Andrea D.

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11 years! Still think it was the best decision of my life!

But hate to say that I didn't stick to the rules. Working out kept me in check but been a slacker for the last two years and my body shows it.  I still where the same size clothing, size 16, but doesnt fit as nice. Definitely put some belly fat back on. My own fault. 

I am Anemic but was before surgery. Ive had two iron infusions. But everything else has been fine.

It's still hard work to lose weight and keep it off but way easier than before. I hate to imagine what I'd look like if I never had surgery. So my focus now is to get back in shape. The numbers really don't matter. I just want to feel strong and good about myself again.

I am approaching my 3 year anniversary!
I have been away from this site for way too long. I was helped so much by everone's story when I was pre-op and newbie so I think I owe it to all the newbie to post updates.

I am not a role model. I eat what I want just smaller portions. I do exercise but havent been lately but that is going to change this month. I want to get back on track as far as being healthy. My youngest son is big for his age...chubby. I really need to do a better job at preventing the life long stuggle I had/have. My older two were always thin so I always let them eat what they want but I cant do with my baby. I go back and forth with junk and healthy snacks. I need to go back to cutting out certain things. I have been consistent with different lower fat options in my cooking but I need to follow suite with the rest.

Im still a 16-16w and xl tops. I am happy with that but hate the muffin top. My goal for the next two years, by the time I turn 40, is to lose 10-20 lbs and get a tummy tuck!

A little FYI....For those worried about eating cake at your kids birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinner, celebrations with family and friends, like I was. YOU CAN! You just cant eat alot! and isnt that what you wanted?!  At Thankgsgiving, I put a scoop of everythign on my plate. I cant eat it all but I enjoy eating a couple bites of each thing.

By the way, I am around 225 lbs. and 5'8" still obese. im ok with that. I knew I would never be a skinny minny. Would have liked to experienced it a bit but I knew being below 180 would be way too skinny for ME! I still would like to be under 200, 197 to be exact but if I never reach that, its still ok. I am already an improved healtheir me!!!!

PS I will post updated picture tonight.

WOW! Its been a long time since I made an update. I havent even been on the site for a very long time to check how everyone is doing. I guess I have been avoiding. : (

I was doing fine. Still not losing but not gaining. But I had a very stressful 6 months at the end of 2009. My relationship with my husband and finances. I baked way too much at christmas and chowed down. Needless to say I gained 20 lbs!!!!!! ugh!!!! I hate it!! I blame it on eating junk and not exercising at all!!! I can eat more at a time but still only a small amount so my sleeve is still working but Im not using it like I should.  Boo on me!

I am going to the Y again at least 3 days a week ,  Im watching what I eat and tryng not to eat past 8pm so I hope to lose this 20 lbs. before 2010 is out. My goal is still 197. Im not going to kill myself to get there but Im sure one day I will reach that goal. I still can wear an XL top and Im wearing 16-16w pants. So not too bad but I dont want to go higher. I refuse to allow myself to gain more weight. I will be very happy to be X-XL and a 12-14.
I really would like a tummy tuck and have my inner thighs and arms done then I wouldn't need to lose weight just exercise to stay in shape and toned. I have to start the fund to make that possible!!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and did a better job than me with maintaining!

Food will still be a life long struggle for me but now its easier! 

Good luck to those still in the process of making their decision, which is the hardest part of it all!!!

Time does fly!
VSG has been the best thing I have done for myself and have no regrets!
BUT...
I do feel a bit of a failure. I have stopped losing 6 months ago! My own fault of course. My portions are controlled now but I still like to eat. I go back and forth with eating healthy and not so healthy. I still do protein first and pick higher protein items but I still like to snack. Head hunger is still an issue for me. I still like food and eat becaseu its there. I guess in my head I felt its ok since I cant eat much. and it hasnt been too bad since I havent gained but I havent lost anymore and that does depress me.
I do exercise alot and strenuous so maybe that is why I havent gained either.
In January I started "dieting" . tracked food on fitday.com again exercised 6 days a week and was really strict and I lost nothing!! even gained a pound that first week. So I felt why am I breaking my ass like this to get no results. I mean this is one reason I got the surgery so I dont have to do this to myself anymore. needless to say I got back off track becasue it was so frustrating.
I have been fighting this for months. I need to get back on track. I guess how you eat the first couple months out is the way you are suppose to eat the rest of your life...duh!  lol

Eating poorly your whole life doesnt change in a year for me and Im sure for most. I wish I have been stronger!
so with that all being said the advice I give to all you newly sleeved and about to be sleeved stick to the program! Remember its only a tool!!

One thing to add. I had a body compostione done at the Y. I havae 23% body fat. On average, female athletes have a body fat score of 12-22% so I was like wow! I was told my body fat score is "Ideal" and no weight loss was reccomended.  so how confusing is that. Im over 200 lbs and considered to have ideal weight!  Here I think I need to lose like 40 lbs to be considered "normal" weight according to BMI. I did read on about BMI and BMR (ithink that is what it is) so really BMI is not that accurate since its only going by height and weight. It doesnt consider your build. I have always been on the muscle side.
So having 23% body fat does make me feel better.  but it is still hard to see everyone still losing  but again I know it is my own fault.

I went from 285 lbs wearing a 3x and size 22-24 pants to now 214 on a good day wearing  L-XL top and size 14 pants.  I am happy with that but I really like to be under 200. 197 to be just overweight so that is still my goal to be 197 and that will be ok if 175 never comes.
I have an umbilical hernia that needs to be repaired and I am hoping to have a tummy tuck at the same time to get rid of the muffin top. I go for my first labs since surgery next month (no insurance until now) so I look forward to seeing those results.

Good luck to everyone!

I am 5 1/2 months out.  I wanted to wait until I was 6 months to write something but I just wanted to post now that I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!!
I cant believe I lost 70 lbs already! I never lost that much. I am 215 lbs now. I have not weighed that much since the summer of 1993! I remember becasue that is when I met my daughters father and weight rocketed after her birth in October of 1994. I will see her father this fall...wont he be surprised!!!!

I remember this time last year I was looking at the before and after pictures thinking OMG! I want to be like them. I want to lose 100+ lbs! at that time I wanted it so bad  but didnt really know if it would happen. A year later and I am one of those people I lost 70 lbs in 5 1/2 months!!! WOW!

My goal for 6 months is to be at 75lbs lost. I think it can be done. The next goal would be to be under 200 lbs by Thanksgiving and at goal by Christmas. That will be exactly 10 months from surgery!

I am so excited to ditch all my fall/winter clothes that are 3X and get a whole new wardrobe. and I will see my family up north that I havent seen since april when I lost only 30 lbs. Its going to be crazy!!  Cant wait!

This update is long over due!
I am feeling great! Im down 53 lbs! Im still amazed how little I can eat and feel full and how the weight keeps coming off! I dont really feel hungry but I do get head hunger or I just want to snack out of boredom or habit. I try to keep it healthy or high protein.
I have to admit I do eat anything I want. I havent been measuring or keeping a journal.( I dont recommend this, follow your rules!) I try to make good choices and  I dont really eat pasta, bread or rice. They are too filling and I know I will feel horrible if I eat too much.
I eat what I want becasue I dont want to feel like I am on a "diet" I rather tell myself I can have what I want and make the choice not to have it. I do alot better like that. I just love that I can not eat alot anymore. this is exactly how I wanted it to be. I am so happy that I had this surgery! I am so happy that I dont have anything to wear because everything is TOO BIG! I move to the next size down then a couple weeks later its too big...LOVE IT!!!!!  I will have to break down and buy some new clothes soon. Ive been wearing some clothes I saved 20's, now 18's. I have no 16's.

I went to the beach and  for the first time in a long time I felt ok in a bathing suit. I didnt feel self concious and I had a really good time with my family.

People are starting to ask me how much I lost. They can really tell now.
Im almost to my first goal to be 225 lbs. 7 more lbs. I cant beleive it!!!!

I feel that i am on track. I expected to lose 50-60 lbs in 3 months and I did. The hair loss is right on track also. It seems to be really coming out now. Its a bit alarming but I did go through this after each my babies and each time I lost a large amount of weight so I know it does grow back. I jsut hope I dont lose more hair than in the past.

I dont even feel like I had surgery. I do everything I did Pre-op except eat large amounts of food. This is the best thing I could have ever done for myself!
I see my friends fight the battle of the bulge. I wish them the best to keep fighting but to also know when to ask for help. I was tired of the fight ! I got the VSG and now I am winning!!!!!

I feel back to normal.  Energy is good but I cant stay up late like I used to. Im back in my bed and it felt really good. I woke up on my stomach a couple times but it was fine.
I started back at the Y. I started on the treadmill and I did 15 minutes on the eliptical. all together I did 3 miles. I try to go every other day. I still have to get on a routine with the exercise.
Im on full liquids.  In the course of the day I will have 2 slim fast shakes and a new whey protein liquid with 42 grams of protein.with just those 3 I get in about80 grams of protein and 600-700 calories. I drink low calorie gatorade, water and protein water in between. I may even have a glass of fat free milk in the evening. Sometimes I will have a strained cream soup instead of one of the slim fast shakes.

I am not hungry but since i cook for my family and feed little ones its very hard to not even have a taste sometimes it smells and looks soo good!!! 1 more week of liquids then I can have soft foods!!

It doesnt take as long to drink anymore. I urinate fine and  I have no worry of dehydration anymore. 

tips: 
1)slim fast chocolate high protein powder mixed with fat free milk is     yummy! 

2)  a 2oz. little cup marked with 1 oz. and 2 oz. (tupperware midget) helped me take no more than 1 oz gulps and helped me not have more than 3-4 ounces in 10 minutes. 

2 more lbs. down!  18 lbs total!

Still feeling great just moving at a slow speed.
Its hard to get in 64 ounces. I was lucky to get 15 oz. at first but everyday I did better. I didnt worry about protein just the fluids and took the meds Dr. a gave at discharge.
I've been sleeping on the recliner in the living room. I felt it to be more comfortable then trying to get comfortable in a flat bed.

Lost 10 lbs on the 1 week Pre-op liquid diet.
down 6 more 1 week post-op
16 lbs total so far!!!!!

OH Member Lynden Reeves has a detailed blog about her surgery day and I have to say my day was the same. Check out her blog!

DR. A is like everyone has said. When I met him it was like I have known him forever. I guess I felt that way because of reading his site and reading all about him on this board. Its all the truth, he is a great surgeon!

It was a little weird going into the OR. I am used being knocked out before they start prepping me. So that was a little nerve racking but I was fine. They put the mask on my face then I woke up in my room.
My chest hurt a little but I knew from a previous surgery that I needed to take deep breathes. I also had like a big gas bubble feeling right below my sternum. In 24 hours both were gone. I really had no pain and no nausea. I tried to sleep some but got up as much as possible and move my legs. 
The next day I was walking the halls.
Oh I have to mention. Dr. A also fixed my umbilical hernia labrascopically and the only reason I know he did it is by there is no longer a big bulg in my belly button area.And the reason I say that is because I did not have any pain what so ever!!!!!!! He did a great job!

My day started at 3am. The flight was good. I got the shuttle from the airport to La Quinta hotel to meet Rosy and the other patient having surgery the same day. Her name is Neryl and she is traveling from the UK. We were already introduced by Susan via email which was great. I totally reccomment this if you are traveling alone. It just feels more conforting that you are meeting somone there even if they are a stranger becasue I felt I was meeting up with one of my best friends. Rosy picked us up for our 2 1/2 ride to Eagle pass, TX. It wasnt a bad ride and it was nice chatting with Rosy and Neryl. We arrived in Eagle Pass around 2:30 in the afternoon. Rosy checked us in and left. Neryl and I decided to travel into Mexico for our "last" dinner. There is a shuttle from Mereno (I think that is the name) Restaurant and they will pick you up take you across the border and bring you back after dinner. The restaurant was very nice and totally unexpected considering the area it was in. (the hospital was in a different area-nicer) After dinner we went across the street to a little market to get some souveniers. I have never been out of the US so it was weird not to be able to read signs etc. The people were nice. I got a little freaked after a while because I was having thoughts about not being in my country and what if something happened etc etc. Neryl was fine she is a world traveler! But everything was fine and we got the shuttle back to TX after our shopping. We went to our own rooms and called it a night. Hopefully get some rest before our BIG DAY!
Well after a couple hours resting and watching tv I started having thoughts about the surgery. Lst's just say a total emotional melt down!!! I was a mess. "what am I doing here!? Why am I doing this!?" I called my husband crying and told him I dont think Im ging to go through with it. He said, after all my late nights of research and all how can I stop now. I've come too far"  I calmed down to talk with my kids. My daughter is 13 so she started getting upset because I was so I had to get all brave and tell her everything is ok that I was just really tired from the day of traveling, I am fine. I hung up with the family and decided i will see how I feel in the morning. I can always cancel the surgery if I want to.  Boy did I ever need a computer! I really needed to talk to the folks at OH! I know they would give me good advice. Well I felt better and started to go over all the paperwork I received from Susan. I thought I can do this!  and went to sleep. I had a good nights sleep. I really liked the hotel and I dont like sleeping at hotels so that says alot. I woke up with no doubts. I took my shower got dressed packed up and off I went to get my sleeve!