LoserMama

I've been hearing a lot about paleo too, and just thought it sounded like a more extreme form of low carb, primarily. Interesting. Keep us posted on your results if you start!

This is interesting! I think my body must be really strangely shaped. I am 5'7", and I was 278 at my highestweight (apart from pregnancy) in Aug 2011, wearing size 24/26 pants and 3x/4x tops. Day of surgery I was at 242-243, and was still wearing 24s, though I'd been able to buy a pair of 22 pants that fit prior to surgery. Still 3x on top. Now I'm 224 lbs, and I have one pair of size 20 pants that fit and some new 2x shirts. So for me, despite 54 lbs, not nearly as dramatic a change in size as some. It will come!

Yeah, I think that is what I am thinking about. I have struggled with this a lot over the last year, thinking about this. I guess i've found that I react a lot better with encouragement rather than bluntness, and that is me. I don't need someone to sugar coat it for me, I just dont' need someone judging me, because I already do it a lot worse to myself. A lot of people got here through denial, very true and no doubt. Denial probably plays a role in most emotional eating issues. but it may not be the biggest issue for all of us. I got here not by denial as my primary problem, I've always been painfully aware of how bad what I was doing was, but unable to stop. I've spent years continually beating myself up and being way more blunt and over critical with myself than anyone else could ever be. For me, using language that represents a judgement on an action, is very black and white when I talk to myself or someone else, and is something I'm really trying to change. So a word like "cheating" is just a super loaded word to me. Which for those of us who have this particular flaw in thinking, cheating leads to feeling I'm a failure, and then that leads to thinking why bother and more failure. But saying I made a mistake, helps me know I can do better next time. Think of it this way....if you forget to take a dose of a medication you need to take, do you consider that you have cheated? I don't. I don't think I'm a failure or that I've completely blown it. Taking the emotions and judgement out of things is helping me a lot in getting to a new normal. The other thing that is interesting is how we define cheating. The original poster, Indymom, said: which is a way different definition of cheating than I have. I think that if I have eaten one more bite than I should have, or a type of food I shouldn't have, that I have cheated. And I'm trying to beat that kind of judgemental feeling out of myself, because when I feel that way I feel like a failure. I'm encouraged by this kind of discussion about what works for us. If useful, here is a coverage on this from Beck Diet Solution, which is the cognitive behavioral based therapy approach to eating issues developed by Judith Beck, who's father actually developed CBT. The other thing that I think about, is in post-op diet, what really IS cheating? I mean with the super wide variation of advice on the post-op diet, those of us who research and see all this variation, you realize that there is a WIDE definition of what is considered ok during the immediate post-op diet phase. My single surgeon and his plan is not the definitive be-all end-all of advice. I don't take one person's plan and advice as my absolute truth. If there were a gold standard out there, or if all of their advice was remarkably similar, then I'd say the choices i've made since surgery that deviated from my doc's handout would be something to think more about why I've made other choices. Example there -- the Cornell VSG post op guidelines say we can have oatmeal, grits, farina. My doc's guidelines say no. Am I cheating if I have thinned oatmeal? All very interesting. I *think* the original post was targeted at folks that are blatantly doing really major things that are not good for them in the post-op phase, which I support, but where is the line? This really triggered me to do a lot of thinking! Thanks!

Major bummer? I am curious since I have worries about my sleeve capacity, what has eating been like for you since your sleeve? Do you feel restriction?

This is an interesting thread. The immediate post op time period isn't a time for cheating for sure. But I know I have made choices in the past month that were mistakes. This may be a bunny trail, but, the word cheating is one I have issues with. Anyone reading or read Beck Diet Solution? It talks about mistakes versus cheating. I think the majority of folks in here who talk about cheating on their post op diets make mistakes, they don't cheat. In all likelihood, a few bites too much or the wrong thing are not going to be the undoing of our sleeve. But when we attach words like cheating to it, there is such a message of immorality and failure to it..I dunno. I guess apart from the extreme posts like eating a burger and popcorn a couple of days post op, I'd rather see us encourage each other in getting back to doing the right thing. Many many of us got here because of emotional eating and black and white thinking, so I'd rather us offer each other support to do the right behaviors. While we did have extreme surgery, for many of us the ability to be perfectly compliant doesn't magically occur just because we had the surgery. Maybe I shouldn't have been approved, dunno, but I think I am doing a helluva lot better, even with mistakes, now, than preop!! But by my former harsh use of the word cheating , I definitely have done so many times in the past month. But each time I eat I have a chance to do it better. Eta--not upset by original post, just challenging us to think about what cheating really is and encourage us to help each other out of black and white thinking!!!!

I don't think it's so much about nutrients sliding through...is it?? Dont the nutrients get absorbed in the intestines? I think it's more about the liquids letting foods slide thru faster, so you don't feel full long enough??

Yeah felt this way too. Had 3 past csections though so wasn't too worried, knew it would pass. I use a little travel pillow to press against my belly when getting up for a couple of days and also used my old Bella band. Worked well. It was looser on me than it used to be so not too tight, just a little support.

I took 2 small sips of diet Pepsi last night and it was uncomfortable. Amazing such a small amount could cause me to notice, so I think better for me to stay away.

I like Clinique moisture surge!!

have to revisit this to ask how its going now? I'm in a stall and wodnering how long its going to last! I even gained a bit, but I also factor in the fact that I switched to soft diet AND didn't poop for a week, so a girls gotta gain some weight from that alone. I'm back down to what i was a week ago now, so I'm hoping the scale will start to descend again....of course AF should hit later this week...booo...that'll probably be another hit to the scale.

Holy crap I'd be thrilled to have lost as much as you. I was sleeved 12/21, and post op I've lost about 17 pounds and I've been stalled here for about a week (guess that is the lovely 3 week stall) but hey, I'm 4 weeks now, so can we move on?

Riss you are so beautiful, too! And size 16s? That would be heaven. I can't imagine. I am in size 20's now, though, down from 24s and 26s, so that is pretty awesome. Last Chance Sue -- that is so awesome-- wearing the jeans again! Woohoo! My favorite NSVs: 1. Being able to wear my wedding rings I haven't worn in 10 years (guess I lost weight in my fingers first...LOL) 2. Shopping for a transitional wardrobe at an upscale thrift shop, and being able to buy all "normal" brands rather than just Lane Bryant brands and the such. Still plus size, sure, but before I was beyond the sizes that regular brands make. 3. Less to no pain in my knees going upstairs!

happy, don't worry, I feel great, this is just a standard med my surgeon gives after surgery to prevent problems with the gallbladder. Since I seem to be a slower loser, the side effects were troubling me, in particular hair loss, when we already are going to have issues with hair loss :) I was wondering if people get by without it! I don't really want to have another surgery for gallbladder. Hello MrsNewMe my twin, good to hear you are not having side effects!

I am with you on the things I can't have, this is hard. Sounds like several of us experience this. I was also surprised by how much time eating and thinking about eating used to take that I now have to fill up. i've been knitting and crocheting a lot to busy my hands. I agree about the easier ability to do things -- its pretty crazy. The thing that comes to mind for me is that I have noticed that my knees don't hurt as much going up stairs. I had a trouble incision too, I think its finally healing over (knock wood) Hi Catherine, I'm Julie, and I have 4 kids and work for in high tech. I'm in Boise ID :) Glad you are here! I love everyone's updates from sleeve brothers and sisters!

So my update! Surgery date was 12/21/11. I have lost about 16 lbs post op at 4 weeks tomorrow. I lost ~35 lbs preop, so a total of about 51-52 lbs. I have progress pics at: http://losermama.wordpress.com/before-and-after-photos/ Hardest part has been head hunger, and guilt over how many calories I am eating now that I am on a soft diet. 800-1000 calories a day. I have had things that I shouldn't have had and don't have many problems eating whatever. I am getting in with a therapist that was recommended to me as soon as I can. This is worrying me a lot in terms of my ability to be compliant. Best part -- my wedding rings now fit, which haven't fit for over ten years ! I went to a consignment store and brought REAL brand name pants, instead of of fat brands. I am wearing a pair of Eddie Bauer pants two sizes smaller than my normal. I lvoe reading everyone's updates! Are you all using myfitnesspal? If you are, I am losermama73 on there. We can support each other.

Me too, about one month out, struggling with cravings and head hunger. I also label mine as food addiction, and got a recommendation for a therapist. I really think I need that to help.

I'm having the opposite problem of most on this thread. I'm not physically hungry but am having head hunger. I'm having no problem getting in my meals, more problems with liquids. I'm fearful about getting my head hunger under control.

Anyone not taking it? I am supposed to start taking it and the side effects have me wondering. I dont seem to be losing weight particularly fast but I don't know what my gallbladders threshold is for punishment I suppose I will end up taking it, but just curious about others experiences.

I knew I was a food addict but as royboy said, now you realize all this time you have to fill without food. And how much time you spent thinking about food. I have already made some less optimal choices on soft foods phase, allowing in some treats like chocolate. I have felt guilty that my calories now in soft phase have been 800-900 calories. I am thinking that might be too much. I du my research before habd, knew I had food issues and this would be hard work. I think what I was not prepared for is the fatigue.

So so glad you are home! Ihope recovery goes well and leak is closed!!

Lissa, why are folks with hidradenitis supparativa at higher risk of leaks? I don;'t know if I have full blown HS, but I've always had problems with boils, my whole life. I'd never heard any correlation between leaks and HS.

Count me in, I am losermama73 and would love more wls friends on there!!

Doh I tried to rate this five stars and screwed it up!!

Hello sis, you look awesome, and the NSVs rock the house. I am so happy for you. You deserve it and I agree, megawatt smile!!

Yep it's awful. Never thought other than after babies (post partum poops) i would feel like I was trying to pass a baseball. I really need to try the softener...ouch !