slowkat

Hi, not sure if someone will read my question here so I may post the same question as a separate topic but I see from reading all the replies here that a person w/the sleeve can eat a good variety of foods. My question is, can I eat all the foods together? For example, normally if I eat meat, it's meat, veggies like English peas and/or green beans or corn and maybe some sweet potato if I have it. I realize the major reduction in the amount of what I can eat w/the sleeve, but have some confusion on that...is it one food item per meal, for instance, do I only get to eat a small piece of meat...nothing else...at, say lunch, then for dinner, small amt of veggies? Or can I eat the meat & veggies together? What about sweet potato for an added measure? I'm trying to avoid white potatoes due to the starch but am learning to like the sweet potato (I actually cannot stand them, lol but I'll eat them b/c they're good for me). I guess my question is, do I get a 'real' meal or is it one tiny piece of meat and that's it for my meal for a few hours then I can eat a spoonful of veggies for my next meal? Kinda confused on the quantity of the meal. If anyone can give me some insight, it'd be much appreciated. Sorry if my question is confusing. --Slowkat.

Huh, I've never heard of aqua jogging...I should try it! Thanks!!

I did have a treadmill but sold it b/c it was just too hard on my knees. I have a recumbant (sp?) bicycle now that I like & is much easier on the knees as my legs go 'round & 'round rather than a 'jolting' kind of movement w/the treadmill. I do like the elliptical machine though, much easier on me for my particular knee issues...it's more like a bicycle movement as opposed to just 'walking' which seems to be a more 'jolting' type movement for me. Thanks though for the suggestion, I appreciate it!!

...But I LUV coconut....

Ya know I forgot about water aerobics! Thanx! I can go up hills fairly okay...it's the coming back DOWN the hills that gives me problems in that case but water aerobics sounds good. I can also swim laps too! Thanks!! --SK.

After suffering a really BAD knee injury...I'm really limited now on what exercises I can do. I try to walk as much as I can but hafta stop after a while, like 20-30 mins b/c my knee starts hurting so bad. I was just wondering, is walking good enough to help w/my weight loss goals w/the sleeve or do I need to do something 'more' to help w/the weight loss? Thanks, in advance, to anyone who replies. --Sk.

This is really helpful! Thanx for posting. Reading this makes me feel more confident on getting the sleeve. --SK.

If I get WLS, it'll be the sleeve & I don't plan on telling anyone. My blabbermouthed hubby will prob tell everyone even if I ask him not to, but for me, I had been raised in a volatile environment & gained a lot of weight from emotional eating. Once I got out of that situation at age 18, I lost all the weight & kept it off w/no problem for 12.5 yrs. Then I decided to have a child, never lost the baby weight & found out I was now hypothyroid so all my hard work to lose weight & keep it off went out the window. I've been obese for 7 yrs now & after trying for a long time to lose this weight (& keep off what I lost which didn't work, I always gain it back whereas before I had no prob losing/keeping it off) & I'm at a complete loss as to how I can lose this weight on my own now. My health has declined so badly when I used to be so 'cute' & active & happy & healthy & never out of breath when exercising. Now I can't exert myself w/o feeling as though my heart will jump out of my chest or I feel as though I'm going to pass out at any moment. I am also so fatigued that I fall asleep so easily now, I find myself in constant need of a nap. I now hafta make the painful decision & accept the fact that WLS is my only option. So in response as to 'why' I'm not going to tell anyone is b/c I feel so humiliated in that I lost all my weight before & kept it off...on my own & thought I had beaten the so called odds that you always hear about..."you never lose weight on your own w/o gaining it all back plus more..." Because I'd kept it off for so long w/little effort, I thought I'd never gain it back but now I've fallen into that catagory when I thought it'd never happen to me. I don't want people to not believe me when I tell them I've lost weight on my own before, those who still think I'm "skinny". Very few ppl have seen me fat again. I feel that if I tell them I now have had surgery, they won't believe that I did it on my own before so I don't want to listen to the haters & non-believers who call me a liar behind my back. I feel bad enough as it is having become this way again w/o added comments from others. While hypothyroidism is a legit reason for gaining the weight back, I don't want to 'have to' explain all that when I can just say "I maintain my weight loss by following a strict diet".

I don't plan on telling anyone. From about the 6th grade to the 10th grade I was fat but then I decided to change & by 12th grade I lost 30lbs, went to college & by the end of the first semester, I lost the remaining 35lbs & KEPT IT OFF for 12 1/2 yrs! Til I had a child & developed hypothyroidism & gained 85 lbs!...totally not expected & totally NOT kewl w/me! While I expected 'baby weight', I expected to lose it too. I could not believe all that hard work I did to lose that 65 lbs & maintain my weightloss just went down the toilet & nothing I could do about it. That was 7 yrs ago & after YEARS of constant struggle to lose just to gain it back, I've just broke down & accepted the fact I need help now. I don't want to tell anyone if I get VSG b/c I first of all don't think it's anyone's business but most importantly, I don't want anyone to think I got surgery in the first place to have lost all the original weight back in high school/college. I don't want to have to explain, 'No, I did that all myself but then got thyroid issues then gained it all back plus 20 more so I had to get surgery'. Knowing the people in my home town (and my relatives), they won't believe me & I'm sure the truth will come out if I happen to go out w/someone & can't eat a 'normal amount'. While, true, it shouldn't matter, I feel like a complete failure & it wasn't my fault. My husband will know b/c it can't be avoided. I hope he keeps my request not to tell other people even though I'm sure he'll tell everyone as soon he finds out. He just doesn't think anything is sacred or secret between husband & wife, which is a shame. So I guess in telling you all this, do what makes YOU feel good, do what feels right to you. If you feel liberated & not 'ashamed' as I will go for it, if not, keep it to yourself. It's your choice & no one should force info out of you just b/c they're being nosy. Good luck!!!

This started out as just a reply to someone who repied to another post I made on another topic but thought I'd ask those here...I'm leaning more towards the sleeve everyday but still have trouble making decisions. I know in the long run it's best but I'm just having anxious feelings on what to say to those close to me (like co-workers or close friends) who ask if I've had surgical weight loss. My first reaction would be that it's none of their business. But knowing my relatives who might find out, they never can keep a secret (sad to say, one of them is my hubby, lol) so if & when the word gets out, what do I say to those who ask? I REALLY REALLY wanna keep my private matters private but those who are close to me will know something went on. Another issue I have with making a final decision on the sleeve is 'what' I can eat. I'm just so afraid that I'll end up at someone's home for dinner or get invited to stay for dinner & not be able to eat what they provide or end up having to stop somewhere to eat on a roadtrip & wonder what I'll get to eat. I think eating out won't be a problem b/c most places have things to choose from but sometimes I'll go to a friends house to visit & they always have me stay for dinner. I feel terrible at having to say "I'm sorry, I can't eat that" b/c I want to keep the surgery to myself, what do I say to them? These are people that actually fill my plate before they give it to me even saying "that's plenty thanks" they just keep putting more on there then I feel wasteful if I can't eat it all. I don't want to appear to just be 'picking' at my food. That's my actual problem on deciding, does anyone here have any advice?? Should I just say I'm just cutting back on what I eat? Funny I know asking strangers but I think this is a great support group, everyone here seems so supportive & helpful!! Thanks, in advance, for any replies!! --SK.

Hey! Thanks for the update, I appreciate it! I'm leaning more towards the sleeve everyday but still have trouble making decisions, lol. I know in the long run it's best but I'm just having anxious feelings on 'what' I can eat. I'm just so afraid that I'll end up at someone's home for dinner or get invited to stay for dinner & not be able to eat what they provide or end up having to stop somewhere to eat on a roadtrip & wonder what I'll get to eat. I think eating out won't be a problem b/c most places have things to choose from but sometimes I'll go to a friends house to visit & they always have me stay for dinner. I feel terrible at having to say "I'm sorry, I can't eat that" b/c I want to keep the surgery to myself, what do I say to them? That's my actual problem on deciding, do you have any advice?? Funny I know asking a stranger but I think this is a great support group, everyone here seems so supportive & helpful!! Thanks for the update & keep it coming!! --SK.

Yeah I understand abt that, I'm just worried abt malnutrition. I haven't eaten a whole lot for a long time so eating 'less' won't probably be that much of a change for me in that respect, I'm just afraid I won't get the right amt of food. For instance, a good meal for me wud be: a chicken leg/thigh either baked, broiled or boiled; a green salad w/broccoli, green peppers, cucumbers, carrots, etc; a serving spoon size amt of fresh fruit & maybe a veggie like corn, peas, Beans, etc. Sometimes I'd include a small amt of rice but not always as it fills me up too quick & I had been eating my salad last so by the time I ate my fruit, chicken & veggie, I'm getting pretty full. That to me is a well balanced meal, a little bit of everything. Once I have the sleeve, I won't be able to get all of what I think is a balanced meal. Any thoughts?? Thanks!

I'm so sorry that ppl in your life can't respect you or your privacy...how dare they be so nosey as to "HAVE to just KNOW what you're up to." This is my fear also that ppl will judge me in that I had "gained all the weight bk that I had lost yrs ago" & "couldn't keep it off" but mine is due to post-partum hypothyroidism. Had it not been for this, I would still be healthy & happy. I am still on the fence w/trying to decide what to do for fear of that being judged that I couldn't do it on my own so I commend you for taking that step & wish you support & best wishes for your weight loss!!! Just remember, it's no one's business what you do, where you go or why you're there. If you don't want someone to know, just simply don't tell them. When approached w/the same type of questions, I just say politely "It's not something I prefer to discuss w/co-workers, my husband & I are really private people & while I appreciate your enthusiasm, I choose not to discuss my private life outside the home." Sometimes I get an attitude from the person so I might say "well I'm sorry that I disappointed you in not telling you my private goings on but that's just the way we are..." ...maybe that will help you. You prob just were excited abt the procedure & the anticipation of the eventual weight loss as to why you told your friend but trust that she will keep that to herself & if anyone asks abt it then you can chose what to do from that point. Hope this bit of support helps! I'm still undecided! Good luck!!!

Thanks for replying! I'm supposed to weigh abt 137-140 technically. My goal is at least 155 so it's great to see someone who lost abt the same amt as I'm supposed to lose. Thanks for your info & support, I didn't think of having to make sure my dr keeps a close monitoring, I'll definitly make sure!! I appreciate it! --SK.

Thank you all who replied, it does help knowing I'm not alone in this! Pumpkin...I agree w/you in that it does seem to be a bit overkill in the amt of stomach that's removed. I wonder if I ask the dr to leave just a bit more in if he'd do it??? Hmmmm.... --SK.