Supersweetums

I second Quest Bars. Delicious warmed up for 5-10 seconds in the microwave...they taste like dessert! I love the Cinnamon Roll one. And there is a new cookie dough one out that is suppose to be amazing! You can do to their website or Facebook page and get a couple of free samples.

Congratulations on your success!

I have come back to this thread about 10 times now, reading and re-reading everyone's posts. Every time I do, I want to post something, but I always feel I should post something positive. But in reality, I can't. This is the one part of this journey that I have struggled with and continue to struggle with every day. Sorry for the long post below, but I feel if maybe I tell my story, it will help me in some way... A little back story, I have been overweight literally my entire life. I started gaining weight in Kindergarten, and continued to gain throughout elementary school and middle school. I spent years been tormented and teased by the other kids in my classes and became very shy and quiet. When I was in grade 10, I decided I had enough and started a watching everything I ate and exercising. It took me 2 years of intensely watching everything I ate and exercising 7 days week, typically and hour to 2 hours to lose 83lbs. I still weighed over 150lbs, but was in good shape and felt pretty good. But it wasn't easy to maintain. Then when I was 18, about a month after I moved away from home, I had a major accident and gained back some weight. Then, I met my husband, and that is when I really packed on the weight. The day we got married I was at my heaviest at 260lbs. After that, I started trying to lose again because we wanted a family and I knew it wasn't healthy to be so heavy. Once again, I joined weight watchers and started exercising 6-7 days a week for 1-2 hours. After 2 years, I had lost 70 lbs, but was still 190lbs, and I got pregnant. I gained back 30lbs and that was where I stayed. I had given up. I was so tired of having to try so hard and not seeing results the same as some other people. I thought I was going to be fat forever. I live in Canada, where the sleeve is not really performed, and the waiting list for a bypass is about 10 years! Then, in 2010, I found a new company that facilitated surgery in Mexico and I was sold. In November of 2010 I had my surgery, and 18 months later I reach my goal. I have been maintaining for almost 10 months now, but not a day goes by that I am not afraid that I am going to gain the weight back. Logically, I know I shouldn't. I eat well and have changed many of my habits for the good. My weight never really fluctuates much, other than from hormones. I am terrified! And not a day goes by that I can accept the person in the mirror. I still feel really big, even in pictures. Some people say they don't recognize themselves in pictures because they look so much smaller. But I see a picture of myself and think I look fat. I have tried counseling, but it never helps. They just can't give me anything that clicks with me. The logical side of me knows I am not fat anymore. Sometimes I try to give my head a shake and I tell myself, for pete sakes girl, you weigh 138lbs, wear a size 4 or 6, and everyone tells you how tiny you are, why can't you see it, why can't you accept it. Why can't I, I am not sure. Is it from so many years of being fat? Of being teased and tormented for years? I have a lot of hanging skin, especially on my stomach, and that makes me unhappy...is it that? I read so many posts of people that are so happy. Loving their new bodies, being happy where they are. I knew that this day would come to. I told my husband that I was afraid that it would never be enough for me. That I would always feel like I should lose more. There are days that I think I should lose more, just 5 more pounds maybe. I am only 5'3", so there are days that I think I should weigh in the 120's, 130 at the most. There was a time when I thought "if I ever got down into the 130's, I would be so happy". Now I am there, and I feel like I should weigh less. I have tried talking a little bit to my husband, but it is hard for him to understand, he has never had a weight problem. I have tried talking to my mom, but she just says that I am so tiny already and can't understand my frustration. And it is not that I am frustrated with my weight, really. I am more frustrated with myself. I am sorry for this being such a long rant. Sometimes I feel if I can just get it out. Read it and re-read it, maybe something will click. Like a couple of you have said, I feel like I am masquerading. If someone says something about me being small, I feel I should give some explanation. I should say, no, I am not really small, I am actually fat, don't you see it. I wish the self-acceptance and self-love was there, and I am working on it, I truly am. No one wants to live life not liking themselves. I hope one day I will, that is what I am trying to work towards.

This is more me too! I look at old pictures of myself and can hardly believe that it is me. But I am also having a hard time accepting this new body. I have a lot of loose skin, especially on my stomach, and it really bothers me and makes me feel as though I am still fat. And I have a really hard time accepting people who comment about how small I am ( I had someone who did not know me before comment about how tiny I am and that I must work out all the time to keep my figure!). I have literally live my entire life being big, so my brain just can not seem to accept the image in the mirror as most days I feel so big. I kept a pair of my biggest pants, so on days that I am feeling down, I will grab them and put them on to real see how far I have come. It helps!

Thank you SOOO much for being so open and sharing not only your story but pictures as well. Your results a phenomenal!! It makes me want to get mine tomorrow if I could, but I have to save for a couple of years yet. You are going to be sooo happy, especially a few months out and then a year or more out when everything is perfectly healed! Congratulations!

I was very private about my surgery and never really had a lot of fan fair. For me, I preferred it because it avoided the questions of how did I do it. But, to help keep me motivated, every once in a while I will pull out an old picture of me, a woman I barely even recognize anymore! I also kept 1 pair of pants that I had at my largest (the ones in my profile picture) and I will put them on. Feeling how large they are on me proves to me how much I have really accomplished and how far I have come in this journey. It is harder to keep yourself motivated, but keep things around you that remind you of your journey and what an amazing thing you have done. It needs to come from within just as much or more than from external sources. Congratulations!!

Search the blogs for the 3rd week stall, very normal. ButtertheBean has a great article about what our bodies are doing.

I really think this is great. And I am happy that Amy put this thread out there. So many people think it is just about losing the weight, but there is so much more to it and if you are not ready for all the changes that will happen in every aspect of your life, you may find it more difficult.

It will!

OK, in all honesty, I do like the attention. It's not a lot, but when it happens, I take it in. Most of the time, I really don't even think people are even looking, although I have been told it happens frequently. I might flirt back, but that is the extent of it. I have been married for almost 10 years and with my husband for 14 years. He has been with me through it all, and we got engaged and married when I was my heaviest. I admit that sometimes I have fantasies, but that is where they stay. I love my husband and we get along amazingly. I would not trade that for someone that doesn't know me and I don't know them. Enjoy it, take it in, realize that you are beautiful and sexy, but leave the rest behind you. That being said, if someone is in a destructive relationship and only staying because they do not feel they can do better, that the other person degrades them to the point of feeling worthless and trapped, and they have no self-esteem, one might have to re-examine. Losing weight makes one feel better about oneself, helps build confidence, etc. It might be what some need to leave a bad relationship...I have seen it on here. But make sure it is for the right reasons and not because you go with the moment or think the grass might be greener on the other side.

Have you tried eating veggies between meals, does that bother you? I don't have the problems you are having, so I am not sure what the best advice would be. Also for nutrients, you could try fruit. If you are worried about carbs, stick to things like berries. I like mixing strawberries with Greek yogurt so I am getting protein in and fruits in. If you are getting the slimmies, you may be eating a little too much. I know 3-4 ounces doesn't sound like much, but if I ever get sick, it is because I ate too much too fast. Do you get protein in from other sources?? Sorry I am not much help, hopefully you can find a solution!

Isn't it sad that we don't think about celebrating for reaching such a huge milestone. I never thought I would reach mine, so when I did, I almost started crying on the scale. Then I called my husband and said "LOOK!" which I would have NEVER done before, let my hubby know how much I weighed. I called my Mom and told her, but that was about it. I wish I would have celebrated it more, although I do go out and buy clothes ofter

I have lost over 120lbs all together from my highest and have a some loose skin. But I have also had 2 babies and a c-section as well. But the skin is not so bad that it causes me problems. I actually had more problems when I was at my heaviest. Since you are younger, most likely you will not have many issues. I would expect some, but I guess no one knows for sure.

I was never prescribed B12 either. I take a multi-vitamin and a B100 complex (but I only started taking that more recently) as well as some other supplements and vitamins. All my lab results have been perfectly normal up to now. You could ask your regular GP, but if you aren't having issues, why worry. I never had problems with Iron either, so you are not alone!

Wow, that seems extreme! I am barely 5'3" and I now weigh about 138lbs and I am just within the normal BMI for my height. With your height, that seems on the lower end of the scale, like he just grabbed a number out of the air. Go by how YOU feel and the way your clothes fit. Even thought I am at the higher end for my height, I only wear a size 4 or 6 depending on the brand.

Congratulations! I does really depend on your build. I am just a little over 5'2" and at 138 lbs and feel great. I wear a size 4 or 6 depending on brand and wouldn't want to lose anymore as I am already boney in my shoulders and chest an wouldn't want to look any more boney!

I just eat Kellogg brand Bran Buds (similar to their all bran I think, but higher in fiber). I just get them at my local grocery store. I live in Canada, so I am not sure if you have the same in the states or not. I through them in my yogurt too! They are small and crunchy without the "brany" taste to them.

That is really sad, but not surprising as many doctors really have no clue to the real struggle with obesity and some of the reasons for it. If it was that "easy" and we all "appreciated" it more doing it our selves, we would all be skinny! The reality is, it just doesn't work that way. I have lost way many times, had to work my butt off to do it, only to gain it back and feel like a failure. I have maintained on the sleeve longer now than any diet I have ever been on. I am happy and healthy and that is what it really comes down to. This doctor of yours has obviously never struggled with her weight and is uneducated. If you want to approach the subject with her, give her information to read to help her really understand the surgery and obesity. Knowledge is power, and when we know better, we do better.

I eat Bran Buds (I make Protein balls out of them). I think it is healthy to have a high fiber cereal as it can help with things running smoothly because as you may know, sleevers can sometimes have problems in that department!

I am over 2 years post-op and maintaining for the last 8 months. I wish I could tell you exactly what I have eaten everyday, but I don't track anything. I eat lots of protein (greek yogurt, homemade protein balls, shakes) for breakfast. I try to stick to veggies and lean protein for lunch and same for supper. Snacks are usually more greek yogurt with almonds and a few chocolate chips and fruit. I limit how much bread, rice, pasta, crackers (basically the white stuff) that I eat. I will a couple of TBSP of rice or potatoes with a meal if I have made them, but I never eat bread unless we are out and it is garlic bread (oh so yummy)! I try to drink as much as possible, mostly water and Arizona Lemon Ice Tea (sweetened with splenda, not aspartame). So far, I have really not had any issues maintaining. I gained a little bit through Christmas, but lost it within 2 weeks when I went back to normal eating habits.

I am not sure if you are asking me, but I will tell you anyway! My highest weight was 260lbs, my surgery weight was 220.5lbs. From my surgery I lost almost 83 lbs and it took me 18 months. Slow and steady wins the race I guess! I have been pretty stable now for about 8 months.

Part of success is having a great attitude. I kept losing after a year, so don't be discourage. I kept losing until I was about 20 months post op. And from what I have learned through the place I had surgery, sleeve patients can continue to lose for even 2 years.

I get plain 2% Greek yogurt or make my own and then just flavor it with french vanilla stevia. Like another person mentioned, watch the labels. Some are not really Greek yogurt. All the label should say is milk and cultures. And watch for flavored varieties as well. They are usually sweetened with sugar.

I would say, by definition, I was a slow loser. I had a total of 80.5 lbs that I wanted to lose to my goal after I had my surgery. In the first 6 months, I lost 55 lbs. Then, it slowed to a crawl. In the next 6 months, I lost 21.5 lbs I stalled at this point for 3 months and I actually thought I might be done losing, then I lost 3 more pounds, now at 15 months post op. Once again I stalled for about 2 months and thought I was done losing, still about 5 or so pounds from goal, but I was really that worried about those 5lbs. Then, 18 months post op, I hit my goal weight of 140lbs and 80.5 lbs lost. In the months following, I dropped a few more pounds! Now I have a 3-4 pound weight fluctuation. My cycle is a major factor in how much I weigh, so I try not to let it bother me. I can go up as much as 2 or 3 lbs during ovulation and 3-4 lbs during TOM. My weight loss near the end only really occurred in the 2 weeks in between Tom and ovulation, so I highly encourage women to really pay attention to their bodies. I also get wicked cravings and have a very hard time not wanting to eat everything in my path. How do I cope with the cravings? I do not keep anything in my house that I know I will eat. Now I am over 2 years post op and have not had many issues maintaining for the last 8 months. I am still learning as I go and I still make mistakes. But over all I would say I eat healthy 90% of the time, and 10% of the time I don't. If I am going to be truthful, I never counted anything (calories, carbs, protein), I never weighed anything, and I don't exercise by definition regularly. I did follow my post op guidelines. I rarely eat bread (but I will eat garlic bread when out for supper) and I eat very little other "white carbs" like rice, Pasta, flour, sugar (notice that I did not say never). I do not drink with my meals, I still occasionally drink Protein shakes, I eat a lot of greek yogurt sweetened with stevia, drink 2% milk, eat nuts, and enjoy veggies AND fruits. I will still have an ice cream cone once in a while, I will still eat chocolate and I will still have other treats as well. I just do not keep them in my house so they are not tempting because I do not have any more will power now than before surgery if food is sitting in front of me (hence a 4 lbs weight gain over Christmas that I am happy to report is all gone again). I wanted to make changes that I know I could live with, maintain, and be happy with for the rest of my life. I am happy with the weight I lost, and even though it was slower in the "sleeve" world, it was still faster than any other time I had tried to lose weight in my life. My new habits are firmly entrenched, and even if I stumble now (like Christmas), it is not difficult to get my head back in the game. I would not change what I did and how I did it and I love this tool that I have been given!

I would have felt even better if I could have just worn my underwear!