joatsaint

My 1st 6 months was primarily about getting into good habits: *Learning to choose the right foods *Sticking with my diet guidelines - 75% Protein, 25% good carbs *Getting into a regular exercise routine - for me it was walking http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31216-nsv-2-you-best-step-off-b-hatch/ *Learning to have faith that WLS was going to work for me. I hit a stall about once every month, and it freaked me out each time. I had to learn to have confidence that what worked before would keep on working. My body just needed a time-out to adjust to this new way of life. I think those are the biggies. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Making and posting videos is very easy. I started out with the mini iPad I used at work. Now I use a combination of my Android phone and video camera and a tablet. But any smart phone will do. Your videos can even be directly uploaded to your Youtube channel from your phone. I make too many mistakes/pauses/lose my thoughts/say "ummm" to do a direct upload, so I edit my videos in Camtasia first. That is the most time intensive part. But all of it is very easy to learn. If you are interested in making videos and have any questions, please PM me. I'll be happy to help.

I too was scared/nervous/excited as the day of surgery approached. But nervous overtook the others as I counted down to surgery day. I had to go completely into denial about having surgery to make it through the day of surgery. :-P Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I love Clusie L too. Here's her channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJGHPqGhf1TOLpJ4hUVF08w/videos And of course, here's my channel too - :-) https://www.youtube.com/user/Frankensleeve/videos And I like Finding Elizabeth - https://www.youtube.com/user/findingelizabeth And the show The Naked Truth (which I will be on - the 1st WLS guy they've interviewed - On Oct 4th at 7pm CST) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2gfgx3NcfBCB-_2SkCarQ And I like Jennifer - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWP_D0itOrzIfgsP09P6StQ Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

The one thing that I've loved doing since surgery is answering questions on this forum. And making Youtube videos, trying to help those that are as nervous and unsure as I was pre-op. I tried my hand at blogging about my adventure, but my life got really boring and normal very quickly. So I ran out of stuff to blog about. :-( http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018-gastric-sleeve-surgery-an-unexpected-journey So now I'm trying my hand at writing books. :-) Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I had BCBSTX and was approved within a week. I had called them for WLS info and the lady I talked to had just had WLS. She said BCBS is very WLS friendly. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Being a guy, I guess I don't need to pack much. I only brought my CPAP machine, a change of clothes, my cell phone, keys and wallet. The only things I wish I had brought: My favorite pillow - it would have made sleeping and the ride home easier. Water for my CPAP machine - the sterilized water they provided me had a hideous smell! It was so bad, I could taste it! :-( I was only in the hospital overnight, so I didn't need much.

I use melatonin on a regular basis. I try not to take it more than once a week, as I become dependent on it to get to sleep. It's not addictive, but if I use it too often, it's difficult to get to sleep without it. The smallest dose I can get locally is 3mg. - about $7 a bottle of 30 pills. I normally only take 1/2 a pill. If I take the 5mg or higher, I have nightmares. :-( Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Jerkey and Protein bars (especially the Oh Yeah! Victory bars) are my goto's when it comes to keeping an emergency stash. I have to keep them at work, cause if I keep them around the house, it's too easy to eat them rather than cooking. :-( Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Congrats on having such a wonderful recovery. Sounds like you are on the right track. Just keep taking those small important steps and you'll reach your goals. Live every day with purpose. Live every day according to your mission and your plan. Have a vision for what you want to accomplish, and act in congruence with it. Focus on what matters in YOUR life and never, ever, EVER give up on what is important to you. Stay strong. I believe in you. And I know that you can do it.

The pre-op diet was the toughest part of WLS for me. I had to live on low carb shakes and lean Protein - chicken breast and pork loin. The head hunger was killing me. I wish I could give you my "knowing" of what it's like on the other side of WLS. If you had it, you'd be looking forward to everyday of your pre-op diet. WLS is THAT life changing. WLS was worth every pain, hassle and sacrifice I had to make. But I did create a video with some pre-op diet tips. I hope they help ease your "adventure" in WLS. :-) Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Thanks Radar, It makes me feel good, knowing I'm of help. The sleeping thing was really a problem for me. I've been a side sleeper all my life. Sleeping propped up was difficult and I got very little rest because of it. But I was able to go back to my normal way of sleeping within a few weeks. AND I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had to! WLS was sooooo worth it!

I guess the main things I didn't expect the 1st month was: I could not sleep flat or on my sides - I had to sleep propped up, like in the hospital bed My doctor said I would experience some mild discomfort - I hurt like HELL! for the 1st week. I didn't expect how difficult it would be to relearn to digest foods and sometimes it hurt. I didn't expect how supportive my best friend, mom and dad, and bariatricpal were going to be. I didn't expect to have my food cravings vanish and never return the day after surgery. I didn't realize how satisfying it would feel to eat a "normal" portion of food and be full. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Hey bella, I'm sorry to hear you're having complications. And hope you get through them. I too fear regain. I use that fear as a tool to keep myself mindful and in choosing to eat the right things. But at the same time, I try not to let that fear take me so far that I don't eat enough. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

If anything, I think having problems with your CPAP would increase chances for getting WLS. Having sleep apnea was the thing that qualified me for WLS. If the CPAP machine was causing me problems, I'm sure my surgeon would supported my desire to have WLS. My WLS surgeon never asked about how I was doing with my CPAP. He only told me to bring it to the hospital with me. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I think my Bucket List is a bit modest. I looked forward to: not having to pull my seat belt all the way out to get it to click! getting up off the floor without assistance. being able to walk more than 10 or 15 minutes without my feet hurting being able to eat a "normal" portion of food and walk away satisfied Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful NSV! Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I knew from years of dieting failures that I was going to have setbacks along the way. Even with the restriction Frankensleeve provides! Even though I beat myself up when I fall off the wagon, I try to learn from each experience. I tell myself that it's just a setback, only a bit of a delay, that I'll learn from this and be more prepared the next time. Over time, it's gotten easier to resist the bad foods and I don't feel guilty or depressed when I choose to eat poorly. I just realize it's only a delay, not permanent. Because I will get back on track the same day. Remember, failure is not a permanent state if you keep trying. If you fell “off the wagon”, cut your losses, don’t worry about it, and get right back on track. Immediately. It’s minor damage that can be dealt with. Most people allow one treat to become a 50-shades-of-chocolate-3-month-binge-of-fast-food, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Rather than focusing on being a perfect eater, just make sure you don’t put yourself in any situations where you overdo it. Be good and be good to yourself. Stay strong and keep pushing on. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Do it! Keep pics, journal your "adventure". If only for yourself. I wish I had taken more pics and written down my experiences more. In a year, you'll look back and be glad to have all these pics and stories to remind you of how far you've come. :-) Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

If WLS is something you REALLY feel you need to take control of your life, then don't let anyone stand in your way. When I made up my mind to go for it, no one was going to talk me out of it. I knew from 47 years of experience that I needed the extra help WLS offered. I had been overweight since childhood and could never control my weight gain. If my primary physician had discouraged me from WLS, I would have found another. My first call was to my insurance company to get a list of approved WLS doctors. I never went to a general practitioner, went straight to the WLS doctor and started the process. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I put off my life for a year post-op. I didn't feel like my weight was low enough to seek out a new job, get out and have fun, or try dating. I think it's pretty common, much like the way people order a new "as seen on tv" exercise tool. And then wait for it to arrive before starting any kind of exercise program. I know I've done it. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I've drank Crystal Light lemonade for years. And was drinking it the day I returned from the hospital. Never had a problem with it. But don't get me started on sugar free Popsicles! Frankensleeve never liked those!

I've never dreamed of food. But I did have these weird dreams for the 1st week post-op. I was living in a post-apocalyptic world and I was going through some kind of test to see if I was smart enough to be part of some group of survivors. Same dream night after night. Weird????!!!! :-)

If it weren't for the people willing to share their "adventure" in WLS and photos, I don't know if I would have had the confidence to commit to WLS and take control of my life. I can appreciate the concerns about privacy and not everyone wants their photos on the net. I didn't either... at first. But as I lost the weight and saw my transformation, I wanted to pay it forward to the next nervous newbie (I was an incredibly insecure WLS newbie!) :-)

I agree! Test, test, test. That's the only way to figure out what works for you. We're all the same, but different at the same time. There's no all encompassing authoritative guide to what works post WLS. Each WLS doctor has their own guide to diet and exercise, they only know what their experience tells them works. I would never say to disregard your doctor's guidelines, but a little tweaking may improve your results.