Strangefruit

#1 - Your wedding pic is beautiful!
#2 - This is going to be YOUR journey. You cannot DO or NOT DO this for anyone but you. It *will* be hard... but you can do it!
~hug~

#1 - Your wedding pic is beautiful!
#2 - This is going to be YOUR journey. You cannot DO or NOT DO this for anyone but you. It *will* be hard... but you can do it!
~hug~

Welcome, Dee! I loved reading your post... I am post surgery - Oct 22, and it has been hard - ups and downs...but overall, I am glad I did it.
I *did* have some co-morbidities - HBP, sleep apnea, and like you, have two kids that I want to live long enough to enjoy my life...
I hope that if you decide to do this, it works for you. It *does* work... but it is also very hard. If I had it to do all over again - I wouldn't do it... BUT I am glad I did it. Does that make sense? Like, I could not repeat the whole surgery thing and recovery, but now that I am on the other side of it, I am glad with it.
If you do this, prepare yourself for your relationship with food to change. By this I mean there are times when I actually MOURN my relationship with food. People say, "But you are losing weight!" Yes, but understand that your entire relationship with food will change...and if you are someone just a little like me - where food was a BIG part of your life, you will miss some things. But it is worth it to be healthy... but it is hard.
I'm gonna stop - I don't want to scare you... it is a wonderful thing to do... but also, very hard.

I am certain I need this surgery. I am certain that I am going to get this surgery. I am certain I will be healthier in critical ways after this surgery. But I am not at all certain that I will be happier after this surgery.
My name is Dee, but if you call me Devichan I'll answer. I've used it as a nickname for years. I'm 41 years old, a mother of two (ages 16 and 7), poly, married, pagan, geeky, techie woman. I love my smile, my eyes, and my curves. I love to knit, play roleplaying games, watch football, and geek about Doctor Who (sometimes all at the same time!) I'm owned by three cats (Echo, a tuxedo female, and tortoiseshell littermates River and Kaylee), all of whom are adopted from rescues. We're looking into getting a dog. I live in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and I love it here. I've also lived in Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, Michigan, and California. My family's idea of a vacation is a yearly trip to Dragon*Con in Atlanta. My daughters are the lights of my life... one snarky, gothy, creative, musical, and self-described (accurately) as "a teenager with a lick of sense" and the other bouncy, happy, colorful, who is a fan of both My Little Pony and the Avengers and who thinks nothing of running around the house in a pink tutu and crown wearing a batman mask, Wonder Woman arm bracers, and carrying a sword and shield.
I can't remember when people weren't talking about me in terms of my weight. food restrictions at age 6. "You have such a pretty face!" at seven. "I swore I'd never buy you plus sizes, but you've forced me to!" at eight. Weight Watchers at nine. If I could go back to 14-year old me, wearing a size 14, I would tell her everyone was wrong. Looking at pictures of the time, I was softly, roundly, genuinely pretty.
College came and with it an extra hundred pounds - body by Mountain Dew. (In the early 90s no one was talking to teenagers about how bad soft drinks were; saccharine was still the Devil In powder Form.) I had a two three-liter of Mountain Dew PER DAY habit at one point because of serious caffeine addiction. I broke it at age 23, but the damage was done. I stayed at 240 through most of the next decade, including after the birth of my first child.
Then I hurt first one knee, and then the other after the birth of my second child. Another 40 pounds arrived because I dieted and exercise hurt. Arthritis set in, I dieted some more as I was told, and with that even more pounds. Now, at 41, I weigh between 295-305 depending on stress levels. I am twice the size I was when everyone told me I was too fat to ever fall in love, get married, and have children.
I am OK with my fat. It's a part of me. I don't use it as a shield between me and the world, because I don't hide from the world. I am an extrovert and make friends easily. I haven't been without a partner since the age of 17, and between 15 and 17 I had a boyfriend or girlfriend for all but three months. I don't have diabetes, don't have heart trouble, don't have thyroid issues, don't have respiratory issues.
And yet.
My knees ache, especially in the winter. My mobility is increasingly compromised. I love to do yoga, but the pain in my knees is preventative. I don't THINK I have sleep apnea, but on 6-FEB-2013 I will be finding out the results of a sleep study.
I hurt. And I'm tired of hurting. I will soon need a cane to take the bus and light rail. Stairs are a problem - for the pain, not the breathlessness. I've been told I'm 15 years away from eligibility for a knee replacement. This is the only option doctors want to discuss. I don't dare diet again. I can't afford another 20 pounds.
On the 18th, I have my first consult. I do not want to look like a melting ice cream cone, and after decades of fat I almost certainly will. I will miss my curves.
And yet. I am certain of one thing: I hurt, and this is the only option I am being offered that will help.

Wishing I lived in Japan so I could buy clothes where the Sumo wrestlers shop.

So glad this was asked!! I have a white sweater tongue and stinky breath! Thanks ketosis!

Hello all-
I had a lap-band for 3 years and was fairly successful with it. I lost about 68lbs of the 100 that I wanted to lose but always had issues with it. I was happy that it kept the weight off but I found myself always be throwing up. Right before Christmas I got horrible reflux and was having a hard time keeping things down. I went to my surgeon who immediately unfilled me some. As I was about to leave his office the pain became almost unbearable and he sent me to the hospital for an immediate Upper GI. As it turned out, my band had slipped. He then took the rest of the Fluid out of my band at the hospital and scheduled me for an upper endoscope on Monday (Christmas Eve). It was decided that the band would need to be fixed or removed. I didn't really want to lose my band so I asked if the Gastric Sleeve was possible. Now keep in mind I knew nothing really about it except that it was the new thing on the block that was replacing the band. I had a BMI of 32 and was pretty sure that my insurance company wouldn't pay for it anyways so I was just asking. When I talked to the bariatric coordinator she said that I would need to go through the 6 month program again and then have the surgery. I had to get my gallbladder out last year and ended up with thrush and decided no more surgery after the band was fixed. I only had 40lbs to get to goal and I could do it on my own. When I was discussing the surgery with my husband I mentioned that I wish I had gotten the sleeve rather than the band but it wasn't being offered. Well on January 4th I went in for surgery. The surgery was supposed to last an hour or so. Three hours later and my husband was out of his mind because I was still in surgery. My surgeon came out to tell him that he had to clean up a lot of scar tissue, fix another hiatal hernia and that the band had created a hole in my stomach so the band could not be be saved. I guess what happened next was my husband asked him if he could do the gastric sleeve. Keep in mind I didn't say, "hey, if he can do a sleeve have him do it" I woke up expecting to either still have a port or my band gone. Well my port was gone and my surgeon say's "you got your wish, you're sleeved" I was in surgery for over 6 hours and too drugged out to really comprehend the whole thing. I had no idea what a gastric sleeve really involved. I was sent home with the instructons of drink 1oz of Protein an hour and 64oz of Water. I got thrush again and ended up back in the ER after a week from dehydration and a ct scan because I looked and felt like death. I had no idea they were checking for a leak because I had no idea about leaks. I had to come to this site to find out what had been done to me. Keep in mind I'm an analyst for a living. I researched the band for 6 months before I did it. This has been hard on me emotionally and definitely a challenge to my marriage because I trusted people to look out for my well-being while I'm not in control. I think both felt they were doing what was best for me but I had no say in the matter. Now I've been scared to death about complications so this site has been both helpful and scary. I'm learning everything after the fact so i'm going to be greatful for all the advice. I know my surgeon has never done this before and I expressed my concern about what happened but in the end I can't go back. I have no choice but to adjust. I've already lost 17lbs so it's been a major change in the way I eat and look. I will definitely be checking to see whatever information I can get from everyone. I guess the moral of the story is to make sure everyone understand your wishes. This was not life-saving surgery so I'm not sure why the decision was made without me but in the future I will express exactly what I want to happen unless it's to save my life. Just glad others have had this revision that I can relate to especially any who had the revision the same day. Thanks-

I am almost 4 months pre-op and I am getting a little discouraged. I have done ok and lost 61 pounds so far however I need advice.
I eat between 700-900 calories a day which includes my Protein drink. I also work out 4 days a week. Well this week I was only down 1 pound and last week 2 pounds. That does not seem right. I burn about 250 calories at the gym. What am I doing wrong? Starting weight 292, current weight 231.
I know the weight does slow down but I would think I would lose at least 2 pounds every week the way I exercise and eat. I use the LOSE IT app and it is great. I have a lot of Protein and not much in carbs at all.
I am certain that I will lose the excess weight in time but I really didn't think I would have this slow period. It seems like I was losing more when I didn't work out, which does not make any sense. I have only been working out now for about a month. Could it be I am building muscle?
My doctor told me that I can actually eat up to 1200 calories daily, which I don't because I am satisfied and at this point cannot eat that much.
Any advice would be helpful as I feel a bit discouraged. Not to mention I have lost 61 pounds and very few people even notice.

You do not have to tell anyone why you are having surgery. Thats your private business. My immediate boss still doesnt know and I was out for 3 weeks. You could say gall bladder but its a common procedure and one of the 'gossipers' may have had it done or know someone that had it done. I personally have had my gallbladder out and was only out for a week. If they ask, could you just say "Id rather not say, its quite personal" and let them just wonder?

You don't have to tell them what you are doing or why.
It isn't secrecy ..... it is privacy.

"I completely sympathize with folks who start threads looking for help because they're craving something. That's not what this is about. What I'm having difficulty understanding is this; why do people seek approval from what are basically complete strangers to violate their doctor's directives, when they know it's not in their best interest? It just doesn't make sense to me."
Most of us are here because we have had - or are having vertical sleeves... but if you read the posts, you will know that doctors directives about these sleeves are as varied as the sands in the ocean.
Some will say they have strict two week pre op all liquid diets... some are allowed Protein based foods during the liquid phase...some don't have ANY kind of pre op diet!
Some are on liquids after surgery...some are on "mushies" (I wasn't)...some are allowed to eat any soft food as early as two weeks after surgery... some - like me - are not allowed ANY carbs - mashed potatoes, rice, Beans - even after 11 weeks after surgery...
Yet, most of the people *are* losing weight... I think we (at least *I*) come here to compare ideas - to see what plan others are following...and whether or not it works... Yes, it's hard to know that I can't have ANY carbs... but then, when I fell and had a Wendy's Chili - I knew it wasn't the end of the world because I also knew that so many other folks had successfully - with their doctors blessing - had a few black Beans and it didn't "kill" them or disrupt their weight loss...
Doctors are different and have different plans...Some have shared their caloric intake, which I found helpful, because my doctor will not give me caloric guidelines (and the OCD in me NEEDS guidelines)...all he will say is have x amount of Protein and no more than y amount of carbs - ... so it's not that we (I) and taking the advice of total strangers over my doctor, but it is nice to have someone with whom I can ask questions and get advice and take an average... my doc does NOT answer questions... I have posted earlier that he is very much like Dr. Gregory House - a brilliant surgeon, but a bit of a d**k. Some have docs who are overseas and not accessible...
So, it is nice that - yes - total strangers - will share what worked for THEM to give help into making all the pieces fit.
If I meet someone who had surgery on the same date as me, and they have lost 20lbs more than I have, I appreciate reading what worked for them...it may not work for me, but it *might*...

Maybe its because you have only been here a couple of weeks, but your post ( in my opinion) is insensitive and judgemental... People who need this surgery are not typically good at staying on diets, or are yo yo dieters who sometimes fail when it comes to always doing the right thing. I am a professional dieter, but after my surgeon had me on Liquid Protein skakes for FIVE weeks, even commercials for McDonalds looked like gourmet cuisine...
I think some come here to vent, some come to be talked out of a temptation because this? ...Is a SUPPORT group...
To say that people are "lacking in common sense" because they may need help to stay on track is just ... mean.
I hope if you have a rough day and are tempted, that you get the support you need and are not belittled.

Maybe its because you have only been here a couple of weeks, but your post ( in my opinion) is insensitive and judgemental... People who need this surgery are not typically good at staying on diets, or are yo yo dieters who sometimes fail when it comes to always doing the right thing. I am a professional dieter, but after my surgeon had me on Liquid Protein skakes for FIVE weeks, even commercials for McDonalds looked like gourmet cuisine...
I think some come here to vent, some come to be talked out of a temptation because this? ...Is a SUPPORT group...
To say that people are "lacking in common sense" because they may need help to stay on track is just ... mean.
I hope if you have a rough day and are tempted, that you get the support you need and are not belittled.

I posted this same question when i was starting out and did not hear from anyone far out from surgery. I hope this helps and/or motivates you.
I'm 5'5" with a large frame and am down to 146lbs. My original goal was 135, but feel its way too small so I moved it to 140. I wear a size 6 and have 6 more lbs to go.
SW: 243.6
Surgery 3/13/12
I hope to make goal by my anniversary.
What I have learned over these last 10 months is that everyone's body is so different that you can't base your goal on anyone else your same height. You can definitely ball park it and use it as a guide, but your goal will change several times as you near the end and see your body change. This is going to come off as bragging and this is not my intention, but its important to share so you can understand what I mean. People tell me I'm too skinny and are shocked to learn I weigh 146 lbs. The perception of size other people have is that I'm in my 120's. I just happen to hold my weight evenly across my body so 146 on me, may not look like 146 on someone who carries it all in their gut. This is why your goal may change as you get closer to the end of your weight loss. You may need to lose a little more or less depending on your body type, not just height.
One more thing, I run a lot, but have not incorporated weight training yet into my regimine. I anticipate my weight to go up a bit from 140 with some added muscle mass or maybe I'll lose a little more and gain muscle. Who knows? This is all so new to me still.
I hope this was helpful and good luck in your journey.
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Today, 7 weeks and 1 day out from surgery I had two non-scale victories. When I started this journey (August 2012) I was wearing a size 22 pants (women's) Today I can wear a size 17 Juniors!!! pants. Whoooohoooo.
I was shopping in Traders Joe's right after that victory and decided to buy my husband a bottle of wine. I was asked for my ID at the register - I will be sixty on my next birthday!! In just 9 months!! I don't even care if they ask everyone for an ID - I just know it made me feel fabulous. Especially since I chuckled and told the cashier that I would be 60 on my next birthday and she didn't believe me. After seeing my license, she said I look great and I don't look my age.
Happy girL! These little things make up for when the scale stays the same or only moves an ounce or two even tho I'm eating according to the plan and exercising.

You CAN have cheese enchiladas again! My favorite at our TexMex restaurants here in Dallas!!! I didn't have one until I reached goal, but once I was maintaining, that's what I order occasionally. At first I could only eat half wtih about a TB of refried Beans, now I can eat a whole one, still with just a little Beans and/or rice. Along with my husband, we order corn tortillas and I use about half of one to 'dip' into the salsa ahead of time. I seldom eat any chips, when I do, I break off a bite at a time and total will eat 4 or 5. You can have a glass of wine once in a while as well......once you get the hang of maintenence, you will see!!! Shopping will be as much or more fun that eating, I promise!!!

I wear surgical gloves to mix ground meat for burgers or meatloaf...

This post could have come from me a week or two ago. Every single day it gets a little better, I promise. Hang in there!

I confess that I am 18 mos post-op and never started exercise till I was 9 months post-op
I confess that I have been eating normal food up till the day before surgery and starting four days after surgery. I've only ever had one Protein Shake.< br /> I confess I don't really count calories and Protein grams, I just try to eat healthily most of the time
I confess that I have a coffee or two every morning -- starting from when I was still in hospital
I confess that I never lost my appetite, and I'm actually glad about that.
I confess that I've never vomited, slimed or gotten anything stuck
I confess that there's really NOTHING I can't eat
I confess that I drink wine at least once a week, sometimes more
I confess that I weigh ever single day but I'm not at all fussed about the number, I just want to keep track of where I'm at
I confess that this has been totally the easy way out for me, AND I'M SOOOO FINE WITH THAT. After all the crappy useless diets I've done? I deserved success.

And I confess that I look great -- and I know it. I haven't had problems thinking I still look fat. I look quite normal really.

Some of these are really sad, though I can understand things being said in jest. Confession is disclosure of an offense. And an awful lot of these things are our nature, not our sins. I really really from the bottom of my pragmatic heart hope that you guys aren't seeing things like "I want McDonald's" or "I've eaten desert" or "I'm craving favorite foods" as things to incite guilt or emotional unrest. We're still humans, we're just humans with partial stomachs.

1. I confess that I think about food way more than I should.
2. I confess that I drink caffeinated coffee on occasion
3. I confess that I have sucked on a tiny peice of chocolate and let it melt in my mouth because I'm on soft foods
4. I confes that I have cried until I can't cry anymore about how much I miss my old eating habits
5. I confess that I secretly am angry when my husband eats a big plate of carbs and fat....

Are you sure it wasn't a dingo that ate that baby?