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OK, maybe gross, but I asked my doctor what they did with it, so you are not alone! I was told that they incinerate them, so you could think of it as cremation for your stomach!

I think this is a great alternative. It always erks me when people come and tell you how bad your recipe is. If you don't like it, pass it over. And I agree...I was actually told that although there can be some stretch, the amount is very little because the portion of the stomach that is left behind is the most muscular part of the stomach. However, the gas can cause discomfort like you noted.

Neither is a whole lot of other things, but it doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed in moderation.

It took me 18 months to reach my goal, so don't get discouraged. And I am exactly like you, I decided in the beginning that this was something that I had to live with for the rest of my life. I made many changes and eat very healthy now, but I still eat foods that so many would say are "not on the plan". I knew that I could never live the rest of my life on a diet, eating 30 or less carbs a day and never eating ice cream again. Now I have those things, but in moderation. I am in control of my eating (most of the time!), and even though I most likely lost a little slower than others, I have reached goal and I am still losing a little and now am below goal. I agree, what this has given me is priceless.

I ALWAYS drank with my meals. When I had my surgery, my facilitator told me a couple of things that helped. The first thing is, eating with a meal could make you throw up. Since this was the last thing that I wanted, especially earlier, it helped keep me focused. The other thing was an analogy. Think of a clogged sink, what do you do to try and clean it out...you rinse with Water. Drinking with meals has the same effect, it helps the food move through faster, increasing the likely-hood that you won't feel as full for as long. It was a hard thing to get used to, but know I don't even thing about it. The odd time I might have a few sips, especially if something is ****y or dry, but I have kicked the habit. Also, it can hurt if you drink and eat at the same time, so that is another thing to remember. It is hard to create new habits, but just keep at it, and it will become second nature!

You are as cute as a button! I love your smile! (I know you might hate the word "cute"...I know, that is what I get all the time!), but I just couldn't help but smile at your pretty smile!

I am almost 2 years post op and still have great restriction and I am actually amazed some days. It is an adjustment and it does take some getting used to, but after a while it becomes second nature and you really know how much you can eat. Congratulations on your new sleeve!

I am almost 2 years post op and still have great restriction and I am actually amazed some days. It is an adjustment and it does take some getting used to, but after a while it becomes second nature and you really know how much you can eat. Congratulations on your new sleeve!

OK, so to be honest, the best case scenario might not be realistic (although it is for some), but your worst case scenario is not either. But do not feel alone, I think many people have the same fear. I am not sure if you are self pay or insurance pay, but I was self pay in Mexico and I am from Canada. I was so worried that something would happen to to me and my husband, 3 year old son, and 15 month old daughter would be left without a mommy. Of course the fear was unfounded (even though there are risks, so you can't discount them) and I had a successful surgery. My recovery the first day was terrible! I was in a lot of pain the first evening, and none of the pain medication they were giving me really worked well. By the next morning though I was up and walking around and had a shower on my own.
Best of luck on your surgery and recovery!

If you look at Circa's ticker, she has more weight to lose than you do. It is very common for people that have more weight to lose to lose it faster. You have lost 25lbs in 5 weeks which is actually average to above average weight loss. Is there a point in your life where you could have ever lost that much that fast on your own? The most important thing on here is to not compare to others. Everyone loses at different rates and there are so many factors that play into it (I know someone that lost over 200lbs in the same amount of time that it took me to lose 80lbs, but she still weighed more than I did when I started). If you start comparing, it is only going to make you miserable. Be excited for your own accomplishments and enjoy your journey.

I debated even responding to you, but the point is that, it is a banana, so why did you feel the need to come on here, tell her how fattening bananas are when she was just sharing a recipe that she enjoys, and post incorrect nutritional information. This particular forum is for recipe sharing, not telling me if you think my recipe is bad or not. Like I said before, what you eat is up to you. Its not on your plan, and that is fine. Just don't go around preaching to other people what they should eat. I am pretty sure that she knew the information about bananas before you told her.

If you look at Circa's ticker, she has more weight to lose than you do. It is very common for people that have more weight to lose to lose it faster. You have lost 25lbs in 5 weeks which is actually average to above average weight loss. Is there a point in your life where you could have ever lost that much that fast on your own? The most important thing on here is to not compare to others. Everyone loses at different rates and there are so many factors that play into it (I know someone that lost over 200lbs in the same amount of time that it took me to lose 80lbs, but she still weighed more than I did when I started). If you start comparing, it is only going to make you miserable. Be excited for your own accomplishments and enjoy your journey.

I didn't second guess myself, I knew I needed this surgery and it was the only way that I could lose the weight and keep it off. I was, however, terrified. I was self pay in Mexico (I live in Canada) and left my husband, my 3 year old son and my 15 month old daughter back home. I was doing it for them just as much as for myself, but I kept thinking, what if something would happen to me, what would they do. But in my worries, I decided the risks of surgery outweighed all the health problems and risks of being obese would start having on me.
It is a huge, life-altering decision, so I would be more worried if you didn't give it a second thought and jumped right into it without knowing what you are getting yourself into.

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!

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!

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!

You will be able to swallow smaller medications after surgery. Actually, my antibiotic was a HUGE pill...breaking it in half hurt going down and I couldn't stomach it crushing it up, so I tried swallowing it whole, making sure it was pointing in a good direction, and it went down fine.
But I would suggest talking to your surgeon to see which pills you should continue to take and which you will have to stop before surgery and which you can resume taking after surgery. You might not need your bp medication after surgery, or shortly after surgery, so make sure you have regular check ups to ensure your blood pressure is not dropping too low.

sleeved November 29, 2010, 85lbs lost and 5lbs below goal.

You will be able to swallow smaller medications after surgery. Actually, my antibiotic was a HUGE pill...breaking it in half hurt going down and I couldn't stomach it crushing it up, so I tried swallowing it whole, making sure it was pointing in a good direction, and it went down fine.
But I would suggest talking to your surgeon to see which pills you should continue to take and which you will have to stop before surgery and which you can resume taking after surgery. You might not need your bp medication after surgery, or shortly after surgery, so make sure you have regular check ups to ensure your blood pressure is not dropping too low.

OK, maybe gross, but I asked my doctor what they did with it, so you are not alone! I was told that they incinerate them, so you could think of it as cremation for your stomach!

Well, the head hunger never goes away, and I still struggle with it....and I know I most likely always will. But the hunger feeling that I get is not bad at all, and like I said, it is only after hours of not eating (ie, I will eat Breakfast at 6:30am and by noon I might be starting to feel a little hungry). So it is not something I would tell you to worry about. The emotional eating and head hunger is a much bigger demon to deal with. But I personally feel by adopting a normal but healthy diet is the best way to set yourself up for success. I know that I could never go a lifetime eating less than 20 carbs, never eating fruit, or never having an ice cream cone again. So do I eat them, yes, but in moderation. Best of luck!

First of all, congratulations on your loss and your maintenance. I had my surgery in November of the same year that you did.
I do struggle with it sometimes too, feeling cheated because I can't eat more. Sometimes I enjoy the taste so much, that I do wish I could have a little more. You did a great thing leaving the table, it is a testament to your success. Most of the time, I stop, I know my limits. There have been times where I have taken that extra couple of bites and then paid for it afterward. I do not think you are alone with that feeling.
The one thing that has helped me with those situations is something a fellow sleeve patient who was a few more years out than me said. She said that when she feels like that she tells herself, "If I could, I would, and that is how I got here in the first place". Unfortunately, I think emotional eating is something that is very difficult to overcome. I know that I haven't, but I do my best to set up my world that I just can't eat a whole bunch of food that is not as good for me. I don't keep anything in my house that will tempt me...and boy does it suck when I just want some chips because I think they will make me feel better, and there are none. So what do I do, I end up eating a Protein ice cream pop (homemade), or an apple with a little natural Peanut Butter and honey because that is all I have. So I am still eating because I am stressed? Emotional? Whatever the reason which is not real hunger, but I am not sabotaging myself in the process. Make sense??
I should quit rambling, but I appreciate you posting this with honest feelings. It does get harder the further out you are, but to me, it really sounds like you know how to manage your diet in a healthy way. You didn't eat more pizza, you didn't eat the second taco, you made the right choices and you know your bodies limits.

I agree with everyone else, 18 lbs in 2 weeks is ahead of the pace! The important thing to remember is to do your best NOT to compare to others. Everyone's bodies are different and everyone loses at different rates. Some will lose slower, some will lose faster...there are just too many variables to look at when looking at the rate of weight loss. If you start comparing, you are only setting yourself up to be depressed, frustrated, and down on yourself. There will always be someone that loses faster, and it is not worth the heartache.

I agree with everyone else, 18 lbs in 2 weeks is ahead of the pace! The important thing to remember is to do your best NOT to compare to others. Everyone's bodies are different and everyone loses at different rates. Some will lose slower, some will lose faster...there are just too many variables to look at when looking at the rate of weight loss. If you start comparing, you are only setting yourself up to be depressed, frustrated, and down on yourself. There will always be someone that loses faster, and it is not worth the heartache.

I have an ice cream maker, just mix up and pour in and viola, Ice Cream!..I have been experimenting trying to find good combinations, but is sure a nice change from the mundane!