ME123

I thought eating till I felt the tight feeling in my tummy was when I was supposed to stop, NOPE, my doc said I was eating to much. So now I eat until I feel a tiny bit full, and I have started to eat slower and low and behold my nose runs a little when I'm supposed to stop. I ate really fast before but since slowing down I have that runny nose trigger. I do hate that I still have food left on my plate cause I hate to waste but someone told me a long time ago, whether you throw it in the garbage or poop it out it all ends up in the same place...LOL
My husband and I went to Breakfast this morning and I had that last bite and before I swallowed it I knew I was done so I spit it out in a napkin, had I swallowed it I would have had that slight pain I'm not supposed to have.

Northern, NJ

Sorry, he's a surgeon but I call B.S. Really, I do. Show me the evidence of a "magic window" with the sleeve. There isn't one. There are a lot of folks here still losing at the same, poky pace one and two years out. It gets harder to lose weight the closer you get to goal, but this is not a bypass, where you have a stretchy pouch and a short guaranteed window of malabsorption to do your work for you.
Frankly, I'm kind of mad at your surgeon for even approaching the situation that way, to be honest. You're losing at a faster rate than I did - I lost more in my first six months than you but had no preop diet, whereas you shed 24 pounds before you even had surgery! On average, you're still losing more than I did per month.
Do not let this discourage you. If I had stopped losing at one year, I still would have lost a tremendous amount of weight and improved my life in a hundred different ways. But I didn't stop - I kept on. And many others do, too. And you can, too, if you want to do it.
And touching on my buddy coops' story, too - none of us are failures if we don't get to a particular number on the scale. Every day we spend weighing so much less than we did before, with improved health, improved confidence and an improved outlook on life is a SUCCESS. I never lost this much weight before surgery and I know I never could have gotten here without it.
And coops may not like that she never got to the goals that were set for her (I still hope she can if she wants, but oy! her body is stubborn!) but she has managed to maintain a huge weight loss for more than two years. That's a huge success.
Chin up. No magic windows here, it's a major reason why I opted for the sleeve. Eat properly, do whatever you can to get in shape and let it work for you.
~Cheri

Cheri,
Firstly, wow... you look so beautiful! I love your recent picture ,,, makes me want to give you a big baby cwtch (welsh fir hug)!
You always speak so much sense... and over the last 2 1/2 years you have been beside me every step of the way, Between you and a few other old timers on here, you really have made a difference to me... encouraged me, cheered me on and cheered me up!
You know my story... but I will share it again for the newbies.
My sleeve is now 2 1/2 years old... it has great restriction and does a lot of good work. My head is now in line with my sleeve, but this has taken longer. Not with respect to the food side of it... that is a physical thing that I was quickly acquainted with, but emotionally it took me longer to realise that I was doing well. I am, and have always been a slow loser... on any given 'diet' I would never lose more that 7lbs and that would take me 2 -3 months to do.
I have lost a total of 74 lbs and this happened in the first 16 mths. For over a year, I have not lost a single pound... regardless of what I do or don't eat and the way I move or don't move. It would appear that my body is happy here at this weight and doesn't want to lose any more - even though my mind wants to see smaller numbers and my doc would like to see me out of the obese range on the BMI chart. However, in that time I have gone down a whole dress size. I started off in a UK 22-24 and I am now a UK 14 and have been for a year - this was my original size goal.
I have had a few health worries over the last year that might have impacted my weight loss... but I can't use those as an excuse. (On set of early menopause and trying out HRT - didn't suit me; I don't take any thing now and I had a nasty back problem that made me stop my training/gym. I am finding it hard to get back to hard exercise now - something I need to work on.)
Not reaching goal does have an upside too... I have never gained! I have read some sleevers, who dipped to goal super quick and then had a dramatic regain... I have been sat at this weight comfortably for over a year and I am happy with my 2-4lb bounce range. If I go over that... I get focused and it goes away.
I am currently upping the anti again, in another effort to get to my surgeon's goal... I am just 10-12lbs away. My hubby is on board now too... he wants to lose about 24lbs ... it is easier to do it with someone else at this stage. There is a part of me that just doesn't want to give up... I would love to post a goal thread but I am also realistic that this might never be the case.
If it happens I will be happy... if it doesn't I will remain healthy.
So with that in mind I am looking into getting the skin from my middle removed - I am looking at a TT and possible uplift. Once this is done, I guess I will be done! I don't want to be perfect but I do want my body to look like my face...lol
I have started to realise that just because I am not at my weight goal that I am still successful. I think that the over emphasis on the numbers at the beginning of this process for me, took away each successful pound lost. That was not a good move! Looking back I should have also focused on how I FELT and how I looked.
Just today, someone asked me if I had lost more weight... the body is a wonderful thing!!
For all slower losers and newbies... remember, this is about YOU... not about someone else who farted and lost 14 lbs! Ok, that is a little over the top, but you know what I mean. The whole reason for the sleeve is to get fit and healthy... if that is how you feel, regardless of your weight... then, in my eyes, you are a winner.
The sleeve has no expiry date - it is with us for life.

Smart doctor.
Slow trains still get to where they are going.
Have a deadline? Hefner's coming in two months for a centerfold shot?
If not, be happy, you're on the right train.

I still drink the same and feel the same, no changes for me.

BMI, 36 - barely. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I've loved every single minute of this adventure since I woke up after surgery. I had NOTHING wrong with me except I was fat. I wanted to love shopping, look nice in clothes and not be the biggest girl in the room. My father's sisters and his mom were all over weight, all but one over 300 lbs in their later years. I have cousins that NEED to do this on my dad's side of the family. I struggled to maintain 225. I've been to WW several times, popped pills, more often than I care to remember, seen a nutritionist, Medifast. All sucessful a little, for a little while. This is by far, without a doubt, the single best thing I've ever done for me. I wasn't unhappy before, but now.....wow. Not one second of buyer's remorse!

I have a bmi of 40. No other issues (as of yet). Ive never been able to loose weight except being in horrible diet pills that make me feel like a drug addict. And even with that Id only loose 10 and gain 20. My whole entire life. I have a wonderful life besides being depressed about my weight. I don't see my friends often or go out often because I am embarrassed. I have wasted so much money on big ugly clothes. I don't want to try any new activities with my husband, who is very active. I don't do things I love because of my weight. So for me my quality of life is not what is should be and never has... Because of my weight. That's why I am choosing to have surgery and using it as a tool to get me where is like to be. I wish you luck in deciding what's best for you.

No, I can't binge, my tummy won't let me. I do eat alot of Protein though. I know easier said than done, but, just don't buy the crap stuff so it's not in the house. I was told to stay away from sugar and bread, Pasta and rice and I think a cupcake falls under those. You went through all that work only to undo waht you dd. You can do it, you lost 63 already, your doing great!

Sleeved 10/18, weight DOS 239, I now weight 201, 5'9". I WILL be in Onderland by the end of the week! I'm so excited, I haven't seen onderland in 8-9 years.
We are all doing so well!!

I was terrified to do this to myself, and terrified of what was in store for me if I DIDN'T do something about my weight too. I think its normal to have those "oh ****! what have I done" feelings but what I can tell you is that the less you entertain that, the better off you will be.
Trust yourself, you thought about this for two years. If you are hungry I suggest you head over to theworldaccordingtoeggface and look up some Protein recipes.

Hi! I would try to stay away from bread if you can. I don't know when your surgery dates was, but if it's within the last six months or less I would stick to Protein first and if there's any room have some veggies or fruit. Maximize your first six months. However, if you are going to take the plunge I would start really slow like 1 bite or so. For the longest I couldn't tolerate tortilla in the tiniest portions and bread was only okay if it was toasted.
Good luck!

14 months post op and down 215 pounds since my highest.I Have another 30-40 pounds to go but i am more than happy with my results. Life's Good !

this has been a HUGE struggle for me. My body/brain think YES, YOU CAN! and I'm telling myself NO! IT'LL RUIN YOU!!! As a carb lover, I'm really trying to quit carbs and move to Protein. I think I've realized trying to intake 80oz of protein via solids is too hard!! I'm going to keep up the shakes and better protein based meals. I'm eating eggwhites and/or almond butter at Breakfast
chicken/turkey based Soups lunch
ground turkey/chicken entree dinners

My surgery was 10/22. I started out at 295 day of surgery. Today, 11 weeks later, I am 264. 31 pounds...that is a little less that 3 pounds a week. I know that is a good pace, thus far, and I am well pleased (although I wish it were more), but here is where the problem is....
I can eat anything! Nothing seems to cause me problems! I don't eat nearly as much as I used to, but I do find myself grazing way too much throughout the day. I can't eat big meals, but I fear I am falling into some really bad habits with snacking, that will catch up with me and could be slowing my progress. I don't want to be a failure! When I am home, I have no issue at all. The problem is at work. I teach kindergarten, and think I am eating from stress. The problem is, I eat before I even realize I have eaten! When I am aware of it, I stop myself, but I get in a daze at work, busy, and stressed, and eat without even realizing I have. Please, any suggestions or help??? I am joining group exercise this week, and plan to be more faithful to tracking in my fitness pal...but at work I get busy, forget to track, and then overdo it. Please, be kind in your response, and offer helpful suggestions, share your story and what is working for you.
Seriously...I can eat anything! Sleeve of Steele! Wishing I had some repulsive foods, or felt restriction when snacking....but nothing!
Blessings to all

Your post is a good one.
I can eat anything as well, but then, I have always been that way. Some foods, (spicy, too dense, such as steak), give me trouble afterward.
The grazing is the secret way the fat sneaks back on. I defeat it by having alternative things to put down my neck. Water is the #1 defeater of grazing. Keep a bottle in your hand as much as possible. Resist the temptation to throw it at bratty little boys. Oops, I had a flash from the past.
sugar free drinks help if you get sick of Water. I like the flavored waters. Be sure to get in your Protein Snacks on time depending on the plan they put you on.

First of all remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. I can say that because I know how you are feeling. I was sleeved on 9/24 and have only lost 43 lbs from my high weight and only 35 from my pre-surgery weight. I did really well at my 2 week follow-up and lost 13 lbs but then haven't lost anything since. I too can eat anything. The most important thing to remember is that as long as you are losing and not gaining you are ahead of the game. If you can't enter your food before you eat it then write it down and do it as soon as possible. Stick with the basics, like you are doing, Protein, Water then everything else. Try to plan your meals and figure out the calories and everything the night before that way if you are mindlessly reaching you are reaching for the right things. If you slip then you slip and you just get back on track. You will hit stalls thruout the weight loss journey but just keep doing what you are supposed to do and IT WILL COME OFF. We each lose at our own speed and though it's easy to be disheartened when you read about someone else dropping the weight or it just melting off and yours doesn't seem to be doing that just stay strong and know that you are making great changes in your life that will last a lifetime. Good Luck.

I'm also a slow loser but the main thing that keeps me from grazing is getting in my Protein and literally after that my cravings or need to eat constantly is gone. Also making sure you are getting in your fluids will help. I love Water but after surgery I'm finding myself having to mix it with something because it helps my body digest it quicker and I can drink faster. I mix my water with g2 gatorade. I also exercise and this takes away my appetite. My advice is make sure you're getting 60+ grams of protein, drinking lots of fluids, and exercise. When I do those 3 things I tend to feel better. Once I started getting in my protein I stopped stalling. I may be losing slowly but week to week I'm losing. I weigh every single day because it keeps me accountable. I use a iphone app called "target weight" and I'm able to see my weight loss in a graph form, it's also good to see a trend.

You don't need help unless your diet is the reason you're losing slowly.
There are a huge number of active threads right now (I've even replied on a few!) that address slower loss. If you're eating a balanced diet of Protein, good carbs and quality fats, you're doing everything you can.
We love to read the superman/woman losses while we're researching surgery, but the reality is that many more people lose slowly than quickly. I took 17 months to lose 107 pounds - that's just over six pounds a month but many of those months I had less than a three pound loss.
I'm no less a success for the longer journey.
Focus less on how quickly you lose and more on what you're doing to overcome the bad habits that made you obese. Learn moderation and build healthy eating habits so that once you do achieve goal you have the ability to stay there without a struggle.
And definitely read the recent threads about binge eating and grazing! It's a behavior that you will have to address in order to have a better relationship with food.
Good luck, you're not alone.
~Cheri

I think there just mad they can't eat

I'm starting the boot camp to!!
B- Isopure Protein shake
S - fat free yogurt
L- salad with protein
S-babybell cheese
D-chicken

Didn't work did it?

I couldn't agree more..It's gets so tiring to see the same people with the same negative responses, over and over again..

Hi SoulCyster,
I also have PCOS had have tried everything just like Pink Butterfly has mentioned in the past to lose weight. I decided it was time for me, not my PCOS to take control of my life and I was sleeved on 11/15. I'd be happy to be a buddy with you and help you through this as well. Everyone on this site has been so informative and so supportive! It's full of great people willing to offer support and share their experiences! Add me as a friend if you like and reach out anytime!

Happy 21st! What a present you gave yourself. Just be careful. You don't want to risk all the hard work you've put in. It must be tough to be 1 week post op during your 21st bday. Have fun either way! I would double check with your doc. Explain the situation. Maybe they can come up with an idea for you.