300PoundsDown

Congratulations!!! I had a terrible time peeing afterwards LOL!! I actually was stressing out about it. But don't worry. You will pee again!! I am so happy for you that surgery went so well!

I gained weight pre-op. I think psychologically it is very hard. Whenever I went on a diet before surgery I would lose a little and gain a lot. The minute I denied myself I would just end up becoming even more obsessed with food so I gained back what I lost plus more! I had a terrible time with the pre-op diet as well. SO many go through this so it doesn't make you a failure nor does it predict your future success after surgery. I know you will get there and get on the other side of this!! You are going to do great!

I gained weight before my surgery too. I struggled also with my pre-op diet. I remember feeling very down on myself too. But life before surgery and after will be very different. I can promise you that!!!! I'll be your friend too. I know what this is like. I am SO excited for you. This is going to be one of the best things you have ever done for yourself!!!! 300 Pounds Down Blog

I relate to so much of your story!! I know what a tough and scary decision this can be. You are very brave to do this for yourself. I totally agree with what you said about taking back your life. You can do this!! Your life is going to change and it is going to be awesome!! You will be off the insulin and things are going to improve so much you will probably be shocked at what a difference it makes! 300 Pounds Down Blog

This is a very tough one. I am tempted to say push through and have the surgery then fight your boss if he tries to fire you. Knowing how this surgery saved my life I would fight tooth and nail to have it again and again if I had to. This is a tough one though. I am thinking of you!!

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Thanks everyone!!!

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I'm about 13 months out. In the beginning, you can only eat a few bites. Over time it will increase but it will never be what it was. I have certain foods I can't really eat b/c they just don't go down very well or fill me up too fast. Bread/salad both fill me up to the point where 2-3 bites is it. I can eat usually half of a steak or chicken. I can drink an entire atkins protein shake and be full generally. Yes it is freaky to think that you won't be able to eat much!! But remember why you are doing this. I have days where I hate my surgery but you know why?? It's because I want to overeat. That is why. Overeating got me to 417 lbs. So yes it sucks at times but I would never ever go back!

Most of the people I know of had sleep apnea. They usually want you to sleep with oxygen. But I have never heard of it being something that would prohibit you from having the surgery. I had it as well and the reason they test you for it is so they can be diligent throughout the surgery. You will be rid of it after surgery!! It won't take long. And it will be changing your life!

I think one of the hardest things we deal with is the advice of others who may mean well but often don't understand why we need surgery. Click below to go to the blog The Advice Of Others

I struggled with the pre-op liquid diet and I fell off the wagon a few times but overall I stuck it out and my surgeon said it really helped with shrinking my liver. That is the main reason they want you to do it and reminding myself of how it helps the surgeon made it more motivating. We all want a smooth surgery!!

Congratulations!! I have to admit I stayed an extra night in the hospital and considered it my spa vacation lol (I have 4 kids) But I know how nervous you are b/c I felt the same way. You're going to do great!!!

I totally agree with everything you said!! Perfectionism is what messes up so many of us. Sometimes it is hard to see it as being perfectionistic when you didn't even start to begin with. I would often say "How can I be a perfectionist when I have not done one thing?" But so many things I will not even start b/c I know I won't accomplish it perfectly. Now I'm giving myself permission to "plod along" as you say. The scale tells me something I don't want to hear then I don't give up. I plod along. And you know what...it works?? It doesn't have to be perfect. Sometimes life is not a straight shot. It's a roller coaster. I think you have stumbled on something here!! Great post!

I'm so sorry you had that awful experience. Surgery is traumatic!! I am so sorry you've been through this. You have to always make the decision that is right for you!! So you're right to only do what you feel is in your best interest!

Fear of failure is normal. Remember before you go in that this is not magic. You still have to work at it but that doesn't mean you will fail. When I heard this before my surgery (That I would have to do some work too) I thought ...forget it then! I am weak and if I had any smidgeon of ability to control my food intake then I wouldn't need surgery! But here is the difference. You already DO have willpower and ability whether you know it or not. The fact that you are still alive and still reaching out for help proves it. Imagine if you tried to shovel your snowy driveway with a teaspoon. You would get frustrated and give up. But if someone suddenly gave you a snowblower you'd say "Ok! Now I'm in business!" You would still have to do some of the work BUT now you have the tool to help you. Suddenly your confidence will grow and you will find you had strength in there you didn't even know b/c too many years of failure had weighed you down and frustrated you. You can do it! If I can...anyone can. But know this--you will have to exercise. You will have to work at it mentally. You will have to forgive yourself for mistakes. But you can do it.

This is a great thread. It has helped me a lot too!!

Underboob problems here too!! Getting rashes under there too!! The sweating creates a horrible rash. Almost like a yeast infection. I've had to powder myself from head to toe to keep it under control. I don't miss that one bit!!!! What a difference 180 lbs makes. Now I sweat from working out...not just existing!

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Warning:: This one might be a trigger for anyone who has suffered any form of abuse/attack in their life so just letting you know that before you click. Love to all my fellow sleevers! Press on to victory. I know we can do it!! Click here

The truth is that as time goes on you can eat more than you could in the beginning. However and this is really important...it never goes back to what it used to be. I used to think that if my sleeve is letting me eat more as time goes on...then it will continue to do that. Mine does not. I am about one year out and I can eat at times more than I could BUT like someone above said...never the amount i once could. It's good that it opens up a bit, right? I mean you can't only eat 2 bites forever? BUT what it allows you is still very reasonable and that's the brilliance. Now having said that I will say that the more I eat...the more I can eat. The less I eat...the less I can eat. I don't know why but it's true. If I find myself wanting to eat more and pushing the limits...the sleeve seems to let me get a bit more in. But if I go back to liquids for a week I find that the sleeve suddenly refuses to let me eat the same portions as it did before. This is a wonder to me. And I love it. So don't panic. You will have victory!

You can read the story and see pics on my blog by clicking here If you get a chance please leave a comment for me over on my blog. I know it's a pain to fill out the form to leave comments on the main blog but you have no idea how it makes my day!! Love all of you and I know we will win the fight against obesity together!!

I found a blog the other day written by someone who has lost a significant amount of weight. She and her husband together lost a combined 245 lbs. This video is SO inspiring!! make sure to watch it to the end b/c just when you think it's over...it's NOT! Click here