lilbearzmom

I am 4 months out and getting to the point where I know how much I can hold. I do measure out pretty much everything, too, and still don't finish most of the time. I usually push it away before I get too full (the food before me loses its appeal) My sign for eating one bite too many is a "stuck" feeling in my throat. This also happens when I eat too fast. Unfortunately everyone is different and there is no hard and fast textbook full feeling. -Kendra

You do realize that not everyone was told everything YOU were told, I hope! Surgeons are as different as night and day sometimes. You give the example of drinking from a straw...I am allowed to drink from a straw. I asked. That's just one example. Some surgeons do not see a problem with carbonation in moderation. I highly doubt your surgeon and NUT are the messiahs of VSG. No one's are. Also, maybe you had brain surgery while they were doing your VSG and all of your bad habits that got you to where you were magically disappeared after surgery. We aren't cured. Sometimes people slip into bad habits for a moment. I didn't lose my humanity when I had surgery. I am still a work in progress and always will be. I didn't eat popcorn a week out- I followed the phases religiously. But, *gasp* I have eaten carbs and horror of horrors, drank out of a straw. I have still managed to lose 95 lbs. Go figure. I really don't like holier-than-thou's... -Kendra

You're obsessed with this topic! LOL Don't worry, most of us post opers have a load on our minds most of the time, so I suppose it's normal!!!

I was sleeved here in the US, and have no idea what my "bougie size" was/is. I have plenty of restriction. -Kendra

I do eat at Subway on occasion. Please, no wet noodle. Anyway, I noticed that many pre-ops and new post-ops want to know what your restriction is at certain stages of the journey. Of course, everyone is different, so don't take this as written in stone for everyone. For lunch today: 3 inch turkey breast & ham sub w/ spinach, tomato, pickle, banana peppers, onion, green pepper, sweet onion sauce, regular mayo (just a little bit), salt and pepper & 1 bag baked ruffles sour cream and cheddar I did eat the whole 1 oz bag of chips but could only get down about 2/3 of the sandwich. I had them cut a 6 inch in half. Now I have lunch for tomorrow as well. I am now stuffed- pre-op I wasn't stuffed until I downed a 12 inch. I hope that gives some of you an idea of how restriction can be at 4 months post-op. -Kendra

You are very brave. And you have lost- big time. Fabulous job!

We have all been where you are, and it does get better! The best thing is, soon you'll be feeling back to yourself again, adding new foods, and yes, you will enjoy food again with friends and family. The best part is, you will have control over that food, it will not have control over you. You can only go up from here-good luck & keep us updated. -Kendra

That is so fabulous for you- amazing! I am about to graduate with an AAS in Respiratory Care and embarking on a second career at 40! I am about to start applying for jobs, and I am not so nervous about my appearance during interviews as I once was. Congrats to you- wish you the best of luck! -Kendra

I like them too- especially the chicken teriyaki one.

I have heard of doing this but for some reason I think the person making my sub will think I'm a total weirdo and won't know what I'm talking about. LOL I will do that next time and not worry what he/she thinks.

It's certainly not the "easy way". Who in their right mind has major surgery that cuts out most of a vital organ, if not to save their own life. This is not a "whim" surgery, nor is it a cure. Your results are still as always what you make of them. I totally agree- anyone who says that is so ignorant, it's a waste of time speaking with them. -Kendra

I had mine out with my sleeve surgery, so...no. At least not my episodes.

Um yes since I am looking in the mirror a lot more.

I LOVED pop pre-sleeve. I really liked coke zero and just prior to surgery I was stopping at convenience stores for large half coke zero/half reg cokes. I was told to stop pop a long time before surgery, but couldn't do it. Well, at 4 months post-op I haven't had one since December. It doesn't appeal. If I were you I would wean off of it. Start reducing it by 1 per day. -Kendra

It's not a terrible idea. I think it's a very balanced plan and sustainable. I also would not worry about stretching your sleeve unless you're eating the entire bunch of bananas at one time. You need to find what works for you, whether it's WW or carb counting or something else. Fortunately for us, we have the sleeve as an advantage. -Kendra

I am also seeing a therapist once a month to deal with post-op issues. I met her when I was referred pre-op by my surgeon's psychiatrist. Post-surgery I thought I wouldn't need her, but the 3 week post-op blues hit and I gave her a call. It has helped, I think, because I was also food addicted and still a little scared to transfer that to another unhealthy thing. -Kendra

It's a spot on cure for hiccups...I am completely serious. That is when I would have a sip, if holding my breath didn't work. I got this tip from my grandfather.

I feel I should clarify- it is my understanding from my NUT that you are much less likely to dump with the sleeve than with RNY, and probably most people don't. Pre-sleeve with my normal anatomy I feel like i used to dump on occasion, in particular after I had eaten out a high-fat meal...but who knows...

I was told by my NUT that you can dump with the sleeve. I have also had a racing heartbeat occasionally after I have had protein shakes. Just goes to show how everyone is told different things...

Oh my! I was sleeved the same day as you...didn't have a hernia repair but they removed my gallbladder. I hope it is smooth sailing from here on out for you! Thanks for posting! -Kendra

My favorite kind of donut is a Tim Horton's honey cruller. I decided to have one a few weeks ago as a treat. I couldn't leave the house afterwards- stomach cramps, the whole works. That thing must have dumped out of my sleeve at 100 mph. Not to say I haven't had sweets in small amounts at other times without problems, but dumping does happen...ugh. -Kendra

I do this to my husband's and my son's food!!! LOL

Dec 17 surgery here, I am down 65 lbs since surgery. Add in my pre-op loss, and it's a total of 95. I am really enjoying no longer being the biggest girl in the room. I'm blending in more and more with the "normal size" folks. I have had my share of stalls, but I only allow a pity party for a few minutes and then I am back at it. I also make sure I shake things up a bit when I stall- so far they have only lasted 1-2 weeks, and I often post a significant loss when they do break. I am looking forward to seeing how everyone else is doing! I am 47 lbs from goal. -Kendra

I can so relate. I have been seriously overweight pretty much my entire life, minus early chidhood and a few minutes in my early 20s. Being fat is/was who I am. Makes me wonder if that's why I subconciously ate so much- too afraid of the newness of being thin.

I am so odd- there are some I feel comfortable telling and some people I don't. My family knows- probably because I don't feel judged by them- they are obligated not to judge me...LOL I have not told any of my classmates- none. I don't know why I'm uncomfortable telling them in particular. Since surgery I nave been adamant that it is no one's business and I won't tell anyone anything other than "watching what I eat and exercising". Lately, though, I have been telling anyone who asks me how I'm doing it- people I hardly know as well as someone I hadn't seen in 2 years. Perhaps now that 4 months have passed I am more comfortable with having had the surgery, because I agree that while it isn't "the easy way out" or a cure for obesity, I do have an advantage that most other people don't. -Kendra