kcage

To those of you who are pre-op I know there are 1 million thoughts, questions, concerns going through your mind in the time leading up to your decision to have surgery and the actual procedure. One of the main concerns I faced was the negative perception others would have, thinking that I took the easy way out! I just want to encourage you that for everyone who says you took the easy way out I guarantee they would not be strong enough to deal with the lifestyle adjustment that you have decided to undergo. How many times have you lost 5 pounds just to gain back 10 to 15. We have tortured our bodies and minds. Food has consumed our thoughts and daily activites, taken us away from things we enjoy and caused insurance rates to be raised. Well you are strong enough to take your life back. The serious consideration of this procedure shows you are strong enough, being a part of this forum and doing your research proves you are strong enough! There will be times when you feel did I make the right decision, is this right for me? If you are ready to rid you of the extra baggage that no matter how good you feel on the inside you are unable to hide, the looks when you walk into a buffett, wondering if a chair is sturdy enough to hold you, loving to go shopping but hate trying on clothes in public. You are strong enough! Be encouraged because you are brave and wonderful and STRONG!

i just try to stay away from too much bread and pasta. Should i count carbs? Will that help if so please let me know how and what to count!

Ok so.......I am happily married and have been with my DH for almost 7 years. When we met I had a one year old son whose father wanted myself and our son when it was beneficial for him to have a family! AH won't cry about it, I only wanted a relationship with him for the stability it would give my son. Didn't work and God blessed me with the most wonderful husband and father to our children! Ok fast forward 7 years my son is turning eight yay and we have three additional children. My son's biological father whom he has not seen in almost 6 yrs does not call, write, email anything he has abandonded the role of a father and we are fine with that! Well I have to go to court next week and I am hoping to get him to sign over his parental rights! Mind you although he has been an absent father he has actively pursued certain "relations" with myself (yeah right buddy)! He never saw me at my highest weight as I moved out of state and the majority of my weight gain was rapid and within the last 2 to 3 yrs. Well I am down 40lbs almost to the weight I was when we last saw each other and I plan on losing another 5 to 10 by the time I have to go home for court next week. I am willing to resort back to the original post-op diet for a few days of Clear liquids just to blow his mind! ok so that is person number 1 who will need to close his mouth. #2: Growing up I was extremely skinny and the majority of my family.......NOT.....as I got older and began having children and gaining weight they went from calling me anorexic to fat....well guess what they can say hello to my little friend. None of them know that I have had the surgery but they all seem to have an accurate count of every pound I gained! Well I cannot wait to see every one that made the comment ooooh how did you get so big? or Oh you can't call that baby weight! I might carry around extra tissue for the drool. I made a post a couple of weeks ago about how I do not like taking photos well I ahve been snapping like crazy. I finally see a change when I look in the mirror. My surgery scars are no longer a mile apart, those boogers are right there close together! And possibly my favorite NSV was when a young lady I know said I hope I look like you do after 4 kids when I get older. I smile so much now........no one knows my secret but all see my progress. Guys that are pre-op it is worth it your quality of life changes drastically after the first 7 days post-op! And each day it gets better and better! Go for it. I am 2 1/2 months post op and down 41 pounds and I feel like a new woman. I made a decleration that I would not turn 30 fat and this time my words are not full of hot air!

Ok guys......I am finally there. It is not by much but that scale has had a 1 in front of those two 9's for two consecutive days lol........I hit my first mini goal at exactly nine weeks, only one week later than I had hoped and I have to be honest in saying my sleeve did all the work. I slacked off on my walking and Water but have still continued to lose. Not as quickly as I would have had I done all the great and wonderful things I planned on doing but hey, my decisions and outlook on food are so totally different now that I really feel slow and steady wins the race. So many times I have gone on a crash diet, lost 10-15 pounds in a month and gained back double in 2 weeks! I know that the 40 pounds I have shed are gone forever......My husband is thrilled and the compliments are nice especially since people don't know I had surgery! So my ticker says 54 more pounds to goal and I truly believe that once I start and finish the Insanity workout (60 day program) that ticker will read more like 25 pounds til goal. Lets do it guys we still have the whole summer ahead of us and a winter where we can rock the tall boots because we have calfs, ankles a waist to tuck those ooooober cute sweaters into our skinny jeans! Ah the rewards of a little sacrifice! Next mini goal............going to think hard and make it a good one!

That is great.....I was looking through the latest magazine they sent in the mail and my husband stopped and said can you even fit their clothes anymore! And I thought hmmmmmm possibly the smallest size but hopefully not for much longer. We must chat on what our new fav stores are once we are no longer shopping at the LB. I wonder if the reason they charge so much is because we needed extra material? LOL oh well our sleeve changed all that now didn't he!

I am 2 months out......down 36 lbs and about 3 to 4 pants sizes. I am getting the compliments and people notice my loss, however........I have not taken any post op pics! I look in the mirror ( with clothes off) and don't see that big of a difference, and I know that I am overly critical of myself and I still feel as though the camera is going to tell a story that I don't want to hear! LOL. When were you all able to look in the mirror and see the changes for yourself? I notice some of our fellow sleevers are in love with the camera. Due to my weight gain I have resulted to saying I am not photogenic! I have been with my husband for six years, we have four children and have never taken family photos.....This is crazy and my weight has controlled so many aspects of my life! I am taking a stand!!!!! My 29th birthday is in August and since I no longer face going into my 30's fat, my family will take pics this August! YAY. I have a goal in mind of where I would like to be but hey I am just thankful that I am almost 40 lbs lighter than I was just 2 months ago........this post was random, but you guy's before and after photos inspire me and I realized I have none. Going to start tracking my journey.....and actually posting pics. Now the larger challenge........finding a BEFORE pic..LOL

congrats you look great! When were you sleeved? I am also 2 mos. out and my loss is about the same 36 lbs. Would love to see what you are eating daily, I like to compare since I have always kinda done my own thing in regards to the diet!

Remember fatigue is a sure sign that you are not getting what your body needs. Listen to your sleeve and at this far out you should be able to tell when you are hungry now! I think your doing great.....slow and steady wins the race. Most of the time it is our brain telling us we need more not our stomachs!

Proceed with caution! We all KNOW this procedure saved our lives, but others feel as though we took the easy way out. Remember your fb post are not only read by your friends but friends of friends that comment on your status updates. Not saying be ashamed, but start posting pics of your loss and progress and if they are sincerely trying to lose weight let that be an "inbox" type convo! Good luck and I am glad you are feeling GREAT!

I have only told a couple of people as we were talking about different measures to lose weight and she and I have the same insurance so I figured why not let her know it is covered! Someone provided me with this info so I felt it wasn't right not to share. Now as far as anyone else it is strictly a need to know bases. My mother-in-law was the one who came to my house to help my husband with the kids while I was in the hospital and she still didn't know, about four days post op when she was dropping my son off at home she asked so what did you have to have done my response to everyone that asks about surgery who I don't want to tell I had WLS.....I just tell them I had been having stomach and digestive issues and so I had the procedure done that they do when you have really bad ulcers. Look she is a registered nurse and was like oh ok so you had ulcers and I politely said no and now I never will. All the information is true, I have just decided that since I don't want anyone's opinion I won't give them the opportunity to give it. I give them enough info to where they leave me alone about it. My mom is in Afghanistan so I understand not wanting your mom to worry. I didn't tell my mom until a week post op as we talk regularly and she was a little worried after we didn't talk for a week. Just proceed with caution most won't understand and telling ppl you have drastically cut back on what you eat is truthful and since we have to exercise once you incorporate that you are doing what every other gym head is doing and what we should have been doing for years. Good luck and you know you have hundreds of ppl in your corner our own little supportive family!

Congratulations.....there is no better feeling than being in love with yourself and a great person.

I am loving that you posted this and I was actually hoping to get a male's perspective. My husband is a great guy who has said the weight didn't matter he didn't even want me to have the surgery, but he has been so supportive, he met me when I was MUCH smaller and has still tried to make me feel sexy and beautiful even at my heaviest but I agree those wires are crazy!

Lactaid has become my best friend. I drink a carnation meal replacement shake almost daily for breakfast and it has over 20 something grams of protein. Lactaid comes in a fat free version so yay to that! I did not enjoy the flavored silk however. I can tolerate cheeses, but I do buy redueced fat or fat free cheese. Also I am trying to find foods that offer that lean protein I have always believed in eating calories or nutrients and not drinking them. One of the big things we have to remember is that this is a tool for the rest of our lives and we cannot live on soups and broth and protein drinks for the rest of our lives, we have to learn how incorporate the healthy chewy stuff. I used to drink the total lean shakes from gnc and I have seen many sleevers say that they drink one as a meal replacement post op. They were really tasty pre-op but I am going to get some today and will let you know if those were tolerable just so you can have options. Good luck but I think it was a way of God ensuring we don't dive back into a tub of ice cream! LOL

Ok guys and gals.......... I am sooooo happy to report for those who are pre-op and very newly post-op that my sex drive has returned. I used to blame my lack of sexual excitement on the fact that: 1. You don't have as much sex once your married( however this was one sided as my husband thought buying the cow meant more milk!) 2. The kids....always around, sleep in the bed with you blah blah blah 3. There is so much more I could productively be spending my time on such as laundry, cooking, cleaning...excuse excuse excuse and then it hit me while watching BBC the show that comes on and takes all the food people are eating and lay it out on the table is gross. And the host told the couple that was on there that when they drew thier blood how food was ruining everything and this married couple was only being intimate three to four times a year. Anniversary, each birthday and maybe Valentine's day or Christmas. And I realized it was my weight. Sooooooooooooo 5 1/2 weeks post op and 30 lbs lighter and I am frisky! I noticed more energy during intimacy. I enjoy it again, it's not another chore on my list, I have even tried on some of my old sexy night gowns. My husband even requested a particular one! This has been a major NSV for me as I am sure all of you ladies can relate. So am I close to goal.......nope, has my life already changed.....yep the second I woke up from surgery! If you are pre-op and needing reassurance just know it will be difficult but sooo worth it. Take back the years that have been given over to obesity, bad health and being unhappy with who you see in the mirror. And welcome that healthier you that has been locked away! GO GET YOU!

Congrats and I know that during that stall you were still a big encouragement to a lot of us on here giving great advice. Kudos to you for not giving up on yourself and I have to remind myself at times that my sleeve is still working even when I don't think it is! Keep up the good work you will be at goal before you know it.

I asked my doc at my last pre-op appointment he said whenever you feel up to it....I waited until two weeks I was kinda milking it a little but didn't want to try to soon and actually hurt something.....and I was good I did however make my husband use extreme caution and if he was on my stomach too much I vocalized this. Take your time and yes if you are feeling like that still give it a few more days how far post op are you?

I have been skinny and been called bones and anorexic and now I have been fat and been insecure and uncomfortable! I cannot wait to experience a normal "HEALTHY" weight. I agree with everyone else you have to love you at any and every size so you can be appreciative and not totally vain when we are shopping for a size 4, 6 or 8! Don't get anxious because that can cause disappointment and anxiety but enjoy watching your body change knowing that the weight you shed will never return! Failure not an option because you have you joined www.myfitnesspal.com? Since joining my weight loss has resumed, counting calories, protein and carbs has never been easier! You can do this we are making obesity our you know what!!!!!!

Ok guys and gals quick question......... I just want to point out I do not remember what my NUT said my calorie intake should be and have been going about my post op diet with the mindset nothing I ate before is ok (lol) and really taking the stages into consideration. So I set a goal for myself and would like to know if it is realistic. I use myfitnesspal and based on my preop weight and weight loss goals they set my calorie intake to 1200. I lowered it myself to 1000 but I am so pleased and feel successful if I reach over 600 and ecstatic if I can get to 800 without a candy bar lol. So that is #1 is that a good sound caloric intake to be at? Under 1000 over 600 that is 400 calories to play with! #2. I have lost 25.2 lbs since surgery 4/9/12 ( I am 4 weeks 3 days post op) and I am pleased with that however, I am only 14 lbs away from onderland and I would like to shed those final 14 by memorial day 5/28. Is that realistic? I have began to incorporate exercise and that jumpstarted everything after I hit a week long stall and menstrual bloating and swelling.....bleh:( but on May 28th that would put me at 7 weeks post op and if I succeed at losing those 14 lbs will be a total loss of 40 lbs. At 8 weeks post op I plan on begining weight training as I am concentrating on cardio now to train my lungs and build endurance and not pull, tear or rip anything! So what do you guys think? I want to create a list of mini goals for myself but I want to be real with myself and now that I have this tool and have begun to see and feel a difference I am excited about doing things that seemed like a distant memory! So please leave a message

Ok guys....... will be three weeks post-op on Monday and while I have lost 22.5 lbs the last couple of days have been horrible. My family went out to eat for the first time since surgery and I must say I do well with "real food" because I just cannot eat as much, however, I ate something high in sugar although fat free and I was able to tolerate it a little too well for my liking. Due to my recent testing of different foods, all next week I will be placing myself back on full liquids starting tonight. I am not getting enough protein so I will do a shake for breakfast and that one shake will be half of my protein for the day....idk I guess no I know I am still getting used to being sleeved and I am by no means addicted to food where I am in danger of sabotaging or allowing my surgery to be in vain, I just feel as though food was ruling my life before surgery and it still is just in a different way! I tried the breakfast shakes from Carnation and the milk is tearing me up, so will try Soy and I am just kinda bored with food right now! If I don't eat I am weak, irritable, moody and if I do eat I am uncomfortable, feel defeated after four bites and bored.......this is really just a vent but I have stalled due to my poor eating habits.....Please tell me what you guys did at this stage to get out of this funk! I really don't want to see another sugar free popsicle! I am going to try my hand at making my own smoothies next week so we will see how that goes! ARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH I do not regret the surgery I just didn't prepare for the emotional rollercoaster that was to come. I find myself even frustrated that I have no clothes that fit, everything is baggy 3 month post op where are you. I feel I will never make it, maybe going back to work is a good thing..lol Going to try gym this week too so I am excited. Ok done with vent! Thanks for listening you guys are the best!

Campbell's also makes a southwestern corn soup it is part of their veggie line idk but strain the corn out and I swear it taste like chicken tortilla soup, it has just enough kick to ease the spicy craving but not enough spice to irritate your sleeve! it is AWESOME even my picky three yr old thought it was good!

@b-happy thank you for that great laugh. Are you seeing results bc that's all that matters as for doc they see loads of patients a day I promise you are not the worst. Plz let me know how the appt goes @arj1016 I am soooo soooo sorry to hear that! I got cottonmouth just thinking about that lol @joycelyn I will be boiling me an egg as soon as I get to the store to get a dozen!(Tomorrow) I haven't experienced any time of food incompatibilites either. and to be honest I cooked my family pork chops tonight nibbled just a itsy bitsy piece of the bone and was in heaven lol how are your numbers looking though bc that is whats important and please tell me how th appt goes tomorrow I cant wait to see what the docs report is @jdhenin congrats on your loss.....and I am so glad you are feeling good. Bc at the rate you are going you will be looking even better shortly! Lets stay in touch

Hello Everyone, So just a quick improtu chat...... Sleeved 4/9 S/W 239 C/W 221 Ok let's talk fluids......getting more today than probably ever. I have had the hardest time figuring out what is a full liquid what is a clear liquid and so I went to Jason's Deli and got the small cup of cheddar broccoli Soup on day 5. Was it good nope it was delicious, but that is what made me think it was probably not only too early but also not good for me so I had a total of about 8 teaspoons over 2 days. I went back to walmart got more sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello cups and crystal light packets for my Water and I must say today has been a good day. I did not finish the jello cup, but have been enjoying it and will try it for my nightly snack at around 8:45 pm. For dinner going to try some soup not cream based no cheese just some soup that is mainly broth....boo Reflux......let's just say will be asking doc to call in nexium in the morn. I have tried tums but i have what I have been reading is the vsg version of heartburn constantly whether I eat, drink or do neither. So if you get that chest pain in between your breast bone and it has been confirmed as a gerd condition PLEASE let me know! Incisions.....ok call me cooky but I still have my band aids on! I am scared that if I remove them I am removing my security blannket that ensures all is well. So if you have safely removed all tape and band aids please let me know it is ok. Some get loose in the shower and I act is though they are a wounded soilder I am protecting on the battle field. Starting to feel silly. Activity....drove about 10 miles on day 5 and today day 7 resumed the normal activities of dropping the kids off to daycare and going to the store so business as usual. I can clean the house but too much bending over too far makes my incisions hurt and I still take it easy with my turning. Numbers.....18 pounds gone as of today day 7 aka week 1. Yayyy there is a noticeable difference in appearance and clothes so not complaining but worried that it might be because I was slightly in starvation mode....anywho happy for that tremendous lost and any loss this week will be welcomed, however I realisticly know that not only is it not safe it is not 100% feasible to expect those types of #'s so I would be the overjoyed with 5#'s ecstatic with 9#'s which would be half of what I lost this week! Things I probably should not have done........there are quite a few so I will number them 1. Ate a piece of the individually little snack pieces of low fat cheese ( it was at least 6g of protein) 2. Had a smoothie from burger king (it is supposed to be low in sugar maybe sugar free but it tasted too good) 3. Jason's Deli Cheddar broccoli soup ( nuff said) 4. sucked 3 little cheetos until they were mush ( I really just wanted to test my taste buds ) 5. tried activia yogurt ( it had the fruit pieces that are tiny so while i know i can have the activia and I need it I give this 1 a ?) 6. Tried refried Beans ( not sure about this one either) Ok so I think that is it! I would love to hear from everybody lets share our progress, short comings and achievements all in fun. Oh yeah my ticker is wrong so will create a new one with accurate progress lol

I took my purse, a change of clothes, charger and gas x strips. If my husband would not have plugged in my phone the charger would have stayed in the bag and I stayed in the hospital gown until I was discharged. I never once looked at t.v. I slept and walked and used the bathroom and that was all. So don't try and take too much I promise you won't need it. Good luck!

Gas had me wishing I had never done the surgery. My large incision I feel pulling and I cannot stand up completly straight, but my gas died by like day 3 I do suffer from reflux so I keep my dissovable tums close. Take your time don't rush anything. I am trying to make a concious effort to intake more liquids, but it's hard. We can get through this together!

If the friends you are talking to have not had any type of surgery they will probably not understand. I didn't even know what a sleeve was until one of my friends told me she had done it......I only asked for the info to research it, but immediately knew it was for me. If you have ever taken diet pills or crash dieted those side affects could be detrimental as well. At least with this you are under the care of a medical professional. I was sleeved on 4/9 and I read every post every article and I thought I was overly informed, I was wrong! I don't regret doing it at all, and I am glad the surgery is over and I am four days into my new life. If you have done research then you know the complications, you have to remember that is the worst that could happen! Don't go into this looking for the worst, you have to trust your surgeon and staff and yourself that you will be committed to doing what you have to do to alleviate risks. Good luck and if you decide this procedure is for you, this is an awesome support group.