BZButterfly79

I am by no means an expert in food addiction, what I know is what you described on your post was me. Before the sleeve I had to decide to and to find something that I loved more than food-myself. I had a toxic relationship with food and now that there is no room as Tiff talked about being early out, I have found activities that can distract me, I also keep my fat picture on the fridge just a reality check on where all the WONDERFUL food got me-a total hell where I didn't even want to look in the mirror. I can guarantee you that shopping will be an issue when I get to goal, as I love love clothes, fashion, and anything that enhances a woman's beauty. Not by any means immune just aware, that's what I feel. This is the first time in my life where I am "respecting" food for what it is and not asking it to make me feel good. You have recognized your behavior that's #1.

I am a Zumba fanatic, did it before I got fat while I was fat and still doing it now 3 kids later, the difference is I am doing it on the Xbox more than attending the classes, Zumba will make you sweat and before you know it an hour went by!

Tiff did this already happen? I would love to go!

I am 4wks post op will be getting labs at the 3mo mark.

Pamela I am also puzzled at the dietary advice, three meals a day might be fine as long as you are not eating three too big of a meal I suppose, I feel safer having a little protein snack here and there, a piece of papaya something so that at meal time I am not trying to get all my protein for the day in one shot. I am only 4 weeks out but the literature that has recently come out always points to frequent small meals. You have done amazing in this journey so take what you can use from the NUT and use what works for you, obviously you have done a lot right. Good Luck

PX90!!!! GIRRRRRRRRL!!!! That's insane I am so happy for you, enjoy the new you-the you that you deserve!

They gain it all back by taking back the old toxic boyfriend....they begin with a little of this and a little of that then they find what "slides" well and they are off to Wendys for a large frosty and the cycle begins. Yesterday I was talking to a store clerk who says her friend had RNY and goes to Olive Garden eats more than she does and then gets to the parking lot and throws up. If there is a road there is a way to go back to old habits. I am always aware of this four weeks out I always question what is so good about X food anyway...and there is never a god answer. I don't care to be controlled by the fast food chains anymore or the frozen food section of the supermarket.

Miss Diva that was a great great set of uplifting quotes and so true. The sleeve was the only thing I have ever done in my entire like without "consulting" the toxic people in my life. I researched it of course but nobody was holding me back. The bottom line is no one but you knows the pain and the hold that food has in you and how much it has robbed you of the life you were meant to have. The real question is do you want to keep living for others and their approvals or do you want to do something for you. Also you might find like I have that food is like that old boyfriend you broke up with...after the sleeve HELL NO you are not taking him back but you are friends, amicable, this is the best analogy I can give it as to how I see food. If you keep living your life based on the opinions of others you might find yourself one bitter lady in that nursing home some day who wishes this and that had been different. Give yourself the life you deserve to have sleeve or no sleeve the answer is inside you not in others and not in this board you already know the answer. You will find so much support here whatever you choose. Don't they say opinions are like a** everybody has one? Someone tells me I can't do this and I can't do that I do it and I do it to the 100th degree just to get a little satisfaction. Why are are so many people who cannot stand to see others getting it together?

Sorry I have read at least 15 posts this morning. So yes she told her husband not her dad-okay. But the rest of what I shared still goes I find lying to be so exhausting so I opt to keep my mouth shut. The hernia thing does go around quite a bit if you don't have anyone in the medical field in your family that might work. Here is something you have to ask yourself which I had to ask myself, what if something goes wrong, what do you tell then. I had to think about that one, matter of fact I made sure my will and done and updated by the time I hit the table.

Okay, here are my 2 cents, why would you tell your girlfriends and not tell your sister? You don't want them to visit be clear and say that you would prefer them to see you when you get home and that you appreciate their support. As for me my husband is the ONLY one who knows, because frankly he has to watch my kids while I was in the hospital and also in case something happened to me the man gets everything so I felt like he was entitled to know, last I felt like I should be able to trust this man after being together as long as we have and giving birth to our kids. Having said that I am 4 weeks out and long before surgery I made up my mind that it was nobody's business that I was having 85% of my stomach cut out. Sometimes people feel a need to tell others because they want to share their fears, they want support, and some people I am not saying all by any means really like the attention. Well I don't and so I didn't feel like I had to explain to people why and how and when etc. I am happy with my decision because I have no stress no family member at my neck all the time and it belongs to me. This is not like trying to hide you are pregnant or that you are getting a liver transplant at least not to me. When I look thinner and people ask I will simply say that I eat less, I don't pig out on sugars and fats and I am exercising simple as that. I hope you can find a solution I cannot tell you how to avoid picking up the kids unless you claim a mental breakdown which is an unnecessary lie. If I were you since you have told your girlfriends and your dad I would just go ahead and open up to the family. Your father might get worried enough about you that he tells your sister or someone else in the family, parents can go overboard with stuff like this. Then how will you explain to your sister why you left her out?

All I can say is aside from the Surgeon himself I love the anesthesia team, those guys are to me the most important they allow me to relax and sleep while my life gets to a better place. As far as the foley, if it is done by an experienced person you should feel zero discomfort, and lucky for us ladies it is much easier than the guys getting one! When I went in just as for my previous 3 C-sections I shake the surgeon's hand he asks me if I have any questions if I know which procedure I am getting and I always reply: "I trust that you'll do a great job." Then seriously leave it to him and God, knowing the hell that medical school can be and the extensive training these guys go through, their passion for their work, and of course gotta check the reputation what can you do but enjoy the fact that you are being given a new life. I honestly felt like I was getting a new heart as in a new chance, go in with a positive outlook already imagine yourself at your goal weight, the fears and anxiety anesthesia can handle those for you. Keep us updated best of luck to you!

I am not a doctor or a dietitian(obviously) but I will say that every time you get that impulse to eat the "whatever" tempts you, give yourself a few minutes and internally ask why, and is it worth it? If you can come to an answer that is rational for you to go ahead and cheat then go ahead but don't forget what got you to the point of having to lay on a table and be cut up-the food-the impulse eating-the lack of self-control, which well said by other veteran sleevers DOES NOT go away with surgery. I don't think you are ruined use the experience to learn about yourself. Next time it happens use it again to learn about yourself, I am four weeks out and I will tell you that I bakes a batch of oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies for the kids, I decided to grab a pinch off of one and see what it tasted like-the oatmeal went down like a BRILLO pad no matter how many times I chewed. The pain? NOT worth it, I was not fortunate like some to throw it up it went down slowwwwww and harsh. The amount was smaller than a penny....can you imagine. Throw a piece of bread in a glass of water and see what happens, I don't want that near my sleeve. There is life after food addiction there is life after being slaved to food-I am ready to live that life and NOTHING is going to destroy that for me, when I feel the need for something sweet I do a SF Jello chocolate/vanilla and I feel fine. Good luck to you and enjoy the new you, you deserve to.

Well let's grumble together, the scale has parked itself on 270 for the last 5 days(4 weeks out too)! This morning I even considered getting a new scale! I am eating and burning lots of energy and still...all I can say is when I break this stall it better be 20lbs down-LOL I choose to be humorous about it because honestly it could be worse!

Your feelings are normal but what you have to ask yourself is if those feelings are stronger than your desire to get healthy and start truly living. I was living to eat and not the other way around, I am now 4 weeks post-op and by no means an expert what I will say is that it is liberating to eat small portions and not leave a table feeling like I am going into a comma sponsored by carbs and the likes. Someone on this board mentioned nothing tastes as good as thin feels, I have to agree matter of fact food is not as attractive. It is like an old boyfriend who you are still friends with but no way in hell you are taking back as your man! That's how I feel, I am sitting here eating a Chobani Peach yogurt, added a couple of spoons of wheat germ. Last night I had a delicious dinner, I love looking for the "good" in what I put in my mouth versus taste and sugar high. I applaud you for the sushi as that is my favorite food, I look forward to going back to eat a couple with the delicacy sushi deserves and not buffet style. Best wishes whatever you choose.

Chobani all the way for me otherwise I'll just spoon straight TOFU!

Thank you for sharing, that was great!

Hey you just so you know you are not alone!!! I was sleeved on Dec.15th and have stalled week 3-4 we'll see if the scale will budge this week. I am eating the same, drinking the same, taking my vitamins....I do exercise and do some pilates at night which if I am correct are probably helping me to build muscle...if that's true then it weighing more than fat "could" be a theory. By no means are you any different or is anything wrong. I have lost 33lbs since surgery though so I try not to complain-LOL

I am wondering how everyone is feeling these last few weeks especially those who had the surgery recently. I am two weeks out and feel fine I am still not up to the protein requirement I should be getting last night I tried to desperately chew up a small piece of salmon and turn it into water before swallowing and it went down like a BRILLO pad! What feels good is broth, jello, water, mostly cold stuff. I don't like the stuffed feeling after cream of wheat, and am eating a lot of mushed up papaya(I figured it would save me $ on papaya enzyme pills). I am doing okay with the multi vitamins BUT cannot stand the other stuff I am supposed to be taking. The C and the B12, I am looking forward to seeing my surgeon next week for my check up as I am curious to "waht's going on!!" on the inside. Anyone start to feel thinner? Lighter? Happier? I'd love to hear where you're at:)

I am two weeks post-op today and I can somewhat relate to you, here is what happens I drink drink drink(I can sip much bigger than I could a week ago), I drink coconut water which has natural electrolytes, I drink crystal light, water, broth, you name it BUT my pee is still not a jet stream and the color not yet to my liking. It is not brown but dark dark yellow. I wake up with a dry mouth only relieved by...MORE WATER etc. I have also been exercising and sweating so therefore I assume I need to up the water intake even more. I do have to be careful that all I am feeding myself is water though....there is only so much room for food now. Also sorry to mention this but it is important, check you BM because depending on "it" you also get a clue on whether you need more fluids etc.

I bought a case of the grape pre-op and post-op so far have only had 1 bottle...I am drinking coconut water(which has NO protein) and water and Crystal light and my shakes, seriously the Isopure and I don't get along but I love grape Koolaid! LOL

WOW!!!!! I am 10 days out from surgery and I cannot wait for this day, thanks for sharing as it inspires those of us who have a long way to go. Enjoy Onederland I hear it is AMAZING!

I think you are all correct, thank you, I can honestly tell you guys who are much further out than I that I have NOT in the last seven years remembered feeling this good, WHATEVER it is that this surgery has done for me it has changed my life entirely but it is happening from within which I love. My husband asked me yesterday: "If I gain too much weight can I get this surgery?" Not sure where he is going with this but I have to say the man is transforming too...he has began to understand and every single thing you guys pointed out about what happens is happening. HOW can people who are out there popping energy pills, on phentermine, on some life long meal program, even begin to understand. I think at some point the alcoholic begins to look at alcohol and see the destruction and pain it caused, I feel the same about food, I now look at it not as the enemy but as something that I need to live with a very delicate balance and "respectful" relationship. Thank you once again, this is the best place in the world to develop and grow.

I would for for you guys that are post-op to chime in on this situation that happened yesterday. I went to GNC and was asking about different flavors etc on Protein powders etc...so I start talking to the lady who is helping me and I swear she had so much energy I thought she was on something but anyway she asked me which surgery I had and then proceeded: *Yah but doesn't your stomach stretch and you gain all the weight back? *I have a couple of costumers who got the surgery 10 years ago and one of the is 88lbs and cannot gain she has to be on tube feeds, and the other one passes out all the time and goes to the hospital for blood transfusions once a month due to low Iron....aren't you afraid of that?(I think she may be referring to the bypass...) *I went from 232 to 135 all by myself without surgery I don't want to look sick but if it works for you power to you! I am only barely 9days out girls so....you can imagine how I felt I starred at her for awhile and grabbed my protein, paid, and left, a little bumped since I thought since she worked there she would be more informed but I know our surgery is so young that people either don't know and there is not long term data on it but still how unpleasant. I felt slightly judged and discouraged by this individual. Has this ever happened to you and how did you react?

I am only 8 days out but I feel better, I am feeling light enjoying not having that "comatose" state after eating all of whatever I could. I am enjoying believe it or not intimacy better already....I am much more willing. My watch is already looser, my pants are not cutting at my waist, my husband is being extra affectionate and I am enjoying seeing the glimpses of what I used to eat like when I go to the mall or restaurant...the portions are in fact HUGE!!!!

I came home 7 days ago and the first couple of days I did not want to drink anything, I bought lots of coconut water and kept it by my side taking little sips it actually helped with my pain and discomfort, then after that on to the Crystal Light w/ protein. Once you start drinking you will want to keep drinking I have a 20oz cup and I fill it up 2x per day(previous to surgery I was barely drinking one) but I sip sip and only stop when I know that in 30-40 minutes it is breakfast time or some other meal time. I also check my pee to make sure it is not dark and I think that now I am there where I need to be fluid wise. Protein...that's a whole different scenario. Good luck and message me anytime:)