gmanbat

I have learned that the most powerful response is absolute silence. When people ask you a rude and stupid question look them right in the eye with a blank expression and say nothing. They will get uncomfortable, maybe ask again, maintain eye contact and say nothing. Let them banter to themselves. The last thing they will remember is what came out of their own mouth. They will either get mad or walk away but they will think about what they said. But...you are in charge, they are not controlling you...control is what they were after to begin with. They lose, you win. Love yourself, maintain your dignity. Your words are valuable, they represent you, don't feed them to pigs. Don't join their Stupid Club.

I have learned a lot in my 64 years. The main thing I've learned is that I have a lot more to learn. The next thing I've learned is that I am not obligated to teach others what I know. Rude questions, innocent questions...no matter...still my choice. I don't have to tell anyone anything unless they are my wife with an Iron skillet raised over her head.

Good for you! Fight for yourself, you are worth it!

Queen City Gal, It s understandable that you would have reservations given your history. i believe that there have been others on this forum with serious metabolic issues that have succeeded. I suggest you post a topic asking for feedback from anyone with that history. All my best to you!

I'd go with the strips. I still avoid pills when I can at nearly 2 years out. Probably don't need to, just got used to it. The hospital will most likely have something for gas.

I would like to see a section to the forums for people who have failed to lose weight any differently after the sleeve than before. Outside of impatient folks that expect too much too soon there would be few legitimate cases I dare say. I have been on this forum for over a year and a half and cannot cite one person that said the sleeve made no difference after a year of following directions. There are, however, many, many that have claimed a big difference, including myself. I don't know if it's the forced consistency, the ghrelin reduction, or other factors but that is the case. But that is an anecdotal argument. You should bring these concerns before your doctor and do research on the difference sleeving makes. If you have no faith in it perhaps reconsidering would be in order.

I think all of us had these thoughts go through our heads. The sleeve is a powerful and drastic tool. In my mind failure is quite unlikely with the sleeve, it is more of a remote possibility. To fail at the sleeve you have to be determined to resist reasonable instructions and defeat yourself. You still need will power but you have a great tool. I have been introduced to the air pressure power hammer. Before, with a regular hammer....pound ,pound, pound, pound, bent nail...pull it out..start again. With a power hammer....Bam...nail in. Good tools are important but a power hammer can mess you up good if you don't use it right.

Good posts. I am coming up on 2 years out in January. My sleeve is still restrictive....BUT....I can defeat it by ignoring the signals. When I started smoking many years ago I coughed and gagged but kept on going. I didn't listen to my body. The only "smoking" I do now is on the guitar. The sleeve doesn't scream, it just informs ...if you are listening.....paying attention to the feelings it generates. Being distracted by talking, TV watching, etc. can divert your attention from the warnings and you'll drive right through. Take eating seriously...pay attention to it closely...you will hear the sleeve say "enough".

Hi Nikkibeal, and WELCOME! Most of us here imagine coming into such a drastic diet change that the weight would drop off according to our light eating. Alas, it ain't neccesarily so. The speed of weight decline is decided by many factors such as beginning weight, metabolism, Water consumption, activity, following guidelines, and.....the mystery factors. Mystery factors? Those are the "unknown to science or anybody" reasons that the body holds on to fat until it's darn good and ready to let it go. I can comfort you in this though, if you follow guidelines it WILL come off. Don't let the scale bully you, it is doomed to drop. I suggest you use the scale like I did on my descent, as a curiosity. I witnessed how my body decided to get it off, saw the scale go down, up, and stay the same many times. I kept in mind that it will come off eventually, it was my destiny, it is yours, too.

At the beginning of my body change the sleeve and attending concerns enveloped the majority of my attention. The struggle to get it going, establishing guide lines, noting progress, mourning slow downs, and in the end, rejoicing exceedingly about my new body. Now, coming up on my second year, my attention is being diverted by life itself. I am maintaining near my low weight and activity is at athletic level as I promised myself at the beginning. I had an empty feeling period when I asked myself the question, "Now what?" This new body is just a part of who I am. It is no longer a hindrance, it now best serves me by not drawing attention to itself. It has become a vehicle to take my mind and soul to destinations and tasks. I have energy to express my heart and my body no longer blocks my reaching out. I no longer have my body to use as an excuse for inactivity and introversion. I no longer hide behind shame. Now is the time to explore the other parts of myself and my relationship with those around me and the world in general. I have made a friend of myself and in so doing have deemed what love I have to offer as worthy to be shared. I have discovered that giving love is the quickest path to getting it. I have a default eating, drinking, and exercise policy. I may step out for a bit but return to default quickly. I don't kick my butt for it, I am my friend now. If I don't have fun being me I won't be any fun to be around. My grown daughter called me contagious the other day. It was one of the best things my ears have ever heard.

I love being shocked in a good way. Trying on suit coats, going for what size I considered reasonable...no, lower....no, still lower...no way, that's it!? I am smaller...I HAVE LOST IT! Congratulations!

You know, being slim, attractive, and healthy isn't everything...there's also....well I guess that's a pretty good start on everything. Congratulations! Ya got spunk, gal!

Oh admit it. You love us Every durned one of ya.

Yer OK, 5.0. You didn't anticipate "loose" women.

First pic 2008, 5 years ago: Second pic, 2 weeks ago: We lost 245 pounds between us. Do we look older? Depends on your point of view. Our wrinkles were being propped up by death dealing fat cells. Do we act older? Absolutely not. We took 30-40 years off of the way we act. Wouldn't go back because of a turkey neck. Let it flap in the breeze, it's a flag of freedom.

Welcome! Density, moisture content, and acidity seem to be the main factors in acceptance by the sleevemaster below. Slower eating, avoiding drinking, and proper chewing enter into the equation as well. In time, you will differentiate at a glance a good food situation from a trip to the Land of Ouch.

Very, very true. How did our minds get like this?! Do guys worry about this stuff as much as we do?! Can't speak for all of the guys, they haven't made me their spokesman, I don't work cheap. I am part skinny, in the shoulders and biceps, and part hangy-skinny, in the belly and inner thigh area. It is not ideal but it is quite adequate for my purposes. Wife likes me, I look good in clothes and even with my shirt off if I wear my pants high enough to cover my belly button. If I aspired to pose for the covers of romance novels I would be despondent. My body is like an old reconditioned Buick with a few dents and rust spots. It isn't perfect but it sure gets me where I want to go.

I am a tansplant to Florida from Ohio where I got my sleeve. Lost 130 pounds, got healthy, having a lot of fun...in the warm Florida sun!

The only thing wrong with coffee is the acid. The caffiene does not dehydrate contrary to commonly held bologna, it evens out with the Water in it. Therefore it cannot be considered hydrating. Skim milk is ok, Truvia ok. I'd watch drinking too much due to acid build up. Good coffee is the most valuable liquid next to blood.

We use stomach and abdomen interchangeably which is sometimes awkward. It is somewhat like Kleenex and facial tissue and Band-Aid and adhesive bandage, Perhaps he was referring to the outside area of the abdomen rather than the organ known as the stomach. The stomach would be quite a hostile place for a developing baby, especially at a chili cookoff.

Well said! The initial period after surgery when hunger is lessened gives us time to think about the priority we placed upon food. If we can see how overloaded we were with consumption to the exclusion of more important things we are on our way to solutions and permanent healthy eating. Here is an analogy that is difficult to relate. When I was a younger man, my hormones dominated my thought processes concerning procreation. Now that I am nearly 65 and testosterone has been subdued I look back over those times and marvel at how much energy was expended both entertaining and resisting those urges. Of course, if I really worked at it and got some shots, I could jump back into the fever. Not interested, the world has quite enough people, my wife has gone through enough, and life is full of other things to think about.

I received an email from Deb Dawley the Bariatric Clinical Director for the Center of Weight Loss Surgery in Bowling Green, Ohio where wife and I received excellent care during our weight loss surgeries at the skilled hands of Dr. Peter Lalor. It concerned an email they received from Bariatric Pal encouraging them to recommend the site to patients. Deb sent out a mass email to patients asking for feedback on the site. I was more than happy to endorse this Godsend of a forum to the surgeons, staff and directors at the Center of Excellence where Deb and I were launched onto our new and healthy path. What little I have contributed to this forum has been compensated many times back at me by the support, uplift and general camaraderie afforded by it's existence. Thanks, Alex, and may Bariatric Pal provide a vehicle for changed lives for many, many years.

I am ashamed to confess that due to the enormous size of my ego I seldom feel compelled to enter into any comparison battles with anyone over anything. It would be the equivalent in my mind to entering into mortal combat with a hamster. My sense of power renders the outcome a foregone conclusion and therefore too boringly trivial to engage in. Now if anyone thinks they have a bigger ego than mine give it your best shot!

My wife and I could turn our weight loss into a phoney money making scheme with just our pictures. ( warning: old guy reminiscing again) Reminds me of a friend of mine who was involved with the mob. He and his brother owned a string of nightclubs and paid off the police force, the mayor, and the governor. My friend was also an excellent card dealer, could deal up to the 5th card down, set up a game any way he wanted to. He had money to burn. He met Jesus and quit the rackets. Miraculously, he wasn't killed by the mob. He became a preacher and lived on a very modest income. At times, Vegas would call him offering big bucks to come and deal, many times when he was in dire straits financially. He always said no. To some people integrity is the greater possession. If you sell your soul you don't have a spare one.

Great work, my friend!