newstart4me

I had my sleeve surgery in February and have lost 65lbs. Now, I have zero regrets. But, I will say I was not prepared for the emotional part at first either. I will just say it all gets better. I feel totally normal now and can eat more than I thought I was going to be able too, the beauty is, just can't over do it. Hang in there, it will get better. The first 6 to 8 weeks is the hardest.

I had my sleeve surgery in February and have lost 65lbs. Now, I have zero regrets. But, I will say I was not prepared for the emotional part at first either. I will just say it all gets better. I feel totally normal now and can eat more than I thought I was going to be able too, the beauty is, just can't over do it. Hang in there, it will get better. The first 6 to 8 weeks is the hardest.

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These are my pictures six months after surgery. It had been going well. Still a low of learning on my part but I am happy! I have lost 131 pounds! I went from a size 30/32 down to a 14/16 short and an 18 pants.... So excited! Just wanted to drop in and show some pics.

I have been watching so many others and their success stories I finally feel confident enough to post some pics myself The before pic was taken 1 month before surgery and the second today. 5 months post op and down 70 lbs!

Hello everyone,
I know this story may seem so silly to some, but it was quite a moment for me.
Last night my husband and I went out for my very first "outing" treat; frozen yogurt. When we arrived I grabbed a small bowel, this alone is major because I have NEVER grabbed a small anything before, even in my mind it felt wrong, I filled it about 3/4 of the way and my messed up mind was thinking, "this does not look like enough", I ate about 5 small spoonfuls AND.......... I was so full!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really could not believe it! Never in my life have I ever been able to not finish a meal, a dessesrt, a drink, or anything! I was actually full and it was such a major moment for me. I actually broke down and cried about it. I didn't cry because I couldn't eat it, I cried because of so many times I wished that the time would come where I could actually push food away without eating it all, and I did it 40 years later. It was such a moment for me, thank you for letting mr share it with you.

Sleeve stretching aside-I just came across this article regarding sodas:
Diet-Soda Belly
It's not surprising that drinking all the sugar in sodas would cause weight gain, but what is surprising is that even diet soda will pack on the pounds: Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center monitored 475 adults for 10 years, and found that those who drank diet soda had a 70 percent increase in waist circumference over the 10-year study, compared with those who didn't drink any soda. Those who drank more than two diet sodas per day saw a 500 percent waist expansion! A separate study the same researchers conducted on mice suggested that it was the aspartame, which raised blood glucose levels, that caused the weight gain; when your liver encounters too much glucose, the excess is converted to body fat.
Also:
Researchers looked at people’s diet soda consumption between the years 2000 and 2002, and then screened them for type 2 diabetes between 2002 and 2007, People who drank at least one diet soda a day at the beginning of the study had a 67 percent higher relative risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the people who drank none. Zero-calorie soda also increased the risk of metabolic syndrome—a group of risk factors linked to obesity that increase your chances of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke—by 36 percent.
So even diet sodas have their problems

Honestly, the two week liquid diet was extremely difficult for me. I had the Protein Shakes and chicken broth. The chicken broth was like having steak to a starving stomach. The first 4 days were the hardest, but then you hit a groove and it really does get easier. The Protein shakes will help curve your appetite, if you use like 1% milk. I also drank zero calorie poweraid for variety. Ate sugar free Jello and chewed it to make me feel like I was eating. I looked at as my part in the deal, cheating was not an option, I told myself if I cheated, they wouldn't do the surgery. I think how much you lose depends on how big you are in the first place. I started my liquid diet at 297 and I lost 23lbs. I just had my surgery on the 23rd and I am down to 265. I never thought I would drop this quickly. It keeps me going though, cause the liquid diet doesn't stop after surgery. As a matter of fact, my dr. requires another 4 weeks! It's all about allowing yourself to heal, cause you do not want leaks! They are bad news. At least now on my liquid diet I can have some Soup like cream of mushroom, etc. Getting all the protein after surgery is a challenge, I am relying on Isopure a lot, so tired of the shakes. Anyway, you can do it. I never thought I could as I have never been successful at a diet, so if I can, anyone can.

Honestly, the two week liquid diet was extremely difficult for me. I had the Protein Shakes and chicken broth. The chicken broth was like having steak to a starving stomach. The first 4 days were the hardest, but then you hit a groove and it really does get easier. The Protein shakes will help curve your appetite, if you use like 1% milk. I also drank zero calorie poweraid for variety. Ate sugar free Jello and chewed it to make me feel like I was eating. I looked at as my part in the deal, cheating was not an option, I told myself if I cheated, they wouldn't do the surgery. I think how much you lose depends on how big you are in the first place. I started my liquid diet at 297 and I lost 23lbs. I just had my surgery on the 23rd and I am down to 265. I never thought I would drop this quickly. It keeps me going though, cause the liquid diet doesn't stop after surgery. As a matter of fact, my dr. requires another 4 weeks! It's all about allowing yourself to heal, cause you do not want leaks! They are bad news. At least now on my liquid diet I can have some Soup like cream of mushroom, etc. Getting all the protein after surgery is a challenge, I am relying on Isopure a lot, so tired of the shakes. Anyway, you can do it. I never thought I could as I have never been successful at a diet, so if I can, anyone can.