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Last night I weighed myself and I FINALLY weigh less than my husband! By two pounds! Woo-hoo! When I went to my 6 month checkup, I had met my surgeon's goal for me and was told I could skip my 9 month check up. I am quite content where I am at. food and Vitamins are still a struggle. I focus on Protein. I have slowed to about 4-6 lbs per month and I am often gaining and losing the same couple of pounds when I weigh myself but at the end of the month I still have a net loss. I am in small tops and size 8 bottoms at NY&CO. I ordered a pair of medium yoga pants from Old Navy and they are a bit big! Unfortunately all this weight loss has cause me to go down several bra sizes too. I need to get measured again. After being a DD I never thought that implants would be on my radar but they are now!
SW/HW: 224
CW: 155 (surgeon's goal was 168)
I am still overweight per BMI but I feel thin. And people tell me I look skinny so who knows. I just wish I could eat food without feeling sick. It's just not fun so I tend to not eat. I know that's not good but I hate feeling bad. Wonder if that ever changes or if that's what we signed up for. At the rate I am going with food intake, I am worried I will keep losing to the point of being too skinny.
I have stepped up weight workouts trying to tone up to determine if plastics is necessary. I don't want a Tummy Tuck (and don't have hanging skin so it wouldn't be covered by insurance per my NP) but I am thinking some Lipo in my lower stomach and upper inner thighs. My surgeon says wait a year so I will.

NSV - I just bought size 10 dressy shorts & capris at New York & Company. 5 months ago I was in an 18! The 10s were actually a touch loose too ! I'll tell you this surgery was the best thing I've ever done but man is it expensive clothes wise! My scale has been stagnant or even has gone up a couple pounds here or there in April so going down another size helped my psyche for sure.

Ok. Rules are SOMETIMES meant to be broken. So, Here's the deal. I am 2 weeks post op today. I am one of those who had zero issues and had a smooth ride from recovery room to date!! This post is not intended to mean I am sure I will have a long term good go at this! It also doesn't address the future, but really ONLY the many threads that I have read regarding the preo op and post op liquid diets and the Pre and post few weeks Do's and Dont's!
I have read almost every post on here before and after surgery, lol. Here is the point that I will explain. Your/Our obsession over following diet rules is what got us here in the first place.. isn't it?? I mean, it's great to have black and white rules.. Do's and Don's. can and cant's.. That's why we were ALL great on Atkins (remember the carb counting obsession), and South Beach (remember how carefully we chose the meals), weight watchers, low cal, grapefruit, slimfast , yada yada yada......RIGHT?
Sure, it worked. THEN WE WENT OFF THE WAGON and got sick of the rules and restrictions and put weight back on (and then some).... That's because it was a DIET.. Why do so many of you do that on here? I'm not judging, but trying to help! Yes, it's easier for me, since I have had no issues. I come from a strong medical family (i had bio as a minor,4 docs and 2 nurses in immed family) and I always love to understand WHY the rules are in place. If something doesn't make sense, I want to know why and not just follow a rule because it was put out there.
My surgeon told me that "rules" are on here for the lower end of reaction spectrum. meaning, many need not follow them, but since 30%, for ex, will have issues with some things, they want to make a general rule......
As EVERYONE says on here, as well as EVERY doc, ALL OF US ARE DIFFERENT! We heal differently, We tolerate pain differently, foods differently, weight loss differently, etc..... EVERY SINGLE ONE So, the rules need not be applied to the T!
Now, as a caveat and from feedback so far on this post, this is not an excuse to eat junk NOR stay on bad habits. I don't mean to enable anyone. here is what BUTTERTHEBEAN wrote:
"The only reason I say "enabling" is because I think there are some people waiting in the wings to hear someone tell them it's okay to eat whatever they want. They haven't tackled their food addictions and they are hoping for "permission" to go back to their old ways. I know there are some that can learn to eat "all things in moderation." I have no problem with that. For me, I chose to embrace my inner health nut. It's not fear or weakness or lack of self control...it's the desire to live a long, healthy and active life. I'm not depriving myself, or sacrifing. The things I'm doing and the life I'm leading now feel way better than eating pizza and cupcakes ever did (even in moderation). By that I mean that food did not give me pleasure (never did, I just thought it did), so I no longer look to food to satisfy my needs, except nutritionally."
Ok... Back to the post. Specifically, here is what I have had debunked by my brother (Anesthesiologist for bariatric), My mom (nurse and nutritionist), my bro's good friend and bariatric surgeon, and my surgeon..........
* Yes, the liquid PRE OP diet is not to be messed with. It sucked, but we need the liver to be soft and looking like liver in a supermarket. That will happen in most cases with one week.. Many docs do one week only and many do 2 weeks..... So, if you have a 2 week doc, don't worry if you cheat a little and wants some low calorie food.. It's OK!! have the Soup... etc. I didn't cheat as mine was only a week and I did not want to have a lifetime of liver issues if it was frail and broke a bit/injured while being moved for my surgery....
* Most docs on here POST OP put you on liquids for 2 weeks.. Why?? NOTHING medical. Really? Many docs, including mine, put me on Clear Liquids only day 1 in the hospital and then put me instantly on pureed foods (tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, greek yogurts, ricotta cheese, etc).. Yes. DAY 2! He does this for EVERY patient.. He has had NO MORE COMPLICATIONS than anyone else ever.... It is NOT true that eating this will cause a leak.. It can't get caught in you stitches, lol, as they are on the outside and you can't see them even in your stomach.. The ONLY risk is a)that you eat way too much and thus can cause leaks, so don't do that. and that is WAY too much. Meaning you go out of your way to test the limits. As any surgeon will tell you, stretching the stomach to break the staples is no easy task.... easy enough to follow that rule .. and the risk is that you get nauseated.. Ok.. we are all different. Some take 90 minutes the first time they eat to get down 4 oz of chicken salad.. I didn't . I got it down in 15 min and could have done it in 5..... But the point is, listen to your body. start slowly and if you tolerate it, then screw the rules.....
What does this mean? It means so what if you doc put you on 2 week post liquid. That is soo hard.. so, do it mostly, but don't obsess about cheating. have a friggin plate of tuna salad.. It will taste yummy.. Add some great yogurt. If you can handle it, you are good to go! I did.. They also want you on this liquid to max your weight loss for motivation up front? do you really need that?? I don't care if it takes me 1 more week than you to hit the same goal? Frankly, I decided to keep my calories around 800ish anyway for my first 2 weeks. It was a little hard, but nothing like your liquid nightmare and i lost as much weight... I'm now on 1200 cal full diet plan (less hard carbs and hard veggies) as of last night.
I've heard people say they are craving one Dorito chip.. Then the advice replies were "lick the cheese off" or "take a bit and spit it out...." LOL. Really? This is your diet/lifestyle for the rest of your life. HAVE A CHIP.. See if you get a lot of gas.. Chew it well.. If not problem, then enjoy the one chip. You got here because you at a half bag . One or three chips won't kill you! You need to find a way to eat what you will do.. The docs want you to build your healthy habits now.
*The first year is where you get your max weight loss- Ok. For sure,, so, as noted, build your healthy habits now.. but make it last. So, if I want a Dorito chip. I have one or two.. On my pureed phase, my kids had pretzels at a game. I took 2 small ones....I had a qtr of his hotdog meat.. The point is, if we can seriously lower the number of calories we eat (which, for me, they figured i was eating between 3500-4000 per day and needed to be at 2400 or so.. Now, with 1200, which believe me, with the sleeve is a mini feast, I will be eating half the amount and will lose a lot of weight. So, yes, build good eating habits and i'm working on good food choices that I can live with! Can I eat white bread. Damn right?should I// nO?? it's a waste of calories and spikes your sugar and appetite. But, I sure will if i want a hamburger or great sandwich. A month ago i would have had 2 cheeseburgers and 2 hotdogs at a bbq. .So, guess what, i'll lose weight. Can't make it a daily thing.. But, again, stop obsessing..
*Eating and drinking slowly eating- well, you don't HAVE to eat slowly, but as we have been told our whole lives, eat slowly so that when you are really full, you know it! Also, you need to see what your bod can tolerate and if you eat too quickly, you may not have realized you were about to puke. If you can tolerate it, you can eat and drink quicker than others, but not a good idea for reasons mentioned. so work on it, but don't obsess.. At the hospital, they told me I had to drink in in little tiny medical cups a few cc evry 20 min. I laughed, as Water went down easily in recovery even. ALL NURSES TOLD ME NO. When I saw my doc, i asked why I can't just drink as I can tolerate it at home and get my 64 oz is. HE said dont' chug, but do whatever you can do without discomfort. So, 8 oz bottle of Water went down in 5 minutes... etc....
*Chewing your food- ALL true... We have that banana sized stomach.. So, the doughy breads, and stringy veggies and large pieces of non chewed enough food INDEED often get stuck! Not stuck like a lap band, but rather, they move toward the pyloric valve and are too big to pass through it, since there isn't as much acid, etc in your stomach and, well, the route to the valve is now MUCH shorter.. So, it sits in front of it and as soon as the next item goes there, it waits in line. your body puts out gas and then knows there is a problem, so will signal you to vomit it up. not fun... So, chew! All true! Also makes us take longer to eat and thus enjoy the tastes more than ever and have the full signal sent to our brain while we are still eating or pretty close to that!
*Caffein is bad... Ok. Google whether it's an appetite suppressant or stimulant.. It's hysterical.. You'll get equal replies from GREAT sources that say the opposite. I WANT my one cup a day. I'm not an addict. I asked. I am now sipping on my first REAL one. It is indeed a diuretic for some. So, drink a half cup more water than a day! If you feel it makes you hungry after you have it and you don't want to hold back, then stop the coffee.. It doesn't for me. It does for some... But what will you be doing in a year from now??/ There is NO medical reason why you can't have caffein after a few weeks
*ALCOHOL is a no no for 2 months. NONSENSE.. Again, just there so we don't put empty calories. BUT what if I WANT one drink or two on a date tonight?? I am told, go for it, but just know you will have ingested 400 wasted calories. Ok. I get it, but I WILL drink in my life, although never drank a ton and that was not the cause of most of my weight.. Watch the calories and don't do it twice most weeks.. Or if you will, then cut back a bit on your Snacks, etc. Anyway, looking forward to a martini with my date tomorrow at dinner.. Oh, most people on here for a while, will tell you since there is less food to bind with alcohol, it goes into your intestines/blood stream much quicker and you get a nice buzz faster with less! way cool!
* Most other rules and comments on here are just not universal and again, if you feel the NEED to cheat, then well, cheat! How can it be cheating if this will be your new life! WOrk hard at right food choices and don't make this soooo hard. The harder you make it, the more YOU WILL revolt and end up going off the wagon like the good old days... Since I have had no pain, etc and pretty much eat what I wanted (and cheated on my puree period even), I feel this is just toooo easy. I hear so many of you struggling (not because you have pain, but because you want to break a rul) and so many of you "supporting them" to stay strong, that I just wanted to add this post! Also, again, much of the medical advice that our well meaning friends on here provide, just isn't true. Sorry, but it isnt.
I hope this helps some of you enjoy your Pre and Post diets much more than you may be now!
Best, my friends!

Congrats on your weight loss! I'm 5'0" so I'm shorter. I don't think I could ever weigh 135# myself. I already had my family physician tell me that plastic sx is a must:-( I kind of figured that...so I'm guessing some weight will be lost there too. My mom had a Tummy Tuck and her back done and she lost 20-25# from the sx. So i have to consider dropping more weigh when i have my sx done. 150# is all my dr thinks I'm going to drop to but if I need to lose more I'm going to bust my butt to lose it!
highest weight 224#<br />sx weight 212# (11/20/12)<br />current weight 166#(4/3)

For me the surgery was like a reset button. A chance to start fresh, but with built in restrictions that don't allow me to just throw up my hands and have a cheat day that turns into a cheat week and so on. This surgery really seems to change most chemically, in a different way than just dieting would. You don't crave sweets/breads/carbs in the same way that you did before. You feel no hunger to get you off track. These are tools to hopefully get you to significant weight loss, and then I am hoping to keep that ball rolling down hill. So in the beginning your new, small stomach forces you to change your habits - after that, it is really up to you. Make sense?

Woo-hoo! Just weighed myself and I'm 167.5 which at 5'3" makes my BMI overweight. No longer obese! My surgery was 11/19/12. Surgery weight/highest weight was 224. I'm pretty good at getting my Protein in. Water is a challenge & Vitamins make me so nauseous that I rarely take all that I should. Need to work on that. My Hair loss which was just awful has started to slow. Today is a good day

I hear this is good for hair n nails ........I just started taking it .....if I can remember to take it every night ......its to take at bedtime......#Walmart

We have almost exact starting stats. I'm being sleeved on Tues the 26th. Thank you for posting!! Very inspiring!

Went to the Bon Jovi concert last night in Cleveland in size 12 skinny jeans and tall high heeled boots. Beginning to feel "thin" - felt attractive for the first time in a long time and it felt good! Down 54 lbs since my surgery 11/19/12. Best decision ever!

Went to the Bon Jovi concert last night in Cleveland in size 12 skinny jeans and tall high heeled boots. Beginning to feel "thin" - felt attractive for the first time in a long time and it felt good! Down 54 lbs since my surgery 11/19/12. Best decision ever!

Duh. Totally blanked out on fish! I do like fish but my husband doesn't so i never make it at home. cheese would be good but all i can think of there meal wise involve Pasta (mac & cheese) or bread (pizza). Looks like I'll start making fish at home this Lenten season

"Those who are excused from fast or abstinence Besides those outside the age limits, those of unsound mind, the sick, the frail, pregnant or nursing women according to need for meat or nourishment, manual laborers according to need, guests at a meal who cannot excuse themselves without giving great offense or causing enmity and other situations of moral or physical impossibility to observe the penitential discipline."
I think that we may fall in this category.....need for meat for nourishment..... What do you think?
Sent from my iPhone using VST

How about Protein Bars? I just bought Pure Protein bars at Sam's this weekend and they are good better than shakes IMHO about 180-200 cals depending on the flavor & 20g of protein

Actually, you can. There is a provision for medical necessity and this definately falls into this category.
Trust me, your God does not want you to sacrifice at the cost of your health.
What is usually recommended is to find another act of penance or charity. Check out #3 below

I was sleeved November 19th. My weight a week before the surgery was 224. This morning I finally broke 180 with a weight of 179. I feel like the entire month on January I gained and lost the same 3 pounds toggling between 181 and 183. My size 16s are huge on me but I am not buying any new clothes yet. I would have thought that 45 pounds would have led to smaller sizes but I was at old navy this weekend and some 16s were tight. Oh well sizes are only numbers. I still struggle to get my liquids, Vitamins and any food in. I do get around 50 grams of Protein in a day but I feel like that's all I eat. All in all it was a great decision that I wouldn't change although I had no idea how difficult the journey would be.

I went to the gap a couple of weeks ago, I was so happy just to be able to try on regular clothes again!! I bought a size 16 and was so happy especially because they were real jeans not stretchy ones! You weigh less than me! So it really is all over the place with sizing!!

I was sleeved November 19th. My weight a week before the surgery was 224. This morning I finally broke 180 with a weight of 179. I feel like the entire month on January I gained and lost the same 3 pounds toggling between 181 and 183. My size 16s are huge on me but I am not buying any new clothes yet. I would have thought that 45 pounds would have led to smaller sizes but I was at old navy this weekend and some 16s were tight. Oh well sizes are only numbers. I still struggle to get my liquids, Vitamins and any food in. I do get around 50 grams of Protein in a day but I feel like that's all I eat. All in all it was a great decision that I wouldn't change although I had no idea how difficult the journey would be.

Shelbell12 we are in the same boat. I was sleeved 11/19. I'm down 35 lbs. The problem is I can still barely eat - although I can eat sweets/carbs with no problem. I had no idea how hard it was going to be. Good for me food makes me sick. It's so frustrating. I know this will get easier but for now, regret does seep in sometimes.

Thanks all! While I appreciate the input, I would like to caution some of you on your tone. If I am needing "help" please offer a suggestion of who/where. If you can't fathom a fat chick making a fat chick choice lol **shrugs** If you can't relate to a mistep and have no encouragement...please keep it moving. I don't need anyone being condesending (not to be confused with being honest/telling it like it is). I talked to my doctor about my spoonful and he assured me that I would be fine and that ALLOT of people slip (if they want to admit it to others or even themselves). I also understand that there are those that NEVER mistep **round of applause** Anywho, I've been back on track the past couple of days. Again, thank you for the support. In the event I mess up again...I'll be back to confess it.

Hi All....I feel like a new person and LOVE my new body. I have lost 70 pounds and am truly enjoying yoga classes and power walking and weight lifting.
I am almost a size 10.....a little snug yet....but 12 fits beautifully.
I feel that at the rate I have lost this weight I will be a size 8 before I know it!
That is of course unless I let food interfere with my plans to be healthy and happy again........as I am a little afraid of what is happening...and what could happen in the next few weeks.
There are soooooooooooo many bad things to eat around at work.......
I am tired after work and have grabbed a burger too in the past few weeks......of course I can only eat half......but still.....and I don't even like it to be honest.....just an old habit creeping back.....
I ate 3.....yes THREE Cookies yesterday at work.
I have not done that since my surgery and it scared me how easy it was to do.
Then the scale said I gained 2 pounds this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
High alert.....sirens and bells.....somebody stop me......
Geez.....
I mean really am I going to gain a bunch of weight just because it is Christmas?????????????
Come on right??????
Sigh......
I have to fight that little voice that stills lives inside of me......telling me I WANT those things.....when I actually don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back on track tomorrow.....
Anybody else struggling with temptation?

I had my sleeve on November 19th. My first post op appointment was yesterday, December 6th. I've lost 26 lbs & 28% of my excess weight - woo-hoo! I've been moved to soft foods. Tried successfully 2 tablespoons of egg beaters this morning. Making tilapia & mashed potatoes for dinner. Can't wait to be free of those yucky Protein Shakes. Looking forward to the next few months! Already fit into riding boots that previously wouldn't zip. Great feeling!

YaY!! Great job! 28% is fantastic!

I just finished 6 days of 1,000 calories or less and now I'm on day 1 of 3 on clear liquid and Protein before my surgery on Monday. I'm thinking a glass of white wine would taste real good right now.

I had my sleeve on November 19th. My first post op appointment was yesterday, December 6th. I've lost 26 lbs & 28% of my excess weight - woo-hoo! I've been moved to soft foods. Tried successfully 2 tablespoons of egg beaters this morning. Making tilapia & mashed potatoes for dinner. Can't wait to be free of those yucky Protein Shakes. Looking forward to the next few months! Already fit into riding boots that previously wouldn't zip. Great feeling!