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Here's a great book, made for us girls, Smart Girls Do Dumbells. It has great info, good explanations of the right way to do basic weight training exercises with dumbells, and the equipment needed is inexpensive, small and easy to store. If you need more info on the book, PM me and I'll check out the author's name when I am at home!

When my Surgeon gives the ok part of my surgery is to be able to use the hospital gym with the assistance of a PT for 3 months free!! I can't wait. I need to learn how to appropriately use weights too! Bat wings, thighs, gut the list goes on.

Today when completing my profile for my new Fitbit I realized for the first time in 20 years my BMI no longer puts me in the obese category! I'm now just officially overweight Now comes the challenge of moving into the "normal weight" category!! Jules

Yes I think this is something that only a person who has successfully lost a massive amount of weight can understand, whether or not they did it with surgery. there is a book I used to refer to as my "Fat Bible", it's a memoir written by a woman named Frances Kuffel and it is called, "Passing For Thin". She joined an OA-style group and lost 180 pounds through diet. She's very tall so even though her lowest weight was 149, she appeared very very thin. Not only is she an excellent writer, but she frankly addresses the exact notion we are talking about, and for her, the rage she felt. She eventually relapsed and started eating again, and I believe she is in "recovery" for the 2nd or 3rd time at this time, but that does not negate the truth in her words. I recommend it.

I spoke to a friend last night, who had her surgery in Feb. 2010, She told me, she hasnt seen a doctor...(since her surgeon left town), in 8 months. She hasnt had any fills in her band. I know about 2 months ago, she was trying to find a new doctor to take her. I dont know what reason she has for not finding a new one, I know she has insurance. Is this soon enough for her to stop getting fills? How long do fills usually continue? She had alot more weight to lose, she didnt give me a reason and I didnt delve, thinking if she wanted to discuss it more, she would have. But, does there come a time when you just stop getting fills? and what happens to the band when you do???

Hi Everyone, I joined this forum back in December 2005 just a few months before having my first lap band done. I now have my 3rd lap band and still feel at a loss. I stopped coming on here for a very long time cause I was just getting so down and frustrated with the whole thing. My first band slipped and I had that one replaced. The second one broke inside me, the buckle broke and it took me so many appointments with the surgeon to try and listen to me when I was telling him that it wasn't right. Now I have the third one in and that was done almost 2 years ago. I have gotten no where in the whole time that I have had all these bands put in. I feel like giving up but at the same time I don't. A couple of days ago I got a fill done, it's too tight. I can't even swallow a drink properly without having to bring it back up. I have had pureed soups and opti slim shakes since getting the last fill but most of those end up coming out again. I read somewhere that a guy had a fill and it was too tight for him but he stuck it out for a couple of weeks and because he had lost a little weight,from not being able to consume hardly anything, it made his band that little less tight for him and now he is fine. This is what I am wanting to do aswell, see if I can stick it out for a couple of weeks and see if it changes. Has anyone else done this and has it worked? I've always been on a constant battle to lose weight and no matter what I do it just doesn't want to come off. I admit I don't always exercise but when I did I still wasn't having much luck.I'm hoping there might be others that have had a fill that was too tight but stuck it out and it losened up a bit. Thank you.

Sorry about not posting sooner. Have been really tied up at work. its been 24 days since I have been sleeved. Feeling great, I wasn't feeling so great the first week (obviously right) week 2 was getting better and I think after week 3 I got back to my normal self. Protein intake is going great, I went to sams and picked up this box of 12 count 11oz Protein drinks. 30g of protein per serving. I have one during mid afternoon at work. I start my day with the powder 25g protein shake in morning with my prilosec. I try to get in some food with protein usually chicken breast (you can buy at wal-mart comes in 2 pack for $3.88, garlic herb marinated, you dont even have to warm it up) and i also pick up at walmart a box of chicken breasts in cut up pieces usually found near where the deli meat is, also very cheap and rich in protein, which I eat in small bites throughout the mid morning to mid lunch. Food is still in test mode, I do not get hungry that much anymore. the first two weeks - i was craving alot of food, especially since i was laying around watching TV, i never noticed how many commercials came on about food until then. Now i do not care for it, i am saving so much money by not eating out, because i eat healthier options, and the best thing is go to wal-mart and pick up their deli items. keep at your desk or at home and eat little bites throughout the day, i learned that if you eat little bites throughout the day, you feel alot better instead of trying to fill yourself up like we used to do in our pre-sleeve days. After week 3, I started the solid foods, I ate the whole chicken breast serving in one sit in and i felt so full and bloated and i felt like i was going to throw up the whole time. It took walking around and staying active to push the food down. I learned my lesson not to do that again. Now I just cut up the meat in small pieces and eat in increments throughout mid morning to mid lunch. Finally I try to polish off the day with another protein protein shake if I can. Have been slowly working out, nothing crazy. I go to the local park and walk the trail at my own pace. I get in about 2 miles everyday. I started lifting a little bit of weights every other day, havent had any problems yet. Have lost 25 lbs so far, I stalled for a week during week 3, but then slowly started to see 1lb lost here and there. Weight before surgery day was 250, now I am 221. It seems like the pace is about 10lbs a month, we will see in September how it goes! Hope your surgery went well, hang in there, it gets better I promise! If you need anything just post it!

I fought for the sleeve vs the RNY for 3 main reasons: 1. I need to take NSAIDs post-op for osteoarthritis, and with RNY you cannot take NSAIDs ever again. 2. The sleeve just seemed so much simpler and involved less messing around with my insides. I can understand the concern about wanting to make damn sure that this surgery works and you lose the weight. Originally I was considering the DS, because the stats made it sound like way more of a sure bet, until the surgeon's PA talked me out of it, citing all sorts of problems. The outcomes for the sleeve are turning out to be pretty comparable to other forms of WLS, but like any procedure, it's possible to "eat around" the sleeve (or eat around a RNY pouch, too) and not lose enough or (horrors) gain back weight. 3. I knew my own personal food demons involved eating too large a quantity of food at one sitting. I didn't make bad food choices, I just ate too damn much. I longed to be satisfied with small portions. I felt the sleeve was the answer for me.

Since my surgery on 9/30, my recovery has gone well. Maybe too well. When I drink water and protein shakes, if my forget myself and gulp, there is no pain. I can drink my protein shakes in a few minutes. Water slides down without fullness. Food goes down normally. My appetite feels like it is the same. I am losing weight at a small pace but no different than before. Besides my healing sutures, I don't feel like I had the surgery. Can anyone commiserate?

Moderate cardio, but 6 days a week in the weight room and the sleeve is doing it's thing.... everything is tightened up like I needs too....I recommend everyone go easy on overdoing cardio and get in the weight room..... There's an app called JETFIT that let's you select workouts based on experience and tolorence.....get strong and healthier.... 7 weeks Post op....

So yesterday I had to leave work early because I almost blacked out. I felt weak, faint, a little dizzy, and just plain bad. I was so afraid of going back to the hospital that I left work early and just went home to lay down. This happened after lunch and I thought it was the Soup I ate (maybe it had too much fat or oil or something) anyway I go to work today and after I came back from break I started to have the same symptoms again! I was freaking out thinking this was way serious and ended up calling on of the surgeons on call. The guy I spoke with wasn't my surgeon but I gave him a run down of everything and he said since I didn't have a fever, abdominal pain, or diarrhea it was nothing to come to the ER for. He then suggested that because this has been happening after I ate at work and then resumed standing up(for the rest of my shift) he said either my blood sugar is very low or you may be dehydrated(But he ruled out dehydration because I had gotten in all my fluids). He suggested I drink a couple of ounces of apple juice which I promptly did and I felt a little better but the symptoms returned! I drank a little more and low and behold, my symptoms were gone and I felt good as new! I really hated this happening at work though, because my boss(the assistant manager, anyway) wanted to know my business(Only my manager knew I was out for surgery). She then commented on my weight loss and asked me if I had gastric bypass! Luckily someone else was there in the room and immediately shut them down. (It's none of their business, the point was I don't feel well and I wanted to call my doctor). I was thankful for the other woman thinking it would be completely ridiculous(Word at my job spreads like wildfire, they thrive on rumors). I then gave some BS VAGUE story about my esophagus and how I can only eat certain things so as not to irritate it. After about an hour and a half I was able to resume my work shift! I have never in my life had issues with my blood sugar. I wasn't even "pre-diabetic" pre-op. So just be careful fellow sleevers!

Make sure to walk only and don't do anything else. Be careful about bending/stretching, and don't go for too long where you wear yourself out. My doctor told me walking was fine, but no strenous activity or stomach work/weights until at least 30 days. You need time for your insides to heal - your stomach muscles. Trust me I have a friend who has a pulled muscle just from bending over too much 2 weeks after surgery and her pain is no joke.

Hi everone , it's so good to read all your posts it's like a mirror to my own life! Terrane, what you said is soo true i have always been outgoing and loved to socialise but now i'm the complete opposite I spend most of my time doing for others because I think somehow they will see past the fat and think of me as a good person. This has led to many conflicts! Now I have so much trouble saying no that i've put everyone before me . By having this procedure I feel I'm making a stand but a surprise outcome is the amount of support from family and friends and I know it's not just because at some stage they've depended on me, but because they love me and the fat has never been an issue it's me that made it one. This really sounds like a rant but if nothing else comes of this except talking to loved ones about how my weight has made me feel ...that has to be good? My last concern is thta my surgeon does not recommend a pre op diet ...is this normal??

Couldn't believe it when I logged on and the first post I look at is from someone who is getting banded the same day I am! June 6. I am having a little hard time sleeping I am so scared/excited. I am telling myself over and over that it is EXCITEMENT and not fear. I made this decision over a long period of time. I have discussed it with my family and with my doctors and a few close friends. I have been in therapy for several months dealing with, mostly, weight related issues and this surgery. I HAVE TO TRUST MYSELF and believe that I have made an informed, thoughtful decision that will benefit me and help me make a much needed change in my life. I am sure you didn't just wake up a month ago and decide that you were going to do this. Like me, I am sure you had to wade through paperwork and insurance issues, arrange for time off work (? I did anyway) and I have had lots of time to think about this in doctor's offices, not to mention every day when I wake up and my ankles are swollen, and my knees hurt because I weigh 301. So take a deep breath, try to relax...envision how wonderful it will be to just be in the world and not feel self conscious every minute of every day because of your weight. Think how great it will be to shop for clothing that is not from the "Women's" department! And think how happy your doctors will be...and your family. But most of all envision how good this is going to make you feel...that you did something positive FOR YOURSELF and for your (health)future. OK, I don't know if that little lecture was for you or for me...but I hope it helps somehow. June 6th RULES! btw....I am having surgery in Louisville, with Dr. Lusco. I won't see you there, will I? Relax, my fellow weight loss voyager...rest assured that WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING!

I was sleeved on august 18 th and I'm down 47 lbs. I only have about 20 more to go I did mine for health reasons but my bmi was a 34 when I had it done. The weight loss has slowed to a crawl but to be honest I haven't helped it any. I still have problems getting my protein in daily and water is nonexistent so I really need to start excersing and drink water

Hi there! I was sleeved on August 18th. As of today I have lost 53lbs. I don't have a ticker because I really have no idea what my goal weight is. I can tell you that I am enjoying every pound I lose. I seriously celebrate it! I still have more to lose but WOW are things different now than they were before I started this journey. My whole outlook has changed I am so happy. Sure I would like the next 50lbs to be gone tomorrow but things are so good right now I am just going to go with it. You are doing fantastic! Enjoy this process... you are inspiring many more than you know!

My Journey began May 14, 2013 at 216 pounds After waiting for a year to have insurance I was finally able to get my journey started. I did everything that I needed to do so I could have this surgery. My doctor is Ernest Cudjo, his staff and the other doctors with him are very good at what they do. One of the scheduling staff said that I went through all of the tests needed so fast that my surgery was set up for May 14. I started the pre-surgery diet with no problem and I lost 15 pounds before the surgery. Then the big day came and I was ready, the surgery was a success and I healed up quicker than I thought I would. I am feeling better about myself and I'm looking at food differently. It has not been easy but I am trying to stay on the straight and narrow. But lately I have been having a lot of issues and haven't been on the straight and narrow. I have gained three pounds and I am totally disgusted with myself and I don't know what to do. I have no will to stay away from sweets and carbs. I am an emotional-stress eater. I go in May for my 1 year post-op visit and I hope and pray I don't gain any more weight. ​I haven't been able to do my walking because I have fallen on the ice 5 times and the fifth time was a killer. My hip was dislocated and it still isn't right. It really hurts if I walk for any length of time. I really want to do some sort of exercising but it hurts. I feel that if I don't get my life in check I'm going to be a failure with this surgery. And it makes me wonder if I should have had the Bypass Surgery instead of The Sleeve. I was doing so good........I'm feeling hopeless

Hey, I'm now 6 weeks post op vsg and I keep hitting stalls. HW: 238 Day of vsg: 228 CW: 204 I lost 19 lbs in the first two weeks. After that, I hit a stall for about a week and a half. I then lost another 5 lbs (slowly) and have been in another stall for the last week. Did this happen to anyone else? How do you restart the weight loss? I also feel like I can fit a lot more food when I eat. At first I was eating very small portions; now I'm able to eat a lot more at one sitting. Is it possible to stretch out the pouch already? Any help or advice would be appreciated! Thanks, Mallory

I getting so excited by your great weight loss. I'm looking forward to postop results. Yay!!!! Congrats to all of you.

My date is fast approaching (1/10/12).. and as I started my Pre-op diet I am feeling a little sad. I see my friends going out eating drinking doing our normal thursay-saturday routine. I haven't gone out because I am scared I will cheat they have noticed my weight loss and I have told them I just want to be healthier .. some encourage me others don't pay much attention. It may be odd but I don't like when someone points out my weight loss in front of other.. I almost feel ashamed! IS THIS NORMAL!? How can I go about tell my encour aging frineds what is going on because to be honest I don't think I can keep up with them afterwards!! Will I ever live that "normal" 21 year old life?! I keep telling myself I am getting something well worth it in return, just getting some jitters I think!! Any advice would be very helpful!!

Your post reminded me of a post I like to refer to. Here it is again. This is by another bandster on another forum and I'm sorry but I don't recall the name. "In my case, the most fearful thing I had to do in order to succeed with my band wasn't switching to skim milk, surviving a liquid diet, or giving up bread. The most fearful thing was giving up my emotional attachment to food. In the nearly 5 years since I was banded, I've made a lot of progress with that, but the attachment is still there. It forms one of the innermost layers of my turtle shell. Working on that layer will probably be a lifetime job for me. At times I'm not even sure I truly want to get rid of it altogether. At times I'm afraid that if I shed my shell completely, I won't be able to survive. On the other hand, I seem to be doing fine without that thick old b***h layer. So I'm going to pay attention to my dreams rather than my fears and pray for a miracle. And why not? It can't hurt to try!" Another reminder came from another forum member, PinkDahlia. She said: "I'm so stinkin' thrilled with my weight loss i dont even care about what i cant eat!" tmf

Well I am 19 years old and a soon to be college student. I have struggled with my weight for most if not all of my life. I have never been thin, always overweight. When I was younger like elementary/middle school age my weight really affected me mentally and socially. I used to get picked on all of the time. It wasn't until my freshman year of highschool that I became confident and comfortable in who I was, and the way I looked. I have tried diet after diet after diet and they just don't work, or I am just not motivated enough to follow through. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) in the 8th grade that i saw my weight was an issue medically. With this syndrome comes many things.....diabetes being one of them. I have type 2 diabetes that is now controlled with medication, but i still worry about things like my eye sight and my feet and legs. Anyway......I am wanting to get this surgery so that I can get rid of all this weight and become a healthier woman. What I want in life is to become a wife/mother. I know that as long as I have this weight on that it will be extremly hard if not imposible for me to have children. I have my first appointment with my Dr. on October 4th. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it! Thanks <3

Hi Sleevers: I have Horizon BCBS. I have to submit a letter to the insurance company regarding my attempts to lose weight over the past 12 months. I'm curious how detailed this letter should be. I don't want to say too much or not enough that might get me denied. As anyone had to do this? If so, can you provide some insight on what I should write?

Thanks you guys....I know I am going to have some saggy skin just wondering if slow weight lost can minimize it.

Yes, it will slow down. However as far as the sagging skin, that will depend on your age, how long you've been overweight, skin elasticity, and genetics. Some people are super lucky and can lose over 100 pounds with very little excess skin. Others lose the same amount and have a lot of excess skin. Unfortunately, losing weight slower doesn't mean you won't have sagging skin. Best wishes.