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So here's my before picture at my max of 304lbs- 21stone 10 for the uk people and now my latest picture , 88lbs later!

I am an old timer. I was sleeved January of 2013. I am short at 5’2” and my sw was 205. My lowest weight was February 2014 at 112. I have been up and down since with my highest weight post surgery at 161. I’ve been doing Keto since 1/7/2019 and am back down to 142. I’d like to get down to 125-130. Keto has really helped with the cravings and I don’t worry about calories. I eat lots of eggs, meats, taco salad with lettuce, ground beef, sour cream, salsa, avocado, etc. I always feel full after eating. I also try to skip breakfast and not eat after dinner. Basically I try to do 18:6 fasting where I stop eating at 6:30pm and I don’t eat again until 12:30 the next day. This seems to be helping. I do drink coffee with heavy whipping cream.

I want to have this done to help me get started on my weight loss journey so I can be healthier for myself and my children _____________________________________ That right there is all the reason you need! Ignore the critics and do what you know to be best for you and your family. In the end that’s all that really matters. And I’m not saying one way or the other but ask yourself the hard questions. Can you do this on your own? Can you sustain it on your own? I don’t think people necessarily mean to criticize. In their own minds they might actually mean it as a compliment by saying you don’t need the surgery. I waited until I was 56. I WISH I had done this 10 years ago. Good luck with your decision and know we all have those second guessing moments wondering if we’re doing the right thing. Or at least I did.

I didn’t tell my mom until a month or two before surgery because there’s SO much baggage between us when it comes to weight. After surgery I set some specific rules for my family and what kinds of things they could say/mention re: surgery, and that’s helped me a lot. It’s hard because none of them struggle with weight beyond like wanting to lose 10-15 lbs so they didn’t and couldn’t and can’t understand the decision or the process.  I find the journaling to be a helpful way to have a dialogue with myself when I don’t have someone else to talk it through with! I also find it helpful to just let my mind vomit out all the things I am terrified about so then I can take a step back and weed through what is rational and worth considering versus what is just my anxiety brain doing its thing, you know?

Hi Jean, Thank you for being so honest- now I’m more nervous than I was., Did anyone give you a heads up of the first couple of days? My surgery date is 4/5. My next surgery -probably in the Fall/early winter will be the LBL- Dr. gave me a consult/price on that also. I made sure I was comfortable with dr to do both surgeries. He did my TT 19 yrs ago (when I lost a lot of weight prior to my gastric sleeve and daughter.) I have UC (ulcerated colitis) and I’m finally in remission due to my eating plan and herbal supplements. I am so scared b/c PS said I have to be off all supplements 2 weeks before surgery and I’m scared to go into a flare. I’m meeting with my Gi on Wednedsay to see my options and live on pepto or Imodium if it comes to that and I was also going to inquire about being on it after surgery to not have to go to the bathroom. You mentioned the limitations and the pain with the arms - did you have any pain or limitations w/thighs? or did the arms totally override the thighs? I have a high pain tolerance - was walking a mile the day after my TT ( but that was 19 yrs ago) Thanks again for the info and your honesty!!

I don't detect a taste - but then again, I do tend to put it in things that wouldn't be ruined by a slight dairy flavour, you know? You could always get the 10 serving bag to try it. I even put it in my protein shakes along with my regular powder when I was still having them. That would be a way to use it up if you didn't like it in other stuff. I have it sent monthly now on subscribe and save, and it's 15% cheaper that way.

I lost for the first 10 days, and then had a 2 week stall. I was really disappointed to be stalling so early. I tracked everything to try to figure it out - calories, macros, water, exercise, poops, my menstrual cycle. The conclusion I came away with is that it doesn't matter what you track - it's going to happen. It's normal. You'll start losing again soon - it's physics.

July 2018-March 2019

I am really frustrated lately. I’m 2 months post op... My last post op appointment with my surgeon was February 19, and since then I’ve only lost 3 pounds! Is this normal???? I’ve been bouncing back and forth between 313 and 311 on the scale. I try to only weigh in 2 times a week. I’ve lost a total of 58 pounds so far. My caloric intake is between 900-1100 calories per day and I’m taking in 50-64 ounces of unsweetened iced tea per day. (I hate drinking water, and digestive system does not accept artificial sweeteners... IBS, sorry for TMI) I do drink one cup of coffee per day with 1 teaspoon of dairy free creamer as well. I do not drink protein drinks due to extreme nausea but substitute solid proteins to compensate to be sure I’m getting enough protein daily. (Canned tuna or chicken in water for example) Due to lymphedema I will be seeing a physical therapist at the end of the month for an evaluation. Hopefully this will give me a kick start and get things moving again. But would love to get some suggestions from the gastric sleeve community in the meantime. This stall has lasted too long in my book, and I’m just feeling defeated. It would be nice to know I’m not the only one going through this alone. Thanks in advance for any input!

It gets easier, but truthfully i am 10 weeks out and if i eat anything to dense( ie i still cannot eat chicken salad!) its like your having major chest pains. And then whoopsie, back up it comes. Stick to the purées and yogurts as long as you need, good luck!

I walked for the first 6 weeks then I hit the gym hard. Did 10 HIIT classes a week plus Pilates 3x until I got a hernia and tore both my shoulders. Start slow. I was working out like a monster before so I had the good muscle memory but was weaker from lack of exercise and reduced energy from such low caloric intake.

It discouraged me as well. Especially since I got my first referral in August 2018 and I'll be lucky to get my surgery by August of 2019. Next week I'll be at my 3rd monthly session. My final one is July 22nd. It does seem to be going fast. Have you started the 6 months yet? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727AZ using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi, Frou Frou and everyone else. Thanks so much for your messages of encouragement during a rather dark week for me (which is why I haven't responded for a few days). I had a mini-surgery to correct the leak on Wednesday at 10:00 in the evening! (A nurse came into my room at about 2:00 and told me I had to stop eating and drinking immediately--and she got very cranky when I finished the bowl of jello in I had in front of me.) It was not performed by my surgeon, but I didn't care at that point. It wasn't full anesthesia but what they called "twilight sedation." No idea what that means, but it is apparently much easier on the body and recovery is very quick. I think the entire thing took about 30 minutes via a hole in my side. I got to come home this morning feeling amazingly good--little pain, no nausea, no dumping. The only thing is that I can't seem to stay awake for more than 90 minutes at a time before I need a nap. I'm also managing only about half of the daily water and protein quota, and I can't believe how full I feel all the time! I've actually drunk water to the point of pain several times, but I'm learning when to stop. I'm sure it will improve with time, but right now I can't imagine eating actual food. I'm basically at the starting block, where I would have been last Tuesday if I had been discharged from the hospital the day after surgery as planned. Thanks again for your support during the week--it really made a difference.

Thanks to all of your for your encouraging words and support. They repaired the leak on Wednesday (at 10:00 in the evening!), took the drains out this morning, and the infection has cleared up--so I finally got to go home today! I can't tell you how wonderful it will be to take a real shower and sleep in my own bed. Needless to say, it has been a very rough and discouraging week. Apparently, I am today basically where I would have been last Tuesday if there had been no complications and they had discharged me the day after surgery as planned. I'm feeling surprisingly good aside from being completely wiped out--I'm napping every couple of hours. I have minimal pain and have not needed pain meds, no nausea, and I have not dumped (yet). So, I just need to pick myself up and get on with it and put this week out of my head. All of your posts really did help, even though I wasn't in the mood to respond during the week. Thanks again!

Hi! My name is Jezzabelle! I'm 39. I live in MN. My date is March 14th. It's coming up fast and I also am feeling out of touch and am looking for a twin but don't seem to have one. I'm a singer and mother of a 19 year old college student and a 3.5 year old. I'm having the gastric bypass. My starting stats were 5'5 and 299lbs. I'm doing the liquid diet right now and I don't really think it's too bad to be honest. I'm down to 283 since starting on liquids. I was/am excited but 2 people today decided they needed to tell me surgery horror stories because people are thoughtless sometimes but forward I roll. Good luck to everyone. I'm really hoping to make some connections! Sent from my LG-Q710AL using BariatricPal mobile app

Surgery was 1/15/19. I find I do get hungry but hard to know if it's my eyes or my stomach. I'm getting in my fluids and protein. I'm down 40 lbs so far. My knees & back hurt much less. Slow and steady wins the race so I'm just trudging along. I can say that I am following my food plan to the t. Although I have eaten 2 French fries but that's it. I hope all my January friends are doing good. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

If you had surgery with Dr. Mario Almanza, Weight Loss Agents or any other surgeon at Grandview Hospital in Tijuana, México after August 2018, it’s recommended by the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) that you should be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Please read https://www.who.int/csr/don/5-march-2019-carbapenem-resistant-p-aeruginosa-mex/en/ for more detailed information. “A local investigation at Grand View Hospital identified reusable equipment that was not being appropriately processed, which poses a small but potential risk of transmission for bloodborne infections among patients.” There are some amazing surgeons and hospitals in Mexico. PLEASE do your research before selecting any surgeon in any country!!!

Hi All. Hows it going? How are you guys feeling 10 months post op? Are you where you want to be? How have your goals stayed the same or changed? I was sleeved on May 2 2018, and things have gone very smoothly for me, overall. I have lost 100 pounds, but Im afraid things have really slowed down for me. I haven't lost weight in the last month or so. I have been careful not to track my weight every day, or even every week so I don't become obsessed, but I have been staying around 189 consistently. The winter weather has kept me from being very active, and Im feeling a little bit down about it. Id like to keep losing, and obviously I know I need to get moving more. Just wondering how things are going for my fellow May friends

I don't know if you diaphragm will be quite ready after only 10 days. Even in April you might still be very tender.

When I first had surgery, my goal weight was 168. That was decided by the surgeon and the nutritionist. We have a whole new crew at the office now. The physician that I saw said that "sometimes bodies have a comfort zone. My body may be happy at 200." Don't get me wrong. I liked being around the 200 mark. I just think I could do better. At 200, I was a size 10 jean. I started in 24. I just feel like with there advice, I am settling and this is the new norm.

Agree with you @GradyCat some people may not use it for anything. I think if you already owned one of these things it's a plus. I love smoothies and make them a lot. Otherwise I'd have to spend $10-$12.00 a day on smoothies and the prices are even higher when you start to add protein to the shake. I find a lot of the smoothies places in the NYC add orange juice/apple juice for the base liquid while, I add water and plain yogurt and sometimes almond butter. The fruits are already sweet on their own.

I bought a Farberware $19 at Wal-Mart, shoot I thought , it looks like the "Big Guys" maybe just a less powerful motor. First 2-3 times it preformed adequate, fine I thought , things are gonna be fine, then I decided to try making a blueberry smoothie, darn thing locked up tighter than a prison door. When a mess I got, and trying to free the container, shake container did loosen although the power blades did not and there I was in Lake Purple Pain. Spend a little more, get something a little better, might have worked to blend water and powders but failed me when I need it most. Now I own a Nutriblast, gonna go make me a "Good for you" smoothie, and I have faith in this one to work. Even if my Previous Pouch isn't very big I'm going to try it! May the Power be with me!

Hi everyone, I’ve been a long time reader of this forum, but a first time writer 😁. Today marks 5 months since I had the gastric sleeve and I thought I would share my journey so far. While I was prepping for the surgery, these posts helped me so much so maybe my story can help some people too. I was 310 lbs during my first meeting with my doctor. I didnt have to do a pre-op diet but between my first meeting and surgery, I lost 10 lbs so I was down to 300 lbs day of surgery. I weighed in today, and I am currently 210 lbs. I can’t even process it, I havent ever been this weight during my adult life. My surgery went very well, but I did have alot of complications after the surgery. You know how you read about them but never think it will actually happen to you.. well it happened to me haha. I was good for about a week after surgery, and then I got a kidney stone. Of course I automatically assumed something was going on with my sleeve because of my symptoms ( neausea, stomach pain, vomiting etc), ended up going to the ER after two days and it turned out to be a kidney stone. I also became dehydrated during this time because I couldn’t keep anything down. They didn’t admit me that day and I passed the stone but I was constantly throwing up and my stomach pretty much became irritated and inflamed. This lead to a vicious cycle of constantly trying to take in fluids but not being able to keep it down at all. I went through about a week of hell - would wake up neausous, throw up the entire day and go to sleep neausous. Neausea meds didn’t help, I couldnt even get them down because any sip of water would make me neusous. Eventually, I became super weak, my hands and feet started cramping up and honestly I felt like crap, regretted my decision to have this surgery. I was admitted to the hospital - my heart rate and bp were super low, my liver was getting messed up and I was beyond dehydrated. I stayed in the hospital for about 5 days and left feeling much better. hindsight, I should have gone to the doctor / hospital earlier... Since then, I have been feeling great! Its definitely an adjustment and some days are harder than others but so worth it! Even with all the complications I had starting out, I would go through with the surgery again in a heart beat. My life has changed because of it. I’m fairly young - 30 years old - and I had high blood pressure. My blood pressure is now normal. My knees don’t hurt anymore when I walk. I can keep up with friends. I have so much energy now. Its crazy but I didn’t realize how sluggish and tired I felt until I started not feeling that way.. My quality of life has improved so much and I am no where near done yet. I’m so grateful for my tool. Like everyone says, wls is definitely not the easy way out. I put in work physically and emotionally everyday. I work out 5 times a week and eat clean. Changing my mindset amd emotional attachment to food is a process. But I couldn’t have done it without the surgery for sure. Anyway sorry for the long post! But like I said reading about others’ experiences was so helpful to me so I figured I would share just incase others find it helpful as well.

10 days is a short window for full recovery. I know that you should have a lot of motion, but the incisions may still be painful for some movements. I can't say how it might be for deep breathing for singing. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using BariatricPal mobile app