition around how to break a stall, but really, the only thing you can do is be patient. It's just your body catching up with all of the changes. Keep following the program and your weight loss will resume. Have you lost 56 pounds since your surgery, or was some of that before surgery? If that was all since surgery, 56 pounds in less than 2 months is fantastic! But on the flip side, losing so much so fast means that your body has a lot of catching up to do.

WOW you look like the little sister of the "before" picture! Congrats on your loss (WOW!!!!) and I'm sorry about the end of your marriage. That has to be incredibly difficult, and I'm always a hopeless romantic hoping things work out between couples who are having trouble, but it sounds like you will end up in a much better place WITHOUT him!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I suppose my biggest issue is comparing myself to other sleevers with their weight loss, even though I know we are all different and those who are larger than me will lose more weight starting than I have. Also my Dr and bf want me to drop the weight as quickly as possible.. A year or less. I'm trying so hard to just focus on myself and what is right for me, and not compare myself to others but I just can't seem to get into the mindset for some reason. I know deep down I am doing well but fear going to my Dr appt next week with only losing 10 lbs so far this month. I really don't want him to yell at me like he did before and go through the depression again. I'm trying to stay positive and reassure myself that I am on the right path and keep working harder. I don't have any pictures of me from before except face shots so I can't look back at the person I used to be, I'm really kicking myself for that now.

well i am not a year out.. and maybe not great at advise but I am 5 1/2 months out and 18lbs away from my goal weight ( down 82lbs so far) Honestly 94lbs in 3 1/2 months is pretty freakin awesome! you should be so super excited about that!!! Motivation... look at your before pictures & take pics of you now.. You have to push pass the lack of motivation... for example, tonight it poured for a few hours & its now chilly out, but a little after 8pm i got my sneaks on & made myself go out and run/walk/jog for an hour. because you have to push yourself through the "i don't want to".... even if you just walk... tomorrow walk a house more then today... and so on.. before you know it, you will be walking miles like its no big deal... Everyone's weight loss slows down.. just make sure you are getting in all your Water & Protein... I am sorry you are going through so much... try to remember to put yourself first and be good to yourself... don't beat yourself up if your weight slows down... it happens to all of us... good luck!!!

What is so magical about 12 months? I got to my initial goal, losing 150# in 14 months. I have lost more after entering maintenance. As time goes on, how long it took makes little difference, it is the changing of the habits so you keep it off that is the real ticket to success... Advice - keep working the sleeve (ie follow the basic rules!), eat small quantities always, work out, eat low carb - I focus on Protein and veggies even now. As your body changes, adapt. for example, changing a workout routine to High Intensity Interval training can help restart a weight loss as it slows down. You have done great so far so I encourage you to set yourself up for success and not get too rigid about weight loss goals. Get healthy and make the most of the journey!

Ah all I have to say is don't go looking for trouble because you will usually find it. Just go with it enjoy the weight loss, take care of yourself and your band, live your life and be happy!! Life in general is just too short to be worrying about it, if a problem arises deal with it then and don't worry. We have enough saggy skin we don't want to add wrinkles and worry lines to it

Thanks Shirley, I will keep that in mind especially when eating out. Glad you are feeling better. I have no fill and am losing about 2 lbs a week. I guess they put something in during the surgery. I'm happy with the weight loss. You have done great with your loss. Even if you stay at a plateau for a couple of months.....you will do fine. Then you can get another fill. CAT

I know how you feel I am seven months post op also I have a total loss of 56lbs also and I am very cross with myself that it is not coming off quicker. I don't know what to do so will meet the nurse in march for my third fill and see what happens.

Think I have been misunderstood I am very very glad about my weight loss what I ment to say is that from November to now I have worked harder than in the beginning and I have no loss in3.5 months. So I am not whine!!!!!!ing was just asking as anybody been through the same. Thanks to everyone who is helping.

I am almost 3wks post op and for some reason this week the weight is not going down!!! ???????????? is this normal? I am following all the directions from the doctor. On the puréed stage! I started at 251lbs Sw:240 lbs Cw:231 lbs

I'm a champagne lover as well. I also like "fuzzy" waters and had them pre-op. I did ask my doctor about carbonated bevs during my appt. yesterday and she said as long as you can tolerate it, you can have the carbonated waters. I did not mention the champagne. I may miss my Diet Cokes but I love my weight-loss more. I would say take it slow and try it. Apparently it is the bubbles that upset some of us bandsters so you won't know if you don't try. Cheers! May