Netherfield

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.

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.

I asked my surgeon when my hair would stop falling out. He told me when I stop losing weight, my hair loss will stop. My weight loss is slowing down, but I'm still losing hair. So, when I see all that hair on my hands after I condition, I just tell myself, "I'm still losing weight, I'm still losing weight." It's what I can do to make myself feel a little better about it. At first it was devastating to me, but everyone said they didn't notice a difference anyway. I've also asked others who had the gastric bypass, and they say the hair loss will stop eventually. I take biotin anyway, don't see a huge difference. But I guess it can't hurt.

It's weird so many surgeons have different plans, but it does seem like those in US do recommend protein shakes. The shake I drink is 170 calories for 35 gm of protein. Not bad! And how else can you get 50-70 grams per day? I can't actually eat that much. As far a airbornes goes, I tried it once and was only able to tolerate one sip. Boy that hit me fast and made me feel terrible. Maybe others can tolerate it, but I sure could not. It's definitely worse than soda.

Megan, I was sleeved this past January. It's the end of November and I'm down 105 lbs. Just think, you can be down more than 100 pounds by next Thanksgiving!! Anyway, my two cents here: If you have a Trader Joes nearby, I like the World Wide Pure Protein shakes. The Frosty Chocolate has 35 grams of protein in an 11 oz can. Unlike a few others, I do actually feel hungry, but absolutely nothing like before surgery or even your average person. I know what you mean by being hungry every few hours. I too felt the same way before the sleeve. My first diet was at age 12, so I understand where you're coming from. The thing is with the sleeve, you just have to understand that about 80% of your stomach will be gone. It's not a comfortable feeling to be "full." So you train yourself you stop before that point. You'll overeat at times, and learn your lesson. I think it's safe to say we all have to learn that lesson oursleves. You WILL lose weight, you WILL be able to eat small portions, you WON'T go on with life feeling unsatisfied. You WON'T be the exception. It's hard to convince people, even when I'm out with them, that yes, I am full; yes that's all I can eat. Then amazing things will happen, like constantly cleaning out your closet. Fitting into clothes you haven't for years and then having to give them away because you're too small for them. If you buy into the whole program, as tiffy said, this is just an avenue and a tool to see what you will do to make yourself healthier....and yes, thinner. I was compliant with my doctor's plan, and starting exercising (walking) immediately. Then I added lots of other forms of exercise, and it took 8 to 9 months to actually ENJOY exercise, but I really do now! Me? Enjoy exercise? Haven't you always wanted to move around better, take those stairs, climb that hill, hike those trails? Remember to enjoy your weight loss journey. Also, a heads up to NOT GET DISCOURAGED when you hit those plateaus. They will happen folks, and guess what? You'll lose more weight. Best wishes for a successful surgery and a healthy 2010.

This is sad to hear. There was a whole weight loss program at the hospital where I had the sugery along with follow up calls on a regular basis. I was given a huge binder and I refered to it all the time. It told me exactly what I could eat at any given week. I am 10 months out and I just can't find the binder any more unfortunately. But when I did add regular food, I started with canned tuna and/or canned chicken. I wouldn't add lots of mayo however, but would add the creamy low fat cheese that come in wedges called "Laughing Cow," it makes the tuna creamy but without all the fat from the mayo. Also sliced deli meats like ham, chicken, turkey. Beans and eggs too. Some people swear by refried beans. For breakfast to this day I mix yogurt and cottage cheese and that should go down ok. I avoided breads. And of course drink your protein. After a few weeks of that, add veggies and fruits as you can and then carbs later on. I still eat my protein first and then fit in whatever i can, which of course, is not a lot. You won't be able to eat a lot, but even a little is satisfying and will make youfeel like a normal person again. Little by little, as you add more things to your diet your stomach will tell you what it does and does not like. I hope this helps a bit.

I started Isopure in the hospital, post-op day 2. I think they taste terrible, so I would add them to Crystal Lite when I got home. I saw my doctor about day 10 and he advanced me to protein shake, but I buy the mixed liquid ones in a can called World Wide Pure Protein. Chocolate flavor is the best to me. 35 grams of protein, only 2 grams of sugar and 170 calories. He had me on clears and protein shakes until day 14 (that is no food at all), when I could have a bit of a scrambled egg. I am 10 months out and I still have a protein shake a day. I could not get the 50 or so grams of protein just eating. Of course it sounds as if your surgeon has a different program, so I would be compliant and do whatever he says.