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Wow!! What an amazing story! Congratulations on the weight loss! Here's to our sleeves and the amazing journey they take us on =)

This article: All U.S. adults could be overweight in 40 years - Yahoo! News Has got to be the most stupid thing I've read in a long time. It's a prime example of how people think you have to be alarmist to get attention to your cause and also of how people misuse and misunderstand statistics. Don't get me wrong, I agree that obesity is a big problem and a growing problem. However, the idea that the current trend is going to go on unstopped forever, is just ridiculous. It completely ignores the fact that obesity is a disease, not a choice, and that some people's physiology is just not going to let them become overweight no matter what. It also ignores the existence of WLS. Do they really think everyone who has WLS in the past 30 years will suddenly start eating too much and gain weight? And all because of some numbers in a study? It's preposterous. :thumbup: Of course, the people who put out the press release know it's preposterous. They even kind of admit it in the article. But they think for some reason crying Wolf is the way to get people to spend money on the problem. Note: I'm not saying obesity is not a problem in the US. I'm not even saying that it's not a growing problem. I just think this is completely the wrong way to go about solving the problem. Sometimes the cynic in me thinks this sort of thing is done on purpose and that someone is profiting from our obesity problem and doesn't really want to have any good solutions, but just wants money thrown at it so they can continue to profit.

This is my journal, it shows the times and dates of my weight loss...

You Bet! The Club I manage is putting on a great New Years Party with a nice dinner & a great band! I have been losing weight steadily (down over 20lbs sice Nov 24) & I plan on celebrating tonite! I'm gonna skip the glass of sparkling wine at midnight tho cuz I don't want to push the 'no carbonation' rule, but I am gonna let loose and have some fun with getting right back on 'the wagon' tomorrow. I'm sure we'll get some grief over this but to each their own. I feel that you have to enjoy yourself once in a while, in whatever way you choose to make the journey bearable. For me, I'll skip dessert, have an extra glass of wine, and dance my booty off tonight!! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all and have a great time tonight in whatever way you choose do! Cheers!

Yea girl. My stomach sticks out farther than my boobs. Cant wait for a flatter tummy. And as far as my boobs after weight loss, I got an App for that, I mean plan for that. Lol Happy New Year!

HI everyone! This is my very first post on the forum. :thumbup: I've been reading posts for several weeks since I made the decision to get this surgery. I decided that instead of doing my usual routine of observing and reading forever (lurking), I'll just jump in and get as much preop support as I can from the great people on this site. VSG has just been added to our WLS coverage options and I'm so excited. This is the only WLS that I've researched that hasn't scared the wits out of me. :biggrin0: I've started the ball rolling with my preop requirements by getting a psych assessment, scheduling my counseling sessions (I'm not the support group type), and getting my PCP on board with the requirement for 6 months of weight loss/nutritional documentation. My question is, does anyone here have some insight on the documentation requirements for insurance coverage? I'm particularly interested in those with UHC policies, but would love to hear from those with other coverage as well. My main concern is being sure that I have the proper documentation for the nutritional/exercise components. My nurse coordinator explained to me that I could do something like weight watchers or go to my PCP and have them document my weight, diet, and exercise once a month for 6 months. I didn't see any point in paying for weight watchers when the PCP visits would be the same cost or cheaper. When I talked to my doctor about it, he readily agreed to complete the documenation for me, but was kind of vague about it. He gave me a handout with a diet plan, so I guess that's what he'll document as my diet. They weigh me everytime anyway, so that's not a concern. But, I wasn't clear on how they'll document the exercise part. When I pushed the issue with the doc and asked how we would document the exercise, he just said something about me needing to do 30 minutes of exercise a day. I guess that's what he wrote in my chart. We all know how dismissive docs can be. I'm no shrinking violet, but I was sick when we we talked about this and was actually focused on my other health issues so I didn't push things as much as I could have. After all this babbling, my point is that I want to know if anyone had any difficulty with this part of their documentation for WLS. Did the insurance company question this aspect of the info sent in? Did you have to go back and provide additional documentation? Or, was it pretty much the formality that it seems to be and that my PCP made it out to be? I plan to contact my nurse coordinator again to revisit this issue but I would love some insight from anyone here who has experience with this. My biggest fear right now is to go 6 months thinking I've done everything right and then get turned down over something so minor. (By the way, I still may add the weight watchers piece just to cover my bases.) Happy to be here, Mary

Hi all!! So I will be a yr out on jan 24th 2012. It has been a crazy, happy, sad, exhausting, mind blowing yr! I've made mistakes, went a little too crazy, but came back and I love my freaking sleeve. I started this journey at 304 at a size tight 24. As of today I am 158 and a size 7-10 depending on the clothrd and m/l shirt. I only have 8 lbs til I am a healthy bmi and 18 lbs til goal (which I might even lower!!) I am still losing about a lb a week with some stalls. This is amazing to me! I don't ever remember being this small. I still have a lot of toning to do and am planning on getting ps. I don't think of myself as small or beautiful but I've noticed the way people treat me. Guys check me out! And not the ones I usually had. You know what I'm saying? When ur big u settle. I'm talking hottt guys that those skinny perfect b*****s get!! And its surreal. Women give me dirty looks. This one pisses me off. But they are nicer to my face. When I was obese thin women were for the most part very rude. I still can't wrap my mind around it. I see pics of thr old me and I can't believe it. I have so much more confidence now and it shows!! My sister who I love dearly but can be quite mean is jealous!! She used to be very thin bodering on an eating disorder. A couple months ago she let me go through some clothes that she had. There was a box thst didn't fit her anymore she was saving. She let me borrow some and they fit!! She was irrate!! She didn't think I was smaller than her!! Now they are a little too baggy (not the shirts yet becaise my arms and tummy are still a little too big. She used to make fun of me and call me fat and now I weigh less!! I shouldn't be happy about this but I feel likes its karma. I never go out of my way to make her feel bad and now when we talk about weight she gets mad and says ur not big its just extra skin. If u didn't have that ud be skinny. Has anyone else experienced this?

As we all know when starting a diet the weight loss in the beginning is substantial because 1. we are losing Water weight and 2. our bodies are used to a much higher caloric intake and our metabolic rate is higher.Whether its the band or low carb or whatever your body will try and lower your metabolism to compensate for the reduction in calories. With all the diet plans and "miracle pill" garbage out there weight loss is a very simple formula: Calories burned > calories consumed. If you are eating less calories than your body requires to run, it will have no choice but to tap into its fat stores for energy. There are several online BMR (Basal metabolic rate) calculators out there. Find your BMR and if you are consuming fewer calories than that number, you will lose weight.

Hi everyone, I've done Atkins etc a few times before with great success. Usually I lose weight fairly quickly for at least the first 2-3 months. I just had my first fill after having my band empty for 5 years and the band is working great. I eat 1 cup per meal, Protein first and and then mostly green veggies. I stay under 20g carbs per day and that's mostly real/ not processed food ( no atkins bars etc). I lost 17.5 lbs during the first few weeks which was fantastic but for about 10 days now the scales have barely moved. I'm wondering if the small portions could actually slow weightloss down while low carbing? What were your experiences? I've tried a fat fast since yesterday and again no loss.

Marinagirl makes a good point. My insurance and book reads "2 year history of over 35 Bmi.". I've seen some people say they submitted one weight per year to quoalify. My insurance company (fepblue) told me that I had to be above 35 the entire 2 years (I couldn't do). Dropping below disqualified me. Also, I wouldn't be allowed to drop below 35 during the 3 months supervised diet. There was no way I could do that! One thing that I've learned here is the insurance requirements are all over the place. Another thing some people do is have a hernia repair or gallbladder removal and vsg at the same time. Insurance covers a portion and they pay cash for the sleeve.

Hola Everyone!! I just want to share a lil about me, I'm 23 years old, been struggling with thyroid problems and gainin weight since I was 16 years old, went from 140lbs to 180 in 6months.. Has gain over 50lbs in the past 5 years... Have try every single diet out there, love exercise, but since after my gain weight nothing works for me. Had my VSG (Sleeve Surgery) done May 15th, I was 238lbs... It's been 3 days, I'm doing great, the 1st day was the worst, but I deal with it... I don't have complains about anything, love my liquids, my meds are alright.. I just started the "Pro Performance" 100% whey protein" today... I blended with ice it taste good... The Popsicle are ok... My only problem is the "GAS" omg... Pls advise me with anything dat with get the gas out of my chest.. This is painful... I'm doing the GasX Strips and it seeing to work but just for a short time... Other then dat I'm excited.. And ready to do 200% to see my results. P.S: any advise is a big •Gracias• I'm so new in this, I think I'm doing everything right... I will say is not easy, but at the end it will worth every step. I will see my Dr. In 2 weeks (may 30th).. I'm cant wait to see how much weight I have lost.. Y'all take care.

I've been running for years now, started a few years before I had my surgery. They only differences between now and then are I'm faster, have less weight on my knees, have excess skin that makes for funny in motion pictures, a am not out of breathe as quick. When I first started I downloaded a free C25K (couch to 5k app). It was a good way to start and I adjusted as I needed to as I was not in the best shape. Fast forward to today, I run 5k races a few times a month. They are my accountability to keep exercising; my goal. This year alone I have completed 2 10k and have 2 more 10ks planned as well as a half a half marathon. My advice, take it slow. Don;t push yourself. Interval run/walk methods can be your friend when you're starting out. Don't get discouraged if you are unable to run specific distances without stopping. You also don't need a PR )personal record) each time. For instance, last weekend I went into my 10k don;t feeling that great. My goal was to just finish, and preferably under 1:20:00 min. I did just that. My time was actually only about 30 seconds slower than my May 10k time. Imagine if the course had been flatter, I might have actually beat it. Good luck.

Years ago I did the weight loss drug route and it worked great, but had some nasty side effects and eventually stopped working. Also my weight is almost 240, I need to lose at least 75 pounds. And the other issue has become the sleep apnea which causes plenty of problems of its own, and unfortunately weight loss drugs significantly exacerbate the sleep apnea

Have you ever thought of just going the weight loss medication route or something similar? You really don't have that much weight to lose and I lost 60 lbs using phentermine the first time. This is major surgery and you are only 195. Oh, I also exercised like mad.

What ^^^SS^^^ said! She said it perfectly! It took me 18 months to get to my lowest post-op weight (and that wasn't even goal... close but not goal) so I don't want to discourage you at all. There is never an expiration on your sleeve and we all get lulled into the weight dropping rapidly in the first few months after surgery and EXPECTING that we *should* be able to drop that much weight *consistently* when the reality is that we are going to slow down tremendously and sometimes stop all together before we are *ready* (I felt like my body picked maintenance...NOT me!) Anyway, I would say to keep working your sleeve. Be accountable for what you eat (I use caloriecount.about.com...free food tracker with a free phone app) and push yourself in exercise. Getting out there and working out is one thing but pushing yourself is another. Keep using this awesome tool but be PROUD of how far you have come and what you have already accomplished!

I to am looking for someone to help me my starting weight was 245 now I am at 185 my one year anniversary is January 7 2016 I seems like I am at a stalled for last couple months and seems like I can eat more than I should I'm scared I don't want to gain back my weight !!! I find myself having bad choices when I get stressed I still turn to food I try not to but I do and I still have 30 lbs to go any suggestions i ride a stationary bike and try to eat more protein than carbs ???? I need help

Cold turkey 15 years ago. It took a couple weeks to get past it, but became much, much easier after that. In no time I began feeling a great deal better. For months afterwards I had episodes in the hot & steamy showers where I'd cough up nasty crud. My breathing became much easier and life was improved in many ways. I've owned two cars since that I bought new and never smoked in them. It's great having a vehicle that doesn't smell like cigarettes or have that film build up on your windshield (same junk was building up in my lungs while smoking). Getting past smoking was a huge hurdle in my life. You will feel so much better. Combine that with the relief you'll get through upcoming weight loss.......you'll feel like a lottery winner. Good luck. It's worth it !!!!

I promise you that you are going to lose more weight than this.you are just retaining.when I had my gallbladder out I hadn't ate in eight freaking days.i mean nothing.not popsicles water ,ice Nada! Completely kept alive with IVs.i thought this is awesome I must have lost ten pounds.i weighed at my PCP and I was down 2.1 pounds. He told me it takes ten days to see a weight loss from caloric restriction.he was right.

Can anybody tell me if the size of a sleeved stomach is a standard thing or does it vary from person to person? I had my band removed three months ago and gained back 21lbs in that time - so am worried that my sleeve will be bigger than a standard sleeve because I dont have that much weight to lose. I just dont want to be able to eat larger portion sizes than I could with the band as I know that is what kept my weight off for 10 years. I hear about everybody being happy with the conversion but if there is anybody in a similar situation to me who could tell me how much they lost after surgery and whether they actually lost more than their goal weight because they were not that overweight at the time of revision. Thank you in advance kind people. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi there, I am also a nurse. I was banded on 5/08. To date i have lost 95 pounds. I would like to lose 25 more. It seems as though I am stuck at my current weight. I exercise one hour per day six days a week. No matter what I try, I can't seem to lose another pound. I tried eating protein bars instead of two meals per day, eating one regular meal. Still nothing. I don't know what else to to. I have been reading about a 5 day pouch test. Thought about it. I need a buddy whose been there.

i actually posted this question on insurance board, but am hoping to get more responses on this one! i spoke with my bariatric clinic when i faxed them my insurance card which takes effect 1/1/07, and she said that she'll send in a request for payment. until then i just have to sit and wait for a response. this doesn't sound right to me! isn't this when i should be giving my insurance company all my ww weight books and all my other methods of weight loss that i've tried with no success? i just feel that this is precious time that's being wasted! she said they have to get the initial approval before i can go see the psychologist...which costs $800!!! i bout fell over!!! i guess what i'm wondering if i really do have to wait for a denial before i get a chance to show my insurance company what i've tried? seems like a run-around to me! hope to hear some insight on this! :help: :help: :help: :help: :help:

70lbs in two months is nuts! (At least I'm sure that is what he is thinking!). It will take some time for him to get used to the new you. You say he is rude, but is he behaving outrageously, or just a little off balance? Has he indicated a desire to leave? Take a breath, most likely it doesn't mean the end of the relationship. Please don't try to gain the weight back! Family couseling might help a ton. You are worthy of being normal sized and healthy. Do not let anyone make you feel guilty about doing something for your own health. If the doctor told him he needed to have surgery or take a pill to be healthy, would you deny him that? Of course not! This is no different... Sent from my SM-N920R4 using the BariatricPal App

There are a lot of possible reasons spouses leave or separate after the surgery. It is hard to tell. All I can say is I'm sorry this is happening!! Going through this is hard enough. Way to go on your weight-loss btw. Go back to why you had the surgery and why you are making these changes. Remind yourself of that Therapy can be helpful and there are a lot of good options. It might take a few sessions or therapists (not all therapists/therapies are created equal) I hope someone can help you more than I can but I send you love and prayers. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

12 pounds in a month may not seem like a lot your first month post op but 12lbs is pretty great! @JamesMarusek gave some great advice. A lot of what I have to contribute is already in that post. But seriously - Right now focus on getting in your fluids, vitamins and protein as best as you can. Sip, sip, sip... Trying different things is important. As you are able to give your body more of the 3 key things, move more and as your body heals from surgery more weight-loss will happen. Keep your spirits up and good luck!