CantBelieve_IdidIit!

Please believe me....it gets better . I thought i would never say that but now i can say ....it really does.. I even had a set back that put me back in the hospital for 2weeks. I even began regreting my choice. It takes time for your body to reset... Some get there quickly others (Like us) take a while. But you will get there.

I'm 8 weeks out and nothing tastes good. I'm having a lot of trouble reaching my calorie and Protein goals for the day. It seems that most food makes me a little nauseous at the thought of eating it. lunch meat, Greek yogurt, Protein shakes, smoothies, most meats are all just gross right now. Not sure what to do. Its like my taste buds and sense of smell are superhuman and it makes everything taste off.
Anybody else have a problem eating?

I'm very sorry for your loss Kimberly but glad your father is not suffering any longer. Peace be with you during this difficult time.

I wanted to thank all my fellow sleevers for all their support with my Dad. He passed away Thursday am. I am doing suprisingly well, he is in a better place. Of course I miss him but the wonderful memories are keeping me going. He was a wonderful man that everyone liked, he had this charisma about him. Make sure to spend as much time with your families as you can...life is too short. I love you Dad!

Thank you ladies! I feel wonderful!!!!

You look amazing! I love your dress in the last one.

I was having the same fears, but, surprisingly, I LOVE the attention because I am learning to love ME!!!!

I'm at 2 weeks after surgery and I just had something allowed at pureed stage. It's called Shelley's Ricotta Bake and basically is the insides of lasagna. I am just like you--- can't imagine not having EVERY part of a meal...from bread to Soup to meat, starch etc. However, there's like a switch after surgery- for example this thing I just ate- fabulous, (but I burned it ) I just knew I couldn't eat that much. I put like a "normal" serving on my plate (which was dumb) but I have this built in thing now that just says STOP and I honor it. It's not the same anymore. You really don't want to keep going. And I don't mean the word pizza doesn't conjure up happy thoughts but ...here's how someone said it to me- You know how after Thanksgiving meal you look around and appreciate how amazing it was but.there's no way you could eat another bite.. that's how this feels. I can't tell you how freeing that is. I know what you're saying, trust me--- we probably all do.
There comes a point when you know, I just can't live like this. I just can't continue to let food be what I live for. How will I replace it? Not sure but I can't do it anymore. Done. And I've had barely any pain, no complications and am gaining more strength every day. I wish you luck!!! Keep writing.

I'm so sorry to hear this. that is really hard. . . I was reading your post and said "well move out of the house girl". . . then I read about your culture part. . . guess you can't ask her why she treats you that way either huh? Can you talk to your dad and express how painful it is to you? Maybe he can advocate for you or is your household matriarch? Then that will be a big problem. . .I don't know what other advice to give you. . I'm sorry, but just know you are a wonderful person in the "Maker's" eyes and you are "His" child who he loves very much. . .you were placed here on this earth for a purpose, it's a purpose we will never know about and it's not for us to question. . . could be that maybe one day something will happen and make your mom realize that you are the only one she can turn to and then she may realize how horrible she has been to you. . . it's so sad to think that way but it's true cause in my culture, what goes around, comes around and those who hurt others soon have the same inflicted back to them 3x greater. . . i'll keep you in my thoughts and just know you have another "family" here to talk too. . . good luck and blessings towards you my dear. . .

What an inspirational post! My surgery isn't until the 29th so I don't know if I'll lose it slow or not but it is one of the things you think about. Your post makes me "ok" with losing slowly if that is how my body wants to lose it =) Thank you for your perspective! So happy for you and your family, afterall we are all doing this surgery to be healthier and if our family becomes healthy in the process then we've gotten back more than money or any discomfort that it may have cost us. God bless you and your family on your continued success with your journey!!

Hi, sorry you are going through such a hard time right now. I'm not speaking from experience, because I'm not even scheduled to have my surgery until Oct.. 8th!!! HOWEVER, I think I have hope for you. You mentioned here in this post you are only 5 weeks out.....that means you just got your sleeve only 5 weeks ago?
If that's correct, please, please don't despair! You can't eat much right now. And probably for the next couple of months can't each much. BUT, I work with a gal who had this surgery done last year. She eats whatever now, she just eats small portions. Like maybe about 1 cup worth? Her plate fills up like the size of a 1/2 sandwich...
Anyway, she was my saving grace in my decision. I, like you, had these issues about not being able to eat. I asked her what she does for the holidays? for going out to dinner? She always gets a plate to go and eats it for the next couple of meals. So please don't think you won't be able to enjoy your favorite foods from time to time. You just can't NOW. So make it up in your mind that yes, right NOW you can only eat extremely small portions. But next Spring and Summer, you will be able to eat a little more. . . . not as much as pre-surgery, but isn't that a good thing to keep the weight off?
I hope this helps! I see what she eats for lunch every day, and your portion sizes will increase from a couple of bites, I promise you. Hang in there!

Let me start by saying welcome. You sound like a woman who knows what she wants. I agree with the above post, we are our worst critics. You are a beautiful woman and I hope one day soon you will feel that way too! Best of luck in your insurance obstacle. :-)

Ok...where to start. I have been big all my life, but when I was young I was an athletic kind of big. I played sports from the time I was 8 until I blew my knee out during softball season my junior year of high school. By then I had played softball annually, field hockey for a couple years and basketball. I was my current height (6') by the time I was 14. Which for a chick...is freaking tall. I'm from a family of giants.
I have a horrible family history with regards to obesity. Grandfather died at 48 from a heart attack. My uncle had gastric bypass but failed it. Lost 150 in a short time, but put it all back and then some. He has stretched his stomach out and eats all the things he shouldn't eat. My dad is overweight, but not by much. My other uncle is the biggest I have ever seen him. My youngest cousin is bigger than I ever was at that age. It's a horrible up hill battle that I have been fighting for decades now.
Ok, now for the funny fat chick to kick in. I'm tired of shopping at "Lane Giant" as I am want to call it. I hate putting on a dress because it makes me feel like I am wearing something I picked up from a tent and awning store. It's crap. I'm constantly afraid of starting forest fires with the thigh chaffing I rock. The folds of skin? Over it. The stares, rude comments...over it. Being overlooked or ignored and having people act surprised when they walk into me...really? I'm huge...how can you NOT see me?im tired of being invisible. Of being unworthy. Of not mattering simply because of my appearance.
So I looked into this in 2001 when I lived in Mass. Insurance denied me despite doing everything they said to. I looked into gastric bypass again in 2008 while living n Greenville, SC. No deal with the insurance again. So I gave up. Ate myself into an oblivion...stayed in a bad marriage far too long. Generally just hated life.
Now I am doing the insurance approval marathon. I live in Florida now and I'm doing everything that my insurance company said to. I have been assured by the program coordinator that it's a done deal. I have the comorbities that I didn't have back then. I'm also heavier than I have been in a long time. I am in week 3 of a 16 week Weight management program. This is required by my insurance. I meet my surgeon next Tuesday. I have a cardiologist appointment on Thursday of this week. And I will find out next week who else my surgeon wants clearance from.
Here's some stats...I'm 33, 6' tall and I weigh 320. I'm looking to get down to 170. That puts me into a normal BMI. And I want a little normalcy in my life right now. I'm sick of carrying this burden. And I'm really tired of the push back I am getting about choosing the sleeve. I know I don't look like I'm as heavy as the scale says I am, it doesn't change the reality of my situation.
Tentatively according to my coordinator, I should have a surgery date for the first or second week i November. I'm nervous but not too bad. I hope to make some friends here and get the support I need and we all need to traverse this life changing decision.
***i have attached a sort of before pic to show what I am starting with.

Yeah, I don't really have access to my nutritionist anymore, and it's too expensive to pay out of pocket right now. But the signs are really pretty strong that there's something nutritional going on: I perked right up tonight after I ate my dinner.
I think that like most things, there's a bit of "all of the above" going on, but I really think that the key for me is proper eating, so I'm going to try to add more calories, especially on heavy gym days.
Thanks, all!

Working out that hard, and being a man, I would say you probably need to bump things up. I was going to mention carbs, but it looks like you do eat carbs. Try eating more calories and see how you feel. If it doesn't help, you know that it might be something else. Also, have you ever gotten a full blood workup done? Low Iron, low Vitamin D, low Vitamin B, and thyroid problems can make you tired too. Worth a check. Also, could be a side effect from the new medication. I am on an anti-depressant too, and so many of them have side effects. Not sure what you just started, but maybe read up on it and see.

This is the first major goal I've been waiting for. I'm almost halfway there now. This dress will be WAY too big when I'm done!
Oh YES I did!!!

Maybe we should renew our vows while it still fits!
--danielle

I get what you’re saying but as I said for some of us it IS on the approved list of allowed stuff.
Honestly I was told in my group meeting diet soda is ok right away but you must stay away from fruit juices for 4 weeks and when you do drink fruit juices to mix them with at least half Water.< /p>
I don’t think LT was coming here to be validated for his choice of drinking coke honestly as someone else pointed out I think he was just posting his “I drank it and felt normal and it reminded me of before and I feel a little better in this crazy time who else?!”
No one needs to validate him at all.
At the first stage what real nutrition are any of us getting?
broth and water? Really?
Because I don’t know about anyone else but I wasn’t even allowed Protein Shakes till 2 weeks out because they are not on the clear liquid stage of my diet sheet.
And speaking of broth how many people bought store bought broth?
The kind loaded with salt and other additives?
I am willing to bet a lot of people because I have also seen a bunch of posts saying what kind of store bought Soup people got.
I made my own so I know for the little amount of nutrition I was getting in my just out barely drink a thing stage I was at least doing a better liquid choice than store bought.
Water is empty calories and nutrition its good for hydration I can argue the same fact for flat soda.
Infact coke zero has 0.75 calories per liter so its hardy a factor for calories (yes I just googled it I didn’t have that fact in my head lol)
The flavours people add to water they have no nutritional value either infact they have artificial sweeteners I would say are a bad choice but hey people drink it still.
I am not here to slam anyone for not wanting to drink coke (any other soda they wish) or for them wanting to drink water or whatever they want to drink, I am not here to tell anyone to do what i do, I am learning what works for me and what my body tolerates and if asked and I have my own example or suggest on what worked for me I will add to the topic.
I got annoyed at how people are treating each other that includes LT and I said so in my first post.
When you feel attacked you attack back and it keeps going on.
I generally try to keep out of such things because I am highly opinionated and don’t want to fight with anyone but he didn’t do anything wrong by drinking flat diet caffeine free coke 9 days out and he is being told that he did, that his doctors are wrong and he should listen to those people posting telling him he is wrong.
Well I was told similar things so our professionally trained medical teams are talking crap but theirs isn’t?
Who says?
Its your doctors personal opinion on what they want and allow ours allowed it in moderation as long as its flat and your getting Fluid its really that simple.
I didn’t like how awfully shocked and up in arms some people were like they would never ever eat drink whatever anything not on the approved list again!
Give me a break people are human they do things and as far as I am concerned this didn’t warrant the free for all mess it become!

i keep coming back to this thread and it makes me shake my head as a newbi it also makes me want to watch what I post honestly- what if I slip up and say I did and that’s it its full on your stupid get help tut tut bad girl?!
I just want to say to no one in particular
diet/zero soda ARE liquids they are mainly Water which you CAN drink in the liquid stage of the diet so frankly the day after the op you can drink it if its flat.
Yes it happens to be fizzy unless you let it go flat, and yes it has alot of empty calories and some crap and crappy sweeteners but its still Fluid.
Some of us have been told while it’s not ideal BECAUSE of the crap and empty calories in it but we can still drink it if its flat.
Its in my paperwork on the pre and post op diets that I can drink it how it comes pre and flat post right there in black and white just because some of your were not told that doesn’t mean your right and we are wrong or vice versa!
i mean god I was told not to drink tea or coffee or full fat milk all they give me in hospital was tea with full fat milk!
I don’t get why people are jumping so hard on a person assuming he is chugging gallons of fizzy soda and dismissing everything told to him and being told in not so many words he is gonna stay fat or get fat again or going to stall so tough luck and we warned you!
That’s pretty shitty to me honestly its like a bunch of ex smokers who go around telling you how bad it is for you all the time when they smoked 80 a day!
Yeah we want support yeah we offer support where we can but frankly I am over the tutters and shamers!
Please do not tell me not one of you tasted, licked, nibbled, drank a single thing you shouldn’t have since the op or never ever will for the rest of your life!
No one is that perfect weather its alcohol a sweet treat takeaway whatever there is bound to be a slip somewhere along the lines no one is perfect and there is a reason within all of us that we got to the point of needing this in the first place!
I think people who have been out longer than others forget their old life their habits and mindset. (not everyone just some i have seen around the forum)
How hard it is sometimes to adjust and forget the head cravings or the emotional ones of just years and years of ingrain habit instead they are all knowing and just preach to the new people and scold them like kids.
I have seen posts on this forum what people eat in the first week out and yes I shake my head and say F’ing hell!
But I also know each person has their own struggles and own ways of rebelling in frustration and own demons with food and its pretty safe to say self sabotage.
You don’t get to the stage we are at and not have tried diets and healthy eating before this is a brand new way of life some learn quickly some take longer some have more issues to work out before they get it but throwing digs and coming down on people not at your stage or not doing exactly what you did just hurts the person more than it helps.
Say your concerned say they shouldn’t do it in your opinion, don’t get mean and personal and snide it doesn’t help anyone.

before I volunteer. you are female, Right?

Well if only we had all this conviction and smart thinking while putting tons of crap in our bodies and becoming obese.
Yay for our new tool!
Here's to everyone's successes and all the ups, downs, and in betweens we face every day

Best wishes to you LT.

OH EMM GEE.... I can't believe this !! Being in a support group doesn't mean being agreeable to everything someone says... It wouldn't be right for a group member to sit here and watch LT sabotage if we can help it- getting this weight off is hard, but it's the common denominator- we are all in this together !! Am I my brothers keeper ??? Yes I am!! And that means sometimes I'm gonna tell him something he does not want to hear- take it a grain of salt and keep kickin- of you don't agree, well agree to disagree. There is no need to insult one another - I'm
Disapponited.

Deep breaths guys =) we all just want each other to be healthy and okay through this healing time. No point in arguing down each other or trying defensive.
That being said, I miss my diet coke too =p but I'm enjoying my little ice chips at the moment. I love plain Water too though, so I don't think it'll be quite as difficult for me. I know that I have had a lot of friends quit soda and they always enjoyed replacing it with things like crystal light.

From what I've read this happens to a lot of people. Just don't be to consumed with the scale and focus on eating the right foods and get all your Water, multi-vit's and Protein in. The water is really important for losing. You can retain Fluid if you skimp on water.. While the scale isn't budging your inches might be. Did you measure before surgery? When this stall does break- and it will, don't forget to keep on with the above. Hang in there!

Surgery date 4/30
Starting weight 259
Current weight 207
Total loss of 52lbs in 12 weeks!
I love my sleeve and the only regret I have is not doing it sooner!!