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I joined slimming world and found their plan great. You actually get to eat meals and feel satisfied. The first week there I lost 4lbs, and the most in a week I lost was 6.5 lbs. I didn't do any extra exercise than my norm. Chasing after the kids, house work and walking in the park. I lost 70lbs in 9 months with them. Only now Im starting to lose my way, as usual. I lose a good amount and then I lose my motivation and start eating big quantities. Hence why I want the Sleeve. Restrict my amount. Worthwhile joining a group and meeting each week. That should help you lose the weight while waiting surgery date.

Yes, don’t expect pounds to fly off the first week or two. Give your body the time it needs to heal from your surgery, then you will see some weight loss. The same thing happened to me.

I was a little skeptical about adding pictures and my story on this forum. Its been 6 months after my surgery and I can't say that I regret ever doing what I did. So here's a before and after picture. My pre-op weight being 244 pounds and now I'm currently 174. I haven't been the size since I gave birth to my son almost 15 years ago. The weight continues to come off. It has been easy but it is definitely worth it. I want to thank my my surgeon and his team for all the support they have given me and the constant encouragement. [ATTACH]42090[/ATTACH]

So basically your 17 pound loss was in a single week? Awesome job! You should be proud of the progress you've already been making. Plus, I wouldn't discount the weight you lost pre-op. My ticker includes it. :-) I think about the weight that we gain from surgery from the IV fluids, and it makes me realize that you really did lose more than 17 pounds in that week since surgery.

I'm not sure. Up until Wednesday I was being weighed by the hospital or my surgeon's office. I never felt like I had gained anything from the IV's but who knows. I was in the hospital from Friday morning to Saturday night. During that whole time I ate (HA!) broth once. Spent the rest of the time dry-heaving. Anesthesia sucks. Since I have been home I sip liquids and occasionally take in a puree. I tolerate just about all things well except corn. Used to like it. Used to LOVE it. Can't stand it now....

Hi, My conversion surgery was Feburary 19, 2018. I have lost 55 lbs and is happy with my slow weight lost. My diet is ok most of the time. My problem is not drinking water. I want to try to lose a total of 100 lbs by my anniversary date. [emoji4] Sent from my SM-T820 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello! Looking for POST op lap band to sleeve support. I was sleeved in May of 2018 and my surgeon advised that weight loss will be slow because of prior lap band surgery. She was right! My starting weight day of sleeve was 222lbs and 8 months later at 185 lbs (total 35 lbs down) Im also very embarrassed to admit that my eating habits are bad with very poor choices which I'm sure has contributed to the slow weight loss. Looking for some new friends who understand and can help motivate and encourage each other. I'm READY to reset and start over again NOW! LETS DO THIS

Hey Cajun! I am getting the sleeve here in Nicaragua by Dr. Jorge Gutierrez and his team of 2 other surgeons. It's cheaper than the U.S. or Mexico. I believe he is a good doctor, I hope I'm right. I haven't been able to find anything online about him, but he has been doing weight loss surgery for years. He's did a couple of people from the states, but most of the people he works with or from Central or South America. He's going to give me some references I can call.

Wow - I can't believe it's coming up on my one year anniversary since my sleeve surgery! I'm so happy I did this - it's been an emotional journey but I'm so much better for it. I started at 244 lb., it was hard to move, tie my shoes, etc. My blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol were all borderliine high and getting higher. My knees hurt all the time. I hated the way I looked and felt. Now, I'm 151 lbs. (my original goal was 150) and I can move easily, ride my bike, jog and I LOVE being physically active. I can do things with my kids without getting so tired. My blood pressure was 100/66 yesterday, blood sugar, cholesterol all wonderfully normal now. I love my new outlook on life. It wasn't an easy decision to have the surgery and I had some bumps along the way (gallbladder removed 3 weeks after surgery). But my journey, overall, has been a smooth one, physically. Emotionally and mentally is another story. THAT was the hardest part for me. The issues that I had/have tied up in my relationship with food and my body image run deep and they are complex. I've been going to a therapist since 6 months prior to surgery. I'm not sure that I would have been as successful without that piece of the puzzle. I think I would have lost weight, sure, but would I have reached my goal, would I have gained it right back, would I be as happy? I'm not sure. All I know is that I feel more accepting of myself now than I ever have - even when I was thin in my early 20's. Losing the weight was a (small) part of that. Understanding why I abuse food and my body, getting over (most of) my self hatred, and being aware of my bad habits and replacing them with healthier ones - these were more important to my mental well being than the surgery. My biggest take away over the last year - my advice to anyone who is starting down this path: The surgery is a VERY helpful tool to lose the weight. BUT more is involved in this process to be a happier, healthier person. Just as important, if not more so, is to do the mental and emotional work. At one of my first sessions with my therapist, she asked me how will having this surgery make you happy. I wasn't sure - I just knew it would. But she helped me realized that losing the weight doesn't equal happiness. I'm still going to be the same person, have the same issues, problems, etc. My life wasn't going to magically be wonderful just because I'm thinner:) Congrats to all of you who have hit your one year anniversary (and every anniversary thereafter). My hope is that I can maintain my loss over the long run, but I know my journey isn't over. In some ways, it is just beginning.... but I can DO THIS!!!

Hello all! My name is Gracie, a little about myself- I am a 21 year old college student from Long Island, NY. I am 5'8" and currently 220lbs, and have not been under 200lbs since I was 14. I have tried every diet, weight loss program, pill under the sun, as have many people on here. My final goal weight would be 150 as the healthy weight range for my height is 140-160. I would think that 70lbs would qualify for the surgery. I have tried doing research online for gastric surgery for years, and have recently decided that if I were to get one, that the sleeve would be the best decision for me. My insurance is GHI (EmblemHealth) and my BMI is 33.8. I have seen the charts many times that state that the minimum BMI required for most insurances to cover is 35 (with 1 or two serious health issues). The only thing that I take medicine for is PCOS, although I do get joint pains when I try to do basic exercise or walking for a extended period of time. Is there any chance that insurance would cover, any help from someone that has had a similar experience. As I said I am still in school so my budget is not a large one, but I live in NY and that shows to be one of the more expensive states for this surgery and I would not even know where to begin but I am thinking more and more about this and want to have it taken care of so I can begin to live my life to the fullest. That is my rant! Any information would help more than you know. I will attache a picture so you can get an idea of my body type! Please keep in mind that they do no justice for my size.

I had rny 2weeks ago...hubby will be getting sleeve on 2/11 im having slow weight loss plus still in a lot of pain. Im sure he will lose twice as much weight once he is post op and perhaps deal with his pain better than me...any advice you can give me as to how to help him while im still in recovery and not see this as a competition between us...im afraid I may get bitter seeing him lose so much weight in a shorter amount of time...

You could have some water weight issues, so be patient and give your body some more time. Please make sure you are following the rules. Protein first and not drinking while eating are two rules you have to learn to live with. The sleeve is a tool. You do have to do your part to be successful. I logged everything I ate the first year. I wasn't perfect all the time, but I did get to a normal weight. You can do this!!! We are here for you!

Well I'm pretty pissed! I am gaining weight 1 month post op! I'm miserable! I really wasn't measuring my food but I feel hunger! I weigh myself everyday (first issue). I can even eat more than everyone else and I feel fine. This is frustrating knowing I am exercising 3 and 4 days a week to gain 3 damn lbs! I'm getting my protein in and I'm not eating sweets or junk food! I'm only eating healthy foods but my capacity is more! Also, I find it hard to not drink with meals! Thus could be the second issue! Help!!!!! I'm going insane!!!!!

We all failed losing weight with the traditional methods or we wouldn't have 80% of our stomachs removed. After failing enough times to consider this surgery, we all have that little voice in the back of our heads wondering if we are going to fail again---and if we do, what does that say about us??? While we all have that voice to one degree or another, it really isn't a rational fear. The surgery works--not by itself though. You will have to diet and exercise after the surgery per your surgeon's instructions. If you commit to following those instructions to the letter, you will succeed and lose that excess weight. It's not a question of if, only a question of when. Some people may be slow losers, but they are still LOSERS (in the best sense of that word!). I am now 7 weeks out from surgery and I have already lost 66% of my excess body weight (some of that was from the pre-surgery and pre-op diet, but I lost it all because of the program I am on). I have lost 34 pounds since surgery (54 pounds overall). I have another 30 pounds to go to get to my goal, but I am already a success in my view. I am finally off all of my T2DM medications and I feel great!!! I had a 48.5" inch natural waist to 40" natural waist ( the equates to going from pants that were a size 44 pants to a loose 36" (not quite ready for 34" pants, but I can actually put them on and get them buttoned!!!). I haven't been this thin in over 15 years and I am easily 17 pounds lower than my lowest weight on my strictest pre-WLS diet. I attribute half of this loss to the surgery and the other half to my diet and exercise. I am 100% committed to making this work for the long term and you have to believe you will feel this way too. Losing weight is never easy, nor is having this surgery. However, the challenges of surgery and weight loss are nothing compared to the challenges of being obese and, in my case, suffering from virtually of the co-morbidities that came with it. This is the first time in my life I am actually looking forward to seeing my cardiologist in March and not having him discuss my need to lose weight (at least not in that "oh, not that again!" sort of way. In short, you're going to be just fine!!!

He has to realize that you're more at risk for other health problems by being overweight. You have a much higher chance of keeping the weight off by getting this surgery. The reason is because, when you overeat, you stretch your stomach out so much that it doesn't go back to normal. When it's that stretched out, there's an emptiness that you feel you have to constantly fill with food. The point of this surgery is to cut out the stretched part of the stomach so that you feel full more quickly, which causes you to eat less. It also helps you crave less carbs. It's basically allowing you to start over on a clean slate. My sister's boyfriend is insecure, too. He's iffy about her exercising and getting the WLS because he's worried that she will leave him. In time, your husband will understand that you're there to stay.

Thanks MissJDVSG! I don't put makeup on a lot, but when I do, I go all out with it. So he responded via email, saying he is confused & hurt. Wondering when I made the appointment, he understands why I told him via email though b/c he doesn't respond well to some information, and he doesn't understand why I would consider doing something permanent to my stomach instead of trying exercise again first. He's worried about complications & the cost (money is tight for us). He still thinks of me as young & capable of losing the weight by exercising. I've had 4 knee surgeries, 1 foot surgery & I'm well on my way to knee replacements, which I'm hoping WLS will help to prevent. He is delusional sometimes, I swear. I go next week to my PCP to get him to sign off on WLS & I have to see my Orthopedic surgeon about my knees. I also have to make appointment with my counselor to get her to sign off on my Psych papers for WLS. Talking with my Patient Advocate, I could have surgery as soon as the end of March or early April. But I'm not sure if that is a good time for us as a family. It the start of Track season, my husband is our High School coach & my son is on the 8th grade team. Plus my nephew is on the Baldwin Wallace Track Team & I'm going to be going to some of his meets. I need to be able to move around for that & I'm a Sub Teacher. But I don't want to postpone it too long b/c I can't lose too much weight between now & surgery. Can't drop below 35 BMI. I'm currently 39.4. Sorry this was so long. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Ash Ash looks like you're doing real good, proud of your weight loss. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone, I haven't really kept up with posting on LBT, but I did a few times during my pregnancy so I thought I would come back and let everyone know that I delivered a healthy, NINE pound baby girl on August 28th! She was 2 weeks and 2 days late! We had a planned unassisted birth in our home, and everything went perfectly. I have the 4cc band and it's almost filled to capacity. I did not have an unfill during pregnancy and I gained 41lbs. So far I have lost 28lbs and I look forward to getting active again to help shed the rest and then some. I did not have any band-related problems EXCEPT for intense pain around the port site, especially late on in the pregnancy. I attribute this to the stretching and pulling of the growing belly and probably scar tissue around the site. All I know is it was super painful at times, though not all the time. I wanted to wish everyone good luck on their pregnancy/TTC journeys...this was #4 for us and I'm certain we're DONE, lol!

I was not interested in any food the first couple of weeks. I followed the plan exactly. The second month I had a dumping episode which was awful, I ended up at Mayo emergency.... I seriously do not know what caused it but I think it was not eating slowly.. believe me you do not want to have dumping. crackers are solid food, you can only have liquids, do what they tell you. You made the commitment to have the surgery & change your life. Did you get any info from there classes? I have a week by week menu plan telling me what to eat. If not go to https://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/~/media/Brochures/TuftsMC/Patient Care Services/Departments and Services/Weight and Wellness Center/GBP Diet Manual12611.ashx its a fabulous guide for you to follow! It's hard work but you can do it!!

Hi everyone, I just joined this forum to see what options are out there. My husband and I struggle so much with weight and for me it is been a lifelong battle. We went through a six-month OPTi fast program at our local hospital, and we are both back to our starting weight. The good thing about that is that my insurance requires a six-month program as part of the conditional approval; however, I am not sure what else has to be done yet. I have an appointment in a week and a half to discuss options available to me. The only people I know in "real life" have all had the RNY surgery. I have not talked to anyone who has the sleeve. So many questions come to mind... Differences in nutrient absorption, recovery time, long-term outlook, etc... I am sure all of these things have already been addressed, so I will get to looking around the site! It is good to be here, and I look forward to reading of your journeys as well. ~Laurie

Bander here. Lost 100 pounds in 7 months and have been at this weight for about 8 months now. I want to lose fifty more. That fifty will take much more work. The band (or any WLS) only does so much, and the rest is dependent upon good habits and discipline. I'll get there. Good luck!

I had my gallbladder removed yesterday and seems I've put on 4 lbs. I gather it's from the bags on saline that I was given. Is this what usually happens? Thank you