ThickChocolate

All the time. Then I get people asking how will I ever make it without eating out and fast food and yadda yadda. I tell them its a choice I've made to become a healthier person and I made the choice to steer clear of that stuff. People are going to make comments because they're curious but they really don't know how to ask the questions without sounding like idiots LOL. I just answer their questions or give them a link to good sites so they can research it themselves.

I say "Hoorray" for all of us. We are more than what we weigh. The weight will go when it goes but we still have to Love ourselves in every stage of our life (or size) or what will this whole journey be worth.
Be Blessed Everyone!

Yes, at the beginning it can be frustrating if you feel like you're losing slowly. I was losing quite quickly and now I've hit some mini-plateaus (every few days it stalls for 2-4 days).
I know it's reasonable for my body to be "adjusting". My head knows it, but my emotions are still all over the place when I get on that scale and it hasn't moved down, or worse still, has inched up a tad!
Reading this post has certainly helped me put things in perspective and I'm sure to revisit it over the next several months to help keep me on track!
Thanks for the "reality check"!

I think I've spotted something with the rate of weight loss for all of us. Some of us lose slowly to begin with, while others drop weight like crazy. But, at about 9-10 months out, we're all in a similar place. Several posters here posted at the beginning of their journey that they lose slowly, while I felt like the weight rocketed off of me until I hit about 6 months. Earlier this week, Pookeyism posted pictures and her weight loss is about 90 pounds, SandyD has lost 100 pounds, I've lost 100 pounds, and so have several other posters who were sleeved around the same time I was.
I haven't done charts and graphs (not my style) but it seems like we have all lost about the same amount of weight in the same amount of time. I realize that posters who have continued to post may be more dedicated than those who don't post often, but I think that we all lose about the same amount of weight if we follow our plan. What varies is how quickly the weight comes off in the beginning, but we all get to the same results as we get further post-op.
For me, it really reinforces that we need to continue to work our plans, even if it seems like we're losing very slowly. I'll keep watching it to see if the trend continues.

I have to tell you, every day I don't lose another lb I am glad I had this surgery. It reminds me how VERY strange my body is with weight loss. I usually average about 800 calories a day, plus my workout and I usually just net over 400 calories (If I don't include my BMR). I will go a couple weeks and not lose a single lb. Or I will lose 7 lbs in a week. My body loathes to let go of the bad stuff, even as I build up the muscle layer underneath it. I am a slow loser, its okay. Do I have days where I get a little ticked? Yeah. I am working like crazy and watch others losing at twice the rate. Again, is that okay? Definitely, because I see lots of benefits to losing a bit slower too. Less extra skin, less hair loss, faster cognitive recovery, less tired (although some days I am not sure about this last one). I measure myself every couple of weeks and am steadily losing. No, it is not immediate, and I know I am doing everything exactly as I am told to. I look at my choices every day. The way my family and I live life now is unreal some days. I offered my husband the chance to get a cheeseburger and he said "No thanks, I don't feel like being sick for the next two days". Everyone is not only physically healthier, but our family budget is healthier too! Instead of taking my son out to dinner for his birthday, I used the money for him to do Chemistry Camp for an entire week (kid loves sushi and it is pricey). When we do go out, I either order an appetizer or my husband has lunch for work the next day. We actually walked out of a restaurant last week because they couldn't not fry something and the only veggies they had was corn or fried. In short, I know watching other people lose 18 lbs a week is frustrating when you struggle for that healthy 1 or 2. I don't know about you all, but even though it is slow going, one of my biggest motivators is knowing that once a number is gone, I am never going to see it again.
Not in a million years would I trade my sleeve. I get frustrated I can't eat as much as I want sometimes (I miss my big salads). I get frustrated when the scale wants to move slowly (or not at all). However, the quality of life that my family and I now have is wonderful! I get time taking walks or bike riding with my son every day. My husband is making people jealous with the wonderfully yummy food he takes to work every day and yet managed to lose 40 lbs.
Keep up the great work and don't give up.

Wow..could not agree more! 9 months out and down 80! I am happier then i have ever been and weigh less than i have in about 15 years..would not change a thing

SO excited to step on the scale today and was 197!! I am officially out of the 200s and I hope to never see them again. This sleeve is the best decision I have ever made for myself. I haven't lost a ton yet, it's still early but I'm already confident in myself and learning to love myself again with every pound that comes off. Thought I'd share since this is a huge milestone for me

I was very very strict with low-carb intake until about 7 months post-op, when I began to eat small amounts of fruit. I had lost 80% of what I thought would be my total weight loss and in truth, all-Protein and green veg was getting really boring. However, my loss slowed down a lot, so I went back to all protein until I hit my goal of a normal BMI. Then I started adding in more dairy and more fruit.
I don't deprive myself of anything now that I'm at goal, but all those months of not eating sweets has made Desserts less appealing than before surgery, and thankfully I am satisfied with a tiny bite now and not the whole cake.

I had my sleeve done on Feb 20th of this year. I have lost 101 pounds. My stomach is very picky. I used to eat all the pasta and cream sauces and bugers and pizzas. Now I still want it from time to time. But I can't handle it. I feel like some one is punching my gut!! I think its the fat. If I could eat a slice of pizza or taco once or even twice a month I think there's nothing wrong with that. The other thing that I do is I really try not to eat after 5;30pm.... it's just something that I have drilled in my head and it makes a major difference for me and aswell as my family. Best of luck

I have to say that I eat what I want to. The things I want to eat have just changed! I really no longer crave all the junk. I did just have a small piece of pizza and it was good Usually I do make good choices because i love my sleeve and want to treat it well!

I don't know that I "eat what I want" because if that were the case, I'd be eating Big Macs and Burrito Supremes LOL!! But when I feel like I need some chocolate, I eat a little chocolate. When I feel like I want Cheez-Itz, I go and buy a small bag of Cheez-Itz...I don't deprive myself of anything because I don't want to live on a "diet" for the rest of my life. Plus, my sleeve just won't tolerate a binge...Thank god!! I actually feel like my relationship with food is more "normal" than it's ever been!
I do notice that when my carb intake is up, I lose less. Like you, my weight loss has slowed down at almost 9 months out...but I'm okay with it!! I absolutely LOVE my life now!! I'm doing triathlons (which accounts for my carb cravings much of the time) and I feel great!! I sometimes have to remind myself that I didn't have surgery to lose a certain amount of weight. I had surgery to feel better and to be able to do the things I wanted to do....My goal has already been accomplished!!!

I don't think people are criticizing you just because they're no longer overweight and want to judge you. Its a general concern that after nine days after surgery, you're still healing that sleeve. Everything you mentioned does suck and I don't think anyone enjoyed the pain. I believe that they are trying to prevent you from causing any damage to yourself. You may not like what they said, but they are trying to be helpful. Not one is out to get you.

LouiseC, what you posted is fine - you weren't judgey, you weren't cutting anyone down, and that's fine.
As for all those artificial sweeteners, that's exactly what's in a lot of the substitutes that our doctors and NUTS are telling us to eat and drink now. Going through the literature from the hospital NUT, they even say to use those substitutes in place of regular sugar.
And yes, soda has chemicals. So do a lot of other foods we eat. Unless we go on a completely natural, organic, straight from the earth diet, we will fill our bodies with chemicals.
And believe me, it was the cheese fries with ranch dressing at the Outback, the deep dish pizza at UNO's, the chicken marsala and Oreo cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory, and the Asiago cheese bagels at Panera that made me fat.

Actually, I'm a trial attorney.
There's a major difference between being criticized on a message board for drinking a few ounces of diet soda, and critique in the professional arena.
While these forums have been an excellent source of information, it never ceases to amaze me how a few hyper-judgmental posters can ruin the forum for the rest of us who are trying to get through this. Being sleeved sucks. The diet sucks. The emotional and mental toll sucks. And when someone comes along and posts about one little thing that has made this miserable journey just a wee bit more tolerable, there's always that person (usually the same few people), who think it's their duty to come along and cut people down, offer their opinions and "expertise."
Give it a rest. I have support at home from my loving spouse and friends, I have a doctor and NUT whose opinions I trust more than a few former overweight people on a message board who, like me, couldn't control their weight and ended up needing one or two surgeries to do what the rest of the world can do with a little diet and exercise.
It's sad that the only people who can understand the pain of being overweight in a thin society feel the need to cut each other down over food and beverage choices.

I figure it this way... Diet Coke didn't make me fat, ranch dressing, bacon cheeseburgers and French fries (washed down with a Diet Coke) made me fat.

I'm 9 days post-op and have been having a really tough time of it. Hard to get fluids down, hard to drink those stupid Protein shakes. I so miss my Diet Coke - some people smoke, some people do drugs, drink alcohol - I do none of that, I just like my Diet Coke.
So today, I took one of my caffeine free Diet Cokes (when home, I always drank caffeine free), opened the bottle to let out some fizz, poured it over ice in a glass, and took small sips. It was like drinking a little glass of heaven. No stomach upset and I feel almost like a normal person again. No caffeine, lost a lot of the carbonation, and when the ice melts down, I'm even getting some extra water!
It's amazing how this diet can make a person so miserable at times, but the little things we took for granted before can make a world of difference now with just a little modification (I would chug all fizzy from the bottle ).

I was told two weeks, but everyone will tell you something different. Every doc has such different recommendations, all you can do is go with what yours told you. One thing you can count on...if it hurts...DON"T do it!

I haven't checked in on here for a little bit, but thought I should for my big day!
Officially down 101 lbs since surgery day!!!! Sooooo glad I got the sleeve.....my life is changed forever!!

She was just in Bethenny's talk show. Hopefully, there will be a YouTube link soon. If so, I will post it. She was so honest...I loved it!!!
Littlebits

In all honesty, I don't think the surgery itself does anything to relationships. If a relationship ends in light of surgery, there were problems long before that. I think a couple of things happen. I think a lot of people are already in unhealthy relationships, but they stay because they have such low self worth that they think it is the best they can do. After surgery, we start to gain more confidence and feel better about ourselves. In turn, people end of leaving their significant other because they realize they are worth so much more.
In your case, I think your husband is just using it as an excuse. If he truly loved and respected you, he would have been there for you instead of fooling around on you. I agree that counseling is a good route, but staying together just for your daughter's sake is never a good way to go. How often do we hear people saying they stayed together for the children, when, in reality, it was the worst thing for them.
My husband has been nothing but supportive and my biggest cheerleader. He loved me at my heaviest and he loves me now. Best of luck with everything and do some deep soul searching to figure out what is best for everyone, including yourself!

I to am sorry to hear it.
All I have to say i that what he told you is just a lie, and excuse to cover his actions. I for one am an adamant supporter of every story having two sides but his story just plain stinks. When you need him the most he ups and fools around on you.
Only you can make the decision of what you want out of it, to heal or not. Otherwise just dump his sorry ass and move on. Sorry to be blunt but I just really, really hate people who play games and lie.
I've been married 30 years and there has been a LOT of times it would of been easy to stray, opportunities have presented themselves or I could of MADE an opportunity. I have NOT strayed as I value my marriage, my wife and the solidity that it gives both of us.

So I have decided to become a Beachbody coach. I will be starting my 90 ChaLEAN Extreme on Monday July 16th 2012. If you would like to follow my journey and enroll in Beachbody(which is free) please go to this site www.beachbody.com/furby036 I would love for everyone to follow me on this journey or even better join me! Please if you have any questions please feel free to ask. I'm so excited to start this thank you so much in advance

Please don't be discouraged! You are doing fantastic! I know it's hard, but I agree weighing everyday is not a good idea. I waited a long time before I weighed post op. i tried to weigh every Friday around the same time. Also, if you have a Nintendo Wii, I recommend weighing on a Wii Fit board. It keeps track of your weight and you can see your progress charted over time. You got this!

My doc told me not to even weigh myself until I was 2 weeks out (of course I did anyway). Your body is going through some major changes. Your weight will fluctuate. You've just had major surgery, you've started exercising and drastically changed your diet. Your body needs time to adjust to all this. The scale is not an accurate reflection of fat loss over such a short period of time. Be patient. This is normal. Hide your scale. Use a tape measure instead.

Today 43 is the best number. I turned 43 and I am down 43 lbs since starting my journey.
Feeling pretty good except this painful healing ridge
MsVickee