Veda

Refreshing that you are so honest about how you feel. Agree with other posters that you have to look how far you have come. Look how close your goal is now.
You've been on boards for a while, so you know it has take Coops over two years to hit goal, she was a really slow loser. But she keep, on track and plugging along. Losing is tough business. Pat yourself on the back for all you do and now try shaking things up a little. Take an extra walk every day this week for 1/2 hour, add protien only calories this week or cut your carbs in half for this week only. Does it make a difference?
No matter what, don't give in. You are a winner & a real loser, right?

This is on my Drs. page, I am at four months out. My surgeon's PA explained at each appointment what I should and should eat and gave me a handout of the phases. I had a one week follow up, two week, then six week, then three month. In two months I have my six month follow up where blood work will be done. Maybe this will give you a guideline if you don't have a clear one from your surgeon.
http://www.wheatoniowa.org/programs-services/weight-loss-surgery/patient-education/diet-and-nutrition.aspx

I'd get the sleeve done! Gastric bypass was too drastic for me personally. I'm 23 and I started out at 225 lbs. The sleeve was better suited for my situation.
I'm less than 5 lbs away from goal and I do worry about gaining back the weight. But, there are a lot of people who gain back weight after the gastric bypass too. Maintenance is going to be difficult no matter how you lost the weight.

How bizarre. In 18 months, I've gone from an XXL (bordering on XXXL) everywhere with a 46 (going on 48) inch jeans waistline, to XL in the shoulders, L bordering on M in the waist, and M for undershorts. And my jeans are 36 inch waist, and that's getting a little baggy; I can now fit into 34's without too much work, and I expect to be comfortably wearing 34's by the summer (doubt I'll get much smaller than that, since that's basically my hip bones!)

I've basically gone from being shaped like a giant jiggling amorphous blob to having the classic male "inverted wedge" shape with a tiny little stubborn tummy roll (I HATE you, jelly roll, I hate you! I do crunches and obliques EVERY SINGLE DAY and yet still you persist...). I seriously NEVER expected that I could look in the mirror and LIKE what I see. It just didn't occur to me. I find that my self-criticism is having a hard time lately; since it can't point at all my rolls and rolls of fat, it's having to do things like point out that I'm getting older (see! you have a sprinkling of silver at your temples! see! there's a faint visible line on your brow! old man!) and the last little bits of fat (see! there's a jelly roll at your tummy and especially on your flanks... FATTY!). In some ways that's sad that I talk like that to myself (but don't we all, secretly?) but in some ways it's kinda comical that this little sad cynical part of me is having a harder and harder time finding things to complain about!
I've gone from being utterly invisible to the female gender; an "LJBF" (let's just be friends) kinda guy -- friendly, smart, nice, but sexy? no... To having the very cute 20-something barristas at the local coffee shop openly flirting with me (a 40-something guy!) whenever I go in. In fact, that's one change I have a hard time dealing with, since -- at the tender young age of 41 -- I have almost zero experience in dealing with women reacting to me physically -- you know, as a male -- as opposed to simply emotionally or mentally. The idea that some woman might think I'm physically "hot" -- well, that's a completely new experience to me. I'm not Brad Pitt, but you know... I'm not bad looking! That's an utterly novel feeling for me. But I like it, and better late than never!
I went from being unable to walk more than a couple of blocks without being in excruciating pain from sore feet, sore knees, and chafing thighs... from being unable to stand up for any length of time because it made my lower back hurt... from being unable to run for more than a couple dozen feet without becoming EXTREMELY winded... to being a guy who hits the gym five days a week for weights. A guy who walks 2.5 miles every day without breaking more than a light sheen of sweat (and that's at about 4mph, up a rather steep hill half the way). A guy who runs -- RUNS! -- for five minutes to warm up for his workouts, and is seriously considering whether or not he could actually, you know, RUN for exercise in the mornings (when it's not so goddawful cold, anyway). I mean, who IS this guy?
I've gone from a heart attack waiting to happen, high blood pressure on the border of needing medication, diabetes any day now, zero energy, zero libido, always sick to never sick, perfect blood pressure (104/68!), perfect blood sugar numbers, almost zero risk of heart attack, high energy with the libido of a teenager.
All this is in the course of 18 short months. I haven't worn a 34 inch waist since elementary school. I haven't been a "normal" weight since, well, ever. It's easy to lose track of it since it's the new normal (oh and, hint to guys getting older: the gym is your FRIEND!) but when I look back on how much things have changed in less than two years, it's just... astounding.

It's like I've lived my life as two different people -- and folks, that first guy sucked.

I just had to share that because I know all too well just how easy it is to become so focused on the negatives (and let's face it, if you look hard enough, you'll ALWAYS be able to find something about your body that you don't like) and overlook the incredible, unbelievable, amazing positives.

Reading this post and comments gives me chills. Going to bed with a heart full of thanksgiving. I was feeling sorry for myself, but not now. My best wishes for those of you who have suffered from losses due to fires.
By the way, I had a super easy time of it being sleeved. However, I was ordered not to lift more than 15 pounds and to rest. It would be difficult for me to follow these instructions if I was displaced from my home. Wishing you the best as you go through a difficult adjustment.

Wow! I am so touched by the postive encouragement here. Your responses are very helpful. I still have not lost more, but I do feel like relaxing about it is the best way to live without measuring each day with the scale. Cheri, you are right! When I stop and think about it, I doubt I got sleeved to end up a year or two from now with only a 27 pound loss. Sooner or later, the weight is bound to come off.

I think too many of us focus on the fast losers when we're planning for surgery and then we assume that once we're sleeved the weight is going to just fly off.
Not everyone is so lucky.
My starting weight is close to your preop weight but you must be taller than my 5'1" and some change because my BMI was much higher at your current weight.
I was a slow loser. Slower, I guess. There are a handful of people here that are even slower than I was. It took me 17 months to hit goal, to lose 107 pounds.
You cannot compare yourself to everyone else. If you're doing the right things and still losing, the sleeve is working. You can try to adjust your food or exercise for a better result but I caution you against doing anything drastic that you won't be able to maintain. Part of why the sleeve is great is that it does away with the need for that diet mentality and helps you build positive habits you can maintain forever. Some folks cut the carbs down to 20 a day, something I consider extreme, but if they can live their lives that way and get great results then it works for them.
My biggest piece of advice isn't one you'll like, but it's something you're going to have to get used to at some point or another. RELAX.
That's it. Because this isn't a race. I promise you, 85% of your stomach just got removed from your body so you're going to lose weight. I see this over and over and over again on the boards - people just so frustrated and worked up because they expected to lose the weight faster, or people that get mad because they feel they didn't need the surgery if they were going to be slow losers.
It took me 17 months to reach goal. It took me 17 YEARS to go from where I am now to my high weight. Am I any less pleased with my success because it took me longer to get here? Nope. I'm happy as can be.
Track your food. Eat responsibly. Get your Protein in, drink your Water, start moving more. In six months you're going to be posting that you're nearly to goal. Give your body a chance to recover from the fact that it's lost 27 pounds and undergone a major surgery the last two months. And yes, even if you want to break the scale sometimes, and even if you don't lose for two weeks of the month (like me) you're going to lose this weight.
So, RELAX.
~Cheri

You are doing fine Veda. :-)

Veda, I think if you'll take a closer look at people's tickers on this site you'll find you're doing just fine! Yes there are people who lose pounds really quickly, but they're generally (1) men (da## their fast metabolisms!), (2) much higher BMI, or (3) much younger. Also, I think most of us have a certain number of "easy" pounds to lose - water retention, or whatever. Those of us who did a pre-op diet got those out off the way already. I started with a BMI of about 37 (before pre-op diet), and I averaged closer to 10 pounds a month loss. 6 months out, I'm in the normal BMI range, and less than 5 pounds from my surgeon's goal, and my losses are slowing a bit.
You should also account for the usual 3rd week stall most people experience.
In short, you're doing great!! I know it's more exciting to see the scale numbers plummet, but honestly, at your weight you've ot plenty of time to make it to goal. This part of your journey is really about developing the new habits with food that will help you STAY at goal in the years to come!! Slightly slower losses help minimize saggy skin too!
Please, don't make yourself crazy trying to speed up your losses. Stick with the plan, get your protein in to help with healing, get some exercise in as you can to keep your metabolism going, and you'll do great!

Any of the mint flavored Orbit gum works for hours. It doesn't lose it's flavor and keeps my breath in decent shape.

I was fortunate to speak to a friend who had success with the sleeve. I researched many hours for safe places to go and after that, I went to a general information day at the surgeons' office - there are 3 surgeons there who only do WLS. They answered all my questions. I booked my surgery date right then and there! The medical tests took a while due to things that had to be addressed before surgery - another bonus is finding out more than I ever knew about my health!
From start to finish it was 2 to 2.5 months.
Finding the right surgeon for me was so comforting. When I needed addtional encouragement, I found it through a local meet-up group and with people on this forum. I am 11 days out and have had a super easy time of it. My life now has room in it to think about something besides food or losing weight. I am finally free!!!
The best to you!

I am 9 days post-op and can feel tension rising the past 2 days. I have enjoyed being at home and having some flexible time. My job is extremely stressful so having surgery was a break from being all things to all people - or at least this is how I was feeling before surgery. I find myself dreading (and resenting) the return to work on Thursday, the same way I do most Sundays before the start of the work week on Mondays.
Going through the process of being sleeved has given me an opportunity to reassess the journey that led to where I am at now. For me, I will work to make changes that allow me to have more of myself. This may mean trading in a high paying job for one that is less stressful.
I'm not sure if this resonates with you at all, but it seems that stressful jobs is something we have in common.

hi Veda - I'm so sorry you're feeling weak. :sorry: My goodness you're able to accomplish things that i've heard are hard. Getting all your H20 and Protein in and even starting towards a marathon :youcandothis: But you are allowed to be tired, taking naps etc. You're doing everything right - I think time will make you better - one day at a time right?
You're surgery being only a couple of weeks ago (11/18/11) get off your back. You will feel better soon. Keep doing what you are doing - and being a bit of a couch potato :behindsofa: is totally allowed after what you've been through. Think of the great things ahead that are coming up.- don't worry about being tired now - you''ll get past this. If everything else is going well, don't sweat the small stuff :welldone2: take care
P.S. I haven't even had my surgery yet, but this is consolidated stuff i've heard, I hope it was ok that i gave my 2 cents before surgery.
sending good wishes toward you
kathy
DOS 12/6/11

Estelle,
My husband had the same attitude yours does. "If you'd just eat less, you'd lose weight". I basically told him to talk to my hand and I had the surgery anyway because it was life or death for me. Now that I'm nearly 3 months out and 60 pounds lighter, he sees what an improvement it's made in my health and he's more positive about it.
Keep in mind, though, that usually they are afraid for us to go through surgery. Big, bad men can't admit that they are scared they'll lose us, so they become macho and say stupid things. They're afraid we won't make it through surgery, or they're afraid we'll lose weight and get attention from other men and leave them. Either way, they can't/won't say that...they say things like "You don't need surgery" or "You can do it without surgery".
Lots of spouses are also subtly sabotaging the weight loss we try to do without surgery. I doubt they do it on purpose, but they do things like bring home ice cream when they know you're dieting. Or you say that you've lost 10 pounds, and then they offer to take you out to dinner...then order that high-fat yummy appetizer for the table.
You need to do what you know is best for you, and reassure hubby that the sleeve will help you do what is necessary to lose the weight. It's not a magic wand. It is a tool to help you lose weight so that you can start living a more normal life again.
Why not have hubby read some of the VSG Success Stories thread? LilMissDiva has great info on here about her journey, and hers will definitely show that the sleeve isn't a magic wand! She, and many others, have been quite open about their struggles and successes. Maybe reading some of those threads will help your hubby to see that this just jump starts us. We have to them keep the engine moving in order to achieve long-term success.

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Friday, 11/18/11, I was sleeved at 8:45am and was home by 3:00 on the same day. No nausea, came home and slept on my side and can turn in bed just fine, no pain - feel like I've done too many sit-ups that's all, no drain, no pain meds at all, and plenty of energy.
This morning, Sunday, forgetting I should take it easy, I actually plopped myself down in the recliner. Not so lady like, but it didn't hurt one bit. Today, I'm just slightly sore. I drank 3 Protein drinks that I got from costco (30g each) and then drank a large mug of yummy tomato Soup made with Water, not to mention the 2 bottles of water I emptied - all of them consumed today. I haven't felt restriction, but just drink in sips - well, to be honest I drank more than sipped a couple of times today out of habit.
I could have easily gone to work today. Tomorrow I will begin Christmas decorating, albeit slowly because I don't want to over due it. I'm going to call my surgeon tomorrow and ask how large my stomach is now. I hope he took more than a pinch out! LOL!
How has your experience been and what do you think accounts for the differences? It's weird to feel odd because this has been so easy.
I'm so glad to have had the encouragement from people on this forum!

Hey Y'all! I am nearly 15 months out and I am noticing my loose skin seems to be bouncing back (especially my arms)...Is this really possible???, or am I just getting use to looking at it??? LOL! My hubby said he's noticed it bouncing back as well. I'm sure it's possible for someone in their 20's or even 30's, but I am almost 44 yrs. old...can this really be happening??? I don't work out l I know I should, and I'm sure if I did it would help even more.
Anyone else notice this???

Wow! That is determined. The best to you in you sleeve journey...

My story is much different. I have almost changed my mind about having an invasive procedure because of my success on my 6 month supervised diet. I do have what I want sometimes but generally eat a healthy well rounded diet. My pcp has suggested that I could do it on my own. I decided to have surgery because I want to finish/win the battle. I don't want to just lose 50 or 60 pounds and be satisfied. I have made up in my mind that I must eat right most of the time and have managed my portions without being sleeved. Even now, I realize that if I overeat, I could possibly become out of control again.
My mind and attitude about food and eating was a "must" for me because I don't want to gain the weight back. Other peoples opinions of me don't matter to me but it really matters what my husband thinks of me. He has loved me at whatever size for 27 years! It would disappoint me to gain the weight back because even though he would accept me either way, I would feel he was disappointed.