karenb4729

Most surgeons use a size that they are comfortable with - mine used a 40F because he believed it resulted in less complications. I started at 271lbs and 13 months later I'm at 125lbs.... got to goal. So its really more about what you do with what you have been given.

How tall are you? I'm at 132 and feel good being within the 130 range but if I were down to 110 (which is what I weighed all through High School) then I would really feel too skinny and I would be hitting up Starbucks for a frappe or a milkshake. With a sleeve if you want to gain then drink those calories.

Slow or fast it goes down 1 lb at a time. I lost only 1 lb a week until I upped my game around month 7 and lowered my calories to 600 a day, carbs to under 20 and exercised and burned at least 400 calories a day. Only then did I lose 2 lbs a week. There are actually some stats that say those who revise from band to sleeve lose slower than those that have not had any surgery prior to sleeve.

BigDaddyJoe, you are doing to do wonderfully well! My sleep apnea has resolved but then again, it was mostly due to the excess weight. I feel like I'm at one of the healthiest points in my life and I'm turning 55 in April - just goes to show that it's never too late.

Let me tell you a story.... When I started looking into WLS I did it because what I really thought was if I had to do a structured diet for 6 months I would find that I could do this on my own. Well darn it, my isurance didn't require any type of 6 month diet or anything other than 5 years BMI at 40 or more. I knew I would be approved right away for surgery so I gave it one last shot on my own and after 3 months and only losing 10lbs I finally said to myself "F" it, I haven't lost the weight on my own in 23 year and I probably still won't and decided at the point to go through with surgery. My surgeon required a 30 day pre-op diet that is 30 grams of carbs or less and low and behold the weight started dropping off.... it fell off so fast that again I began to think that maybe I could just do it on my own. Thankfully reason again took over but the morning of my surgery I laid there and cried and apoligized to my huband that I couldn't do this on my own.

Fast forward to today.... 9 months out of surgery, 121 lbs lost, 10 lbs from a normal BMI. YES, I'm so glad that I went this route. And, even though I have a small stomach because of the surgery I really do feel like I did it on my own because its still up to me to decide what to put in my small stomach and its me that's busting my butt in the gym everyday. This tool that I have has allowed me to do this on my own and I'm so very grateful!

You can do this too!!

My first month after surgery I lived on Unjury's chicken broth. I got really tired of sweet tasting stuff and I couldn't do cold... even water had to be more at room tempature or luke warm. Thankfully my Dr told me to work up to the 64 oz of water, he was happy if I got in 32 oz in a day for the first two weeks and for protein it was the same thing, what ever I could manage in the first two weeks and then afterwards to get in my 80 grams.

Oh and I meant to say - some people just don't want to hear the truth and that's some of the mentality that probably got them to the weight where they needed surgery to correct it.

I really agree so much with this post! Personally, I think Doctors should focus more on the mental health eval than some of the other evals we go through when preparing for this surgery. Heck, even in my own surgeons practice we have people who say "I want to eat everything but just in smaller portions" or "I want to eat normally". I'm sorry but eating normally will not get you anywhere if your normal was including crap foods. For me, normal now is limiting carbs.... and yes, I love them but they don't love me. Normal is small portions of healthy foods, protein first and then some limited veggies. That's the way it has to be!

I had this happen to me twice, first time with a liquid vitamin... same experience with the hot/sweaty followed by dry heaves and then diarrhea. The 2nd time was with peanut butter. Good thing that was early on and I haven't had a problem since. But, it did take a good long time before I had peanut butter again!

I am not taking anything and haven't lost a single strand at almost 5 months out. But, years ago when undergoing chemo I didn't lose my hair and it was because my hair grows very slowly and I think that's one of the reasons why I have kept my hair.

We all lose at different rates, some do lose fast and some of us are lucky to lose a pound a week or less. The good news about losing slowly is that your skin has time to catch up to your weight loss. I figure as long as the weight is going down or even staying the same its all good because its better than having the weight go up!! My Dr says that "its a marathon and not a race".

I can totally relate! By far the hardest part of this surgery is watching others. I went to a wedding a week ago and they served dinner buffet style. There I sat with my little piece of salmon, and a slice of grilled beet. I'm sure everyone looking at my plate thought I didn't like the food. And, it didn't help that I was surrounded by people with loaded plates. Oh well, it will get better.

Are you in the NW or just a Seahawks fan? I live in Seattle.

I will be 4 weeks out on Monday and have pretty much just been sticking with the food that works for me (Im on pureed). When I try something different it can lead to that horrible intestinal grumbling, usually within an hour and of course that leads to bad cramping in the bathroom. So, rather than try new foods I'm staying with my cottage cheese, yogurt and refried beans. Not much of a diet but it works and I figure slow and steady wins the race so no need to hurry through the food stages!

Good luck on your surgery today! I know you will do great.

I know how you feel. I have had some issues since I moved to pureed and it kind of makes you fearful of trying anything new.

What did you use for your heatburn? I had GERD before the surgery and my prilosec just doesn't seem to be cutting it like before surgery.

You wrote a great post! Thanks for the laughs and the truths!

I really enjoyed your post! It will be nice when I can get to the point where I don't have to think day and night about the sleeve, what I'm going to eat or how I'm going to get in al my protein. Seems like each day it becomes easier and you sharing your experience proves that it does get easier and that it's all worth it in the end!

Wow, good luck at your training tomorrow!!! I'm two weeks out and still not ready to be back at work, I'm trying to work up my stamina!

I love your blogs!! You make me laugh because what you say is God's honest truth when it comes to our bodies as we lose the weight.

This is exactly why I got this surgery. Every diet has always started out great but when I hit that stall for a few weeks I always figure "screw it" and then go have something I want to eat. Now, when I hit those plateaus I'm not going to be able to fall off the wagon like I did before.

You do look great and I can really tell the difference. I'm impressed - a 3 mile walk at 2 months - that's awesome! I'm two weeks out and can barely make it through the grocery store. When did you start getting some of you endurance back after your surgery?

I'm doing STD as well. At work I actually have up to 26 weeks paid at 100%. My Doctor requested that I be off 4 weeks. The first week I was requied to use my sick leave and then everything else will be covered under STD. I'm not sure why anyone would want to use up their vacation if this is an option to them.

I'm glad you shared your story and I'm so sorry to hear about your wife. It sounds like she was your soulmate. I'm sure she is watching and is proud of what you are doing to better your health.

I know I'm having both and my surgeon usually waits until the following week to remove the drainage tube. I think the cath comes out the day after surgery.

check out quitnet.com I used this site to help me quit in 2004 and I have not smoked since then. The forums are like those on this site but the motivating factor that I had was a "gadget" that lists how long you have been smoke free, etc - here is mine

:

Time Smoke-Free: 2754 days, 12 hours, 41 minutes and 8 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 82636 Lifetime Saved: 21 months, 1 day, 5 hours Money Saved: $18,589.50

It may sound silly but I would log on every day and see those days go by and it just helped me to keep my resolve in quiting. Also doing the same thing now with the losing weight. it also helped that I used the patch as well. Good luck!! Its hard to do!