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Welcome Domi366! You have come to the right place. We are all in the same shoes! Hope you will love your sleeve as much as I do. I'm a little over 10 weeks post op and life is great! Welcome!

Congratulations on your progress. VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 GW = 220 3/7/18 CW = 206.6 @ 6'5" 153.4 pounds gone! [emoji256]

I walked a lot in the hospital. The first week I worked myself up to walking each day by starting out walking around my cul de sac with my husband for 5 minutes slow 2 laps the day after I got home. I increased it to 10 then 15 down the street then the block. I'm 9 wks out and walk 2 miles a day with my son in a stroller and my dog.

What % of the macronutrients is not absorbed from the beginning if it ends up being 10% after 12-18 months?? I am 2 weeks out and trying to keep my calories to 800.....how much of that is absorbed?

Hey Pamla68, Love your tagline--that's Jill Scott, right? I'm new to all this myself-just had an information session last week and it solidified for me what I need to do to get going with this process of having the insurance approve me for the surgery. It's scary, but so worth it. i think it's a bit more scary to find out in 30 years that the extra weight was a contributing factor to your early demise. I'm scared of living in the shadows the rest of my life, I'm only 37 and I feel 10 years older. let's make this journey together, I'm ready if you are! Best, Mari

I thought this was an interesting article. I hope the link works. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/health/biological-changes-thwart-weight-loss-efforts-study-finds.html?_r=1&

Well I've tried weight watchers, takeing ripid fuel, Jenny Craig, I've even gone cold turkey since July of this year and stopped eating fast food period and low and behold I'm still my size then I've tried eating smaller meals but then I get lightheaded because I'm still hunger and then the big one I've signed up to a job but my weight prevents me from doing bike riding the way I want or even running so I've resorted to walking practically everywhere just to strengthen my heart...but when its all said and done I'm only losing like 5 to 10 pounds...so that's why I have made the decision to do the surgery

You and I are exacts, well almost only I am two years ahead of you. My surgery 9/17/10. My height is the same. My starting weight was a few pounds above you. My optimal goal weight is the same as you. Went down to 138 and looked gaunt, guess you can be too skinny. HA HA Love reading about your new attitude towards how you celebrate. Congratulations and HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Congrats. You sound good. I lost 40 Pre-op ( 10 mos) And at least 10# post. - op. ( 10 days) I am away for the long weekend and have not seen a scale in days.

I met my surgeon briefly at the very first seminar - she did a presentation for a group and then I got about a 10 minute consult with her. The next time I saw her was 10 months later in the OR. I could have paid for an extra appointment with her in between but I didn't really have any questions that my NUT or nurse couldn't answer so I didn't bother.

It is hard to believe it is over. I am doing well but before I get into that I want to try to recap before I forget everything. The night before the surgery I decided to go to bed early since I had to be at the hospital so early the next morning. I was required to be there by 5:30 AM which was riddiculous. I arrived on time with both of my parents and checked in. We waited until they called my name and they took us to a waiting room. One by one people were called back. Hours went by and my name wasn't called. I of course couldn't eat anything, but I felt bad because my parents weren't eating because they didn't want to eat in front of me. I forced them to eat at lunchtime. Yeah... I said lunchtime. I wasn't called back until 11:00 AM. When I got called back they weighed me. I was excited to hear her say that I was 297!!! I had started my pre-op diet at 316 so that meant that I lost 19 pounds. She then took me to a small room with instead of a door there was a curtain. There was a whole line of them down the hall. I was to take everything off and put on the gown and robe. There was also a haircap and socks with skid resistant rubber on the bottom. A nurse came in to start my IV and I was happy that she decided not to do it in my wrist but higher up my forearm. She then asked me lots of questions that I had been asked a bunch of times already. Once she left they let my parents in. An hour had already passed. My poor parents were so tired. I stayed there another two hours and then they came to get me. I had say goodbye to my parents and I walked to another room where they made me lay in a bed. More people came and asked me questions then I got to close my eyes and wait some more. When they came to get me they pushed the entire bed down the hall to the operating room. Once I was there I had to slide over to another bed. They gave me the anesthesia and I was out quickly. I only remember them asking me to take deep breaths once in a while. When I was all done they pushed me to another room to recover. It was similar to the first one that I was in earlier. They put my bed in an almost verticle position and it made me slide down to the rail. I was so uncomfortable. Luckily a nurse later helped me fix it, I just couldn't change the angle at the top of the bed but I at least got to change the ange at the bottom so that I didn't slide out. I really didn't get any rest that night. They were doing my vitals every three hours and I had to walk at those times too. I didn't mind the walking, I just minded the getting up part. My port site hurt when I had to get up and sit back down again. The next morning they had me change clothes and hang out until they were ready to do my upper gi. I got discharged about 9:00 AM. I asked for more pain meds before I left since I was starting to hurt again and I had an hour ride home. Luckily I found a comfortable recliner at Goodwill last week and that is what I have been sitting in since I got home. I was even able to get a good night's sleep last night. I just have to force myself to get up and walk so that I don't get a blood clot. My cats have been great. My little girl kitty really wants to sit on my lap and I have place a pillow on my stomach so that she doesn't jump on me and hurt me. I have to guide her to my shoulder so that she doesn't hurt me. My incisions look pretty good. The port incision is really indented and hurts a lot. The nurse said it was normal. I do feel better than yesterday. I just have to keep drinking water and broth. I would write more but I am now feeling sick. My head is starting to hurt so more later...

im going alone and my surgery is 10\10\13 im flying from dallas..

150 lbs still seems so far seems so far away! Anyhow, I'm planning to do something big, maybe dye my hair with light red or blonde streaks. I also want to take some sexy, boudair pictures to surprise my husband (who loved me, cherished and cared for me as much as when I was 250 lbs as he does now). I'd like to buy a few cute sundresses to wear on my family's annual 4th of July beach trip. Just for fun, three "vanity" goals I've already accomplished: 1. Hit ONEderland 2. Get into a sz 16, sz 14, sz 12, then sz 10 jeans 3. Wearing a medium shirt

Frequently Asked Questions - Weight Loss Surgery - What is the honeymoon period? For about 6 to 10 months post-weight loss surgery is the time when it is the easiest to lose weight. Outside of the dreaded stalls, weight generally tends to fall off magically. But eventually the body becomes adjusted to the lower caloric intake and adjusts it's metabolism down. So it's vitally important to take advantage of this "honeymoon period" to stick to your doctor's dietary guidelines and lose as much weight as possible. After the "honeymoon period" it is still possible to lose weight, but it will require more vigilance on caloric intake and diet, being careful not to fall into old habits, and increasing exercise levels to maintain your metabolism. If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve

Good Evening all, I was told on Wednesday evening i am to have my sleeve on the 3rd of January, this caught me completely cold as ive been waiting that long. I immediately started my pre op diet and in 4 days have lost 7 pounds which is crazy. Obviously we have Christmas coming up and well...my 30th birthday (new years eve). Now I get the deal with alcohol but how long before surgery should i stop ? For the record i haven't had a drop for 7 days now but i wouldn't mind a couple of drinks at Christmas and here or there, not so bothered about my birthday as i appreciate its very close to my op day....would this be an issue ? I wouldn't drink 8 days before surgery however i havent had direction on this, i see my nutritionist on Wednesday :/. In regards to my pre op diet, at the moment it consists of this daily : Breakfast : Meal Replacement shake, low carb, high Protein lunch : Same again however i may add half a chicken breast for bulk Dinner: Tonight i have chicken breast and stir fry, tiny tiny tiny bit of mint sauce Obvs i am having sugar free fluids (mainly Water but pepsi max every now and then) Does this seem ok ? For what its worth, im 6ft tall, male and im weighing in at 19st 10, i hope to be 19st flat for surgery. Not sure If this makes any difference, figured id put it. p.s on a last note, i was so against this surgery yesterday but i came on here and m view point has just dramatically changed, i am looking forward to living again, thank you.

hunger/appetite usually come back sometime during the first year after surgery (and a minority of patients never lose it at all). After that, things get more challenging. It's hard work - but it does "work" as long as you're committed and stick with your program. during year 3, most people experience a 10-20 lb regain as your body settles in to its new set point. Of course, some people can gain much more than that if they aren't careful. basically, the surgery keeps you from eating a lot AT ONE SITTING. I'm over seven years out, and I can't eat nearly as much at one sitting as I could prior to surgery. As an example, before surgery, I could easily eat half a large pizza. Now, I can physically only eat 1-2 pieces. Again, at one sitting. the major problem is grazing. If I eat 1-2 pieces of pizza at 6:00 pm, and another piece at 7:30 pm. and another piece or two at 10:00 pm - ta da! I've eaten half a large pizza. So you really have to watch that if you want to maintain your loss. like others have said, though, it gives you a huge reset. I lost over 200 lbs, which I could have never done on my own. But after that loss, it's on you.

Dont bring expensive things, you wont need them. I went to BariatricPal MX and they have a small safe in each hospital room and everyone speaks English there. You are all good [emoji4] 51 year old woman VSG DATE: 10/28/17 5' 5" HW: 259 CW: SW: 245 GOAL: Healthy and hard

Hi Sherry! We’re flying home today. 10 hr. trip [emoji51]

First of all...congratulations...keep it up...anything you can do is great and it just get's better.... As far as running out of steam....I wear earbuds (noise cancelling) with my I-pod...have my favorite music loaded....after the first 5-10 minutes, I get completely lost in the music...I forget where I'm at, my mind is not even thinking about running....I'm thinking about vacations, relationships, work...all sorts of things, but not running.... On the treadmills, they have TV Screens which along with TV shows, it also shows your speed, pace, time, calories, etc etc...I Turn all this off...I do not want to see it...I do not want to constantly be distracted by thinking "15 more minutes" or "1 more mile to go" Worse yet...I might look at it and say "Sh**! All that and I only went 1 mile? It's only been 15 minutes? Feels like 45!!!" It's just me and my music....I run and do not stop till my chosen playlist is over....I now know which playlists equal what kind of distance or time so I have to mix them up.... And let's be honest...there will be days you just don't have it....not very often, but it does happen...I have gotten on the treadmill and after 10-15 minutes I simply say "Not today" Then I'll just do weights.. The PA at my Dr.'s office tells me she listens to "Lectures" or "Spoken Novels"...BLAH!...how boring for a workout..save that stuff for the car......I need rock and roll !!! The louder the better...

Lady, don't be so hard on yourself. You didn't gain it overnight and as a slow loser you aren't going to lose it overnight. There are many good suggestions here. I, too, am a slow loser and have lost the same as you but was banded 10/7. I was getting discouraged but read here daily to get positive reinforcement and ideas. We will make it. Best wishes, Mimi

Hello everyone. I haven't been writing much lately but I do read a lot of your thoughts, feelings, goods and bads. I enjoy keep up with everyone. In one week will be 2 years for me and my life change, The Lap Band!! I love it and it treats me well when I treat it well. Yesterday, I thought I was good and got stuck at lunch. I had cucumber and lump crab meat (both plain). Weird. Over the past year I have been around the same weight but lately up 5-10 pounds. I can not buy me nuts anymore. I eat too many. I also, don't exercise enough. At a breakfast/lunch restaurant in my town the owner had the band 5 years ago and after working from 5am until 3pm every day he walks 5 miles a day up and down hills. He is great, I am not that great at all. My Fitbit says a do 4-5000 steps a day. I feel that is great but my doctor wants 10,000 a day. I have never down that. I belong to many FB groups with WLS as the main topic. One woman is doing her own non surgery plastic surgery. She showed a picture of her bat wings and 6 months later(yesterday) she has wonderful muscles from doing weight lifting. Her stomach she said is getting flatter but she still has thigh skin. She should be a poster woman for all of us that have 'skin issues', me included. She made me want to try weight lifting. Start small with baby steps. I read some where about using the 16oz bottles of water and use them to start. They are less money than weights, just in case you don't like doing this. Everyone have a great day. Enjoy this wonderful summer. Arlene

I too am looking at a tummy tuck but I think it is better and get the weight off before really spending much time thinking of it. My hanging tummy isn't nearly as bad as I feared (I am apple shapped, overweight most of my life, had kds, older, etc - expecting the worst!). I never planned on wanting a TT, just braced myself for the worst of it. Well, it isn't THAT bad but now I am a size 10 - shooting to be a six 6 and I WANT it now. i want a tighter body. I want to fix my thighs too, but I don't think the surgeries get those good kind of results. Anyway, I am going to do a consult soon, with the idea of surgery maybe a year from now since my body is still changing and I want to lose another 20-25# too. Anyway, I guess my point is ... one thing at a time. Your ideas about what you want will likely evolve once you have lost the weight. I love the idea of the flowers - very clever!

I have discovered the quest bars... They are pretty good if heated for 10 seconds.. A little on the sweet side but tolerable but I can only eat about half at a time or I dump!

I dont work out nearly as much as I should which is why I still have 30/40 ish lbs to lose. On average when I was at my best I was doing about 4 days per week 2-3 were running for about 30-40 minutes including wamup and cool down and the other day was like zumba which was an hr and I will tell you, Zumba class will burn some calories off you its a great workout to try. I have slowed down becasue I was driving my self nuts with the weighing etc. I have not wieghed in 3 months because of that. I have doc appt soon and its causiing me a little anxiety but my clothes fit. I was a 20/22 now im a 10/12 and down to a Med in shirts. My goal is size 8 on bottom and stay in Med shirts. I do agree to for the most part with the other posts that its a process and it takes time and you should ask your doc. BUT to be honest the doc or the nurses arent just sitting there with a hotline for us to call. When I used to call I got quick answers b/c they are very very busy. Wouldnt get a lot of time til I came in for an appt. Also They tell you in general from dealing with other patients, not from experience. I do like this site to some degree b/c its from people who have been through it. Most of the stuff that really helped me came from actual banded people not my nutritionist, doc etc. My advice to you with this site: EAT THE meat AND SPIT OUT THE BONES if that makes since. My doc who did surgery didnt really care for these sites in general which is why he told me to be careful and take it with a grain of salt, b/c people can be misundersttod or a little rough when they misinterpret. Try not to take the posts and comments of others to heart and remeber they dont know you. That the draw back to online blogging etc, sometimes there is misunderstanding on both sides. Anyway have a good evening

Hey all. So i need some advice. Ive been at my current job for 2 months and 10 days. still on probation technically. the reason why im so confused and dont know what to do is because this is my first real job, before this i had been working temp. I dont know how to go about telling my employer i need time off. am i supposed to tell my supervisor, my manager or?? and what exactly should i have as far as paperwork when i tell them? what do i tell them? can they let me go? can i file for disability for the time ill need off? can i get disability if i get let go? i have no idea how to go about this. my surgery is May 10th so its literally 4 weeks from today on thursday. thanks everyone!