Netherfield

Hi, i am 5 years post sleeve surgery and still so happy with my decision. yes the first few months are a drag, especially the first 6 weeks. My surgeon's plan didn't have me eating regular food until after 6 weeks. But little by little you introduce things back into your baby stomach. I never did have much trouble, although some things go down better than others and some make you full fast and sugars can make you feel a bit sick. You'll learn, it's like second nature to me now, and I don't feel deprived, I feel just as normal as the next person even if we go out to dinner. I don't tell everyone now who i meet about my surgery, I just say I eat small portions. People are fine with that. It's really one of the best things i've have done; i can't imagine life obese again and i never want to. I love just being "normal" and i continually receive compliments, even from people who never knew me "before". It's great. It's such a part of life now, it's really no big deal, it's my new normal and i love it! It's hard to believe it or convince you but you really don't give up much. Trust me. You think you do, but you really don't. And what you gain from it, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope the next 5 years is as successful as the first 5. Good luck! (and keep exercising)

I'm almost 5 years post sleeve and even nowi just don't eat yeasty bread much because it does seem to "puff" up. It never hurt, but made me feel full very fast. I can eat Middle Eastern flat bread. Pasta also fills me up fast too. Listen to your body, if you feel full, then you are. Stop eating when you get that feeling. I used to love love love bread but now it does not bother me not to eat it.

One of the main reasons was the obvious obesity and diabetes rampant in my father's side of the family. I saw an aunt take 6 insulin shots and that was a wake up call for me. I had my surgery in Jan 2009!! I am grateful every single day i had the my sleeve. It is so much part of my life and absolutely no big deal anymore what so ever. I feel normal when i eat around people, i just tell them i eat small meals and leave it at that. I love receiving compliments from people who didn't know me "before." I never was called gorgeous or beautiful in my life before and now i am told this. People in average clothes sizes share clothes amongst themselves, so i get tons and tons of free clothes all the time! I can find cheap and good clothes at resale shops, and I love it. All the other things people said, having a lap, wearing a seatbelt, sitting comfortably in any chair....all those things are a distant past. I am so used to being size 12, sometimes even a 10 (height 5'5"), being overweight is a distant memory. Of course you're doing the right thing, if you are obese, or morbidly obese as i was!! I speak the truth, you won't miss being able to eat so much. You'll be content being full when you are full. It's absolutely one of the best things i have ever done. Although I do battle 5 lbs up and down, but it's 5 lbs, not 100 lbs. Good luck

I would add two of those "bullets" when I made Crystal Lite and drink on that all day, UNTIL I advanced to Protein Shakes. I didn't care much for it, but it was diluted so much in the Crystal Lite. Now that I am so far from surgery in Jan 2009, most of my protein comes from food actually, so I don't need to supplment protein as I did before. Although every once in a while, I do still drink protein shakes.

I exercised starting day 2, as this was part of the program we were given to follow. It was only a 15-minute walk, but I do think it is good to start SOMETHING. For me, it is still important for me to do some type of exercise at least 5 days a week. Of course I do a lot more than a 15-minute walk, but I find it is easy to get out of the exercise habit. I know myself, and if I don't keep it up I will slowly come to a halt. This is after 1 year and half since surgery. I go through times when I love exercise and can't wait, and then times when I have to force myself. Getting in the habit of it helps me tremendously.

Putting in my two cents here. I am a year and half out of surgery and almost every week I think to myself how I love, love, love my sleeve! If people are complaining a bit, they are probably in the first few weeks after surgery, and let's be honest, it is not any fun! BUT then after that for the most of us I would imagine, it gets better and better. I never had complications, always felt good, and now I am so used to my stomach I can truly say I never wish I had a "regular" sized stomach again! I don't want to eat more during a meal, not even at Thanksgiving. I am very satisfied with what I can eat. Hope all goes well with you. The rotten few weeks after surgery seem long, but this too shall pass.

Isn't it the best? I am at goal now and actually love to shop. I always hated it, probably because I hated the way i looked in clothes. Even nice clothes seemed frumpy on me...too much material, too long, too bulky, etc. For some reason I always loved the idea of going into a thrift shop and buying regular sized shirts, or size 10 and 12 pants, and now I can! I recommend thrift stores because you can find such great deals. I found an Ann Taylor skirt for $2.00!! Now my family cannot believe I am wearing skirts and how every time I turn around I have a new outfit. And believe me, I don't spend a lot of them. It's a strange dream I had - but these thrift store finds are a dream come true! No longer to I have to spend a fortune to look as bad as I did! This weekend I tried on a vintage 1950s jacket and it fit like it was made for me! I was so happy I cannot tell you the joy! The first time in all my life to actually put on something classy like that and have it FIT!! It is great folks, and if you are not there yet, keep on with the great work, you'll get there -- really you will! And really, really I mean this -- I know you want to get there so quickly, but DO enjoy the journey along the way!

Hi I am 1 and 1/2 years out from surgery and mostly get compliments and good stuff my way. Last week a good friend said, "geesh, you look so thin!" He doesn't want me to lose more weight -- that actually made me feel good, and I took it as motivation actually. Even if people say I don't need to lose weight, I told them I need to get to goal, which was a healthy BMI and that usually ended the conversation. On the other hand, almost all of us know of people who had WLS and regained weight. Take it as a challenge for yourself NOT to do that. It scares me to no end to gain back weight. That can be a GOOD thing actually. I say to myself, "ok you've been given this new body, NOW what are you going to do with it? We've been given a gift, and I look at it that way and not many people are given a second chance at a body. So take it as a scary challenge for something you vow not to do. It's not always a bad thing to hear of those who regain weight. Apparently it is a possibility (not sure of stats with the sleeve though). Ok, so let's do all we can to put practices into place for us to succeed and not fail! I admit there are days I eat badly and I yell at myself. I made a deal with a coworker that I would let her know everytime I was one ounce above goal weight, and so far I have had to confess one time only. This is a good thing knowing I need to fess up. Good luck with your continued weight loss and getting to that healthy BMI!

I am 1 and 1/2 years out from surgery and had thick hair. My hair is thinner, but almost everyone except my hairdresser says they do not notice. I would lose lots of hair when I shampooed, and asked my surgeon when I would stop losing hair. He said, "when you stop losing weight." So everytime I would see lots of hair in my hands in I would say to myself "I'm still losing weight, I'm still losing weight." My hair loss has stopped. I cannot say it is as thick as before, but like I said, most people do not notice. I do take biotin. I cannot say it has helped regain hair, I only notice I do not lose anymore. I figure it cannot hurt any. To me it has not been a big issue. A friend who had the sleeve before me did not lose hair at all. Some don't I guess.

Tiffy, Let me add my congrats to you too! I hope to be where you are soon, but I sure am slowing down. I actually want to be 3 pounds below goal, if that makes sense. You truly are such a help to so many people and so gracious to answer and be encouraging. I went over to the OH forum and was amazed at how mean they can be to each other. You set a great example of how to act on this forum. Thank you for that!!! Hope to join you in the goal-club soon. I'll be posting when I do.

Yes, I my surgeon was Dr. Stephen Burpee in Tucson. His office is helpful. The surgery was very successful with no complications and didn't take long in the OR either. The best part is the affiliation he has with Northwest Hospital in Tucson (a walk from his office). The weight loss program they have there is great. Tons of infomoration and informational classes to take before the surgery so you know what to expect. An RN by the name of Gail is the head person for the weight loss program and supplies you with a great binder including what to eat at every week, and lots more information like vitamins, protein, exercise, etc. etc. She also visits you after surgery and the day after that. She makes frequent calls to check up after you and tell you what you should be eating, I guess in case you haven't read your binder. I like Dr. Burpee as well. I didn't have a lot of questions for him at all, so I just didn't converse with him much. The seminar he conducts gives you lots of information too. Office visits post surgery are at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and yearly after that. He just makes sure you are where you need to be and checks out your blood work. After reading some people here that don't know what to be eating or what they should be doing after a couple of weeks, I realized how fortunate I was to have Dr. Burpee and Gail. If possible, they provide you with TOO much information!!

Deedee, I think you were so cute in your "before" picture too. You just are a very attractive girl period, but it's great that you are feeling so good about yourself and are so close to your goal. I too am at the lowest i've been during my adulthood. It's almost surreal, isn't it? Goal is going to feel soooo good! Great job!!

I am excited for you, especailly since I was sleeved about a year before you will be. I had surgery Jan 6, 2009. I'm now down 108 lbs, am able to exercise a lot, fit into clothes I never thought I would. I hoped I would, but I never could imagine it. There are a lot of changes in store for you the next year, not just your stomach size and body size, but other intangible things. One thing I realized is that I never was sick in the year 2009 (I know the year's not over yet, but...) obviously my body and whole system is healthier and stronger than it used to be. I'll let you know the first weeks are definitely a drag...well, it's a drag to about week 5 or 6 but it does pass! It won't last forever, and it's very satisfying to see the scale move down, down, down. Try to remember to not get too frustrated with surviving on clears, or not being able to eat during those early weeks. And don't wig out dealing with stalls. Best to expect them from time to time -- you'll get through them! And for sure follow the plan your surgeon or weight loss coordinator has given you. Best of luck and health to you!

I am almost a year out. You will be able to eat meat. For lunch or dinner I am able to tolerate: third to half a cheese burger w/ the bun tossed away after a few bites (depending on size of cheese burger). About 5-6 bites of meatloaf, and then a couple of bites of potatoes, and a few bites of vegetables. Sometimes I eat a couple of pieces of deli ham or turkey and a piece of cheese. I like rotessiere chicken and 6 bites or so. I can eat a taco, depending on size. Or a 1/6 to 1/4 of a shredded beef quesedilla. I can eat a medium piece of thin crust pizza. I really haven't tried steak, so I can't say. I never did eat steak much anyway. I often to go back to what I ate at the begininng -- tuna mixed with Laughing Cow cheese, canned chicken, cottage cheese, cheese sticks, eggs and such. What really fills me so quickly and therefore I do tend to stay away from are breads and Pasta.