CowgirlJane

142 this morning. I am quite sure my tummy troubles are acid since it feels better after starting up a ppi. What a shocker, I hope this doesn't mean serious trouble is heading my way ala Susan and Irene Steven was wowed - he noticed the weight loss and was the one that told me I am officially a skinny girl and to stop losing weight right now... perfect. I trust his judgment and it feels perfect to me too.

When I had excess skin, I still felt kinda fat. i knew in my head it was skin, but it looked like fat to me. I worked on alot of self acceptance, and I was "okay" with it preplastics, but ... i still felt like I had a good layer of fat. Yesterday a friend of mine said "you are now officially a skinny girl" - meaning I no longer need shapewear, cleverly disguised clothing. It is hard to explain, but post reconstructive plastic surgery I feel like I truly am at goal now. I suspect that the feeling of really looking more like a normal person is motivational for many - but only time will tell. I am 2.5 years out from my sleeve, still plenty of time to regain.

I felt like plastics was similar to getting rid of the 3X sweatpants...you know, dont need that extra skin anymore, not useful. It motivates me because I feel so confident in my body...really...best body since I was about 22. I am only 6 months from the reconstruction but it was a game changer for me.

Maybe shooting for 100% isn't realistic? for me, I spent over a year in turmoil on this decision. At the end of the day, I decided I had a 100% chance of early death with a side trip through disability on the path I was on weighing over 300# and not getting any younger. I too lost weight, would regain it, and then reached the point I couldn't even lose weight anymore! As a revision from lapband to sleeve, I estimated my risk of serious complications for the sleeve was 5% or thereabouts. Could I ever be 100% sure it was the right decision? no. but it felt like better odds than the path I was on.

So, I don't track calories so when I say I do 5:2 it is probably a bit more like the 8 hour thing. I try to focus on NOT eating all day long, that whole giving it a rest seems to make a huge difference! When I am using 5:2 aggressively, my "2" fast days are really more ultralow carb, and by inference low calorie days. I don't like using the word "feast" - my normal days are normal is all. I haven't done it in awhile because I am maintaining without it, but whenever I creep up I do 5:2 (my version) and it works great.

Okay, I am suspecting it is acid. I am trying a ppi for a few days - which I have NOT taken since early weeks post op. I don't feel like I have reflux or anything, but we all know how sneaky acid can be. Last night I met a friend for dinner and I had zero appetite. I was sorta dreading dinner. However, I ordered yummy grilled fish tacos and ate all the "innards" - left behind the corn torts and it caused no discomfort and i actually felt satiated. I had taken a proselec earlier in the day. So, one reason I wanted the appointment for next week to see if the ppi helped... then it is a good indication of the issue. I think a few more days of it might tell but this morning I am again at zero appetite. What is interesting is that I lost weight pretty rapidly when I first lost my appetite, but as we all know the body adjusts so I am maintaining even though not eating very much. I have also not been exercising much due to some other health issues - so pretty much off track on everything for the moment. That is okay... I will get back!

Hey swizz... how are you doing? which airport are you at? I am online all day - I keep a personal laptop next to my work one for checking in.

Well as my ex so clumsily pointed out when I got down to about 28 or 29 BMI that I was relatively small cuz everyone else has gotten so fat in the meantime. Some truth there. I weigh in the low 140s now and I definitely get the "too skinny" thing but I am not. I think i am just right .

Stomach bothering me again. I have an appointment to be seen next week..just to be sure....

So I am curious what you all think of the push toward local real life support groups sponsored by bariatricpal? It seems to me that there are lots of support groups in place in urban areas (at least in mine!) so I wonder what niche this will wind up filling?

My favorite mex-grill place lets me order a kids meal, but most won't around here. I mostly order appetizers because all I want is the Protein anyway - I skip the sides pretty much. I like something like a shrimp skewer or perhaps a small salad with shrimp or chicken on it.

I had the lapband for 10 years and then revised to the sleeve. I know very little about the bypass except for some (probably irrational) reason I just didn't want that procedure. I think making pros and cons and listening to your surgeon's recommendations for you is a good idea. First surgeon I went to told me to not even consider the sleeve since my BMI was so high and I had already failed with the lapband. I went to the support groups and noticed that he pretty much did just bypass procedures... so it is clear there is quite a bit of bias even among surgeons. I went to a surgeon who recommends sleeve first, but certainly does bypass and even bands for some cases. I am very very happy with my sleeve, but only time will tell if it was really the best thing, right? In the end, all weight loss surgeries require commitment from YOU as the number one success factor. Longer term, complications, regain etc can happen with any procedure. Oh, and I still need Vitamins. Problem is that I still have to eat so little to keep my weight at a normal BMI that it is pretty hard to meet all nutritional needs that way. Maybe younger/higher metabolism people it is different... but even in maintenance I am a "small eater" Good luck!

My stomach has been bothering me. I think I will start back on proslect which I haven't taken in over 2 years. I have this nagging feeling something isn't right but starting with acid control seems logical.

I started out at just over 300# and I had lost 50 before people really even noticed the change. Do you think he is uncomfortable with the physical changes already or something else? I guess everyone knows this, but losing huge amounts of weight is a game changer in many relationships. In my case, the ending of my relationship actually wasn't about the weight loss. I thought the problems in our relationship were (at least partially) caused by my being so obese but turns out they had nothing to do with it so losing weight did not "fix" a dang thing. And then, i just couldn't take it anymore.

I have never seen a complication reported this way. A small percent have leaks and it is never known what causes them. It has been said you don't want to risk solid foods early as it could cause particles to get stuck. Trouble is some people can do everything right and still have complications while another doesn't comply with instructions and have no problem...luck??? My personal view is pick a great surgeon with an amazing track record of results and do what they say...hopefully improving odds of a great outcome.

Well, my ability to eat is returning, but my food capacity seems much less. I suspect it is the whole "eat less and you want less" at work. My weight has stabilized and I assume that I don't have a physical problem but it has been strange... after all this time of trying to manage hunger to experience the opposite problem.

Victoria, it is not hopeless. I don't REALLY know much about true stretching of the sleeve, but I DO know how to keep that feeling of restriction. They key is eating small quantities, eating low carb and avoiding sliders. Doing a week or something of a liquid diet can certainly help get that "restricted feeling" back, but you don't have to do anything that radical. My advice is clear the sliders/junky/celiac make you sick foods out of your house. DOn't buy em and you won't eat em. Focus on staying hydrated, not drinking with meals and eating basically dense Protein and veggies. Avoid or cut way back on fruit (sugar), liquid calories and anything that just goes down too easy (crackers, popcorn, etc.). Go back to basics. I am 2.5 years out from surgery and you may have read my post about shockingly losing my appetite. I think some of the replies hit the nail on the head.. once you get used to eating little, your appetite decreases. When you get used to eating lots... your appetite increases. If you really are binging, you might want to consider counseling or some kind of support group for food addiction. That is a tough one because we all think we are food addicted at some point - but me - I was mostly hungry all the time pre-sleeve.

Sounds like a great time Coops! I think I can report a victory. I had a great day riding on Friday then we went out for a bite to eat and just had a great time. I was going to go out to one of these meetup events Friday night, but wimped out. I was content - hear that?, content. Saturday I went shopping and at times felt like a waste of the day but I was happy. I have bras that fit now...woo hoo. Again, I was supposed to go do a social event but I got all dressed up and thought....eh.... I don't feel like driving so far in the bad weather. I had a nice evening at home alone with my pups. So, this is all good because i feel peaceful.

I think people who revise when they are very close to goal weight lose very slowly and are often disappointed. I had 100% EWL too and I know that is not typical for either virgin or revision sleevers who start at a 50+ BMI. However, I also know that revision people typically lose way more than 10# so that seems like a strange statement is all. Anyway, good info, thanks for sharing!!!

This is COMPLETELY NORMAL. There are a couple of things, one your nerves have probably not healed. Also, you are still eating soft type foods which just don't fill you as well. Finally, if you are not taking an acid inhibitor you should be because even very mild excess acid feels like hunger. I was told that for those first 6-8 weeks to almost not trust your hunger feelings or feeling of "satiety". I ate by the very detailed instructions as to quantity (measured everything) and frequency. Once you are fully healed and on solid food, eating dense Proteins and following the rules helps alot. It takes time also to learn to stop when no longer hungry instead of seeking out that "full" feeling. It seems like a foreign concept but over time it becomes just wonderful - I never have that "oh no, I ate too much feeling". I am 2.5 years post op and have lost over 160# with the sleeve - been in maintenance since Feb 2013.

Got measured for a bra today. The band's get stretched I guess cuz my 36C feel too loose around while the cup sorta makes a crease in the boobs. I measure a 36D or DD. ..hmmmm...Ross has discount bras so picking up a few. I didn't buy jeans but u got a cute "going out" top. All my girlfriends basically hate going out so I need to find a young at heart single friend to go shopping with. I told Steven I am ready to move on..it was hard but went really well. We are on the same page. not like I have found anyone. ...

Well then I have to disagree with the 10 pound lose for revisions. I started at 308 and am now weighing in the low 140s after revision to sleeve. Revision is any other op on the stomach after WLS. For sleevers, it could be RNY, DS, or a modification of the sleeve due to ulcers. Lynda

Coops rant away. Damn mean scale!!!

I had similar experience with the band more pain versus satisfied. I think it takes relearning with the sleeve. Eat till no longer hungry (this applies once you ate 6 plus weeks out before that eat according to surgeon guide). Over time you learn that full is too much and uncomfortable. So eating till no longer hungry keeps a good restriction feeling. I Am 2.5 Years From Revision AND Maintaining.

Thanks everyone for your replies and sharing your experiences. I still remember how it felt and in some ways how odd it was to not really like food in those early weeks and months. When I was transitioning to solids, I was almost a little worried... worried about over doing it, figuring out "what to eat" and all those experiences. I am nearly 2.5 years out so it is a little different experience than for those in the early months which is why I posted to the vets forum - although i know that due to the way this site is laid out it is so easy to reply to a topic and not realize you are in the wrong forum (I accidently posted in the men's forum not that long ago I realized after the fact haha). Anyway, i am interested in hearing from other vets since we mostly stress over managing hunger and keeping from regaining. I am curious if others have gone through this and if it seems like a sign of an actual problem or not. I think the recent focus on long term complications has me a little concerned. I lost about 8-10 pounds in just over 2 weeks which is unheard of for me this far out. My weight has stabilized and I am making myself eat, but I really have very little drive for food. So the problem isn't that I am too thin, although my jeans are all falling off me right now, the problem is I wonder if this is common or if it is a sign that I should be scoped/seen. If I am really feeling like nothing sounds good I sometimes drive 25 minutes to my favorite restaurant and have their shrimp skewer appetizer because for some reason, that generally sounds and tastes good to me. Most restaurant food is so heavy - it's just too much and makes me feel kinda icky.