yecats

Plese take to heart what others before me said. Please see that for what it is.
I was there before, many years ago, people like that do not generally change. Your weight loss is going to inpower you in ways you do not even see now.
I am at my biggest now and my husband would never thnk of ever being that hateful. He might ask me to get out of the boat and help push but never degrade me. Personnally I would make the kids get out and push Mama off the flat...lol.
Bless you lady. You are very very valuable!!!

I always wanted to be a "hot" skinny chick, I guess I will settle with being a cold skinny chick.....lol

I got to my goal weight (and below) by eating more or less whatever I wanted. Sure, I made an effort to get a good amount of protein first and I generally picked healthy snacks over candy, etc, but I certainly never felt deprived. I never weighed my food or anything like that. Recently, I totally changed my diet around to do the paleo/primal thing, which means no processed foods/grains (even "healthy" ones like quinoa)/legumes (including peanuts!)/sugar/vegetable oils. I stick to it about 90-95%, leaving room for an occasional Lindt peanut butter truffle or something similarly delectable. It's been remarkably easy, because you can eat as much fat as you'd like, so I enjoy things like berries with heavy cream, omelets with cream and cheese, veggies roasted in duck fat, etc. I also lost 5 lbs in 3 weeks even though I did not really have any weight to lose to begin with - I just carry a small amount of fat around my butt/inner thighs, like most of us women do. It's the first time that area has budged for me. When I tried to get down to this weight before, by simply watching calories and portion sizes but not really cutting out any foods, I'd always get overwhelmed with cravings, but now I have ZERO cravings. Remarkably, my calories are not lower than they were before, yet I've lost all that fat. Give it a shot if you are interested!

I was 5 months out last week. I can eat anything I want and my sleeve like it. At first, when I was able to eat regular foods, I kept track on MyFitnessPal, but I do not do that anymore, simply because I want to think of my new eating habits as a lifestyle change and not a diet. I actually lose more quickly when I don't keep track and chart everything. I eat anything I want, but like Lissa, I don't want bread or potatoes or pasta anymore. I am Italian and have always crave carbs, but when i do I have a brown rice cake or Wasa cracker with a little peanut butter and it satisfies me. I was a popcorn freak before surgery, but haven't had any since, and even have a huge box of Smart Pop I have never even opened. I eat my proetin first and try to stick to 4 oz. per meal of protein. Then I usually don't want much more, but eat some green veggies and have a couple spoonfuls of it. My doctor told me not to go over 8 oz. I am limited to 800-900 calories per day until I reach my goal, and I really can't even get that high. For breakfast I usually have a Jimmy dean turkey sausage link, an egg, some red grapefruit sections (jarred), and maybe a spoon of cottage cheese but not always. I never measure my food and never have. I just eyeball it. I have a skinny tall vanilla latte from Starbucks as many mornings as I can. great laxative for me! keeps me regular. I have lost 44 lbs. in 5 months and I am only 9 lbs. away of his goal for me and only 15 lbs. away from my own goal. 44 lbs. may not sound like alot in 5 months, but I am consistent, when i have my monthly visit I lose about 8-9 lbs. per month which he says is good. I joined a gym and am working on my arms. I am taking a water aerobics class in July. I have a treadmill and do a workout the doctor suggested I do. I have gone from a size 18 jeans to a size 8. I also have kidney stones so I drink alot of water all day, but since my sleeve I cannot stand the taste of plain water, so I flavor it with strawberry watermelon Mio. I LUV my sleeve and feel so much better.

I am 16 months post-op. I weighed and measured everything until I got to goal (about 8 months). Now I can tell how much my portion sizes are by looking, but just to keep myself honest I check by weighing and measuring a meal every couple of weeks. I basically eat what I want--fortunately, what I like most is Protein. I don't eat rice or Pasta anymore as they hurt and I eat very little bread. But other than that, yes I can eat what I want. For example, tonight's dinner is beef stir-fry with sugar snap peas, carrots, asparagus, and Water chestnuts.
My weight also fluctuates 1-2 lbs but if I go over 140 (it's only happened once) it's back to protein only for a day and it comes right off.
I swim and walk some, I'd like to start running again (stopped after my gallbladder surgery and haven't started again) but I'm not a gym rat by any means. I lift some weights that are next to the TV and do some yoga, too.

Hi Stacey, I'm 8.5 months out from surgery. I eat whatever I want, but I don't do bread, potatoes (except mashed when I eat out with one particular friend), or Pasta. There are minor exceptions, like toasted ravioli a couple of times, but in general I don't eat them. For me, those foods seem to swell up and fill me up very quickly. If you're my friend on My Fitness Pal, you'll see that I'm definitely not perfect. I ate zingers one morning instead of "real" Breakfast food and I still like chocolate. But, I still don't believe in "good" or "bad" food. If I truly want something, I'm going to eat it and then go on with my day and my life.
I do try to eat the less nutritious foods before I work out so that I have some chance of working them off, and I still adhere to 70g of Protein and 64 oz of Water per day. I did just up my exercise to do cardio twice a day and weights 3 times a week. I also added in the "zombie stairs" to my routine. I was doing them every day, but my knees protested, so now I aim to do them 3 times a week as well. They are an added bit of cardio, plus they're great for the butt and legs!
You're doing terrific yourself, so don't be hating on yourself. You're over 50% already and not even 4 months out yet!! YAY!!!

i have to say this has been one hell of a journey for me. I def doubted myself. I vomited so much that i was so sore and couldnt get enough pain meds in me to stop the pain. The pain meds they give you are not strong so if you take meds like i do on a daily basis please stop them a month before surgery. that is my advice. Dr. Ponce and trish are amazing, One of Dr, Ponce partners i cannot say the same for. He told me to toughen up. LOL
I do well with pain and cant figure out why i was in so much pain but assume it was from all the vomiting. Once the drain is out you are on the fast track to feeling better.
Gas is horrible and so painful. Say a prayer that my pain eases and im home safe in the states monday painfree.
thanks for all the support

Thanks to all the prayers!! I just got approval!! Woohoo! Let's just pray nothing falls apart! I can not wait

Thank u nancy! You guys know what's so weird? I just got home and my passport came in.... How ironic? Hope that's god talking to me ????

I am 3 months out from surgery. I do think of food. I also had no issues healing and my sleeve tolerates most anything. I do feel uncomfortable when full and I do stop myself but the emotional toll it takes has just recently been on my radar. Up until this time, I could not eat as much, now I can consume more.I am healed for the most part. Maybe not enough to worry at this stage but if I did eat cookies and so called slider foods, it could become a big issue.
Today I went to a bbq and gave into some macaroni salad, something I stay away from(pasta). It was scary to me because it did not make me feel really full or anything.
Embrace that feeling of not being able to eat. I really understand what everyone is saying, I felt that way but after today I have a new found respect for that ovbious restriction we call mourning, because when it goes away then it is up to you and not a signal, that you shouldn't eat that.
Also, it is not the healthy protein things that don't signal you, it is the cookies, fattening chips, slider foods that are easier to comsume. Beware.
What I really learned today is there is an amount of time you condition yourself to adjust, not "wait till I can comsume more like a regular person" because when it is here it is far to easy to mess up on the foods that made us obese.
I can eat 2-3 oz of chx and feel way full but give me a big bag of chips and I just want more. Hope I am making sense. Please don't take this as me trying to be negitive, just a little scared straight today.
Be careful what you wish for....

Hi everyone sorry for the late update just didn't feel like doing much but sleeping and walking in the hospital. I stayed at the INT hospital and loved it. all the nurses made me feel at home they all very kind. The facility was really clean and cozy. It is one floor you stay on.. i was in room 309 for those of you going. Got here at 7 and was in for surgery at 9pm I met with Dr. Leal the cardiologist and he did an ekg which checked out fine. They ran blood test to make sure everything was fine on that end too. Women be prepared to be have a breast out when getting this done.. it's quick and easy and dr. leal is very professional.. he asked me alot of questions about my age..how much i smoke, drink, when i first started doing any of those things. They then had to put my IV in.. i will tell you straight up anyone who has to put an iv in me always has a hard time my veins move and they don't stand out.. i did have to get poked twice. Dr. Ponce came in with trish and he explained everything to me .. was very nice and reasurring.. Once i talked to him i knew i was in good hands, he is very professional and caring.
then the next day they had to move the iv over to my wrist are of my right hand. That was much better. When you are here make sure you bring a lite robe you will want it especially if you don't have anyone with your otherwise you can see everything from the back of your gown :-) (thanks to my hubby for always tying it up so no one saw anything.. i also wore my underwear and my yoga capris.. very comfy.
They wheeled me over to surgery in a wheel chair.. you do have to be all undressed for this.. i only remember laying on the bed and the anestheseologist told me you will be fine holly you are in good hands and i was.. out.. i don't even remember being wheeled back into the room my hubby told me i was asleep but they checked to make sure i was still okay.. i was up at 2am...went for a short walk..got naseauted and told the nurse she gave me more medicine and i went back to bed. I didn't have too bad of pain.. it wasn't in my chest or my shoulders thank fully.. mostly in my belly but it was very uncomfortable.. I knew i needed to walk but i resisted it for awhile because i just wanted to sleep..
then the next day they had to move the iv over to my wrist are of my right hand. That was much better. When you are here make sure you bring a lite robe you will want it especially if you don't have anyone with your otherwise you can see everything from the back of your gown :-) (thanks to my hubby for always tying it up so no one saw anything.. i also wore my underwear and my yoga capris.. very comfy. i was up and walking all the time. last night i startred to feel much better..and then i woke up again around 1am. i felt really good walked for about 30 minutes and went back to bed. This morning they ran the leak tests.. the blue stuff is really gross but you have to drink it all ... then i had to go down to the machine and get the test that they watch the liquid go down the screen.. it is as gross as everyone says but you just do it.. thankfully i had tea waiting for me up in my room :-)
Hector the nutrisionalist came and talked to me awile about the diet and gave me a schedule to follow for the next forty days.. not too bad he was very nice and for someone like me that doesn' t speak spanish he was the one i could understand easily besides TRISH who was totally amazing. Trish brought my husband tacos the last two nights and took him to the convineince store to get some Snacks.. this is where i'm totally happy i went with trish she took care of my hubby and me.. she does so many things that is not really included in her job.. love her
So they took out my drain today before coming to the hotel lucerna.. i was nevous that was going to really hurt..but the nurse i had was gentle and had me take a deep breath then she pulled it slowly out.. my husband watched her do it then told me it was about a foot long that she pulled out.. just felt like worm of pressure nothing too bad. I was glad to have the drain as they did empty it about four times.
Now i am at the hotel lucerna and what a beautiful place out my balcony i have a view of the pool and palm tree's..trish ordered me some broth up.. and boy oh boy did that taste sooooooooo good.. i was amazed and could tell how much was enought to sip at a time.. i took half the spoon and sipped half of that for one bite.. also they sent me home with medine and a cute tshirt that trish has made that says i left my stomach in Mexico..lol.. i fell so good today i fixed my hair and put on my makeup.. just finishing up this review so i can go for a walk around the pool we have the balcony open and it's very relaxing. Hope you enjoyed my review i will add pictures of everything when i get back i forgot my usb cord lol. Dr. ponce checked me out this morning and was very thourough with me on taking my time with the sipping and wished me good luck.. I loved my experince and woudl do it again in a hearbeat..can't wait to see how my life changes now... ...
Thanks for reading this sorry it was so long but i wanted to write it while it was all still fresh in my mind
Holly

Today I went to my doctor for my monthly follow up. He walked in and said "Hey skinny!' Then he said i have lost 9 pounds since my last appt. last month and my % of body fat has gone from 52% to 36%. He asked me how many pant sizes I have gone down and I said from an 18 to an 8, and he said well don't by anymore 8's because you will be in a 6 soon! He said that I only have 11 more pounds to go until I am at his goal for me. Then he told me that I have lost more weight each month than any other of his sleeve patients monthly follow ups! Boy did I feel good when I left there, so I stopped on the way home and went clothes shopping! (But no pants just tops). LOL!

Congrats to you both!! That is wonderful!

Yaay to you yecats, I am right there with you, I will be 12 weeks out on May 9th and I am down 40 since surgery, 55 with my pre-op! I too am halfway to my "goal" but as you, I am seeing how I am at my goal, maybe another 10 after that...we will see! Woo- hoo to us! I am loving my sleeve too, I just wish could have done it sooner!

From the start of this journey , when I started my weight loss on my prediet... today I am 50lbs down. I am 12 weeks out and have lost over half the weight that I have wanted to lose. I have about 45 to go and then I will rethink and see how I feel. I could not be happier. I love my sleeve.

From the start of this journey , when I started my weight loss on my prediet... today I am 50lbs down. I am 12 weeks out and have lost over half the weight that I have wanted to lose. I have about 45 to go and then I will rethink and see how I feel. I could not be happier. I love my sleeve.

From the start of this journey , when I started my weight loss on my prediet... today I am 50lbs down. I am 12 weeks out and have lost over half the weight that I have wanted to lose. I have about 45 to go and then I will rethink and see how I feel. I could not be happier. I love my sleeve.

My advice is to wait until you are at goal. Stick with healthy foods avoid junk until you are there. But just to give you something to look forward to...I eat two small slices of thin crust pizza now at 16 months out. I havent tried brownies or popcorn.

I've never come across anyone who has regretted this in the long run. At 10 days you should maybe just be coming off Clear liquids and on to full liquids. If you vomit, you are either eating/drink too fast, too much or are eating/drink something your sleeve is not ready to handle yet.
I cannot speak to the depression, but I know that with my health getting better, I have a MUCH better mood and outlook on life. Sometimes I literally feel like dancing.
Take this time to pamper yourself. Go shopping, get a haircut, watch favorite movies, read great books. take long walks in pretty places.
You are not a sorry, funky heap. You are a healing person getting ready to be healthier that ever before.

Yes, everyone's perception is different. Since my surgery, I now look at how sad it is that so many people are so big. The pain that so many youngsters carry around with themselves is horrible. Whole families are totally over weight and knowing the pain a lot of people are in makes me sad. How did our society get this way? How can we stop it? I'm planning on opening a center to help people with their weight issues and other issues underlying the weight problem.

Congrats! You are doing wonderful. I also could never imagine myself thin. I am not by no means now but I am smaller now than I have been in 10 years. I still have 50 lbs to go. Everyday someone is mentioning or saying something about my weight loss. It really is so strange to me. I really do not know how to react. I recall a few weeks ago that someone said "wow, you look great" and I looked behind me to see who they were speaking to. I can not imagine being a normal weight. I still have 50 lbs to lose and by no means am thin. I am only 5'3 so even with 50 more off of me I could still use to lose a few more.
You will adjust, enjoy the ride. It is awesome. I still can't imagine being with out a weight problem.. Sometimes I try the same clothes on day after day because I can not believe I really fit in them. Like I am going to get up and wake up from this fantastic dream ride I have been on. I believe emotionally I will have to experience for a long time b/c I have been big my entire life. It is unreal to me. I am on cloud nine and so will you also. It only gets better. The more I lose the more excited and motivated I get.
Best to you . Sorry I went on and on, your topic really hit home with me.

I have lost 50 lbs!!!!!!!!!!
I have never ever ever ever ever ever in my life been able to lose 50 lbs in my life. I feel like a new person and I am not even half way done with my weight loss. I still have about 120 lbs to go. I had surgery 2-15-2012 so i am just over 2 months out. It feels so amazing.
I have done my happy dance all day long. My fiance thinks I am crazy..lol but he loves it.
That's all I just needed to share. I love this forum so much everyone is so supportive and amazing and full of knowledge and I can't even count the number of times I have been helped by being on this site.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYy!!!!~

4/16 wt: 230.0
4/23 wt: 227.2
Down 2.8 lbs since last week, 4 lbs since challenge!

I have thought this several times. I have stopped myself. I decided not even to share with my own family out of there reaction so I sure would not to offend anyone one else or get a reaction I wouldn't like.
The way I found out about the Sleeve is I am a server at a restaurant and a guest shared her experience when she did not want a drink with her meal. I am not a pushy person, she just wanted to share her experience. I went home, looked into it, found this site and was hooked. 5 months later went to MX and the rest is history. That lady has know idea she changed someones life.... mine.
Maybe one day I will get my nerve up and help make a difference in someone elses life.

This is my last week with sodas, starting Monday I will not have sodas and will be walking daily so that I can work up to an eventually a daily work out.
Ris26