PdxMan

Congrats! I would recommend staying away from second hand smoke as well. As I understand it, even that can be detected. Start drinking Water like a crazy person to get your system flushed. Make sure your pee is clear. My guess is you would be clear in a few days.

In the Pacific Northwest, we have seen just the opposite. It has been the driest and warmest winter I have ever experienced here. And wouldn't you know it, I bought ski passes for my family and the snow depth is at record lows. Went skiing Saturday and it was spring-like skiing without a coat or gloves. Icy slopes and many closed runs. COME ON COLD, RAINY WEATHER!! (I can't believe I just wished for that ...)

I'm guessing researching the GoogleVerse will be your best bet. But I just have to ask ... Have you sat back and read your post? I'm not judging, as I am an ex-smoker myself, so I understand the draw, but to boil it down, your post reads like, "How long can I continue this bad behavior and still get away with it?" I can only guess you are looking to get sleeved so you can be healthier, right? Let's start now.

Welcome to BariatricPal. Pretty much everyone here has, at one time, been in your shoes. There is no need for embarrassment or shame when you ask for help. Please make yourself at home here. You are amongst friends.

I just think this is one of those things we are just used to doing. When I was on the Adkins diet and lost a ton of weight, I kept all of my fat clothes because I knew, just like on the Slim Fast diet I did years earlier, I would be needing those clothes again. And I did I had to do a cleaning out of the closet, too, this past summer. I got rid of everything that doesn't currently fit and I felt so worried doing it. My tighty-whities (not so tighty) were the last things to go.

This is why I chose VSG. I was 45 when I had my surgery with two kids under 10. Like you, I had been successful with diets in the past, but I was not successful in maintaining that lifestyle. The restriction the sleeve gives me provides a constant reminder of what I need to do. Remember those other programs where you had the rubber band around your wrist and you snapped yourself any time you had a craving? It is WAAAAY better than that

One of the things to remember is the chest does provide the resonance for the deeper, richer tones. Let me Google this ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_resonation So, depending on the thickness of your chest currently and how much weight you have to lose, you may find your deeper tones are not quite as 'beefy'.

Have you ever gone searching for reviews for a product and it seems all you find are negative reviews? "I bought this knife and after a month, it can't slice a tomato!!" Though some folks do take the time to write good reviews, it seems the negative really stand out. I think this is true here, too. You are not going to find a lot of videos out there on YouTube from folks several years out posting about how everything is going along just fine. I don't believe it is because they don't exist, but rather, these people have moved on with their lives. I am just over two and half years out. I reached my goal weight 8 months post op and have been maintaining since. I have a 5 pound "bounce" range that I am comfortable with. So, to address some of your concerns directly ... the Vitamin thing ... I haven't really heard of this complaint. The regain can happen, but let's talk about that for a second. Why was I morbidly obese to begin with? I abused food. I used food as a crutch and a reward. I loved the feeling of being full and wanted to feel that way all the time. I did not eat to nourish my body's needs, but rather my demon's in my head. So, if I don't do some work on myself, is this type of thinking going to change post-surgery? If two years post op I use food as my coping mechanism, am I going to regain? I think we all know the answer to this. But here is my take on this. The sleeve folks I follow have made a choice to be healthier in their lives. They take their Vitamins because they know their body needs them. A lot of them also exercise. Wow! Just like people with normal BMI's do who never had WLS surgery. *** DISCLAIMER *** I know FAR more people who haven't had WLS surgery who also take vitamins. They exercise and don't use food as a coping mechanism. So, what is my point? You said it ... it is a tool. My sleeve has forced me to recognize my pattern of abusing food. It has helped me develop new habits of eating slower, taking smaller bites and nourishing my body with food. Self-sabotage is nothing new to me. If I choose to ignore everything I have learned over the past 2 and half years, then yes, I can regain. If I didn't want to make a fundamental change with my relationship with food, then I would take a deeper look at whether WLS was for me. I believe THIS is the question everyone pre-op needs to ask themselves and take the time to get honest with themselves before answering.

I'm going to move this over to the powder Room. It is an oft asked and answered question.

My doc said as long as I felt up to it, but just don't try any circus acts. 4 days post op, here.

I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you, RJ, but your story may not be as unique as you think. I highly doubt you are the only one who has discovered those closest to us have turned. I have often heard it said we are hurt the most by the ones closest to us. I think your story carries a great message to anyone else experiencing the same thing. But now you have to make a choice. Do you continue to let these people live rent free in your head or do you evict the poison they have spread into your life. Do you want to live in their ideals or move on with the new you? Years ago when I got sober, I had to abandon my entire circle of friends and acquaintances as they were poison to my very existence. It wasn't easy and I mourned the loss, but soon, I was able to learn how much these people where keeping me down. Only then was I able to be truly free from that old life. Keep the post. I understand where you husband is coming from, but he has not traveled this path. We never know how or where our story is going to benefit someone else.

Early out, as the OP hasn't even been sleeved yet, it didn't take much for me to feel like I was getting my butt kicked. I would run/walk a mile and would feel it the rest of the day, but my heart rate never rose above 130. I was in terrible shape. Yes, after some time, as my endurance and fitness increased, I was able to exercise at a higher level. I started running races and even won several in my division. My last race I won for my division was a 10K where I averaged a 7 minute mile. My heart rate stayed well above in the aerobic/V02 range, but half an hour later, I felt great. Didn't feel like my butt was kicked at all. But early out, some folks getting back into exercise get on the elliptical and go through the motions. Not sustaining an effort which reaps the benefits they possibly could if they were willing to get their butt kicked a little. That was my point.

I did try the Vitamin E thing. I bought the liquid gel caps and broke them open as it is much cheaper to go that route, but I ended up staining one of my favorite shirts So, the stuff I pointed out earlier seemed to work for me ... or maybe I am just not a scar-er.

I hope you don't think I was calling you cynical. This is more how I regard other people's motivations as to how they treated me, or more, my perception of it. For me, resentments are born from my own expectations of others. When people don't meet up to the expectations I set for them, the ugly head of resentment begins to fester in my heart. I treat people nicely, so why can I not expect the same in return? For some people, it just isn't in them. This is not my fault nor is it my fault to have chosen this person to be in my life. What I can take ownership of, though, is that perhaps I set an expectation which that person just doesn't have the capability to meet. For that, I must take responsibility for and learn going forward lest I sow the seeds for another resentment.

Thank you for taking the time to post your answer. This is what I am looking for. We all have different experiences and journeys. My expectations and my reality has been two completely different things as it relates to my sleeved life. I wasn't ready for how people would react to me nor was I ready for how I would react. These changes definitely happened quicker than I was ready for, but time and reflection on myself has shown me a lot of things. I can accept myself now as an imperfect being. This also means I need to accept others as imperfect beings. As long as I have willingness to continually do the next right thing, doors seem to fly open. When I have a cynical view of life, doors seem to be stuck.

I see so many posts from folks lately upset or frustrated regarding how people regard them now. The general theme is, "Why am I being treated differently? I am still the same person I was before I lost the weight!!" Well, I am NOT the same person I was. Not just now, two and half years post op, but also when I started to get noticed. Yes, I had these feelings, too, early out. I understand. At first I was delighted when a woman I passed on the street smiled at me and said, "Hello". But then I questioned why this never occurred to me pre-sleeve, but as time passed, I understood that I do carry myself differently. I walk with my head held a little higher and I have a smile on my face more often. I have more confidence and perhaps a bit of a swagger in my life. I am different. IMO, I don't think it is fair to chastise other people for treating us perhaps a little differently when, in fact, we have changed. Not just below the ears, but in between them, too. Yes, there are weight discrimination issues out there, there is no doubt. And it sucks, big time. I don't know the solution to solving that issue, but to be upset at people for no longer treating me like I was morbidly obese just messes with my mind in an unhealthy way. So, to the veterans out there ... I know your weight has changed, but have you also changed between the ears?

Sure thing, Sarah, Here's the thing. I trust you have heard or read about the general guidelines for restrictive sleeve success, but here is my summary: Do not drink 15 minutes before, during or 15 minutes after eating. Ensure my meals are nutritionally balanced. Take smaller bites, chewing well putting my utensil down in between bites. Assess how that bite felt waiting to take the next bite. If I am feeling the smallest amount of restriction, I stop eating, even if I have had only one bite. Exercise. Do something to get my heart rate up to my target heart range for fat burning. I should feel like I just got my butt kicked afterward. Sweat is required. Meet my Protein and liquid goals daily. Take my Vitamins. Meditate. Reflect on why I abused food and what can I do to break the cycle. Now, this is all good and well, for me. But, I started a running regimen and quickly discovered I was not going to be able to meet my exercise goals following this path. I needed more calories as I could only run about 2 miles before I bonked. I had to bend the guidelines I listed above to get more calories in. I ate more often and would break the drinking guideline. I was able to consume more food and get upwards of 3,000 calories in a day. But, you have to also consider I was running over 30 miles a week and doing HIIT twice a week. So, if you have a honest reason to bend the guidelines, then you can and increase your calories. Now, I am not nearly as active as I have had a couple back surgeries and have been struggling to get back active. So, now, I follow the guidelines and consume about 1,800 calories and maintain.

My hair loss started at the 6 month mark. It went on for about 4 months and I lost about 50% of my hair, I would say. Before loss started, I was hitting my Protein and liquid goals, consuming about 1,000 to 1,500 calories (except for the first two months) and taking my Vitamins and Biotin religiously. I have very thick hair and decided to just shave it when it started falling out, as you can see from my "after" photo in my gallery. I have it grown out long now (two and half years post-op) and is full. (though quite gray ... )

Pre-sleeve, I had the chew-your-arm-off kind of hunger every few hours. Now, it is a more subtle message, rather than the 1,000 pound gorilla that used to scream in my ears to eat. Before, I was compelled to eat, but now, it is more of a nudge and I have the choice whether to eat. Before, my demons didn't give me the choice. It was an overwhelming urge. For me, I think trying to focus on nutritionally balanced meals helps keep that gorilla at bay.

I was told whenever I felt up to it. Just no swinging from the trapeze or circus acts. 4 days for me. No problem. It was actually quite nice as it was very slow and sensuous.

This is an interesting question. On many levels. It really made me think. Do we restrict calories forever ... So, relative to how I ate pre-sleeve, yes, I am going to be restricted in my calorie consumption. I will probably never be able to eat 3,500 calories at each meal. But then I have to ask, "Why would I want to?" These would be my old demons wanting me to be able to abuse food the way I used to. I don't want to be that person ever again. So, relative to other fit, 185 pound men ... no, I am not restricted in my calorie consumption. When I am very active, I can consume healthy meals and feed my body properly. I can easily get over 2,000 calories a day. When I live a more sedentary life, I dial that back to around the 1,800 calorie mark. I am able to maintain my weight, no problem. If I should creep up 5 pounds, I use the stricter guidelines of sleeve life when I was in loss mode to drop those 5. So, I think the spirit of your question, though, questioning if you are going to be able to only eat 1,000 calories MAX each day. The answer is no. When you get some time under your belt, you will be able to increase your calories. Good or bad, you find foods that "slide" through you. Whether you go back to abusing foods is up to the work you did early out (first year) addressing the reasons why you were morbidly obese and whether you implement the changes required for long term success. So, if I had lunch with a friend from pre-sleeve days on my left, and also had a running friend sitting on my right, one would say I eat a restricted diet now while the other would say I eat a nice, healthy, balanced meal. It's all about perspective and your ability to mentally make that leap. *** EDIT *** So, I just wanted to add, that no, I do not eat a restricted calorie diet. A restricted anything diet, for that matter. Not restricted carbs, sugars, fat ... When I focus on eating nutritionally balanced meals, my sleeve just naturally takes care of everything else. When I do this, I am rewarded with a cookie or some ice cream. But I finish with my rewards, not start with them ... which I used to do.

So, first off, what exactly is your definition of a stall? Haven't lost weight in 2 hours? 1 day? The first week cannot be used to assess any form of weight loss attributed to the sleeve. First off, you just came from surgery where you had IV fluids pumped into you. Second, you body is swollen from the trauma of having 85% of your stomach removed. Surely you can appreciate it is going to be in a bit of shock ... right? Lastly, are you looking to lose fat or weight? 1 pound of fat/muscle is equal to approximately 3,500 calories. So, if you consume as many calories as you burn, you will stay pretty much the same. Consume 3,500 calories more than your burn, you will gain a pound of fat. Burn 3,500 more than you consume, you lose a pound. So, assuming your resting metabolic rate is just over 2,200 calories, have you been consuming 2,200 calories per day since being sleeved? If you were anything like me, you are nowhere even close to that number. Bottom line, no, you are not in a stall. Your weight is going to fluctuate wildly here the next week or so as you begin to heal. My recommendation is to weigh yourself no more than once a week. I opted for once a month after I read a post from someone who was totally upset because they had gained 0.3 pounds from their morning weigh in. I realized that I, too, could become overly obsessive about the scale and ditched it. Weighing once a month allowed me to never see stalls, so I was always encouraged and felt motivated. I suggest you stay away from the evil scale. It only measures weight and most here are looking to lose fat. Good luck and congrats on your surgery.

I agree with Betty. I had terrible reflux, had a hiatal hernia repair during sleeve surgery, and have had only one reflux issue since surgery. But that was my fault as I worked very late one night and ate something as I was crawling into bed. Just tired and not thinking. The sleeve cured my reflux issues, so ...

FeedYourEye created a thread with great links to explain it all. Check it out. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/291240-52-links-and-info/

Wow! Pasta ... with a sleeve ... on stage III ... Is this regular pasta or some kind of pasta alternative? I was about 6 months post before I tried my first bite. I can definitely feel it expand in my stomach. Just like breads and rice. Are those on you plan at this stage, too? Also, I avoid pasta, just like I avoid breads, rice and potatoes, because for the amount of real estate they take up, they just don't have the nutritional bang for the buck. Perhaps a bite of pasta after you have all of your Protein and "good" carbs in, but by that time, you will most likely be full, so ...