300PoundsDown

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.

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.

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!

This is wonderful news. I am so glad to hear this. SOOOO glad. Thank you for sharing!

This is amazing. Congratulations and amazing job!!!!! Thanks for being specific about your plan. I needed to hear it!

Hi there!! I am right there with you. I have 300 to lose. I've lost 128 so far. I'm almost halfway there!! I am glad you posted b/c we all need that encouragement. I do post a lot on my blog about what I'm going through. I try to get over here too and meet others going through the same thing. we can do it!

I went through a major depression after surgery b/c of losing the food. Also remember it does take some time for that grehlin, hunger hormone to work out of your system. Trust the process. This will work. Eventually you will see a decline in your desire to have food above all else. Trust me!!!

I went through a major depression after surgery b/c of losing the food. Also remember it does take some time for that grehlin, hunger hormone to work out of your system. Trust the process. This will work. Eventually you will see a decline in your desire to have food above all else. Trust me!!!

You are going to do great!!!! Don't be scared. I know that sounds easy to say but try to stay calm. You are going to be experiencing something truly amazing in your life. Just get through this and you will see!

I had the same exact issues. I totally understand. I struggled a lot in the first few months due to head hunger. But it gets easier as the grehlin hunger hormone gets out of your system. And as your body doesn't let you overeat anymore it becomes less of a draw and you do lose interest more and more. I never thought that it was possible for that to happen to me of all people but it does work!

As others mentioned, I did Clear Liquids too at first and then moved onto Protein Shakes. I drink the Atkins Caramel Cafe and still do. But there are so many you might try getting samples. I had a horrendous time getting in all the Protein . Between that and Water it was like a full time job lol. But I know you will do great!

I love this!! I totally love it. How awesome to go shopping in your own house with no money!! And so exciting. thanks for posting this. It really made me smile.

sugar free popsicles? I ate pletny of those at that stage!!! Hang in there. Remember it takes awhile for that grehlin to get out of your system but it will and you will feel less hungry as time goes on.

I tough it out. It goes down eventually. That is just my personal experience but I feel ya'!!!

As others mentioned, I did Clear Liquids too at first and then moved onto Protein Shakes. I drink the Atkins Caramel Cafe and still do. But there are so many you might try getting samples. I had a horrendous time getting in all the Protein . Between that and Water it was like a full time job lol. But I know you will do great!

How exciting!! I will be so happy the day I am out of plus size. I am SO excited for you. I can only imagine the party that must have been going on in the aisles of Target. Pop the cork!!!

I'm sorry to hear this is happening but I'm really glad that your DR is on top of it. I am thinking of you!!!

I had the sleeve end of June and I'm 7 months out. I've lost 130 lbs so far and it was the best decision I ever made. I totally agree with the others it's one of the safest surgeries for those at the high end and as others have said can be part one of a DS if someone chooses to keep going. For me, it has been a life saving miracle!!!

Yeah!! I'm so happy for you! you look totally gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures with us. It is so inspiring!

You mention eating applesauce. As far as I know there is barely any Protein in that at all. If I were you, I would not eat or drink anything that was not a Protein source in the beginning especially when you have such limited capacity. But I also wouldn't stress out if you can't hit the exact number they want.
For me personally, I could not get anywhere close to what they wanted me to get protein wise if I ate too much actual food. So I lived off of protein shakes. Atkins shakes mosty. Caramel Cafe and chocolate. They have 15 grams of protein in each shake. If you attempted to drink 4 of them in one day that would be 60. In reality, I could not even do that but I tried. I was constantly sipping . Sipping Water and sipping shakes. Still at 7 months out, I drink a ton of shakes to meet my protein requirements.
Do what works for you and don't worry too much. As time goes on you will have an easier time getting it in!
Oh about the hair loss... it happens to some people . Do your best getting in your protein and taking your Vitamins to avoid it but at the end of the day you may find it happens anyway. I did. It really freaked me out initially. However it was like shedding. I always had hair on my clothes. I would find a few clumps in my bra lol that had fallen out during the day. I would take a shower and it would come out in my hands. Yes it bugged me a lot but to be honest nothing I did made a difference in stopping it . I will say that it stopped. I never lost my hair to the point that anyone but me noticed it. And it seemed to start around 4 months out and stop around 6 months out. But even if it does, it will grow back.!

My initial thought is no. I wouldn't imagine it was dehydration. It does sound like carb withdrawal. You are eating under 40 grams of carbs a day and when I started doing that I initially felt very sick. All the symptoms you described. But then you said you are 26 days out so I would not think you'd still be feeling that way from carb withdrawal at this point. I will say that anytime I cut out sugar and white flour and carbs drastically I get very sick like this. But if you've been doing the same thing for 26 days and this is a new symptom then that's probably not it. So in that case I would just say to call the doctor. I'm one to err on the side of caution. Also can you come back and let us know how you're doing? I am thinking of you!!

My initial thought is no. I wouldn't imagine it was dehydration. It does sound like carb withdrawal. You are eating under 40 grams of carbs a day and when I started doing that I initially felt very sick. All the symptoms you described. But then you said you are 26 days out so I would not think you'd still be feeling that way from carb withdrawal at this point. I will say that anytime I cut out sugar and white flour and carbs drastically I get very sick like this. But if you've been doing the same thing for 26 days and this is a new symptom then that's probably not it. So in that case I would just say to call the doctor. I'm one to err on the side of caution. Also can you come back and let us know how you're doing? I am thinking of you!!

I LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!!! I really really love it. Lately my 16 year old daughter has been wanting to go in Victoria's Secret to buy her bras etc. (This should probably concern me deeply as a Mom but denial is wonderful hahha)) Anyway, I had not been in a Victoria's Secret in years. And when I walked in one it smelled wonderful and it looked like a rainbow threw up everyhwere. It was so colorful. Really really pretty. Suddenly I remembered...oh yeah...i used to shop here...decades ago. I was thinking maybe one day...And now here you are posting this awesome awesome post. I just love it so much. And I love your friend for pulling you in and saying try it. Isn't it so weird how others see us as we do not see ourselves! They see us shrinking but we still see the big girl. Wow this makes me want to cry. Thank you so much for sharing it!!

I struggled with depression after surgery. It took quite a toll on me. It was very hard b/c I felt like this should be the happiest time in my life .I'm finally losing weight! Yet I'm so depressed you would think I was going through a divorce. And essentially I was!! Divorcing cupcakes and candy and Bagels etc etc. and pretty much all the things I had lived and breathed for. I was in loooove with the food and this surgery is kind of like cutting your heart out in a way...if your heart is with the food. I know it may sound silly but I mourned for it like I did a great love that's time had come. The good news is with each day it gets better. One day you will wake up and see things shining brighter. Just don't give up if you're walking through a rough spot. This journey takes you on many ups and downs. But in the end it is worth it!

That is funny about getting cold. I can't believe that I get cold now too!! I have been hot for so long that I never thought I'd ever be cold. I have literally saved probably 200 dollars on my electric bill since this surgery. I had to keep my house so freezing cold that I was paying unbelievable amounts. Now I'm cold! I love it!