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Hey Neena, You in a very similar boat as me! I only had 85 pounds to lose...and it took me over 2 months to lose 20 pounds...I am up to 7 months and have only lost 40 pounds. You cant compare your weigh loss with someone who has 150 pounds to lose, because when you have less to lose it will take longer. You are right on track, though you made need another fill. Find foods that are high in Protein to keep you full, and make sure you are drinking A LOT of water! I found when I was working out, and eating that if I didnt drink close to a gallon of Water a day, my weight loss slowed way down...now, on the other hand, I only drink water...I dont drink soft drinks or juice...so a gallon is not hard for me...but try and get at least 72 oz if not more. Good luck, and contact me anytime if you need anything or have questions! Shauna

Hello TIA. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover any weight loss surgery so I am a self pay. I am getting lapband with plication surgery and the total cost for me is $16,500. I am sure the cost will vary based on the doctor you go too. Although part of me was extremely angry that my insurance didn't cover it, I was almost glad in a way because I didn't want to wait 7 - 10 months going through everything insurance requires to get the surgery. I saw my doctor on August 9th, completed all the testing on Aug 11th (including meeting with the nutrisionist), was cleared for surgery on August 12th and am scheduled for surgery on August 29th. Hope that information helped answer some of your questions. Best of luck to you!!!

Been lurking for a while... This place got me through my surgery. Here are my stats. Highest weight 275 Dos 09/12. 255 11/18 --211. 44 lbs gone! Total wl

My VSG Story PRE-OP: Two weeks prior to my surgery date of April 10, 2013, I had a check up with my primary care physician and tipped the scale at 343 pounds, 5-10 in height. I researched the VSG procedure and doctors in Mexico due to my insurance not covering bariatric surgery in the US for several months. All my findings led me to Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana, MX. I went through the coordinating company, Ready 4 a Change. I chose that company because the response was instantaneous and I never waited more than a couple of hours for a response to my questions via email, even on weekends which is unheard of in the States. All in all, I would definitely recommend this coordinating company again. Also, I travelled alone, which went extremely well, and I guess would depend on the circumstances but I would not hesitate to do it alone again. On 3-27-2013, I started my two week pre-op diet which consisted of all liquids, protein shakes, and small salad for dinner. I did fairly well on the diet but cheated a few times very minor like one bagel bite, or a small bite of my wife's burger. Anyways, the diet sucks nonetheless but after day 2-3 it's really not that bad. The protein shakes I used were syntax nectar strawberry kiwi, and the chocolate/vanilla premier protein. I would advise to start some type of workout regimen during this phase. This pre-op diet is meant for shrinking the liver to provide a safer surgery, not necessarily weight loss. Again, all in all the two week pre-op diet went well and it went by fast after the first couple days. DAY OF SURGERY: On the day of surgery, I flew out from Dallas, TX to San Diego, California. Upon arrival to the airport, which I was 15 minutes early, I called the driver with R4AC, and he said he was just around the corner and showed up in 5 minutes flat. He even asked me on the phone if I wanted him to remove the company sign from the outside of the van, which I though was courteous. I told him no need, I'm not ashamed! So the driver picks me up and we head across the border which was uneventful and easy. We make our way to the hospital, as I elected for same day surgery so I would stay two nights in the hospital, and three nights in the hotel. Upon arrival to the hospital (Hospital was Florence Health System/Oasis) I was immediately checked in and taken to my private room with hospital bed with nurse call button, TV, an extra bed for a support person, etc. pretty much anything you would find in a hospital in the states. Now, this hospital is in the process of renovations with state of the art operating rooms as in the states, but the rooms are a bit older but nothing to gripe about for sure, and very clean. So I make it to my room and put everything up, and I am greeted by Melissa from R4AC, and she starts going over paperwork and answering any questions I had. The nurse comes in with a hospital gown and says to take everything off, including the underwear. So during the next 1-2 hrs, I have blood drawn for labs, an EKG done, chest x-ray, and an IV put in (first try,) and given a happy pill to relax. I also meet with all of the Dr's at the hospital including Dr. Velasco who is a bypass patient herself. Dr. Grafias who is a sleeve patient. Dr. Cabrera the anesthesiologist, Dr. Luna who is a bariatric surgeon as well, and Dr. Fernando Garcia, my bariatric surgeon. Pretty much all of the Dr's ask about medical history and prior and current health conditions so your basically checked 4-5 times to make sure your clear for surgery still. At about 5:30 or so, I was wheeled in to the operating room. You have to scoot over onto the operating table but no biggy. Dr. Luna took my wife's number down on his phone to call and let her know once surgery was done and everything was ok, which he did according to my wife. I remember one of the Dr's asking me if I had anymore questions as he was pulling out the left arm rest. I said just make sure I wake up and I was out like a light. I woke in what felt like was just seconds after going out. I sat up with minor pain in my abdomen from the incisions, not gas pain. I looked at the clock and it said 7:30. I'm not sure how much of that 2 hours was surgery time vs waking up, etc, and I didn't really care. I immediately stood up when I woke up and started walking the halls. All of the nurses looked at me like I was crazy and asked if I was ok. I told them I was because several speak pretty good English to communicate. They said most people are not up and walking that quick after waking up from surgery. I guess I was the exception. So that first night was pretty good except the minor pain in my abdomen from the incisions which basically felt like I did too many sit-ups, not unbearable in the least. POST-OP DAY #2 So I slept off and on mainly because the nurses come in every 2 hrs or so to check on you and give meds, check BP, etc. The nurses were AMAZING! No complaints whatsoever, and if I pushed the call button, the longest I waited for a nurse was maybe 25-30 seconds. This day was pretty much the same, walk, rest, meds, repeat! I also had 2 leak tests done, which went good and no leaks detected. One of the leak tests was odd as you lie down on the x-ray table and drink some liquid while laying down. It didn't hurt to drink but was just an odd feeling. While walking the halls, I met 3-5 other people from various online forums and FB who had the surgery and became friends and exchanged info to keep up with each other and our progress. POST-OP DAY #3 I had my drain out this morning. it was WEIRD, like a snake in your tummy. it did not hurt at all, just awkward. I got copies of my lab work, x-rays, etc and was discharged. Then around 10 or so, I was picked up by the Hotel Marriott shuttle and taken to the hotel. It was extremely nice and the same as you would get in the US. I got checked in and taken to my room. You get 3 free bowls of chicken broth, 3 free Popsicles, and 2 free bottles of water daily. I would not eat the Popsicles, but there is a small shop in lobby you can buy Popsicles which were awesome. The broth was ok at times, and way to salty others, but then again it's broth...boring! The first day I relaxed mostly and went out by the pool and lounged around and didn't really do much. Still no pain really except for abdomen from incision sites. POST-OP DAY #4 Today I lounged around again and walked a bit around the hotel. I ventured out and took a can to the local Walmart as I started feeling some acid reflux, which is common with VSG, and bought some omeprazole which helped a lot and it was gone in 2 days. Dr. Luna came by and removed the staples from the incisions, which did not hurt, and cleaned all the sites and put steri strips on them and covered up the drain hole. I was given medicine before leaving the hospital which included antibiotics, disgusting liquid acid reducer, and pain meds, which I didn't take any of it. I had dinner with some new found friends and co-sleevers and got some sleep. POST-OP DAY 5 Today was the same as day 4 pretty much. Lounged, went out with some new friends, had dinner, etc. I packed up all my stuff and got ready to leave in the AM. I got a call around 8:30 by the driver who gave me the option of leaving at 6 am or 9 am. My flight left at 1:20 pm but I was ready to get back to the states so I opted for 6 am. POST-OP DAY 6 I woke up and was checked out of the hotel and in the lobby by 6, when driver promptly arrived. Myself and 2 other sleevers headed back to the US. It took us about an hour and a half to make it across the border, it was very busy but an easy process as we all had our passports. Made it to the airport, caught my flight home, end of story! All in all, I would say the level of service and care in MX was equal to and even greater in some areas than that in US. I would highly recommend Dr. Garcia and his team, R4AC, and Florence/Oasis Hospital. I would do this whole over again and look forward to taking some of my family members and/or friends to MX for this procedure. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me and I hope to help others with their journey if I possibly can. Johnathanw1988@gmail.com

And what are some of these yummy meals? That's an awesome idea!!!! Are you banded, sleeved or bypassed -- just out of curiosity? I was sleeved April 2014 and now maintaining at 150ish (although I may still try to push myself to my stretch goal of 145!) I love Pioneer Woman and often tweek her recipes to double the Protein. Yesterday I made skillet chicken lasagna but I doubled the chicken, added an extra clove of garlic and put 1.5 teaspoons of red pepper flakes in it as I found the original recipe a tad bland. It's easy to make and delish! I stayed away from carbs early on but started eating a small portion of Pasta once I hit my goal weight at 10 months out. Another staple I make is Pioneer Woman Hamburger Soup. The first time I made it, it turned out really bland. The next time I tweaked the seasonings until it had more flavor to it. It's loaded with meat and vegetables and reheats nicely. Both recipes can be found by googling Pioneer Woman and then the recipe name. Super easy to make. I store them in the ziplock 1 cup plastic containers which stack nicely in the freezer.

Cant help with the cost issue but commiserate on being too thin. I'm 5ft 10 and currently 135lb and I look a bit awful at the moment. I have loose skin I didnt have 10lb ago and I look a bit like a 90 year old undressed. I've started dressing to hide my bones. But it is NOT easy to allow yourself to gain weight. Currently I have no fill becuase I had bowel cancer and have just been through a huge surgery, so that's what took that last bit of weight off for me, but its taken 8 weeks of no fill for my appetite to wake up. I've gained about 8 much needed pounds after intiitally losing quite a bit after the unfill through the surgical process but its darn scary how fast and easy those pounds have gone on in the last week or so. What I'd suggest is a slight unfill and work your way down until you hit a happy medium, I'm about to begin the same process from the other end, I am happy to gain another 10lb or so but I want to control it and I dont want to gain 20 or 30! My "secret" goal was always 140, at the bottom of my healthy range, but really, it doesnt look so flash. Yeah, my muffin top and thighs are gone, but so are my boobs, all my ribs show and I definitely look older. The main thing to remember is needing to gain should really be a controlled process, not an unfill and a free for all pig out session. Hope you can manage to work in the necessary appointments to perhaps take your fill down a bit. You cant just "stop dieting" etiher because if you look at other people, its only tiny differences in habits - butter on sandwiches, full fat this or that, that odd biscuit with a cuppa or perhaps no exercise - that makes the 50lb difference between your weight and theirs. Gaining healthy pounds whilst maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits is a rather difficult feat and I've had many arguments with mn surgeon and stoma therapist who dont understand why i wont just head to McDonalds for a pig out.

I waited about 2 and 1/2 weeks before I rode the Harley by myself (for more than a 15-30 minute ride). My port area was still really tender and holding the handle bars too long was uncomfortable. Even sometimes now I wait for several days after a fill if it was not an easy poke or takes several pokes. But that doesn't stop me from riding on the back of dear hubby's. I can't wait to hear your actual day. I actually feel that I ride much better with the weight loss. Carol

I'm a new sleever looking for a mentor. I'll be sleeved 10/6/14. I'm going at this so blindly. I'm not sure which diet is the best. How to maximize weight loss and time. What kind of activities did you pick up? How did you get over your eating disorder?

There is no way I could possibly even begin to explain how important protein is in your body. Protein is used In every cell in your body. You need protein for protein synthesis and DNA replication. The body's primary building block for muscle, bone, skin, hair, and many other tissues is protein. There are over 10,000 different proteins that are found and needed in the body for maintaining life. After water has been excluded 75 percent of your body weight consists of protein. Crazy huh?! Proteins play many important roles in the body including the structure of enzymes; these are important proteins that help reactions occur in the body, such as releasing from the food we eat. Proteins also function as transport proteins such as hemoglobin; an iron containing protein that transports oxygen to exercising muscles via the bloodstream. Protein consist of amino acids. Amino acids are extremely important . There are twenty different amino acids of which eight are considered essential because they cannot be generated by the body but are necessary for survival. The body uses amino acids circulating in the blood stream, released from the breakdown of tissues, or consumed in the diet to make protein. It's incredible just how important protein is in our bodies not just for building muscle. Eat/ drink your protein whatever just get some I've been studying protien in college for years. Every one of my mastering courses that involves the human body has a section on the importance of protien. Ok, that's enough class for today!!! Class dismissed!

Also, as my mother delicately put it to me when I found out major changes are happening in my company. Losing the weight will help with your job search. So, don't panic and don't use what's happening as a reason to put it off.

Hey Melissa, Thank you! Mum wasn't feeling too great and she wasn't able to drink very much of anything. Which I'm sure sounds like a hard thing to pick out when everyone struggles but I guess in comparison to me she just didn't look/feel too good. I tok her to see our doc who don't a ct scan and blood tests. This picked up the clots and At the beginning she we on injections but now just warfarin tablets with weekly blood tests to check the INR levels. I will say though, she is 135lbs, 49 years old and even with that complication I don't think she regrets anything. She's pretty much at her goal weight now. I hope that helped x

Way to go Bandpal!!!!! Isn't it the most wonderful feeling to see that 1 in the front of your weight???? What an accomplishment.

Hello everyone! I was sleeved Oct 2015 and I am now almost 6 months post op and I have lost 58lbs. My goal is 80lbs as of now so I am almost there. I started off as an size 18 refusing to even look at a size 20 and a few days ago I bought a size 12 in old navy jeans when I realized the size 14 jeans that I had gotten a few weeks ago were starting to look baggy! I say all of that to say that even though I almost 60lbs down and have lost 3 pants sizes, when I look in the mirror, my brain doesn't quite register the weight loss. I mean I see some definite changes and I know into a smaller size but it does not look like 60 lbs to me. To me, I guess it looks like maybe 30lbs. I guess I zone in on what parts of my body I need to work on. When did your brain finally catch up with your body? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

HELLO, I HAD THE BAND DONE ON JULY 2009 AND STILL HAVE NOT LOST ANY WEIGHT, I HAVE HAD THE BAND TIGHTENED BUT IT MADE ME THROW UP FOR MONTHS SO I FINALLY HAD THE FLUID REMOVED. I NEVER RELALY FOUND THE SWEET SPOT. THE DR NEVER GAVE ME A DIET TO FOLLOW WITHER. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO LOOSE WEIGHT WITH THE BAND? THANKS NANCY

I'm so excited!!! Yeah my Ins will not cover weight loss???”. So I have to self pay. That's so awesome, glad to hear!!!

Hi, I am scheduled for November 6th.....I have lost 33 lbs since surgery. How much have you lost in the Pre op phase of this journey? Are you thinking you dont need the surgery? Second thoughts cross my mind all the time. Kim

I'm a horrible sleeper...always have been. I have a CPAP machine now...for the year and a half...that helps in that when I do sleep...i'm still breathing..hahha. I hope that as I lose weight I'll be a better sleeper. Right now it takes me a couple of hours before bed time to start trying to unwind...and then that doesn't always work... I hear ya...I'm working on..."enjoying and being in the present". I need to learn to eat small amounts...get used to it...eat healthy...and be happy about that.

My father has made comments a little like that in the past. Right now I am the apple of his eye because I am again slender... But I still remember the comments and still makes about my niece and step sister. The only thing weight can change in a person is there health and appearance. They are still going to be the same person on the inside... And even then you can still have health issues as a skinny person and be unattractive as a skinny person... It's amazing how people think!!! Sorry you had to hear that and no you won't change him, so just take what he says in one ear and out the other!!

Congrats! I am right behind you on the weight loss. I hope to be able to post some pics soon. Keep up the good work.

Well it's been one whole year since I had My VSG surgery! I was like most of you, scared to death but trust me, it will be thee best decision you will ever make and it will forever change your quality of life. I am down 84 lbs and on my 5'1 frame thats a huge amount of weight!! I'm also off all medications for type 2 diabetes and high BP !! I'm a brand new person!! I can cross my legs, I can walk without getting winded, I no longer sweat when it's cold and I am no longer embarrassed for people to see me eat or look at the contents of my shopping cart! Life is amazing now!! For all of you who are still undecided, take my advice and Do it!! You won't be disappointed!! I'm not!!

I felt the same way you did! I thought it and re-thought it a thousand times. I had gained and lost the same 100lbs ten times in 15 years. I could lose it, but could not keep it off. I had to do something to ensure that I would not regain and lose, regain and lose!! Gastric bypass was never appealing to me, but this surgery was. I researched it for over a year and decided I would chat with my dr. He sent me to see my AWESOME surgeon and we decided it was a good fit for me! I can not say enough good things about my sleeve. I would recommend this surgery to anyone that wants and needs restriction with food. This is the best gift I have ever been given in my entire 36 years!! I can have anything I want, I just have a smaller amount of it. If I want a cookie, I could have one, but I would eat one and not 10! I can have A piece of pizza and not 5. You will not get fat eating like that. The insane thing about it is, it is almost like they operate on your stomach and it fixes your brain!! Weird, but true for me. I don't want to eat **** anymore. I eat on plan and I am good. I haven't had a fast-food, cookie, pie, cake, pizza, bread, rice....nothing since before my surgery and I really don't want to! I am sure I will, but at this time, I have not! All you have to do is look at everyone's stats. This surgery works if you do what you are supposed to do! Now, you can't sit and eat bon-bon's all day and expect the weight to fall off. I have to work very hard for every pound I lose, but it is worth it and a lot easier now that I can only eat 2-3oz of Protein at a time!! Good luck to you! Kelly

I have lost hundreds of pounds before the sleeve, and was never able to keep the weight off. Never. It always came back, plus some. This is the longest I have ever maintained a weight I was happy at. Ever! Best decision of my life.

I had surgery on 2/17/14. Besides a lap band, I also had a "huge" hiatal hernia repair. Before I left the hospital, I had a barium swallow and it turned out that my band was too tight. It still had water/fluid in it and so I had my first unfill. For several weeks, I was liquids only and when I did eat something, it would be a shot in the dark whether it would stay down. I had a lot of PBs and stuck feelings.. But as time went on, I could eat some things if I ate them very slowly and carefully (think chicken salad) or mushy or mushable types of food. Last week, I went in because at this point, my seat belt hurt near my breastbone. The surgeon took about more Fluid. The good news was that I had lost 30 pounds. (Which didn't surprise me because I weighed myself every morning and it would be down a pound.) So far, I've had two unfills. In the week that I've had the last unfill, I've been able to eat a little more and without throwing up. (Although I know part of my problem is that I need to eat even more slowly that I thought so I've had a little push back from the food during this time too.) I even ate a salad last night which was wonderful. I had been afraid to eat something like that since the surgery. No surprise, though, my weight crept up by a pound or two. Before I had the last unfill, I had been scheduled to see the surgeon in one month. Tomorrow is my appointment and I suspect that I'll have my first official fill. Which I can't wait for! Sickening, isn't it? I've enjoyed the week with significantly less restrictions but I also miss checking my weight and seeing the pounds fly off. I'm hoping that my fill will be a compromise between the two: enough restriction to make the weight come off but not so much restriction that I can't stand wearing my seat belt. Honestly, I don't mind drinking liquids and eating mushy/mushables if it means losing weight. In some ways, I'd rather not have the many, many choices. Is this normal?

Hi everyone, Was banded yesterday, Tuesday, June the 9th. I must say I was in some pain yesterday. Mostly from the gas that settled in my lower neck and across my shoulders and the site where the port is, is tender. I am going to try to post a picture of me from this morning. I was going to get a pre-op picture but forgot. So we will start from day 1 post op. Since January 21st., 2009 I have lost 16 pounds!! I know that is not a whole bunch but I am looking at them as 16 pounds that I will not gain back!!!! Thank you all for this GREAT support group!!!

After RNY surgery, the part of your stomach that normally processes fats and sugars has been cut away. Therefore if you consume fats and sugars it can lead to dumping. After about a year, you body figures out something is wrong and your intestines learn how to process fats and sugars and then it is possible to consume those again. During this later stage, my nutritionist recommends a balanced diet of equal amounts of Protein, carbs and fats, with always protein first. I am over 3 years post-op and I avoid sugar like a plague. I incorporate fats into my diet because fats take away hunger. So in my stage, I consume butter, whole milk, my own homemade whipping cream in my coffee (using splenda not sugar), and non-lean cuts of meat. I generally allow myself one meal a day that includes complex carbs, such as bread or Pasta. At 3 months post-op, stay away from fats and sugars and complex carbs. Generally don't count carbs but pay meticulous attention to meal volume. The weight loss phase is fairly short and you want to maximize your weight loss during this stage because before you will know it you will slide quite naturally into the maintenance phase.