feedyoureye

Way to go guys! You look fantastic! And soo much younger too...

I was thinking Kirstie Alley too. It would be so cool if everyone "came out" at the same time. I know its up to each individual, and some don't want to tell, but it would just change the dynamics so much faster if everyone did!

Its normal to be nervous, and you really can't understand how you will feel until you feel it! I have seen a few people here who really abuse the sleeve early on... but not many. People who drink, stuff them selves, eat the wrong foods early on. I think if you can get past doing that... you will probably be ok. I would say most/all of us have had dysfunctional relationships with food or we wouldn't be here, and yet most/many of us are getting to goal, and are extremely happy with how things are turning out. I think its sane to think about the future, but over thinking will not give you the answers you are looking for. Only experience will do that. Want to get thin, fit and healthy? Then jump in and follow Drs orders. Come here and rummage through the files... we have talked about just about everything here one time or another.

My doc used a 36, and over sewed. He said that the size of the bougie does not tell the size of the stomach... its just a guide. He makes the stomach larger at the pylorus end... saying that too tight a cut there can cause problems. I went off antacids at about 8 months, and no problems. I have never had any problems. No acid, no pains, no vomiting. I can eat quite a bit... protein about 1/2-3/4 cup.... Other things even more. But the stomach knows when to quit, and I am still s-l-o-w-l-y losing weight.

What a pain in the a$$! Good luck with that!

Welcome to the losers bench!

Some people retain the Fluid from the IV. I gained 10 pounds from surgery, but it came off quickly. Water is a diuretic. Drink water to get rid of water retention... while staying healthy hydrated. No kidding!

Its not that easy for many people to drink enough after surgery. You may gain a lot of Water weight from IVs, and you need to drink to get rid of that water weight as soon as you can. De hydration can send you back to the hospital after surgery. I know it sounds contrary... but I have seen it here on the boards more than once.

dance class twice a week, walk an hour twice a week and whatever on the weekends, gardening or something. I am sneaking in some Calanetics for the under arms too...just started that....

Fox! You have done such a fantastic job! Many congrats to you! I have lost 9 more pounds since we last met.... still heading in the right direction. I'll get there too one day! Cheers.

I think this is reasonable if you stay on plan. I have lost 78 pounds in less than a year. I have 14 to go. That is over 87% excess weight loss. I am not perfect, do not eat meat (there for I eat more carbs than most) and am a "slow" loser... and still managed to do this. I do exercise 4 days a week. Good luck with you journey!

Balance bars are really good... I just tryed the s'mores one... delish! 14 gms of pro. Not very low carb, but not too bad... 200 calories.

I was around 36.5 BMI with co morbidities. My doc offered me RNY or Sleeve. The sleeve looked much better to me, with less problems in the long run. Studies I have read say the sleeve works the very best for those with less to lose... meaning people with less to lose, lose a higher percentage of their weight than those with more to lose. (This was just a comparison within sleeve patients, not with RNY or Band) The studies show most sleeve patients lose... I think it was 57-79 % of excess weight... many here lose all. I don't think losing too much is a problem for the majority of sleeve patients. At 10 months out I have lost 83% of my excess body weight. I am losing VERY slowly the last 6 weeks.. around a pound lost over that time. I mostly eat what I want with protein first as the main rule. If I can lose 14 pounds over the next year, that would be fantastic, we will see.

That does seem like a lot! If you had half a shake per meal, then that would be closer....

Welcome to the forum! You have so much to contribute, I hope you stay around for a long time.

Thanks!

I think I have been sooo lucky getting to where I am today. The sleeve has been awesome, I have lost 77 pounds so far (including my pre surgery weight loss) and have started a whole new way of life without losing any of the old way that I loved and that mattered at all to me. I feel that I have lost sort of slowly, but when I look back over the last 10 months, really it seems like a whirl wind. I still have 15 pounds to lose, and I am on some kind of plateau from hell, lasting almost 6 weeks so far, but really, I am sooo happy about it, and would not change it for not getting surgery, or getting any other kind surgery! I eat what I want and feel fantastic! Whats not to like?

There are several reasons that Docs put us on pre diets. The main one is to shrink your liver, which makes the surgery much easier. They don't have to lug as much of our liver around to get to the stomach. A low carb diet for a couple of weeks really helps this. Second... and this depends on your nutritionist and Doc, is to see if you CAN follow orders for a short time. This surgery demand that you follow orders for a LONG time. After surgery you will be eating much less than you will be the two weeks before surgery. It can get VERY boring at first. If you have headaches from a few days of cutting carbs... better now than then, when you will have other challenges to get over. Third is this is a chance to get used to keeping track of everything that goes into your mouth, writing it down or using an on line tracker like fitday or myfitnesspal.com. and chewing everything, sipping not gulping, and drinking before, not with or soon after eating. You are going to go through big changes in many ways. preferences, behavior, looks, health and energy. Get your head in the game now, and it will make it better later. In a year or less you will be able to eat pretty much anything you want in moderation. Until then, just believe the Doc has his reasons, ask him why when you see him if you don't understand. I had to write down everything I ate for two weeks before, even though I didn't need to lose any pounds before surgery (I was a low as I could be and still qualify) They wanted to make sure I could track Protein and Water. Most others in my center had to lose weight over two weeks before the Doc would perform surgery. Some insurance companies demand proof or they wont cover.

You look absolutely fantastic! What a huge achievement. It looks like you lost about 15 years at the same time. Your Kitty looks happy too!

Excellent post, thanks for sharing.

thanks legal and others for your honesty. It helps me to shine some light on my own behavior.

I get hungry sometimes too... have from the start. Carbs seem to play a roll.. I do eat more carbs than some here, I am a vegetarian, and many Protein sources come with some carbs too. Some studies show that thirst can masquerade as hunger. Ghrelin is also made in other parts of the body. Its production is reduced when the fundus is removed... but not eliminated completely. http://lowcarb4u.blogspot.com/2010/01/ghrelin-hunger-hormone.html ....Another hormone that plays a role in energy homeostasis is ghrelin, a 28-amino acid peptide discovered in 1999. Its name includes the Proto-Indo-European root word "ghre," meaning "to grow." Ghrelin is produced in the hypothalamus, kidney and pituitary gland, but most of it is synthesized in and released by the stomach. ..

You do look very pretty and glowing! You look nice in pink too.

Sending best wishes for improved health and the ultimate success of your sleeve. You do have insurance? They just won't cover your after care? Have you appealed that? I would think they would cover at least some of your after care... what a mess having a big fat bill hanging around while feeling poorly! So sorry about that...

I have fought for every pound as well. See my chart for the last 4 months... 10 pound total loss. I am almost at 10 months out now. I am 14.5 pounds from goal. It may take me a year to lose it at this rate, but I already feel like a success. You are too!