sara-seeking-sleeve

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?"

Not too many guy responses, so I'll put in my two cents. I have been an apple shape most of my life. Even after losing the weight, I was still a smaller apple. However, after a few months of focused strength training, I am getting the triangle athletic shape of broad shoulders, big delts, lats and narrow waist. It is possible to change your fundamental shape with the right type of strength training. It takes a lot of focus, high intensity and consistently showing up to workouts though.

Total apple here! Very frustrating to see other less fat body parts shrinking and my big belly still ever present. I have to keep in mind that no matter what I'm healthier than I was and that I'll never have a small tummy... But I will be able to rock cute clothes and live longer!!!
Sleeved- 2/27/13
Highest weight pre-op- 273.5
Current weight- 205.5

Sara- you look awesome & so adorable in that dress/cardigan!!! When you have zoomed past fitting into it will gladly take that outfit off your hands! :0) Sleeve date 8/10/13 yay!

Whoohooo!!! Look amazing!

Oh what a difference this year has made. 1st pic ~250 2nd pic ~ 193. DOS 2/20/13. Loving my sleeve and life is good
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Hey all you fabulous February 2013 sleevers! This is the best thread!
Happy to report I've lost 51 lbs as of this morning! I was hoping to reach the 50 lb milestone so the extra lb is a great gift!
Happy Thursday everyone!
pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4

Actually Hair loss is a side effect of the surgery. I eat over 100grams of protein a day plus take Biotin. It is just ond of those things.

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Surprising side effects of dehydration

3 days ago, Reluctantly Healthy
In this episode "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" trainers and life coaches Chris and Heidi Powell educate host Judy Greer on the importance of staying hydrated. A huge plus for hydration, Judy says, is that it helps prevent wrinkles. But another unflattering side effect of dehydration is weight gain, Chris and Heidi caution. Even mild dehydration can slow down your metabolism by as much as 3%. Ninety percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated, and the body often misinterprets thirst for hunger. The effects are far from skin-deep: Lack of Water is the #1 trigger for daytime fatigue and headaches. What's the best temperature for your water? It depends, Chris says. If you want to hydrate yourself quickly drink it cold. But if you want to fill up and suppress your appetite, choose warm because it stays in your system longer and expands the stomach, sending a signal to your brain that you're "full." Watch for more of Chris and Heidi's tips on hydration, including how to use your body weight to determine how much you should drink daily.
http://screen.yahoo.com/surprise-side-effects-dehydration-050000603.html

I'm in Fullerton and had surgery with Orange Coast in Fountain Valley with dr Kelly Francis. I've lost 95% of my excess weight.

I'm in Fullerton! Went to orange coast memorial they were amazing!

I was sleeved on Feb 28th and an down 40 lbs as of yesterday, which includes the pre-surgery diet phase. My weight loss has slowed the last few weeks as I've begun to eat more regular food. Also I've been extremely busy with a show that I am in so not able to get in enough exercise. Most of the time I feel fine but I get lightheaded sometimes. I think it might be cuz I'm not getting enough Water. I have to get down on my knees in the show and for the first time in my adult life I can do it gracefully, without having to put my hands down first. Getting up is still a bit of a challenge but I'm working on it! LOL! Keep up the great work fellow February 2013 sleevers!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hey guys today is my 2 mth surgaversary ! Woo hooo I'm doing fantastic starting weight 260 surgery weight 239 today 204 and I feel great.. I hit a stall for like a week and a half but the scale started moving again yesterday ! I feel very blessed to have not run into any problems .. I just want to let everyone know of a realization I have come to that some of u may feel or have felt and realized it after u started losing the weight... Ok.... I FORGOT ABOUT ME! I was so big I didn't feel girlie so why dress that way, why care about cute cloths and make up and my hair was just fine threw up in a pony tail! It was all about my kids, my husband , my home, the dogs, and then way down on the list was me, but since I started this journey I have had no choice but to have to put me first. And I have realized that no mater how much your family loves u that if u don't put your self first no one will.. So I now take that hr to do my makeup and hair and even tho I will lose more weight and they will be to big on me I have bought cute outfits to wear that me me feel girlie again.. So I guess my new moto is ME, MYSELF and everyone else lol... At least for a little while...lol... So I guess I just wanted to say thank u to everyone in the thread for all the post that have helped me with my journey .. And keep giving the updates cuz I know for sure they have helped me...

So the other day I couldn't find a before picture...found one and it's frightening! It's a weird pic because I have this NPPV mask on trying it out in class (I'm a Respiratory Therapy student). Also I am reposting the picture I took last week at 88 lbs total. In the picture I am probably 280 or so. After picture I am 214.

Hi,
I was sleeved on the 19th and my loss has been slow too but miraculously I am losing inches! I don't really understand why this is, my Dietician (think you Yanks call them Nutritionists) calls it "weight re-distribution". Well, whatever it is I don't much care, I only know that I am steadily working my way back into my collection of clothes from previous weight loss!
You are so right, it's not good to compare. I am only 5ft tall and 200lbs, so not going to lose like someone 5ft 10 inches and 300lbs.
The most important thing for me is the belief that this time, as I say goodbye to each and every pound, it's for good! No more yo-yo ing.
Good luck folks.

I'm so happy to hear your on the road to feeling better!!!

I was feeling a little low about how slow my weight loss is going. This weekend it got warm here and I decided to try on some of my summer clothes....I tried on this pair of jean shorts that I couldn't even get up to see how close they were to fitting...They fit!!! I couldn't believe it!!! I wore them yesterday with no problems! I carry most of my weight in my lower stomach, so this was huge! I was doing the happy dance!!!!!

Sleeved on 2/28... down 45lbs. This includes preop diet too.
Start: 243
Surgery: 217
Now: 198
Haven't been under 200 in forever.

I have to agree with the past few posts... We need to give it time to work for us. I've also been thinking that maybe some of us are slower to losing because we weren't the excessive over eaters to begin with. I always tried to eat reasonably healthy. I did have months here or there when I didn't care, but overall I was morbidly obese while constantly dieting and watching my intake. So, maybe I'm just over thinking it all, but maybe just maybe this is why the my scale isn't moving as quickly as others.

I have to agree with the past few posts... We need to give it time to work for us. I've also been thinking that maybe some of us are slower to losing because we weren't the excessive over eaters to begin with. I always tried to eat reasonably healthy. I did have months here or there when I didn't care, but overall I was morbidly obese while constantly dieting and watching my intake. So, maybe I'm just over thinking it all, but maybe just maybe this is why the my scale isn't moving as quickly as others.

Yes, inquiring minds want to know! Tell us about your food caloric intake and any exercise regime you incorporated on your journey