missmachine

Used to own one of these many years ago and lost 40 lbs using it everyday when I wasn't even that big at the time. Since now I've had surgery, I really wanted to get one again and was so excited to start using it today; however, I could only last about 25 minutes because of the pain it was causing me to have in my ankles and the burning sensation on the bottoms of my feet. I'm not sure if this is because I am heavier now but I don't really remember this being a huge problem before. Does anyone else use the gazelle and/or have any advice for pain? I was thinking of getting some ace bandage and using it to help support my ankles, do you think that would work? I think I read wearing slippers while doing it helps with the foot burning too? I'm really disappointed because I wanted to start using it.

Thank you everyone...I love this forum!

This is all too funny! I was going to see if I could get a script for ambien as well. I take melatonin and/or Tylenol PM regularly since before surgery 5 wks ago, kept taking it even right after w/o any problems - other than the fact that I still don't really sleep well and I toss and turn all night. I figured I need something stronger. I also wake up about 3 times to pee. I have been like this since before surgery. I don't know what to do, I really wish I could sleep through the night.

I am booked on 08/27 with Dr. Lopez. Thank you so much for sharing! To be honest' date=' I am in the same nervous boat as I can't find much info online. My doctor is the one who is sending me to Mexico lol...funny how some are for it, and some are so opposed. Miss, has your incision healed? When you say popping open....ummm...how open??[/quote']

My incisions have gotten a lot better but are not completely healed. I take forever to heal anything. One of my incisions is an inch circle. I thought it was going to heal as an open hole but it looks like its filling in. Another one was only kind of open and is now healing shut.

Dr Lopez was good though, I'd recommend him.

I guess I have been feeling depressed lately knowing that I will never just be able to sit down and enjoy a meal again. Eating isn't the same when you get full on 4oz of food. Does anyone else mourn food/eating? I am sad I will never have a calzone or a burrito again lol. I suppose my feelings are intensified by the fact that I am losing weight very slowly. It's been almost 5 weeks and I've only lost 20 lbs post op. I just miss food, the foods I will never have again, and the act of having an actual meal as opposed to 4 bites of food. I feel like im being punished...but i guess i deserve it. I abused my old stomach and turned myself into a disgusting cow. I'd be ok with this punishment if I was losing. I'm only 5'3" so I am very round and it takes a while to feel/see weight loss. Am I alone with these feelings? Seems like everyone else is doing awesome.

The thing to remember is that Stevia is not an "artificial" sweetener. It comes from a plant just like sugar and is all natural, there are no chemicals in it. It just so happens to be a calorie-free sweetener. If you are eating Splenda, Equal, or Sweet & Low - THOSE are chemically based artificial sweeteners. If you read up on them, you will find that they have tar, arsenic, and all kinds of crazy sh^t. IMO, go with Stevia or organic sugar (turbinado; "sugar in the raw").

I was sleeved June 11th and I'm another "slow loser." I've only lost 21 lbs since surgery.

I, too, can relate! I always knew I was fat but still thought I looked good sometimes, and clean up nice, etc. I think we were all in denial. It's a defense mechinism because to face reality would be too painful. I always have my parents telling me I am too big, but I would just tell myself I don't look that bad and they are just being jerks. Then if I saw a picture of me looking really big, I would be horrified, and would think that's not what I *really* look like. I think that's why as we lose weight a lot of times we don't *see* it ourselves, because in our minds, we always looked that way. I can't wait to drop this weight, get new boobs and a new tummy... and for once actually look great!

No your incisions are not stapled shut. I think they use some kind of glue or disintigrating stitch on the inside. I had a problem with mine popping open.

He does use a drain and it comes out the night before your flight leaves. The staples stay in your new stomach and that's how it's held together. I believe he does sew over the staple line as well.

OMG!!!! I would have kicked his ass and tossed his **** to the curb!!!! That is just freaking sick and he should be ashamed!!!! Jesus was watching as well!!!! Tell him I said he is a freaking looser!!!!

I did actually, but we ended up getting back together. He apologized and said he was just embarrassed and upset, but I know there was a lot of truth to it all.

I started at 255 when I had my surgery last aug' date=' now in the upper 160s, I am 5'4''[/quote']

We are pretty much the same! I am 5'3" and started at 250. It's been 4 weeks since surgery and I have been stalled the past 10 days. No scale movement! It's very discouraging!

It's been 10 days since my scale has moved in the right direction and I am 4 weeks out now. I have only lost 19 lbs since my surgery. I lost 6 pre-op.

Just a couple of months ago I was walking out of a store as these two guys in their 20's (I'm 31) were walking in. As we crossed paths one of the guys wasn't paying attention and bumped into me, then he turned and said "ahhh I'm sorry, don't eat me!" I was there shopping for a bathing suit because we were going to the beach for my sons birthday the next day. I didn't want to and I hadn't been in years, but I somehow had myself believing that I didn't look "that bad" in the suit I picked out. But after that happened, I wanted to hide in my room like usual. It gets worse. So, the next day we go to the beach with my boyfriend and son because that's what my son wanted to do for his bday. I put on my fat lady bathing suit and had a good time. When I got home, later that evening I caught my boyfriend jerking off to pictures and videos of girls in bikinis. So I guess I thought we had good family time at the beach but he was really just staring at hot young skinny chicks and couldn't wait to get home and take care of himself. Then he told me that maybe if I went to the gym occasionally, he wouldn't need to look at porn. Of course it's ok that he is chubby, because the same rules don't apply to men.

Have you tried Truvia? It's the best and most natural tasting IMO. If you don't like that I would get some organic sugar/turbinado and just use a little bit. It's not gonna kill ya, just don't go overboard.

Thank you both for the information. The unknown is the worst.. How

Long ago was the surgery and how are you doing?

Sent from my iPad using VST

Mine was 4 weeks ago. I am down 25 lbs total (19 lbs since surgery). I think I am going to be a slow loser. I am doing alright. The problems I was having before are pretty much gone. I still have a weird incision that looks like it is healing as an open hole. I did decide to take an LoA from my job an focus on getting healthy.

Me too!! I got to 1000 asap after surgery and got up to 1500 by six months. I never hit "goal" because I'm not sure it was the right weight for me to be trying to hit' date=' but I got within 10 lb and have been maintaining there for months, with some days 2000+ cals easy. I have a "thing" about not getting too low-cal and also worry about screwing up my metabolism in general.

So make sure you're not eating just out of head hunger, but don't beat yourself up if you're hungry and eating what you need -- I think it is not necessarily a bad thing. Good luck![/quote']

Thank you!! A big part of my hunger is head hunger. I still crave and want food and I can tolerate just about anything. I haven't had any problems eating anything I want. That doesn't mean I am eating everything, only mostly Proteins.

I have been eating 1200 minimum calories a day since 2 months out and made goal at 8.5 months! 1200 calories a day is good if you are eating nutritious food. You are not a failure!

Wow that's amazing? How much did you weigh when you started and what was your goal?

The above is good advice. I just want to ask if you're on a PPI. Many docs to not prescribe a PPI as a matter of course. The feel of a belly churning with acid is the EXACT same as a hungry belly. This may be causing you to feel like you're hungry and need to eat.

So yes' date=' it's entirely possible that you're just one of those people that doesn't lose the hunger. But if you aren't on a proton pump inhibitor, I suggest you look into this because it might help you.

If the PPI isn't the issue, it's really important to evaluate why you're eating when you are. If you feel out of control, part of the issue could be that you're eating emotionally or falling back into old habits despite your best efforts to work your sleeve.

If the issue is simply that you feel hungry all the time the only real solution is to feed the sleeve when you're hungry, but to entirely revamp your eating habits. This way you can eat when you feel hungry but you'll find yourself limited to small meals made up of high Protein options if you want to stay successful.

Best of luck. I hope you find something that works.

~Cheri[/quote']

I have been taking Prevacid the past 3-4 days, but I have not noticed a difference in my hunger.

...

Hi

I can also eat a lot unlike some others on the board.

A few suggestions.

I only do solid Proteins like chicken...okay' date='I eat chicken all the time.It seems to be the thing to make me full the longest.Then I have eating time and drinking time.For half an hour after food nothing.Then drinking time for the next 2 hours.Hunger is not an option then as when we eat,then not allowed to drink again for half an hour.

These are little rules I had to make for myself.And I have to force myself to keep to it,most of the time.And you do get use to it very quickly.It is a great accomplishment if you can do it.I think this is all about relearning how and when to eat and the nice thing is you can teach yourself this.

Dont expect 100 persent success at first but keep practising this and you will get better and better at it.Dont be too hard on yourself when you dont get it right at first.

You will lose at 1200 if you exercise a lot but it will be slower.This has been my experience in the past 3 months.

O,and lose the cheese,it is high in fat and calories and soft food that doesnt help fill you up.Cicken,fish,meat (when I have a very hungry day I eat red meat as it fills me up)

Good luck and remember,we cannot keep doing what we did before.We have to learn to say no to ourselves but that takes a lot of practice.You can do this.

xxo[/quote']

I'm glad to hear that I am not the only one. I will definitely be cutting back on the cheese since everyone is saying the same thing. My diet is still mostly meat. Thanks for the encouraging words, I will try your advice.

When you feel hungry make sure you are drinking your Water. Do you have real hunger or head hunger? What are your emotional triggers (i.e. stress' date=' defeat, depression, loneliness?). Go to an over eaters anonymous meeting to help you if you are having head hunger. Have you signed up with myfitnesspal? You can check out what other wls friends on your page are eating on a day by day basis.

cheese has 100 calories an ounce so you may want to be cautious of how certain foods pack on the calories quickly.

Good luck, you can do this![/quote']

I do notice that when I feel any extreme emotion (especially stress) is when I want to eat. But also I eat out of boredom often. I do have a myfitnesspal and I have been logging everything.

One thing... I was told I would be going to Mi Doctor Hospital, but ended up at INT Hospital. Still a very good & clean hospital, but I was confused when I arrived.

I am 4 weeks out. I still get hungry all the time. The past week I've been eating about 1200 calories a day. It's because I get hungry every 1-2 hours. food still has a hold over me and I feel like I can't control myself. I know I will probably get a lot of sh^t from everyone here for eating so much, and I am embarrassed, but I am desperate and I need help. If I was just dieting I would be really proud of myself because I am doing better than I was before surgery. But I had the surgery and I feel like I should be more full and less interested in food at this point. If I had good willpower I wouldn't have needed surgery. It's taking all of my effort to only eat the 1200 calories. I have been eating super high Protein. Mostly meat and veggies and cheese. I don't know what to do. I am so upset and I feel like a failure.

Having a bad day. I had my surgery June 4th and I still have not lost 10lbs. When I stood on the scale this morning and I still had not lot any weight I almost threw the scale out the window. I mean 8lbs in a month' date=' I couldn't be more frustrated.[/quote']

That really sucks. At least you are losing though. What does your surgeon say about this? There are others who have posted similar stories. It's discouraging to hear. I have lost 20 lbs since surgery and gained back 3. I thought that was slow.