TakeDeLongWayHome

My breaking point was a combination of things: zero energy, no flexibility and I would sweat like a pig at the least exertion. My appetite was over the top. When you've got a stomach the size of a football, it's hard to eat just a few ounces and convince yourself that you're not starving to death.
About throwing up: I was sleeved on April 16 and have thrown up only once and that was my fault. I ate stewed chicken before my doctor OK'd it and to top that, I ate it too fast. I consider it a part of the learning process and I learned it well with that one lesson. On the brighter side, throwing up after surgery, at least for me was less traumatic than throwing up with the flu or some other malady. Since the food has not yet hit your stomach, there is very little stomach acid involved and you don't feel like you're going all the way down to your socks. For me, it was a quick upchuck and I felt better immediately. Hope this info was not too disgusting to read, but I wanted to allay your fears. This surgery was the best thing I've ever done and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Goodluck.....

Reporting in that I had a great day today. Stuck with my meal plan and had a really good workout at the gym. Thanks again to everyone who provided words of encouragement. It was just what I needed! I'm still getting used to talking about weight loss and being honest when I have a bad day. I usually just suffer in silence because I'm so mad at myself and embarassed. Just about all of my friends and family members are thin and it's impossible to talk to someone who thinks having 10 pounds to lose is a big deal. I have to say I'm actually looking forward to my psych consult. Pretty sure it is going to be more helpful than I think.

Patricks wife here he is still groggy from anethesia but asked me to post an update. He is doing well surgery went well and so far he has gotten out of bed and had a small glass of Water. Pain is managed and all is going well.
Elka

Hi everyone. Just wanted to check in and let you know that y'all were right. Water weight gain. By Tuesday I was back down the whole 7 pounds. I just had to drink more water and watch my sodium intake. Thanks everyone

Before and after and my present for it all im in 36 waist now goal is 32-33 started at 48 inch waist so 40-45 more pounds to goal i guess

I LOVE MY SLEEVE! Tonight I completed a 5K in 39 minutes! This is a major accomplishment for me. Before being sleeved it hurt to walk across campus at my school. This evening I ran a good 2.5 miles without walking or stopping AND I was chatting. My pace wasn't anything to brag about, but I DID IT! I have lost 62 pounds and I have quite more to go, but my body is capable of so much more than I ever believed. I registered for two 5Ks and I plan on running the tinkerbell half marathon in January. I can't believe that these events are even possible. Thank you to those who have offered guidance and answered my questions recently. My sleeve and the VST community are awesome.
I'm in week two of a stall and that has gotten me down, but HOLY COW I did an awesome job this evening!

I have to say, I think this is one of my most enjoyed threads. I really appreciate hearing what everyone thinks and feels around food and the impacts that it's made in our lives, even in the subtlities described by cleo in the post before last. I tihnk it's going to take a few of these threads and conversations for me to really "hit home" to what my food issues are because I AM going to break them and I AM going to be successful. Thanks for the contributions.

Personal observation: I think that most people who are obese (that's all of us pre-op, btw) have used food to cover up some problem rather than deal with the problem. It's just like they tell drunks that the problems will still be there once the drunk gets sober. Our problems are still there whether we're fat or skinny. Some people think that getting thin(ner) will solve their issues, but it doesn't. It just makes it so that we have to deal with those issues without the crutch of food to self-medicate. That's why crossover addictions (to drugs and/or alcohol) are so common.
IMO, one or two psyche visits probably aren't enough for most of us.

Stinky man feet...where they've been wearing the same socks for a month through horse poo.....
Just my clinical assessment

Start of pre-op diet - 275
Surgery date 4/18- 256
This morning- 232
Feel like I am moving slower than others but I really can't complain about 43 pounds lost in 6 weeks now can I?

I am sorry he did that. That was very inconsiderate of your feelings and not very respectful. Just remember, you are doing this for you. Who cares what his family thinks. This is about YOUR journey.

You can post anything you want. Please don't worry about how another person on the forum will respond. This forum has the most carrying, thoughtful people out there and are on here because they want to support others with their experiences. Very few get on here and are argumentative etc. I pretty much ignore them because they're in a bad spot for the moment. They are responsible for their thoughts and behaviors and I have a choice not to respond or take action. they are writing words that are meaningless to me if they're negative words. All and all,, post any questions and thought you may have, or you can PM someone. Enjoy your skinniness everyday, because everyday you will get even more skinnier! congrats!

Oh Mary... I'm so sorry! There are so many options to control the vomiting! Phenergan gel that you apply to the wrist is amazing. I couldn't handle ice chips or Water when I first started - especially if the water was cold. You're in my prayers... please keep us updated. I speak healing over you in Jesus' name!! Read Jeremiah 29:11 - it's just for you!

Hi Becky,
Glad you are here! You will find so much great information here and amazing helpful people. Congratulations on your decision.

Yes, me in a bikini - well kinda... haha 2 summers ago... heck, even LAST Summer I never DREAMED I'd be wearing one this year. Oh yeah! Got to wear it for the first time this weekend. I can't believe I took these pictures and I'm pasting them up. Scarrryyyyy.... lol!!! Anyway, please be kind! It's kinda a big deal.
First a few befores:
 
and Last Saturday:
  

My sister and I were coming up with a name for my lose weight journal.
Here are some of the things we came up with. We thought they were funny anyway.
1-Pouch Grouch
2-Rear End
3-Gluteous Minimus
4-Matter of Fat
5- Bend Over
6- Diary Air
7-Chews the Right
8-Flab You Less
9-F.A.T- Forever Altered Topography
10-Broad Weigh
11-Mind Over Fatter

True Story right here, y'all!
Feel free to share your funnies!

Thank you all so much for sharing! I feel so much better knowing that Im not alone. I knew this would be hard and that each journey is an individual journey, I just never knew it would be this hard. For me, (and Im sure for a lot of us) food was my friend - one of my best friends. It never judged, it always comforted me and made me feel better, its also how I got to be over 300 lbs and morbidly obese.
While I dont regret having the surgery - I have lost my vice and am struggling to find a new one. I can no longer eat, I cant drink (I tried it and I am not a happy drunk anymore) and shopping isnt as much fun because long term it isnt going to fit. I know it sounds like Im complaining and while Id like to think Im not - Im just having a hard time finding something that will help to make me happy. Knowing that the weight is coming off DOES make me happy and is changing my outlook, but losing friends or relationships that I thought I could count on dampens that happiness. Like it was said above, Im still the same me just smaller...
I know and knew that the surgery was only going to fix my stomach and not my brain but clearly I need to do some mental work to catch up with the body changes Im going through. I know that I am a good person - often times I care more than I should but I cant change that. Time to find what makes ME happy and really put myself first, we all need to!

These threads are amazing...
I am lucky to have a very supportive therapist and she and I have talked so much over the last four weeks. One of the greatest things she told me was this - all of these feelings emerging now have been stuffed for years with food. It is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at these feelings, because our main coping mechanism is gone now. So, the question is, how to deal with it when you don't know how? The answer she gave me was to really identify where all of the sadness/depression is stemming from. When you get overwhelmed, stop and really spend some time trying to look at what is going on in your life right then that might be triggering these feelings. By identifying them, it gives you the opportunity to make choices. I usually choose to find something productive at that moment to work through the grief, like listen to music or go outside for a little walk. Either way, the long term solution is not to be afraid. We are dealing with emotions that we have never dealt with before successfully and now their back. She gave me a book called "When food is Love" http://www.amazon.com/When-Food-Love-Exploring- Relationship/dp/0452268184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337229267&sr=8-1 and it is helping quite a bit.
Many prayers for your success....

Hi!!! First of all good luck to you. Secondly you are going to have a great time with Dr Kelly & his team & the area is VERY safe in tijuana!
I just got back last night from Tijuana after getting sleeved with Dr Kelly & have nothing but great things to say about the Dr, his team & the whole experience!
Please don't let your family scare you. I actually had to change my PCP as she was scaring me so much about Mexico!!! But Dr Kelly reassured me it is a safe neighborhood. I never felt scared there. The only time I was on my own was in the hotel & that is like a really fancy nice hotel! Cecy would take me everywhere & either her or Omar were always with me.
If you want to call me personally I am also happy to chat with you about my experience, just send me a PM & I will give you my home phone number!
I also have a blog you can read, about my experience with Dr Kelly & my journey.
http://njsharonjourney.blogspot.com/

Whew! I was worried there about my guys ...
"Uhhh ... Doctor ... there's something you didn't tell me you were going to do ..."

i call mine my food baby. there was this lady once that asked me when my baby was do. a said "At 4pm when the bus comes to drop her off from school"

My sleeve is named Rex, and Rex is male. Rex is because he's been downsized from a T-Rex (big to little) and male because he doesn't like for me to eat chocolate. Only a man would deny a woman some chocolate!

Good for you for realizing your downfalls and getting back on the right track. Everyone here supports you and is wishing you the best. Since I am a sucker for motivational quotes I thought this one appropriate...

“To succeed you must first improve, to improve you must first practice, to practice you must first learn, to learn you must first fail.” ~Wesley Woo