CowgirlJane

In my program, we counted Protein drinks towards fluids - a big deal in the early weeks since it was hard to get enough Fluid in. I always treated them like any other liquid and applied the eating time limits.

I believe there is no expiration date - the sleeve keeps working as long as you keep "working it". I lost 150# in 14 months to get to my goal in Feb 2013 - definately was faster at the beginning but when I hit long stalls it was always due to excess carb consumption... Since then I have lost another 15 or so pounds... sometimes hard sometimes easier. I know you were asking about the "honeymoon" period - a real thing - but I wanted to point out that it is never too late and that there does not need to be an "end" until you decide to go into maintenance.

I could have written this post. What was weird for me is that i didn't feel that way until I had been in maintenance quite awhile... and by then food didn't soothe me even if I COULD stuff myself with it. I feel like I am finally coming out of the brighter end of the tunnel... like i am no longer overwhelmed every day by the intensity of these feelings. I feel a sense of optimism and joy returning... those things I felt so strongly during weight loss but eluded me for awhile recently. Alot has happened, my life has been turned upside down, not just by weight loss but by some other factors in life too. I learned a few things about not burying my feelings with food and obesity: -nobody hated me for being less than perfect -lots of people seem to like me even better now since I am much more open, authentic and less "self protecting" -I totally lost my cool with a dear friend who did not deserve it due to my emotional state and he forgave me. Real friends are like that -Looks don't matter very much, I still like to look my very best and that is OKAY... but, it just isn't that important -Everybody struggles with something in life, everybody finds ways of dealing with it good or bad. Our challenge is to re-funnel that into something healthier and sustainable (drinking huge quantities of coffee for example, is neither - BTDT)

Well said - Happiness IS truly within. the dirty little secret that somehow obese people don't seem to get is that you are never ever ever perfect looking. There is ALWAYS someone prettier, thinner, nicer hair, better skin, longer legs... whatever... Live and love the life ya got and enjoy it even while striving to make it better!

I am 6 months out from my plastics and very pleased with results. It is time to get some updated photos, but if you read through this thread you will hear much of my story. Skim the pages because there are alot of questions answered and links provided during the discussion. Good luck! http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/285839-two-weeks-from-plastics-progress-so-far/ I think I have another big thread somewhere too - probably a couple of months post op. There are other Mexican surgeons that people have great results with too - my advice is to be sure you see lots and lots of before and afters and talk to a few real patients. One thing I liked about Dr Sauceda is that there is a patient run group where people talk and share photos so you can see years worth of people's experiences. He takes on some really challenging cases and the transformations can be incredible. Google Sauceda obesity help to find it.

There are many to choose from so be sure to spend time checking out results from alot of people not just cherry picked photos on a website. I went to Dr Sauceda and am very pleased with the results and the care. If you search this forum by his name you will find many discussions. Also obesity help has a subforum devoted to his patients that has tons of info and lots of photos.

Coops .... take this in a positive way... I am dying to go to Wales just to hear English spoken! I had a wonderful weekend...Mother's Day with my 2 favorite people (my 22 and 25 YO baby boys)...horse back riding on my lovely lovely mare Mia with my best friend Mary...Steven telling me he loves me...(damn him anyway) Besides all that I just feel so happy again. It's like the world is back in Technicolor....I love my life though I do have some new struggles. I will share those later. Do want to say how important our little crew is to me. I think about all of you! Missing hearing from a few of you!

Denise I think I read you have always needed a ppi. I stopped after the early weeks and have not needed until this very recent episode. I wonder how we really know the long term and how many need to revise to bypass over this issue?

I did a medically supervised liquid diet as one of my many weight loss attempts. Worked great, but I never regained weight so fast once I began eating again. Would not recommend this strategy.

I don't track calories.

My deepest condolences. I think a realistic approach is to not worry about a goal weight but rather to restore healthy habits and stop the regain. Later you can think about goal weight. I suggest not having trigger foods in the house. I for example cannot have my favorite Protein bars as I eat them like candy. You are doing the same with fudgecicles so don't buy them. Every night when you escape reality in front of the tv try doing a manicure, doing a hobby like knitting, something to keep you busy and is incompatible with eating junky food. You will be better able to cope if your body is healthy. Get sleep...if you aren't sleeping, talk to a good doc about it. I lost my baby sister and best friend to breast cancer at age 39...it was beyond devastating so I have an idea of the sad lonely overwhelming feeling. I am so sorry...cancer sucks.

Reason I asked about your thoughts on the local support groups is that i am thinking about volunteering to lead one here. I would NOT do weekly, but perhaps monthly. I am only interested because i am considering career changes and I am thinking in the direction of "coaching" but don't know. This seemed like a good way to see how I really feel about that. I lead teams/meetings/people all the time so completely fine with getting in front of a group and experienced with facilitating and making stuff like this happen. What I am not sure about is how annoying i would find it to have to be there and miss out on something fun in the sun..haha. Also, the "program" allows for other sorts of gatherings like something physical but must be so everyone can participate... which means a short slow walk. I probably wouldn't want to do that too often either. For me, this topic would have been better in the winter, I jealously guard my outdoorsy time during the better weather seasons of about now through November.

One of life's many ironies is that although I am normal body weight, and am photogenic enough to get lots of "hits" on a dating website... have a light profile etc. it is still REALLY hard to meet someone decent much less compatible. I think that at my age (pushing 50) alot of the people really are jaded etc. Let me tell you what else is weird - I am reasonably attractive, but i don't get asked out by a guy at the grocery store either. Maybe it is the part of the country I live in, but online seems like the only way to meet people in my age group.

Alex, one of the problems with this poll is vanity sizing is OUT OF CONTROL. I went pants shopping yesterday and fit most 6's although some 6's were too big. Last time I was at White House Black Market I weighed 10# more than I do now I fit into their 2's-4s....I'd probably be a 0-2 at my current weight. I tried on a true designer label a few months back... and I was more like an 8... so what size do I wear? Most of my dresses are 8-10s but I am bigger on top then on the bottom. Yet, some tops the small fits and the mediums are too big. Seriously, the sizing is so inconsistent it is almost meaningless. I consider being "single digit" sizes to be a big success - but frankly anything without a "W" after it was my idea of successful results post weight loss surgery. My all time largest size pants were 32W (plus sizes use a whole different system) and I pretty much wore 2-3X tops.

Miss Bean - I am so glad it worked out well for you. I personally continue to be astounded by my results. I am 6 months out and really this experience was transformational. I had the same procedures you did - only I didn't do the long thigh, but the short thigh lift. I sometimes regret that I didn't get the long lift because when i wear short shorts or a short dress, my inner thighs still have some pudge/loose skin that does not go away with exercise. Flip side, I don't have the scar so I have decided it is good enough for this hawt 49 year old..haha!

Dee- why does seeing colleagues bring such a negative association, or is it just part of the "funk"? Do you have a good social network there? I lived in Germany for 20 months and in fact had my lapband there. While we had "friends" to socialize with it wasn't really a supportive network to be honest. Just an FYI - I completely avoid the news. I used to listen to NPR in particular and I just simply can't take it anymore. I didn't make a conscious decision to stop, but somewhere during my weight loss journey I simply turned it OFF. I feel like a dolt at times that I don't hear about anything going on, but my best friend knows i completely avoid the news so she informs me about expected natural disasters, sex predators on the loose or other things she thinks I need to know..haha. I don't know if it is weight loss, age related hormonal changes or what... but my brain flipped a switch and what I do not read books much anymore, dropped the news habit .... it is like something is just different in how I concentrate and think. In spite of my "worries" about my tummy, I actually feel so.much.better. I am on half a pill of lexapro everyother day - from what I understand not really a therapuetic dose for depression but enough for anxiety prevention. It is like a weight lifted. My true nature, my inner happy and optimistic person is shining through the vast majority of the time. I also wonder how much of my feeling "depressed" was caused by my physical problem and the lack of eating/not staying hydrated? It is really hard to separate the physical from the emotional. I do think it is decreasing my sexual desire and response which may not be a bad thing. I am forcing myself to eat and drink. I am no longer feeling stomach pain, but still no appetite. That is not how acid felt to me previously so even though the PPI is surely helping, I don't feel mentally "relieved" as i still don't think it is normal. My life is going better overall though. Work has gotten almost too busy but I like the focus. I am feeling more content with my daily world. The days are getting longer, more nice days... summer is coming. I did that pants and jeans shopping trip. I have a business trip coming up and my work slacks all literally fall off me as I bought them 15-20# heavier. i could not believe it - across the board 6's fit or are too big - and that is normal levi's and other name brands not the crazy vanity sized White House Black Market store. Who woulda thunk given that at one time I actually wore 32W pants - shocker to even me. Finding a real boyfriend... I don't know... not great progress. I met someone I really really really like but I realize that we have so little in common that I just don't think it has a chance of lasting even through the summer ... so I think I am going to not go to the "next step" with him. It is a tough conversation to have with someone that I like and enjoy his company so much. Steven floats in and out of the picture, I thought we had more or less decided to part company but neither of us seems quite willing to do that just yet. I have mixed feelings - it is all part of my letting go process I think. I am not stressed by it, more find it an interesting observation.

Ok PDX Man, that was funny and inspired me to vote too. You know what I think would make a BIGGER difference? If people could see all the cool stuff in people's signatures when they use mobile devices. I realized a few months ago that people don't see the stats like ticker or the text that tell how much we have lost, dates of surgery etc in the siggie line.

Denise, you shouldn't feel bad about Dr Aceves. I still have no reason to really believe he is a "bad" surgeon. I think that WLS has long term risks and we don't hear much about them because people just fade away. I am a little scared too now. I am starting to suspect that my appetite and weight loss wasn't caused by mood problems but rather physical issues. I came home from Mexico thinking I maybe had picked up a bug... just a little off. It sorta came and went and then I started feeling depressed, not eating, weight loss. I didn't associate it at all with coming home feeling a little "off". I felt better but then worse again - only clearly NOT depressed just not feeling as good physically and then some tummy discomfort actually began. I did drink alot of alcohol during that trip - something everyday and I guess I am fearful i have injured my tummy somehow. so now, I have no appetite, but if I make myself eat... I can eat normal amounts and feel fine. It is just hard to get started... I am not wasted away to nothing, that isn't my fear, my fear is that I have a problem brewing. I will continue with the PPI and go from there but it is strange that I haven't needed a PPI in over 2 years and all of a sudden i do. Okay, and here is the headtrip weirdness - i have been at goal for awhile. I had plastics 6 months ago, and am very comfortable with my body. It is losing this last 8-10# has really changed how I look. Steven was wowed, I get lots of looks from men and lots of "worries" from female friends. It is like that whole post massive weight loss headtrip thing, only it is over a few pounds. I don't really understand it - like I don't even see much difference, I think my waist has gotten smaller which just gives me more of a curve I guess. It has rocked my boat a little bit too. Having said all that - it is so wonderful to not feel blue and that "drop like a rock" down at times. I do get lonely, but it is more of a normal feeling rather than it being devastating. What a relief.

I wanted to let you know that I deleted your duplicate post... as I am sure it was unintended! Many days of the week I make a fancy egg Breakfast. I sautee some frozen veggies (usually bell peppers or brocoli) and a sliced up low carb/high Protein chicken or turkey sausage. I then whip up some egg beaters in my little magic bullet blender and pour over the sautee. I often top with sliced tomatoes and a bit of cheese, let it cook a bit more on the stove and then place under broiler - I get a puffy egg dish that is high protein, low carb and has veggies. I usually eat half in the morning and the other half for lunch or a later meal. I often have salads with some salmon or tuna or something on it. I eat alot of shrimp. I eat berries everyday. Sometimes I just have grilled fish or chicken. I do go out to eat, but usually order a "protein item" off the appetizer menu. I don't eat much fruit - sugary. I avoid carby, junky food altogether. I eat zero fast food as that stuff is poison to me.

Okay, what surprises me the most about this story is that I would NEVER criticize someone for a decision when it is too late, cannot be undone - I mean what is the point? Even if she was "right" it's not like you can get your previous oversize stomach back. I think you handled it very well ... if it were me, not sure I would want to associate with her because seems like she could really be a negative force especially if you ever run into frustrations or problems (stalls etc) I have been blessed with people who are either openly supportive or have the decency to keep their mouths shut. BTW, I didn't tell my extended family in advance of the surgery. I told them afterwards, by email. I asked for their support and told them I understood not everyone would agree with my choice - and they could please keep that to themselves. I got a lot of congrats, good decision, good luck... and some silence. After about a year, the silent ones finally spoke up and said something like "I didn't feel comfortable that you did this, but i am so happy to see how successful you have been" Truth is, they don't need to agree, they just need to not be an obstacle or detractor of my success. Friends and family should support us or at least not try to derail us...

It took me 14 months to get to my initial goal of losing 150# (I weighed 158). This morning, I weighed 142 - so I have lost about 15 more pounds since Feb 2013. My personal belief is you should absolutely maximize those first 6-12 months as it is easier to lose weight then - do view it as a sprint, BUT, then realize that if you keep working the sleeve, following healthy habits you CAN maintain or continue to lose. The sleeve doesn't expire, what happens is that people fall back on their old ways... and the closer to normal weight you are, the harder it might be to lose. goal is a fairly arbitrary number and you can keep having successes (losses, maintenance) even after "hitting" it.

I have to add... your user name is perfect... and oh so true. You make your own "luck" and you make your own happiness. Sometimes peace... and recognizing that you started where you started, you are where you are and now what is the best path from here is the way to think...

Congrats on becoming a vet! It is easy to get discouraged, not just by the scale, but LIFE. I think it is important to keep the perspective of focusing on how much you have acheived - both health benefits, mobility, looks etc rather than comparing yourself to what you envision as "ideal". You would be shocked at how many women at a "normal" weight despise their own looks. It really is a waste of energy. I was told by my NUT and found it to be try that as long as you keep "working it" the sleeve will keep working for you. You CAN continue to lose weight as a vet, just keep on keeping on. I know what you mean about sometimes thinking how long the journey is - for me, when i weighed over 300# it seemed impossible to get to a normal size/weight, but i did it. I too thought about the ladies who were "only" 75-100# overweight... but in the end that doesn't really matter. It only matters how I live my life, not how I compare to anyone else. I can be bad about Vitamins sometimes... and then get back on track, but I implore you to get your Protein in. As you are losing weight, adequate protein can help maintain your muscle mass. It can also prevent hair loss and other unpleasant things like that. Anyway, keep posting on the vet forum! Welcome!

I am indifferent to this and while I can understand why it is interesting to people early on... I want to share this little story. I weigh within 5 pounds of my best friend. She is 2" taller. Somehow, I am several clothing sizes smaller and have been deemed "thin enough" by pretty much everyone around me. She is normal sized, but has some visible excess fat. I have a muscular body type, I apparently carry weight differently and perhaps the lifelong obesity history makes me "heavier" on the inside so the scale/height/BMI thing is really just a rough guideline. Comparisons really can take the joy out of your successes because there is always someone who SEEMS better based on stats.

You make such amazing points. It takes awhile, but the benefits of being trimmer are just so great, "food" starts to really take a back seat to the OTHER joys in life. Well, before joy, there is the absence of miserable things like the seat belt extensions, being able to fit in the seats etc... then, it just gets better and better!