Search the Community

I find myself saying this all the time. Its like I'm just not happy with what i have achieved so far and i know i should be celebrating every single pound lost! I think part of it is attributed to me not yet reaching my goal. At times i feel a little defeated that i have a long way still to go. Ive lost 147lbs and i have a further 70lbs till i reach my goal. I really should be celebrating but i seem to find excuses and remain unhappy with what i have achieved. Its taken me 10 months and don't get me wrong, i have days i feel fantastic and i dont even think about my weight but there are also days where i find myself beating myself up for not having lost more and the more i lose the harder it is to get the next pound off! Im slowly learning to love the new me and learning to accept all that comes with that whilst trying to forgive and learn from the mistakes the old me did. Its a process and all i can do is take it one day at a time. Best wishes to you all on your journeys.

As you know I reached my goal a couple of months ago and am now in the maintenance stage of my journey. Simple, all I have to do is maintain my weight. I still check in with my doctor every four weeks (my choice not his). This last month has been full of ups and downs with a lot of changes, basically life has been happening. I had to battle the head hunger on more than one occasion. Then about a week and a half ago I started noticing that my daily calorie intake was creeping up. 10 calories more, then 20, then 30, etc… I was starting to get hungry (physical hunger) in between breakfast and lunch, this hasn't happened since bandster hell. That was the deciding factor for me, I needed a fill. I went for my four week checkup today and to no surprise I was up two pounds. After discussing things with my doctor I got the fill I wanted (just a small one .2cc). My point here is that once you reach your goal you’re not done. In fact, It’s harder to maintain your weight that to loose, in my opinion. Guess I need to change my ticker now.

I'm about 10 or 15 pounds lighter now compared to the last picture. ~Mandy

Since surgery I've lost 10 lbs and I'm still in second week... Since I began the presurgery process in down 22lbs and my clothes are loose. I haven't even had a fill yet. I'm glad the pounds are dripping but I'm afraid if it goes too fast my skin won't be able to keep up with the weight loss. Any skin pointers? Lotions exercises miracles anything?

My skin is better than it was at 10 wks, I am using a heavy cream to help with it. I continue to push the liquid. I have had several people try to sell me vitamins and stuff that are suppose to help but I want to win this battle on my own!!

Hi- my guess is you probably shouldn’t be doing all that lifting and bending! Did you have any physical limitations from your surgeon? I had surgery on 6/11/18 and I was advised no lifting more than 10 lbs for 4 weeks.

I take biotin. I know it's in the daily vitamins... but I just wanted to be extra careful! I was banded on 11/22/10 and I have thick hair. Nothing has changed yet. Good luck!!

90 pounds gone since first picture on 10/4/12.

I’ve been sleeved since 9/24/2019. To date I’ve lost about 107lbs. I never seemed to have any issues with food or anything for a while but lately for the pas few months I’ve been having bouts of severe chest pains. So bad I can hardly move. Often they are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Can’t say that it’s what I eat because often times it comes after eating foods I’ve eaten the entire time since being sleeved like eggs avocado and I usually have no issues. This morning for example I woke up like this. I have had an endoscopy done which found no problems. Today I’ve tried taking an antacid and a gas pill and I’m finding a really no relief. I’ve been laying here in bed all morning with a heating pad trying to get it to pass. Doctors really have nothing to tell me. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I am 58 years old before 6 months I did gastric sleeve surgery is the hard running for more 10 minutes save for my stomach? thank you

Sleeved on 2/10/2014 That's why I love this site....because its a constant reminder of WHY????...... I have always envied runners... lol and been in awe of their stamina. That is something that I most definitely want to start doing once I am cleared to "really" exert myself. You look great... keep up the good work. Total inspiration

I don't think anything like the SLEEVE was around50-70years ago! I do know they have data that is 10+ yrs post op. maybe longer.

I'm going through this right now. I posted on another forum and have copied and edited it a bit below and hope I can help anyone in preventing this. As far as your question, yes you can get the pouch back to normal but you and you only can make that happen. It's difficult, but, it can be done. If the pouch is really stretched badly they will un-fill you and place you on liquids for a period of time. My doctor told me 6 weeks of liquids. Holy smokes!!! Here is my post from another thread: Under floroscopy my doctor told me that my pouch was bigger than it should be. She told me that I would get a warning this time, but if next checkup showed the same, she will un-fill me and I will go on liquids for 6 weeks. For now I have been instructed to measure my portions. I did get a slight fill, so, I'm thinking that I'm not that bad yet. I keep a loose band because my allergies and drainage cause the dreaded lapband cement on the pouch that is only dissolved by drinking lots of hot liquids and is very unpleasant, thus I have to be a bit more careful with my portions. I have decent restriction and my portions have been at least 1 cup of food and sometimes 1.5 cups, however, I got into the habit of not chewing well and eating too fast. I rarely got stuck because of my loose band. In my opinion, not chewing well and eating too fast is what caused the dialation. I was also doing way too much exercise and was feeling more hunger and I would eat way to fast and not chew well with the hunger I felt at times. Someone asked about symptoms. First of all my weight loss stopped for months. My weight would go up and down by 6 lbs. and went on like this for at least 8 months. I tried increasing calories, longer work outs etc. etc. and nothing! My biggest symptom was more hunger in between meals and was getting hungry every 2-3 hours. The most obvious symptom that I should have never ignored was feeling satisfied (full) and would get that uncomfortable feeling of "no more" at meal time then all of sudden I would feel a thump in my pouch, due to food going thru quickly, then I could eat another meal if I chose to and honestly sometimes I would. I thought this was because I needed a fill, however, this was not the case and Doc said that a enlarged pouch of course holds more food and will push everything down quickly. Since being warned I have gone on liquids 2 times consisting of 4 days of Protein drinks and 1 can of Soup a day. In addition, I have modified my drinking and wait 1/2 hour before a meal and 1/2 hour after a meal. I now feel a huge amount of restriction and can only handle the 1/2 cup of food at mealtime. So, yes you can reverse the stretched pouch. I will continue to do the liquid thing at least every other week for a while just to be on the safe side. Since doing this I have lost 10 lbs. Lesson learned? If something doesn't feel right get it checked. I knew something was wrong, but, I was embarrassed to see the doctor because I had not reached goal. I think the biggest disappointment is first myself and second, being banded is high maintenance, but, we are the culprit to our own complications in most cases. I still love my band though! Hope this helps anyone who may be experiencing some of my symptoms and have ignored them. jake

I am very sad and depressed right now.. half way through the six-month pre-bariatric program at my hospital, I finally met with the surgeon a month ago. He determined : 1) because I was still living on Prednisone for my Myasthenia Gravis, and had had surgical complications 4 years ago after an automobile accident left me with a perforated colon; and 2). a knee injury which left me in a wheelchair for 3 months this spring created DVT blood clots- that I was not a candidate for elective surgery at this time. I cried for days afterward. In my car, in the grocery store, in my art studio. I could not stop crying. I live with a rare neuro-muscular disease, and finally had to be placed on high dose steroids for it (100 mg/day) 19 years ago. Or should I say, 140 lbs ago? Steroids down to 10 mg/day now with IVIG infusions every 4 weeks. Evidently IV immunoglobin doesn’t effect surgical healing the way that Prednisone does. Dr. pointed out that even if I had been otherwise healthy, the DVTs alone would have postponed the surgery by 10-12 months. We made a loose date for reevaluation in June 2019, if my neurologist can get me off of the steroids completely six months prior by increasing the frequency of the IVIG doses. I was looking into this surgery 4 years ago right before the bus accident, and the possibility of finally having it got me through the multiple horrific resection surgeries. I am still eligible for the sleeve gastrectomy, but know that it will take fortitude to stick with the ‘non-surgical weight loss program’, rehab and exercising and prednisone tapering until my reevaluation in the Spring. It just feels like a dream slipping away, and I am having trouble staying motivated with my program. Has anyone else experienced surgical postponements for underlying medical conditions? Very much looking for motivation advice. Thank you.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I had my surgery may 1, 2019 I started Jan 1 to lose weight for my surgery. I gave lost 103 pounds since then. I have 23 pounds left to my goal..its been very slow. Anyone else having the same problem? Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

hey yall; my name is anna. ive been lurking around your web sight for about three weeks. WOW!!! So much info. I live in California. I started struggling with my weight in jr. high. I managed to loose most of my weight in highschool in very unhealthy ways. But by the time i was 19 i had gained all and more back. After i had my daughter it has become impossible to get down to a healthy weight on my own. My family all struggles with weight. I look at my 60 year old gramdma and my 45 year old mother and just want to do something about it now while i am still in my 20's. I am 4'10" and 160 pounds( but i go up and down all the way to 175). My ideal wieght according to medical charts is somewhere between 90-110 pounds, but i would be thrilled to be at 120. So only 40 pounds to go. Probably doesnt seem like much to those of u who arnt leperchons, but at 4'10" its mor like 80 pounds to a normee. Thank you all for sharing your expeiances and emotions. It really takes a strong person to share so much (even your pictures). This is by far the best web sight that i have found and the first one that i have posted messages on. Still going to do alot more research and go through the old threads before making a desision on a doctor in Mexico. Till next time...Bandit :bandit

I almost had a pb today, but it was just a bad feeling. That's what I get for trying to eat a taco...luckily my finals are over, I can start to focus on doing what's right for my body - like get my big butt to Bally's every once in awhile. Hope everyone does well over the holidays, I plan on being really strict because I want to lose 10 pounds to put me under 200. That's my little mini-goal.

Hello Everyone, Also a Texan, was just banded on 10/19/06 with Dr. Felix Spiegel. So far so good. I have a question, did anyone have terrible shoulder pain?

Good words! My surgeon does 2 weeks pre-op liquid and then 10 days post op THIN LIQUID before moving on to mush. The 2 week pre-op was so hard when I was doing it, but I will tell you that I have 3 days left on my THIN LIQUID and I am going out of my mind. We banded people are willing to sacrifice in order to be healthier, skinnier, etc. These short term diets are part of that sacrifice. I agree, cry if you have to.

I am 10 weeks out... No sig changes yet.

Gonna tell you a little story which I am sure a few of the readers have heard. I have struggled with weight loss ALL my life, weight watchers, full on liquid diets that were promoted from my local hospital, Jenny Craig, personal trainers with low fat diets. You know the whole up and down routine, not that I ate horrible food, but I liked to eat salad, meat/potato etc..Portion control was one of my biggest issues. I met my ex husband (YES EX) and I was a size 16, then due to a skiing accident where I had to have my knee reconstructed I put on some weight and ended up a size 18. We got married and I was back east not knowing anyone and he had to travel for work sometimes up to 3 months at a time. I put on more weight eventually at a size 24. However right after we got married I started to hear you need to exercise, you need to lose weight, you can diet eat this and that. I will show you how, (mind you he had a belly and looked pregnant) But I NEEDED to get down to what he deemed to be a good size for me about a size 2 and he would show me stick women (not making fun of anyone but Women that were 5ft8-5ft 10 with LONG legs.. very lean.. I am 5ft4 with short legs, and usually an hourglass shape even when down to a size 12. No way in hell I am going to be straight up and down and look more like a gymnast. When I finally decided to go for a consult, I got the same grief. That is the easy way out, you can do it on your own, you don't have enough will power, it is all in your head and the list goes on. I heard it will cost too much money, however it was going to be covered for the most part via insurance. I had lost my Father to Cardiac Arrest suddenly, knowing heart issues, diabetes,high blood pressure etc ran in my family which made me really decide. Then my Mother ended up being diagnosed with Colon Cancer, so we add another thing to the list. I made the decision, he kinda did the support coming to the hospital etc but sort of felt like he was my hall monitor. I had to tell him to really back the hell off and I had decided at that point that I did not trust his intentions. He had made comments such as when you lose weight are you going to leave me? During the pre op diet I was on full liquids only for 2 weeks. I was at home and what magically appears in the house but him with a couple of bags of nothing but junk food. Everything from tasty cakes, ice cream, chips, dip, chocolate bars (king size Hershey the MEGA ones which he sat and ate a whole one himself) It really drove it home that for someone to love you and to try to support you that would actually make a junk food stop intentionally when you cannot eat. If this was a normal thing that was done then it would have been far more acceptable, but it was not the normal thing done in the house. I got through surgery, it was interesting how as my ass started to get smaller and I was getting more curvy vs round that he couldn't keep his hands off me. His reactions and jealous behavior when I needed to be with my family through my Mothers Cancer struggle and then when she died, It was pretty much putting me in the middle of a Dying Mother, my sister who had a child under a year old, and him who was generally gone most of the time anyway. He wanted me home even though he wouldn't be there anyway. We did go through the motions of some Marriage counseling, but honestly I was flat out DONE at that point. I was getting my ducks in a row,a last ditch effort he actually canceled all my authorized credit cards that were with him THINKING that he could stop me from doing anything. I had backup credit cards he was not aware of, socked money aside, made my game plan, got storage and moved stuff out. Finally leaving, and filing for divorce the same day. I stayed with friends in a couple of different location before moving back to California. I did have some Fluid backed out because I was unsure when I could get my band checked. Move forward to now I am happily living with the most awesome/smart wonderful man. He never really paid much attention to me having the band there wasn't much restriction. I went May 24th and had another fill and have another Doc visit July 12th. He went in with me and got some of the lowdown on how the band works, came in, knows my weight, loves me anyway. He is 6ft3 with long ole legs, and a high metabolism. He loves my short roundish stuff, he fixes us Protein shakes in the morning, he cooks band friendly foods and keeps it at smaller quantities, smaller plates and I can talk to him about my kinky relationship with food. When I went through mourning again for it, when I had a few stuck episodes, he is supportive. We hit the pool together, and he just picked us up some yoga mats because I have expressed interest. I never hear anything about my weight, how I need to lose it to be this or that, we do not fight or argue. We are best of friends and there isn't anything I cannot tell him. He went out and researched gummy Vitamins so that I can keep up on them and not have to swallow all those pills and brought them home! I guess what I want to tell you is that you might love this guy, or you might think you do. Maybe he does Love you in his own way, however sometimes people settle to be with someone and it is not the right situation. Sometimes so called LOVE can be in a manner that is not healthy. People do really bizarre and weird stuff to people they supposedly love and want to be with. There is a REALLY good chance that as you go on with the program and you learn about yourself, get stronger and lose weight you might very well find out that he is not the guy for you. Hold onto your thoughts, dreams, and your own goal. There will be so called friends, relationships, even family members that will say negative things, that will try to sabotage you on your journey. I lost a few friends over the band, I did get a divorce, I did go skydiving and put my head back on straight! I got through all my changes and losses and had some doors close behind me. However I was lucky in taking those risks, that journey that I made and found something that I NEVER thought I would find, MYSELF! So you go and find that kick ass girl that I know you have inside, be strong, be truthful, love yourself! Good luck in your journey! Hugs

Now at 4.5 months, at 115 lbs. most weight was lost during the first 2 months. 5-12 lbs lost in month 3 and 4. The best advice I can offer new sleeves: 1. Follow your doctors plan 2. If you have a NUT, listen well and follow your NUTs plan. 3. Do not give into temptation. It will get easier after a few weeks. 4. Drink as much Water as possible all day when not eating. I try and hit 125 oz a day. Sometimes I get too busy and do not, but I try. 5. Eat as much Protein that your body can successfully process. I eat up to 150 grams a day, averaging about 125 grams daily. 6. Eat as few carbs as possible. I try and get under 20 grams daily. 7. Eat as little fat as possible. I don't really track this, but do try and minimize it. 8. Take supplements daily. I take a bunch mainly because I rarely eat veggies and do not eat fruit. For example, c, d, fish oil, Calcium, Multivitamin, b50 complex b12. Vitamin c helps with absorption so I take extra around eating. 9. Exercise at least an hour a day. If not cleared for cardio or weights, walk a lot. For example I walked 4 times a day which added up to 3-4 hours. Start slow and build up your endurance, speed and hills. I still walk about an hour a day with my dog mainly out of enjoyment on top of my exercise program. I try and exercise effectively for 45 min to 1 hour a day. I do some weight training, but am still working on that. 10. sleep 7-8 hours minimum. Even though this is 10, it is super important. If sleeping enough, your body is happy and the weight melts off, often without a lot of exercise. If you don't sleep enough, your body stresses out and olds onto fat, sort of a fit or flight response all the time. It is not healthy and will also lead to irritability, stressing out,etc. 11. Eat a super food supplement. These are super rich in antioxidants, fruit, greens and Probiotics. I mix in 1 small scoop a day from GNC. It is not the best tasting, but I am doing it for health. 12. Get regular. Constipation and blockage is not only uncomfortable, but slows down your metabolism, marine a car engine full of gunk. It is not going to run optimally. The same applies to your digestive track. You will feel 1000 x better and have a million x more energy if your digestive track is clear of gunk. I do not find it very difficult to follow the guidelines. However, expect that it may take a few weeks to develop good habits post op. Hope this helps.

I'm so excited. I am schedule for my surgery on November 12th. I will be out of work for 2 weeks and I can't wait. Let me give you a little back ground information. I'm 41, BMI of 40.5 with no co-morbidities. I have been overweight since I was 10. Tried every diet out there including a doctor supervised liquid diet and nothing works.. or I should say it kinda works but I can't keep the weight off. I looked into getting banded last year but that is when I wanted to try one last ditch effort on my own. Hence the liquid diet. I lost 50 lbs but immediately started to gain it back. I'm sick of being overweight and unhealthy. I want to feel good... and I just don't right now. I feel like a beached whale! :w00t: So I work at a hospital as a CNA on third shift, go to school for Respiratory Therapy and I'm also doing this. I have alot of my plate (no pun intended :smile:) I am going to be so happy to have my band done and I am looking forward to the new ME! Wish me luck.:thumbup:

Hello Dito. I, too, an excited that you and your wife are doing this together. My daughter (18 yrs old) had the procedure back on Nov. 19 and I had it done Mar. 4th. Although we were a couple of months apart, it certainly makes it easier that we are both doing it together. For me, the first 7 days were the roughest (with the first 3-4 really rough). However, I woke up on day 8 and felt 100% back to normal. That short 7 days was such a short span of the rest of my life becoming healthy. I am now 19 pounds lighter and looking forward to the numbers going higher. Best wishes to a successful surgery day! Paula

It's been 11 weeks and I feel like a new person, lots of energy and I can move around so much better without the extra weight New photo update I was able to buy JEANS today ..... I haven't worn jeans in about 3 years .... I was a size 22 I bought a size ........10!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App