Phoenix Rising

No you are not the slowest loser. I think I can knock you sideways when it comes to slow losing. I had my op on 19/3/12 and in the first two weeks I lost 17 lbs, then I hit an 8 week stall. I have now lost a total since my op of 23 lbs. I am losing inches, doing plenty of exercise and being a total saint in following the dietary suggestions of my doctor. However, I do have a huge Water retention problem that is making this losing business go at a snails pace.

I know how hard it is to keep the faith and keep trying when it appears that nothing is working. Do keep up with it, eventually it will happen. I have started losing again, albeit very slowly still. I just have to be patient and my body will let it happen when it is ready.

I know how hard it is when it seems that everyone on this forum loses weight every day, but believe me there are a lot of us who are doing it by quarter pounds weekly rather than the 4 or 5 lbs weekly that others lose.

As long as you are doing what is required by your doctor, then you just have to be patient and believe. I hope things start moving for you soon, but remember you are never alone in this and together we can do this.

Phoenix

I really feel for you, I too am not losing any poundage at the moment and have been this way for the last 5 weeks!!!!! I am losing inches for which I am grateful, but...I long to see that scale move. I know when I go back for my second dr's visit they are not going to be happy with me, but what can I do. I think we just have to hunker down and hang in there. Eventually it must happen, but why can't it happen now??????????

I always cut up my food into small pieces and after putting some in my mouth I put down my cutlery. Chew for a count of at least 30. Then swallow. The more you do it the easier it gets. I haven't been sick or had the slimes or even got uncomfortable yet. Practise, practise, practise.

Hi Lissa, the difference is amazing. Well done you. Not only half way there but kudos on the exercising to tone up too. I hope I am as successful as you have been. Give yourself a pat on the back.

Congratulations, well done.

Wow, how lucky were you? Who knew that a few short months could make such a difference. Love the plate dilemma.

Hi, I am one week and one day post op. I have had a really easy time of it. No pain, able to drink easily so could get in all my Water and Protein. I was able to take medication from day one with no problems. In fact I was seriously wondering if they had actually done my op! The only thing that has changed is seeing, smelling and being around food doesn't bother me now. For that I am truly grateful. I am looking forward to being able to chew something though, I really miss that.

You are doing fantastically. Loved your post and I can just imagine the huge smile on your husbands face. Go girl go.

I haven't told people either, so I am planning on saying that I am on a liquid diet that is really working for me and don't want to break it. It's only for another couple of weeks and will be so worth it in the end. I have been surrounded by family eating all sorts of things but it really hasn't bothered me too much as I know I just can't risk eating these things now as my sleeve is too new. Go to the party, chat all the time, and most people won't even notice. Good Luck.

Thanks everyone, for all your good wishes.

Bella143, I am feeling just fine thanks, get a little uncomfortable just before I am due my painkillers but that soon sorts it out. Just feel really grateful that I have had so little pain. Hope you feel better soon.

Smontgomery, I hope you get to go home soon, I felt so much better once I was on my home turf.

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you all know I was sleeved on Monday 19th March and allowed home on Tuesday 20th March. I feel fine, exactly as I expected and will tell all on my blog as usual. Just wanted to say YEAH, I'm here and thrilled that I made it this far. It can only get better.

I do know how you feel as I am on day 7 of a 19 day liquid diet. We are not allowed Protein Drinks other than plain milk. I had been doing great but today has been awful. But, we will get through this and afterwards we will look back and think...it wasn't that bad. (I hope) Keep on keeping on.

I chose mine because I plan to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of my former fat self! (4 more weeks, then surgery.)

It most certainly does not gross me out, it totally delights me. It's reading posts like this that keep me on track and eagerly awaiting my own surgery. I too had a wonderful valentines day with the love of my life. We have been together for 33 years and married for 30 of them. He has always been by my side whatever size I have been and we both are hoping for similar results to yours (although I have way more poundage to lose) Enjoy your golden years, especially those 'teenage' moments. You have worked hard for them and can now share so much more together.

Hi Everyone, I am 55 and have another six weeks to go before I am sleeved. I am struggling to keep my weight down as I must to get my surgery. (I am having it on the NHS and they insist on you staying at the set 10% loss you had to achieve to get on the list, and not regaining before surgery) I have been struggling all my life with weight and been at my highest for the last twenty years. I think that may have a big effect on how my skin looks after weightloss!!! I can't wait to join all of you who have been sleeved, your stories keep me plugging away and with luck I shall soon be able to share my successes with you. Did any of you worry about the possibilities of dying? I don't want to bring anyone down or cause any worries but I have been writing letters to my family just in case. Is this crazy, I am pretty positive and feel I will come through surgery ok but just want to cover all bases. I couldn't bear it if the worst happened and I hadn't had a chance to tell them all how much they mean to me. Did anyone else do this? Or is it just me?

Wow, thanks everyone for your replies and your encouragement. I guess that's why I am such a dedicated lurker. Perhaps I should try and post more often.

Rootman: it really helped to know I am not alone, even if it sounds that everyone is doing ok it helped me to know that is not always the case. Does that sound awful, I feel better because other people feel bad, eugh, not nice but I suppose human! We all want to be understood I guess. Congratulations by the way on a fantastic weight loss.

thebionicbroad: that was a great way of putting it and it does feel better to know that there are other lurkers who feel like I do. Thank you

JayhawkJess33: Yes your right, I should just take each day at a time and hopefully at the end of it it will all work out in the end.

LilMissDiva: Hello again, you could be right about the stress. I have been extra stressed recently and that does have a bad effect on me. I suppose it often takes fresh eyes to see a problem. I have tried a private message to SmkyMntnGirl and until Nov 11 she had been replying but nothing since. I don't feel that she would not respond knowing I was worried for her. (which makes me all the more concerned) Thanks for the hugs, they came at the right time.

Finaly4me: I like the idea of a journal and might try that. Unfortunately I have no one in my area to talk to and only my husband knows about my future surgery. He is very supportive but he has never been overweight so although he tries to really understand how I feel about it, it is just not the same as someone who has been there. Congrats on the 'running' I am too heavy to run but am doing as much walking as I can.

I don't post much but I read everyday, everyone seems so upbeat and appears to be doing wonderfully, preparing for surgery. Am I the only one who is really struggling? My weight has been going up and down like the proverbial yoyo! I am desperately trying to hold down the 10% loss that I had to do to get on the surgery list. It has been a full scale struggle. I am terrified that I won't be able to keep it off until March 19, my surgery date. I am not eating more or doing anything 'wrong' or different so why does my weight keep going up and down. :confused_smile:

I am also getting really concerned about one of our number who has been absent from this board for some time. Has anyone heard from SmokyMtnGrl. I know she had her surgery and was doing very well but I have not heard from her or seen anything posted from her since early November 11.

I have been reading all the comments and heartily agree with most of them. I must have a little mean streak in me though, as I would hand back any of her clothes that you have got too small for and say with a really big smile on my face...I thought I would return these to you as I am sure you will need them again and I most definately won't!

This 'competition' that she is having, is already won by you, as you know all those pounds lost will never be visiting you again. Congratulations on how far you've come and enjoy every future pound you lose.

You have put into words so much of what I have felt since being on this site. The six weeks will fly by now and I look forward to your next letter to your sleeve. You know, the one where you congratulate it on a job well done. Best wishes on your journey

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. She is truly beautiful. I hope you, your husband and son enjoy this wonderful addition to your family. The photographs are so lovely, thank you for sharing a very special and private moment with us all.

Aw, thanks SmokyMtnGal,

I am doing some walking but that is about all I can manage at the moment. Partly because of bad knees and the fact that I haven't eaten anything for the last 7 weeks. I just get so tired. Still I am happy to have lost the weight I needed to lose and I plan to lose a little extra so I am well within their guidelines. How's everything going with you?

Had to go and see my own doctor the other day and thank goodness I did. He has put me back on my old Water tablets, I have lost the extra water weight and another 3lbs ordinary 'fat' weight Hooray! He says I can stay on these water tablets until I have reached the required weight and then he will look into changing them. (He thinks that if I get through and have the surgery fairly quickly that I won't need them for much longer anyway) Thank heavens for the voice of reason. I feel so much happier and know that they will have to accept me now as I have lost the 5% already. I will carry on with the diet until I seem them again though, just to be sure and hopefully lose some more weight so I can really tell 'that woman' where to shove it.

Well, you may have gathered from the topic title that my last appointment did not go well. I think you could call that an understatement. As many of you will have seen from my last posting I have been having huge problems with Water retention and water tablets not working. I decided to return to my old water tablets on the day of my appointment and did lose 9lbs of water in just over 3.5 hours. Hooray! So that helped alot but I was still carrying at least another 5lbs extra water.

Soooo, I went and got weighed and then we had the talk...obviously I had not lost the 5% required and therefore they could not put me forward for surgery. (I had lost the weight but then had the problem with the water tablets and gained water weight!) I explained about the water tablets (that they insisted should be changed!) but it didn't help at all. The woman I was dealing with was just so unhelpful and unfeeling. I showed her my ankles (they were measuring over 16 inches and so full of water/oedema it was impossible to miss) She said and I quote " lots of people have water tablets and they all manage to lose the 5% required!" I was devastated. I asked to speak to someone else above her as I couldn't believe her attitude. The upshot is they are giving me another two weeks to reach the 5% goal. I hope I can do it but with all this water still hanging around I am seriously worried, as they still want me to use the other tablets!!!!! Are they mad, what part of, they are not working, don't they understand. Sometimes I really worry about the NHS and their not too bright staff. (that is not really fair as most people are just brilliant - I was just really 'lucky' and got the moron!)

So here we go again, the milk diet for another two weeks (that will make a total of 8 weeks) and if by week one the water is just sitting there I am definitely going against their advice and using my old tablets! Sorry for going on, but I really needed to get that off my chest.

Thanks Oregondaisy, it is a pretty harsh diet but I have been on it before and survived. You get used to it. I am still having a lot of Water problems and look a bit like the goodyear blimp at the moment. I go tomorrow for the weigh in and will hear what they decide then. Keep everything crossed for me.

Congratulations!!!

Wow, you must be over the moon. I am really happy for you and if I am honest just a tinge green with envy.

I shall be thinking of you on the 19th and will want to hear everything about it as soon as you are able to post. Good luck, you are most definitely on your way to a new you.