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I had surgery on 1-21-2013! First day I couldn't even finish one bottle of Water. But I remember people saying it gets easier everyday. And it's true everyday it gets easier . Ate 2 oz of Greek yogurt no problem and had some water too. And to top it off I am down 19 lbs since my 7 day preop diet. Everyday when I weight myself I say to my self "I will never weight this much again" Couldn't be happier! Even cooked my family 3 meals! Pork tenderloin, coffee crumb cake and turkey meet balls for lunch!!!

I am 4 months out from the surgery and went back to my therapist for some anxiety/depression issues. She prescribed Zoloft and said to start out with half a pill and work up to the whole pill. Well, its been awhile since Ive had to take these kinds of meds (10 years) and they just seem soo strong. I dont know if it seems stronger because im eating less or what. These pills make me not want to eat and make it hard sometimes to swallow. I dont want to stop because I really need some help with emotional stuff but Im not eating, I dont mind I dont feel hungry at all, but I dont want my weight loss to stall because Im starving either. When I do end up eating I rush because I finally feel hungry and I either get stuck or feel nauseated. Any suggestions? Anyone else have something like this happen to them?

Ingredients: 1 (9 inch prepared) Graham cracker crust 1 (.25 oz. ) package unflavored Gelatin 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp. Salt 1(14 oz. ) can, sweetened condensed milk. *Preferably la lechera brand * 2 eggs,beaten 1 (15 oz.) Can pumpkin puree Directions: 1. In heavy saucepan combine gelatin, pumpkin pie spice & salt. Stir in condensed milk & beaten eggs,mixing well. Let stand one minute, then place on burner on low heat, stirring consistently for about 10 minutes or gelatin dissolves and mixture thickens. Remove from heat. 2. Stir in pumpkin, mixing thoroughly, and pour mixture in crust, chill for at least 3 hrs before serving.

So... I've been lurking on this website for atleast an hour a day for the past three weeks. Now that things are getting rough and my life is changing I think it's finally time to come out of the dark and introduce myself so I can get the support and encouragment that made me fall in love with this site. I'm 19 and a sophmore at The University of Maryland, College Park. I'm 5'6" and 303 lbs. yuck. I've struggled with my weight ever since I can remember and have always been the biggest out of all of my friends. I've excused it for the past 5 years because I've been an athlete (Soccer, track, and rugby, and weight lifting) however, In february I broke my lovely athletic foot and gained 40 pounds!! This has really tipped me over the edge. As far as where I am on my journey, I have my first apt. with my surgeon on wednesday of next week!! However, the main inspiration for this post is the fact that my mom is in this journey with me and has her own list of things I need to do before she gives me the go ahead and quite honestly. I have been screwing up big time! I think the fact that I am such a "dont wash a car before you take it to the car wash" type of girl, now that I know this surgery is in my future its like I'm eating worse than ever :juggle: and my mom is no joke. she WILL not let me get the surgery if I dont prove to her I can do this. I told myself I wouldn't post until I had my surgery date but... I think GETTING to surgery is the half of it! and if I want to make this real to me. real to my mom. MY REALITY I've got to start seeking support and doing this. I have no boyfriend, hubby, life partner, not even a booty call (or a worthy one i should say) : I WANT THAT I dont have that college girl swagger : I WANT THAT I dont have kids : I WANT THAT I... want to start making memories, i want to live like I've never lived, I want....to be healthy: I WANT THIS so ... thats it. thats all I got, I'm just here to meet some people at the same point I am on this journey, to get some encouragment from people ahead of me, and to learn about what my new life WILL be like. GET AT ME

Hello, I would like us to get to know each other, so here's my story... I am 47 yrs old, Married to my wonderful husband Richard for 27 yrs now. I have two awesome sons, Jason 26 and Josh 23. My son Joshua was married last July and they are about to have his first child. The decision to have this surgery was not an easy one for me. I have diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, acid reflux, sleep apnea and side effects from the diabetes. I have seen people get diabetes complications and have their toes, feet, legs removed. Blindness is also a real possibility. I have nerve damage starting in my feet, and sighs of damage in my eyes. I want to be able to play with my grandchild and enjoy my life as I get older. So...... this is why I made the decision to have the surgery. I was on 3 different meds for my diabetes, including insulin. My surgery was 8 days ago and I am off all the diabetic meds, sleep apnea is gone, blood pressure is better. For now I still take the blood pressure med and the med for cholesterol, but am told I will be off them soon. Each day I feel better and better. I have lost 22 pounds since I saw my surgeon in May. 11 since my surgery on 6/19. I am very pleased with the improvment of my health and am told it will get better in the coming months. I would really like to hear from you. Thanks for reading my story. RanayB

So I am one step closer! I was there FOREVER but I think they checked every part of me. I go in 10/2 and my surgery is at 2:15 pm. I hope I don't have to spend the night but with the surgery so late they said it was a possibility.

Thank you for answering my post about depression. So sorry you have to go through this too. It is horrible. I have my good days and bad days I do take wellbutrim and t does take the edge off. I am lke you without my faith that there is a living God who loves and cares about me that I can talk to everyday I would not get out of bed. I have had my Band 2+ years and the Band helped with the weight but not the depression. The weight is not the cause of the depression but a side affect of the depression. But my husband and I agreed the depression is not something I can cure myself but the depression and the weght were too much for me. I was 251 and am now 169 a tight size 18 to a loose size 10, so that does make me feel better. I am still believeing God will not make me live the rest of my life living like this. I am waiting for healing, I know He can and I want it. So you are thinking about the Band? It Is a good thing. I might would have done the Bypass but I was self pay and could not afford it. But now I am glad I went with the Band. With the Bypass I could have lost even more weight but too many risks. I have really had no problems with the band, too tight twice but no biggie they just take some out and I do throw up but always have and no slip or problem. I have been married for 31 years to a wonderful supportive man and have a great son and a wonderful daughter-in-law and the most beautiful grandbabies Olivia 5 and Isabella 2 both blond hair and blue eye and both left handed like my son. They all are the joy I have in this world. I fear my depression will ruin their lives too. I spend a lot of time faking happiness as to not ruin their time. But it is hard sometimes. But I would never want to cause my grandbabies any unhappiness or set a bad example. The oldest one Olivia does know that grandma does get sad sometimes but that it is okay. She is more concerned about my Band, she tells everyone, people in the store, or when we are out to eat everyone, does not bother me. She thinks she can feel the band because she can feel the port really easy. (it is by bra line). She always ask me if I am going to eat something “Is that healthly grandma”. She is so funny. So you see I have a wonderful family my husband and I made, but really no relationship with my family. They are all into drugs and drinking which I do not do. My daddy died when I was 10 and my brother who also suffered from depression overdose last Christmas on prescription drugs, his and someone elses. It was a terrible death he would have never wanted people to see him like that in a coma on life support for 2 days it was terrible but he was one of the saddest people I have ever known but would not accept help. I have been throught 3 years of counseling and learned a lot of coping skills and that I have probably been depressed my whole life but was too busy being a mom to care about myself and kept it all inside. When my son married I kinda lost my identity and it opened the door for the depression to surface. I am gonna stop writing now as I have written a book, more than you wanted to know I am sure. So sorry it took me a few days to answer you but like I said I have my good days and bad days. Cheri

Oh honey, I feel for you. Remember, every body is different. If you lose slower your skin won't shrink as much and it will be easier to keep it off. You are learning a new lifestyle, being healthy, and doing well with your sleeve. Congrats to you for doing a great job! Your time to be in a size 10 or 8 will come, and you will be the one getting all the praise because your achievement is so much greater. Best wishes to you. We witches have to stick together

10 years last month!! It has been on my mind so much lately that I can't focus on much of anything else. I am now 54, and I must say that I do have more energy with the lost weight. Years of my doc telling me to lose weight really didn't sink in, one day he casually said "You know that one of the side effects of obesity is cancer?". That was all I needed to start seriously looking at WLS. It's been 3 years and I only wish I had done it earlier. Right now I am not following the rules and paying the price. Scale is going in the wrong direction, I am one who really doesn't have true restriction so I have to stay on top of things. I don't get hungry so my problem is usually due to liquid overflow (coffee creamer). I wasn't hungry befor surgery, I was a mindless eater and now a mindless drinker. I was listing surgeries the other day and was shocked by how many I've had. The breast reconstruction was 12 hours and I am so glad it was an option. No I'm not even, and the scars are unreal; I even managed to burn my fake nipple off with a heating pad. Oh well. I am reasonably healthy, very much happier and I dang sure look better

First time and hoping the last time for me! I got a fill a week ago, that is finally giving me some restriction. I can feel that when I eat certain foods, they do not go down as smoothly as before, so I have been extremely conscious of making sure to eat small bites and chewing well. Well, today I was in a rush and took a piece of roast beef for lunch with some veggies. I just took a bite and the doorbell rang. I got up to answer the door, and I swallowed way too fast, and it was not pretty! I had those horrible pains in my chest and back, a little sliming, and then finally after 10 minutes, I threw up a little bit, and it was over. I kept taking deep breaths and walking around until it was over. Whew!! It was awful! I've consisntently read about these episodes, and never truly understand the feeling until now! The one good thing out of all of this, was that it was the UPS man at the door bringing me a package that contained some new clothes that are 3 sizes smaller than what I have worn! So at least I got to smile a bit after it was all over!

Shaydee, you are doing really well. Just try and stay focused on your goal. Set mini goals for yourself. Say 10 lbs at a time or something like that. Stay on these boards as much as possible. You will get support here. Good luck.

Just weighed and I still cannot get over seeing the scale go continually DOWN! I keep checking just waiting for it to go up. It is just so counter to what I have experienced for the past 25 years and makes me a little teary eyed. Okay, so maybe I am a little emotional and potentially hormonal. Stats: Weight : 4/3/13 268.0 Surgery 4/7/13 253.2 -14.8 4/8/13 251.0 -17.0 4/10/13 249.4 -18.6 4/12/13 247.9 - 20.1 4/15/13 245.5 - 22.5 Heading out for a 2-3 mile walk.

thanks 10 miles a weeks is awesome how many calories are you eating? If you're exercising a lot maybe you need to up your calories. Message me

Wow! Soocalchic..you have done amazing!! Im a lil over 9 months out and stalled big time!! Im plateau right now at 237..Im doing zumba classes and trying to have a goal of walking 10 miles a week! I do have some health issues still...hypothyroidism and..type 2 diabetes..(off two meds;now only one med YAY) I would love to hear what worked for you so far....thanks a bunch.. I eat every 5 hours...

I was banded 10 days ago. Immediately following surgery, my port incision was a little puckered. Now it is actually bulging out and I can feel the port quite clearly under the skin. Has anyone else experienced this? Just want to get some more information before I call my doctor.

Wow! you're back already. I was sleeved on 4/10 and have my 1 week follow up visit tomorrow. also transitioning to soft foods. Can't wait to have something with texture - refried beans never sounded so good!

I am starting to get depressed..I was banded on 10-22 and Ive only lost 25 Lbs..does anyone ha e any tips for quicker weight loss? Everyone that Ive seen banded close to the same date as me have lost alot more. HELP !

I am scheduled with Dr. Kuri for 10/16/09. I can let you know how it goes.

I can't tell you how many times I have read on the forum not to expect too much if you are over 50!! That is just nutty. My mantra is "Who's Universe is this?" IF I buy into someone else's Belief System [bS], then THAT is what I am stuck with. Hey--I was stuck in a rut before my WLS. Dr. Aceves told me before surgery in a 45 minute consulation about what to expect with the RESULTS from this surgery that HE would deliver 50% to me -- but the other 50% was up to ME. 10 words 20 letters IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME No one is going to do this for you. NOW is the time to get into relationship with your body in a way that you never have done before. Learn how to be a Body Listener--not a Body Big Mouth. What do I mean? I was told to TEST one food at a time. NOW just because suzy-q on the Forum can eat something post-op, does not mean that I can eat the same thing. So testing means I try to eat something--and if--my body says NO...then it is a NO. Don't try to override in your HEAD what your BODY is communicating to you.I read about the number of people who are NOT losing, who have gained __# of pounds and are shocked, or they are throwing up all of the time. To those people I would say to use a little SALT: Stop-Action ... Listen-Think. IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME Stop what HURTS, stop what makes you throw up, stop trying to be your old SELF, stop trying to be like someone else. Stop those Actions. LISTEN to your body. Obey your body. THINK about it. THINK about what is no longer working, TEST it for yourself, Test it again and again if you need proof, and then BELIEVE what your body is telling you. Are you using a food journal? IF so, this is a great place to post your discoveries. For example, here we are in the middle of the summer and there are lots of BBQ's going on. Body Big Mouth wanted a BBQ'd cheese burger with dill pickles. So I tested. I ate 2-3 bites and the food was so HEAVY that I did throw up, then I had to sleep for a couple of hours to feel better. But Body Big Mouth did not give up. I waited a week or two and I wanted what I wanted. Test it. SSDD Same Stuff Different Day I ate 2-3 bites and the meat was so HEAVY that I threw up, and then had to sleep for a couple of hours to feel better. Now Body Big Mouth still wanted what I wanted, waited a week or two and decided to test it again. I ate 2-3 bites, the meat was so heavy that my body hurt. SSDD Stop-Action ... Listen-Think IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME After three tests, notes in my journal, I realized that I was not being a Body Listener ... I was being a Body Big Mouth--I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it--I did not want the results that I was getting--my Ego was louder than my Body-Talk and I was not listening. So back to being a Body Listener. Back to doing what works for my body. I have lost 45 pounds in 90 days by realizing that Dr. Aceves gave me the vehicle for a new body. Now I have to retrain my MIND and my MOUTH to be in relationship with my new vehicle. I need to know when to throw on the BREAKS and Stop-Action...Listen-Think. I have to understand that this is a journey of Self determination and my surgeon gave me the support that I need. He did all he could do--he did his part. Now I have to do my part. IF IT IS TO BE -- IT IS UP TO ME Be a Body Listener. Will you please post your thoughts on how you have become a body listener for yourself? Here are my Before - After pictures [so far] on YouTubes

Hi! I am new to ALL of this. I had surgery 10 days ago and my sister had it Monday. I did great and she did great the first few days then ended up with a bleed. Wishing I didn't do it now. Any advice to get through the first month??

I'm trying not to get discouraged but tomorrow will be 2 weeks and I'm only down 10 pounds. I'm getting all my protein and water and have not cheated at all. I walk a mile everyday. Anyone else go through this? Any advice to get the scale moving? Thanks.

Yep. I'm 4 weeks out and have only lost 10 lbs . My first week home I dropped 10 lbs. the scale hasn't moved since.

I had a "surprise" hiatal hernia repair at the same time as my sleeve surgery. I never had any symptoms, so it was never diagnosed. My recovery was a little rougher. I had shortness of breath, chest pain with inspirations, left shoulder pain and some jaw pain. I felt like I'd swallowed a golf ball and it was lodged in my throat. It was scary because the symptoms mimicked cardiac symptoms. I had no cardiac history, but then again... I had no symptoms of the hiatal hernia to begin with. Well, I spoke to my Doc and he reassured me I wasn't having a heart attack. Everything I was feeling was due to the hernia repair. It took about 10 days before I started feeling better. My Dr. said hiatal hernias were not unusual and he does several repairs at the same time as the sleeve surgery every week. I'm feeling a whole lot better, in fact, I'm going back to work on Monday.