Catracks

Mine was the size of a football probably. More like damned impossible instead of near impossible. I have heard the wallet analogy? comparison? before and it makes sense.
My surgeon does mostly RNY and tried to tell me that I wouldn't lose the weight without the threat of dumping syndrome and malabsorption. He said that I would probably end up at 189 or so. Boy, did I ever prove him wrong! I'm still losing.

What I really want to do is go to Maui. What I really need to do is to fix the roof.

I plan to:
1. Get a small tattoo - a Chi Rho.
2. Go hiking down Havisupai creek in the Supai Reservation and to the Grand Canyon down and up the Bright Angel Trail.
3. Go to the Glen Ivy spa for a massage, and pedicure.

A year out I still can't handle more that 2-3 oz of dense Protein. I have to eat it VERY slowly. Meals for me take an hour if there is very dense protein. I weigh and measure my food and eat it slowly over the course of the day. It's 2;09 PM and I still haven't finished my lunch or part of my Breakfast. That's just the way I do it.

What I really want to do is go to Maui. What I really need to do is to fix the roof.

I came home from a week of restaurant eating limited excercise and instead of gaining, I actually made goal. I am beside myself with joy. I never really believed this day would come.
11/30/2011 Start of preop weighed 308
12/11/2011 Day of surgery weighed 300
2/23/2013 - 14 months later I weigh 158/size 8/fit and healthy!!!!! wooo hooooo
I will have to do a post with photos later... but off to the gym. I was just so excited I had to share with my fellow vets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True. I did lose a couple more. It's really slow going though.

Companies advertise to sell food period. It is their right. Frankly, cigarettes are legal and there is no good Constitutional reason why they cannot advertise. If a picture forces you to eat to obesity, I suggest that you work on your impulses.
Ban this, ban that, censor this, censor that, save THE CHILDREN!!!!!
Imagine! - the government telling people what they can or cannot say -- what they can and cannot eat.
Turn off the TV.
P.S. Ban smells.

I certainly
That's pretty absurd to come to that conclusion. Not so free if you turn over all of your freedoms to the government in the name of security.
I'd certainly rather live here, but I want to keep it free of socialism and any form of totalitarianism.
“Those who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little Temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"--Benjamin Franklin.

Ah, but see, that's why children have parents. WE are responsible for them; not the government. We can limit their TV time, teach them to not watch smut and encourage them to eat healthy.
Eventually they get out into the world and we can only hope that lessons stick.
It's called personal responsibility. Handing life decisions over to the government creates a tyrannical government and that impacts my liberty and that of my children. Yes, it's enough to get angry about. Of course I care about the health of my brothers and sisters, but it is up to THEM. Let's keep it that way.

40 grams in the clear ones.
Debly, I am a TOTAL foodie. Do you know what I had for dinner? Homemade crab cake and just a few purple, red and white roasted potato slices with onions. You can eat the very best food, just not much of it. the sleeve won't allow it. I eat ribs, ribeye steak, scallops, grilled salmon, pulled pork, tarragon chicken, cheeses, all kinds of things. The only thing I really had to give up was regular bread and Pasta. There are alternatives for that stuff. Oh yeah, and popcorn. My surgeon says 6 months. I can do that. What's the rush?
When people complain about not liking food and of hating the Protein shakes are not doing it right. Go to: theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and look at her recipes. She is a bypass patient that was 5'2" and 350 pounds. She now wears a size four. Her recipes are incredible and there are a lot more things out there on the internet. All you have to remember is protein first and to not eat too fast or overeat.
The point of the sleeve is so we can eat like normal thin people do. It doesn't mean you can never taste pie again down the road. It means that you have a bite or two and savor it. Then you can walk away.
It's normal to be scared, but just don't fall into the trap that you should be depressed about not being able to scarf down at a buffet.
What you will be able to do is wear nice clothes, ride a horse, wear a bathing suit, hike, walk, run, skip, feel good ...

Sleeves don't stretch. If you can handle 4 oz at a few months, you might be just over a cup in 1-2 years. The stretchy part has been cut out.
I drink a soda every day and I still have massive restriction. We have the capability to burp. Any excess gas from the carbonation is expelled. Yes, the nutritionist will tell you not to drink diet soda, but sometimes I swallow more air with my Crystal Light.
You can stretch a pouch, but not a sleeve. A pouch is made from different tissue.
P.S. I am a year and two months out.
What makes you gain weight is eating slider foods like chips, milkshakes, ice cream and junk food. Also cake, pastries, white rice, white bread and other nutritionally devoid foods. What makes you gain weight is returning to the habits that got us here in the first place.
Protein first, then a little veggie and fruit and if room a bite of two of healthy carbs.

I repeat again, I have the same restriction at 1 year and 2 months that I did at 4 months. The weight loss is slower as I approach goal, but that is just because I have smaller percentage of weight left to lose.
What gets people into trouble over a year out is a return to the eating habits that got them there in the first place. For me is is no chips, fast food, junk food, white bread, white rice, white Pasta or potatoes. Well, potatoes on special occasions. No pastries, cakes, pies or Cookies unless I make them myself from whole wheat flour and other healthier ingredients.
By a year out we should have adopted good eating habits which include good choices and careful Portion Control. I still weigh and measure. I am also still eating 750 calories and will probably never get above 1000-1200 in my lifetime. I suppose I could get up there if a slugged milkshakes, but they are off the menu unless they are one of my Protein Shakes. I am a woman and petite so your mileage may vary.

I guess my main point is replying to this post is to let people know that there is no time limit on losing weight with the sleeve.
I am rather strict with the carbs I eat because I know that if I indulge it sets off a binge cycle with me. Someone mentioned Eggface. She uses cucumbers for crackers and zuchinni in lieu of Pasta. She is even more strict than I am because she knows that to have it within reach is dangerous for her. I am a junkie and I basically have to abstain or be very careful. Get this: I had to bring donuts into work today for a birthday. These just aren't any donuts either. They are apple filled or raspberry cream cheese topped and any other variety you can think of. I got a few too many at the donut place and so took a couple back to my desk - the old hoard the food pig me possessed my mind. I turned around and brought them back and far away from me. I seriously was going to eat a raised glazed donut topped with cream cheese and raspberry. The other one was lemon. I cannot be trusted.
Like (see above) says, everyone's body is different, but there is one thing that has been etched into my mind and that is: Protein first, veggies and fruit next and then a smaller amount of healthy carbs. Many people relax this somewhat as they get closer to goal or modify it on heavy workout days.
To reiterate, I just want to let the people who are pre-sleeve or under a year that the sleeve does not stop working for you after 6 months or a year. That was my concern.

I guess my main point is replying to this post is to let people know that there is no time limit on losing weight with the sleeve.
I am rather strict with the carbs I eat because I know that if I indulge it sets off a binge cycle with me. Someone mentioned Eggface. She uses cucumbers for crackers and zuchinni in lieu of Pasta. She is even more strict than I am because she knows that to have it within reach is dangerous for her. I am a junkie and I basically have to abstain or be very careful. Get this: I had to bring donuts into work today for a birthday. These just aren't any donuts either. They are apple filled or raspberry cream cheese topped and any other variety you can think of. I got a few too many at the donut place and so took a couple back to my desk - the old hoard the food pig me possessed my mind. I turned around and brought them back and far away from me. I seriously was going to eat a raised glazed donut topped with cream cheese and raspberry. The other one was lemon. I cannot be trusted.
Like (see above) says, everyone's body is different, but there is one thing that has been etched into my mind and that is: Protein first, veggies and fruit next and then a smaller amount of healthy carbs. Many people relax this somewhat as they get closer to goal or modify it on heavy workout days.
To reiterate, I just want to let the people who are pre-sleeve or under a year that the sleeve does not stop working for you after 6 months or a year. That was my concern.

I guess my main point is replying to this post is to let people know that there is no time limit on losing weight with the sleeve.
I am rather strict with the carbs I eat because I know that if I indulge it sets off a binge cycle with me. Someone mentioned Eggface. She uses cucumbers for crackers and zuchinni in lieu of Pasta. She is even more strict than I am because she knows that to have it within reach is dangerous for her. I am a junkie and I basically have to abstain or be very careful. Get this: I had to bring donuts into work today for a birthday. These just aren't any donuts either. They are apple filled or raspberry cream cheese topped and any other variety you can think of. I got a few too many at the donut place and so took a couple back to my desk - the old hoard the food pig me possessed my mind. I turned around and brought them back and far away from me. I seriously was going to eat a raised glazed donut topped with cream cheese and raspberry. The other one was lemon. I cannot be trusted.
Like (see above) says, everyone's body is different, but there is one thing that has been etched into my mind and that is: Protein first, veggies and fruit next and then a smaller amount of healthy carbs. Many people relax this somewhat as they get closer to goal or modify it on heavy workout days.
To reiterate, I just want to let the people who are pre-sleeve or under a year that the sleeve does not stop working for you after 6 months or a year. That was my concern.

I repeat again, I have the same restriction at 1 year and 2 months that I did at 4 months. The weight loss is slower as I approach goal, but that is just because I have smaller percentage of weight left to lose.
What gets people into trouble over a year out is a return to the eating habits that got them there in the first place. For me is is no chips, fast food, junk food, white bread, white rice, white Pasta or potatoes. Well, potatoes on special occasions. No pastries, cakes, pies or Cookies unless I make them myself from whole wheat flour and other healthier ingredients.
By a year out we should have adopted good eating habits which include good choices and careful Portion Control. I still weigh and measure. I am also still eating 750 calories and will probably never get above 1000-1200 in my lifetime. I suppose I could get up there if a slugged milkshakes, but they are off the menu unless they are one of my Protein Shakes. I am a woman and petite so your mileage may vary.

Just saying, Its been a year and a month since my surgery and I'm still losing. It's very slow because I am close to goal. I don't believe in any time frame.
Wow, 2000 calories? My weight and height of 5'1" would never take that much. I'm still at 750-800.

I guess my main point is replying to this post is to let people know that there is no time limit on losing weight with the sleeve.
I am rather strict with the carbs I eat because I know that if I indulge it sets off a binge cycle with me. Someone mentioned Eggface. She uses cucumbers for crackers and zuchinni in lieu of Pasta. She is even more strict than I am because she knows that to have it within reach is dangerous for her. I am a junkie and I basically have to abstain or be very careful. Get this: I had to bring donuts into work today for a birthday. These just aren't any donuts either. They are apple filled or raspberry cream cheese topped and any other variety you can think of. I got a few too many at the donut place and so took a couple back to my desk - the old hoard the food pig me possessed my mind. I turned around and brought them back and far away from me. I seriously was going to eat a raised glazed donut topped with cream cheese and raspberry. The other one was lemon. I cannot be trusted.
Like (see above) says, everyone's body is different, but there is one thing that has been etched into my mind and that is: Protein first, veggies and fruit next and then a smaller amount of healthy carbs. Many people relax this somewhat as they get closer to goal or modify it on heavy workout days.
To reiterate, I just want to let the people who are pre-sleeve or under a year that the sleeve does not stop working for you after 6 months or a year. That was my concern.

i contemplated wls for years...i knew it would be a major life changing event..a tool to be used to assist me on my Quest to a healthier . me ,a tool though....you can eat your way around the sleeve....as eggface says....the monkey might be off my back but the circus didn't town.....

I agree it's important to be diligent/vigilent during the first 6 months. Fight the good fight as best you can, and be honest with yourself. If nothing else, facing the "real you" in the mirror is the most important thing you can do for yourself. As you lose the weight, you might be forced to face that person in a very unexpected and very visceral way. So start now.
I am 10 months out, and certainly eat way differently now than I did during months 0-6. I eat carbs (bad and good), occasionally eat fried stuff (but it doesnt agree with me too well), and basically do whatever I want.. Just in very small amounts.
I do however work out more and more as time goes on. My goals are getting bigger as I see myself as an athletic person. I strongly believe that developing exercise routines as early as possible is integral to long term success.
For reference - I started at 215.6 on the day of surgery (Apr 26 2012) and am now about 135-137. I got to about 150 at month 6 and am slowly shaving off the rest. My goal is 130. (I'm 5'3" and quite muscular/athletic.)

There is a honeymoon period where weight is easier to lose, but the window DOES NOT CLOSE. I am 20 pounds from goal and it is VERY slow, but I can still lose. I still have a great amount of restriction. I imagine 3/4 cup - a little more with soft foods and less with dense Protein. I currently get between 750-800 calories, but I am only 5'1".
What happens is that the more you have to lose, the faster it will drop if you stay with good eating. What happens is that after almost a year, we tend to get sloppy with food choices. Little treats creep back in and that's alright as long as you are aware and nip it in the bud if it's affecting weight loss.
Exercise is great to keep you fit and build the muscle, but I do not base my calories on an excise deficit. In fact, I only exercise for fun (hiking, biking, paddling) and it really does not affect my weight loss. How and what I eat does.
If I take an all day hike I use common sense and up the carbs - I up everything including Water to stay on my feet. If I don't, my body will tell me. Listen to it.
Please do not think you need to hurry up and lose it all. Six months? No way! Just work that sleeve. Eat your protein and fill the sides with vegetable, lower glycemic fruits and healthy carbs. You will get there.

Mine was the size of a football probably. More like damned impossible instead of near impossible. I have heard the wallet analogy? comparison? before and it makes sense.
My surgeon does mostly RNY and tried to tell me that I wouldn't lose the weight without the threat of dumping syndrome and malabsorption. He said that I would probably end up at 189 or so. Boy, did I ever prove him wrong! I'm still losing.

You are overly defensive. I was just saying that based on my own experience and that of other sleeved people I know, there is no limit to the weight you can lose. Many are still losing over a year out. What needs to happen in the first six montsh is a complete overhaul and change from old bad habits so you can be fit for the rest of your life.
Think about someone at the six month and one year time frame. People have just told them basically "game over" and it's not true at all.
I think you are projecting the catty and snarky. The church comment is in incredibly bad taste.