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I've lost 27 post op. I'm proud but it's a drop in the bucket. My high weight was 325 ( probably higher but that's the high documented weight). You can tell in my face and belly. Some are noticing. It makes me uncomfortable when they ask about goals or sizes. I'm not sure how I'm gonna handle the "you should stop now" comments. I do know that (in the US) there are EOC rules/laws that prevent harassment (unwanted comments) about race, gender, disabilities, etc. in my opinion, this can be stretched to include people talking about someone's weight (high or low). I'm in management and if someone came to me (and they have) stating that others were talking about race, I have a duty to tell them to stop. My employees are pretty comfortable with me. It'll be interesting to see if I have to go to HR to tell my employees to quit talking about me! Lol. I'm dreading being under the microscope. I think I'll say (about goal) - "I will know I'm at goal when I can do _____ (insert some item from my bucket list). That way, I don't have to answer about pounds. People are strangely jealous. It's such a weird journey. It makes me cherish the few who are cheerleaders for happiness and health - without any judgment.

I didn't speed it up - it was fairly slow-going all the way. The thing is, after the first six months or so, it's pretty much slow-going for everyone, so after that point, we were all pretty much in the same boat. I just stuck to the plan, that's all. It came off slowly but surely. I almost never went off my plan - I suspect I was more compliant than a lot of others in my group, so I had great success with it (losing 100% of my excess weight). And yes - I did have two or three major stalls along the way (some people have more than that). My first one lasted two weeks (it was weeks 2 & 3 post-surgery. My weight loss started up again week 4 post-surgery - I dropped like 6-8 lbs within a couple of days, then the "slowly but surely" thing started up again). I don't remember how long the other stalls lasted - maybe 2-4 weeks? I remember thinking during those times that this was it, I wasn't going to lose anymore, but then....it would start up again. I did work out (still do), but I'm not a gym rat. I mostly went to water aerobics a couple times a week and yoga a couple times a week. A lot of it was weighing & measuring my food, tracking, weighing myself several times a week, and not going off plan. I was determined to lose as much as humanly possible!!

That's 12.75lbs/month on average. That's outstanding! Don't watch My 600lb Life any more. In my opinion it gives a totally unrealistic picture of the realities of life after weight loss surgery. Most of us will not lose 20/25lbs or even 30-50lbs per month. (Some of us lucky bastages will...and I will hate them for it. )

I'm not really sure if this is where i need to even be posting this but I am so lost! I feel like I have completely lost the person I used to be. Did any sleevers go through this after losing weight?? No one in my family understands how I feel and I really don't even know where to start with counseling. At this point, I want to take it all back and just go back to the old me because losing weight has made me lose my mind!!! I don't like the attention and I have actually lost a great guy because I don't know how to deal with all of this....someone please tell me I'm not crazy lol!

I sure am!! The scale seems to be moving and I've started working out! Sooner or later I will be at my goal weight!

I fell off the band wagon! Pls help me get back on. I lost 13 kgs in the first 4 months. Gained back about 4 kgs within the first year. And now approaching my year 2 I have gained back another 3-4 kgs. Whoops! I know my mistakes. I drink too much liquid with calories (lattes, coffee mixes, Cereal drinks) and I ate too much too! I find comfort in food so I guess whenever I am emotionally unhappy I am back to eating again. I puked a lot, too. So I know the band is working! I found sometimes if I chew really well, I can still eat a lot like going out to fine restaurants (ie. eat 3 courses of food (sharing dessert)). And I am so done with working out. I am so unmotivated. Please don't judge me and just help.... PS. my weight loss scale is NOT updated.....

I am new here. I had surgery in July 2011. I am struggling right now. I lost weight to rapidly for my liver to handle, so I have had to have all the fluid removed from my band for now. I hope when my liver straightens out I will be able to start having adjustments again. My energy level is low and my emotional state is low. I am trying to keep a positive outlook, but it is hard. Hoping to find support and new information on these forums.

For all you lightweights who have lost the weight- has the skin sagging been a big problem? Are there any preventative measures you took?

Welcome to VST! I was considered "light weight," but my bmi was 39.6. I know I've read of people who had vsg at bmi's between 30-35, but cannot remember if they were revision surgeries or not. I believe most have gone to surgeons in Mexico though...wish I had specifics to give to you. Good luck on your journey! I also started looking at the band first and so glad I discovered the sleeve.

I can only hope for this issue lol im very close to my goal though. But it's harder for me to lose. If I stay on track and don't eat any carbs I lose .5lbs a day but the one day that I do eat carbs (popcorn, nuts, chips, etc) I don't gain however but I don't lose either. Funny how we all have a different struggle lol Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using VST

Hey Courtney, I'm Amanda, 22. I just had my gastric sleeve done Dec 11th and I am down 12 lbs (8 days). Before that, I had to do a 3 day liquid diet to shrink my liver and lost 8 for a total of 20 lbs in 11 days. I am now 250 lbs at 5'6. I totally feel ya on wanting to look great for college graduation, I have a semester left woohoo! To get started: #1 Going to the informational session is right on. #2 Research and look up statistics. There's tons of info out there. #3 Realize this is a life-long thing. For example, no carbonated beverages for the rest of your life. (You can on rare occasion, but it isn't a good idea... its very uncomfortable and stretches your stomach over time). So with that, I would say once you know the surgery is what you want to do... start eliminated all carbonated drinks so it is an easier transition. #4 Realize the way you eat now is not the way you will ever eat again. (Sidenote: my parents both got the sleeve so I saw all this stuff before I got mine.) Take for example a subway foot long sandwich. I used to be able to down those. My mom cant even eat a fourth of a foot long, and my dad is full with a fourth. I haven't been able to try yet because I am only in week two post op. I was an emotional/stress eater and I also ate when I was bored. The transition was fine because I am not hungry like I was be before and when you get full- you just know. Its an uncomfortable feeling. #5 Get the information from the insurance company on what you have to do to meet the requirements. My insurance company had the option of 3 months of supervised weight loss with a nutritionist and a few other things OR 6 months of weighing in monthly with my primary. With both, you could not gain any weight. I did the 6 months and ended up gaining some weight. I was notified by month 6 that the reason I was gaining was most likely due to my PCOS with insulin resistance and I was pre diabetic. Once I was put on the proper medication, I started losing. But, my insurance denied me because I didn't lose any weight. I ended up doing the three months with the nutritionist and lost weight fine throughout that and then I was approved. So, everyone's insurance company is different, and hopefully your journey to get the sleeve will not be as complicated as mine! #6 Find a Protein powder you like and try it now. You will need this pre and post op and probably for the rest of your life. You don't have to, but its a great way to get that protein in. As far as the surgery goes: Realize that it is painful and the first four days for me sucked, but it does get better. Have the staff bring you a small pillow to hold over your stomach when you need to get out of bed or for your car ride home. This is kinda gross, but be prepared for gas both ways. I'm not totally sure what they do but apparently they put air in your stomach for the procedure then afterwards you have that trapped gas. I ended up getting hiccups most likely due to the anesthesia, but man did that hurt. The best thing to help is to lay on your left side (my mom is a nurse and that tip helped a lot). Sorry for another gross fact, but there will also be diarrhea due to all the liquids. It is still like that for me 8 days post op. In general, you will have more gas than when you had your regular stomach. I don't have a clue why, but both my parents agree, unfortunately. Alright, done with the gross stuff! After surgery you will not be hungry.You will want to sleep a lot, and you won't have much energy. I still have low endurance because I am still healing. For example, I get tired after being out for 2 hours and need to go home and relax or sleep. It'll go away soon though. I shouldn't be out doing a ton anyway while I'm still healing. Hope this helps! I am so glad I decided to do this surgery as I know it will change/has changed my entire life.

I've been reading and obsessing over these forums trying to find the right doctor in Mexico, but I'm having a hard time finding anyone that has had their surgery in Mexico and has reached or is close to their goal weight.

Hi I'm scheduled for June surgery and I'm reading how some have gained some or all weight back I guess I thought with the Sleeve being that your stomach is much smaller it would be hard for the weight gain -- now I'm scared

Do be scared. I'm 1 year and 8 months post op. my starting weight was 252 and. I got down to 155. I was so happy I started eating thing I know was bad for ME( pasta, bread and sweets). I then creeped up to 168 lbs. Then I realized I had to go back to the basic, protein, water, protein, water, protein, water. I worked to hard to lose weight to regain it. I'm at 159 lbs and still losing.

It is up to me to make this work. I have a friend who had a bypass several yrs ago and couldn't figure out why she was gaining weight back. She kept saying 'but I can't eat that much'. We would go to lunch and both would order a cheeseburger. I would get fries. I ate my burger and most of the fries (this is before my surgery) and she would eat half of her burger and just a couple of fries. She would get a to go bag and then mid- afternoon she would eat the rest of her burger and any leftover fries. She ended up eating almost the same thing I did. You will gain weight if you eat too many calories- the sleeve will limit how much you can eat at one sitting, but grazing is very easy and a habit I don't want to get into.

Ok peeps... I need help here. I just came from a foot doctor because I have been having pain in my feet in the mornings for about 8 months now. I developed a pain in my left heel about three weeks ago that wont go away no matter what I do. I finally gave in and went to the doctor about it. Its plantar fasciitis. DAMN. I am now on prednisone for two weeks and then four more weeks of an anti inflamatory. My surgeon gave his blessing on these meds. I am going to gain weight! Its a steroid! What am I going to do??? Has anyone had to take this medicine post op and what happened? Did you gain, stay the same or loose normally? I am totally freaked out. He did say I can keep doing aerobics though. He also said I got this condition from being overweight, on my feet lot and wearing flipflops or no shoes at home. I cant wear them anymore or go barefeet. I cant win for loosing... I am so upset! Someone please tell me I am not going to gain all my weight back with these damn steroids! If my foot didnt hurt so bad and I could walk right without taking them, I would!

Has anyone experienced knee pain relief from the sleeve surgery. My ortho doctor suggest for me to do WLS first before knee surgery (if necessary). Said it was risky with my weight so he suggested bariatric surgery as he thinks it will help with my weight and knee pain. HELP!!!

I love this forum. I love that there's always someone who's "been there, done that." I have no cormorbidities, but I'm praying that the letter of medical necessity my orthopedist wrote for me (osteoarthritis and i need two new knees) will do the trick. I'm praying hard that I get approved as soon as everything is submitted in August. Congrats on your 70-pound weight loss, Jacquie! That is amazing!

I started the couch to 5K program a year ago and ran my first half marathon on Sunday. Running every day when you first start is really hard on your body. I recommend every other day and cross train the other days by biking, lifting weights, or swimming. Always have at least one day of rest a week.

I have found tons of energy after losing around 30lbs. Actually energy to burn... I was content to sit still for the longest periods of time before surgery...now am not. My total weightloss with the sleeve should approach about 80 pounds (from roughly 258 to 178ish) and right now I am already at the midpoint of that loss (221 ( 37 lbs lost)). I am finding in my situation that as the weight comes off...it's almost like I can move better, and have a better center of balance....also my joints, my back etc all seem to funtion better.....am I 100% ...ready to run 3 miles? absolutley not... but a one mile walk now dosen't come with aches pains and loss of breath....I actually find it enjoyable. It really is baby steps to a life change... but you have to make that first step... Energy or not KC start with the smallest walk around the block... maybe 2 blocks tomorrow...stick on the headsets and go for a short stroll. I purchased a fitbit to make it more competative but today pedometers can start at as little as $10! A pedometer can get you to beat your step total every day up to the reccomended 10,000 steps a day.... good luck! oh and I am consuming around 800-1000 calories a day

I take the following: multi am/pm D3 am/pm calcium citrate +D am/pm B12 sublingual - once a week I was also taking ompreazole 40mgs 1x a day, but the acid issue seems to have resolved itself. I have't taken a pill for week now. I resumed Water aerobics at week 3, but I was walking 30 minutes a day from day 1. Added weight lifting around week 5. Workout now 5 - 6 days a week.

I plan my meals. I take my food. I know my limits and it takes will power but I work hard. My coworkers know I won't waiver so they don't try. I dump and I refuse to get sick because it's horrible. You have to work the program. You might lose some weight, but you need to use your tool while it is shedding weight. Get a book and get on track! I know if I can do it anyone can!

I had a relatively low BMI I have a lapband because I didn't want to remove a body part. Now almost 10 months later I hate the lap band. (food getting stuck, not being able to eat chicken, meat....having to chew my food to a pulp) But I did lose weight! I am doing a revision to a sleeve. It is a hard choice. Best of luck on your decision! D.

Awww mamato2 I feel for you. It is a big decision. I kept telling myself a couple ruff weeks were worth it for the rest of my life feeling good. Having this heavy life long monkey off my back was absolutely necessity for me. If you see my previous post above.... I have done SO GREAT! Way better then I ever expected or mentally prepared for. Not very sore at all, no nauseous feelings, able to hold down everything. I did not puree anything. Was taught to chew chew chew. I am 2 weeks 1 day post op and am out and about. Enjoy life feeling great! I am so happy the surgery is behind me & very excited for the future. That fact alone feels amazing. We are all different. A positive mind set is helpful going into this. You will still enjoy the things you do now, just in a new healthier way & smaller proportions. We are just a few weeks apart in this journey. Keep in touch. Support and not feeling alone in all of this helps so very much! Hang in there;o) Thanks so much I'm so excited to watch updates and the encouragement has helped my Dr says he thinks my recovery should be great doing pre op excercising and start weight of 225 he says helps let's hope so! I'm so glad your recovery was amazing and hope my journey is as successful! Keep me updated!! Great job!

Hi, I am 2 weeks post-op tomorrow (surgery date 12/26). Reading your words was taking a page from my thoughts and emotions a few week pre-op. I have a 4 year old daughter and 19 month old son. VSG surgery was a huge decision for me in every way! I have been over weight from about the age of 8 years. Life long heart ache and I was so done. Done with weight holding me back, stealing joy from my life and determined to live a enjoyable life with my husband and children! I was so nervous a month out and oddly about a week or so before surgery I got very calm. I felt secure in my choice for the future, my health and happiness. I felt this has been a blessing in my life and the calmness was just a continuation of that blessing. The night before my surgery, Christmas night as I tucked my kids into bed I lost it. Lots of tears. I hid it from my babies but my husband found me upset .Did not help his nerves at all ... I would be gone and my surgery done before they even woke. So emotional for me. These life changing choices are never easy. This choice has such a positive ending to it, that is what I had to stay focused on through my emotional roller coaster. Very happy to tell you I did so very well. So little pain, nausea or inability to consume liquids. My post-op diet has gone more quickly then I have expected. I can not wait to be able to lift my son up again, but very soon. Hang in there, surgery is a nerve racking thing but just stay focused on why you have made your choice. I wish you all the best! Feel free to contact me for any support or questions. Always looking for great support friends myself You will rock it out lil Momma