MichiganChic

There's no way to know how you'll feel after surgery, but for me, I don't cook much as I used to. I used to love to cook, and I worked part time, so I cooked great meals almost every day, and had big family gatherings every chance I got. I loved to bake, too. I was always trying new things, and just loved to feed people, including me. I always had too much food, too. And usually, there was no expense (calories/fat) spared in any of it. Of course, I would alternate that with periodic attempts at weight loss, often for a year or more at a time, where I would prepare healthy meals. However, I was still pretty focused on food, and it took all of my energy. So, when I had my sleeve, I had to make a conscious effort to back away from the food. I try to limit the amount of time and effort I put into food planning and preparation. I still cook some, and I entertain some, too, just not as often. And when I do, I think about things that work into my eating plan, and I usually don't have the abundance of food in terms of quantity and choices I used to. So far, no one is suffering from that I have only baked once in the last 2 years. That was a huge change, because I used to bake several times a week. No one is worse off for that, either. It was a choice I made. I knew that if I continued with that lifestyle, I would not be successful. I don't know how you'll do, but for me, spending so much time and energy on food is a disaster. Even now, when I cook, I tend to sample what I'm preparing, and I over eat sometimes. From a reformed foodie, I say it was an excellent trade for me. I found other things to occupy my time, and now I don't really miss it. You said your husband is athletic, so you might find other ways to spend your time if you decide cooking isn't worth it to you, either.

I agree - others can't seem to stop comparing us to our former selves, as opposed to what is normal. I think society in general has "fat brain" and we've lost site of a normal weight is. We rail against too thin, pretend, air-brushed models, we rail against obesity, but we don't seem to have a gauge of normal thin appearance.

I think it just depends on your insurance. Mine covered the abdominoplasty. Everything else is self pay.

I wish you much luck and a speedy recovery! So sorry you've had to endure all of that. Keep us posted!

When I say I can eat whatever I want, I mostly mean I can tolerate just about any and all foods. Things didn't taste right for a long time, but now things tastes like I expect them to. However, almost nothing tastes as good I used to think it did, and I remember that to keep from overeating. As far as for the amount, that's a relative statement, because I got used to eating very small amounts. I always think I can eat a lot because I can eat more than 4 ounces, like maybe 8-12 ounces, depending on what it is. It is certainly way less than before surgery, but I do wish I didn't have that much capacity. I loved it when I could only hold 4 ounces. I do not think I stretched my sleeve - I've been very careful and followed the rules, but on occasion, I have eaten that much. For the most part, I restrict myself. When I "go off the rails", my sleeve will restrict me, but I can do some caloric damage before it does. If I allowed myself to overeat, I'd gain weight.

I also had that. Room temp worked best for me. Even now, frozen things will fill be up way faster than warm or room temp food. I use that to curb eating sometimes, because at 2 years out, it's pretty easy to eat whatever I want!

I use myfitness pal and find it to be useful. I've tried using just the fitbit app, and that's less helpful. I'd be interested to know if there is anything else out there that's better.

I know you already said you are going ahead with it, but thought I'd chime in anyway. I think it's a good decision! I had my sleeve December 19. I was on a 2 week liquid diet before, so pretty much the entire holiday season was not about food that year. I wanted to get a jump start on a new years resolution that I could keep for once. I've never been sorry I did that, and I didn't miss the food, and still don't. I felt pretty miserable but still went places and spent time with my family. Food always played such a big part of every gathering, and I learned that it really doesn't have to. I bet you won't regret it either!

Great topic and responses. It's such an interesting phenomena. When I was fat, I didn't think of myself as fat as I was, but when I took a hard look I could see it. I was surprised sometimes when I did that. Now, I think I see myself accurately as others do, and I see that I'm normal/thin, but it's not so much what I see as what I know (or think I do). Even though as a size 8/10 and small/medium, I'm pretty sure I'm not fat, the number on the scale and my BMI say I am overweight and make me think I must be/look fat. So it's a never ending cycle of thinking I better lose another 20 pounds to not be fat, then remembering I look pretty good. I really feel like the fat girl getting away with something! Somewhere in the back of my mind I think maybe I actually DO look fat and I'm not seeing myself accurately, lol! OMG, we need a pill for that kind of crazy

I got all of my protein every day. I took all vitamins religiously. I did everything right; and I wasn't that lucky. I think plenty depends on genetics and while not doing things right might contribute to hair loss, there is nothing you can do to prevent it if its going to happen to you. I think mine was more severe than a lot of people, but most people do lose some. Its pretty distressing when it happens, but it does come back.

Probably 50%. I think I have most of it back now, but not all of it.

I have a continual and healthy fear of gaining weight. Notice I said healthy. I think we all know how easy it is to have that happen. It's a continual and conscious effort to maintain my weight. It's the recognition that we can't exceed a number we've set for ourselves, and doing something about it immediately when it happens. The healthy part comes in when we recognize it's time to course correct and do so, rather than ignoring it, or letting it send us into a tailspin of either over-eating or under-eating. So now you are course correcting - good for you!

@@Comfy_Blue I also got all those comments, and more. How I responded depended on who was asking. I worked at the same place for 30 years, since I was a teen. They saw me go from a cute young thing to an old, fat woman. They never commented to my face negatively about my weight gain, and I think the comments and questions were born out of two reasons: 1)Genuine happiness for me, and/or 2) They wanted to know what my magic bullet was. Even my non work friends, who mostly are thin or at least not very overweight (but work at not getting huge), wanted to know what I was doing. I told the people I was closest to that I had WLS, and the not the others. In both cases, I was forthcoming about my diet and exercise. I think it's funny, because there was always a little disappointment when they learned (in both cases) that it was still just diet and exercise, lol. It is not socially acceptable for people to ask why we are so fat, but it seems once we start losing, all bets are off. It's just the way society is, and I think it's probably because losing weight is "better", ergo, a compliment to mention it. Right or wrong, I think it's a cultural thing.

Here's another - You went through the stage of the empty closet as you lost weight, to now a full closet of size 8s and 10s - and absolutely everything in it is something you bought because it was cute! Not one thing in there that I bought because "it fit" and I needed something. Now I sometimes can't figure out what to wear because I have so many choices. Oh - and one more thing - it all fits! Nothing out of style, nothing ugly, and all in my size.

@@Queen of Crop you are welcome! I am going to get the fillers for my cheeks. The nurse who does the injections said that it is like a subtle face lift. Along with the botox, it might be enough! Good luck at the surgeons office, and let me know!

@@Queen of Crop did the Botox hep the chicken neck? I sent you a PM with some of the details, but I can say everything is nicely lifted and in it's proper position, and the results were better than anything I had imagined. So worth it, to me. It was a 6 hour surgery, pretty uncomfortable, and required an overnight stay at the hospital. The lower body lift is where I was cut all the way around my hips. It's a tummy tuck and butt lift. and I also had an autologous fat flap, meaning she used the existing fat in my behind to give a better shape. The incision is nicely hidden under my lovely new Victoria Secret bikini underwear And my arms look so great I can't believe it!

@@sherry24184 I agree! VSG was the best thing, and plastics was second. I had my arms done and a LBL in August, and look way better than I ever dreamed. I just didn't realize what it could do for a person! I still need my legs done and breast lift so everything matches You already look wonderful, so I'm sure the last surgery will really be the finishing touches! Our stats are also similar - I'm barely 5'4", and my all time high weight was 325. I had about 5 pounds removed from my arms and lower body, but I haven't lost any weight. It was 2 months ago, and I'm still a little swollen. I have a tendency to retain Water, so I'm not surprised. My surgeon said it could take up to a year to go down, and I'm sure it will. I had my surgery done near home, and I can't imagine having to travel with what I had done. However, I am considering going to Mexico for my next procedure because it's just so expensive to have it done here. I see so many people with great results...but I'm just afraid of being miserable and having to travel, and Mexico is a really long way from Michigan! Anyway, congrats on so many wonderful successes!

@@BigGirlPanties I really like that idea, and might do it, too. I have not bought any candy, because I don't want it in the house until the last minute. Before I was sleeved, I would buy it "for the kids" and have to keep rebuyng it until Halloween. Even now, I don't think I would stop at just one, and so was thinking about just skipping it all together, though I don't want to be a Halloween scrooge, lol. Most sugary carbs have the ability to send me into a downward spiral that just makes me mad at myself, so eating them isn't worth the subsequent weight gain and irritation from losing control.

@@Ms skinniness good to see you again! It's very easy to gain a pound or two, isn't it? Life does have a way of derailing - sorry you are stressed. I have never stopped tracking because I haven't technically ever gotten to goal, (even though I know I'm in maintenance for now) and I can gain as much as 4 or 5 pounds in a weekend. I agree with your case manager - I need to eat about 900 to lose, and I gain at anything over 1400. Makes me a little irritated some days! However, that knowledge is power - power over obesity. Good for you for getting control of it before it got control of you. I agree with the others. It's much easier to lose 5 or 10 than it is the weight we started with. Lucky for you that you can easily eat 1000 calories a day! I really have to work to not go over that. In the grand scheme of things, you have really rocked that sleeve! 3 years out, still doing great! That little gain will be gone in no time

It's just an excel spreadsheet I created. I did it for my own records, and I'm so glad I did. I still weigh every day, and now I average the month. I've been in maintenance for about 6 months, and on days when my weight seems to be rising, I get less concerned because I can see that on average, I'm within the same 1-3 pounds.

@RJ'S/beginning - that guys sounds like a jerk. You have strength and do not need the validation of another human for your dignity. That comes from within, and you have it! I always remember people can only make me feel bad if I let them, so I usually don't let them. However, if they try, especially if its in the context of a medical professional or other service industry, I don't let them get away with trying. I really make it my business to never be anyone's victim, though that's hard to remember when you feel beaten down. In the US, there are ways to complain that will at least get them a slap on the wrist. Not sure what it's like in Canada, but here, you could go to the hospital and make a stink. At the very least, he'll feel the pain of being called out, and maybe think twice before doing that to another patient. If it happens often enough, they'll get rid of him. Believe me, this was not isolated for that individual. He probably treats everyone like that. People only act like that because they can get away with it. I feel it's my duty to stop them, lol. You might feel better if you try

Don't feel bad - I took LOTS of Norco for about 2 weeks. I had a lower body lift and brachioplasty, and it was by far the most miserable I've ever been. I had to call and get 2 refills. Some people don't think it's that painful, but it was for me. I even had a pain pump for the first 3 days. I wondered if I was just a baby or something was abnormal, but I don't think so. I do know some people have far less pain, but I think more pain is the norm. A double hernia probably explains your pain. Take your drugs and relax

To me, the fundamental issue here is that just because someone asks, they are NOT entitled to know the answer. I find it absurd that it could be regarded as not truthful to not give out information just because someone asks! When asked the question about how I lost the weight, I'll usually respond "with a lot of hard work" and change the subject. I don't want to get into the details of my personal health and weight loss. That's my right. To imply we don't have the right to withhold our personal information from either nosy or well meaning people is just wrong. I think the people who have responded here have given a myriad of reasons why they don't want to tell, and blaming that behavior for somehow causing or adding to the shaming of obesity is missing the mark. That implication only serves to further shame.

My surgeon's plan is no carbonated beverages, ever. I adhere to that. I'm not sure if it actually would do any harm, like stretch your stomach, but since it adds no nutritional value, and I agree, it's "poison", I just don't ever drink it. I've read plenty of articles about how your body thinks it is sugar and processes it as if it was sugar, causing insulin spikes, so it's not worth it to me. It's one of the rules of bariatric surgery that I just follow.

I include all liquids in my daily requirement.