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I suggest free weights. I walk about 2.5 miles four days a week. I want to introduce free weights next month. I heard that using machine weights will help build your core. Someone told me about Pilates or yoga for core or strength training. I have my doubts about that though. I want to burn calories and build strength. Sent from my Moto G (4) using the BariatricPal App

I had my surgery July 15th. I actually went up almost 20 lbs during the 6 month waiting period...really inexcusable. I was stressed out, had just started a new job and was eating out like everyday. If I hadn't done that, I would be under 200 now But, I'm happy with the weight I have lost! I have not done any excercising yet, still in recovery from the gallbladder surgery. I am hoping my energy level from before comes back soon. The doctor told me yesterday to just push myself, and it will come back. I'm very happy that I had it done. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I live about 30 minutes south of Harrisburg.

Hi I am 7 weeks post op & have been walking for exercise up to now. I got cleared to start with 10 lb weights & increase as tolerated. I am wondering when did anyone start any workout classes in their local gym classes? I really want to pick up some classes too. Thank you

I could barely walk for the first year or so - my weight was just too high and my joints/back too damaged. I still have never went to a class but I go do go to the gym twice a week. Today I did 35 minutes on the incline setting on the treadmill going very briskly. Almost needed oxygen but this is my commitment. Most of us eventually do give in and do something about getting physically fit. The weight loss stops being a passive process after a while.

For those of you following my posts, you know that after I got the surgery and lost some weight I moved into an RV and have been living a life of richness and wonder that would not have been possible that my former weight. You might also know, that from the beginning I was very stand off fish about treating my surgical procedure like a diet I would be on for the rest of my life, because diets have never helped me to lose weight and keep it off. My policy right after surgery was that I only weighed in at my surgeons office. This was my policy because I knew that if I kept the scale in my home I would drive myself crazy and it would be a torturous experience. I saw my surgeon for six months after my weight loss surgery. Then I moved into my RV and drove away. As most of you probably know, scales need to be pretty much kept in one place and need to be on an absolutely level surface to be accurate. This is not feasible in the RV, and so I do not own a scale. If I am someplace where there's a scale available I will usually hop on, so once every couple of months or so I check my weight. I am over a year out of surgery, down 130 pounds, and my weight loss has slowed even though my physical activity has risen. This is not a problem for me. I am now at a weight I can live with and it's fine with me if it takes a little longer to get all the way to goal. Yesterday, I walked 6 miles, some of which I did at the mall. I walked into a store, and discovered that I was down to a size 16, and I thought I was in 18/20. This was a delightful non-scale victory. I found some clothes that make me look beautiful and flatter the figure that I have now. And, that was the first time I walked 6 miles in one day which was a victory by itself! I think everybody on these forums, even those of you who sometimes get mad at me for the things that I post LOL… This form has been so helpful and it has been so wonderful to have a place to come and talk about this journey with people who understand what it's like. I would love it if you would post your non-scale victories on this thread. Because this isnt about me. This is about all of us, getting healthy, finding ways to be happy, living with who and what we live with and not letting it stop us from having a good life. Not being rolled and owned by the scale or any other set of numbers. Making our humanity, our happiness, our priority. Thank you friends! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

PDX has it right. My own thoughts on the topic, based on info from my surgeon plus my own experience: As your stomach heals, you can't eat much at all - perfect opportunity to lose fast in the early days, so take advantage of it. After 6 months, you are pretty much healed up, so more food is easier to get down (read "easier to screw up"). Your metabolism "reset" that allowed you to lose very fast in the first 6 months may start to slow down. My dr says the "window" closes around 18 months and weight loss stops at that point. I definitely lose at half the rate post-honeymoon than I did early on. One pound a week instead of two (I'm a slow loser to start with). My surgeon's goal was 60% of my excess weight off by 6 months, which I was able to do, even with my slow loss rate. I still have my food issues, but at least I am very aware of them now and I feel like I have more control. I know now that I eat "bad" food for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. While I am not always successful, I do have some go-to strategies post-6 months to help me get through those times, and they work most of the time. I have the sleeve to thank for that because it never would have worked for me before. The honeymoon was a great period to work through these issues and learn good habits. Bottom line: you can lose after 6 months, however, it will likely be much more difficult than the first 6 months when everything is new. The honeymoon is a wonderful time for loss and not to be wasted. Best of luck to you.

Hey everyone I am new here and not sure what I am really looking for. I have been big all my life I am 26 years old and around 420 pounds. I have never been small and wouldnt even be able to begin to imagine how it feels. I guess I am here because I am looking for guidance I want the weight off not only for me but I have recently had a daughter and I am quickly learning my current physical condition is not only affecting my life but also my daughters. I want to be here for her as long as possible and that is not going to be that much longer with my current situation any info you guys can give me and I guess how you rate the experience would be greatly appreciated . Thank you

How much weight you lose is up to you, because your sleeve can easily make you lose 100+ pounds but if you're not eating right or exercising your stomach can stretch and you can regain some of your weight. The healthier you are in your choices the more weight you will lose. The sleeve is just a helper but at the end of the day we all still have to make those necessary life changes... I was more of a burger kinda gal who loves drinking ciders and I am 3 days post op and its tough but I know in the end it's gonna be worth it! So stay positive and try to make as many healthy decisions as you can ( we're only human so eating something bad once in a while is bound to happen )

I was very anxious:confused:. After reading a lot of the posts about fills, I was hoping that my MD was not the conservative type, giving only .5 or 1cc for the first fill. He gave me 3cc's!!!!. The whole fill took less than 20 seconds and I felt absolutely nothing. Totally painless procedure. I immediately felt the difference once I took my first sip of water. They performed a barium swallow after the fill and she told me that she could see a little reflux and to drink my entire bottle of water before I left and to notify them if I had any girgling. Honestly I had a little girgle with the first and second sip but I want restriction so bad that I refused to say something :wink2:. I can tell that it takes longer for my water to go down and I can feel the backup in my esophagus......not painful though. He wont do another fill until a month after the first so my next fill is scheduled on June 30th. I feel great about the fill and I am even more motivated to get rid of this extra weight :w00t:

I'm doing some quick research and would love some assistance from our guy members. What do you consider your ideal pants size after a successful weight loss surgery ? Please vote here.

Hi! I'm new here. I've been browsing for support groups as I am considering wls. My 1st consultation is 4/27/15. I'm more excited than nervous. I'm sure my nerves will become greater as I get closer to surgery. I'm sure I'll qualify because of my weight. Any suggestions for support groups on FB, instagram, etc or support groups period? Lol And congrats on your recent weight loss! Keep up the good work!

I have some questions for those GB veterans out there or anyone else that may have this info. And....maybe nobody can give me this answer except to ask my surgeon, but I will give it a shot. Based on the below information: that came from http://www.bariatricpal.com/page/info/roux-en-y/roux_en_y_gastric_bypass.html Do these specific hormones stay decreased permanently after surgery? or can they increase over time many years later? For those veterans, do you have increased hunger over time years later? The reason why I ask is because I have known a few people who have gained weight after bypass and was curious as to why and wasn't sure if it was related to feeling that hunger again similar to pre-op and if it was hormone related. Hormonal:1 2 changes in your hormones after RYGB can decrease hunger. Ghrelin: a hormone that causes hunger and whose levels decrease after RYGB PYY: (neuropeptide YY) a hormone that reduces hunger and whose levels increase after RYGB GLP-1: (glucagon-like peptide 1) a hormone that reduces hunger and whose levels increase after RYGB

I was already off of it during weight loss for the insurance company, my blood sugar levels dropped so low I had to stop taking it. That being said, I would have had to stop taking it 48 hours before surgery.

YMMV, but some time nearing the end of the first month post-op (I can't remember exactly when) but I woke up one day and found I was suddenly able to chug water. Been chugging ever since. Prior to that, I had a timer set on my watch to remind me to sip 1 lf oz of water every 15 mins while I was awake. I was pretty dizzy the first couple months as well (like catwoman7 said it was due to low blood pressure for me). I had a handful of almost blackouts. By month 3 it got much better. By month 6-7 they were gone (which coincided with the time I stopped weight loss phase).

I am curious how well you guys are doing. How much weight lost? What you are eating? have you had a fill yet? or any other information . This is my first time writing on this site but I have been viewing for about 3 weeks now . You guys have helped me through some tough times after surgery.

Wow this is great to hear. I know that everyone's weight loss journey is didn't. I'm going to be self pay and that a lot of money to just turn around and gain it all back. So I'm really scared that I will fail.

I’m 3.5 years out. Started at 235 lbs. I’m a 5’2” 50 yr old female. I stayed “on plan” (note: MY plan NOT my NUT’s) which was low cal (<800 cals), ultra-low carb (< 20g Net Carbs) throughout weight-loss phase. I got to goal (127 lbs) around 7 months post-op and have stayed below goal ever since...almost 3 years. This morning i clocked in at 118.7 lbs I no longer eat to any “plan” other than to try to stay under 2000 cals a day. I am about 90% successful sticking to this. I eat basically anything just not at pre-op levels…think like 1 to 1.5 cups at a time. And this includes desserts, low-nutritional snacks, fried foods, alcohol and lotsa butter, lol. I also eat my fair share of salads, so it’s all good. Bread, rice, pasta and potatoes are not regular foods for me, but only because these things sit heavily in my stomach and gets me super full super fast. Plus, I just don’t really crave them all that much. you will find out what foods will work within your lifestyle as you progress. Good Luck! ❤️ P.S. I ate pork and red meat (and all things carnivore) now, and even during weight loss phase…they never went off the table for me.

I am scheduled to be banded on Nov 9. I have been reading over the materials my doctor gave me and very little details what my pre-surgery diet should be. I read the post-surgery blog and many people have discussed losing weight prior to surgery. Anyone have any info?

What a great post! I admire any of you that can succeed at losing anything in the 6 months pre-op phase. It wasn't required by my insurance, and I was actually GAINING weight in the months leading up to surgery. My eating was out of control and no matter what i tried, i just couldn't seem to reign it in. I too am so happy with my sleeve and will be six months out June 12. These are happy days!

Hello my wonderful Sleeve family!!!! This is my update at 5 months, 5 days!!! It seems like only yesterday I was complaining about my 6 month pre-op program... and now, I'm over 5 months out!!! Let me say, I love SLEEVINA!!! She's saved my life.. but I have to admit she SLAYS me sometimes... but keeps me in line!!! Regrets:... Just 1.. well, maybe 2... first, I wish I would have worked a little hard during my 6 month MSWL program.. especially with exercise... the only other regret is that I wasn't open with a lot of my family and friends from the beginning, thus missing out of their support from the beginning... Reality:... LOL... well, I'm not the same person I was physically, emotionally or socially... I was prepared for the physical.. well, a little.. but the emotional upheaval that has transpired in my life has been healthy, hard and very necessary.. I believe I am a better person.. more grounded, compassionate and active in trying to help others make decisions that will transform their lives... The social aspect is a trip... mainly because.. I've always been a social butterfly, now... it's crazy the attention and stuff.. needless to say, I'm a little flattered and lot suspicious!!! LOL... I've resigned myself to wearing dresses for the summer!!! I've not lost my luscious legs (Thank God!!)... I'm not including numbers in this update.. I'm doing weight and measurements for my 6 month post op update... Rules: I cannot miss my water!! I cannot eat cake (I was, not Sleevina doesn't like sweets anymore YEAH!! Boo!!) LOL.. I just want to encourage those who need it... You can do this... Each day, each minute, dedicate yourself to the process of transformation, the work and yourself!!! Love and hugs!! Tina

Hi Kells, Too many of the participants on this forum to count have expressed their self doubts about the band surgery...after the fact. Myself included; the morning after my surgery I remember asking myself "What the h%#& have you done to yourself?" If anything this weight loss journey is self empowering. You are the one who decides how successful you will be...and I speak from experience when I write that we don't know the depths of what strengths we possess until we are tested to tap into them. This journey will be a catalyst to discover and learn more about yourself. For me, I have learned the value of patience...and to take a day at a time. Some days will be more challenging than others...and that's ok...tomorrow will come. To be successful does require change...and specifically that you must change your relationship with food and how you think about it. Incorporating exercise into your life can be a real challenge. I believe we can all be successful if we are motivated to be. If you believed in your abilities to be successful prior to your surgery...those strengths are still there. And as others have written, the journey does become easier with time and getting to the green zone. Best wishes as your journey continues...

Hi guys I'm 31 years old female living in London! I has my banding on the 18th June I'm on the liquid phase and will be starting mushy food on Monday, I've lost 18 Pound so far but 11 was list in the week leading to surgery I'm starting to worry that I have made the right decision. I'm concerned that my will power will let me down! I'm so determined to loose weight and finally be fit and slim but I keep having that nagging feeling that I may fail. I was so confident I'd do well prior to the operation but now I find myself having more Soup or shakes that I think I possibly should Did anyone else feel like this or is it just me? Thanks Kel

The only person in my life that knows is my husband!! My friends think I just had abdominal surgery... and my family ( who do not live close ) do not know anything! This was the best decision.. becuase I know that I am not prepared for any negative comments.. so even though I feel bad that i told a little lie.. I am so happy I do not have to explain anything.. And I have started to get some compliments on the weight loss.. and I just thank them and tell them I am working on it. Here is the kicker.. My mom came down last week.. and did not say anything to me about my weight loss!!! WHen she has been my biggest critique!!! Now 25lbs is hard not to notice!!! At the end of the weekend visit.. it just proved to me that I made the right decision!!!

Hey, Sleeve Plication Talk Members! Now that Memorial Day has passed and we’re well into June, it’s summer time! Why not use the warm weather and casual dress code for motivation to stick to your diet? Of course, the newsletter’s a great way to remind you to be good, too! We keep you updated on what’s going on at SleevePlicationTalk.com, and we’ll jump right into this newsletter with: Sleeve Plication Support Groups: Are you taking full advantage of special forum groups on SleevePlicationTalk.com? To Tell or Not to Tell – Do you tell others about your sleeve plication? Member Spotlight – None other than Alex Brecher, founder of SleevePlicationTalk.com! Sleever Challenge – This is a great one to kick off the summer. We encourage you to stay involved with SleevePlicationTalk.com. Ask your questions, answer your peers and keep your profile current. All of your participation keeps you on track and helps everyone else! Always let us know when you have suggestions, comments and questions. Enjoy the newsletter. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Sleeve Plication Support Groups: What are They, and How Do They Help You? SleevePlicationTalk.com can be a huge part of your life. Many of us check the boards every day or more, and depend on the site for support, information and encouragement. Joining one or more SleevePlicationTalk.com support groups is a great way to get even more out of SleevePlicationTalk.com. These support groups are like exclusive clubs, but all you have to do to join is to participate! Just look at the different types groups we have. Monthly groups based on when you got your surgery Groups based on your hometown, age and weight goals. The sleeve plication buddies and mentors forum in case you need a little extra help or want to help someone in their weight loss journey. And more…for religious sleevers, gay, lesbian and bi sleevers, crossover addicts, biker sleevers…and way more. These groups are smaller discussion forums for sleevers who have a lot of things in common with you even beyond your weight loss surgery. They may have great solutions to problems that you’re having, and they can be super sympathetic to your situation. You can make close friends on these boards because you already have so much in common, and because you can spend a lot more “one-on-one” time with them. Come on over to the SleevePlicationTalk.com support group page and see which groups you want to join! Hot on the Boards: Coming out of the WLS Closet. To tell or not to tell? That’s a pretty sensitive question for a lot of weight loss surgery patients. It’s normal to feel embarrassed about your surgery, especially when you’re dealing with people who look down on you. Always remember that you don’t have to let others make you feel bad. As long as you’re healthy and happy, you should feel proud of your accomplishments. Anyone who truly loves you will also be proud. It’s a personal decision whether to tell people about weight loss surgery. You might tell your closest friends and family first, and let others in on the secret when they start to ask you how you lost so much weight. You don’t ever have to tell anyone if you’re shy or just don’t want to. Or, if you prefer, you can tell everyone as soon as you set the date for your surgery. Maybe that’ll make you feel more accountable and inspire you to success. What are your thoughts? Do you tell people that you’ve gotten weight loss surgery? Do you explain to them what a sleeve plication is, since they probably don’t know? How do you choose when to tell, how much to say and whom to tell? Do you have any tips for other sleevers? Tell us about it! First Member Spotlight – It’s Alex! We promised, and now we’ve delivered! It’s time for the first true Member Spotlight, and who better to be honored than…Alex! He’s the founder of RNYTalk.com and the other communities belonging to WLSBoards.com. He manages and promotes the boards to make sure that they’re here for everyone. He is truly passionate about helping others reach the same weight loss success that he did. Here’s his story. He’s the handsome, friendly face you see hanging out on the forums, but he took the same journey as many of you to achieve those looks. Alex struggled with obesity and diets for years without finding permanent weight loss success. He finally realized that he needed to lose the weight if he wanted to be around for his children for years to come. Alex got the lap-band, lost more than 100 pounds and never looked back. Thrilled with his new energy and health, Alex had the motivation and confidence to stop smoking. Today he is an active, lean family man who loves to run, bike and spend time with his children. In 2003, Alex founded LapBandTalk.com, which quickly became the largest weight loss surgery community in the world. He started VerticalSleeveTalk.com in February of 2009, and the other WLSBoards, RNYTalk.com and SleevePlicationTalk.com, followed in 2011. That’s right – we’re only starting our second year, and we’ve already got thousands of great members! Alex works hard to make sure that all members to have positive experiences and benefit from being part of the communities. Do you have someone you’d like to see featured in the Member Spotlight? Would you like to be our spotlighted member? Come tell us in the Member Spotlight forum! It’s a regular feature of the newsletters to let you learn a little more about someone in our community with an inspirational story or who helps out our members. Thanks for your nominations so far! Sleever Challenge! Challenge Yourself and Achieve Something New! We give you a challenge in each SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter. It’s not a challenge for you to compete against anyone else. It’s just a way to set a new goal for yourself to try something new or push yourself a little harder. Nobody’s keeping score, so try it! You can always find the old challenges in the Challenge Forum. So far, the two challenges have been: Try a new food or recipe. It’s pretty simple. Come up with a new recipe or try a new food that fits on your diet. Tell us about it! Recognize your non-scale victory (NSV): An NSV is something that is an accomplishment during your weight loss journey, but it isn’t based on the number on the scale. It might be something like fitting into a dress you like or being able to keep up with your grandchildren without getting tired.. It’s never too late to try the old challenges and write about them. Share what you come up with to brag a little and help out others. The New Challenge: Be an Exercise Buddy! This challenge is great for your health and the health of a lucky new or old friend. Why? Over the next two weeks, your challenge is to do a workout with a new person. Some ideas for the challenge are to: Ask your neighbor to take a walk with you Ask someone at your gym to be your partner while you both lift weights Go for a bike ride with your kids or spouse Take a new exercise class Be creative! The goal is to do something fun and healthy, and maybe make a new friend or two along the way. Don’t forget to post your challenge results in the Challenge Forum. The forum’s also great place to go if you need ideas or have advice for other Sleevers so they can complete the challenge. Good luck! And Finally: Please Support Us! Just as a reminder, we’d like to ask you to support us when you can. We know you value SleevePlicationTalk.com and all of its free services. We’d like to remind you to please ask your surgeon and other healthcare providers to post SleevePlicationTalk.com fliers in their offices. We’re always growing, and you can help. Thank you. That does it for this newsletter. Thanks for reading and for your continued participation on the boards. Take care! Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.sleevepli...&tab=newsletter

No, I was not apprehensive about the band surgery, but then this was not my first abdominal surgery either. I had to wait so long for the medical clearance for the band surgery, there were no second thoughts to finally having the opportunity to loose weight and get my health back! It is totally normal to have some doubts and concerns about the surgery, and if it is your first surgery to be feeling apprehensive about it. All I can say is that the recovery from the band surgery was a breeze compared with my earlier surgery. All surgical procedures come with some risk factors, but there are so many members on this forum who have done well through the surgery and recovery. Also necessary to consider are the very real risks to your health and well being if you stay heavier and don't loose the weight you need to. Just ask questions, and come back often...you can do this!