jb14075

I hit onderland this morning and it feels soooooo good! I weighed 270 on the day of my surgery- 3/12- this morning: 199! I haven't been in the 100's for close to a decade. I'm not going to be walking at all today, I'll be floating!

The best thing you can do is not get wrapped up in the short term. I know there were months where I lost next to nothing & then all of the sudden I would lose 4 - 5 lbs in a week. Now I only weigh myself once a month & have been much happier with what I read on the scale. Just stick with a diet, work out & don't get frustrated.

I'm not going to lie, I was in pain but everyone is different. Each day brings remarkable improvement. Don't be scared, it's just a small moment in time and the sleeve is worth it. Good luck to you.

I was very very strict with low-carb intake until about 7 months post-op, when I began to eat small amounts of fruit. I had lost 80% of what I thought would be my total weight loss and in truth, all-Protein and green veg was getting really boring. However, my loss slowed down a lot, so I went back to all protein until I hit my goal of a normal BMI. Then I started adding in more dairy and more fruit.
I don't deprive myself of anything now that I'm at goal, but all those months of not eating sweets has made Desserts less appealing than before surgery, and thankfully I am satisfied with a tiny bite now and not the whole cake.

I might have a bite of chocolate, a little bit of ice cream or a cookie every now & then but I don't touch fast food, pizza & really anything greasy and/or deep fried.

I'm 18 months post-op. I don't have any post-op problems, no GERD, no nothing. I don't hate myself anymore due to my size. I don't buy mail-order clothes anymore to avoid seeing myself in the mirror. i'm not ashamed by what I put in the grocery cart. I admit, I was a carnivore before surgery so protein first is easy for me, but before surgery every meal ended with dessert and that doesn't happen anymore; partly because everything tastes too sweet now and partly because I like being a size 6. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being easy and 10 being very difficult, it's been about a 3 for me to maintain the changes I've made. I really, really wanted to lose all my excess weight and was determined to do it as quickly as possible so that was my priority. Now my priority is to keep it off.

some update pics!! 11 months out... :-)
before
before
before
after body shot after- face shot
after full body
after

In all honesty, I don't think the surgery itself does anything to relationships. If a relationship ends in light of surgery, there were problems long before that. I think a couple of things happen. I think a lot of people are already in unhealthy relationships, but they stay because they have such low self worth that they think it is the best they can do. After surgery, we start to gain more confidence and feel better about ourselves. In turn, people end of leaving their significant other because they realize they are worth so much more.
In your case, I think your husband is just using it as an excuse. If he truly loved and respected you, he would have been there for you instead of fooling around on you. I agree that counseling is a good route, but staying together just for your daughter's sake is never a good way to go. How often do we hear people saying they stayed together for the children, when, in reality, it was the worst thing for them.
My husband has been nothing but supportive and my biggest cheerleader. He loved me at my heaviest and he loves me now. Best of luck with everything and do some deep soul searching to figure out what is best for everyone, including yourself!

You really have to go into this knowing that it is a complete lifestyle change. If you don't, there is a possibility that it could fail.

I gotta be honest. I'm almost 3 months out and I get absolutely no enjoyment out of eating. I can only eat a few bites and if I take one too many, it hurts like hell and I feel absolutely miserable. I am enjoying the weight loss though and wouldn't change that for anything. I just dread meal times anymore.

I am two years out and do not enjoy food, eating out etc. what my stomach will tolerate differs from day to day. I throw up a lot and do not like the taste of many foods I used to love. I don't regret the surgery but I do get depressed sometimes that I can not eat like a normal person
I hope it all works out for you
best of luck

Hey everyone just wanted to share a Comparsion pic from June 2011 to June 2012. Had surgery in November but was loosing weight iny pre op stages here.

Very well put! I was told the other day that I "glowed." That was a great compliment, since before losing my 50 pounds I didn't even want to look people in the eye! Enjoy it!

I'm sure you have a new found confidence about yourself. I sure do! I'm down 105lbs total and def hold my head up higher these days. And I got a wink from a nice looking guy last week!!! So yea you enjoy that about yourself and enjoy those pleasantries.

Good job Michelle you look great!

My question is this: If you can't make the two week pre-op, are you really ready for the change of life that will come after surgery? Don't forget. That you will be on liquids for a while after surgery. And at that point if you cheat, it could be disasterous. The pre op diets are meant for a physical and a medical reason. Yes, but they also serve a higher purpose in helping us break the food addiction that got us all here in the first place.

I was a total diet pepsi person all my life. I have read studies where diet coke and coke cause weight gain. The chemicals are horrible. So I decided to get the sleeve and to have a healthier life style. I have gone organic and basically eat the healthiest of foods. Afterall I choose to eat leas and healthier! Not enough room in my stomach for junk.

My cousin asked me to post a before and after to my FB so I thought I'd share with you all too

This is exactly how I feel & I'm totally ok with it as going out to eat all the time was a major contributor toward how I got itno this situation to begin with.

Well, my definition of what a meal is has changed. When I go out with co-workers or friends that don't know my story, I can eat a whole meal. Now, what does that consist of? A side salad and a cup of soup!
Now, if I am out with my wife or her family, who know my story, I usually don't order anything at all. Everybody cuts off a bite and throws it on a salad plate. That is eating a whole meal to me. Everything changes with the sleeve and what we call a meal needs to change, too, otherwise we lament the days of overeating, which can do us no good.

Idk if you will ever truly love to eat again. In the past eating was such a comfort or a pleasurable thing for all of us. We each will have our moments with eating. For instance, I don't really like to go out to eat anymore because I don't want to spend money on something that I am not going to finish. Sounds twisted. I also find that if I stick to the plan more my taste buds rebel against anything else. The joy of eating is kind of gone. I focus more on socializing but then I sit there and am horrified at how much everybody else is eating. It is going to be a delicate balance until you figure out what works for you.
I do agree that you need to stick with mushies and moist meats. The food will go down easier. You will have to experiment a bit to find out what you like. You are literally relearning how to eat and what you like again. For awhile I was living on cinnamon applesauce mixed with greek yogurt. Just remember you have to chew your food until it is liquid. You can also try taking bites one minute apart. I used to time myself. Also, be sure your acid level is in check.
Hang in there, it will get easier.

some pics-- almost 6 months post up loving the sleeve!!
first 3 are before, second 3 are after!