Sleevie WonderLand

The sample packs for Syntrax can be found at mybariatricpantry.com. You get 10 different flavors to try. it's a great deal. check it out.

*mouth watering*

October 18, lost 41 lbs.

I get my Syntrax Chocolate Truffle from Bariatric Pantry. Although I don't drink it now cause it grosses me out (post sleeve) I used to really enjoy it during my pre-op diet. My daughter loves the strawberry flavor as well.

BellaBBR, Sorry you're feeling that way. i kinda felt that way in the beginning stages too. Buyer's remorse after getting the sleeve is more real than is talked about. I too was angry that I lost control - meaning I lost the option to just gorge on food aimlessly at any time of the day. Being sleeved is about restriction, and as you get accustomed to this new life and new eating habits, it WILL please you. You will come to grips with the fact that over eating is what got you here and you'll be grateful that you can't do that to yourself so easily anymore. Try some not so bland foods, some Tums, and look for WLS friendly recipes on "the world according to egg face" blog. Re-visit this post in another month or two, I'm sure you'll probably have a change of heart.

Forensikchick - boots are on sale now! It's the best time to try em out!

@Rootman, great article..thanks!

Thanks Rootman. Reality is definitely a five letter word that rhymes with witch isn't it? lol

You know that's a great idea about the trainer. I never knew how much they cost, so I always assumed that they were really expensive. I'll also check youtube, that's usually my first go to research spot anyways. Oh, I've already been to the Man's Room. This sleeve thing shrinks all the right places for you men huh? Completely the opposite for us women. Just ask my boobs, if you can find em. smh :biggrin:

I have really big calves. I've been working on the treadmill in hopes of toning up my legs in addition to using some of the other leg related strength training machines at the gym. there is one particular machine that is geared toward the calves - I'm afraid to use it because I don't want my calves to get any bigger. Will using the machine help me to decrease my calf size and tone up the muscle or will the muscle I already have just get bigger? Also, I have HUGE knees. I don't know that they'll shrink much, but is there something I can do to help tone down my secoya tree trunk legs at all? I'm not an exerciser. I've only been playing one on tv since I got sleeved, and i've been doing my own thing pretty much. It would be nice to have a little guidance, but I have no money for a personal trainer. :-(

I would have had a real food funeral. I only had about 2 oz of chocolate weight watchers ice cream the night before my surgery and wish now that I opted for a juicy steak instead. *still thinking with my greedy brain* I also was lost when it came to the mushy food stage. I suppose I wouldn't have known how to prepare for it anyway because I was so turned off by lots of foods anyway. It still would have helped me to research my options and different recipes that could have gotten me through (the world according to egg face blog/website is the bomb!). That mushy/soft stage was tough!

I can't wait to hear what your co-worker says a month after you've been sleeved and she sees those pounds melt off you. I bet she'll be asking you a lot of questions, and will probably be on the internet like the rest of us doing her own research before she ends up sleeved!

If you can tolerate them, I guess so, but I would check with my surgeon or nutritionist.

I had no doubts about getting sleeved. Of course on the day of surgery I was nervous as they wheeled me down that hallway to the operating room, but I knew all along that I was going to go through with it because it was the only way I could lose weight, become healthier, and keep the weight off. Don't get me wrong, the recovery stage wasn't easy; getting adjusted to this new way of eating and fighting to get protein in is a pain in the neck for the first month or so until you get used to it, but it's so worth it in the end. Good luck with your surgery. Best decision ever.

I usually order from the kids menu or have soup depending on the restaurant.

I'm biased - Love my sleeve! However, you should attend an information seminar at a local hospital or bariatric center that offers weight loss surgery. You can get all the information you need to help you decide what is best for you.

By the way, good luck with your surgery. It was rough for me at first, but it's still the best decision I've ever made for ME.

I only told my husband and my older children. I also told my mother because well, she's my mother and I knew she wouldn't betray me by telling people about it. I say keep it to yourself, but be prepared to answer questions like "how'd you lose the weight?" and "What's your secret to weight loss?". You're going to lose weight rapidly, so the drastic change always gets people's attention. I find myself getting a little uncomfortable when asked these questions, so I give my usual answer of "Oh, I been drinking protein shakes and I cut back on my portions in addition to going to the gym". So far it's kept people at bey, but I do feel a little guilty at times because I have friends who want to know what kind of shakes I'm on and want to follow my food plan to the tee. smh

It's good that you've been reading all the posts. You won't have a false sense of "this'll be a breeze" in the beginning when you first get sleeved. Everyone's experience is different, but at least you won't be blind-sided if things are a little rocky in the beginning. The good news is that once you're healed up and get into the swing of things with your sleeve, you'll be happier, healthier and on your way to your new you! I wish you all the best on your pursuit!

I dont do anything sugar free. That includes Stevia. I just purchased a bottle of agave nectar, will try it to sweeten my tea at the recommendation of a friend. I don't like the taste of sugar free products (I used to tolerate Coke Zero before being sleeved), and when I think about the toll it takes on our bodies (those chemicals can't be doing us any good) it repulses me even more. I try to keep an eye on my sugar intake, but i keep an even bigger eye open to make sure i'm not ingesting aspartame or sucralose, or whatever the rest of that stuff is.

*snorts, grunts, and giggles like Beavis and Butthead*

I have the biotin, will look into the Nioxin. Thanks for the info!

@Kuntry, as with everything, it all gets better with time. To have to have liquids for 3 weeks to enable you to have a lifetime of better health is definitely a small price to pay. Once you get over it, its not so bad, its the going through that drives you crazy! I just want to encourage you to hang in there. Even when you want to throw that shake or soup or whatever it is that's in front of you, just keep in mind that it's temporary and that the good food will be coming your way soon and that you'll be losing weight in the interim!

Just yapping about the changes I've noticed since being sleeved. Some NSVs, some new revelations. My relationship with food is more enhanced. Since my portions have decreased so much, I really have to savor and enjoy the food that I’m eating. I used to scarf my food down like I was afraid someone was gonna take it away from me. Now I actually TASTE and appreciate the food I’m eating. I used to taste it before too, but dining is now an experience for me where as before it was a task. Does that make sense to you? For example, I’ve been making Spinach Lasagna for my family for years, and they all rant and rave about how good it is. Before I didn’t really eat it, but this past New Years, I had a spoonful, and actually tasted all the herbs and different flavors of the cheeses. That was a great EXPERIENCE for me and my tastebuds. I LOVE going to the gym. A year ago you couldn’t even pay me to step foot in a gym! I guess with the weight loss and the boost of confidence, I’m no longer worried about looking like a fat person trying to lose weight. I get to Planet Fitness, plug my headphones in and I become one with that treadmill, or bike, or ellipticall machine. I have never been this amped and motivated to get in shape. I think getting in shape is the key to this – I’m not focusing on losing weight because that is happening any way. I’m focusing on toning my body and getting my endurance up and seeing that progress makes going to the gym a very enjoyable experience. I don’t know how to shop for clothing anymore! It’s like I’m a stylist trying to give someone a makeover! I’m not complaining because it’s fun! I’m trying on clothes that I would never have considered in my pre-sleeved life. I got so accustomed to going right into Lane Bryant and the other big girl stores and settling for all the oversized blouses and tent like dresses they offer us. I’m not necessarily ready to shop in a skinny girl store for all my clothing yet, but it’s nice to be able to walk into a “regular” store and have the option to wear some of their clothing and not just the jewelry. I loved to shop before, but now that my options for stores to shop in have doubled, I’m in heaven!!! On another note, my ass and boobs have left the building. I wasn’t a Dolly Parton Kardashian candidate before, but now my profile looks like that of a door. You gotta see how I’m going after that glute machine in that gym. SMH. Been looking for “booty pop panties” on EBay and Amazon. New adventures in grocery shopping too! I was never a label reader up until about 2 years ago. Even then I was really only focusing on finding foods that had aspartame in them because I’m trying to stay away from it as much as I can. I would also glance at fiber content, as I like to know that my fam is eating foods rich in fiber. Now I find myself comparing everything to see what has the most protein in it. I am losing my hair. It’s coming out at the root. It’s my fault though because I’ve been neglecting my vitamin regimen as usual. I know, I know. Gotta get my vitamins in, it's essential to my well being. I can see my pubes. My stomach hung so low before that it covered my lady parts. I have gotten comfortable with telling people that I’ve changed my eating habits when they say “What are you doing to lose the weight?”. I tell them that my portions have gotten way smaller, and I’m more aware of what I’m putting in my mouth. I tell them that I’m also going to the gym, trying to get to a healthier place. Who says I have to mention the part about being sleeved? I sat in the movie theatre with my sons to watch the Chipmunks movie the other day. The seat was comfortable. Its usually to snug and I end up having to scooch my self forward to get out of the seat without bruising my hips. Now, no problem. Will definitely be going to the movies a lot more from now on. I have to brush my teeth several times a day. I guess since we have to chew our food so much that we’re more susceptible to plaque. I just know that I hate that feeling – the cheesy film that you feel when you run your tongue across your teeth. Instead of twice a day, I’m up to 4 to 5 times for toothbrushing. Flossing is becoming more frequent too. I have to get my wedding rings sized. They look like hula hoops when I put them on my finger now. Everytime I see someone who is obese I want to run and tell them about the sleeve. I’m realizing that since I’ve gotten more accustomed to my sleeve, the less I get on to VST and the less I have to vlog about on Youtube. I now understand why so many people are all in for months at a time, and then they just disappear and return a year later to announce their “surgiversary.” Once life with your sleeve becomes normal, there isn’t much to report.

October 18th, 2011 was a monumental day in my life. The three months leading up to that date were anxiety filled, and I spent every waking moment on VST and YouTube gathering all the information I could about being sleeved. No matter how much research you do, you're still never fully able to comprehend how much your life will change - in my case for the better. While in the hospital after being sleeved, things weren't so bad, in fact I was expecting to be in a lot more pain than I actually was. I anticipated that it would be excruciatingly bad, but in comparison to my 3 sections and one natural birth, the pain was minimal. I was able to walk by the second day (very slowly of course) and didn't experience any of the gas issues that people talk about during their experience. Even my nurses and surgeon mentioned how I was doing so well. Physically, I was the ideal post op patient. Mentally however, I was a frickin MESS! My first couple of days home were a little rocky as I was having issues with my acid reflux meds. The omeperazole they prescribed for me didn't agree with my system, so I had to go on Nexium. No big deal, I had a rough day and a half till we worked that out. But the real issue I had with getting sleeved was the restriction. I knew that I signed up for this surgery because restriction would be the ONLY way that someone like me could ever lose weight and keep it off. I don't have enough will power to stop myself from eating for no reason. Even as a sleeved woman, if there is a piece of food near me I have the urge to eat it - not because I'm hungry, but because its there. With the sleeve though, I have to make a conscious decision before I eat anything or suffer the consequences. Am I willing to eat that food and suffer from "dumping" or feeling overly full for several hours, or even vomiting because it doesn't agree with my new tummy? These are the things that go through my head now before I stuff my face for no reason. My sleeve has made me a conscious eater. Although the restriction is just what I needed, as you'll see in my previous blogs, I resented this sleeve for not allowing me to be greedy and eat any and everything I wanted. I resented this sleeve because I couldn't just take it back to the store and get my old tummy back. I resented this sleeve because I wasn't in control. I had to do what my sleeve liked. I had to submit to my sleeve and finally after a little over 2 months I can say my sleeve and I are a team. We're in sync. I'm not holding up my end of the bargain as I should with my protein counts, but Im working on it. As long as I keep my sleeve hydrated and give her some stuff to eat every few hours, she's good. No belching, no vomiting, no gurgling, no problems. I said all this to say that loving my sleeve wasn't necessarily an easy road to get to. Sometimes when you read the posts of those people who have been successful with their sleeve after many months, the "bad" stuff tends to get left out and you're left with these expectations of happy sleevedom and when you do get sleeved you wish you'd never done it. It happened to me. No one told me about the resentment stage and no one told me that I might have buyers remorse in my first few weeks of being sleeved. No one told me that I would feel trapped, and angry, and want to stay in my bed for weeks until it all got better. I hope this note helps that person out there who is nearing their surgery date - know that the road to recovery may not be easy at first, but when you do get accustomed to your sleeve and new lifestyle it will all be worth it in the end, and you'll be able to pass the info on to the next new sleevester..