longer-life

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

Well, I wish I had magic words of wisdom for you. But honestly it sounds like you have pinpointed your own demons. Now it's time to start chipping away at them.
Look, I know that feeling of "there is nothing I can do" and that is a slippery slope. Because once you start with the negative talk, along comes the negative self-image, and we start that awful cycle all over again.
Start with one thing at a time. CUT out the extra calories. IF you want a treat, give yourself a 48 hour "chill out" time. Face the fact that you want a treat, but give yourself a time out. If you want a cake or brownie on Mon....make yourself wait until Wed. and make sure that the "treat" is absolutely worth it. Don't go for a treat that isn't out of this world amazing because it just isn't worth the extra calories.
Once you have started to detox from the little extra treats here and there, then start working on the fitness part. I personally think you NEED BOTH. The weights AND the cardio. If you are lacking in one area, then try pumping that area up a little. If you are only doing weights, then pick a day to skip weights and hit the treadmill. I was lacking a bit on the cardio side so 2 months ago I started to run on my treadmill (whereas before I was just fast walking) and while I do NOT enjoy running, I do enjoy the way I feel after running. So that has been my motivation because I like that exercise "high" that I get.
The whole maintenance thing is always the big mystery. Because we have all lost weight and gained it right back. But keep trying to figure out what works for you and most importantly DO NOT GIVE UP. Just take that off the table. Giving up is not an option. Hang in there!

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

As a single parent, I have had some of the same thoughts. The reality is this... I am probably more at risk of dying in an auto accident than from this surgery. Do I stop driving because it is possible that someone could hit me on the road? No. I drive safely and wear my seatbelt and take any other precautions I can when I am out there.
I am doing the same with the surgery. I am staying healthy pre-op to make my surgery go as smooth as possible and I picked a very experienced doctor for the same reason. I will lower my risk in all the ways I have control over and let the surgeon do the rest!

You have arrived mentally and physically! WOW!!!!! You are wonderful inside and out! I'm a hugger, so here it goes.

So I'm 5 weeks out and on solid foods.
I follow the rules- no fluids 30 minutes before or after food. I typically can get a portion the size of a deck of cards down, I feel this new odd feeling of restriction, and just 15-20 minutes later it's like I ate nothing.
I find the sleeve has made it much, much easier to resist the temptation to eat...but it is there, and I'm capable of it.
What gives?! This is an odd sensation.
Anyone else?
I intentionally eat "solid" food, it's been a piece of salmon wrapped in spinach for lunch, tonight at dinner it was chicken sausage. I am worried this is a sign of things to get worse. :/

Since I was in the process for over a year,,I had many food funerals. And then I would diet to make up for it,,back and forth I did this and it was so unhealthy. In the end I was just a few pounds up from my original weigh in but still,,I could've really blown it. I would not recommend alot of last suppers. Maybe plan 3 nice dinners where you don't really limit yourself..but be very careful the rest of the time. Just a suggestion but you don't want to have to lose even more weight after you are sleeved..or risk getting surgery cancelled because they think you aren't trying. I was freaking out the last week before my last clinical with the surgeon. I didn't want him to see me a ton heavier than when I began.

FYI: Dr. Cywes is the only surgeon of excellence among the 3. Another possible option is my surgeon. See his information on my signature. I know he takes tough cases, not sure about revisions. Might be worth a call. Best wishes!

GOOSEBUMPS!!!!!! Your video was awesome. You look like you have lost a lot more than 100 pounds. WOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go! You'll do great. I just got my approval so I'll be joining you soon!

Trixie, I'm finishing up my 2nd week post-op and I'm feeling the exact same things as you.
I came to a startling realization that I actually had/have a problem with food. Holy cow! I can't believe I was almost to 300 lbs and I honestly thought I didn't. I made good food choices, I didn't snack on crap all the time... but I ate too much quantity. Consistently & frequently to the point of feeling ill. This surgery has made me face this fact head on. I'm still struggling with old habits, bargaining with self, pity parties and the like, and I went through a VERY black couple of days at the end of the first week when I realized what had happened and there wasn't any going back.
But I'm getting better. The whole reason why I wanted this surgery in the first place was to completely eliminate the cheating, the bargaining, and the fatalistic thinking (e.g. "I blew it at lunch, might as well blow it at dinner too... in fact, might as well blow the rest of the week..."). Knowing myself as I did, I wanted a "hard stop" to all that behavior. And boy, I sure got it.
In the last couple of days it's become very clear to me that I've been eating to soothe pain and to fight sleepiness (I have fibromyalgia, among other things). Being off work has been a godsend in this department -- I am sleeping 8-10 hours a night and even napping on occasion. Before I was lucky to get 6 hours.
Now when my inner voice says, "I'm hungry," I do this little check-in on my physical state, and my emotional state. About 8 times out 10 it's reacting to pain, tiredness, anger, thirst, frustration, or just good-old boredom.
I've realized that it's important to remember there is a non-food solution for every one of these. I think this what people mean when they say "eating your feelings".

Something about chewing up a food and spitting it out just strikes me as wrong! LOL Someone here posted a thread about developing an eating disorder after surgery and mentioned the chew/spit cycle as well.
I'm really worried about crossover addictions and my mental attachment to food, so chew/spit doesn't sound like something I'd want to get into doing. Also, I had this surgery so I could live a more normal life. Normal people eat what they want, but they have the ability to stop when they are satisfied. That is what/how I want to relate to food.
For me, I think it would be unwise to get into the habit of chewing and spitting out my food. I am working to retrain my appetite to want what my body needs.

You know, most of us didn't have surgery to attract more attention from the opposite sex, but that attention certainly feeds the ego, doesn't it? I would call your experience a success story! And, seeing your picture, I see why he is tripping all over himself trying to get a peek at you! You're beautiful!!

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! Isn't it crazy AND wonderful that the first place we can turn to is this forum?
Will you be a December sleever?

I'm only 9 days post-op, but this surgery has given me one thing which I never thought I'd have again: hope.

Anything. Literally. I now know post-VSG that I can do anything I want. In the past week alone I have completed a 10 mile run, an hour long feisty yoga class, run a few intense business meetings and gone on vacation feeling NORMAL. I feel a little invincible these days and I'm not even at goal yet.

I have a couple--First, I can rehearse and perform with my choir without getting all hot and sweaty. I'm a conductor, and let's just say that pre-surgery, the after-concert congratulations were HORRIBLE for me, as I was completely soaking wet, felt dreadfully unfeminine, and just was embarrassed by the whole thing. Now, not only can I work in comfort, I can wear cute conductor clothes (yay!) and dressy heels without any problem! It's wonderful to be able to project a professional, calm, feminine appearance while working, especially since I am in a high people-intense profession, what with large groups of people onstage and in the audience.
Second, I don't feel like I take up all the room in a hallway or a crowded space. Before, I felt so "in the way," always feeling like I was HUGE (because I'm really tall AND I was really fat)--I tended to avoid parties, avoid gatherings where people would be standing or sitting in close spaces, and I just self-isolated socially because I hated feeling like I was taking up all the available space. I still tend to stay to the sides of rooms out of habit, but I'm not always conscious of it any more like I used to be. Like someone above said, I feel like my outside is finally starting to match my inside--and I like it!!!! I caught sight of my reflection in a window yesterday and was PLEASED with how I look. It's been DECADES since that happened. I'm wearing high-school-size clothing (14's, thank you very much, from a tight 26/28!) and enjoy dressing now.
I think that's the deal--bottom line, I'm just happier with how I look and I'm less stressed out about it. What a relief!!! LOVE MY SLEEVE!!

What a great topic!! I have two....the first one is the fact that I have SO much more energy!! I'm not so exhausted at the end of the day and I actually get bored or restless if I'm sitting around for too long! The other is I love that I'm able to get on the floor and play with my 3yr old....and then I'm able to get back UP! lol My sleeve and my losses have allowed me to be a better, more involved mommy!!

Walking!!! That's my biggest accomplishment since surgery, so far! Before surgery, I could barely waddly my fat boo-tay from the house to the car. Walking around a store exhausted me! I started walking up and down my hallway, then around the end of my building, and then on the treadmill. I'm still slowly increasing my distance, but I walked the length of the mall and back a week or so ago and I wasn't tired!!
That's amazing to me!! I keep looking for the NSVs, but being able to walk some distance is my favorite thing so far! (Looking better doesn't hurt either!)