Supersweetums

I am 33, have had 2 children (1 c-section, 1 regular), and have been overweight since kindergarten. I have lost over 120lbs total and I have a fair amount of lose skin. Like one person wrote, I look 80 yrs old naked, but 20 dressed is a great analogy.

It is not an easy thing to deal with, especially to come so far and have skin still getting in the way a little. That being said, I would much rather have some loose skin that I can basically hide with clothing than be overweight.

search the dreaded 3rd week stall, which is where about yours seems to have started...very common.

Actually, the info

just a FYI .... banana's are full of carbs and sugar. They are given to people who need to gain weight.

1 medium banana...

calories 200

Fat 1g

carbohydrates 51g

sugars 28g (which is equivelent to 7 teaspoons of sugar)

Protein 2g

http://nutritiondata...t-juices/1846/2

Actually, this info is for 1 cup of mashed bananas, not a medium banana. You should make sure you check your info before posting. This is the information for a medium banana

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

1 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) (118.0 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories

105

Calories from Fat

4

% Daily Value^*

Total Fat

0.4g

1%

Saturated Fat

0.1g

1%

Polyunsaturated Fat

0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat

0.0g

Cholesterol

0mg

0%

Sodium

1mg

0%

Total Carbohydrates

27.0g

9%

Dietary Fiber

3.1g

12%

Sugars

14.4g

Protein

1.3g Vitamin A 2% • Vitamin C 17% Calcium 1% • Iron 2%

Yes, bananas have sugars, natural sugars, not processed sugars, so our bodies process them differently. And yes, they have carbs in them. But bananas aren't going to make you fat. They are a great snack and full of healthy nutrients. I am tired of bananas getting a bad rap. They are healthy and it is not like you are going to eat 10 bananas a day. If you are concerned about carbs and don't want to eat them, that is your choice. But quit spreading uninformed information.

My plan is your supersweetum my hair is already fine and thin I going for a pixie when my face is thinner and you look cute with that cut

I have very fine hair too. After it started falling out in handfuls, I decided to get it cut to try to minimize the look of the thinning and so that I wouldn't notice it falling out as much. I was the same as you...wanted short hair but didn't want to cut my hair while I had a chubby face. There are so many great things to the sleeve!

In the meantime, I've gone and gotten a pixie cut (veeerrrry chic for a 49 year old I can tell you) and I'm reveling in the no muss no fuss hair days after years of long (and sometimes very long) hair.< /p>

Yup, hence my super short hair! Got tired of pulling long strands out in the shower!

Not to burst any bubbles, but the hair loss usually doesn't start until about 3 months out. A lot of people are under the impression that it starts falling out right away, but that is not the case. That being said, some people don't lose any or very little. From the people I have talked to, the ones that lost it just lost it no matter what they did or tried. From my own experience, I was 3 months post op when my hair started falling out and I lost a lot. I lost until about 9-10 months post op. The only thing I found that helped me at all was Biosil (not to be mistaken with Biotin). Biosil is a silcon supplement which is suppose to help hair and nail growth as well as skin. I didn't start taking it until later but did notice that it helped my new hair coming in.

I am now 20 months post op and all my hair is back in and healthier than ever!

I have never seen sugar free energy drinks, but then again, I live in Canada and we don't have half the stuff there is in the USA. The only thing to be careful of is if they contain caffeine, which is a diuretic, you need to drink that much more Water or other fluids (for every cup of coffee you drink, you are suppose to drink a cup of water to make up for the Fluid loss).

This will sound crazy, but I have always had a harder time drinking Water after surgery. I can drink sugar free drinks (like crystal light or arizona lemon ice tea sticks sweetened with splenda) with no problems, but water always seems to sit funny in my stomach. I have no explanation and I have heard other people tell me the same thing. I know you tried snapple, but keep trying some other things. And yes, like others have said, try something warm, Soup broth, tea, sometimes the warm fluids go down easier than the cold ones.

I know many go to Mexico to get sleeved or they get into a program that fast-tracks them and everyone wants to rush the process.

I have seen people go through the six month process and gain weight only to have to hurry up and do some major dieting to to be allowed the surgery.

I balked the first time I went to WLS and they wanted me to get psychological counseling. I hate the lady, seriously, and my husband lost his job so I backed out. The 2nd time I went to another place, and I balked about the six months, I ended up getting pneumonia and I backed out first month.

The third time I grabbed all the information and made a binder from both places and I started the diet on my own. 800-900 calories, 80 grams of Protein, 45-75 carbs and I started charting my food (the thing I dreaded the most was writing my food down and looking up calories etc.). I charted my Water, and I contacted Healthy4life. I realized I could get denied because of the Lupus and I decided to put 100% effort into it. I lost 70 pounds pre-op.

I worked on behavior modification in advance. I think that is what is really truly needed. I think a lot of people think that this is going to do the work for them. Even with everything I did in advance, giving up coffee, exercising etc. the surgery still was a bit hard on me, I still kind of wig out that I can barely get in 2 ounces of food at a sitting. I still look at steak with longing in my heart, I would love some Rice-A-Roni Beef flavored but I love my life so much more.

At the beginning of last summer I knew I was dying. I sat there with a heart monitor in my chest, lupus and I could barely breathe. My normal size A cup was now going on DD, I couldn't get up the stairs without help and I found out my great grandmother died at the age of 49 of Morbid Obesity related illnesses, the ones I had. She didn't have a brain tumor like me, or Lupus, or neurological issues, but she had the rest of the stuff I had. I figured my son would come in from school and find me dead and I said no more.

If the people getting sleeved don't say no more, if they don't put 100% effort into this, and don't start thinking about their lives as worthy of putting effort into, they will lose weight at the beginning, but will find ways to justify the french fries, the piece of cake, the ice cream, the spaghetti and the burrito.

It's up to you to work out the issues you have with food, with or without psychological help. The sleeve is only a tool. Many people I know that had gastric bypass have gained their weight back, people that were lap banded gained weight back, stalled or ended up with more complications. I can't afford to, I need to live. If I die it's going to be because I got hit by a bus, or because of the lupus, or the brain tumor, I'm not dying because of my weight. No more.

Good luck to you.

Wow MinaT, not only did you send me a wonderful email this morning, but then I read this posting afterward and you just about had me in tears. You are amazingly strong and I can not believe what you have overcome just to live, let alone to have this surgery. I agree with everything you say. I am not going to say I never have a treat here and there, but I have changed how I eat for the long term. It is just habit now to have a lettuce wrap instead of a bread wrap. Not to have grilled cheese when I make them for my kids, but to grill up zucchini and have some low fat ham or turkey with it.

Thanks for the amazing post, I hope everyone on this form reads it and learns from you!

I think for some people, the weight loss is so easy, they never have to work at it a little. They still eat everything they were eating in small amounts and still lose weight. There was one in our support groups that was always eating fries and poutine but said, Oh, I only eat a few. And she lost all her weight really quickly. After a while, all the french fry eating caught up with her and she started gaining back. There are also a lot of habits and emotional issues when it comes to eating. Without dealing with those and gaining some control, you can sabotage yourself, even with the sleeve.

It is important to remember that the sleeve (like the bypass) is just a tool. You still have to learn to eat healthier and get active to be truly successful. The only thing is there are some differences between the sleeve and the bypass. Many patients with the sleeve do not gain back weight, or a small amount (10% of what was lost is typical). The bypass leaves a pouch with the stretchy part of the stomach which can be stretched out easily as one eats more and more and more. The sleeve is significantly less stretchy, so you always retain a fair amount of restriction. The sleeve also takes out the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin, the hunger hormone. You still have some, so don't expect to never feel hungry (some people do, some don't, I sometimes feel hungry, but not the same as before). The bypass leaves the entire stomach intact, thus your body continues to produce ghrelin.

It is not a magic bullet.

love the World According to Eggface, and my favorite quote from her is "Weight loss surgery is not a do-over (repeat the same mistakes = get a similar outcome.) Weight loss surgery is a do-better (make some lifestyle changes you can continue forever.)"

I rarely ever drink with meals, and I am 20 months post op. It is just habit for me now. We were told not to drink 15 mins before and 30 mins after meals. The analogy I was given was think of a clogged sink. If you flush Water through, it gets unclogged. So we are not suppose to drink because A: it can make you throw up, and B: because you will get hungrier sooner.

And you would still absorb all the calories as that work is done by your intestines. You actually may end up eating more later because you are hungrier sooner. I think having a few sips to wash things down your throat is not so bad, but just be careful not to get in the habit of drinking a lot with meals.

This is amazing! I can't wait to try it out!! Do you know how long they last? I didn't know if since they are made of egg if they will keep for very long? Anyone know?

They don't last too long, a few days. I just froze some recently but haven't thawed them and ate them yet, so I am not sure how they will hold up to freezing.

Good to hear supersweetums, and yes I am trying to bobybuild. I have been going up on my weights when lifting, and my wife says its all in my head because I am putting on a lot of muscle, but when I look in the mirror all I see is a fat stomach. I mean, I do see that my biceps, triceps, and back look bigger, but I dont know if its just that the muscle was always there and now the fat is gone, or if its new, larger muscle. But, again, my wife thinks I am crazy, but I see the scale not moving, and the same person as before in the mirror, and I think I am done losing. Maybe I'll start running/jogging more (I HATE cardio), but I know I wont stick with it as extensively, so its hard to ramp it up.

I guess I just hope to see a loss on the measuring tape this weekend to extend my hope a little more.

PS I dont know how people eat less than 1500 or so calories per day. I dont diet per se...I eat when I am hungry, and track what I eat, but I dont say "no, you cant have that because its not in your diet!" And, having said that, I dont really eat sweets or anything because I just dont want them anymore. But, if I did, I would eat them. I guess my point is that, yes, I eat 2000+ calories per day, which is a lot on a gastric surgery board, but I eat 2000 calories of healthy foods per day.

I would not worry too much then unless you start to gain, then re-evaluate. And your wife is right, you are gaining muscle. I think many of us struggle to see the new person that emerges (I am one of them). It is great that you are measuring. I know many people than don't lose pounds but lose inches. And it is all in how you carry your weight, not the numbers on the scale. I am short, so my weight range is something like 105-140lbs. Right now I weight 137-138 lbs and I wear a size 4 or 6 in women's clothing. If I weighed 120lbs, I would look sick. I think too many people set unrealistic weight goals that are virtually impossible to obtain, and then struggle emotionally and mentally when they cannot reach them.

I have never been super strict about a specific diet either. Granted I have changed the way I eat and what I eat, but I still don't count calories or carbs, never have and never will. It took me longer to lose all my weight than others perhaps (it took me about 18 months to reach goal), but I still lost the weight and lived my life! I eat healthy and do have treats occasionally, but now I treat them as that, treats. So good on you! If you are happy, then don't let it get to you. It can drive a person insane obsessing about weight and numbers (I know, I am one of those that can be that way but I am learning to let go!)

PS, I checked in my log book wear I record my weight and measurements, and my longest stall was 3 months!

After the 6 month mark, my weight loss really slowed down, so don't be shocked if it comes of a little slower. My longest stall was closer to goal and last about 2 months I think (I thought I was done losing, so I am not really sure how long it lasted, I wasn't paying attention!). Those calculators that tell you how many calories you are eating are out to lunch, so I wouldn't go by that. I know many have said it on here, but your calories do seem fairly high (especially 7 months post op) Are you looking at bodybuilding?? (Just wondering because of the high Protein, calories, and eggs).

If you are happy where you are and don't gain, I wouldn't stress too much about it. That being said, you are still early out and will most likely continue to lose. I am 20 months post-op and still losing a little!

Thanks everyone. I did keep a pair of my pants, and I have before pictures too. I am like you Lissa, I tend to focus on all the bad parts that I don't like instead of focusing on how good I have done. I am a size and a weight that I never imagined even possible, and even grabbing clothes to buy is surreal. I am terrible for comparing myself to other women and I keep thinking...I wish I was a small as them, when in reality, I am but can't seem to wrap my head around it. I am hoping it will come with time!

I have read that people that have had a bypass need a medical alert bracelets. I have never been told anything about needing one after a sleeve, anyone else know anything. On Eggface's Blog, she says they usually have the following:

Gastric Bypass

No Blind NG Tubes

No NSAIDS

Contact Phone #'s

Which I don't even know what it all means. I know that a bypass has had a lot more changes done to their insides than a sleeve, but I was just wondering if this is something I should be thinking about.

In all honesty, I don't think the surgery itself does anything to relationships. If a relationship ends in light of surgery, there were problems long before that. I think a couple of things happen. I think a lot of people are already in unhealthy relationships, but they stay because they have such low self worth that they think it is the best they can do. After surgery, we start to gain more confidence and feel better about ourselves. In turn, people end of leaving their significant other because they realize they are worth so much more.

In your case, I think your husband is just using it as an excuse. If he truly loved and respected you, he would have been there for you instead of fooling around on you. I agree that counseling is a good route, but staying together just for your daughter's sake is never a good way to go. How often do we hear people saying they stayed together for the children, when, in reality, it was the worst thing for them.

My husband has been nothing but supportive and my biggest cheerleader. He loved me at my heaviest and he loves me now. Best of luck with everything and do some deep soul searching to figure out what is best for everyone, including yourself!

mmm, not sure if you would be allowed yogurt or not, but greek yogurt is very high in Protein. You could add sugar free flavoring Syrup like Torani and blend in a blender to make it more liquid so you can sip through a straw. sugar free syrups are also great for changing the flavors of your shakes.< /p>

Breaking up is never easy to do, it is going to hurt no matter how good or bad the relationship is. But sometimes you have to make the best decision for yourself and the other person involved, even if that means going through the pain for a little while.

Someone above posted that if you have to ask yourself whether that person is the one or not, they aren't, and I totally agree. I have been with my husband for over 13 years, married for 9 of those years. I love him more now than I did in the beginning. I can tell you that I never look at him disgusted or can't stand being around him. Things are not always perfect, no relationship is without its ups and downs. But after 5 years if you do not know still, it is not the right relationship for you.

You did the right thing. You might need to tell him to stop sending you messages. If not, change your number. Him constantly trying to get back together is not going to make things easy and is only going to make you feel guilty. A therapist once told my brother (he can not let go of relationships and keeps hounding ex-girlfriends) that constantly pressuring the other person about getting back together is a form of abuse, and I think it is true. He is insecure and knows that he can't control you anymore, and it is driving him crazy. Hang in there, it will get better. You are going to need to cut ties and heal though for it to happen. You are starting a new chapter in your life in a number of ways. Embrace the new person you are growing into and the new life that you are starting!

So, before surgery, I never even weight myself to see if my weight fluctuated throughout a month due to hormones or not. Now that I am at goal and fairly stable, I am more in tune with my body then I ever was before. And it is driving me CRAZY! I have weight fluctuations throughout my cycle that leave me scratching my head...what is my real weight!?

Ovulation = 2-4 lbs weight gain plus bloating for about a week. Then I go back down to normal for less than a week, and then back up 2-4 lbs during PMS until the tail end of my period, then BOOM, back down 2-4 lbs overnight. Then I will stay there for 2 weeks until ovulation starts again. I am a logically person and know that this is probably pretty normal, but none-the-less, it is driving me CRAZY!!!!

Anyone else have this experience?? Any confirmation that this is normal and I am not alone would be great!!

MEWS, yes, talk to your DR as soon as you can. That is NOT normal at 4 months post op.

I am almost 20 months post op and I do not regret having the surgery at all! The first month is the absolute hardest, so you cannot look at it as the way the rest of your life will be. I can guarantee you that you will be able to eat normally again. I have a normal, healthy diet now...and can still indulge without the guilt. I do have the odd moment when I am eating something really good that I wish I could just eat a little more. Then I remember something that someone else said at a support group meeting...

"If I could, I would...and that is what got me to the point of wanting surgery in the first place". Plus, I always remind myself that did I spend $10K (self pay), fly alone to Mexico (when I had never flown in my life), and have 80% of my stomach removed just to fail and let food rule me again. Not a chance!

The reward of being a normal size, being able to buy whatever clothes I want, and feeling good about myself is worth much more than the indulgence of food ever did. All the food ever did was A) make me gain weight, and make me feel guilty and miserable because I would always eat too much, feel bad that I did, then eat more to shove down the bad feelings.

Give yourself time, it gets so much easier and you will not barely even remember the first few weeks after a while!

I never had this problem, and I am almost 20 months post op and still do not drink with my meals. Maybe you could try starting with stuff that has more liquid in it, chili, stews?? Practice with that, and then try other things. Is it certain foods that bother you, or is it everything??

The reason we are not suppose to eat in drink is for 2 reasons. One, it can make you throw-up...and no one wants that! The other reason is that drinking with meals helps liquify the food in your stomach and it passes through faster then you feel hungry sooner. At my support group meetings they use the analogy of a clogged sink (sounds gross when you think about it). How do you get the clog going, you rinse with Water and it goes through faster. My plan says no liquids 15 mins before and 30 mins afterward. I ALWAYS drank with my meals, but now it is a habit not to.

I do like the shot glass idea..1 oz of liquid shouldn't make a difference, just enough to moisten the food as you are swallowing. Just watch that you do not start drinking more and more with every meal...always just keep the shot glass!

For sure! 2 drinks and I am done like dinner!

You are really early out, it is pretty normal. You are still healing and it is very difficult to get enough food in. I was really tired and weak for a while afterward. You really have to work at getting enough Protein in, and it is not easy in the beginning. But don't worry, as you get further out and heal, you will be able to eat more, and for most people, food starts to taste good again.

I am 19 months post op and do feel hungry sometimes, but I can tell you it is not the same as before. It is not that starving, tummy rumbling feeling. And it usually only comes if I haven't eaten in a long time, like over 5 hours. The biggest battle is head hunger as you get further out.

I agree with italianlady. You do not have to give up all the foods you love, that is the beauty of the sleeve. However, you have to learn to treat certain foods exactly as that, treats. I still have ice cream, but only once in a while, and I only have a small cone. Also, emotional eating is a big struggle for most of us, so it is important to get that under control. You do have to realize that you will have to change your eating habits or you will not be successful. The sleeve is an amazing tool, but it is a tool, and you can sabotage it if you try.

I have to young children myself, they were 15 months and 3 when I went for my surgery, and I did it partly for them too. I wanted them to have a healthy Mommy. I know you are scared, but it really is worth it. You have to think about what is more important in life, the food you love, or your family and your health. When you look at it that way....