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I believe anyone that has 85% of their stomach removed will lose weight. You can't help but lose, if you are limited to 4oz of food every few hours. Now the big question is, where is your hunger coming from? Only you can figure that part out. Is it from emotional eating, boredome, stress, or is it because you have hunger pangs caused by the hormone ghrelin? From my own experience, I knew that my hunger was real (even though I had eaten 2 hours earlier, I'd be hungry again). It wasn't until I talked to my surgeon that he told me that I had an excess of the hormone ghrelin (produced by the stomach). The bigger the stomach, the more of the hormone produced. The surgery stopped my hunger pangs. I have not had that nagging sense of hunger (other than my stomach growling) since surgery 7 weeks ago. And 4 or 5 oz of food keeps me satisfied, whereas before, I could eat 1 lb of steak and know I'd be raiding the fridge in 2 hours. And I don't have any cravings anymore for certain flavors. Whereas before, I'd think about something that would taste good and I couldn't get the thought out of my head until I ate it - and a lot of it, not just a small portion. Don't get me wrong, you can sabotage yourself after surgery. There are foods, called slider foods, that are calorie dense (ice cream, peanut butter) that pass through the stomach quickly, so it's possible to eat more. And it is possible to just graze all day on snacks that are high in calories. The sleeve gave me the control over my eating that I needed. When I eat, I have full control of what I eat. I can pass on the donuts or just have 1 and be satisfied. With the exception of pasta - it triggers my sugar cravings. So I have to be real careful about eating it. But I don't know if I'd the same success if my hunger was tied to my emotions instead of hormones. I really believe food was an addiction - one you can't quit and never touch again. Other addictions can be quit and never touched again. But what if a heroine addict, smoker or alcoholic knew they had to take some every day or their body would die? What if they had 75 TV channels that ran commericals for cigarrets every 10 minutes during their favorite programs? Or had reality programs (like the best places to pig out or the food challenges) devoted to the best places to get their fix and showed people taking drugs and loving it? Could the addicts just reduce the amount they took every day and never over do it or would they give in to the nagging voice in their head telling them how good it was going to feel? Ok, rant over. :-)

Love this! That's a great movie. Running is on my list also. I want to wear cute Nike shirts and race around the track. I wonder if I can have one made that says "I ran from my fat" lol.

Roaming around I found this website which is pretty cool. Shows really women at different weights, heights, and shapes. I think it will help me to get a better idea of where I want to end up. http://www.mybodygallery.com/

So enjoy your blogs. Keep em coming.

Hi, My name is Myla and I'm from Boone, IA. I am 48 years old, the mother of three beautiful daughters and grandmother to a gorgeous little grandaughter and one handsome little grandson. We live close enough to all that I could see them daily and yet like to give them some privacy also. I work full time as a buyer for a company that I love...I have watched it grow from a mom and pop place to a huge company. I truly enjoy the challenges that come with my job...and after all who does not like to s spend money and haggle for a good deal... I also own my own online scrapbook store that keeps me hopping most of the time. My daughters are all grown and with families of their own. My husband is retired and we are enjoying the the grandparenting years. Looking for some vacationing time. It is tough to do when one works full time and the other is retired. Our schedules dont usually match up. About a year ago, I really started thinking more and more about a healthier way of life... I want to be here to see those grandbabies graduate and get married. Another fear that set in was I lost my own mother at 53 years of age...and as I approach that 50 mark it starts to get a little scarry. The doctor has told me that I have pre-hypertension... and so I have started to come into touch with my own health... Over the years I have tried so many diets and the only one that really was ever successful for me was Weight Watchers, for my oldest daughters wedding, I lost 40 lbs.It just seemed as their was a big goal at the end...and once that was over... then the goal was gone. I also stumbled with some depression shortly after the wedding. I think it was a sense of knowing that it would not be long and the youngest would be gone from home also...Needless to say the weight came back on. It seemed like for the past 6 years I have held to between 230 and 240. Always being told that I was not over weight enough to have the surgery....You need that BMI to be at 40, well since I been shrinking in height over the past few years and have been working hard to quit smoking that number crept right up on me. Now at 5'6" and 253 lbs. I have to admit that I feel better not smoking and everything smells better... With all this has also come the continued borderline high blood pressure, now the LDL is too high and the pre-diabetis... I have started the steps to have the Bariatric Sleeve done. I have been to one informational class, and have a group class on May 3, followed by the first visit with the Doctor on May 13th. I'm ready for the life style change and to be thin and feel good again. I know that it wont be easy, but I'm sure it will be so worth it.

This is an awesome blog. You really hit the nail on the head about the commercials. When I had my blood work the tech said she had the same dr as I have do her surgery. She lost 100 lbs and admitted that she had gained 60 back because she loved junk food. I sure wouldn't go through this if I wasn't dedicated enough to carry through with the program. She said she can eat 1/2 bag of chips, wait a couple of hours and eat the other half. She seemed to think it was funny. My daughter had the sleeve 4 years ago weighed 335 going in and lost 165 pounds and has kept it off. She is my inspiration and main support other than hubby. She goes with me to appts and knows what questions to ask. Surgery 5/16/13. I am so ready for this journey. Good luck to all sleevers.

I loved reading this post! I love it when people can come up in front of everyone and be like "look, I messed up a bit, but that's what makes me human" great job!

Hope you can get out, even for a little while. Hope your pain goes away soon

Happy to hear you're recovering. The shoulder pain may be from the gas and a heating pad helps. Sorry to hear it's cold where you live. I thought 58 in Boston was cold today but some where it is always worse. When there are sports games on tv they show beer and food, because men like that. They don't want to see Tampex commercials. Show Victoria Secret, and then that will get the men to stop eating. Feel better.

i started my liver shrinking diet today, really believe it is going to happen now, 13 days to go,x