nabird77

i am so excited just booked with Dr. Almanza for June 6th. This is something that I need and if God has says yes.....I'm gone. I expecy everything to divinly ordered and have wonderful experience!

Crosswind,
I've said it before and I will say it again... you make so much sense. You have clear words or wisdom and I for one am always eager to read your posts.
I feel that the sleeve is a life time commitment to health... not just a 'tool' to use to reach a number. However, this has only really dawned on me over the last 6mths or so. I haven't lost a pound since Oct and regardless of what I do or how I do it, my body does not want to comply. So now, well I am just eating a proper healthy diet and enjoying it. If I want a treat i will have one, but it doesn't leave me aching for more like it did pre op or 73lbs ago. Not sure why... I don't even care why.
In those same months, I haven't gained weight either... I do have a 5lb bounce range and I believe that is normal for any woman (or man). I also know that being on HRT isn't really helping the scale either.
That being said, I would love to lose more and get to my surgeon's goal (and out of the obese BMI range) weight and ultimately to my personal weight (and into the normal BMI range) but if it doesn't happen then I am not going down the route of I am a failure, because I am not!
Thank you for always being the voice of reason, normality and sense...

Love it! I'm 3 mos out & sometimes during a stall I get discouraged, but you're so right.....patience. I also agree about the obsessing. It's so drilled into my mind to not eat carbs that if I eat a few I feel immense guilt...which I hate. My sleeve doesn't tolerate much variety, so for the most part I stick to the plan, but after years & years of being ashamed of what I'm eating I would like to put an end to the guilt. That is the hardest part for me...feeling like a failure or that I should suffer for what.I've eaten. Your post gives me hope that even if I'm not perfect, I can still succeed! Thank you!

I got on the scale today and it said: 179.8.
I'm making this announcement because I want people to know that so far, my year-long experiment with sleeve eating has not been a failure. If you've ever read my posts before, you know that I am not dieting with the sleeve. I am not lowcarbing. My calories are not at starvation level and they have not been since I got my surgery last April. My actually surgery was March 29, but I mostly count it as April 1 just to round everything out.
Okay so the thing is, there is research out there that says that people typically lose sixty percent of their weight in the first year and that's all you get. There is research that says that you will "stretch" your sleeve after six months or so, lose your "honeymoon" with your sleeve, stop losing and get stuck. There are surgeons who say you *have to* be on a lowcarb diet of 800 calories for the rest of your life or you won't lose the weight, and they say that you need to exercise like a demon *while* you're eating that 800 and you have to stay like that forever or you'll get fat again.
I want to tell you that in my experience this is not true.
What I want to tell you is that I got the sleeve because I was 46 and SO FAT -- I weighed 289 -- and I was at the end of my rope. I had dieted before and gotten the weight off only to regain it and the way I did that is pretty much to follow all the instructions above. Eating 800 lowcarb calories a day will get you to goal weight, there is no doubt,but in my opinion that's just no way to live and it's impossible to sustain. It also creates such intense anxiety about eating and your body and your food that it creates a horrible unending complex about fat, and feeding yourself, that the cure is worse than the disease.
I got my surgery in March. I was *severely* depressed and the reason I was depressed primarily was because I WAS SO FAT. I really hated myself. But I decided that the fat was emotional mostly and so what I was going to do was this. I was going to lose weight without dieting by having a surgeon remove eighty five percent of my stomach. And knowing that was taken care of and I had done the most *extreme* thing I could possibly do to solve my weight problem, I was going to let it come off naturally, eat normally and not push myself or punish myself because obsessing over my weight has basically been my career since I was 13 years old.
I had this thought once when I was watching Oprah Winfrey. All that woman ever talked about was her weight. All she ever did was look at the scale. Every time she lost fifty pounds it made the freakin national news and when she gained the weight back she made this weird confession and apology to everyone in the world. So obviously she was obsessed but what I really thought was holy crap, really? Imagine what Oprah could have accomplished with her life if she was not spending seventy five percent of her time obsessing over her pants size. Imagine what *I* could do if this was NO LONGER A PROBLEM for me and when I say NO LONGER A PROBLEM I mean I NEVER HAVE TO THINK OR WORRY ABOUT IT AGAIN.
So really....I was looking for more than weight loss. I wanted to be healed. Completely.
So the weight has come off really slow. In August of last year, I weighed 237. In November, I weighed 222. In January, 209. On April 1, my surgiversary, I weighed about 190. I've gone on vacation, I've drunk numerous glasses of wine, I've eaten cake and Pasta and carbs, I've avoided cardio really for the most part -- but my calories are *naturally* way under what I would need to sustain these weights and so....slowly....it's coming off. And it's still coming off and it has now been *over* a year.
I think I'm going to hit goal eventually. This will be without dieting, without worrying about the "honeymoon period", and without forcing myself to do ninety hours of cardio a week. And when I get there there's not going to be some freakout/rebound where I now have to figure out what "maintenance" is and be on the verge of shooting myself in the head because I had a piece of birthday cake or a piece of gum with sugar in it.
So this is what I want to say:
If you're just starting this project ( I refuse to say journey -- UGH) then realize that patience is required. Plan on a year *or more*. Even if you believe the honeymoon thing you're not going to drop all your weight *inside* your "honeymoon" so think about it...what are you going to do when it's over? Because you're still going to have to lose a lot of weight and you're going to have to sustain whatever you're doing for the rest of your life. It's frustrating that such an extreme solution is not instantaneous, but it is NOT, so prepare yourself. You're going to be working on this for at least a year. A year is a long time and you can't just not be alive for a year while you get thin. I didn't have that year to waste and you don't either.
If you're just starting this project, consider what you want your life to be as a thin person. Not a "formerly fat" person. Not a constantly dieting, obsessed person. This is what you'll be free of when it's done, so prepare by starting now and living your life.
And finally: Prepare for the idea that you may not lose all your weight in the first year. But remember this post by me and realize that you *will* very likely get exactly where you are going by the end of the second one and forget all that stuff about first years and honeymoons. This is not magic, it's science. It's mechanics. The mechanism that uses energy that is your body will continuously be operating at a deficit *even after* the honeymoon, *even after* the first year, and that means you *will* get there. You *have to*.
This requires patience, and then more patience. That's really the *only* think you need going into this. The rest, I really promise you -- will take care of itself.

*wink* I am with ya, Kathe

Being overweight was keeping my relationship from moving forward for years. Once I decided to have surgery, I felt there may be hope for finally getting married and feeling attractive again. Since surgery, my BF has been more distant than ever. I am starting to think I just need to focus on myself and maybe all that I wanted over the years (to get married to him) may not be what I want after all.
I can tell you the only focus I have is to get this weight off. Who knows how our relationship will turn out but for once it is about ME and what I WANT to happen. It's kind of empowering to have choice when you don't have the extra weight as an excuse for being treated unfairly.

I haven't gotten to this stage yet but a very close friend has and she has a cup of Soup and maybe a small salad. Or she may order a child size meal. If that does not work then she orders a meal and takes some most of it home with her
It is hard at first but you will find what works for you and so what if you take some home now you do not have to cook dinner.< /p>

When I go out, I usually get either of these:
1. Cream of Tomato or vegetables Soup
2. Grilled chicken or chicken tikka with very little oil(it is a famous Indian dish - you can google for recipes)
3. Paneer tikka (Paneer is Indian cottage cheese - you can make it at home. There are some delicious recipes on youtube)
4. Stir fry tofu
5. cheese omelets
Sad thing is, I can only have around 2 to 3 oz. But now, I'm enjoying the talking rather than wolfing down whatever is on the table LOL

My best guy friend/housemate of four years and I love food and cooking the goal is always try something new and find what we can get at out taste better and is more fun and saves money o cook at home. Best part is our new challenge is to make all that stuff but in a new way so I can enjoy it as well and what I don't eat he will finish if we do go out, we love sharing off each others plates in my family which is what ill do from now on with him my kid and family.

Sashimi at sushi places is the best!!

Here is my update to this point my my process.
We left the hotel with Dr a' driver at7:20 and came across the border without any problems. As we driving aroun I have to honest I was allittle worried based on the surrounding area but once we got here it wasn't so bad. We had visit with Dr A where he reviews your history then as they say "they" scoot you away. Now when I say scot I mean they move fast. We left the Docs area @8 and by 8:30 I'd already had my blood work X-ray photo taken and into the hospital gown.
The hospital is old and it shows but it's not bad at all. Just be prepared for a flashback in time so to speak. I was second on the schedule so I laid in bed until 11. The guy before me had large stomach so the removal took a little longer than usual since they wanted to pull it slowly not cause him more pain necessary. I dontt. Remember much once they gave me my happy juice but my wife says I kissed her and began crying like baby......again I have no recollection of said event.
I woke up in my room with very little pain and went right back to sleep. I've been up pee several times today and just finished two rounds down the hall. Dr A and his assistant have both stopped by today and are amazing. I can't have anything today except rinsing my mouth put. No swallowing anything. Tomorrow I start ice chips andping Water.
I'll send out another updat to,or row. I also apologize if this isn't the best write up but my eyes are a little fuzzy for some reason.
Take care everyone!!

Woo hoo! Keep it up!

I am 9 weeks and 2 days out without complication number one. All 6 of us that had the surgery that day are all doing fine. No problems yet. We all had a good experience.

so 3 weeks have finally passed and I have been advanced to the mushy stage. that 2oz of turkey chili I ate tonight for dinner was the best thing I have had in ages.

This is a big one for me this week as I've been having a tough time emotionally and mentally with some things going on, and my "head hunger" has come back to the forefront of my thinking. When I'm sad, I want comfort foods. Thankfully I have not broken down at all and have stuck with the program and my weight loss is still progressing. But even today, after a tough session with my therapist, I really wanted to hit the Jack in the Box. Granted, I justified it by saying I'll just get chicken strips and eat two of them. I was halfway there when I stopped at a light and made a hard u-turn saying out loud, "Just go home! GO HOME NOW!" and I did. I came home and made a Protein shake instead. I was hungry (hadn't had enough Protein today) and emotional -- two weaknesses. It just goes to show how there is more to this surgery than just the incisions, gas, and pills. It's about knowing what you got in trouble in the first place and taking control.
I personally know that having the sleeve has been the best and most consistent tool I've had in weight loss ever. Before, I'd diet, I'd exercise, I'd get into a program and inevitably I'd lose momentum after 2-3 months. Having PAID for the surgery (a small chunk of savings that could have gone to SO many other things), gone through the cutting, the healing and that horrible first month -- I NEVER want to do it again. That does not mean I regret ever doing it -- just the opposite -- now that I have done it, I have so much motivation to never have to do it again! Not to mention seeing the results for the first time in six years! Yes, my weight yo-yo'd some in my twenties, but I've never had to lose this much weight before. To know I've been able to lose 50 pounds in three months, is just amazing.

Not nervous. Ready to be done and to learn how to eat better with the sleeve. Praying for a fast recovery.

Here is a pic of my face at the end of last March. Here is my face today. I have lost around 78 pounds. I hardly recognize me! lol. Just having a feel good moment.
 

Hi Randall,
Most everyone in my family has had a weight problem. No one that we know has ever had this procedure done. Again - we should just diet. I am not telling my family, either. My mom knows and that is it. Better off that way. Everyone would totally freak out if they knew I planned on going to Mexico to get this procedure done. I am happy and content with my decision... June cannot get here soon enough! So glad you have a supportive wife and children! This will change our lives. Finally.
Gena'

Yippee, nabird! Let' s keep in touch!

This sounds like a great idea. Thanks for suggesting it. My surgery is scheduled for June 25.

I am scheduled with Dr. Almanza in Tijuana on June 25th... So excited! I am a teacher, too!
Mine got moved to July 3rd... my sister is graduating! Good luck to all of ya'll!