I was skeptical and afraid to have WLS. I had tried everything including Jenny Craig several times, the gym and 2 trainers, Nutrisystem, Medifast (Physician supervised), Quick Weight Loss Centers, Weight Watchers, You name it, I had done it. I actually lost 60 pounds and kept it off for about 2 years, but gained it all back plus about 10 more. After this, I decided I simply could not go through losing and re-gaining the weight again. I had never weighed over 200 lbs before kids. I am fairly tall, about 5'8", and medium framed, however, this weight was killing me, slowly. I was tired all the time. I woke up tired every day. Clothes shopping was depressing. I was a size 2x. 20/22. I was pushing a 3x. I had been to see several WLS doctors in the area before finding the doctor I eventually chose. I basically had to push myself off the diving board and into the water. The thing I think that did the trick for me was that my insurance would be changing in January and I was not guaranteed to have the WLS coverage under the new insurance, so I decided now or never. Two days after Christmas I had my surgery, and I think it was honestly the best thing I ever did for myself. The weight came off quickly. I lost about 90 pounds the first year, and have stabilized around 165 lbs. I do exercise regularly and I am now running 3 + miles several times a week and lifting weights. I can say that I am almost 4 years out and have not regained the weight. I am a size 12, and I think I would like to lose about another 10 pounds, but I do think that I would have to give up all of the "junk" foods that I "pick" on from time to time. (Not very often.) The thing about the last 10 pounds is that the closer you get to your goal weight, the harder it is to get there! But, I am proud of myself, and I can honestly say this has been one of the best journeys I've ever been on. I am now contemplating some plastic surgery (Tummy tuck, and perhaps BA.) I am not after the "Perfect body." But, I would like to not have the tummy sag, and the breast sag that simply go along with losing the weight, and my age. I am lucky in that I don't have a ton of saggy skin, and I did not wrinkle in my face much. But, I did not attempt to become "skinny." Only healthier and a reasonable weight that I could maintain. If you are on the fence, I will say this: If you choose the right surgeon, and do your homework, then the benefits definitely outweigh the risks, and you will look back and wonder what took you so long. I would have this surgery ten thousand times over, and I wish I had had it at least 5 years before I did. There are several doctors out there that I would not let touch me with a 10 foot pole, so if you want the best, then choose who I had, He's absolutely the safest and the best, hands down. (I do not know how much the procedure cost. They took my insurance, and I never got a bill. I believe I only paid the doctor $300.00) Updated on 4 May 2016: I got good news at my PS visit today. He said that my bb is healing properly, that he doesn't think it will scar over, and even if it does, it would probably still look OK. But, he said we can wait and make a decision on it once it heals. ( Of course. That makes sense.) Today's visit was much less chaotic. The office manager (whom is very sweet) came in herself to make sure all of my questions were addressed. Dr.S is my favorite doctor. I just think he is a big sweetheart. I think the last visit was crazy due to some clinic changes. It had nothing to do with me. It was just timing. Anyway, this visit was so much better, and they went out of their way to make me feel special. ( Dr. S can undoubtedly be very charming....but really, that is his job.) I am very happy that I went to see him again this week, he was just a doll. I am considering some other procedures, but it will be a little bit before I can have another procedure. I have do more thinking what I want to do. (I have to overanalyze my analysis and then re-analyze my overanalysis.) lol I hope my bb is healed by next month when I return. Also, he said I can start abdominal exercises now, so I am very excited about that too!! Updated on 19 Jun 2016: Hi to all of you fellow WLS patients: I haven't posted very much to my WLS review because I was busy healing from plastic surgery. It has been nearly 9 months since I last posted anything. I want to say what an amazing and exciting transformation this has been for me!! I am so happy that I decided to have WLS ! I cannot imagine still having to "drag" all of that extra weight around. (Even though I was curvy, and nobody thought of me as "obese" - At least that's what they said- I was definitely obese.) I can look back and think about days when I stepped on the scale, and no matter what I seemed to do or how hard I tried, the numbers just didn't go down. It was terribly depressing. I did not understand then that the extra fat produces hormones that disrupt your metabolism, and keep you fat. It is just nearly impossible for some of us to lose the weight and keep it off without having WLS surgery. Part of the puzzle for me is that I do believe (No, I KNOW) that I have a slow metabolism, and I have had more than one doctor tell me that my thyroid is not functioning well; however, Dr. Marvin did not want to put me back on Synthroid, even though I took it before. My core temperature runs at about 96 F. (No kidding) One endocrinologist had me taking it every morning before I got out of bed, and I recorded in the 96 to 96.5 range every day. He said my thermometer was broken, or that I didn't know how to take it. (Oh, come on. I am a nurse. I know how to take my damn temperature.) So, I used my old mercury thermometer. Same temps. Perhaps some of you also have this problem ?? Anyway, it is very frustrating to be eating only 1400 to 1500 max calories per day, doing all of the running, lifting and cycling that I am doing, and have my weight hardly budge. (I am still the exact same size I was 4 years ago; although, I do believe more of it is muscle.) My hip measurement is pretty much the same, but I have bigger thigh and arm circumferences. This can make shopping somewhat more difficult for me. Especially pants. I have to buy them with the stretch in them. Or wear leggings. (Yes, I am part of the leggings are pants movement.) On a positive note, despite the slower metabolism, at least I haven't gained any of the weight back...I am so into my exercise now that I've had my tummy tuck!! It gave me that extra push. My figure just looks a lot better, and I am happier when I buy clothes, and they actually look pretty good. I just took my "after" photos for my tummy tuck last week. Despite the fact that I hated taking nearly naked pictures (lol), and my body is certainly not "perfect", my ps says that I look good. Well, I know it's his job to make patients feel good about themselves, but I do hope that he meant it !! You know how many women he probably sees everyday, (Some of whom I'm sure look a lot better than I do.) But, when your ps tells YOU that you look good, you want to believe it...... So, back to the weight loss. I am certainly disappointed that I have not been able to lose more weight. (When I had my combo surgery in January, and was not exercising, I lost about 15 lbs. just like that. Just sitting in my recliner and walking around the block.) I do not understand this at all. Crazy. Now that I am back at exercising, I have gained back about 8 pounds. I am really dumbfounded. I can see that some of it is that I've gained muscle, but my pants do fit a bit tighter also, even though they are the same size as before. This is just upsetting; I just want to throw that scale away, and never weigh again. But, I know that this is something I cannot do. I have to try to figure out what is going on with me, and try to find the right formula between exercise and diet that produces weight loss. My trainer says eat fish, veggies, and some fruit. Drink lots of water. No or not much carbs. However, if you are going to cycle, then you have to eat carbs. You will simply run out of stored glycogen halfway through the ride. You have to eat foods with a higher glycemic index at certain intervals before you go, and during the ride. Even the night before. So, not eating carbs is not going to work for me all of the time. And I am not giving up cycling because I love it!!! So, there is this whole thing about my weight and the different types of exercise that I enjoy, and learning how to manage my diet to arrive at my goal weight. I am really struggling. I would like to be about 20 pounds lighter. (My BMI really is borderline, and I would have to lose at least 10 pounds to get off of the borderline side of the BMI chart.) My trainer says this is ridiculous, but I would really like to achieve my original goal. However, exercising and eating right are not just about my goal. It is now my lifestyle, and a change that I will remain committed to. So, this is where I am today. I am very happy about the progress I've made, but I never did hit my "goal" weight which was 150. I would probably look pretty thin at that weight, but then the less you weigh, the easier it is exercise!! Plus, it would just feel good to finally make my goal, even though I cannot say that I am not thrilled with my progress so far. If you are overweight/obese, and have co-morbid conditions like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and /or diabetes, then please consider having WLS for your health and honestly, for your sanity. Yo-yo dieting is bad for you, damages your metabolism, and will eventually drive you batty. Not to mention the damage that being heavy does to your self esteem. Please see a board certified bariatric surgeon with a lot of experience in the procedure that you need or want to have. If you live in or around the Houston area, then please go see Dr. Robert Marvin. He is simply wonderful, and you will be in great hands!! I am not going to post pics of myself due to anonymity, sorry. Besides, all of my "fat" pictures have since been destroyed and/or thrown out along with all of my "fat" clothes......... Updated on 20 Jul 2016: Hi ya'll, I posted last month, & I said I was stduggling; Unfortunately, I still am. I have cut out all sweets, bread, sugar, and almost all alcohol. (wine is all I like). I still have a bad day every once in a while where maybe I slip on one thing or another, but for the most part, I am sticking to my new eating plan. I have been out of town several weeks in a row recently, but I usually bring my own food along so I won't be tempted. I still don't see a huge difference in my weight, but it has not been long enough for me to see a difference. I am pretty hard on myself, but I am really hoping to see a change in the right direction. I did lose about 15 pounds with my tummy tuck 6 months ago, and gained 8 pounds back. So, if I can lose 10 lbs. , then I will be thrilled. I just want you to know that even at 4 years out, I am still working hard toward my goal. It is a personal goal, & not one other people even know about. I don't discuss my weight with any of my close friends simply because most of them are way heavier than I am, and that would be insensitive of me. That doesn't keep me from feeling like I could do better.... I am just going to try to accept where I am and continue with my plan. I am working out with my trainer in the morning, & I am looking forward to it!! If / when I reach my goal weight, I will post. Until then, wish me luck, as I seem to be STUCK!!!! I know posting about losing the last bit of weight might seem silly, but it isn't to me. I started this journey with a goal in mind, & I am still plugging along. I really want to get there.........If you are a WLS patient, then maybe you will understand..... I Updated on 23 Aug 2016: Hi Ya'll: It's been a month since I wrote in. I am still at the same weight, despite giving up the foods that I thought would help me lose weight. And I believe I am still the same size. I quit running altogether, substituting cycling 25 miles x2 each week, and then elliptical and weightlifting, and some core stuff, and whatever other crazy exercises my trainer makes me do. lol. I noticed about 3 weeks ago that some of my hair was falling out in the sink, and it got some thinner. Yikes. I wondered if it was the surgery I had 6 months ago, or if it is related to hormones (I have an estrogen patch, and rarely have any menopausal symptoms.) I feel pretty good in that respect. So, now I am focused on maybe adding more protein to my diet. I am at 50 to 60 g per day, which Dr. Marvin said was enough. I take the 2 multivitamins every day, plus 10,000 mcg of Biotin, Zinc, and I was taking Tumeric; however, I stopped, since it made me feel tired, and I read it can interfere with the absorption of iron. Something I probably do not need. (I wondered if that was making me tired.)? I need to have my bloodwork done and my visit with Dr. Marvin. (keep saying this) I have been really busy, and I just need to make time to go. I have no idea why I haven't lost any weight. It seems like cycling 50 miles a week would burn more calories than running 15. At least by the calculations I did based on my height and weight. But, Dr. Marvin told me that it can look that way on paper but not be that way in real life. Whatever. Talk about discouraging. However, I am still going to do the exercise, because I like it, it's fun, and I have to do it for well being, and at least weight maintenance. My knees are doing better since I quit running, but cycling does make them ache some. This is the problem with getting older.........lol Updated on 9 Sep 2016: Hi WLS Sisters, Since almost none of my friends know that I had WLS, I can't really talk to any of them about this.....so that leaves you.. I have been trying really hard to re-lose that last 10 lbs. that I lost with my tt surgery 6 Months ago; then re-gained it.... I have given up sweets, bread, most carbs, wine, & pretty much all other foods except protein & veggies....This was very hard for me.....Then I switched from running to cycling ...( I was doing both before, but I am finally up to being able to just replace running with cycling altogether.) I did this mostly due to knee pain. Then my hair started falling out some, so I added more vitamins, protein & EFA. I feel like that has stabilized now, but I am not losing any weight !!! Just in a holding pattern.... I am pretty aggravated.....I am cycling 50 miles per week..Sometimes more. I am up to 27 miles at 17 mph. My goal was 30miles. I am almost there....My trainer really knows nothing about cycling. He says he could only do about 4 miles & then he would probably pass out...lol My husband tries to encourage me to go ahead & ride with a group for more support & fun, but, honestly, I'm just not feeling it. I don't know why....My husband is not interested in road cycling, & he can't go as far as I can, so he is not going with me.... He is into a different type of biking... So, waah !!! I am a bit depressed, but I know that eventually I will snap out of this & make some progress...I was running more often than I am cycling, so this probably has affected my mood.... Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am still not really where I hoped to be by now & it stinks !!! I am just going to keep on hanging in there....Maybe something miraculous will happen !!!! :) my hair started falling out some....& Updated on 25 Sep 2016: Hi ya'll, Just wanted to update you that the mystery is solved....I saw my gyn last week for fatigue & my hair falling out. He ran a bunch of blood tests. The verdict is iron deficiency anemia. I really didn't think I was still anemic since no periods since December, but apparently I either never recovered from it after surgery, or the cause was not just heavy periods.... Now I have to start taking iron again, & return in 2 months for more tests....He talked about looking for other causes, & so I agreed and we have a game plan : Oh, joy. I knew something was up when I was exhausted every day by lunchtime, & my hair was falling out. It's not as bad since I started the hair vitamins, but, I still see some shedding. At least it's not my hormones !! lol. Despite the issues, I did reach my cycling goal of 30 miles about 2 weeks ago, then I went from cycling 25 miles x2 per week to cycling 20 miles x 3 per week. I think I will just stick to my 60 miles per week for now until maybe my iron level gets above 30 and my Hemoglobin gets above 10. I don't even know how I have managed to cycle this far with my anemia. I just know that I was anemic 3 years ago, & I still am; Although, these levels are the lowest by far. I am not going to spend a lot of time worrying about it, though. I know that even with supplementation, it could be a while before I get my energy back. I am still going to do my exercise. I am able to pretty much keep up with my work, it's just that I feel like I am dragging by noon, & I have to force my way through the afternoon ! I am doing ok under the circumstances. I will let you know what happens. I did make my appointment with Dr.Marvin, but I could not get in for a while, so that's why I scheduled to see my regular doctor (who is basically my GYN, since I really only use the urgent care for other stuff.) At least now I know. I don't think my wls had anything to do with the anemia since there is not supposed to be any malabsorption with the sleeve; however, I was not anemic before I had this procedure.....Hmmm... I will just have to wait & see if additional testing tells us anything more.... Updated on 27 Sep 2016: Hi Wls Realselfers: I recently posted that I have IDA and it was somewhat surprising to me that I still have this 8 months post total hysrefectory. I figure no bleeding = normal iron count. Not so. I have done more reading recently regarding this issue....Post vsg patients should stay on at least 18 mg of iron daily....This can be achieved by taking daily mvi containing iron. My mvi does not contain iron....I hate ingesting iron for many reasons....Mostly due to slowed GI motility & constipation issues.....I purposely bought mvi without iron for this reason....Big Mistake.... My wls doctor said VSG does not lead to malabsorption because there is no re-routing of the anatomy.....However, upon further reading, I just discovered that because the surface area of the stomach is decreased by at least half, if not more, of its original size, there is much less stomach acid to convert the iron from food into a state that can be absorbed...Thus, it is very important to continue iron supplementation after surgery.....Something I wish I had known before. My wls doctor told me that when my iron levels came up, that I could discontinue the iron supplement. This is obviously not working for me, as I have been up & down with low iron since my sleeve in 12/2012... He even told me that my heavy periods were likely the cause ...... Based on what I have read today, it is pretty standard to be iron deficient post VSG.... This might not seem like a big deal to you at the moment, but having IDA has definitely affected my quality of life...I am simply too tired to meet the daily demands of raising 2 kids and meeting my household demands without running out of energy midday. Not to mention keeping up with my exercise regimen. Bottom line: My advise to all sleeve gastrectomy patients is: Take at least 18 to 30 mg of iron daily. Do not wait to become iron deficient......The pure exhaustion of it all is not worth it...... I am now taking 60 mg of iron 2x daily until my energy levels pick up......Then I will decrease it to 30 mg daily.... Hopefully, I will feel better very soon. And I plan on discussing this issue in detail with my wls doctor at my next visit....which is pretty soon..... So, Good luck!! I hope you stay healthy & do not have to endure this issue..... Xoxo Txmom Updated on 13 Oct 2016: I am 4 years post VSG on 12/27/16 per Dr. Marvin in Houston. I ended up with so much going on that I rescheduled my 3 year appointment for my regular 4 year checkup date in December.--OK I am a year late. I'm sure he will fuss...(More things happened this year.......2016 has definitely been a challenge.....) The good news is that I am feeling so much better after 3 weeks on iron !! Not nearly as tired. Getting more done without getting as fatigued..... . Hired a cycling coach. He has me eating mostly protein, veggies, fruit & water... Carbs only on cycling days. Can't say that I never deviate from the eating plan, but I think I have lost a pound or two in the 2 weeks I have been on it. He has increased the frequency & intensity of my work outs, so I am glad for the increased energy levels... I cannot always do all of the exercise on my plan, but I do my best. He is ok with it, & I love having an experienced person to teach me...He is pretty cool & sort of a freak in a good way. Lol-' Plus he's a lot of fun to talk to while we're riding ..... That's a plus. I can't say that I feel 100% back to normal, but I do feel a lot better! So, since I doubled my 60mg to 120mg daily...I have probably recovered in half the time....Soon I will have to go by Dr. Marvin's office before my scheduled appointment to pick up some more iron pills.... I like the kind he sells because it is easier to digest & causes less constipation. I am sooo happy for finding out the problem with my energy level & hair loss. I am glad it was pretty much an easy diagnosis with a pretty easy fix. If you turn up iron deficient post VSG, just be sure to take your iron supplements & keep your appointments with your doctors who are following you. Good luck ! Txmom . Updated on 2 Nov 2016: Hi VSG friends, My 4 year VSG surgiversary is Dec. 27th - Second best Christmas present I ever got- The first being my daughter born at Christmastime. Although I am right around the same weight and size as I was at my 1 year surgiversary mark, I am more muscular & have vastly improved cardio endurance. I ran & lifted for 3 1/2 years. Now I am learning to road cycle & continue weight lifting. Cycling is somewhat easier on the knees. (but not the bottom)! It is somewhat a more difficult sport to learn, & takes a lot of patience, practice & commitment. But each time you do it, you get better!! Just be ready to be picked on and humiliated at every ride until you get it down. But don't let this discourage you; You get to go home and cry into your cereal.... It all just makes you stronger. I had a hysterectomy & tt 10 months ago. I feel great except my core strength is coming back slower than the rest.....Having this surgery greatly improved my life, as I am no longer planning my entire life around the pain of endometriosis & cramps. Also, having a flat stomach is the stuff dreams are made of......... And for the holiday advice : 3 words about the Halloween candy & treats: THROW IT AWAY.... I know that sweets are part of the fun of the holidays. The key is don't keep anything hanging around your house that you do not want to eat......Because you WILL eat it. Now that you've had some candy, get rid of the rest. If you can't stand to waste it, then put it in a nice tupperware, and give it to someone else. Maybe your doctor's office would like to have it. Also, beware of the holiday "feeders". You know : all of your overweight friends who think it would be nice to give you a plate of cookies, brownies or fudge, etc. for the holidays.....So they bring it by & you smile and say thank you. When they are gone, throw it in the garbage. Sounds ungrateful, and maybe it is, but IMO, real friends don't give sweets to previously overweight friends who are busting ass & dieting to stay in shape......Just sayin'. I've been throwing treats (and starchy foods) in the garbage for 4 years now, & I have been able to maintain my weight. You simply cannot afford to keep that stuff around. You gotta do what you gotta do... If you are heading to a party, eat a healthy snack before you go. And watch the alcohol. It really is nothing but empty calories & you can have fun without it.... The average weight gain during the holidays is 7 pounds. 10 pounds is usually a dress size. Don't give yourself bigger pants for Christmas....Keep on exercising, keep on watching your diet, and stay motivated..... And don't forget: Garbage day is your best friend !! Go VSGers!! Happy Holidays! Xoxo Txmom Updated on 30 Nov 2016: Hi Ya'll, So, I finally did make my follow up appointment with Dr. Marvin, and it is next week. I am so nervous about the weigh in that I actually think I might have to cancel. lol. I have not been as successful at losing the last few pounds that I wanted to lose, and I am sorely disappointed about that; however, I do know that I have more muscle than I did before, and that my body shape has surely changed due to the exercise I am doing. My thighs seem bigger as in more muscle, and my core is stronger. I am still the same size, but my jeans fit tighter in the thighs, and I don't know if I like that or not. I was not as strict as I wanted to be about the diet, but I did OK. The problem is that it does work for me when I stick to it, but when I have a crappy day, then I think, oh well, what the heck. Might as well eat that pizza. lol. I love pizza, and pizza loves me. Anyway, another problem is that bread makes you fat. So, unfortunately, pizza is the enemy, which is a darn shame since it tastes so good. OTOH, I really did well at Thanksgiving. I hardly ate anything. By the time I cooked it all, I was too tired to eat it, and I didn't even eat half a plate of food. I didn't miss any of it. I didn't buy any dessert or make any. The kids just wanted store bought cookies. (Good because the smell of anything like that cooking makes me weak in the knees.) Another issue is that in my fairly recent conversion from running to cycling, I am now transitioning more from indoor cycling to outdoor. I am not able to ride as many miles outside as I can do on the trainer (yet) so that has cut into my calorie burning efforts. It takes time. I am not as good a cyclist as I was a runner. Go figure. I am sticking to it, though because I absolutely have to make this work. My cycling coach says I am getting better....It just doesn't happen very fast. So, I am just going to keep the faith in my coach, and follow his training program to the best of my ability. I am also still lifting with my other trainer at the gym 2x per week. I know I am making progress there, as the weights are getting heavier.... I am less than thrilled to go in and see the doctor because I know that I am not where I wanted to be at this time, and I don't know if I can face the disappointment in myself. I know weight is just a number, and the bigger picture is overall muscle vs. fat, level of fitness and overall health etc., but I so wanted to be closer to my goal for this check up..... I've had a pretty stressful year, and I will be glad to see 2016 go. There were some great things, but the not so great seemed to outweigh the others. I am a positive person, though, and that which does not kill us definitely makes us stronger. Dear God: I'm strong enough now; Please let me win the lottery ! lol I will let you know if and when I do go in for my 4 year check up. Still haven't made up my mind as to if I am actually going to go through with it...... Updated on 13 Dec 2016: Hi. The church carolers just stopped by to sing and gave me 4 boxes of candy.....Yikes!!! My daughter opened one, and I ate 2 pieces. Honestly, I felt ok about it because I have not had much of an appetite since I caught a cold last week... I am still not completely well but am doing much better. I put the candy on top of the bookcase, even though I would like to throw it away. (And I should, but I'm afraid of bad karma since it's holy candy from church......) Seriously, I'm a bit superstitious..... So, we will keep it at least until trash day. (Friday) Then out it goes. Anyway, I don't plan on eating anymore if it. I am doing ok with my eating plan. I did great over Thanksgiving. Didn't eat too much. Overall, I have struggled with carbs ; I try not to eat any except fruit. And I try to eat it early in the day. I have not been able to work out much this past 10 days due to being sick. I did cycle 20 miles on my trainer Sunday. (It takes about an hour & burns about 530 calories according to my Garmin.) I would like to get back to 60 plus miles a week but not sure if I can this week. I am going to try to cycle again tomorrow morning. I also missed all my weight training last week due to being sick. My trainer was not happy, & neither was I. Anyway, struggling to get back into the swing of my program......I think it's easier to stick to the healthy eating when I stick to the exercise....Also I missed a couple of rides with my cycling coach due to the weather which has been all over the place from windy & cold to hot & rainy. It's been somewhat hard to stay motivated due to being sick & also time demands due to all the extra Holiday demands: decorating, shopping, etc......but he is always checking on me and there for encouragement.......He has been awesome!! We are staying home for Christmas which is good because I will have more control over the food in the house and the meals. I am pretty much going to keep my same eating plan except for Christmas Day. I will have what I want that one day. Other than that, plan is the same. So far, it's working. Still got on same size. Yay! My advice to other VSGers is to try to keep your same eating plan except for Christmas Day. My 4 year checkup was rescheduled for mid January due to being sick last week. So, nothing new to report there...... Good luck y'all. Happy Holidays!! Xoxo Txmom Updated on 27 Dec 2016: Hi yall, Today (well tonight) is my 4 year surgiversary !! I still technically have 20 minutes left to post for 12/27. I have to say that a lot has happened in this last 4 years. I am proud to say that I am still the same size I was at the end of my 1 year surgiversary. I have worked very hard at dieting and exercising to stay this way. It does not happen by chance. Every day is a challenge to choose the healthy foods over the unhealthy. Every day is a chance to exercise or not. If you have read any of my posts here or under my tummy tuck posts, then you know that I face several challenges with exercise, as I have scoliosis, & back and knee pain. I ran until I really felt like my knees had taken all the beating they could stand. Then, this uear, I started my cycling journey, which has been fun but also probably one of the most physically challenging things I have ever done. I have hired a cycling coach to help me after I completely humiliated myself on my first group ride....Trust me, it was so bad that it was nearly comical. You just can't make that story up. If I told it, you would howl....Anyway, I am working very hard at my cycling goals. My trainer says that I will be able to ride 100 miles by this Spring. Lol I think that sounds scary, & a bit unrealistic at this point. I would be so happy if I could ride 40 miles consistently.... Anyway, I am a work in progress....It has been important for me to accept my limitations and to set realistic goals based on my age and musculoskeletal issues....., Otherwise, it would be very easy for me to get discouraged......I remain committed to my exercise regimen (lifting weights with a trainer and cycling). I have 2 coaches- A gym trainer and a cycling coach.......As coaches go, I would say that neither one is very expensive....But, I am lucky in that my husband wants me to succeed, and he suports my goals. Every time I have wanted to quit, he says, "Don't quit." I am grateful to Him for that support. A word about stress eating: I will be completely honest : 2016 sucked for my family. A lot of terribly stressful things happened that were beyond our control... And even though I do not usually cry, I tried to cry all year. And December was the month I cried a lot. I don't think crying means you are weak. It is a good way to relieve stress.... And I will say that I have probably let myself eat a few more pieces of chocolate and more carbs than I would have liked to admit this Christmas... Although, I don't think that I have gained any weight. 2017 doesn't look great either. Both my husband and I only have one living parent each, & both of them are extremely ill. I would be very surprised if they make it through the year.... I am saying this because I know that stress can wreck havoc on my diet, & I will have to be super dedicated to my program in order to avoid gaining weight......At least I am preparing myself mentally for this challenge... In October I tried giving up a lot of my "crutch" foods in the hopes to further my weight loss. I did lose 3 pounds. I will say that I reversed that decision by December, and I am just trying to maintain until January when I can revisit my diet issues. I want you to know that VSG works ! And that you can use this surgery as a tool to help you stay healthy and more active in your life, no matter what fitness and emotional challenges you face..... I am so very grateful to my Father in Heaven for giving me the opportunity to have this surgery, and for allowing me the time to make my health a priority. I am truly blessed! No matter what happens from here on out, I know the Lord is walking every step of the way with me. I feel like a true Angel, & I feel close to God. I know that everything in my life happens for a reason, & even the pain of the past year has helped me grow.... I hope and pray that those of you who are considering having this surgery yourself will realize that it can be life changing. You get out of it what you put into it. I hope that you realize that it is not a quick fix, but an important step in your journey towards life long wellness... I wish you all the best im 2017. May the Lord bless you & keep you. If you have any questions about my VSG or TT then please write to me. It would be a blessing to me to be able to help you !! Happy New Year y'all. Love, Txmom Updated on 21 May 2017: Hi VSGers: Well, after rescheduling this appointment 3 times since November, 2016, I finally had my 4 year checkup: About 5 months late. Dr. Marvin said that I am maintaining about 85% of my initial weight loss which is good, but that I can probably do a little bit better. (Maybe lose about 10 pounds.... Yes, that same 10 pounds....lol) Anyway, he says that my surgery has been "successful" and that I should be proud. I explained that it is difficult for me to do the "no carb" thing because of the cycling that I am into. I am currently cycling 95 to 100 miles per week. I have increased a lot since I first started. I plan to stay at this distance, and we are working on speed at the moment, and other skills. I feel pretty good about it. I am still also lifting weights and doing core exercises 2x per week. I am also in physical therapy for knee pain 2x per week and doing more core and muscle isolation exercises for my lower body. I am pretty exhausted just keeping up with all of this. It takes a lot of dedication, and sometimes I feel dead on my feet, but hey, it's fun. I am still trying to cut the carbs down, but honestly, I am hungry when I cycle, and it is difficult not to eat too much. My shape has changed, and my thighs and lower body seem bigger. My husband says its muscle, and he likes it. LOL..... But, I just want to be thinner. I am very conflicted over all of this, and I feel like if I could just cut out all the carbs then I could lose the weight, but that simply is not possible with cycling 3 to 4 days per week. So, if I have to have bigger thighs, then so be it. I will say that my VSG journey has all been worth it; Low iron and all. Dr. Marvin drew more blood and is re-checking my iron count, which was normal last test. He is not convinced that VSG is what is causing the low iron, and he wanted me to stop the iron supplementation and see what happens. NO WAY. I am not stopping at this point. I could barely function when my iron was 30 and my Hgb was 10. I felt like the walking dead. I am too far along in my training, and it would be a serious setback to lose my energy to low iron again. I am just going to wait for the blood tests and see what they say. I suppose at some point, I will have to stop the supplementation, but not right now!!! Forget it. I am happy that I have done at least this well 4 years out. I do miss some of the foods I used to like, but there is always enjoyment of the things we like in moderation, and that is what to shoot for. I am very happy that I have been able to be as active as I am for this long. Life has seemed so much better since the VSG. I want to encourage all of you who may be thinking about VSG to at least go and see a bariatric doctor for a consultation. You never know if you will meet the criteria. You only have weight to loose and your whole life to gain.... :)) It is seriously a huge deal.... Go for it. !! If I can answer any questions about the surgery for you, then I would be happy to do so. Please just send me a message. Good luck to all of you ! Hugs, Txmom Updated on 30 Sep 2017: Hi, I am just updating since my last entry. Hard to believe that it's been almost 5 years since my surgery! So many amazing things have happened in my life...And my life is so much more exciting and better than when I was heavier.....Namely that I am able to do a lot more activities without being tired. My 50th birthday is next month, and I think that I am possibly in nearly as good of shape as when I was 25. I am hoping to get a new road bike for my birthday that will hopefully make riding easier and more fun.....I can hardly wait !! As far as my iron level, it was fine upon last checkup, as was my hgb. I continue on my vitamins and iron and am feeling well. My weight is about the same, although I do believe that I am building muscle with my cycling.... I am out of physical therapy, but continue knee treatments at my chiropractor's office. I still have my cycling coach and gym trainer.... I feel very pleased with where I am physically. I will write another update at my 5 year mark. Hang in there ya'll. Love & Hugs Txmom
I'm a divorced single female in her mid-forties. 5'4" tall and approximately 215 pounds (been a bit since I've weighed so could be more)...I'm enjoyin my last blissful ignorant days as much as I can in that department. Typical story for me -- been overweight since I was in the 4th grade and gained and lost probably a couple of small adults over my life since that time using various diets. The only true comfort I had in life was food and no matter how successful I was/am it is never good enough. I was raised with the "what have you done lately" mentality where the focus was always on what needed fixing and not what you had accomplished to date. Definitely will talk more about this later... Through the advice of a good friend, I chose Dr. Robert Marvin to perform my sleeve gastrectomy which I have scheduled for November 12th, 2015. I feel scared and alone....I spoke with my parents about the procedure but they did not believe this was the right thing to do...so I've not talked with them again about it and am hoping to not actually tell them I had the surgery until I see them at Thanksgiving. So I'm having to hire someone to be with me at the hospital and help me at home intially since I have no one else.... So depressing.... Well I'm falling asleep at this point but at least have got my post started... Updated on 30 Oct 2015: I finally took pictures of myself naked and I'm horrified at what I see...definitely reminds me why I decided to have the surgery in the first place... Updated on 31 Oct 2015: It is truly amazing how much crap can fit into one pantry, refrigerator and freezer....decision to trash many things was aided by the fact they were expired! Back is absolutely killing me though...would have been so much easier if I wasn't carrying a small child around in the form of fat :-- Just more fuel to the fire for why I need to do this surgery NOW...no more waiting. Parents want me to come over for dinner and help with tricker treaters...totally dreading it since they may actually ask what my decision was on the surgery...I really cannot lie about it since what am I going to say at Thanksgiving and Christmas when what I can eat is so different from normal....can't claim to be sick for BOTH holidays (or at least I don't want to)...just sucks....hate to be around my family who is supposed to love me unconditionally and very clearly don't and never have and never will... OK time for me to go throw so more crap out and organize the kitchen in preparation for my new life after surgery... Updated on 5 Nov 2015: I'm excited and scared...worried that I'll slip back into my old habits and just eat whatever I want but just smaller amounts due to the size my new stomach will be :( My life in recent years has been I'm either really good about eating healthy foods (and usually only when on some diet regime) or really bad....no happy medium hence why my health is not so good and will get worse if I don't change things. Anyone else feel like this pre-surgery or even post? Updated on 7 Apr 2017: I've attached pictures of me from last June 2017. My weight has fluctuated between 111-121 since that time. The surgery has changed my life and I do not regret my decision at all. It was the right time in my life to take a different path. However, now that I've reached a weight that I never thought possible (wear size 4-6) now, my true "demons" have been brought out of the shadows. I always used my weight as a all-encompassing excuse for my hatred of self and now that is gone so I'm left facing and trying to deal with it every minute of every day. Thanks to this and lots of research, I believe I've discovered what created these inner demons to start with and oh not a big surprise it was my parents and it started at a young age. I suffer from emotional abandonment by my parents, the very people who should have loved my unconditionally, which created the "demon" inner critic that has driven me to achieve much in my life but always at a price and driver behind all the self destructive behaviors I've engaged in for as long as I can remember....I'm both grateful for this knowledge but still grappling with how to heal the damage done... SO warning to those who have food addictions prior to the surgery -- yes the surgery is an effective tool assuming you use it correctly which for me has been to see how little I can eat in a day and still function (some days) but others has been a savior to stop a binge eating episode. For the most part I eat under a 1,000 calories per day (not counting the alcohol) and low carb but it is a constant struggle....remember: if you eat crap even in small portions the surgery is a waste of time because eventually you will gain a portion if not all the weight back. I have such an intense fear of gaining the weight back that I've successfully kept it in a 10 lb range for almost a year now. The weight loss has created a saggy old lady body that I hate and now have to have plastic surgery (that I NEVER thought I would do) to get me a body that I've only ever dreamed of. So keep that in mind...fortunately I have the money and I'm crazy enough to be wiling to endure the horrible recovery from it to achieve something I thought was impossible for me. Surgery is scheduled for August 14th and I'll talk about that more in a future post. Updated on 8 Apr 2017: Very skilled surgeon and have absolutely no regrets regarding my choice of surgeon. He is very nice and always willing to answer questions when you are physically with him. With that said, you truly are only getting the services of a skilled surgeon with no added support group(s) behind that. If you need help beyond just the surgery itself this is not the Doctor for you. I didn't use insurance for the VSG because quite simply I didn't want to have to go through the required 6-mo crap with the insurance company to get the surgery. Fortunately I did have a hiatal hernia which is covered under insurance so a portion of the surgery suite costs were covered and I paid cash for the remainder.
