MichiganChic

I think I lost about a half inch. I find it hard to believe, but I wonder if it had to do with all the fat forcing joints and vertebrae further apart, and extra padding on bottom of feet? There's also the theory of thinner hair. Or maybe people don't know how to measure either before or after, or both. IDK.

I'm a hippie. I lost 140 pounds in about 14 months. I also lost 20 inches, yes, almost 2 feet, off my hips! My body did redistribute some, too. And, now, after plastics, I'm perfectly proportioned for the first time in my life.

I was advised to eat slow, and MEASURE food, rather than weigh it. We are supposed to eat 2 tablespoons to 1/2 cup max for the first 6-12 months. Eat slow and watch signs of being full.

I take two multivitamins daily, and Vitamin D 10,000 mg twice weekly. In the beginning I also had B12 daily, Calcium 500 mg three times daily, and Iron 2-3 times a day. The doc too me off all of that because all of those levels were too high. Vitamins are necessary but absolutely not a one size fits all. Some of them are fat soluble and can be toxic or harmful if you get too much of them. They have to be adjusted based on lab work.

I don't have hatred or negative feelings toward obese people. I know it felt to be judged, and I remember how I felt being the biggest person in every room and everywhere I went. So, I probably shouldn't admit this, and I don't mean to be glib...but I always think I'm the hottest old bag at Krogers, lol! It is not in direct comparison to anyone there, but I am just so happy to be thin and feel so good in my cute clothes that I'm pretty sure everyone thinks it, too haha! I just crack myself up, because just like not everyone judged me for obesity, not everyone (and probably NO ONE) notices me at Krogers. My point is that it is and was my own internal dialogue, much as @@gowalking indicated.

The OP specifically REQUESTED opinions. People gave just that, and backed it up with reasons. Opinions are based on personal bias or belief, and may be right or wrong. Then there is medical best practice. Current medical standards in the United States do not indicate weight loss surgery for people with a BMI of 29. That is why centers of excellence do not do surgery on overweight individuals with BMIs under 35 unless there are comorbidities. Just because you can find a surgeon to operate on you does not mean it's a good idea. In time, perhaps medical best practice will change, but with known current standards, WLS in this individual is likely contraindicated. Having said all that, it's a personal decision. The OP was seeking opinions to help make a good decision, and it didn't take much persuasion for her to rethink it. Personally, my opinion is that @@addygirl is making a good choice by trying to improve health with traditional diet and exercise. I don't know you, but it is the same thing I would tell my daughter.

Wow! Huge transformation is a short time! You look great

Do you have neurocardiogenic syncope? And did you have it pre-op, or do you mean it started since surgery? I do know someone with a sleeve who had NCS pre-op, but just trying to understand what you are dealing with.

It was an immediate change for me, particularly in that sweets didn't taste good. I used to drink a lot of milk before surgery, and that was something I had to give up. Thought I'd really miss it, but I don't. I eat very little bread, rice, pasta, which were all staples of my diet before. I rarely think about those things these days. So, while my diet and habits changed, and that has seemed to stick for the most part, my aversion to sweets did not. I don't eat much that's sweet, but can definitely enjoy a piece of cake if I decide to do that.

We would have fun! Because when all that was done we could go shopping or sit on the back porch and do nothing - my other favorite pastime that I never get to do!

I was down 84 pounds at 6 months, which was roughly 50-55% of excess weight.

It's not too late for swimsuit season for you! Losing weight is hard work, with or without surgery, for sure. There are a million diets out there, so you just have to find one you can actually do. I guess one suggestion is to eat a diet like WLS people need to eat. Protein first, non starchy vegetables, limit carbohydrates. Of course you'd need a little more food, but count the calories and keep them to around 1200. I think many of us have learned that the carbohydrates cause cravings and lead to increased consumption and slow weight loss. Of course, don't forget to increase your activity, and drink your Water. Incidentally, losing just 10% of your body weight greatly reduces your risk for obesity related conditions. Good luck.

@TheRealMeIsHere! I wish you were my neighbor. I'd totally find stuff for you to do at my house I have never, ever, not even once, run out of things to do!

You are smart to really think this through. A BMI of 28 is not a diagnosis that warrants a drastic surgery by current medical standards in the US. The benefits do not outweigh the risks from what you've said. Just because you have a skilled surgeon, you are not guaranteed to have no complications. Also, having WLS does not guarantee you will actually lose weight and keep it off - we still have to do that part for ourselves, so you need to make sure you are ready to commit to a permanent change. Go to the complications thread, read some real life stories, and see if you think the permanent, disabling complications people have had are things you are willing to live with. Only you know your personal risk tolerance, but most certainly, make an informed decision.

Thanks everyone for your answers, they were all very insightful. Even though I don't, I think I could easily eat double what most of you can eat. :/ I wish I had more restriction than I do. I'm thankful that I can tolerate anything, but that is really a double edged sword. I always have to force myself to stop eating before I am full. My allotment of calories and food really is not very satisfying. But being thin is, so I guess this is my life.

Thanks for sharing that. I have never eaten that, but I bet I could. I am just ignoring the fact that I'm pretty sure my sleeve is big because I've been successful enough....but if I let myself think about it too long, I start thinking I want a resleeve, too! My family would kill me. For me, I think of myself as "normal" and that I can eat small portions like a normal person with a whole stomach. It still keeps me from overeating, even if it does allow me to eat more than most sleevers. At this point, it's pretty much all me since I have to eat around 1100 calories to maintain this weight.

@@Band07 how big is a big sleeve? How much can you hold? I also think mine is big, but have been successful (mostly) so I never had it checked. I am 2.5 years post op and I can't get the last 10-20 pounds off. I really wish for a smaller capacity, but I don't think I'd risk another surgery at this point. I might someday, though, if I can't stay where I am. So, I'm interested in your experience.

You are doing fine. I know some people report they can't feel restriction at first, but do when they get past liquids and soft foods. I weigh myself daily, and I track it, but only count the weekly weight. Human bodies just do not lose daily, and often bump up along the way, even the trend is steadily down overall. You are doing the right thing by weighing and measuring your food, and tracking calories. Keep up the good work. One question - how can you be forced to drink alcohol? Just curious - we all have to do things for work we don't necessarily feel like doing, lol. I'd sure try to pretend like I was drinking it, though. Not sure what your doc's "rules" are, but that was off limits for me at 6 weeks.

@@SaraJay425 you have youth on your side, so it may not be an issue for you. Here is my opinion: The things that contribute to loose skin are age, genetics, years of obesity, amount of obesity, quality of skin. What will not contribute to loose skin is rate of loss. People say that all the time and I don't think slow loss = less loose skin. It does take some time for your skin to shrink, though, so when people lose slower their skin has time to "catch up or shrink" compared to rapid loss. Unfortunately, exercise will not tighten loose skin, either. It will, however, make you strong with great muscle tone. If you only have a little looseness, the extra muscle might fill out the skin better. I'm 52 and was obese for 30 years. I had a ton (actually 12 pounds) of loose skin I had removed. I lost 140 pounds in 14 months. My daughter is your age and had a sleeve 5 months ago and has lost 80 pounds so far, and she has no loose skin. She was obese only a few years, though she was overweight most of her life. We are from the same gene pool, so that is a good example. I would not fear the loose skin. You may or may not have it. I doubt you'll have much because you are young. I'd rather have loose skin than fat because you'd be surprised at how much you can hide with clothes, and we clothed most of the time. Good luck!

I had to chuckle a little when I read the original post because I say the same thing to myself sometimes. Not often, but every once in a while, but I read something that pisses me off and I find myself responding....and the whole time I really am asking myself why I even care. The beauty of it is that we can just not participate if we don't like what is said. Usually I can

Truthfully, I don't think of myself as special. But, if I have to come up with something, I'm very proud of the daughters I've raised and I like to think that being their mother has contributed to the really wonderful, special people they are. I also have a master's degree in nursing, and while I don't provide hands-on care anymore, I do think the work I do in nursing informatics impacts patients and nurses across the country in a positive way.

It was a 9 out of 10 for me. Maybe a 10, but I always thi it can be worse lol.

@@Bufflehead LOL. There is just NO way you look like you need WLS in a size 10. That's just absurd! They might just not realize that people could have already had surgery. Ignore them. You are a success. @@BLERDgirl there is something to be said for paying it forward. I think there are other ways to do that, such as speaking at the informational seminars. I have been doing this for over 2 years, so I think it might be time for a little self preservation You know, like on the plane, they tell you to put your own oxygen on before helping someone else. There is so much difference between 6 months out and 2 and half years out. The issues are just different. @LivingFree! that's such a good idea to make sure you take away something positive. And even when people run away with the meetings, I still think that going there and "showing up" does help in some way.

You know the answer. Yes, go back to basics. Protein first, low carb, no grazing, measure your food....you know the rules. 6 pounds isn't the end of the world, but it's enough to strike fear in our hearts, for sure! I'd also suggest keeping tabs with your surgeon's office. Get the support you need to stay on track. It's a lifelong commitment, and you can do it! I think the reason you can't post in the vets forum is the number of post you've made.

I know this question has been asked a million times, but I wanted to hear from fellow vets. Unfortunately for me, I can consume more than I wish I could. I still spot check my food quantity and weight, and count calories to ensure I'm on track. If I just "listened to my body" I'd be 300 pounds, I fear. I have let myself eat as much as I wanted a couple of times, and while I wasn't measuring it then, I was shocked that I could eat at least 1.5 cups. Typically, I stay between 1/2 and 1 cup. I can easily eat 5-6 ounces of lean Protein. My surgeon said that's pretty typical, and that some people develop an area of ballooning in a portion of their stomach. He said there is no evidence to suggest that it's harmful, or that there is increased success in removing it. He didn't suggest doing any tests to find out, and neither did I, since I'm fine. It's just that I wish I had more restriction than I do. I've never had restriction like so many people report, but obviously, it was enough to lose a significant amount of weight. I keep my calories around 1100/day, some days a little more. I do experience hunger, but it's most certainly manageable. 1. What is your capacity in measurement (cups)? 2. What is your capacity in weight (ounces, grams)? 3. How many calories do you consume? 4. How's your hunger?