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I notice a difference in my tops but not enough to try a new size and I have a few pairs of pants that I have to retire. I can't remember if they were a little baggy to begin with but now they just don't look nice on me. However, despite people saying I've lost weight, I certainly haven't gone down a size in pants. I think the things I wore weresstretched to the gills and now that there is a little bit less of me the clothes aren't fitting how they used to. Also, what about the people that say they can lose 10-15 pounds and go down a dress size?! That is not my testimony. I know I'm expecting a lot and I've only lost 36 lbs since surgery (9/20) but I thought I'd have to shop for clothes by now.

I was also told that getting to a healthy bmi was unlikely. But I did reach and am maintaining but I have to diet and exercise to reach and maintain it I can't rely on surgery. Also, my stretched out skin adds extra weight that I won't lose under I have skin surgery....it's flabby wrinkled skin which can't be dieted off but probably is about 5 extra pounds. If you want to reach a healthy bmi go for it and do it for you! The drs just want to keep our expectations realistic and they're thinking what is the expected weight loss from surgery they don't include what we are willing to do with diet and exercise to get the remaining pounds off.

That’s wonderful to hear, my surgeon said the same but when I couldn’t find anyone to speak to I became very nervous, and that’s how I found this forum. I’m still nervous to lose too much weight given my stature and current size, but I’m relieved to know how common it is!

December 28 was my sleeve surgery date. Had to be at the hospital at 7:00 am, for pre-op. I was in a private room after surgery, by about noon, my wife tells me.I woke up to the worst pain I have ever been in, but it honestly did not last too long. The nursing staff had me up and walking a few hours later. I did a lot of walking on my own, after that. I used the morphine pump pretty sparingly on the first day. The fist night in the hospital was terrible. I was exhausted from not getting any real meaningful sleep in the days prior to surgery. Well, the nursing staff woke me every hour and a half or so, for meds and vitals. Day 2, Very little pain, most of which was gas pain. They took my morphine pump because I had not used it since the prior evening. I walked several times during the day, and I began to have serious shin and calf pain in both legs. I hadn't thought about it, but I was walking sock footed, instead of putting on shoes, which was hell on my legs. I got a little bit of sleep last night, more than the night before. Day 3, My surgeon came in early this morning, and said that he ordered an ultrasound of my legs, to be sure I did not have clotting. He said if I ate my liquids Breakfast, and kept it down, and my legs were free of clots, that I would be going home by lunch today. I was discharged around 11 am today.I can honestly say that the pain overall, was manageable, and on a scale of 1-10, probably a 2. Since I have been home, I have drank most of a Protein shake, and some Water. This gas pain is unreal at times, coming in waves. The pain lasts no more than 10 or 15 seconds, then goes away. Again, manageable pain. I got on my home scale (it is a very accurate, old style doctors office scale, with the slide weights), before leaving home Monday morning, and my weight was 329. When I got home today, I was at 319. When I started this process, my weight was 349. I lost 20 pounds during the pre-surgery diet (I was on it for 3 weeks instead of 2). Anyone wanting to know more about my surgery, who has surgery coming up, I'd be glad to tell you my experience.

What an incredible story! Talk about a new lease on life! Good luck and God bless you as you move forward with your weight loss journey!

I've heard that as a rule of thumb, but it's not true for everyone. I'd lost 40 lbs at 12 weeks, and 129 lbs at the year mark (so in other words, an addition 89 lbs). and no, I wasn't done losing at the year mark, but my weight loss was pretty slow after that mark. I didn't quit losing until I was 20 months out.

@@sweeteyes504 i've always been amazed, felt bad for people that have to cook for their kids/hubby/parents etc or just be around the food it can be hard enough to watch what you eat but to have all "those" other foods/smells around that must be terrible!!! thats great you haven't had any foods you are cooking for family resisted temptation it wouldn't "kill" anyone else to try and eat some of the "normal" food you make you don't' have to tell them its "good"/healthy for them to eat i have seen on the board that spouses/ family etc will help/support sleever by eating what they cook surprise, surprise - in the meantime OP loses weight too!! stay strong!!! i know you can do it!!! good luck kathy

Hi all, so I'm losing weight quickly and safely, T +14 and feeling great, etc., now entering blended foods diet. I was wondering: once I can eat regular food again, can anyone recommend any Snacks that would be good to carry around? In my life, I'm never at home, constantly in trains and the like, and would love if there was a high-Protein thingy I could just carry in my bag at all times. Any thoughts? Thx.

I am having a hard time getting food in. Which is making me have zero energy. Which is making me have no gumption to go to the gym. I haven't had a week w/o weight loss (surgery was 08/15) and am having a difficult time getting protein shakes in. I dunno. Just really frustrated. Between working my full time job and being so tired I haven't been to the gym in 2 weeks. I have been walking a bit but not everyday. I am so upset with myself.

I had my lap band put in back in Oct. 07 and had wonderful results. By Feb 08 I lost 50 lbs in the first 4 months, then I God decided to give me a little gift and by the following October I had a new baby girl. Well that was back in 2008 and I have had the worst time trying to get back losing weight again. I have went back for fills and ended up too tight and then had to go back and get the fluid remove. I've been so frustrated about it I wait several months to go back because several times a week I will take a few bites and have to go throw up. I just feel like something is just not right. I did have a scan about a year or so ago and it didn't anything but I just know something is wrong. Plus when I first start eating and feel that I need to throw up I can actually stretch my arms up and feel my stomach move some and then I have no problem eating. Has anyone else had these feeling or problem. Please give me so good advice. I'm at the end of my rope and about to just give up. I do have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I’m telling them something has to be done because I didn't go through this to gain all this weight back.

Does your bariatric doctor have any seminars or support group? Our office has a monthly seminar for people to learn about weight loss surgery options and also several different support groups for the band, gastric and sleeve. My husband went with me for the seminar and it helped him a lot in understanding more. At that time he felt he could still lose weight on his own. Now following my journey, he understands and is now in working to the insurance requirements to get the sleeved also. Maybe taking him to the doctor with you so that he could ask questions. Let him know that you want to become healhty for him and your children and this is best option for you and since your PCP that should definately help also. Good luck in journey. You will not regret it.

I will attach my bodybugg chart so you can get an idea of my weight loss average. I was banded on Dec 18th and I am about 100+ days post op. I have only had two fills the first being 4 weeks after surgery and the second being 7 weeks after surgery. This last fill has done the trick and my average intake is about half of a kids meal or 2000 calories a day. I am 6'3 tall and this morning woke up at 217 pounds. You can tell that it is a gradual process and it should be obvious if you have good restriction. It's funny because I do the cooking in my family and made tacos last night. I made 4 average size tacos and sat down to watch some TV. My wife walked by and laughed and said who is going to help you eat all that. She was right, I ate 1 1/2 taco and was stuffed. I still have eyes bigger than my head but now I don't force the food down. When the band says stop I stop. When you have the band the "full" feeling doesn't feel the same. Your brain is screaming finish it off and the body is feeling a bit cramped. It is hard to explain it is just a different feeling than that happy and fat feeling after thanksgiving dinner. The one weakness with the band is it is easier to eat crap than protein, that Hershey's chocolate bar always went down easier than the chicken breast. Protein sits heavy and that is why they want you to eat it first but if not careful milk shakes and chips and dip can load those calories and sneak right pass the band. When you get restriction plan for 6 meals a day. Take care goal.bmp

Jackie, that's great news. Congratulations! Living where you do and being a skier, it'd be difficult to not feel comfortable on the slopes because of your weight. I hope you have a great time, and next trip you'll get a full day lift ticket instead. Have a blast! Dave

Well if she started vomiting, then that's likely why her band slipped. Statistically speaking, only 5% of serious complications occur by no fault of the patient. The rest are caused by patient behavior and mistakes. The leading causes of slips and erosion are vomiting, bands too tight, and chronic over eating. Here's a study citing the 5% complication rate: http://www.futurity.org/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/ Btw, don't take anecdotal evidence you see on YouTube or even read on forums as the gospel truth. Do your research and learn the facts. Best wishes.

Thank you for your opinion. I may have to go for the banana then. I see you've done very well since you're surgery. Congratulations on your significant weight loss. I have a lot to lose and it's encouraging to see your progress.

I’m not a big fan of using “amount of weight lost” as a metric to track success, since we all have vastly different starting points. BMI is a good marker for a health baseline, but I’d probably be wary of that one as a direct comparative statistic too. Percentage of starting weight lost feels like a more reliable, comparative baseline for us to use. If I’m reading your stats right, you’ve lost 17% of your starting weight - that’s VERY successful. Calculating the percentage of weight you need to lose to hit goal seems like a good one too. But comparing directly to another individual on these boards is anecdotal (posters self-selecting for success) and confirmation bias will get you. Avoid it.

Hi fc Tell us a bit more? (Or fill in your profile) Without knowing your height it is tough to see whether this is in line with expectations... after all, 37 pounds is a couple of pounds a week, consistently - good on most diets! What is your goal? Your bmi? Your surgery type? And share with us a bit about your eating habits... Folks on here know a lot about weight loss predictions for people of various start/goal weights, etc. I reckon you’ll get good stuff from some here, if you share a little more with them.......

I was banded July 6. Into soft foods now. I am drinking my Water and feel great. The weight is coming off slowly and I am pleased with my efforts. I am having my first fill mid August. Please let me know what quantities of "stuff" can I eat at each sitting. I find now I cannot eat as much - which is good - but I can still eat large amounts of yogourt, cottacge cheese, etc. Kim 301 - 1st meeting 290 - day of surgery 283 - today :clap2: Taking baby steps to the "new" me.

Here are a few...you can get them on amazon: Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You (Healthy Living Cookbooks) by Margaret Furtado and Lynette Schultz Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery by Patt Levine, Michele Bontmpo-Saray, William B. Inabnet, and Meredith Urban-Skuros Cooking For Weight Loss Surgery Patients by Dick Stucki;

My wife has been extremely supportive and extremely happy for me thought my whole journey. I think she does feel the stress as I approach her weight, which she has struggled with since I have known her. I think that what I eat and the amount of physical activity has encouraged her to keep up with me. So my weight loss has invigorated her to be healthier. Sometimes I feel bad for her because I make my weight loss seem so easy, and I feel that I get a little preachy when it comes to helping her work through her weight issues. I know she doesn't have the same tools as me but I want her to succeed because I feel that her frustrations might be exacerbated because of my wins. Either way, she is happy for me which makes it all seem worth it.

Not just slower, less overall. There are people here looking to lose YOU at your highest weight!

So, I had my First Fill session today. I went in and told the Doc I was losing well, without any limitations on the food I could swallow, and wasn't suffering from hunger. I said I felt my current level of restriction was fine, and that I didn't think I was ready for a fill yet. He agreed. He said, "I think the time you need the fill is when you wake up and you're starving. Come back in a month." And that was that. FWIW, I'm down 52 lbs since I started, down 25 since surgery on 3/6. I have the advantage/burden of starting at 473, but I'm grateful that it's making the first phase of weight loss pretty fast and easy.

Both are conSidered totally unacceptable. Dress the part, become the part. Preop weight 389 current weight 304...that's 85 lbs lost since RNY 6/11/13

It is so freakin' awesome to not "feel fat"!!! I was put on my first diet at age 7. How'd that work out? Last June, my BMI was 42.8, which is solidly in the "Very Severely Obese" range, and I had diabetes, apnea, asthma, high cholesterol, and borderline blood pressure. Less than 10 months later, my BMI is 23.6, which is solidly in the "Normal" range and all of my "fat guy" diseases are gone! I was wearing XXL-XXXL shirts then, and hated having to buy clothes. Now I buy Mediums off the rack (or online) and don't bother trying them on because I know they'll fit. I'm telling you, it's like night and day! So for those of us that have "felt fat" all of our lives, here are the best tips I can give you: 1) Follow all the rules of your program as closely as you can! The less you deviate, the quicker you'll lose weight. Yes, I know it's not a race. But I would suggest that those who stick to the rules and lose their excess weight more quickly are far more likely to get to their goal and stay there. Yes, I know we have to learn how to eat "normally", but again, I would suggest that learning to eat normally can happen at any time. So why not do it once you've lost the weight and have already developed eating and exercise habits that work? That way if you put some pounds back on while experimenting with new foods, you don't have to lose the new weight, plus all the old weight that hadn't come off yet. 2) Plan, plan, plan! Never allow yourself to be caught unprepared without something appropriate to eat and drink. If you don't know what's going to be available at your next eating situation, bring something with you. Don't allow yourself to get hungry at a social event. Drink a Protein shake in the car on the way. Try to learn to like beef and turkey Jerky. It's high protein, low fat, okay calories, you can buy a bag almost anywhere, and a 3-ounce bag is a meal. I can't count how many times my program has been saved by a bag of jerky from a convenience store! So keep a bag of jerky in the car for food emergencies. And bring your own pitcher of Crystal Light, or a squirt-bottle of Mio to the party. 3) Try not to fall off the horse, but if you do, get right back on track at your very next meal. Not tomorrow, and not next Monday morning. That's the pattern that got us here, right? We need to break those patterns, because they won't work this time either! 4) When you look in the mirror and see a slimmer person, believe it! If you're doing the right things and making the right choices, the "new you" is who you are now. Don't waste time and emotional energy looking back over your shoulder waiting for your former, heavier self to drag you back. Keep looking forward and enjoy your successes by setting and achieving lots of little milestones. Along the way... be sure to bask in the compliments, have fun trying on and wearing smaller clothes, take pride in your accomplishments, appreciate your new health and energy, and try to enjoy this amazing journey! Most of all, just keep making the next good choice! Good luck!!!

I started my preop diet in Monday! I get three shakes and one lean cuisine, weight watchers or healthy choice meal per day. Today has been easier than the last two days. Surgery is on the 25th. Good luck to all!