sleeved080212

Tomorrow is my one year anniversary.....August 2, 2012.....my 40th birthday! I am so happy to say that 365 days later I am maintaining my weight loss of 60 lbs, which I lost after 6 months. I am a size 4/6 and run about 40 miles a week and am planning a 15 mile run tomorrow for my 41st bday and my one year anniversary. This was the best decision I could have ever made. Dr. Garcia is wonderful and I would do the surgery again in a heartbeat if I needed to. For those questioning the surgery, the location or the doctor know that you are making the right decision! To think last year at this time my husband and I were sitting in the Marriott Tijuana waiting for the big day!

1 year anniversary tomorrow....60 lbs gone forever!

A while back I posted about 5-hour energy and Gels....well, I'm here to report that I am now up to 9 miles and using 2 gels during my long runs. The gel that works the best for me (since I dump) are the Cliffs brand...they are 90% organic and do not kill my stomach. So happy that these still work for me as I have a few half marathons planned and now I don't have to worry about losing fuel.

I am 5' 4. I suffer from dumping syndrome so sugar is not part of my diet what so ever!! Otherwise I eat pretty much what I want, but crave veggies, fruits and Protein and will still have carbs since I run. I finally am not constrained by a certain food/diet.....I'M FREE!!!!

I was a low BMIer....started at 201, surgery on 8/2/12 and as of this AM I am 156....pretty pleased with my progress; have 16 more pounds to goal and I CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE FINISH LINE! I run about 25-30 miles a week, eat 90% healthy, no sweets, but have the occasional burger & fries, but only after a crazy long run. This was the best decision of my life!

I just realized that this will be THE FIRST YEAR IN OVER 20 YEARS that my New Year's Resolution WILL NOT be to lose weight!!!!!!! I can focus on so many more things now and am not paralyzed by the thought process of what diet to start, what shake to drink, what foods to avoid. OMG, this is just the best. I have 19 more lbs to goal and I can actually see the finish line....A M A Z I N G!!!!!

Before 201 / After 166 (currently 159)

So sorry for such a TMI post, but I've noticed lately that mine is very light in color, certainly not brown like it used to be. It's also very thin. I am almost 4 months out, lost 40 lbs, have 20 more to go. I've Googled "color of poop" and basically everything I've found is either bile duct obstruction or colon cancer. Well, I tend to think that it's neither since I am a WLS patient. Any thoughts?

I cannot imagine doing a half after 3 months. I am 4 months out and was a runner prior to surgery (9 half marathons) and am just up to 7 miles. My issue is not the water, but the gels you'll need during your half. I suffer from dumping and am concerned that the gels will make me dump (am going to test it this weekend). I also did not start walking/running until 9/22 and full running beginning of October. My next half is end of February and I am thrilled I have a good long time to train right and avoid injury. Please keep us posted!

I too am a runner (9 half marathons) and I tried to do minimalistic by starting w/ Newtons, but then quickly had injuries; too fast too soon. So now I run in Brooks and they are very light and love them. I ran past a guy the other day and he was fully barefoot, I told him he was brave, I would never run w/ no protection on my feet. I think you will do well w/ Vibrams if you just take your time and train right. I have finally learned that my injuries have come from bad form and now pay very close attention to how I run and it seems to be working. Running is so much fun, I wish everyone could feel that way!

I will be 3 months post op on Nov 2 and I'm down 34.6 lbs (now 166.6) and at work today they had cake for a going away party and I said I don't eat sugar and someone said to me "is that how you stay so thin?" Really, me "thin"....I can't even fathom that word. But it made my day and reminds me how blessed I am to have been able to have this surgery.

You are so right about the "diet" word; I find people respect you more when you say you don't eat sugar than saying "i'm on a diet". I has really worked very well for me and I don't need to explain myself or talk about it any more. and you know what else..I feel empowered saying it....while saying dieting sounds like a failure. :-)

Before my surgery I was a distance runner and used Gels (GUs) and 5-hour energy for very long runs. Now, after surgery I have become a distance runner again, but am nervous to use these products because I am one of those that experiences dumping syndrome. The reason I ask is because I run half marathons and there is not really a way to get through that long distance w/ out adding a Gel for carbs/energy, but I am so scared to try for fear of major dumping. Has anyone tried these post surgery?

Thanks everyone. I figured the 5-hour energy would just work quicker, although pre-sleeve it did nothing for me. I more interested in finding out if anyone has used Gels since being sleeved b/c those are necessary during a distance run. I drink coffee every single day and I'm not dehydrated; as I work out and need my water. Now, coffee did not settle w/ me for a while, but now 2 1/2 months post op I have very few issues w/ coffee. But my trick is to mix it w/ MediFast Cappuccino and coffee and I get 14 grams of protein and fiber. Can't have my coffee any other way now.

5 hr energy has caffeine, b vitamins and a proprietary blend including niacin but no sugar.

I am almost 9 weeks post op....have lost almost 30 lbs and run 4x a week min 7 miles each run and am burning 1000 calories during each workout. I am literally not hungry, in fact I'm less hungry than I was a few weeks ago, so my appetite is disappearing! How can that be with the added exercise?

Same here...anything chocolate or coffee related gives me dumping syndrome. I've also experienced made isulin rush after each a little bit of chocolate....heart rate beats faster, feel drunk, dizzy and nauseaous. But it's ok...chocolate is what got me into this mess in the first place.

I too was sleeved by Dr. Garcia on August 2nd and I too was confused with the instructions about each phase. I came across this link when I got home and used their program which has a lot more detail. The site also has a lot of great info. http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/wei_los_faq/

So today was my very first little throw up w/ the sleeve. Now, don't get me wrong, I hate to get sick, but this was so much different than w/ the band....so much better! I ate my lunch too quickly b/c I was hungry and the food just did not settle and I got a little sick and up it came. With the band I suffered for hours if something got stuck or if I got sick. So even though I had issues today, it was just so much better than my experience w/ the band. If anyone is still in the deciding stage of going from band to sleeve, just do it. I finally feel like I am no longer on the diet rollar coaster. I can eat food, less quantities, better choices, but can have a little of everything. I was banded in 2003 and sleeved on 8/2/12.

I know exactly what you mean, that was so frustrating w/ the band. Never satisfied, ate all junk b/c healthy food would get stuck. Mine slipped and had to have it repaired in 2007..so this is technically my 3rd WL surgery. I was sleeved on 8/2 and did not have to do the pre-op diet. So far I have lost 21 lbs....which I'm happy w/ as I just weighed in today at 179. I don't have that much to lose, so it's slower for me, but happy so far. I just finally feel like food no longer owns me...don't really have to "diet". I just make better choices for my sleeve so I will be satisfied. I've not had an ouce of chocolate since the surgery and I don't crave sweets anymore...but I do crave savory, which is good I'm eating good food, not junk. Good luck on Monday, make sure you post an update!! You will not regret it..best thing ever; wish it was around for us 9 years ago!

You made a great decison w/ Dr. Garcia...his coordinators are wonderful and you will be treated like royalty. The hospital is very modern and clean and has an ICU. The "walking the halls" though is very short...I think there is just 10 rooms. My husband and I drove from TX to TJ and back again...week took about two weeks for the whole trip, so if I can survive that long long drive w/ no complications...that's pretty good. If you have more questions, I'd be happy to answer them....just message me!

We actually parked in an offsite Airport parking lot, San Diego Airport Parking Co. and it cost $6.75/day w/ a coupon....actually cheaper than boarder parking. If you go on their website you'll see the coupons. And their bathroom is spotless. The driver for Dr. Garcia picked us up there and brought us over the boarder and back again.

I was sleeved by Dr. Garcia on 8/2/12 (my 40th b-day) and my whole experience was positive. They give you pain meds in your IV every few hours, but I did have pain following surgery, but that is very typical for me as my BP drops and can't really get up and walk. I did walk the next morning and was just fine....at least 80% better then the day of surgery. After you are released they send you home w/ an antibiotic and a pain pill, but I only used the pain pill for a day or two after leaving the hospital. I think I used the pain pill once, once discharged from the hotel. I am just over 3 weeks out, have lost almost 20 lbs and I even went on a 4 mile walk/job tonight. I've had many surgeries and this was one of the easiest. Good luck to you!!

I was banded by Dr. Rod in 2003 and again in 2007, but was just recently sleeved by Dr. Garcia is TJ. Dr. Rod is a wonderful doctor and can't say anything negative about him at all. I had two surgeries w/ him b/c my band slipped. I decided to go w/ Dr. Garcia b/c I did not want to venture to Juarez. My husband is from Mexico and he too did not want to cross the border there. If you go w/ Dr. Rod you will not be sorry...he's wonderful.

I personally liked the broth at the Marriott as a Garcia patient. Walmart is just up the road, you can always buy some and warm it up.