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Like others have said, I encourage you to really try to get in your Protein, Vitamins, and Water. It's really very important for your health. Personally, I just had someone tell me the other day that I looked a lot younger now that I've lost weight. Keeping up with your nutritional & Fluid requirements can certainly help to avoid a gaunt, aged look, but it also seems like the rate of weight loss, the length of time that you were at your high weight, and your age at surgery can definitely affect this as well. I hadn't been at my high weight for more than a few years (though I'd been overweight/obese for essentially my entire adult life), and I'm 34, so I think I'm one of the lucky ones in that regard. I had back and hip problems prior to surgery--old dance injuries that made themselves known as I continued to gain weight and put more stress on my damaged joints. Since surgery, my pain has been reduced a lot, but I still have trouble, and for me, I don't think it will ever go away completely (I'm planning to see an orthopedic doc who specializes in dance medicine when I get to goal, so we'll see) but it is much easier to deal with now, 85 pounds lighter. As far as depression and other mental issues--please, please, please find a therapist who deals with body image, eating disorders, etc. I have struggled with depression since I was a teen (it runs in my family), and I was on an antidepressant prior to surgery. I see a therapist regularly and I go to a psychiatrist in the same practice every few months to evaluate my meds. It sounds like some of the things you are dealing with are stemming from your depression--lord knows I never feel like taking care of myself when my depression is left unchecked. You get into this cycle of being depressed, not taking care of yourself, feeling even worse about yourself because you look/feel crappy, etc. It's tough to get out of that cycle without help! Good luck!

Sunshine, I agree with you on the exercise thing. Yesterday, as I was dripping in sweat, I told my husband, "I can not believe that I am addicted to exercise" I love to feel the muscles burn and I love to sweat. Now every day when I first start out on my cardio my body goes "ugh, not this again" but once I get that first hard 5 minutes in - the rest is a piece of cake. Now, that being said, I am not seeing the weight loss that I wish I was but the inches are coming off really well. I keep trying to not be a slave to the scale, but those 30 or so years of habit are hard to break. I hope our new band buddy is doing okay after her surgery and will report back to us soon. Have a great day everyone,

I thought that was my problem with my stall too but I've cut them down to practically nothing, increased my protein from 60 gm's to 90 gm's and increased my activity and I'm still at a dang stall. What gives!! I had surgery April 8th and I'm only down 23 lbs!!! I'm so scared that my loss isn't going to happen but trying to stay focused and not on the number on the scale!! That's hard- lol. Hopefully that helps you.

I hope you meant Sunday. I'll try to be there. The book is the very best, you will enjoy it. My favorite line is "Weight Loss is not Rocket Science" Keeping it simple. Hasta Pronto, George :thumbup:

I'm right there with you. 2 and a half months out and I actually GAINED 3lbs and I don't know why. I was eating okay and I even had started exercise and the scale wouldn't move. I've finally lost 2 of those pounds so its moving in the right direction but won't be happy until I see a loss. Hang in there it's very frustrating but eventually we'll get past It.

I know your pain. I have lost 60 lbs total and still see the old me. I am going down sizes, fitting into clothes I haven't worn in YEARS, but I still see the same old fat me. But guess what....We did something about it! We will not be this way forever. Even though it feels like we woke up fat, it happened over a period of time, just like the loss will take some time. You need to realize that you have lost 50 lbs that you will never gain back. You are making better choices in your life and you are progressing towards your goal. It really is a journey. Keep your head up Chica and keep on truckin'. You'll get there.

Boy is this thread is timely for me. I'm at a point where people are really telling me how great I look and not to loose anymore weight. I don't tell them I still have a few # to go, it's not really any of their business. But, my point is that when I stand in front of my mirror in the morning after getting out of the shower and see all the abuse my body has taken, its hard not to let that detract from how hard I have worked to get where I am. In some ways, my mind starts playing head games with me that if I get down to "x", then maybe it will look better. Mind you, I know better. I do things like pulling up "the girls" to see how that would improve the sagging tummy thinking if I were able to afford a boob job how much that might help knowing I can't afford to do arms, thighs, arms, boobs and tummy. I will have to rob my 401k to do this even when I decide to, but plan to weight a year so my body has a chance to adjust to the large loss in weight. Anyways,just had to comment that you are not alone. We have our own skeletons to deal with, but I have always found this board to be a great place to come to and know I am not the only one struggling with something as I go through my journey.

Not trying to be mean just trying to give tough love. 10 weeks after surgery I blowed out the 1 of the 6 plate that held my leg together for the last 6 years and had to have emergency surgery. I was told by doctors that it would be 6-8 weeks befor I could go back to the gym ans work out. 3 weeks later I'm back in the gym working out and losing weight. Now I know you are not me and I understand your pain but you can't let this side line you from all the great weight loss you have had. Going back and do what made you lose the weight in the begining drink the protein drinks go back to 2-3 oz of food at a time 5-6 times a day. There is upper body exercise that you can do to help and even with a hip replacement or repair the doctors must want you to walk. Start out slow and build from there. And keep us posted we are here for you sorry if this sounds mean its not ment that way. For 6 years I have lived with pain in my right leg from a drunk that crushed it when he ran me over having WLS has made the world of difference the weight is off my leg and it feels 200% better and getting better every day Surgery Anniversary 7/30/12

First thing they did was up my testosterone! What? I didn't want that but it immediately made me feel really feminine if you get what I mean Really helped with weight loss

Great news and that is good to know. I love Pawn Stars and I have not noticed Corey's weight loss yet.. I need to pay better attention....

Don't be so hard on yourself. Most of us have that lovely food funeral before surgery. Now, just get back on track immediately tomorrow so you can accomplish your required weight loss. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your new life and it is going to be a great new life! Good luck!

My sleeve recovery was much slower than the band. I felt healed after 3 days with my band and got this incredible hunger!!! Me and my band didn't get along from day one pretty much. I was in a lot of pain from my sternum upward, and the port pain was unreal... which never really went away ever. Anyway with the sleeve it just took me a lot longer to transition to real food, and I felt fatigue for at least the first 2 months. I didn't have the stamina for real workouts until about month 4 on. Regarding the sleepiness after eating, I get this too and still do. I just passed my 10th month post op. I feel like I have Narcolepsy! I've even fallen asleep at my desk at work if you can believe it. No big deal though it's always during my lunch hour so no one has caught me thank goodness... LOL The weight loss is usually very high for the first 3-4 months post op, and mostly depending on how much you have to lose. I needed to lose around 80-100 Lbs. I've just recently hit my goal (size) but I'm still pushing for more. I'm thinking around 20 ish. Note, the smaller you are the harder it is for the weight to come off. I'm losing around 5-6 Lbs per month right now and for me being smaller still isn't too bad. It is also highly likely you WILL experience a stall of some sort between week 3-5 post op. Do not panic! Just keep it moving and the weight will start dropping again. Most sleevers will stall from time to time, but for me it has not been anything like the band. You simply cannot eat as much and the restriction is from day one and is much more consistent. Good luck to you!!

Ok everyone here is the thing, I'm being banded on 1/25/07, and I just have a few more questions to ask. Ok on the two week pre op diet should I A. Stop smoking until after surgery, and B. should I go on this 10 days or 14 prior to surgery date, because all I am allowed is glucerna weight loss shakes *very expensive* juice broths teas lowfat or plain yogurt not very exciting haha. Ask your surgeon. Each has their own pre- and post-op guidelines. Also what kind of anasthesea do they use is like gas or is it like the liquid valume stuff they pump in your iv. In the prep area I was given some kind of liquid thruogh my IV that made me a little loopy. They called it "happy juice" and "milk of amnesia". In the OR I was given gas. The last thing I remember before waking up was them putting the mask on... it was a little crooked on my face, and I thought - "All the gas will leak out and I'll never fall asleep..." Then I was waking up. Or does it depend. Also what I want to ask is some statistics like how many ppl have their band after years of having it in, Well, then you'd have to know specifically what you want to know. "How many people after years" is impossible to answer. I know two sisters banded in 2001 and both still have their bands. or how many have died from it None to date, that I'm aware of. Refererring to the band itself. or how many bands have eroded etc. The erosion percentage is something like - less than one percent (if that's now inaccurate, someone please correct me). So find some literature and get a number of how many people have been banded, and multiply by .01 and that's your worst case scenario. Just a few scary thoughts. One other thing guys I can't sleep on my back I have to normaly sleep on my somache is this going to be a problem? I doubt you'll be able to sleep on your stomach, at least in the first week. It took me (I think) 2 days to get into my own bed. Until then I was sleeping in a recliner. Once in bed I slept on my back propped up on about 5 pillows, or on my side with a pillow under my stomach to support the port incision. How much pain medecine do they give you is it all liquid, how much pain are you in when you wake up from sugery? When asked to rate my pain on a scale of 1 - 10, which they asked me before I was fully awake, I answered "like a half". I just didn't have any pain. Within the first 45 minutes of waking up I was given a dose of hydrocodone. And upon release they have me a rx for a week's worth. I took about half of it, then went to liquid Tylenol. I didn't have significant pain unless I was standing, sitting, coughing, sneezing... or hitting potholes in the road.

I noticed that you were thinking about going to Mexico for your band. I know lots of people have a great experience there and save lots of money. If there are no complications, it is a great deal. But have you thought about what happens if there is a complication? Do you think that an insurance company would cover the expenses for complications of a foreign installed medical device? From my experience from working at a weight loss clinic, I would say most likely not. I’m all for going to Mexico. God knows I am crazy about Tijuana tacos! My dad had major dental surgery there and so forth and it was satisfactory I guess. The thing is that if you want to save money somewhere, why go el cheapo (if you will) with your body? Take the time to save up the extra money so you have the insurance that someone will be able to take care of you that isn’t a three hour drive across the boarder. By the way, I work at a place that sees patients that does work on people with foreign bands and they come in at least every couple weeks. Granted I only hear about the bad examples and not the people that have had good experiences in Mexico. Nevertheless, based on the examples that I’ve seen, there is no way I would allow anyone in my family to get their band outside of the US.

I am 11 weeks post-op and just reached 40 pounds lost since my date of surgery weight. 60 pounds if you include pre-op diet. It seems like alot of videos and blogs say that at this time they have lost a good 20+ pounds more than me. Maybe I'm not doing all I could be? I do everything my surgeon has said. I'm just so afraid I'm not going to reach my goal weight in time. Im kinda wishing I should have had the duodenal switch.....they say it has greater weight loss outcomes, but there was no surgeon that performed that surgery here. Anyone else feel like its moving slow? And have you found any tips on maximizing weight loss. I have 100 pounds to go to not be " overweight". Any tips?

I'll be there. You will know this "crazy old lady" by the red hair and the shapely body!!! (love your name by the way)

I too remember that feeling. So excited for you! The best advise I can give a newbie is to do exactly what your dr tells you to do, eat the foods they tell you to and do not deviate from that plan. I made the mistake in falling back on those foods that got me to where I needed intervention simply because they didn't make me sick (milkshakes, cream of anything soups, ect). Had I ate what I was told to and the exact amounts I was told to I would have already reached my weight loss goal and would not have had such a struggle over the past 4 years. It's a constant battle for everyone I'm sure. With the proper support and guidance, you'll do just fine!

My hair started falling out at about 3 1/2 months, which was about 3 weeks ago. It's thinned so much! If it goes on much longer, I won't have any hair left!

I'm glad I haven't lost any hair...but is the risk of losing hair over yet? I'm three months out from RNY.

Hi I had a defill last thursday of 1/2 ml and it is so good I haven't eaten any slider foods and not thrown up in a week. Weighed in this morning and no weight loss maybe next week.

Hi everybody. I have been reading this forum for days and days so I thought I would finally write something. I am in the stages of getting a surgery date. I have to have an upper endoscopy on 6-3-2012. After that then they will submit everything to my insurance. Then I'll just have to wait for their approval. I was diagnosed as a pre-diabetic in May so I have cut out all caffeine, all soda's, and all sweets. I am happy to report that I have already lost 15 pounds!! I wasn't told to cut out all the caffeine just yet, but I thought that I may as well start early!! I'm excited to get my band and get to my weight loss goal. Thank you everyone for your post. I have enjoyed reading them and I've learned quite a few things that I think will help me!!

I'm using Dr. Baptista in Jacksonville. We live in Florida but have BCBS of Ala. I do somewhat trust my Dr.s office, however, I'm concerned about the months where I'm seeing the WLCounselor, whose not a physican I'm pretty sure. Also aren't they supposed to be documenting the weight loss attempts with an explanation each month? What role does my primary play in all this? I didn't mention in the already long post earlier but I don't have a three year documented weight history of 35 bmi w/ co-morbid problems. It's probably more like 32 - 34 on the other years. I"m 245 5'10. 2007 229 2006 210 and 2005 221. It's a long shot to begin with, but I just don't want to wait 6 mo only to have them tell me I'm not eligible because I didn't follow their guidelines. Yhanks

Thanks for the info peeps. I Amon meds and I think that it does contribute to preventing weight loss but I don't think that's the only reason.

Hi all, just a question for whomever is kind enough to reply. I lost 77 lbs so far, 6.5 months since surgery. While I am certainly thrilled at the numbers on the scale, I still have quite a way to go. Most of the time I feel great, LOVE the weight loss. But other times - I still 'feel' just as 'fat' as I did before the surgery. Any one else experience this, and if you've hit goal, do you still feel 'fat' every now and then?

Well, I got tired of walking and exercising in front of my TV, so I joined 24 Hour Fitness yesterday and went for my first workout today! I was so nervous going in, but quickly saw all the different body shapes and ages. Yes, there were some buffed out guys lifting weights, but they paid no attention to me. Tomorrow I'm going to take the aqua class (it's one of the Super Sports Centers, so they have everything) and next Tuesday I get my free orientation so I can learn all about the big, scary machines, LOL! Anyway, I'm excited for this next new phase in my weight loss journey!