Newbeginning

I don't think she intended to be snotty at all...just trying to soften your comments that may have been interpreted as rude and sarcastic. Intention and tone do not always translate well in text. Perhaps you didn't mean it the way it came across, but you don't need to escalate negativity in your response. We are here to support each other not fight with one another.

I'm super excited and happy to share that I'm almost 6months out and I'm down 178lbs... This was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I'm a mother and wife and always put them first and let myself go tremendously... I was diabetic,high blood pressure, high cholesterol, on baby aspirin daily- you name it I had it... I researched for 5 yrs until one day I told my husband I'm ready and he was on the ball the next day... So now I've signed up for nursing school and started my new way of life in a healthier version... I know I have a long way to still go but I'm taking it day by day and loving my new life... Thank you all for posting all the information it has helped so so much...

People do not stall because they aren't eating enough. I see SO many people climb on here freaking out because they're "stalled" and the first thing they do after three whole days of no loss is start screwing with their diet.
This is a major shock to our systems. Shedding weight at a rate of more than a pound a week is a shock to the body. It stops and starts and tries to recover along the way because you've completely changed from gaining weight to rapidly losing weight.
This has been widely debated here but the starvation mode thing is doubted but a lot of us.
Too many people carry those misguided notions from life prior to surgery (we MUST eat 1,200 calories or we'll starve, eat with a calorie deficit and you'll lose every time you step on the scale) and try to apply them to life post op. It's not the same. Diets are NOT all one size fits all, I say this over and over again. Why people who fail to lose the weight following a strict 1,200 calorie diet and exercising prior to surgery but then try to apply that same failed experiment to the sleeve post op amazes me.
Calories are fuel. They are neither good nor bad. food in and of itself is not good or bad. Life and diet are not black and white. Food is fuel. The nutritional makeup of your food can be better or worse for your body, and you can certainly waste food space (very limited for a while post op) on absolute crap choices that do nothing to further your nutritional goals. Living like the sleeve is a diet is the biggest culprit I see in stressed out sleevers and regain posts.
Everyone's body is different. How many calories you need is based upon how your body does. I was amazed to see that I lost best initially with about 800-900 calories a day. It took me months to get to the point where I could eat that much. I still lost when I ate less, and I still lost when I eventually upped my calories. It's not an exact science for most of us. There isn't a big, bold line we can't cross - it's flexible, and a lot of it is dependent on what you're eating and how your body reacts to those foods.
I am a huge advocate of eating normally. That means no foods are off limits and moderation is key in all things. That said, I truly feel that our weight issues start with our brains and our habits of disordered eating. So until a freshly sleeved person learns more about how their new body tolerates things, and until they work on some of the head issues, I wouldn't say that worrying about upping calories, and downing possible trigger foods to do it, is a good idea.
It's a process. There is nothing wrong with indulging once in a while - it's normal. But building a habit of telling yourself that you need extra calories, and therefore a bowl of ice cream (or some other such treat) is necessary each day *could* be a slippery slope for a lot of people.
I truly believe you'll have such a hard time getting in your basic Protein first calories that you won't have room for the thought of anything else. That's how it is for the vast majority of us.
And nothing tops a lower carb Protein shake for nutritional punch. We don't eat them to add to our calories in most cases. We eat them because you can drink pretty easily once you're healed, and drinking up to 50 grams of protein with only 200 calories for a meal is a darn good way to stay healthy once you're sleeved.
You brought up some interesting questions. I am not trying to slam you or any of the other responses here, or lecturing you as if there's only one way to live post op. I've just spent a lot of time on these boards in the last three years and I've seen a lot of trends.
Best of luck to you, and congrats on trying to work some of this out prior to surgery. It shows you're trying to prepare and that's important. Too many people skip the questions and research!
~Cheri

Welcome Lisa, looking forward to following you on your journey!!

Welcome Lisa, looking forward to following you on your journey!!

I've only told a few close girlfriends and my family (which is small). Work knows I had a hiatal hernia repaired and I said I had some acid damage repaired in my stomach. I was able to use the GI surgery to explain my post-op eating. I too, didn't want to deal with the catty remarks and judgement.
I had a co-worker tell me she thought I'd had lap-band or gastric-bypass and I just said no, I hadn't had either of those procedures and left it at that.
People can think what they want. I feel pretty private about this so I'm not broadcasting it. I did tell the gal who cuts my hair because she was getting a little worried about my sudden hair loss. The one good thing she said is she sees quite a bit of regrowth! Thank goodness!

Sigh! I don't think anyone has an obligation to do that. If it works for them and their life, they should do so. If that isn't in keeping with their personal priorities, they should not. Either way, there shouldn't be pressure or shame associated with the decision.

To me its not only what others think, I just think my health is none of there business! From preop to 3 weeks post op my hubby was in Saudi. Before surgery he tried to talk me into post;poning until he was home saying You will not be able to do this alone without help. You will need help etc. After a while he saw my point and relented. I have support from my mom, she had bypass 23 years ago and I knew my hubby (no matter how hard he tried) would not understand how I anticipated feeling after surgery (head hunger, etc) He is a 30 in the waste, same size as my teenage boys, and has never been overweight in his life. He eats only to survive, he doesn't sit down to eat to enjoy food, he eats when he is hungry and stops when he is full. He has never overeat to my knowledge and to him eating is something that is required to survive. His entire family is slender whereas my whole family is either very overweight or obese. I dont think he can REALLY understand why everyone is not like him. He doesn't get that people eat to be entertained, feel better emotionally, or just because it taste so durn good! Or whatever reason we all have for overeating for years. I am def not blasting him because he does try to understand, I just dont think he is really capable of COMPLETELY understanding because of our different backgrounds and habits. There are still times I have to catch myself from telling my kids, "clean your plate, dont waste that food"! Old habits die hard but I do not want my kids to grow up obese.
On the flip side, I knew I would have support from my parents and baby brother. my family has battled obesity my whole life! At the time of surgery my mom had just had total hip replacement 4 weeks previously, but still she followed me around the halls after surgery to do my required postop walking using a walker, when I would fall asleep walking she would pat my face and say wake up you gotta walk. Her and my dad stayed at the hosp the whole day until baby brother got off work to come stay with me. He took off for 3 days to stay the night at hospital and bring me home and stay with me at home for a couple days until I was sure I could get around alone.
My point is, we all really need some type of support, but it doesnt really matter where it comes from as long as they understand how hard this can be. I have never regretted the vsg, but it isn't always an easy journey. Sometimes you feel like an infant learning how to eat, what works, what doesn't, etc, finding your limitations, figthting head hunger, and realizing you CANNOT have a cheat meal anymore. its not like a diet when you could take a day off and go to the buffet and pig out. Its simply not possible unless you enjoy pain and vomiting.
I stand by my decision to keep my surgery to myself. This journey can be emotionally draining at times and I simply dont need negativity in my life from people who choose to sugarrcoat sarcasm. It is my journey and I choose to surround myself with people who are genuinly proud for me and say to heck with the others.

That's what I've done. I don't think anyone's figured it out, but more than a few people have commented on how fast my weight loss has been (well yes, it has) and I'm pretty sure that a couple of my colleagues are afraid that I'm anorexic! (Part of that was my mistake - I sat in the cafeteria one day and ate lunch there - ooops, forgot that it's not normal to eat about 3 tablespoons of scrambled eggs and be full...) If they figure it out, nothing I can do about it, but I've decided that it's not something I want to share with the world. The only time I felt really bad is when one of my colleagues, who is probably at least as heavy as I was post-op, started sincerely complimenting me on my weight loss and asking me how I did it. I would have loved to share with her because who knows? She might decide that this is something for her as well (I know that she's also struggled with weight loss for many years) and it was only because someone told us about his bariatric surgery that I started looking into it. Maybe at some point I will speak to her privately and tell her.

I havent had my surgery. And honestly I have no big morals against lying... And to anyone whos not important to me def. I told my family and closest friend besides that, such as coworkers I told the I have a tumor its gonna be removed this date, possibly chemo after (hair loss and weight loss explained) ive had cancer also before, and maybe this makes me a bad person. But hey itll get everyone off my ass with all their questions once I have the surgery. Bein fat is my cancer

There is a reason a lot of people are overweight, a lot of it has to deal with emotional issues, and with that comes lack of confidence and insecurity. I know how stupid it is for myself to care so much what others think or say about me. I know I shouldnt value what snotty b*****s think about me, but unfortunately, I do. One of things I miss most about being healthy is confidence! Even after surgery and weightloss.....i probably wont tell people at work though. I feel it is too intimate to share with people I dont know, or people who dont care about me.

Not everyone has supportive people in their lives, the ones that do, you are blessed. Some people like myself feel that most people in my life would be unsupportive. And Its not always an issue of worrying what these unsupportive people think or say, sometimes it just that you dont want to deal with them. Also, not telling someone doesnt constitute lying, its just not telling them! Its a very personal journey & is up to the individual who they tell & who they dont. Anyone that wants to keep this surgery to themselves dont let others make you feel guilty for doing so.

I only told people close to me everyone else I told I had my gallbladder removed.(which I did) I really feel like its my business only. I know some people MAY support you but I perfer them to support the weight loss not the reason. I am currently 12 days after and fighting to eat soft food trying to get enough protein and water. I really don't have time to listen to potenial Nay sayers....Nope sure dont

I did not go #2 for 11-12 days post-op. Dr said not to worry, but if I was concerned take 1 low dose stool softener every other day or fiber supplement until it happened. However (tmi) that first one I would say was the closest I could come to giving birth. I almost cried, and when I saw it, was not really surprised since it was almost 2 weeks of number 2 all at once. Now, if I haven't went for 2 days, I start the low dose softener, and all s well.

I had a massage yesterday. It was light and helped to relieve the stress and gas in my shoulders. :-) Also good for circulation I imagine.

Funniest- maybe not. Coolest... yes!!!
I got out of a speeding ticket cause my drivers lic pic was insanely different than what I look like now.
After I convinced him that yes.... it IS me- he asked what happened. I told him about the surgery and he was pretty curious about the process and in the end let me go with a warning (warning to keep away from carbs and keep up the cardio!)
Yay for awesome life changes and the perks that go with them!

Just an hour ago, one of the secretaries in my office asked if I had had my eyes done. She knew there was something different about me but she couldn't figure out what. I just said, "Yep!" and kept walking.

How is everyone? For me doing better every day! Does anyone have any hunger? Stated to get hungry yesterday. It's kind of scaring me. It may just be head hunger. Have been drinking water and protein like I'm supposed to. I'm sure it will work out' I just want to do everything right.

I had mine on monday too, I was clears till today, I did one thing of unflavored protein with skim milk and torroni vanilla mix, it was yummy, then for lunch ill probably do unjury chicken broth, like you said mixed with other broth, and dinner one of the same. Get my water in(my pee is yellow so I def need to work on that) but so far 14 lbs I am a happy camper.

Had surgery same day as you. Thanks for sharing!! Glad you're doing so well!!

Hi Everyone,
If you are sitting out there with a lot of questions like I was 4 years ago, I want to tell you that I was 63 when I had my surgery in Mexicali, with Dr. Aceves—I believe he is the very best you can find to do your surgery. I lost 105 pounds and YES I have kept it off for 3 years now. It took me 14 months to lose 105 pounds.

My ONLY regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner. It is unquestionably the very greatest thing I have ever done for myself! I will be honest and tell you that the 1st month after surgery will be the hardest month you will ever have to do. During the 1st month you will be making lifestyle changes, letting your body heal, and start to retrain your “OLD” thinking brain to the new ways in life—this is a struggle because you “Old” thinking brain has been used to ALL the food you have been eating all your life. But, it is only 30 days and you can do this! It is NOT a miracle cure, it is a tool to allow you to lose the weight and maintain it for the rest of your life.

What is a typical day in my life like now? I want you first to know that I do not ever really feel hunger anymore—again your old brain will try to tell you that you are hungry—we call this “Head Hunger” because it really isn’t real. Now I just know that I need to eat small amounts of healthy food during the day. I have now changed how I cook and I now crave healthy things—I know it is hard to imagine that you will do this, but it is true. Yes, I do have desert –but I have learned how to bake in a healthy way. I have a great Low Carb Cookbook that allows me to eat a lot of things I loved in my past life and they are healthy now.

So this is what my day is like:
· I get up about 7:00 am put on my walking clothes and shoes and go for a nice brisk walk for 2 to 3 miles with my husband. Believe me I didn’t start out walking brisk or this far. Do the best you can, but do SOMETHING for exercise. Sometimes in the evening we will walk 2 more miles.

· I return home take a shower and for Breakfast I have a Premier Protein Drink. I still to this day have a Protein Drink for breakfast and that is all I need.

· I do all the normal things anyone else does during the day, like clean the house, grocery shop, laundry, and plan the meals, work in my yard. I am also own my own business where I am an Instructor in 1st Aid, CPR and AED to people in my community.

· lunch usually is some kind of a salad or I have some protein—usually chicken, with some fresh veggies, some fresh fruit.

· I have an afternoon snack, maybe something that I baked from my Low Carb Cookbook. There are some great products that are healthy to have too. There are all kinds of things you can snack on that are OK
· dinner is always about 2 oz of some kind of protein. I eat, chicken, fish, or Pork. I eat very little red meat—and I always loved red meat in the past, but I found out that my tastes have changed a lot after I had surgery. I always have some kind of fresh veggie, maybe in a form of salad and then fresh fruit. I eat about 1,000 calories a day sometimes a little more depending on how much exercise I do. I NEVER feel deprived.

Part of keeping the weight off is finding ways to cook that make it taste good. You can learn to convert some of your old recipes to being healthy too. I do have desert, but not every day. Sometimes just the taste of something will satisfy your need for it. Food NO longer controls me I now control the food and the amount.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I just want you to know that you can be this successful too. I have written a lot of things over the past 4 years, and I have information for those who are thinking about having surgery if you want any of it. You can be successful too.
I remember thinking what if I am the ONE person this will not work for, because I failed at everything else. So you are not alone, because many of us have thought all the same things that you have. I think the best things that you can do, is ask all kinds of questions. Check on who is doing your surgery. Like anything there are good and bad doctors out there, and I want you to be safe and have the very best you can have.

Hugs,
Suzanne
Sleeve 10/21/2008
Lost 105 pounds
Dr. Aceves- Suregon

@tallysfunny. Your right if we could have done it before we would have.
When I turned 50 I pretty much said thats it. Can't keep fooling myself. Everything was starting to become an effort. My Mom passed about a year ago and her life was cut short from being obese. She was only 74. I went to my first seminar on her birthday and I vowed I would not repeat her legacy. I know she's looking down on me and cheering me on. So let's embrace out journey and take the bad with the good. Loose skin and all

I'm from Baton Rouge too. Glad to know there are others so close. Having surgery 8/13. Go for pre op this week.