January 2011 sleevers -- how are things going?!?!?

I was sleeved 1/24/11, and have lost 45 pounds (actually 45.5) every half a pound counts !!! since surgery, 34 before surgery, for a total of 79.5 pounds !!!

Started at a 26/28 womans size, and a 3x to 4x top. Now wearing 18w jeans that are too big and 1x tops. Just bought a couple size misses 16 skirts !!! I haven't fit into a misses size in 30 years.

Best thing yet is going from a BMI of 53 at first consult, to a BMI of 39 now !!!!

Much much much less knee pain from arthritis, although still have it, of course... and for the first time in 3 years, walking without a cane 90% of the time.

I don't do much exercise, because of the arthritis, but go to curves 2x to 3x a week, and do the upper body workout.

I love love love my sleeve !

Surgery on 1/13/11--down 45 lbs and more than halfway to goal.  I had an easy recovery but struggle to get in the water, most days I get in about 50 oz.  I was never a big water drinker and that hasn't changed since surgery.   I am low-carbing and hoping to be at goal by Labor Day or before.  I am shopping in my closet and wearing clothes I haven't fit in years--fortunately I never bought "faddish" clothes so the jeans and tops look fine today.   I'm getting a new wardrobe when I hit goal.

Hey January amigos!

I was sleeved on 1/4/11, down 57.7 lbs and last week I had a 3 lb. loss, which is more than I've had since week 2 or 3!  Had a terrible complication while still in the hospital.  I had a leak, which my surgeon caught immediately and took me right back to the OR.  I was ICU several days, then moved to a regular room and was there for several more.  Total of 8 days in the hospital. 

I hope weight loss isn't going to slow down for me in the next months or two, because I'm already not a fast loser.  Lost 24 lbs the first 10 days of surgery, probably due to lots of water, and have lost the remaining 33 lbs in the last 4 months.  If things slow down anymore, I'll be at goal in about 3 years, lol!

Was nauseated in the beginning and couldn't tolerate water or protein shakes.  As soon as I came off the shakes, life looked up.  I was able to eat small portions of healthy foods and not feel sick, but it did take a few months for me to be able to tolerate water.  Drank a lot of Crystal Light.  Still drink a lot of tea, and I have developed a sugar free gum habit that I find tolerable when to need to chew gets overwhelming.

I have completely changed my diet to healthy, unprocessed foods.  The only time I ever taste anything not on program is if my DD is eating something like a piece of cheesecake, and gives me a tiny bite from her fork.  I like that I still think it tastes divine - I would hate to be at war with the taste of food, I just have no desire to indulge.  I am delighted that I rarely get hungry, but still LIKE food and its taste, and I have wonderful restriction, which I hope lasts forever.

I love my sleeve and don't care how long it takes to get to goal.  I'm sure not going anywhere.

Thanks Ann for starting this thread! It’s great to see how everyone is doing.

I’m 4 months out on Saturday and I am down about 65 lbs since surgery. I had lost 22 lbs prior to surgery, but my favorite news is that I’ve now lost 107 since my highest weight ever! My weight loss was steady for the first 3 months (17 lbs each month) and slowed a bit this month. But, I seem to have gotten my groove back at the gym and with not eating too many carbs. I still have to work on my eating every single day. Right now my focus is on the emotional/compulsive eating issues that I have and how I can make positive changes in these areas.

When I started the surgery process last September, I was wearing size 28 jeans and a 22/24 top. Today I’m rockin’ size 18/20/22 jeans (depends on the cut) and size 14 or missy XL tops. I love the fact that I can go to Gap, The Limited, and other stores and actually buy their clothes! Closet maintenance is a constant work in progress.

Physically I feel amazing. I went up to the Gunflint Trail in Northern MN last weekend and hiked 5 miles on Friday, then spent 4 hours planting trees on Saturday. It felt great to be able to do so much outside. Pre-sleeve, I would have still done this, but man I would have been exhausted and achy! 

Congratulations to ALL of us January 2011 sleevers!!  Yea!

My food choices are not perfect all the time, but most of the time I do pick good foods.  Before surgery, I think I must have eaten more in a day than I do in two weeks now.

I've been exercising regularly for at least two months now.  Sometimes treadmill weights, and I started doing Zumba classes last week.  I think I can feel some muscles under my fat!!  I also have WAY more energy.

This summer I have plans to do things that I haven't done in forever (and one thing that I've never done.)  Amusement parks, water parks, whitewater rafting and ziplining (that's the one I haven't done before.  I'm ready to live life!!

I was sleeved on 1/31/11. I am sooo happy!! I might be a slow loser,but really feeling great!! I just had my post op visit yesterday and dr. said i could be his poster child for wls!! i have lost 54 lbs-12 pre-op,my bmi was 50 now 38,and i have lost a total of 35 inches.my cholestrol is lower than my dr.'s!!i was 24 now an 18(little tight,but what the hell!!!) I just picked up my daughter from college and she hasn't seen me since before surgery and was amazed at how different i look!! i do work out 5 days a week and love it!! i am loving life!!Happy to see everyone has been doing so well on their own journey!!

 Hello Everyone,
My name is Stephanie and I am from Cali. I had my surgery on New Years Day. It has been a life changing thing. I began the prep classes in August . At the time i weighed 264 ( and 5ft 6). I knew I was big and had tried every diet. So I was scared and excited.

It is now 5 months later and I am down 84 pounds. I went from a size 26 to a size 12. I broke down in tears today when I tried on size 12 jeans and they fit.

The surgery has been easy and I never got sick. I got the reflux once but it passed. I am sick of the protein shakes but found the Pure Protein the best. My new favorite store has become the Vitamin Shoppe. I get in about 75-100 grams of protein a day. The only negative is I really am losing a lot of hair. I had the thickest hair. Places charged me double N I had enough for two heads of hair. So now I brush out so much hair . I take Biotin and all the other meds. All the vitamins too. 

I used to be a huge water drinker but for some reason I am not anymore. So I push myself on that. I still don't exercise regularly because after work I am drained. But if that is the worst of it, it was so worth it.  Funny I now crave Veggies over Chocolate.

Never was able to give up Caffeine. Gave up Starbucks but live off of a 5 hour energy (sugarfree) each day. This has been great and at times it stalls on the weight loss. But then one day it drops again. So all out there frustrated, just be patient. It really has changed my life.

Man, everyone is doing so great! It's awesome to hear soooo many success stories. It's just so crazy to me how a few short months ago everything was so different. I felt so bad about myself and was so tired and lazy. I feel so much better now. I love doing fun things. I LOVE shopping now. My husband isn't crazy about this new hobby but oh well! lol I'm in a 14 bottom and M or L top.

I'm pleased with my loss to date and just hope that it continues. I do pretty good with my diet and exercise as well as vitamins but protein and water is another story...

Good luck with continued success!