allmyjoy

Everyone is different with weight loss. I learned early not to compare myself to others. There are lots of factors. The pre op diet, amount of weight they have to lose, when their foods change. I went into a 3 week stall when I was allowed to actually eat...(I was a liquids for 5 weeks. One week clear, 4 weeks full). I'm 10 weeks out Thursday and down 42 pounds. Yes there are some who are down 60 plus, but this is my journey. I'm enjoying it in my own way. Down from a 22 to a loose 16... So happy. Enjoy it. You learn a lot about yourself

Wow! you have lost 18 lbs! That's great! Keep it up! Please try not to compare yourself to others, everyone loses at his/her own pace! Just keep eating healthy, Protein first at all times and drink a lot of Water.

I would have to second almost all of the above posts - its amazing how we all just want the simple things that so many people NOT in our position take for granted.
I look forward to tying my own shoes without my children or husband asking if they can help me because of the hard breathing. Getting dressed after a shower without sweating so much I already need another one. Walking up the stairs at work and not having to come directly to my chair to rest and turn my fan on high blowing directly on me. I can't wait to stop watching my family have fun on the lake, jet skis and boat while I just sit on the dock like a beached whale. Look forward to being able to walk into a store and just pick up a top and know it will fit without trying it on. Not feeling like an anti-social person because I am too ashamed to go out and be around people that have never seen me this big. Can't wait to have a conversation with someone and think about anything but how fat they must think I am.
On a more serious level, I cant wait start fulfilling what God has called me to do. To stand in front of an audience and be an honorable representation of the temple He has entrusted me with. To not let the enemy get into my thoughts anymore, making me feel less important or unworthy because of my size. And last but not least...I can not wait to dance again!

Go back to liqued diet and make sure ur gettin ur Protein

I think you already knowbthe answer. Start with the Boot Camp and go back to square one. Five days of liquid only and start back on the road that made you successful. You can do this!

Well, I just finished irritating someone else by making this suggestion, but I'm going to make it again.... I went and talked to a food counselor and I wholly recommend it. Find someone that specializes in eating disorders and work through this stuff with them. I had food addiction issues in the past, so I was worried that I would end up seriously injuring myself if I had this surgery. It was the best thing I ever did. Now I'm sleeved and I feel completely in control of my cravings. I know how to deal with my Head Hunger and I'm really disciplined. I even rocked out my pre-op diet. There are tons of support groups (like Overeaters Anonymous), too. Let's face it, if everyone here was always in control of our relationship with food, we wouldn't need this surgery!
If I can help you find a therapist or group near you, let me know. I'd be glad to help!

You have exemplified my new favorite saying, "Just because you can do it, does not mean you should do it." You are going to need to change your mind and view of food. For that reason alone stay away from testing the waters. Follow the nutrition plan you were given.

Miss Diva...Thank you for your inspiration....hopefully you don't mind but I'm going to print this out and post it on my fridge and the wall of my office.
But I have a question for you...
When did you start working out? Was that something you adopted as you lost weight? Or did you exercise when you were heavy? I know you are a gym rat and workout alot...I'm trying to figure out how you get to that point.
Thanks

It varies by person - how active you are, how much you have to lose, and most importantly, how your body reacts.
I started out with super low carbs (20-30 or so a day) and gradually brought it up until around 9 months out when I was getting somewhere between 40-60 a day. More carbs had no impact on my loss so I was comfortable eating them and giving myself some "flex" in my diet. I've never really watched my fat but due to the high Protein diet (I shoot for 90+ grams a day) I eat about 45% Protein, 30% carbs and 25% fat. I try to make those fats as "good" as possible and I do limit my red meat and fried foods to help that. I am only able to keep the ratio I do because I still drink at least one Protein shake daily.
I was a "slow" loser - it took me 17 months to lose 107 pounds. I now maintain between 133-137 on any given day, with very little effort. If you're looking for ways to mix things up, you can post what you're typically consuming and we'll give suggestions. You could be eating too little, or too much. Your body could need more carbs (mine did!) or less carbs. You might just be a slower loser no matter what you do, too. Nothing I did to mix up my diet to make things move more quickly had any real impact on my weight loss pattern. Sometimes we just get lucky. If nothing you do helps, don't get too discouraged. Slow loss is still loss and there aren't prizes for getting to goal more quickly. Do the right things and you can reach goal, even if it's more slowly than you'd like.
~Cheri

Which is why I don't tell nobody about my surgery including my family. I don't need their drama or bully!

P R E A C H !

I had my gastric sleeve on Tuesday 6/26/12. For years I have been on multiple medications for hypertension. I am 3 days post op and my blood pressure is looking better then it was while I was taking my meds. My Doctor chose not to resume my blood pressure meds at this time. He advised me to monitor my bp 4 times daily and said I may not need the meds any more!

3 weeks post-op I started a stall that lasted... about 10 weeks. It sucked! It finally broke about a week ago.
My best suggestion would be to do a search for "three week stall". It's something most people go through. Generally lasts 1 - 3 weeks, occasionally 4. Virtually everyone goes through it. So the best advice is to be patient and not freak out, don't try to change everything you're doing because you think it's your fault... don't let it get you down. Just remember it will pass.

You had a rocky start, so I'm thrilled to see you posting and sounding so upbeat and positive!! I love the list, too! I can so relate to all of it!
You're rocking that sleeve!!!

Thank you for the response girls.. I know it's a bad decision and well I have to get back on track. I am definetly scared of getting muscle wasting... So starting today I will take my Protein =) ... Believe me I was even ashamed of admitting that I havent been taking it =( But I guess that is the first step to getting back in track.

I added you as a friend so I will get notifications of your postings. I am sorry you do not feel your being supported. I will help you anytime I can. Just stay with us a little longer.

i'm going to put $10 per pound i lose in cash in an envelope: shopping spree as i need new clothes.

Man, that diet is borrrrrrrring. I might have felt tempted by the pizza as well! You've been eating very bland things and I have to wonder if once you're done with your restrictions that you won't find things a bit easier. Have you tried the recipes or food sections on here for some "spicier" food options?
Also, are you going to tell us what the pizza toppings were or what?

Well, it's been 6 months since my Gastric Sleeve surgery and what a journey its been! Today at my appointment, the Dr. said I have exceeded expectations and now have a NORMAL BMI of 25 and down 72lbs! I literally started to cry. I couldn't believe that I had actually accomplished my Dr.'s goal! She said that wasn't expected until the 12 month mark or beyond. I personally have 8lbs and one more size to get to, but I KNOW I will get there. Now to focus on completing my first ever 5K next month and continuing to work my a$$ off (literally)!
Type 2 Diabetes-GONE!
High Blood Pressure-GONE!
CPAP/Sleep Apnea-GONE!
Insomnia-GONE!
Asthma-controlled (only use before running)
16W and 1X-GONE! (rockin' a 6, SM/MED top)
Keep striving, keep smiling, keep reaching for your goals!!!

Suggestions? Yes. Stop it! Easier said than done, I know. You're going to have to really watch yourself when you eat. You need to eat until you are satisfied (not hungry) rather than until you're full. You already know that you will get sick if you eat too much, so slow down, chew (purees, I know) well, and taste your food. Try waiting a minute or two in between bites so that your sleeve will have time to let you know that you've had enough.
There is a lot of head work ahead of you, but some of the things I've discovered are: I don't have to eat the whole serving. I can put the food away and have some more later if I want it. The food WILL be there later. I don't like being sick, so I try to stop before I'm hurting. If I'm hurting, I'm probably going to be sick, not something I like.
You may want to talk to a therapist about food issues, even if it's only a couple of times. Just laying it all out on the table and looking at the issues can help you move past a lot of those issues.
Also, especially early post-op, it's easy to miss the cues that tell you that you are full. I've heard of people whose full signal is now a sneeze, a runny nose, or a burp. Mine is a burp. If I eat enough that I burp, I immediately put down my fork and push the food away because I've actually eaten too much. I will literally spit out a bite of food if I'm chewing at that burp because I know that bite will not go down and I will be uncomfortable for hours.
It takes awhile to transition to the "new" version of eating, but you will get there. Good luck! I don't know whether you're eating too much because you think you're hungry or if it's happening accidentally, so I've tried to address both sides of that coin.

WelI yesterday my 10 year old son was leaving to go spend the night at his grandma's and when he was hugging me good bye he said wow mom you're skinnier already I can hold my other hand while hugging you! Best NSV ever! Made my day just had to share! I was sleeved June 4th.

The surgery works wonders and will work for you. . . but you are very right, it's your thought process that needs alot of adjustments! I posted on another thread that it makes me wonder if it really was our tummies that needed surgery or our heads. Our self talk is amazing and it's amazing how badly we can punish ourselves by just "thinking" stuff. . . we "think" we are hungry, but are we really? You'll have to be really ready mentally for this surgery, it's hard but the tool we are given is really a god sent and will work with you if you work with it. . . i don't know if this helps any, but good luck! You'll make the right decision for yourself!

Hello all I am a 32 year old wife, mother of 3 and educator. I'm so thankful to be apart of an awesome group such as this! This journey has been a blessing from God!

I was sleeved May 10th, almost seven weeks! Just think about what we have been through, first of all the two week pre op, we are addicts our body goes through withdrawels. Then we have major surgery, talk about stress.....worrying about walking, sipping. Then we worry about food we can and cant eat, will i stretch my sleeve, am i eating to fast? I gotta walk, i have no energy.
I told my mom i thought before surgery my world revolved around food, i was fooled, now it really does! BUT I LOVE IT!!!
Take your time breath, pray and go with it! We are recovering addicts, we have all seen movies what drug addicts go through getting clean. Our drug of choice was/is food!