SunnyCox

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT!
About a week after surgery, I was making dinner for my family. Unfortunately, it was my favorite meal, spaghetti. I kept feeling sad that I wouldn't ever be able to eat spaghetti again. Then, I had to remind myself that I would be able to eat spaghetti. I would eat one, sleeved-sized serving, and I would be SATISFIED. I wouldn't eat a huge plate plus three pieces of bread, two sodas and possibly seconds.
There are many people who stay on a strict high Protein / low carb diet. I think people who are strict, lose weight more quickly. BUT there are many of us here that eat more normally, but in smaller portions. I am almost 7 months out and down 75lbs, and my diet has definitely changed. I do eat my Protein first, veggies second and any carbs/sweets third. I do this because it is part of my new healthy lifestyle. I still have my favorite foods regularly, but I do what I can to make them healthier and eat a much smaller portion. I don't feel like I am missing out AT ALL.
Let me give you some examples...
I bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies yesterday. A year ago, that box (maybe two) would be gone by the end of the day. This year, I haven't even opened the box. When I do, I might eat one or two every other day. My SO will probably finish off most of the box.
I have a box of Valentine's chocolates right now. I had one last night. The box is sitting on my desk. I have no desire to down ten of them at a time like I did last year.
You know the skinny girl at the restaurant that only eats half the food on her plate while you clean your plate? That is me. I used to be so jealous of the people who didn't feel as though they had to clean their plates. It feels so great to push half or two-thirds of my meal into a to-go box. I have no regrets because I had a few bites of everything I wanted and am fully satisfied.
I actually crave fresher foods and non-fried foods. I would have never thought it would happen.
I don't want breads or high carb foods because they take up too much room in my stomach. I want to fill it with healthy food. I used to eat a lot of bread because I knew I could still shovel in food after the bread. Now, I know it won't fit. I might have one or two bites of bread if it is something I really want.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT!
About a week after surgery, I was making dinner for my family. Unfortunately, it was my favorite meal, spaghetti. I kept feeling sad that I wouldn't ever be able to eat spaghetti again. Then, I had to remind myself that I would be able to eat spaghetti. I would eat one, sleeved-sized serving, and I would be SATISFIED. I wouldn't eat a huge plate plus three pieces of bread, two sodas and possibly seconds.
There are many people who stay on a strict high Protein / low carb diet. I think people who are strict, lose weight more quickly. BUT there are many of us here that eat more normally, but in smaller portions. I am almost 7 months out and down 75lbs, and my diet has definitely changed. I do eat my Protein first, veggies second and any carbs/sweets third. I do this because it is part of my new healthy lifestyle. I still have my favorite foods regularly, but I do what I can to make them healthier and eat a much smaller portion. I don't feel like I am missing out AT ALL.
Let me give you some examples...
I bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies yesterday. A year ago, that box (maybe two) would be gone by the end of the day. This year, I haven't even opened the box. When I do, I might eat one or two every other day. My SO will probably finish off most of the box.
I have a box of Valentine's chocolates right now. I had one last night. The box is sitting on my desk. I have no desire to down ten of them at a time like I did last year.
You know the skinny girl at the restaurant that only eats half the food on her plate while you clean your plate? That is me. I used to be so jealous of the people who didn't feel as though they had to clean their plates. It feels so great to push half or two-thirds of my meal into a to-go box. I have no regrets because I had a few bites of everything I wanted and am fully satisfied.
I actually crave fresher foods and non-fried foods. I would have never thought it would happen.
I don't want breads or high carb foods because they take up too much room in my stomach. I want to fill it with healthy food. I used to eat a lot of bread because I knew I could still shovel in food after the bread. Now, I know it won't fit. I might have one or two bites of bread if it is something I really want.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT!
About a week after surgery, I was making dinner for my family. Unfortunately, it was my favorite meal, spaghetti. I kept feeling sad that I wouldn't ever be able to eat spaghetti again. Then, I had to remind myself that I would be able to eat spaghetti. I would eat one, sleeved-sized serving, and I would be SATISFIED. I wouldn't eat a huge plate plus three pieces of bread, two sodas and possibly seconds.
There are many people who stay on a strict high Protein / low carb diet. I think people who are strict, lose weight more quickly. BUT there are many of us here that eat more normally, but in smaller portions. I am almost 7 months out and down 75lbs, and my diet has definitely changed. I do eat my Protein first, veggies second and any carbs/sweets third. I do this because it is part of my new healthy lifestyle. I still have my favorite foods regularly, but I do what I can to make them healthier and eat a much smaller portion. I don't feel like I am missing out AT ALL.
Let me give you some examples...
I bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies yesterday. A year ago, that box (maybe two) would be gone by the end of the day. This year, I haven't even opened the box. When I do, I might eat one or two every other day. My SO will probably finish off most of the box.
I have a box of Valentine's chocolates right now. I had one last night. The box is sitting on my desk. I have no desire to down ten of them at a time like I did last year.
You know the skinny girl at the restaurant that only eats half the food on her plate while you clean your plate? That is me. I used to be so jealous of the people who didn't feel as though they had to clean their plates. It feels so great to push half or two-thirds of my meal into a to-go box. I have no regrets because I had a few bites of everything I wanted and am fully satisfied.
I actually crave fresher foods and non-fried foods. I would have never thought it would happen.
I don't want breads or high carb foods because they take up too much room in my stomach. I want to fill it with healthy food. I used to eat a lot of bread because I knew I could still shovel in food after the bread. Now, I know it won't fit. I might have one or two bites of bread if it is something I really want.

I had surgery almost 7 months ago, and even though Omar doesn't work with Dr. Kelly anymore, Omar still checks on me. He is such a great man.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT!
About a week after surgery, I was making dinner for my family. Unfortunately, it was my favorite meal, spaghetti. I kept feeling sad that I wouldn't ever be able to eat spaghetti again. Then, I had to remind myself that I would be able to eat spaghetti. I would eat one, sleeved-sized serving, and I would be SATISFIED. I wouldn't eat a huge plate plus three pieces of bread, two sodas and possibly seconds.
There are many people who stay on a strict high Protein / low carb diet. I think people who are strict, lose weight more quickly. BUT there are many of us here that eat more normally, but in smaller portions. I am almost 7 months out and down 75lbs, and my diet has definitely changed. I do eat my Protein first, veggies second and any carbs/sweets third. I do this because it is part of my new healthy lifestyle. I still have my favorite foods regularly, but I do what I can to make them healthier and eat a much smaller portion. I don't feel like I am missing out AT ALL.
Let me give you some examples...
I bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies yesterday. A year ago, that box (maybe two) would be gone by the end of the day. This year, I haven't even opened the box. When I do, I might eat one or two every other day. My SO will probably finish off most of the box.
I have a box of Valentine's chocolates right now. I had one last night. The box is sitting on my desk. I have no desire to down ten of them at a time like I did last year.
You know the skinny girl at the restaurant that only eats half the food on her plate while you clean your plate? That is me. I used to be so jealous of the people who didn't feel as though they had to clean their plates. It feels so great to push half or two-thirds of my meal into a to-go box. I have no regrets because I had a few bites of everything I wanted and am fully satisfied.
I actually crave fresher foods and non-fried foods. I would have never thought it would happen.
I don't want breads or high carb foods because they take up too much room in my stomach. I want to fill it with healthy food. I used to eat a lot of bread because I knew I could still shovel in food after the bread. Now, I know it won't fit. I might have one or two bites of bread if it is something I really want.

Mine came two weeks after surgery. Keep doing what you are supposed to do. It will pass.

Down 68.2 lbs since heaviest in April 12.(309)
Down 31.8 lbs since surgery. Nov 14. 2012 (272.6) Wt now 240.8

There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month because we read one post about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.
My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that averages 10.8lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different. After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.
I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning

Around 3 months, I stalled for 4 weeks. My weight fluctuated about 3lbs throughout those 4 weeks before I finally dropped. I lost a pound a day for the next 10 days after the stall broke.

First I will say that I'm trying to keep my eyes on the prize here, so no regrets so far! But this recovery is hell!! I had a Tummy Tuck, breast lift w/silicone implant, and mini-arm lift. Surgery went well, the dr said he removed 7 lbs of skin & fat w/ Lipo, yay! However, the first couple days I was unable to keep down any of my meds?! I'm guessing just sensitivity from the anesthesia in addition to not eating a whole lot. But now that I can keep pain meds down, things are a bit more manageable... And thank God for my wonderful husband! I need help getting in and out of bed, he had to remove my catheter, he empties my jP drain /records it, makes sure I'm taking my meds & that I'm doing the breathing exercises (with the incentive spirometer), and is taking care of our two toddler by himself! All the while he didn't even want me to have this surgery because he said I was fine the way I was (but that's a different topic, for a different day). I cherish him! Whatever you do, don't go into this alone! There is just no way you can do it alone! I will post pics once I'm healed up some, I have to keep this tight binder on for right now.

There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month because we read one post about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.
My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that averages 10.8lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different. After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.
I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning

There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month because we read one post about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.
My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that averages 10.8lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different. After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.
I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning

I posted this for someone else this morning...
There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month or two because we read one post or watched a video about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.

My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 before my preop diet = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that is 7 months and 76lbs averages 10.9lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different.
Included in this six months were at least 3 stalls that lasted two weeks. I had one stall that lasted a month where I would fluctuate the same 3lbs. While I averaged 10.9lbs per month, there was a month I didn't lose anything another that I lost 20lbs.
The great part about the sleeve is that I can't really give up. Even though my weight loss is slow to average, that weight is gone forever. I won't be able to go back to my old eating habits when I don't like the way my diet is going. I can't Celebrate a weight loss or a failure with a big dinner (always because I deserved food when I did well or poorly). Remember the last time you lost 49lbs? Now remember when you gained them back. Not going to happen this time.
After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.

I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning. Believe in yourself. Don't be too hard on yourself.

There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month because we read one post about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.
My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that averages 10.8lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different. After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.
I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning

I posted this for someone else this morning...
There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month or two because we read one post or watched a video about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.

My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 before my preop diet = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that is 7 months and 76lbs averages 10.9lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different.
Included in this six months were at least 3 stalls that lasted two weeks. I had one stall that lasted a month where I would fluctuate the same 3lbs. While I averaged 10.9lbs per month, there was a month I didn't lose anything another that I lost 20lbs.
The great part about the sleeve is that I can't really give up. Even though my weight loss is slow to average, that weight is gone forever. I won't be able to go back to my old eating habits when I don't like the way my diet is going. I can't Celebrate a weight loss or a failure with a big dinner (always because I deserved food when I did well or poorly). Remember the last time you lost 49lbs? Now remember when you gained them back. Not going to happen this time.
After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.

I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning. Believe in yourself. Don't be too hard on yourself.

There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month because we read one post about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.
My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that averages 10.8lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different. After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.
I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning

There are hundreds of posts here from people who feel like failures in the first month. I bet there isn't a one of them who did not go on to lose a significant amount of weight. I think many people (myself included) expect huge loses and miracles in the first month because we read one post about the person who lost 50lbs and ignore the twenty other posts that complain about slow weight loss.
My first month post op, I lost 15lbs. Usually when I do my count, I include the weight I lost on my pre op diet to help me feel better. I am 6.5 months out and am currently 203 starting from 279 = 76lbs. When I include my pre-op diet, that averages 10.8lbs per month. That isn't super fast. It isn't the big numbers that the minority write about. It is average, and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! In the first couple of months, it was hard because I couldn't see my weight loss. The scale moved a little each month, but my body didn't look much different. After 6 months, I am completely not worried about stalls or slow loss. I am content and enjoying my new body, healthy life style, compliments and stares from strangers.
I don't think there is anything anyone can tell you that makes the first few months better. It is simply a process. Just remember that this is a journey, and you are just beginning

I am very fond of my sleeve, the Bouncer. I am grateful to God for getting me through and backing me up in my decision. I would not go back and try conventional means even if I had a chance. I know myself. I would have failed.

That being said, I say the following:

What the sleeve did and does for me:

1. Cuts my hunger

2. Gives me pain when I eat too much

3. Makes me throw up when I eat too much or too fast

4. Taught me that I don't need vast quantities to be healthy

What the sleeve does not do for me:

1. Provides a magic solution

2. Controls my emotions and my thinking

3. Provides a permanent solution, (I know how to defeat it)

4. Eliminates my hunger

5. Makes me eat the right foods

I could have lost the weight without the sleeve. I could also have climbed Mount Everest.......

All the advise I gave her would apply to sleevers as well. I did not enjoy the surgery, I do not enjoy the effects of it. I love it because it helped me dump the excess Gman and helps me keep it off.

Nik said she was trying to avoid it. She's only 25. I am for her trying to see if she can. I am also for her not feeling at all guilty about getting the sleeve. I am not.

Anyone who can get there without it, more power to ya!

The day of my surgery, I weight 279lbs. My husband looked at the two other women having surgery the same day as me, and each of them weighed around 200lbs. He had to remind himself that he did not know their story. At 180lbs, so many are still 50-60lbs overweight. Carrying around an extra 60lbs puts people at a great risk for diabetes and heart disease as well as knee and back pain. Those that weigh 180 are still struggling and are probably getting their weight under control before they ever reach 279lbs.

The day of my surgery, I weight 279lbs. My husband looked at the two other women having surgery the same day as me, and each of them weighed around 200lbs. He had to remind himself that he did not know their story. At 180lbs, so many are still 50-60lbs overweight. Carrying around an extra 60lbs puts people at a great risk for diabetes and heart disease as well as knee and back pain. Those that weigh 180 are still struggling and are probably getting their weight under control before they ever reach 279lbs.

In Nov 2011, I went to a consultation for WLS. I was at the point that I really felt I could still lose weight on my own. I told myself that I would give it one last effort over the next year. I knew I could do it. I even asked a bariatric specialist primary care doctor to help me. He told me that when someone has a BMI as high as mine (50ish) that only 1 out of 100 are success in losing weight and keeping it off. I was absolutely determined to be that 1%. I was also doing my research about VSG surgery, and I found this forum. By June 2012, I had gained about 10lbs. People who had surgery when I had my consult were down 70+lbs. At that point, I decided I was not going to wait a moment longer. I didn't want to gain another 10lbs by the end of the year nor did I want to put in my best effort and have a minimal loss. I had surgery at the end of June 2012, and I am currently 75lbs lighter. I don't regret it. I don't feel bad about not making it all year.
I think you are proving something to yourself. You will either rock your diet and will make adjustments to carry you through the rest of your life, or you won't. Give it your best effort. Then, be honest with yourself. Good luck!

One of the best parts about surgery is that I rarely ever feel hungry. Because I am not hungry, I can easily make good decisions about the food I eat. Remember that surgery will help you to control yourself, but you must be dedicated to making positive healthy changes for yourself. One of my few regrets is that I did not have surgery sooner.
Everyone is at risk for complications, but they are rare. Remember to weigh surgery complications with the risks that you take by being overweight including diabetes, heart disease, infertility, increased risk of cancer, decreased quality of life, etc.

I know you're frustrated and expected better results so far. I want to try to encourage you that at just over three months out, a 31 lbs loss is actually a very good loss! You're losing about ten pounds a month! I know some people have lost faster, but that's not a bad loss at all, especially considering you've had several stalls and still lost that much. I think you are going to lose just fine, it just may take a bit longer for you than for some others.
Just curious, have you tracked your carb intake at all? Some people are super carb sensitive and they need their carbs much lower than others in order to lose. I'm not sure if that's the case for you, but it's something to look into. Don't get too down on yourself. This is a long process; a marathon, not a sprint. Just keep plugging away doing what you're doing and the weight will come off.
Another thing, don't say "I have failed" because that kind of negative self talk will only hinder your progress. The more you tell yourself you have failed, the more likely you are to start acting like you have failed and that can't be good for long term progress. Don't beat yourself up, from the sounds of your post, you haven't done anything wrong! You are doing all the right things, therefore you haven't failed. Keep your head up. Take things one day at a time. Remember that even a slow loss is still a loss. hugs.

I'm 59 and never...
um.... never...
crap, I've done it all. Now what??

You know? Come to think of it, I've never been waxed "down there" either...