sheila2050

I had been drifting off course for the last couple of weeks, since I started eating solids, really. I can eat so little (about 1/3 cup) it just didn't seem to matter what I ate or what frequency. Now, this site: http://goodnightsurgical.com/doc/Sleeve_Gastrectomy_Guide.pdf has helped me understand (be convinced) why the rules are necessary. We are training now for life after sleeve restriction. By year 3, I guess, my sleeve should accommodate 1-1 1/2 C food; and if I don't have my lifestyle nailed down, I could end up obese again. So, I started recording in my food journal in earnest. I am putting liquids and protein first. I am exercising. Well, I don't exactly have a "routine" yet, but I just did some yardwork. I am reading Denise Austin's Shrink your Female Fat Zones, and I am getting excited about walking. I ordered a pedometer so I can increase (eventually) to 10,000 steps/day. Most people walk 2,000-3,000 steps/day. Today I decided to put self-care first in my life. I'm 46 years old, you might think I would have adhered to this wisdom by now. But no, I keep forgetting. And it takes time to take care of my body; it just does. Maybe several hours a day. That puts a whole different spin on my perspective about using/wasting time.

You love water polo. You're good at it. From what I've read of your writing, it's always seemed like a very good thing in your life. Sometimes adversity happens all at once, and that's the time for faith. It's also the time for looking inside yourself and asking, "Well, what do I think, believe, know?" Then trust yourself. Boundaries are great, necessary things. Good fences make good neighbors, right? You can do this thing, and your life won't always have so many naysayers; it's just a run, and will wear out. Good luck to you. I am confident you are 100% where you are supposed to be.

Motivation, anyone? I haven't been walking or doing any kind of exercise (excepting yardwork.) I want to want to do it. I am really surprised at how little I can eat. I've gotten a lot better about not eating when I start getting close to full. Overeating is just too painful. I am wondering how it could ever be possible not to lose weight eating so little. I guess time will teach me that. I've been losing about 2 lbs/week for the last couple of weeks. I am very happy with that rate. It is just perfect. My expectation is that the slower I go, the easier it will be on my body, the better my skin tone will be, and I'll lose more fat as opposed to muscle. I am 18 lbs down and my clothes are looser, but I'm still wearing the same size.

As long as your surgeon is competent, you'll be fine. I think the anesthesiologist didn't know what he was talking about. My surgery took 38 minutes, my sister's, 45. I think a lot of it depends on how big your liver is. Your outcome will most likely be excellent and you might get away with hardly any pain at all. Good Luck!

It'll all work out because you're stepping in the right direction. I admire how much you are accomplishing. Losing weight for pre-op is entirely different from dieting for a lifetime. One we can do, the other, not so much. Even when we make decisions others disapprove of, the most important thing is that we are true to ourselves, true to what we think, feel, believe. You obviously are and I wish you the very best.

There are all kinds of very brief "exercise at work" suggestions. Just a couple of minutes standing up, stretching, or chair exercises might relieve some of the stress you are feeling about missing exercise. I do 10 minute walks because I can't face the prospect of a longer one. Maybe you could try a 5 minute walk at lunch, IF there's any time left over. Anything you do consistently, no matter how small, will build your exercise habit and get you headed toward more exercise in the future.

And it's a joy to read! Thank you for taking the time to write.

Love your post. I hope I am able to say as many positive things about substantial changes in my perspective (for the better, of course) at 7 mos.

Awesome. Thanks for the great post.

I think you're right, purrr. It's going to start a whole new chapter in your life. No telling what might happen.

Yay!!

WTG . . . YOU are awesome!

I'm happy for you. You have so much to look forward to; and now your children, when they come, will have you for a long, long time. Great way to break the cycle!

Enjoy your time in the sun!

wonderful news! I know you are gonna rock the sleeve and your dh's eyes are gonna pop OUT! It will be a terrific thrill for you to be normal weight and I know you deserve every minute of it.

lol . . . maybe you should have been more specific about how tall the Viking had to be . . . funny friends. Congrats on your wonderful break in stall and weight loss. Enjoy!

gosh, hope it gets better!!

Joji, best of luck tomorrow for a successful surgery!! Yay!!

Sleeved 9/26. So, two weeks out.

I haven't had any trouble at all with anything except once when I ate too much too fast and well, you know. I am still drinking my Juven, my protein shakes, Powerade. But I've started solids, too. I feel so much better with some food that sticks with me for a bit. Right now it seems impossible that I wouldn't lose weight no matter what I do (almost) because I am able to eat so little. I won't be bingeing, that's for sure. I don't have cravings, except possibly for meat. That goes with my cycle, I think, with ovulation and menses. I had some cheese on Triscuits last night without difficulty. I do notice that if I wait to stop until I feel "full" then I become overfull. Not sure how to check that. Once I start eating I want to keep going. I have been doing really well with throwing out food I don't finish. Before the sleeve, for most of my life, I felt all food served had to be eaten or saved for later. It's a little funny that my kids won't eat leftovers. They know it's ok to leave food on their plates once they're finished eating. Well, I am keeping up with my 10 minute walks twice daily, pretty much. I can't really see the benefit, but this is something I "decided" to do and I am going to stick with it. I'm still getting bouts of extreme tiredness; but I had that before surgery. I have intentionally foregone relying on caffeine. It is a last resort now, not a daily necessity. Somehow, I just don't want to have to have it and I guess I'm hoping that eventually I'll be all right on my own. I don't know why this dogged thought persists, but it does. I've had no trouble whatsoever letting go of soft drinks. I drink coffee occasionally and then only one cup. I'm definitely losing from the top. lol oh well.

Hang in.

Makes sense. Smells & sights bring back memories. Why not foods?

Good for you! That's a miracle that you met a psychiatrist who could help with a good diagnosis. I'm really happy for you.

Sleeved 9/26 and still on full liquids. Will start taking my prilosec more regularly, in case. I really think it's just not enough calories to keep me going. Glad to hear others felt the same on liquids. I am considering starting foods early. My sister did and she's fine. We had same doctor. I enjoy the convenience of liquids but hate, HATE, feeling hungry. Otherwise though, I am really happy with all. Thanks for your replies.

I'm hungry. I'm full AND hungry? I can't tell. I had a nightmare about being hungry and the too long, wait forever long, wait in a restaurant for of all things a hamburger and fries. What?! In the dream I got so mad at my husband for tipping the waitstaff I almost walked home!! WOW. That's some heavy emoting. I find protein shakes taste better after they've chilled in the fridge. The get more dissolved, smoother, and tastier. Better too with the colder flavor. I don't want to eat as often as my stomach calls for it. I feel like a dog on a chain. But if I put off eating -- in my case, I'm still drinking -- I just feel more hungry, more panicked. So, that's where I'm at. I'm looking forward to eating when I can consume foods with higher calorie density. I am well aware that I am in the period of forming new habits so I am trying not to sabotage myself. For example, my dad gave me some baby back ribs (frozen) and I keep thinking about putting them in the oven because I know that would do the trick -- fatty meat = being satiated. But I leave them in the freezer because it's not time for meat, yet. (much less pork ribs, lol) So I am just going day-by-day. Committing to one day at a time on liquids. Making my protein shakes thicker, hoping that will do the trick. Other liquids, like cream of chix, hardly seem worth the bother because I am suddenly hungry within an hour afterwards. Yet I find the warmth soothing; so I guess I'll keep on with the soups. I didn't think I was going to be hungry all the time. In fact, I thought just the opposite. But I guess . . . whatever . . . body knows best. I'm complaining but really, truly, things are going great. I'm not sick. I've got the sleeve! And so on... Say a quick prayer for me, if you can.