karen353

I am 60 years old and retired 2 years ago Jan 31, 2012. My goal was to get in shape so I could go out and do things. I was 295 lbs and really scared I would go over 300 lbs and this usually triggered me to diet on my own or go to ww. I was really beginning to realize how much damage I was doing to myself. I would do good for awhile get down to around 270 or 280 and quit. My clothes fit better and I was not close to 300 any more. This time was different I wanted to be under 200 and knew dieting would not work as I had failed so many times before so I decided to get the sleeve surgery over a year and 3 months ago. I had to jump through a lot of hoops for ins but it was worth it. I had the surgery 9 months ago. The best decision ever. I lost some weight before the sleeve but after the sleeve it was so much easier. I had never done a high Protein diet before as I didn't think it was healthy. Since following the high protein, low carb diet after surgery, I have lost more and more weight. Being 60 I also thought it would be impossible to lose a lot as my metabolism is slower. Today I weighed 201 and am getting close to going under 200. I have lost 94 lbs and can't wait to the day I will be 100 lbs from my highest weight. I never thought this would happen. I have never had any serious problems since the surgery. I have never thrown up or had reflux. I followed the doctors instructions for the first few months and then gradually started pushing the limits. If I ate too much, I would get this really tight feeling and luckily it would pass in 30 min or so. I learned to not push myself and when I should not eat any more. I am 9 months out from surgery and can eat anything I want but in moderation. I gradually added food on special occasions. I have been far from perfect the last few months and haven't lost much weight from Thanksgiving to the New Year but I didn't gain. The sleeve stopped me from binge eating and allowed me to be normal. When I wanted to eat more and I did want to eat more, I knew I would not feel good if I did and I would stop. I am now losing again and following the eating plan like I should. I guess the point I am trying to make is that I do wish I had the surgery sooner and younger and while I was still working or when I first reitred. I wasted a lot of time but it is all part of my journey. I am happier than I have ever been. I very happy with my sleeve it is helping me control my eating and will get me under 200 maybe even under 180 or under 160. Even if I don't lose any more, I would do it all over again. The difference from 295 to 201 is amazing. I can walk and keep up with my kids and grandkids. I can walk on the treadmill and do Water aerobics. I can buy clothes in the store. I feel like a winner. I would encourage everyone who needs to lose a lot of weight to get the sleeve. Don't keep thinking about it. Just go out and look into it and see if it is right for you. There were a lot of hoops to jump through and times I hated Protein shakes but it was all worth it. I can't wait to the day I am in onederland. I am so close. I take two Vitamin pills and Calcium pills and all my bloodwork comes back good. I am healthier than I have been in a long time. Life is good with the sleeve!

I am 60. I was sleeved Apr 15 2013. I am doing great. I have lost 31 lbs since my pre op diet 7 weeks ago.

I am 60 and had the sleeve done Apr 15 2013. I have had no problems and only spent 36 hrs in the hospital. I went off meds when I got home so I could drive. I have lost 31 lbs since I started my pre op diet 7 weeks ago. I haven't lost as fast as some people but I have gone from 274 to 243 and I am feeling so positive that this will work.

I would like to share a happy story. I am 5 weeks post op and went out to eat for the first time as I am now allowed to eat almost anything. I went to Panera and got the pick two (brocolli cheddar Soup and strawberry poppyseed salad). I was a bit scared so I slowly ate half the brocolli cheddar soup and had no problem. I had a few bites of the baguette and no problem. Maybe I can be normal. I took the salad home and had half and it was delicious. I was so happy that I was able to eat a normal meal (although much less than I would normally eat) and feel happy to go out with friends again. My sleeve is working for me. I have lost 32 lbs since my pre op diet started 7 weeks ago. I haven't lost as fast as some people but it has been steady and I am 60 yrs old. I am happy I had the sleeve surgery.

I did omeprazole too (generic prylosec) recommended by my surgeon. Worked well. I forgot I was supposed to take it and did have heartburn for a few days. As soon as I started taking it, heartburn went away and haven't had it since and I am 5 weeks out.

I had a drain tube and he took it out right before I left the hospital (36 hrs after I had been admitted). The nurse just pulled it out and it did not hurt. She put gauze and tape over it.

I just tried Kroger's carbmaster spice cake yogurt. It tastes like spice cake batter. It is really good. I put a half scoop of Unjury Protein Powder in it and I can slightly detect it. Any way the yogurt is 60 cal, 8 gr Protein and 4 carbs. With the half cup of protein powder it is 105 cal, 18 gr of protein and 4 carbs. I will say that I have been on Protein Shakes the last 3 1/2 weeks and have just been allowed to have yogurt so my tastes could be different than your tastes. Any way definitely worth trying one.

I was worried that I had stretched my pouch too. I never know when I am full and just stop. I had surgery Apr 15 so I was on liquids until tues and then full liquids. I am so glad to hear I am eating sliders. I wondered why I never felt full. I was drinking my Protein shake earlier and was watching tv and realized I had drank the whole thing in about 5 min.

I meant I am on day 10 post op. I had my surgery April 15.

Hi! I posted yesterday a pretty negative post as I am on day 10 pre op and this smooth liquid diet/liquid diet is very hard. I was regretting my decision as I am a slow loser. I did lose 11 lbs on the pre op diet so maybe my body is still adjusting. I am also 60 yrs old which means my metabolism isn't very fast. Any way I got a lot of positive posts and have decided to try to be more positive. This is a difficult time right after surgery. A lot of people say the hardest part is the month after surgery. I really miss chewing something even just a carrot. I miss eating and guess I am going through the mourning of my old life centered around my next meal or snack. Me and food were best friends and the breakup is hard. Now it is hard to want to overeat when your options are Protein Shakes, yogurt, cream Soups etc. I can have popcicles and Jello but for some reason they are now too sweet to me. I used to be the biggest sweet eater. Always bought a candy bar or two when I was checking out. I used to say I could just live on sweets. Now no cravings for sweets at all which is great. I guess my point is that the sleeve is worth it as it enables you to become the smaller, healthier person you want to be be but this isn't easy especially right after surgery. Every day gets a little better. In 5 weeks when I am allowed to eat almost anything in a much smaller amount, I think I will be so glad I did this but right now 10 days post op it is a struggle.

I was just reading that I can have Protein smoothies in stage 3 of my post op diet. I don't think I have ever had one. Can you buy these in the store or do you make them at home? I would like to find one that tastes good and isn't too high in carbs. Any suggestions?

I do think that tracking will be a great help to me. The more I think about it the more I realize I may have been having too many carbs. I did start tracking on myfitnesspal.com this morning. I guess I have to accept that I am a slow loser. I did lose 11 lbs on my pre op diet. How many carbs do you think I should be eating? My nut says less than 100 but I think that is too many. I am thinking around 60. I am going to see if that helps me to lose faster.

I agree it drives you crazy weighing every day. I am almost crazy now but feel better since I posted and realized that I had unknowingly made some poor choices. I think I thought if it was on my list of things I could have it was ok. I now realize there is a big difference between drinks when it comes to carbs. Water 0, flavor enhanced Water 0, Vitamin water zero 4 carbs for 20 oz bottle and G2 7 carbs for 12 oz. Going to switch to Vitamin water zero for a treat. Need to drink water or flavor enhanced water which is 0 carbs. No more sf pudding which is 11 carbs and not worth it. I need to read labels better as I start having real food.

After I wrote the post, I looked at the labels again on what I had yesterday. I didn't realize G2 had 7 carbs per 12 oz so I may have had too many carbs. I had the low sodium v8 but it does have 95 mg of sodium. I am going to track everything on myfitnesspal.com to see if that helps. I kept track in my head and that probably wasn't as accurate. lol I have to make this work. I have put too much time and energy into this. I have told everyone about this surgery. I can't be a failure.

I had my sleeve surgery Apr 15 and came home 36 hrs later weighing 7 lbs more. It had to be my iv responsible for the wgt gain as all I had mon was a few ice chips. Tues I had Water, ice chips and one Protein shot. I gradually lost the 7 lbs and was back to my surgery day wgt (263 lbs) 7 days later (mon). Yesterday I lost a pound and today I gained it back. So after 9 days I am even again. This is extremely frutrating as I have done exactly what I have been told (except weighing every day). I was on Clear liquids until yesterday when I got to have full liquids and had a v8 juice, cup of skim milk, sf pudding and cream of chicken Soup. I have been getting in my 70 gr of Protein (because I actually can stomach the matrix mint cookie protein shakes). I have been drinking close to my 64 oz of Water. I was eating around 600 cal until yesterday and had around 700. I know some of you will say why are you weighing yourself every day but I say after all I have been through emotionally and financially I would like to see some results. If I hadn't weighed myself I still would have known that I had not lost wgt as my clothes fit the same. It is so hard to read posts where people are losing so much wgt when I am losing none. I know people will say to be patient but my patience is running out. I am very sorry I wasted my time and money on this surgery. I hope someone reading this who hasn't had the surgery would see not everyone is losing big numbers. I wish I had tried harder at ww.

On the positive side, my surgery went well and I had no complications. My scars are healing very well. I was out walking the day after I got home and off pain meds. I have been out shopping and out visiting family. Only problem I have had is gas pains which gas x strips really help. Anybody have any idea why I am not losing? My surgeon said I should have less than 100 carbs. I believe that is too high. I am going to try to go much lower today with carbs. Has anyone else not lost wgt right after surgery and then starting losing at a good rate?

Sorry this is so negative but this is my story so far and not a happy one. I want to turn this around and start losing weight but don't know what to do.

Thanks for sharing your wgt loss. I thought I was the only one not losing. It will be one week tomorrow (mon) and I am exactly the same as the day I had surgery. I did gain 7 lbs the 36 hrs I was in the hospital and that has come back off. I am starving on this liquid diet. I am so looking forward to full liquids tues. I have not cheated. Any way I am glad that I am not alone in this slow wgt loss. I am eating so little that it has to come off eventually. Let's hope for a big loss next week.

I am allowed Protein shakes on my clear liquid diet as long as I mix them with Water. I am POPD5 and I feel like I am starving even with the Protein Shakes but I do have energy and otherwise feel good. My surgeon said we need Protein to heal.

I had posted about Protein Shots earlier as my bariatric office sold me 10 shots to use on my liquid diet. I started my liquid diet this morning and wanted to say these Protein shots are the nastiest, worst tasting thing I have ever tasted. Since nectar drinks have the same 23 gr of protein I am going to try to drink them instead. The only reason I can think of that my surgeon would recommend them is that one shot is 2.9 oz so much less to drink for the 23 gr of protein. I have my surgery tomorrow and I am supposed to drink them in the hospital. Did anyone else have to do protein shots?

I am on day 13 of my pre op diet today. Sun I am supposed to do the liquid diet and all I can have is: Protein shots (yes whey, New Whey or profect), broth, sugar free jell-o, sugar free popsicles, caffeine free coffee/tea, Water, Powerade zero, gaterade 2 (G2, propel and crystal light. It says shakes are a meal and not included in liquid intake. I have seen comments on here that Protein Shots are not good but my surgeon wants us to drink them. I have surgery mon and am trying to follow his guidelines. I think sun is going to be a long day on this liquid diet.< /p>

Thanks for the info about the Protein Shots. I got the Yes Whey at my surgeons office. They sold me 10 for the day before and week after. They are Bariatric Advantage which claims they use 100% whey Protein not colagen. I guess my surgeon believes this. I guess I will try them since I already bought them. I did read they don't taste good. I think the Kroger New Whey may not be good. May throw the two away that I bought. Any way, thanks for the info and I may reconsider using them. He said they were going to give them to me after surgery.

I have bcbs federal and my paperwork was faxed in on fri (3/8) and my surgeon"s office called me on mon (3/11) to say it was approved. I thought I was dreaming. It was approved very quickly.

Has anyone tried Yes Whey or New Whey? My surgeon sells the Yes Whey and it has 25 grams of Protein and they call it a liquid shot. It is 2.9 oz and looks like a fat tube. I found New Whey at Krogers and it has 42 grams of protein and is 3.8 oz. I have surgery next Mon Apr 15 so I haven't tried them yet. I am supposed to be on an all liquid diet next Sun and drink them for protein and then again after surgery.

I think I figured out why I felt so hungry. It wasn't hunger. It was because I took my Vitamin on an empty stomach. It wasn't hunger but an upset stomach. I am supposed to take them at lunch but was taking my pill as I was making my lunch (protein drink). The vitamin tastes like smarties so I wanted to enjoy it like a piece of candysince I can't have candy. Any way, today I took it when I was almost done with my shake and now my stomach doesn't feel hungry or hurt. I finally feel ok. Down 11 lbs today so I guess this is worth it for me and my liver. I hope everyone else on their pre op diet is hanging in there. 9 more days until I get sleeved!

Thanks for your comments. I do think I need more Protein. I am not sure if I am in ketosis if I feel so hungry and my stomach growls. I just made a Protein Shake and added ice. It gave me more volume. Maybe this will keep me full longer. I don't really feel grumpy as I am so excited about my surgery. I am going to do whatever it takes to be successful. I have read all these success stories and I want to be one too! I have a really good attitude. I just hope I can keep it.

Wow! All of your posts sound so much like me. I have my surgery in 10 days. I started my pre op diet Mon and doing well. I went through all that mourning of food before I started the pre op diet. Surgeon said I could have the surgery 4/8 but I changed it to 4/15 so I could eat at my 60th birthday party and while my relatives were here from out of town and then there was Easter. It was non stop last suppers with some guilt. I gained 10 lbs since seeing the surgeon. I kept thinking of all the things I wouldn't be able to eat any more. Even said I probably wouldn't go to any more buffets. I liked to go to buffets by myself so nobody would judge me on what I was eating. Me and food were best friends. Typing this is making me cry. I guess I am still mourning the loss of my best friend but I will be ok.

Mon I started the pre op diet and said no more cheating. Today is day 5 and I have lost the 10 lbs I gained over those 10 days. I was so worried that I wouldn't lose it all and would not be able to have surgery. I am now at the wgt I weighed at the surgeon's office. With 10 more days to go, I should be ok. I am totally following the pre op diet. No more cheating! I am 100% sure I am doing the right thing for me. I seem to be an all or nothing person and now I am all in for the surgery. I have waited years to do something and at 60 I better do something before it is too late.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I may go reread them if I start to have doubts. I know I am doing the right thing. I wasted a lot of time trying to figure it out. I think reading and preparing yourself helps. My bariartric team really explains every step. Sometimes I thought no way could I do this but then I would work through it and I would be ok with it. Each step was hard for me but now I am there and ready to have the surgery.

I wish my fellow sleevers good luck!

Karen