greensleeve

Thanks!

Can you see the picture?

What phase does your surgeon have you on?

I am four months out too. I have to take my Vitamins every day like clock work. I also take extra D. My surgeon probably wouldn't want to hear this but I do have an extra coffee or tea in the late afternoon when I'm really tired. Also I take Milk Thistle which supports your liver. Our livers have to do so much work processing all the fat and everything that comes out of it.

Your liver will be fine from one sandwhich. Honestly our surgeons know we are addicted to food. I think they make the diet extra strict and long because they know we are going to slip up a little. You are doing great. It's human nature to want to eat real food, have something to chew, and drinking Protein shakes for so long is against our very DNA. It's so necessary to make surgery safer, but don't beat yourself up. Just stay with it and it will be over soon. I ate a really dark chocolate bar during my pre-op diet. I was fine.

[ I just have to share. Four months and 80 pounds gone!

Good for you! You look great.

Thanks. I used to be an avid rider. It was my main transportation for a few years. I think I need to get my own bike!

I haven't been on a bike in probably 12 years. She's never seen me ride a bike. We just rode around on our street and went around the circle. Not a long ride because I need to get the seat raised, it's set for a shorter person. I might go on a trail with my step son sometime this week. I was so excited to not have to worry about being off balance, blowing a tire or looking like the Michelin man on a tiny bike.

I have hit a lot of these already and it's so surreal! Booths are a piece of cake now. Stairs are nothing. I'm in a size medium shirt and my old shirts that used to roll up look so long on me.

Thanks! I was just so nervous about it all and I really didn't want to have to deal with a million questions and comments. I was SO nervous. When I get like that I just really have a hard time being patient with people so I knew that wasn't the time to deal with an onslaught of commentary.

I hadn't told her because I only wanted those close to me to know. She can have trouble keeping secrets and I didn't want to burden her with that. And if she let it slip I knew she would feel guilty. Almost everyone in my family knows now, and my ex and his girlfriend know because they hacked my email. Long story there but I don't have to worry about them finding out now. So I told her, she was a little upset because she thought that I had a bad stomach disease even though I never said that. I'm just glad it's out in the open now and that she can ask me questions and I can tell her why I don't eat certain things. I feel relieved.

I had a decrease in desire after surgery and I was thinking this was permanent. I was just so focused on the mechanics of healing and eating, and my response wasn't what it used to be. But now I feel like I'm more horny than ever. And I just like changing positions, I last longer and feel like I'm more flexible. Definitely a big improvement in an area I didn't think could improve!

Can you get a letter from your doc?

I am down 80 pounds. My stomach was already a mess from pregnancies and previous weight loss. I started out losing a lot there but my body right now is taking it off my behind, feet, fingers, calves. The worst place right now is right under my arm pits. I had no idea how much I would lose there. My arms actually look pretty good for what I've lost on them but that armpit/side boob area looks like a deflated balloon. I wish you luck! It's frustrating but everyone loses differently and every one's skin responds differently.

Mine decreased after surgery a lot. But now I'm back to my normal self. I kept wondering how the sex could get better because our sex life is amazing. But yeah trying new positions, having more mobility, more flexibility and more endurance makes it even better! Ouch my thighs hurt....

I have never felt like food was my best friend. I never considered myself a foodie. I just ate a lot of food because I wanted to. I have done a lot of work on myself and the reasons why I over ate. And so now when I eat something that is amazing, I think to myself that I wish I could eat more of it. But then I feel happy that I can't eat more of it. The reality is that I can eat more of it the next day. I just don't feel sad that I can only eat a few bites of something. Because now I'm in control of food instead of food controlling me. And it is a great feeling. I'm down almost 80 pounds and I don't regret it at all. I have further to go but I already feel so much healthier, lighter, younger, and more like the real me. I feel like this is who I am supposed to be.

That's awesome. I really like the symbolism here and you look really happy.

You aren't supposed to have NSAIDS with a sleeve either. I get bad headaches and especially after surgery I had some doozies. My Dr prescribed Tramadol. It's a strange drug. Some people have no reaction, some people feel wacky, and some people fall asleep. If I take her dose I fall asleep and I'm just out. Half that and I just feel weird and can't be in charge of kids or drive. A fourth and it doesn't relieve the pain. If I were you I would talk to your surgeon and PCP. I wonder if you would have enough relief from your arthritis from weight loss that you wouldn't need ad much pain relief. You could also look into alternative pain relief like herbals, homeopathy, acupuncture, etc. Arnica is supposed to be great for pain.

I'm a sleever but if I eat things with too much sugar I get heart palpitations and feel sick. Its not as bad as the stories I've heard from bypassers. Last night I ate at a new Mexican place. I had three chips with salsa and maybe three bites of burrito with guac. After dinner they gave us tiny mints. I had one and had to spit it out because my heart started racing. I have had a bite of a brownie or a spoon of ice cream and neither made my heart race.

I hope your friends either come around or you find people who are supportive. Being nervous is normal. I assume you have researched your surgeon and talked to others who he or she operated on. Did those people have any issues? I was so beyond anxious. It's such a life changing event, so many unknowns. And surgery is scary. At least to most people. I am four months out and I have lost 77 pounds. I don't regret it at all. The first few months are challenging but anything worthwhile is difficult in some way! I am doing things I never could before, I feel so much younger, I have so much energy, sex is better, I have such a different relationship with food. You will do great, just come here when you need help!

Four months and 76 pounds down, I feel great, I like looking in the mirror now, I can do so much more. I feel like I'm me and not me with a bunch of extra stuff on top. I get my Protein, take my Vitamins and drink my Water every day. It was hard at first but I am so so so glad I had surgery. (Sleeve)

I walked up and down multiple steps all weekend without getting winded or tired. Someone told me I looked skinny. Woo!

Wonderful! You have worked hard!

That's 75 pounds since the pre op diet. Here's what I do. Aim for 65 grams Protein every day, which I hit 95% of the time. Drink at least 62 ounces fluids a day. Eat protein first Eat low fat, no white sugar, low carb food. I have good fat like olive oil and nuts. I log everything I eat in My Fitness Pal every single day. I have 1000 calories as my limit but it's usually around 700. Hope that helps.