MrsM

Reposting this from another board by a fellow sleeve vet I have a lot of respect for Elina_7. I have this printed out on my desk and read it all the time. Sorry for the eye-bloodying wall of text - VST wont let me edit unless it is pasted from a word document.
"This is a post for those of you that think that this surgery will get you to your goal, and I am here to share the bad news with you that it will not. This surgery alone will most likely only lead you to lose to about 50-60% of EW all by itself (on average, some people lose much less and others more). That is the bad news.
The good news is that this does not have to be your fate. You can make a choice to do much better than this statistic. You can choose to lose all the way to 100% EW and be in the top 10% of sleeve patients. You really can do this and than keep your results.
I am here at four years into my maintenance sharing this with you from my personal experience as well as observation. You can reach goal and you can keep it. This is what it takes (from my point of view) to get there and to stay there.
1) You will read about many programs on OH and your doctor will have their own program, my experience tells me that in most cases, the 600-800 cals, over 80 grams of Protein, under 40 grams of carbs is the way to go. Others will disagree, and I am OK with that. This is my post and my opinion and my observation. There is no way that I would have reached goal on 1200 calories. That is my maintenance level eating. This of course might need to be tweaked on an individual basis. If you are an athlete and workout multiple hours a day, or if you have a different goal than I did or if you have a super fast metabolism or are a guy and have tons of muscle, than maybe eating more calories will work for you. If you are a woman, petite, not a youngster, and work out an hour or so a day, in most cases, the higher calories will not get you to goal. Are there exceptions, of course there are exceptions. Are those exceptions common? No, they are not.
2) If you go into this with without realizing that the first six months to a year is all about your weight loss, you are cheating yourself. I read posts on here about how to add flavor to foods and often the point is about making this more palatable. There is nothing wrong with adding spices, or finding low carb, nutritious alternatives to some foods, however, when your focus is anything other than maximizing your weight loss, you are sabotaging your progress and your opportunity of reaching that elusive 100% EW. I can honestly tell you that I think I would have eaten cardboard in those early months if that was required of me. The dedication needs to be to the process, the rest is not that important. Find your groove with certain home made lean Proteins and mostly eat that until goal. This is not rocket science, eat 2-3 ounces of Protein and eat low carb veggies as Snacks.
3) Do not allow relationships to get in your way. I don't care if you have kids, or an unsupportive husband, or parents choose to undermine your efforts. That might sound callous, but really, I don't care and neither should you. This next six months to a year is about you and you alone. This is your selfish time, the time when nothing comes before you. If you can't have certain foods in the house, get rid of them. If your spouse sabotages you, stop them. Speak up, find your voice, set your boundaries and do not allow anyone to take your mind off the prize. You matter, you are important, you are precious, and you must find the strength to do the right thing for yourself. If the people in your life are not supportive of your efforts, minimize your contact, or set firm limits. You are in charge and you will not allow anyone to get in your way.
4) Find the warrior in you and give yourself over that part of you for now. Find your type A personality, your alpha and your OCD parts and marry them to get one heck of a fighter. This is not a passive experience, this takes guts, sweat and tears. This takes being over focused on the minutia of your eating and exercise. This is a second job, a new baby, a big deal. This is not about passively taking what comes your way. You must drive this and you must take full control and responsibility.
This will not be easy, but it is worth it, really, really worth it. Stop thinking that it will just happen, stop thinking that it should be easy, stop thinking that this shouldn't take a good deal of your time and energy or that it will be convenient. It will not be any of these things, and yet, in the end, you will love the results and remember the process with fondness. You will feel proud to own your results. This journey will change you, and I don't just mean your weight.
In the end, it comes down to an age old question; how badly do you want this?"

Hi, I'm using Dr. Mailapur for my sleeve surgery, how did you like him?

Aloha November Sleevers! Well I have not posted for a while. My neice was reccently here and I was shocked when she took some photos of me. I am down now 59 pounds! I am 2 pounds from wonderland last time I posted I was 18 pounds from onerland. While my neice was here I definately ate too many Snacks and for the past few weeks have been going back and forth over the same 2 pounds! I realize I need to buckle the reigns when she left I gave her everything she wanted for the plane then opened the trash can and threw it all away!
Size wise I went shopping yesterday I have gone from a pants 24 to a 16 and tops I was a 2x or 3x yesterday I bought a medium! For fun today I put the 24 pants on I was swimming in them! My goal is a size 12 I want to get out of the plus sizes!
I need to make sure I am on track the doctor scared the life out of me he said the first 6 months will be the most weight loss and at a year that it will stop. I still have 52 more pounds to go! I dont want to fail I feel for the first time I may be slower but... I want to finish this.
It is strange snacks go down sooo easy but yet I can finsih a small salad. That means I have to choose carefully. Still no diet soda for me I am going to keep that off the table and no fast food. Which at times has been a challange I tell myself I will be sick if I eat it.
What are you eatting? For me still Protein Shakes (nectar 100 calorie), deli meat, cheese, Edomame (soy beans) is the one vegtable I seem to be able to eat easily. Soup is also good and any seafood oh and eggs. Have added a little fruit apples or berries. chicken still not a friend yet struggle with that.
I need to get back to logging everything I dont want to get too comfortable still need to push forward. November sleevers how are you? What are you eatting? Are you still logging? What is your calorie count?
Love the 3 month photos side by side amazing! So proud of you all!!

Good for you to realize what's going on and be accountable to yourself! I think once the swelling goes down and food is tolerated better, it takes more effort than it did at first to stick with it. Don't be so hard on yourself, because that is counter productive. I am just under 3 months out, and I'm finding the need to be very fastidious about eating, because I know I could graze all day! (haven't done it, but know I could ) You mentioned you have a hard time with rules, and I have to tell you, I don't like them either, lol, but I follow them. If the day comes that I don't do so well, I hope I'm as brave as you to come here for support.
My diet is super simple. I don't want to spend any time focusing on food, either thinking about it, shopping for it, preparing it, etc.
Breakfast: Premier Protein shake
Lunch: lunch meat, chesse, egg, yogurt, etc
Dinner: chicken, turkey, other lean meat, veg or fruit
Snacks: string cheese, yogurt, hummus/pita chips or veg, fruit
I use fitbit to track every bite I eat, and have been eating 800 calories per day. My weight loss slowed in February, so I'm bumping up my calories a little to see how it goes. I decided there is no sense in eating 800 calories a day if I'm only losing 1-2 pounds a week. I could do that on 1200+ before!
Good luck!

You and I had surgery a day apart (mine was on 11-13-12) I think this is the time frame (3 to 4 months) that I always start to back slide when I'm on diets! I think about that daily because I really want to eat like crazy sometimes, but I can't if course. But it doesn't stop my head and my mouth from wanting it!
You and I are not that far apart weight loss wise... So I do not think its "to late" or you have "blown it"
I still struggle with my 64oz of Water everyday but I try!
I have a Premier Protein shake for Breakfast (I'm lazy)
lunch is usually something along the lines of chicken and string cheese or hummus
dinner is something like a turkey patty with cheese and a veg like broccoli
snack cheese, yogurt, sometimes a Protein Bar. Or some almonds.
I keep it pretty simple and always make sure I get at least 60 grams of protein...
Oh and I track everything I eat!!

The best move you made is to recommit. Have you tried using a tracker like My Fitness Pal? If you log everything, it might help in keeping things in check. I have made sure to keep 'good' Snacks around if I feel the need, apple slices and a little Reduced fat Peanut Butter is my favorite. I spend a little more and get the single serve. Keeps me very in check with my portions.
Check in often and get encouragement when you need it. We all need a boost now and then.
Good luck,

It is not as easy a it looks from the outside. And the upside is, you are still down weight. Pre-sleeve, you might have gained under the same circumstances. I wish you the best of luck in the future.

I think it's a good thing you recognize that you are sneaking back into your bad habits the hardest part is admitting it you know what you need to do it just needs to be immplemented. You can do it !!

I agree. You still have this tool. It's not broken. I'm like you. I have a broken leg I'm still nursing. I went through this whole process in a cast. Now I'm in a boot. I'm still far from being able to exercise. I have to rely solely on diet, as do you. You can do it! It's never too late! Sending you positive energy!

All is not lost, your sleeve can still work for you. It is simple- Protein and Protein first. Whenever I feel like I might have gotten off of the path I go back to lean protein and make sure I eat it first. It always fills me up, I eat less and then I see it on the scale. Make sure you are drinking enough to stay hydrated so you don't mistake thirst for hunger. The "fall" pre- sleeve is so much shorter than "post" sleeve- I think you will be amazed how easy it is get back on track. You said it right, it is just a tool- but it is an amazing tool! Don't waste it- work it! You are not upsetting or putting anyone out but yourself. What size shorts are you going to wear this summer? It won't matter to me if you wear a size 20 or 10, but I bet it matters to you! You can do this!

Lets see- Breakfast is boiled eggs and turkey sausage or this morning I had 1/2 a bagel cream cheese and smoked salmon. lunch is lunch meat rolled up with cheese or a salmon burger (1/2). I buy mine at trader joes or costco. dinner is Protein of whatever I make for the family. I had sloppy Joe meat the other day. I always get 2oz. Of meat, 1 tbsp of veggies. I don't eat many starchy veggies however I make them often for the family. My 6 year old is 'underweight' so- trying to get her to gain weight while I am trying to lose is fun. Tonight I'm making breakfast for dinner so I will have a 'fried' egg and turkey bacon. I do exercise. I'm doing couch to 5k and I actually have an Xbox kinect game called your fitness evolved that kicks my butt often . I also have Jillian's 30 day shred that I am starting feb 1.

Fiinally started losing again - per the scale. Down 5lbs since two weeks ago. I hope it keeps moving downward! slow but happening...

I made it to onederland this morning . SW: 248 surgery: 11/13 cw: 199.0 I don't think I have ever been so excited to see a number on the scale!

http://www.webmd.com/diet/rm-quiz-caffeine-myths
I thought I knew my favorite drug of abuse but they got me a few times. 53%! Pathetic! I must say in my defense that I just answered anything a couple times just to see the answer.
What's your percentage?

My average calories per day right now is at about 750. I get on the elliptical for about 20, 5 days a week. Started doing the elliptical about 2 weeks ago.

Was sleeved on the 19th down 34 pounds as of today...I stalled for like a month....

I was sleeved 11/20, starting weight was 361. Weighed this morning at 297, I not in the 300's anymore. I lost 20 of those lbs during liquid phase. It is a struggle for me to eat solid but it is getting a little better everyday.

Hi all...I was sleeved 11/7/12...day of surgery I was 229 & current weight 191..for a total weight loss of 38 lbs! I super pumped about that!! Good luck to everyone

Day of surgery. 226 lbs. Sleeved 11/16. Today I'm 199lbs. 27 lbs down. 46 lbs total. Wish i was a faster, bigger loser. But i stopped walking during the cold weather& have been eArting up to 1 oz of carbswith meals. Average 600 calories. I'm gonna do better. Veggies as my sides& back to walkies.

My nutritionist said that exercise, while healthy and necessary, won't really increase your weight loss. It is more for maintaining. The majority of our loss will come from our bodies using our fat stores for calories. (that of course depends on what kind of deficit we create with our food intake).

Sleeved Nov 12th, now down 94lbs and the 12th of Jan will be 2 months out! just keeps falling off! can't wait for the next 100 to be gone. Things are changing and finding I can do what I used to do after struggeling for the last 12 years of being in "Fat Hell", can only blame myself, but never again!, only going to get better now.

Sleeved 11/20th. Down 36lbs. Currently in a 7 day stall and frustrated! Why is it every time I don't lose for a few days it makes me think I wont lose anymore. I need to be more positive and exercise! Congrats to everyone in their loses!

Second stall for me. I was sleeved 11.28.12. I've lost a total of 30lbs including preop diet. Stuck in the 2-teens--frustrated but trying to be patient.

Sleeved 11/26 lost 24lbs blah! 83 more pounds to go