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CJ! Sounds like a plan..I didn't have to go to support groups. I had so many co morbidity problems I didn't even have to go to the shrink!:w00t: But within 2 months my health improved so much that I was astounded! My liver doctor was thrilled, my heart doctor was excited for me and my family doctor told me that I was one of the patients that this really worked well for and rather quickly! I told her if she had any patients that had weight problems like I did then she was welcome to tell them everything she had to do to try and help me! I'm halfway to my goal but it seems that this last half is going to take a bit longer than the first half! I just need to exercise more but you know how hot it's been and I hate to walk when we have so much heat!! My insurance is blue cross blue shield federal so that may be part of why I didn't need the support group validation??!! I wish you well on your journey!

Source: food. The trick: Eat just a little less. Scientists at Harvard and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge found that people who lowered their calorie intake lost an average of 13 pounds in six months no matter what kind of diet they were on. "This is the best weight-loss news in a long time," says Frank Sacks, MD, nutrition professor at Harvard School of Public Health and lead author of the study. "If you don't like what you're eating, you're not going to stick with it. These findings give you flexibility to trim a bit here and there and still enjoy your favorites." In fact, by nixing just 100 calories a day, you'll lose more than 10 pounds a year. Up your cuts to 250 and you're down 26 pounds. Want to lose faster? Ditch 500 calories daily and you'll drop those pounds in half the time. We found 50 so-easy ways for you to trim a little but save a lot. Cut 100 Calories at Breakfast * Use skim milk in place of flavored Coffee-mate in your two morning mugs. * Eat a bowl of high-fiber Cereal and you'll consume fewer calories all day. * Order bacon, not sausage, with your eggs. * Choose a yeast doughnut instead of a denser cake one. Cut 100 Calories at lunch * Use 1 tablespoon of mayo and 1 tablespoon of low-fat cottage cheese to make tuna salad. * Put barbecue sauce, not honey mustard, on your chicken sandwich at Wendy's. * Top your burger with onions, lettuce, and tomato and skip the cheese. * Ask for the 12-ounce child-size soda instead of the 21-ounce medium at the drive-through. * Slim down your sandwich by using Arnold Select 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins instead of whole wheat bread. * Toss your salad with 1 tablespoon of dressing until every lettuce leaf is coated. You'll get away with using half the usual serving size. Try this trick at dinner too. * Skip the crackers and shredded cheese on your chili. Cut 100 Calories at Dinner * Trade butter for a flavorful spread made with garlic, fresh rosemary, and light, trans fat-free margarine. * Making meatballs? Mix half the amount of ground beef the recipe calls for with half as much cooked brown rice. * Instead of two slices of medium pepperoni pan pizza, choose thin-crust. * When munching on chicken wings, don't toss the bones midway through. Seeing the evidence of your feast may help you eat less, studies show. Cut 100 Calories from a Snack * Trade 1/2 cup of premium vanilla ice cream for 1/2 cup of Breyers chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream. * Ordering a cone? Make it the sugar, not the waffle, kind. * Munch on Pirate's Booty. In a study, switching to an air-puffed cheesy snack twice a day saved about 70 calories a pop. * Grab a Dannon Light & Fit yogurt, not a low-fat fruit blend. * Replace half the butter in cake, muffin, and brownie recipes with an equal amount of applesauce or mashed bananas. You'll save about 100 calories for every tablespoon you swap. * Indulge in a slice of angel food cake drizzled with chocolate syrup rather than three Cookies. ------------------- Cut 250 Calories at Breakfast * Trade a reduced-fat blueberry muffin for instant oatmeal topped with 1/4 cup of fresh blueberries. Bonus: You'll stay satisfied all morning. * Measure out your breakfast cereal; overestimating by just 1/3 cup can add 100 calories. * Enjoy it with a 16-ounce chai latte with skim milk rather than a green tea latte with 2 percent. Cut 250 Calories at Lunch * Pick turkey over tuna in your 6-inch sub. * At the salad bar, reach for shredded Parmesan instead of cheddar and skip the bread. * Nuke a Lean Cuisine chicken parm instead of having one delivered. Cut 250 Calories at Dinner * Make your own salad dressing using low-sodium, fat-free broth in place of 2 tablespoons of oil. * Having fajitas? Fill up one tortilla rather than three, then eat the rest of your fixings with a fork. * Sub black Beans for refried and hold the side of Mexican rice. * Order filet mignon instead of a New York strip steak. * Opt for broccoli chicken over sweet-and-sour, and for steamed brown rice, not fried. Cut 250 Calories from a Snack * Bite into a chocolate-covered strawberry rather than a chocolate chip cookie. * Skip the small movie-theater popcorn and bring your own 1-ounce bag of Lay's. * Switch from juice to Crystal Light twice a day. * At the mall, curb a craving for a soft pretzel with a 100-calorie pretzel pack. ------------------- Cut 500 Calories * Eat fruit before every meal. In a Pennsylvania State University study, people who munched apples 15 minutes before lunch ate about 187 fewer calories. * Order one brunch entree to share. Who can finish that giant omelet, anyway? * When making mac and cheese, resist temptation and prep just half the box. Save the rest in a zip-top bag for next time. * Use your grandmother's Joy of Cooking and you'll save an average of 506 calories over three meals, according to a recent Cornell University study. The secret: Smaller portion sizes and lower-calorie ingredients were called for back then. * Instead of a Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha for your afternoon pick-me-up, order coffee with a little milk and a dusting of chocolate. * At happy hour, drink two rum and diet colas and back away from the bowl of stale snack mix. ----------------- Turn Up the Burn The more active you are, the fewer calories you'll need to cut. Try these food-fitness combos to reach your target number. Goal: 100 calories Burn 50: Get up from your desk and take a 20-minute walk at lunch. Cut 50: Skip the oyster crackers in your Soup. Goal: 250 calories Burn 125: Shovel the driveway for 20 minutes. Cut 125: Hold the cinnamon bun. Eat two slices of cinnamon toast. Goal: 500 calories Burn 250: Spend two hours making dinner for the entire week. Cut 250: Mist a pan with cooking spray instead of pouring in oil. Sources: Sari Greaves, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association; Jayne Hurley, RD, senior nutritionist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest; Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan; Brian Wansink, PhD, FITNESS advisory board member and author of Mindless Eating; and Hope Warshaw, RD, author of Eat Out, Eat Right, third edition, and What to Eat When You're Eating Out Originally published in FITNESS magazine, February 2010.

Good for you Richard! The sleeve is a great choice. Lose that 10% and you're on your way. I will be real curious to see how the weight falls off of you. There are alot of success stories on this sight, and I am sure you will be one of them. Best of luck.

I personally think the BMI chart is a bunch of whoooey too! I currently weight 162 pounds. I am 5' 10" and as cowgirljane says your rib cage doesn't get smaller. You can see and feel my chest bones, you can certainly feel my spine, hip bones, shoulder bones and the like. Supposedly my BMI states I could weight as low as 124 pounds!! Are you freakin' kidding me?? I find I look nice and slim where I currently am oh and I wear a size 6 pant(some are loose on me) size small medium top. Still shooting to lose 2 more pounds but then that's it for me!!!!

May 21 will be 1 year for me also, have lost about 130lbs in 10 months and have been holding same weight for about 2 months, can be frustrating. weight is kind of up and down, hoping to snap out of this.still working out and eating right.

Wow MrsJones; Did you regain all your weight after the 1st surgery.... How are you doing now?

I gained weight while in the hospital. Had RnY on Monday, 4/24. Still sore and full of gas. No nausea but struggling to get my fluids in. Going for walks and taking gas x but the relief is minimal.

HeavenlyHands, I understand what you are going through. Although I am 25 and you are 43, years don't matter when it comes to understanding how it feels to be morbidly obese. When you said, "I am the person in the motorized wheelchair at Wal-Mart", I could really relate. I feel the same way about many things. I am the person who asks for an extender on an airplane. I am the person who can't fit into a plastic lawnchair. I am the person that isn't comfortable in many cars. The great thing about these boards is that we are all those people, or have been those people. I am seriously considering the surgery too. I have found in the short time I have been reading these boards that this is a safe place we can come to. I am so happy to hear that you are taking the first steps towards a better life! I will be getting insurance soon and hope to be following (in your soon-to-be) much smaller foot steps. Please keep posting to let us know your progress. We are all in this together and together we will lose weight!

Hi folks, this has been an incredibly smooth and uneventful procedure, to the point where I almost didn't want to say it because I hear of so many problems on here. But it's been a breeze knock on wood. So here are the two things: 1) the unanticipated great pleasure is crossing my legs. When I sit and cross my legs now the experience is completely different as my legs don't splay out, the fold neatly and the folded over leg just goes straight don along side the other leg, if you can see what I mean here. It's no longer uncomfortable. But it's something I would never have thought of. 2) Has anyone heard of people reaching their goal weight in TWO months? Well I'm about to do that. Granted because I lost 45 before surgery, I didn't have as much to lose but now I've lost another almost 35 and so in a few weeks I imagine I'll be there. Just strikes me as strange but utterly wonderful... I'm 6'2", highest was 305, and now I'm 211, goal is 195 or 200.... this is a trip!! wow

Ain't this the truth Happy Hump Day all. Sleeve Date: March 28, 2013 Weight on surgery date: 281 First Goal 50lbs: July 13, 2013 (231)

Here I am on a Saturday morning, my only day off this weekend. Instead of making the best of it, I'm wallowing, feeling inept. My life has become unmanageable. More days than not I go to bed having to push out overwhelming negative thoughts. I have to numb myself so that I don't think about all the things I'm not doing or have done wrong or don't do as well as others. It's hard. Things bothering me are: 1. It's been almost a year since my surgery and I've lost 45 lbs. My better me thinks good thoughts about this. I've kept it off for longer than I've ever kept weight off in my life. But the rest of me is disappointed, not surprised though. I haven't worked at it for a very long time. I want to go back for another fill, but I'm afraid to show my face, be seen, be reprimanded for the long hiatus, be seen as a failure. I don't know why I can't do this. What is wrong with me. Conclusion: I haven't worked very hard at it, I regret that, but nothing is stopping me from getting back in the game if I can overcome what stops me. 2. Getting blown off by a guy who I thought would call. I thought I was doing him a favor seeing him again, and now I feel like a total idiot. Was I nasty to him, did he sense my disinterest? Was he not all that intereted to begin with? Why can't I get over it. Coming up on 30 I feel overwhelmed sometimes thinking that I will always be alone, like I didn't get picked for the team in gym class. I'm a reject and everyone else left to be with is a reject as well. Mostly I think, why do I keep trying to date when I know that I'm not remotely comfortable with who I am? Conclusion: I'm not ready to give up online dating because I don't have much going on in my life and even the occasional first date gives me something to get excited about. There is no reason I can't work on myself and continue dating. 3. I'm lonely. I hate that no one calls me to do anything. I don't feel like I matter to anyone. Granted Cara calls daily, but I'm tired of talking to her. I don't know if I should say anything. She just redirects every conversation towards herself and even when she does let me talk there's no conversation, just uh huh, yeah, that sucks - anyways...back to me. I can't keep it up. Beyond that, I feel like others here all have a life and put me it when I ask if they have to. Otherwise they all have significant others or close groups of friends. I'm alone, completely alone. 4. Work. I love when I'm with patients, but I'm just not challenged or inspired to work hard. I've become so lazy and I'm not learning anything. I have a chip on my shoulder that I'm not a real doctor, yet I make no effort to actually be an expert in what I do. 5. My apartment, it's a wreck. It's always been that way, it's nothing new. I've never been able to maintain my home. It's always a mad dash to clean it up, a promise to keep it up, and failure. I don't know why I can't do better. I think it's because I park myself in front of the boob tube every night and zone out until it's time for bed. Sad. I know things were better last year when I quit smoking. I would like to stop again, I just don't know if I'm ready. I'm definitely precontemplative. 6. I don't want to go home and disappoint my family with how I look. 7. I'm not in the holiday spirit, I'm really depressed that I'm alone again and have to beg the other folks to come over so that I can celebrate. I'm afraid I'm going to develop an aversion the holidays that I used to love so much. 8. All the crap I haven't done. Loan deferments being the biggest issue. 9. My hair, I can't believe that wasn't number one. I don't even know if I can write about it. It's pitiful and disgusting and I can't stop and I don't want to get help but I really don't want to go on like this. I say I can stop but I can't. I just don't want it to get any worse. 10. Apathy. I used to work a full time job, teach part time and study for classes and tests. During that time I journalled all the time and was able to live a normal life. Maybe I remember it better than it was. Why can't I do that now. I get home by 430 most days. I'm off more weekends than not. SO, what now. I have the day off, what do I want to do with it. Can I even motivate myself to do anything? What would make me feel better: -getting out of the house -doing something social -shopping for dress pants -fixing my other dress pants -cleaning up a bit -organizing clothes in my room -sending Pete an email -painting?

Well, it has been a year. I have lost 50 pounds slowly and steadily and have gone from a tight size 18 to a 12!!! And a 1X to a L!!!:clap2: I have had minimal complications. Lots of pbs, but I am used to them and really know how to avoid them. I just have times where I am not paying attention enough to how I am eating. I also tighten up with stress and airplane travel. Every time we fly somewhere I know the next day is liquids, soft foods if I'm lucky! I have been suffering from some pretty severe heartburn and reflux but my Dr. has me on some good meds for it. And again, I know how to avoid it and I really need to start paying attention (I know- I already said that. Repetition is learning.). My arthritis in both hips and one of my knees is GONE. I have energy I never knew before, which is good because I have a darling 22 month old son who is a complete spaz (I say that lovingly). GUYS FLIRT WITH ME THAT ARE NOT MY HUSBAND. Has this been easy?? No. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat and for twice what I paid. This is the longest time I have been on a continuous, consistent weight loss path and even though it may take another year, I will reach my goal. I never would have gotten through this year without the support of the people on this board. NEWBIES LISTEN UP- this is a great crew and you can get good advice 24/7. Know that no one has a flawless ride with the band but the bumps are worth it!! Thanks guys!! Love you all:kiss2:

Thanks for all your advice Ladies.. I know I'm not getting enough Protein in.. I added a scoop to my plain greek yogurt.. I been having 2 TBLS 3 times a day trying to get the whole 8 ounces of yogurt done and with the protein it makes 36 grams of protein total.. I'm going to work on eating it 4 times today so I can finish it.. I really don't think I'm not eating or drinking enough.. I don't know why that weight really depressed me yesterday.. I should be happy it was as least 3 pounds, if I didn't have the sleeve it would have been 0 pounds.. Reading what you all wrote made me step back and be happy and just do things a little different.. Have a great day to a New Happy Healthier You!

Welcome to a wonderful forum and congratulations on having a surgery date! I had surgery in July, so I'm a relative newbie myself. I don't think you're crazy for blogging your experience; I find lots of helpful advice in some of the other blogs that people have about weight loss surgery, in addition to feeling like someone really does understand what I'm going through. I don't blog myself, because I'm super boring in day-to-day life. I'd love to read your blog, too, if it's one that you're willing to share!

A word of caution. My approval took 4 weeks from submission of paperwork. Naturally I got antsy and called the insurance company (Carefirst Blue Choice-Maryland). Well the rep I got told me I would likely be denied because my psych evaluator and dietician were out of network. Now they accept diet documentation from Weight Watchers, why would the dietician I choose cause me to be denied? He couldn't answer that and kept repeating that I would likely be denied. I did everything through the bariatric team, even having their dietician monitor my required 6 month diet. But she and the psych evaluator I paid out of pocket, which is all out of network means. If you want to use an out of network provider, you must pay the bill. Needless to say I was having a complete meltdown while trying to call my surgeon's office. They were also trying to reach me, to tell me I had been APPROVED. So the info given by customer service was incorrect at best, and got me majorly upset to boot. Your surgeon's office has been dealing with insurance for a while I assume, so they would be the best ones to call, IMHO.

Hello, like you, I have been having a really difficult time losing the weight I wanted after surgery. I had my surgery June 2013, to date I have only lost 45 pounds since surgery but I initially started at 343 pounds. I am now at 264 because I lost 40 pounds preparing for surgery itself. I finally came to the conclusion after reading multiple blogs that I needed to write down everything that went into my mouth just so I could analyze and try to figure out what I was doing wrong. I decided I needed, and had to, carry a note pad that I could use to write things down. My family and coworkers initially thought I was crazy and too consumed with losing the weight but I am determined to do it, after all, isn't that why I had the sleeve done? YES!!!! I found a site online that I could get nutritional facts about any and all foods (that I have looked up) on it. Starbucks, fast food restaurant's, etc, I am finding out the truth about the foods that I am consuming and realizing that better food choices are a must. Just because something is high in Protein doesn't necessary mean it's good for you. I want to do a 5K walk this summer and progress from there. I also want to feel better and prove to myself that yes I can do this. I hope that I can be an inspiration to help get others in my same boat. About me, I work as a Registered Nurse full time (3 shifts) a week, mother of 5, graduate school student full time, and help my husbands and son's with their business, trying to get it up and going. Yes, busy to say the least. But I have learned, if you want something bad and long enough, you CAN do it. Good luck==Tracy

A New Me - Did you figure out what was wrong? I don't have any problems eating and where once I said I wish I could eat more...I now can and wish I could eat just a bite. I guess it is time to start working out! I did not go to the bathroom for a few days, but everything is back on track now. Gotta drink that water! I know I am dehydrated because my urine is strong and dark. I try drinking, but if I drink I flush everything out of my tummy that I ate and then I get hungry. I actually gained a couple of pounds, but I am not going to read too much into it. I think I am going to take a couple of weeks off from looking at the scale. I am still only weighing myself once a week, but with the small gain I am thinking I need to maybe go back to just Protein. Let me know if you went to see the doctor.

What a wonderful tool to be able to chat with people of the same sitution. Thanks for your concerns and goodluck on the weight loss....love your chart

I try to do around 900 cal a day, some days more some days less, and am losing weight quite steadily. My body seems to tell me when to stop, I just realised this last night, because after having a few bad days, more than 1000 cal and more than 100 carbs, for the past few days I've only had around 600-700 calories and much less carbs, which is a great thing that never ever happened to me before, I think at last my body is autoregulating. An average adult woman needs abot 2000 cal a day(depending on level of activity BMI etc) So on a "normal" diet to lose weight around 1200 to 1400 should be enough to lose weight. Obviiously we are in a different category, and I intend to ask my nutritionist on friday what my exact calorie intake should be. as I haven't been given a specific guide caloriewise. I'm halfway to goal, but seem much smaller than I used to at this weight. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm just thinking that if i get down to my original goal, a BMI of 24 I'll be tiny! Does anyone reading this have any thoughts? I guess I'll just keep trying to lose until I feel comfortable

I had to have full lab work...ekg...stress test..sleep apnea test...psych eval...nutritionist visit......mandatory support groups...and lose 10% of my weight

Okay... starting to get concerned. I am up nearly 5 lbs this week despite eating no more - and usually less - than 1100 cal a day. I suspect it's nearly all water weight because mathematically fat gain just doesn't make sense. My carb intake is minimal, but I do eat veggies and some fruit. Mostly still getting 80 grams of protein a day, if not more. I've really only been doing cardio at the gym recently, no hardcore muscle building. My period finished maybe a week and a half ago so it's not related to my cycle. I usually gain 1 lb a week before my period. My hunger perception is way up too. Back to feeling like I used to feel pre-op (low blood sugar feeling when hungry). In short, I'm in hell. And, naturally, my GP and surgeon's office were totally empty today so no one will see me until next week. I just keep ballooning and feeling more and more defeated. Anyone else experience this??

Hello there! I'm not sleeved yet but 35g of carbs as an awful lot per drink, I have fallen in love with walmarts body fortress whey isolate its only got 0.5 net carbs per scoop it comes in vanilla and mixes well in any liquid, I use blue diamond almond milk unsweetened (40cals per cup). Dr. want you to limit carbs to shrink your liver. I to am going to Mexico and their pre and post-op diets aren't that good. I have gotten a lot of info by reading a book called Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies, there is also a lot of info and a cheat sheet/recipes on line if you google that title. The book has wonderful recipes for every stage of our journey. I found the book at overstock for under 12.00, good luck to you

I feel like I am losing my mind!!! Doctors have always told me that it would be very difficult for me to conceive. I guess losing over 200 lbs. tends to kick the reproductive system in the ass? I have SO many questions! Does my actual weight loss surgeon need to be involved in my prenatal care? What about my diet should change and what should stay the same. I don't see how only eating a tiny bit of food can be good for a baby.....but I guess maybe it is OK? VSG'ers have been doing it forever, right? lol. I just started my new job about 6 weeks ago, and my insurance starts in one week. So I have to wait to see my gynecologist. I think I am going out of my mind with the waiting/worrying. I wonder if they will consider me a high risk pregnancy? With my acid reflux problems, I have to take Prilosec every day-- is it safe for the baby? I feel like Juno...... "That little pink plus sign is so unholy....."

Don't stress about it!!! I stressed the same way you are. You are approved and so just keep doing your liquid diet if its what the surgeon requires from you. If your just doing it to lose the 10 pounds and the surgeon didn't tell you to then don't do the liquid but eat sensible until you have to do one. I worried myself sick over this and once I was approved after my 6 months of weigh in my weigh ins really didn't effect anything. Now if you were to gain 20 pounds or so before surgery the surgeon might not think your ready yet and cancel till you are but don't stress you've got this now!!! Getting approved is the biggest hurdle

Well i got approved with some extra documentation. i ducked out of here because i had gone on the 2 shake diet, lost 14 lbs and then they told me I was going to have to do weight watchers for 6 months. So I compleatly wigged out because the surgery planner told me to just maintain that weight for six months. They said if; lost too much more, i wouldn't be covered. I have to be over 40 Bmi even with all my medical problems. I have never been a weight I needed to maintain...so no surprise, I now have 10 lbs to Lose again. Once my doc faxed over the proof of weigh once a month at his office, they approved it. Sooooo my pre-op class is Friday at 8 am. They are calling me back to schedule a surgery date. It could be this month, I will have to waiting and see....but I am approved. I am mad at myself for the weight gain...now I am back to shakes starting tonight since I already ate lunch. I am feeling very nervous now. I am worried I won't lose it in time...I am going to have to be close by Friday.....how am I going to lose 10 lbs by Friday? Any suggestions? I know it is my fault for reacting in this way and I know it is my responsibility to lose this weightl but I am seriouse about this...please help it you can.