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Hello World! I am so excited to be begining this journey, finally! My name is Michelle, and I am a 25 year old wife and mother of one (which at this time is quite enough, lol) living in New York, about a hour and a half north of NYC. My story is pretty standard for most overweight people in many ways. I have been severely overweight nearly my entire life and have fought like hell to just be normal, while always falling just short of success. Everything that I tried has failed in the long term, and after having my son I can say I jsut truly gave up. I focused everything I had on my family and never saw the pounds piling on until it was way too late. As a child, I was on my first medically supervised diet at seven years old, but can remember the doctors comments to my mother well before then about my weight. As if being on a diet and in the second grade was not enough, apparently, my teacher, classmates and their parents also need to know to avoid any cupcake temptaions during school birthday celebrations. Being the only fat girl in class allowed for plenty of merciless taunting, trust me I did not need the assistance of this little fact. One thing I can say is that unlike many obese people, the one thing I do not have against me is heredity. I am the only fat one in a family of truly beautiful people. In fifth grade, when a classmate found out I was related to the gorgeous petite blonde with green eyes in the 8th grade, I was asked something I wll never forget. "You are related to her? What happened to you?" By then I had already heard a million comments and nasty remarks but that one cut me deep. I had realized I was the black sheep in the family when I was little and had to hide in the closet to eat anything around my aunts who always expressed concerns over my ever growing waist line. But to have a stranger point that out in that way hurt. I have been obese for 3/4 of my enitre life and should have realized a million times over that I had lost control. The truth is, it took an innocent comment by my five year old son for me to look in the mirror. I mean, really look. I was laying across my bed, watching tv like I usually am after work, and my son walks into the room and says "ya know, if ya wanna lose weight, all ya gotta do is exercise!" In that moment, my heart sank. Forgetting his age and innocense, I screamed at him "Who told you to tell me that?" Seeing his big beautiful blue eyes staring back at me with concern and confusion, I realized that noone had put him up to that (well, ok that and I may have harassed a few family members about what they knew regarding that comment). He was only telling me what he believed the solution to be. In that moment, I realized that I was not only not living my life to the fullest, but I was causing my son not too either. We have never had a vacation to the beach, I have never been swimming with him in a pool, and the last time my husband finally got me to give in to taking a family photo, he was one. So this is me. And I am taking back my life.

I live in Texas and I am going thru TLCEdge Weight Loss Center. I was just wandering if anyone had been thru it and if so how was your experience. Everything has been moving so fast for me so I am just like WOW. I am self pay & I went to the seminar on June 30 & I am scheduled for my surgery on July 29. I am excited but just wandering if anyone else had been thru them. Thanks for any help.

Honestly - I think you are too tight. Some people do have swelling after a fill. I never have noticed it. My fills didn't "kick in" until about 3-4 weeks after my appointment. If all you can "eat" are liquids for 6 days, then you need some nourishment. It is not good to be too tight and risk doing damage to your stomach. Call the doc and have him take out a little until you can drink water easily. It is better to do fills somewhat gradually. 4cc's is alot for a fill! I've never had more than 2 at a time and even then have had to have some backed out. Don't be miserable, or this experience will be miserable for you. You should enjoy your successes. You want the weight to come off permanently and not fall victim to eating slider foods because they are the only things that will do down. Don't equate restriction with the amount of food you can eat either. When I had a slight unfill, it didn't affect my level of restriction at all, just made it more comfortable to eat, no more reflux, and no more frequent pbing or sliming. Good luck to you!

Some schedule a week or two out. Hopefully that will be the case, I wish mine was. Have a great day! Amanda [emoji16] HW 248 CW 241 Surgery Date: pending 11/21/2017. Goal weight 150’ish [emoji23]

Yes, especially since I was self pay and it's not cheap. But I realized, I am a champion at losing weight, I've done it a million times since I was a kid, my downfall, keeping it off. I'm hoping this time I'll learn my lesson and keep it off. Usually I tire of a diet pretty quickly (3 months or so) and go back to my old ways, but for some reason this lap band lifestyle is sticking and I've been doing it since July. I have confidence I can do it this time. Probably will have to be on LBT for the rest of my life , but the support really helps.

Have you discussed getting banded with your therapist? Although you haven't had much success with "just" therapy, her/his input is worth considering. I'm also a compulsive overeater, but I think that the band is going to be a very effective tool in dealing with that-along with continued therapy. I've also been honest with the surgeon about my issues, and he feels that the band will be the right choice for me. You do have to understand that the band itself won't be a cure-all; you can find ways to eat around it if you really want to. I guess my best advice is what my therapist has told me-make sure you have a good support system in place, and know that you need to keep working on your emotional issues as well as your weight. Whatever you decide, you're not alone in your struggles.

Hopefully they'll all come around. Best wishes to you on your weight loss journey.

Hi Miss Lady, Unlike many people, I told EVERYONE that I would be having the surgery!! I felt accountable that way. That includes my 20 and 14 year old daughters. I did not ask for their opinion. I only asked that thy support and respect my decision. When the naysayers would have their say I would smile and except the challenge to prove them wrong. Our decisions about our weight and health are very personal and I was not about to let anyone still the opportunity for me to do what was best for me and something just for me. While I totally understand the emotional roller coaster that comes with this journey, it has been sooo worth it. Walk in faith and get ready to be blessed with a HAPPIER, HEALTHIER life. 4 months later and 50 pounds lighter, now they all love the new me and they want to know more about the surgery. Heck, my BFF is on board and embarking on the journey. All the best to you... the New Healthier YOU!!

No. I only have Polysyctic ovaries which is not a co-morbidity. A little weight loss would've helped me a lot with my infertility. Most doctors agree that a gastric sleeve would've been a better option Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 11 weeks post op and only 2 kgs away from my goal weight at which I will be at a healthy BMI. I currently have no problem with eating and drinking. I get enough Protein from meat everyday so no Protein shakes for me (nasty stuff plus caused me to be nauseous and with tachycardia) I average around 1200-900 calories per day yet my weight loss hasn't slowed down or stopped.. How can I stop it now?! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Oh and since I'm posting this question in the Mini-Gastric bypass section it means I had a MGB Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@mmy I'm surprised a Dr would do that serious of malabsorption on someone your weight. The sleeve would have been a better choice, slower weight lose you can control. I don't think you can physically eat enough calories to stop or slow your weight loss. I would consult your Dr though if you BMI dips below the healthy range.

@@mmy If you get into a really unhealthy weight loss, your could try drinking those high calorie body builder Protein shakes. I don't think you can eat enough to slow your weight loss at this point. What does your doctor say?

I transitioned from the weight loss phase into the maintenance phase quite naturally. The weight loss just tapered off at around 7 months. Your goal weight is just an artificial number. I think my surgeon and I agreed at a goal weight of 190 pounds. But in the end I dropped to near 140. So I wouldn't advise to try and stop it. Just let it run its course. This is the approach that I used in the Maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass. Mini-gastric bypass is a different type of surgery. But there are similarities between the two.

I seriously doubt you can at 11 weeks. Your body is going to keep losing until it wants to stop. You can try increasing calories but with the amount of your intestine bypassed, you will likely keep losing for a whole longer. @@mmy What is your start, current and goal weight?

I weighed myself b4 starting my liquids for the day...Im down...I'm 220.9 from 221.5...not a lot but I didn't gain !!! I'm on my way!!!!! Wish me luck it's my 1st day but I'm n good spirits

Hi There, I have the Mirena IUD, sometimes I have a brown reddish discharge but it is very light and only lasts one day. You can use a tampon but I would only use a panty liner unless it's a heavier flow. I hope when I loose weight I don't get regular periods lol I don't miss them!!

Omg I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’ve reached my target weight but after years of trying to lose weight I’m struggling to allow myself to stop. It’s a real mental battle that I’m facing every day. People tell me I’m too thin now. Feel like I can’t win whatever I do. My head sees the skinny me but my heart is still that of an fat person who suffered for years. I think it’s partly down to the excess skin I’ve got. Maybe if I could get that removed, I may be able to learn to love my thin body ... x

I think part of it is having no date, right? It is hard to keep your eye on the prize when that is the case. One thing that helps me is to have a reward goal. For me it is the cutest night shirt my husband bought me for my birthday last year- and it didn't fit me. It is the most awesome print- perfect for me! Whenever I falter I have that to hold up, maybe eve try on, and look at. What is the specific thing you have been told to do? Diet for six months? Lose a certain amount of weight? It seems like you are kind of up in the air and that has to be hard. Just remind yourself what your ultimate goal is- to have surgery that will be the ultimate aid in controlling your intake and helping you finally lose the weight. This is a hurdle you must do to get there. Man, I feel for you and the main thing I can do is send a hug your way. Obviously we all share many of your problems or we would not be resorting to something so extreme. ALso- try to eat plety of protein to keep you full longer- and also whenever you want to blow your diet go for a walk or exercise.

Everyone is different, but most times stretched skin will stay loose, it does not usually have the elasticity to tighten up. How you carried your weight will have a lot to do with it! If you are evenly heavy, then you will have looser skin, but still just be smaller overall. In a case like mine, where 90% of my excess weight was in my stomach---there is no way it is going to every shrink enough to not be a problem. You are younger, and if you carry your weight overall, it might not ever be a necessity....there is just no way to know how we will look until it is done. If excess skin is a medical issue---as mine on my stomach is at this point---skin tears, and infections in the fold of loose skin---then oftentimes insurance will cover it. Same as a breast reduction due to back problems is covered where implants for cosmetic purposes are not. If you begin having issues with sores from loose skin, or breakdown of skin---have them seen by your Dr. and documented. They happen frequently on the stomach (pannus) under hanging breasts, and on the inner thigh. My PS said they can often times show a medical necessity in these cases. I was given a comparison of a balloon that had been blown up and then the air let out, would never go back to the original balloon size----but----being like the the balloon without air, is still better than being filled out!! Some people swear by lotions and oils---I have no idea if any of them actually do anything---besides keep your skin soft though! Kat

I think people who have gastric bypass get loose skin from losing 100 pounds overnight. The lap band is more gradual. If you are young and your skin is good, and you do slow steady weight loss, plastic surgery might not be necessary. My last big weight loss before the lap band was 60 lbs and I didnt have loose skin because it was gradual (over 2 yrs). I dont see myself getting plastic surgery now except that my boobs are headed south and that seriously bugs me but they look good in a bra.

First....Congrats on graduating. Second......Congrats on the 70 lbs lost. Do not compare yourself to others. This is your journey and only your journey. The goal is to be healthy. If you haven't reached that yet, then you still have time to get there. It is not a race. Don't rely on your nutritionist and/or dietician to schedule to see you. You need to reach out to them. It is time to jump back on the bandwagon. It is good that you recognize that you need too. It is a matter of doing so. If you continue with a sensible diet and exercise the weight will start to come off again. Best of luck to you. Keep up the great work!

I was beginning to wonder if I was going to end up being one of those amazingly lucky people who can eat what ever and not gain weight. What a thrilling added bonus to my wonderful sleeve!! I guess time will tell. I was married to a man like that for 25 years and boy was I ever jealous!

A lot depends on your insurance company. Some require proof of 6 months of a doctor supervised diet, nutrition classes, and the list can go on and on. Others just require some medical testing (depending on your co-mobidities most of the time) and a psychological evaluation. If your insurance company is not one of those that requires you to jump through a lot of hoops to get approval, you can get a date pretty fast. For some of us, the process just drags on and on. The best thing to do is request a copy of your insurance company's policy on weight loss surgery, then start getting your ducks in a row. Good luck!!

I am 5+ months out from surgery and am VERY happy with my sleeve. I feel great . look great and am almost at my goal weight. I had a little surgery recently on my toe and have been unable to exercise much for the past two weeks. Yet I am still losing weight. It's very slow but it's still coming off. I have been very naughty with my eating recently. I still get my protein in and my water but I have been eating sweet things waaaay too often. I am a little concerned about what will happen when I reach my goal. How do I maintain? Will I still see the weight slowly coming off? I mean , I have been REALLY BAD with my sugar and carb intake and I am still losing. No exercise to speak of in the last two weeks. I know this sounds like a wonderful problem to have but I am getting a little nervous..... Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Living the dream, Laura

Hi Mattie . . . you would be surprised how much better you start feeling as soon as the weight starts dropping. I have to admit I don't know about your condition . . . but would you be able to do Water aerobics? I've got a bad hip and back and I've tried "land based exercise" but always end up aching after that - so now I'm sticking to the water .. . and that can be quite a work out too! Also just walking at first is a good start - even if its just 5 or 10 minutes to start with! You can do this in some way I'm sure! Best of luck to you - keep us posted! Chris