LindaS

I will be two years out next month. I still eat mostly Protein, and if I stick to that I have great restriction. But, I do allow myself to eat other things. For instance, this summer I will eat an ice cream treat when my family does that. At home, I keep Greek Yogurt for my treat, but if we are out and about on a hot day, I won't skip the treat.
For me, I think the biggest difference is my tolerance for sweet stuff.
Right after surgery, I had absolutely no tolerance for anything even slightly sweet. The mildest flavor seemed very strong to me.
I believe this is because of the restrictive diet I had been on (pre-op diet, post-op diet). My surgeon's guidelines kept me on liquid with Protein for something like 8 weeks in a row (two pre-op). My diet was so bland that when I finally did start eating regular food, it tasted horrible.
Almost two years later, my diet isn't as bland. The ice cream is appealing again.
So, I can eat things I wouldn't have right after surgery. However, I still have restriction.
I think the best thing about this whole experience is that I now eat more "normal" than I ever had in my life. My portions are sized right.
I also know that I don't have to eat everything I'm served. It has become normal for me to leave food on my plate.
I say this knowing that there are also "quirks" in my new diet that I never had before. The other day, I was eating out with my family and had limited options. I ordered chicken strips. When I was done eating, my daughter questioned me about why I had left the breading on my plate. She wanted to know if it was something I couldn't eat. I could eat it, but breading/bread/carbs make me feel full and bloated, so I tend to avoid them. I had peeled off the breading to get to the chicken underneath (protein!). I hadn't even realized what I'd done until my daughter commented on it.

I was 255 when I had surgery. I am 5'7, so my BMI was right around yours. Almost everyone told me that I was too small to need weight loss surgery. They said I didn't need to, that I wasn't fat, and I could do it on my own. They loved me like I was and why would I want surgery?
I knew I was obese, but those around me didn't see it.
It wasn't until after I started losing weight and family members went back and saw pictures of what I used to look like that they realized how big I was before. But most don't remember how big I was unless I remind them, and I do.
I saved my fat clothes from my "before" picture and put them on to compare how far I've come. I'm going to add that picture here. I am now 172, which is a loss of 83 pounds.

I turn 40 in six days. I had my sleeve done 5 days ago. While I was in the hospital, my dentist's office called and asked me if I could come in. I have been working with him for a while on some teeth issues, and I was supposed to have some kind of device to wear for six months to fix a problem. There has been problems getting a lab to make the device, so it hasn't happened yet. He wanted to meet with me to talk about my options.
It turns out, he had consulted about my case with an orthodontist. He found out that I can fix my concern and fix some minor spacing problems I have in about 18 months if I have braces instead.
Braces. At 40. Plus massive weight loss?
It is something I would have done normally. I have been working on getting this problem with my one tooth fixed for more than a year now. It's a slow process. If it wasn't for the weight loss that I expect to have, I wouldn't hesitate getting the braces.
But both together? Braces and massive weight loss? It makes me feel like I'm going through a midlife crisis and focusing too much on my looks. Although, technically, my teeth aren't a deterrent in terms of my looks. The one tooth comes down too far, and it needs to go back up, but if they are doing all of that, I could actually have these other things taken care of as well. The cost for fixing the one thing is the same as the cost of fixing it all with actual braces.
If financing can be figured out (I have already paid for 2 sets of braces for one of my kids and just had two more kids put into braces that I will be paying for over the next couple years), I will do it. But boy, by the time I'm 42, I'll be looking quite a bit different.

Hello my fellow sleevers
I was sleeved on March 29th. I come from a hispanic culture where we love eating, especially carbs!! My highest weight was 325, date of surgery weight was 304, and my current weight is 269!! I'm 5'9". I would always use large beach towels after showering, but those are BYE-BYE, and will only be used for beach/pool purposes. As of 6/11/2013, I actually use a regular size towel, and it actually closes on me now (whereas a couple months ago, I had to use two!!). I'm happy

So, I am new to the vertical sleeve community, new to the world of blogging, and new to support groups in general. In my weight loss journey my greatest challenge has been coping with a lack of family support. Not blaming others, just frustrated with the resistance that I receive. I should have sought support from a community such as this a long time ago; perhaps this journey would have been a bit less bumpy, no pun intended . In an effort to make behavior change, here I am. My surgery is scheduled for July 2, 2013 and I am very excited, scared, and hopeful. I am having it done with Dr. Onopochencko and am so far very impressed with his presence, experience, and patient satisfaction. I am 35 yo, 5'2, and weigh 265 lbs - can't believe I just put this information online!!!! Not sure what else to say; think this is a good start for me... thanks for being here!

I am just over 2.5 years post op, and sometimes we forget how far we have come. Lately I have been struggling a little with body image and my head and NSV's elude me. While the other day, I did something that I never thought I would be able to do. I was at the playground with my children and decided to give the monkey bars a whirl. I am 34 years old and have NEVER been able to go across monkey bars, not even as a child (my weight struggles began in Kindergarten). With some determination, I crossed the monkey bars!! I thought my arms were going to fall off afterwards and I may have pulled a muscle, but I still did it!

I have the gap left open from where i lost my molar. My orthodontist and dentist decided that was the best method. Once i get my braces off i will need an implant.
I think its good to care about our dental health, even cosmetically. If i am working my butt off exercising, eating right and making myself healthy.....i am going to do the whole package!
Heck, i even traded the glasses in for contacts finally! I am a whole new girl when people see me! Complete with braces to match my kids!

Thanks for the braces suggestion, but I do not think I will be doing those torture devices again. One time for, what, 6 years is enough for me. The headaches are still fresh from middle school and high school from all that tightening. Nope, I do not think so, not again.

Oh great! Another slam at me! And after I put up the Flame Shields!
Fine, now you've gone too far. I'm going to post an angry rant on my Facebook page. Where my minions agree with everything I say.
Ohhhh....Pizza grease, yuuuummmmmm. That's almost a clear liquid, right?
Would you two settle for a cronut? I hear they're all the rage in NY city now - and a real delicacy. Apparently the bakery only makes a few hundred per day and people are now selling them in the classifieds for as much as $40 each.

I didn't "cut off 2/3s" of my stomach so I could eat less. I had a surgical procedure to help me lose weight and be healthy. Which I have done. I'm 20 months post op and am healthy and happy, maintaining my goal weight for an entire year.

I am 16 months post-op.
1) is it a totally different life style? It isn't totally different, but I have made changes. I have a job that requires me to sit at a computer for big chunks of the day. I recently changed my desk to a stand-up desk in order to help myself move more. I work out (and make time for working out), which is something I didn't do in the past. The rest is pretty much the same.
Do you go out to eat and just eat less, or totally avoid it? ,
I do still go out to eat, and it is something we do pretty frequently both pre and post op. I just make good choice and don't feel compelled to eat everything.
Do you eat differently from the rest of the family?
Yes and no. I can eat the same things my family eats, but I eat much smaller portions. But just because I can doesn't mean I do. I tend to modify my meals. For instance, if my family has spaghetti, I just eat the meat sauce and only a few noodles. If they have pizza, I might eat the toppings off one piece and then have something with Protein in it.
I am still in the weight-loss stage, so I am still drinking Protein drinks for some of my meals. I usually do this when I am working or my family is gone. I sometimes just have a bite or two of something like potatoes.
My eating isn't strange enough that people comment on it when we go out to eat.
Can you do everything physically that you did before?
I can and actually I can do so much MORE than I did before. This summer, we went on a very physical vacation, and I was able to do all of it including a very steep, hilly four-mile hike that I wouldn't have been able to do before my surgery. I was also easily able to go up into a lighthouse, and I think I would have had trouble fitting in the tight spaces before my surgery.
Has your life changed drastically in any way?
No. I am still happily married, employed and mother of four kids.
2) how has your life changed mentally?
Before my surgery, I had this voice in my head that constantly brought me down mentally. It would be the voice that told me I was fat and couldn't do this or that or would notice my butt overflowing the chair I was sitting in and that my waist band was cutting into my belly and how big my thighs were and how hard it was to bend over to pick something up off the floor. I would hear myself breathing heavily when climbing stairs and dreaded seeing someone at that point that expected me to talk too.
After my surgery, the voice in my head shut up. I don't have the negative self talk constantly in my head, and I am happier because of it. I'm quicker to smile and laugh and am not afraid to try something because I'm worried I won't fit.
Of course, the obvious, looking and feeling better. Anything else? I'm more flexible, which can be handy in certain rooms of the house.
Has it been worth it?
Yes!

thanks for the replies, they all make sense! As Gok would say; 'it's all about the confidence!' Which, by the way, I still lack! But I am working on it.
I have got the knack of good underwear now, it has taken me some time, but I am there! Makes a huge difference to the overall shape of the garment.
I suppose I just have to get used to the feeling of clothes on my skin, as opposed to baggy clothes that just brushed over the skin! Time to re think and build up my wardrobe!
I'm looking forward to being able to exercise again, fully, so I can continue to shape and tone... I think that will help.
On the topic of the muffin top, even after my TT I still have one, albeit much smaller... I suppose I expected it to be gone! But I think once I can do proper ab work that will at least reduce it - I don't think I will ever be perfect... just want to 'look good naked!' - God! I love Gok!

Thank you everyone for your insightful compassionate words of wisdom and encouragement, <3.
The majority of the trauma has happened since January, one thing right after another, without the opportunity to take a breath, gather my strength, or find hope. It has seriiously been some horrific devastation every few weeks, unceasing, since January. My gallbladder, 2 weeks later my father, a week later I left and my Mom had to sell, , few weeks later I deploy, 2 weeks later the IRS, now the scariness of what's happening here ... I don't want to be a victim, I want to rise to every challenge but ENOUGH WITH THE FU**!NG CHALLENGES ALREADY! enough, universe, enough.
I'm starting to wonder, do any of us actually know how to lose weight? It doesn't seem reasonable that the only way I'm going to lose a significant amount of weight is by eating 600 calories a day, by starving myself basically. That makes me angry, I am angry! With every advance in science and all these damn doctors telling us what to do, nobody actually seems to have a clue as to how to lose weight that doesn't involve some gimmick. I want to know how many calories and activity per day a naturally skinny person does, a person who makes a point of exercising and eating healthfully but doesn't track either.
Sorry, rant.
I have weighed 125 before, I have memories of what I felt like at that weight and I liked it, I was at my most athletic, my fastest at that weight. Since surgery the lowest I got was 165 and I was very very strong from constantly exercising and strength training and I felt awesome. The floppy flesh and skin was awkward and solidified my decision to someday have plastics. My Mother and Grandmothers at this age were curvacious but not fat, judging from photos I would say that they were all somewhere in the low 130s, the g-mothers were shorter by a few inches, Mom taller by a half inch.
The desire for carbs is overwhelming, I was doing so good yesterday, and then I was cramming plain tortilla chips (super salty) into my mouth like it would save the world. v.v
Also (tmi alert) I realized that one of the justifications for reintroducing carbs was that staying extremely low carb results in ... painful attempts at BMs, resulting in overuse of MoM or other things. But I noticed that a cheap carb got things moving nicely ... so, now that I am back on high Protein low carb (attempting anyway), I have noticed it reverting, not fun ...
In answer to someone who suggested I see a therapist, I would love to see a therapist but someone equipped to handle our issues, doesn't exist here. When it comes to weight the army is still very much into the blame game and not interested in exploring the reasons behind the results.
So far today, 4 oz egg white/ham/cheese omelet, coffee w 1%, sf Torani. lunch will be tuna if I can find it, dinner, a chicken breast if I'm lucky. snack, Jerky.< /p>

OMG I struggle with this quite a lot. The anger. HOW in the heck can I eat 1,200 OR less and only maintain my weight. I do not understand the science of the metabolically altered body after surgery and sometimes it just ticks me off. But then the little angel on my shoulder says "this is what you signed up for, deal with it, and deal with it gracefully." And then when I put 3.5 oz of chicken on my plate and FEEL FULL I'm eternally grateful. lol Such a push and pull. Just wanted to say that I struggle with this too.

I was 255 when I had surgery. I am 5'7, so my BMI was right around yours. Almost everyone told me that I was too small to need weight loss surgery. They said I didn't need to, that I wasn't fat, and I could do it on my own. They loved me like I was and why would I want surgery?
I knew I was obese, but those around me didn't see it.
It wasn't until after I started losing weight and family members went back and saw pictures of what I used to look like that they realized how big I was before. But most don't remember how big I was unless I remind them, and I do.
I saved my fat clothes from my "before" picture and put them on to compare how far I've come. I'm going to add that picture here. I am now 172, which is a loss of 83 pounds.

No regrets here. I'm almost 2 years out (surgery day Aug. 9, 2011). I feel great and am able to do so much more. The only thing that is a downer is that my teenage girls now borrow my clothes.

No regrets here. I'm almost 2 years out (surgery day Aug. 9, 2011). I feel great and am able to do so much more. The only thing that is a downer is that my teenage girls now borrow my clothes.

No regrets here. I'm almost 2 years out (surgery day Aug. 9, 2011). I feel great and am able to do so much more. The only thing that is a downer is that my teenage girls now borrow my clothes.

No regrets here. I'm almost 2 years out (surgery day Aug. 9, 2011). I feel great and am able to do so much more. The only thing that is a downer is that my teenage girls now borrow my clothes.

No regrets here. I'm almost 2 years out (surgery day Aug. 9, 2011). I feel great and am able to do so much more. The only thing that is a downer is that my teenage girls now borrow my clothes.

I love myfitnesspal. I think I'm actually addicted to logging. It's definitely a way for me to feel in control. I also love the forums over there.

Hi all,
I posted in the Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery Story thread, but wanted to post here too. It's my two year surgiversary today. Looking forward to another year at goal.
I love my sleeve. In honor of my surgiversary, I have finally updated my profile pic, status, and added my surgery story and goal pics to my profile.
Lynda

There are a couple of sites online that let you see people who are the same height and weight and how different they look.
One is here: http://www.mybodygallery.com/
Here is another one: http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/heightweight.html

Overall, I probably have about a 7. Some days I am a 10, and some days I think I'm about a minus 5000... okay, really about a 3. Seriously, it's normal to have ups and downs - if you're highly stressed or exhausted or ill willpower becomes more difficult to maintain. Under normal circumstances, I can keep myself on track, but there are days where I ditch going to the gym or decide that I *am* going to eat a few spoons of seriously good ice cream - but I have enough willpower to still go out and have a walk or honestly only eat about a 1/4 cup of the ice cream. Other days I pull my big girl panties up tight and tough it out.
We're human. We won't be perfect. There's every chance we will make not-wise choices occasionally. The more important thing is acknowledging and owning the mistake, picking yourself up and getting back on track. Don't let guilt send you into a downward spiral. Don't let it get out of control and send you into a cheating binge. One small cheat is not a failure - it's a setback that is usually easily dealt with.

Hello fellow sleevers,
I am now just over 6 weeks post TT and uplift and I can't tell you how happy I am that I have turned the corner. I ain't gonna lie, it has been a tough 6 weeks, not physically but mentally and emotionally but that is for another post...
Anyhoo, today is the first day that I have been able to wear my post op jeans (my original size goal; UK 14) - before now the swelling was sooo bad, even with compression garments and control pants on that they wouldn't do up and were tight on the legs... booo!
I wore them today and they were big... yes big! So, as we were shopping I picked up a new pair, one size smaller as an incentive and a 'work in progress' pair. I couldn't wait to try them on and when I did... drum roll please... they only bloody fit!
Yes, I could do them up, all the way and I could sit in them. Ok, so they were a little tight but not too tight that I felt like I was about to turn blue and pass out...lol.
As a foot note, I am the same weight now as I was pre TT even though the surgeon removed nearly 3 1/2 lb of skin (that is one mighty apron, apparently the 'normal' or average amount of skin removed weighs around a pound!) So, perhaps when all the swelling has gone away they will be my new 'comfy' jeans!
I have not been able to fit in a size UK 12 (US 8-10?) for over twenty years... I can't put in to words how happy, proud and well, chuffed to Beans I am!
Did I say I was happy? lol
Oh, when I saw my PS he cleared me for light exercise and light ab work... so today i did 100 squats - easy peasy - 20 push ups of the table x 2 and 20 pelvic curls with 20 upper curls... so, that is another NSV!!
I think that I might be getting my mo jo back...lol!