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I was sleeved in March 2014. I went from 230 to 166 and crept up to 175. Now I fluctuate between 175 and 170. Here is the kicker....I work out 3-5 days per week at orange theory, burning 450 to 500 calories per session and I still maintain. My eating isn't as strict as it was the first year but I still follow a high Protein low carb diet 80% of the time. Basically, maintaining is hard work! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Woohoo! Mine is tomorrow too.. I'm pretty much feeling the same way.. Hope to hear about your progress next week! I find a lot of inspiration on here from those who post their progress after surgery.. I am SOOO excited!

I was cleared for aerobic / cardio at my 2 week check up. However my Dr said I cannot do anything that requires lifting over 20 lbs do I'm sticking to walking and Zumba for now.

It's my transition week into real food (yay!) and per my surgeons instructions, no Fluid intake 1 hour prior to eating, and no fluid 1 hour after. Why? What is the purpose of this? Is this rule forever? I have my work holiday party coming up, and I find myself negotiating "do I want to eat? Or do I want fluids?", I have Breakfast with a friend every Friday and I'm also worried I'll have a lifetime of choosing between coffee or the eggs each week. Im guessing there's a direct reason why, but I'd love to know why I'm spending hours a day avoiding hydration.

I needed this posting! I am 6 months out and have stalled for the past 3 weeks. I have lost 112 pounds and have a good 100 more to go. People that I work with keep saying that I am melting away, but I dont see it. I have a mental block that if I dont see the scale moving, I dont feel like I am moving. I know that it is not true. I finally decided to purchase new pants. My others are falling off. I recently went to a Cincinnati Reds ballgame and spent most of my time pulling up my jeans.

We sometimes worried so much about the scale numbers and stalls but have you ever compare your starting sizes clothes with your current ones? This is progress Real progress and the scale numbers mean NOTHING

I think it's normal to be nervous at all stages of the process. It's a big step, but I think the nerves come from knowing you will have to make changes more so than from fear of the surgery. I went the self-pay route to avoid the waiting times for just that reason....I would have probably overthought things during the waiting process and didn't want to do that. Now that I'm about 2 months post-op I'm glad I went through with it. It's been the best decision I've made. I've lost 70 lbs, feel better than I have in years, have my confidence back, have more energy and am able to be active with my kids again without my knees feeling as though they're going to give out....and without having to take a break to catch my breath every 3 minutes! Stay focused on everything positive that will come from this...don't over-analyze. Research is good, but don't sabotage yourself by searching out the few who have had bad experiences. Look at the thousands who have had good experiences. The biggest *plus* for me was my team. The entire team at my surgeons office was there for me...I really felt as though they were in my corner and made me feel at ease throughout the entire process. Stay positive and you'll do great. Best of luck!

It sits amazingly and I can drink a whole 16oz:( after I drank that last week I thought wow that is dangerous. Yeah I will stay away. But I am sad that I can't bite into an apple!!! (I'm 3weeks out)

I can't belive my surgery day is here... Only 3 hours .. I had my best night sleep last night didn't think I would get any.I'm having the gastric sleeve today at 11:30 any last minute advice ???????

You said it Jamie. and trust me there are some times, when i wil eat a few pieces of sugar free candy for that laxative effect. i dont have major constipation issues, but sometimes after 3 or 4 days if i havent. gone, then its not bad to give it a little help.

Well, I was just in the mall, and was thinking back to those first weeks post op. For those of you who are about to have or just had surgery, may I suggest Mall Walking? Here is why- Flat surfaces... Less likely to trip on sidewalks, rocks, etc. especially while you're healing Benches- When you need a break, there are benches all over to sit and take one Weather- If it is inclement, or pending, you can get your walk in still I walked the two malls by me alternately. One opened by 6:30 am just for walkers, and McDonald's was open to grab a bottle of Water or some beverage. It was nice to get out and go somewhere, instead of the treadmill, and as soon as I was able, I went to my gym and had already built up stamina and was ready to tear it up. Just an idea for you folks. Moving is so important to your recovery. Having a safe place with the above "pros" helps. One note- finish before the stores open. You'll either get caught up in the crowds, or leave with your pocket book a lot lighter from the shopping detours you take!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I never had the honeymoon phase. I've been busting my button in the gym since week 3! I am 17 months out and struggle also. I am somewhere between 121 and 127. It depends on what week of the month it is. I don't change my diet or my exercise but I can gain 4 pounds overnight. I like to stay around 125 or less. I eat 1200 to 1400calories a day. I run 25 miles a week, walk 6, Zumba an hour a week, and weight training 2 hours a week. Beyond that I am extremely active. I have an 18 month old, work full time, and am a grad student. Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

TL; DR: this is a post about 12-step recovery. Your mileage may vary. food was never the problem. Food was the solution. The problem has always been the build up of normal human emotions. This is not an original thought from me, JWM. I heard this in an OA podcast. The speaker, Harlan G., discusses the twelve step recovery program of Overeaters Anonymous in detail, and at length, and describes how he has recovered from compulsive overeating, giving him 17 years of abstinence and several hundred pounds of weight loss, from a high weight of 700 pounds. I am blessed to have had the resources to get WLS and my LapBand nearly two years ago. I am blessed to have found my way back to OA and am vigorously working a program of recovery that addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of my disease of food addiction. I need both. Since my surgery in March of 2014, I filed for divorce and moved out of my home with my college age daughters, leaving behind an abusive and controlling spouse who will not let go. He continues to be openly aggressive to me and our daughters and we have gone "no contact" as much as possible. The divorce should come to a conclusion three months from now. This two years had been, by far, the most stressful of my life. I began therapy for my divorce shortly after moving out, and my therapist recommended Codependents Anonymous. CODA helped immediately. From there, I soon found my way back to OA which I had been in decades before. I began working the program, and finally got a sponsor in December last year. Working the OA program with a sponsor and attending lots of meetings gave my weight loss the kick in the pants it needed. I found myself addressing the daily emotions head on instead of hiding in the food. I was now able to make the changes I wasn't willing to make the first year and a half after my WLS. I put down the fried food. I put down the alcohol. I put down the prescription pain pills that I "needed" for my knee pain. I put down the buckets of movie crapcorn I was eating every week. I put down the Thai noodles that I would fantasize about during my work day and run to like a lover at 5pm. I put these things down and I felt so much better. I didn't feel good. I "felt" better. I felt pain better. I felt sadness better. I felt anxiety better. I felt worry better. I felt like a walking, talking rubber band wound up tight and ready to snap. And sometimes I snapped. I went to OA and CODA meetings nearly every day. I went to my therapist every two weeks. But once every two weeks isn't enough for the daily buildup of normal human emotions that is life. And that is where my OA sponsor and the people in these 12-step programs come in. I have a network of help that I can rely on daily. Whenever I need it. The miracle of modern texting allows me to vent to an understanding person 24/7. And sooner or later that person replies and I get a perspective on my problem or situation I didn't have before. I reach out and get out of my own head every day to help somebody else. And I am recovering. One day at a time, I am recovering. I no longer think about food all day long. I plan it, I commit it, I log it, I stick to it. And consequently, my LapBand miraculously is now at the right level of fill and works perfectly. I also practice self care in other, important ways. I listen to meditation recordings. I pull out my markers and I color in adult coloring books. I get foot and shoulder massages monthly. I meet with friends weekly. I give my dog his nightly Raindrop oil massage and it relaxes us both. Food was never the problem. Today it is no longer the solution. This has been my path of recovery. I expect I'll be on a path of recovery for the rest of my life. That's cool. Today I have a life.

Yes I got a booklet. Days 3-7 it says to have 3 protein shakes a day along with 2 other items which there was a list for like sf pudding and jello applesauce and yogurt smoothies. I figured liquid was liquid. Just didn't want to screw anything up! I can start creamy soups with no chunks on day 8. Just wasn't sure what exactly was meant. Maybe I will call to clarify. Thanks!!!

How much of the creamy potato soup did you eat? I was banded on 4/2 and was able to eat about 1/3 cup of the soup. I usually know I am getting full because I will start having pain in my left shoulder. Otherwise I don't have any problems with anything, I do drink the liquids slowly though.

Gaining weight before you get a fill or several fills is quite common. Until you get some restriction and begin to feel satisfied with less food you are basically still on a diet. It's also easy to gain 2-5 lbs from just retaining fluids. Most of the weight we lose in the first few weeks is only Water anyway. Some patients can lose 30-40 lbs of water in just a few short weeks, so it's understandable how they can retain a few over a high sodium/high carb intake weekend. tmf

That video was awesome!!! Being 1 week post op that makes a great visual reminder. Thanks for sharing OTR!

When was your Band placed? How much weight have you lost to date? How much fill do you have in your band? What size band do you have? Even not knowing these answers, I would say you may not have quite enough restriction yet. Also, you may just be in a plateau phase. BUT, all that aside, when I got frustrated because it was taking so long to get restriction, I did go back to the liquid phase for 2 weeks. (I was 6 months post-op and had had several fills and not enough restriction yet). I found that it got me motivated again and I did lose. Since then I've had 2 more fills and now I have really good restriction. Nothing keeps me going like seeing the scale move in the right direction and seeing my clothing getting too big. Keep up your good work!

220 two weeks before surgery 9/8. Currently 161 pounds. No regrets! There's no way I could've gotten back to this weight without the surgery.

At three weeks, I was only able to tolerate Protein Drinks and Cream of Mushroom/Cream of chicken Soup. That was pretty much my diet for weeks 3 and 4. As far as the mashed potatoes, it's the total amount you're eating per day that you should track. If your getting your recommended grams of Protein in, then you probably aren't going to have much room for potatoes.

Hi. I am a 42 year old female and I weigh 243 with my starting weight 279.my height is 5"1and I have sleep apnea. I am currently on a 3 months supervised diet plan with my pcp and have lost over 30 pounds. I am looking at surgery on March 15th. I agree March is a great month because we will have 2 to 3 months before it gets really hot and we will have transitioned to solids for the summer months. Studies have shown people exercise more in the spring and eat less in the summer. Gives us time to really hit the ground running for our weight loss. Cycling here I come.

Good Morning! This weekend after trying to find some new low carb/calorie recipes I stumbled across Krafts Healthy living section. They have some good recipes that are low carb. Now some say the carbs are like 20 grams, however that is for a cup to 1 1/3 cups of food. I can eat maybe 1/4- 1/2 cup so take that into account when looking at the recipes. I found come really great ones, and substituted a few things to make it even healthier. Just some ideas for those that still like to cook and are getting tired of the same things! My husband was very happy with the recipes that I made from this so far http://www.kraftreci...cipes/main.aspx

I have had 2 fills and was told I was in the green zone. I was on vacation and eating more than usual but I lost 8.5 lbs in 3 weeks and wasn't hungry for 5-6 hrs between meals. I didn't get a fill on the 26th. I go back in a few weeks and I think I need a fill. I am not hungry so much as I am grazing and eating all the time which is not good. They told me too about 5 fills is average. I think they were wrong when they didn't give me a fill.

I expected the 5 little scars after the op, and hoped they would fade over the next few years. However, 4 months in and I still have 3 round red little scars above and below each of the 5 incision scars where the staples where. So each of my 5 scars now looks like this: . . . ---- . . . I have had general stitches for cuts in the past and they never left scaring. Any one else been left with this?

HI, these may be small cuts in size, but they are very deep and so the scar tissue is bound to be quite pronounced and thick. I am in Australia but I assume you can get this sort of thing in the UK too....gel type scar Patches that you put on each night and then take them off, rinse them under the tap and repeat the next night. These reduce the texture of scars. Have a chat with your local pharmacist or try Boots or something similar. They are quite expensive, but very effective and the ones we get can just be cut to size and re-used for 3-6 months. I was thinking the other day that there is going to be a whole generation of women with these 5 little scars. I don't really care how large the scars are, they are small compared to the emotional ones I was sustaining daily whilst morbidly obese.