SlimDreams

HCG....been there, done that...all I lost was $700

I am a singer/songwriter and a local TV station did a piece about my music and we ended up talking about my surgery and the impact it has had on me. I wanted to share it with you...Hope you like it!!!!

HCG was the last "diet" I tried in desperation before I became a sleever..it was another failure
I've seen a few co-workers have 15-40 lb successes with it..only to gain it back..
I'll stick with my natural sleeve and the natural behavior modification I'm learning with it, thank you very much..plus it naturally helps me keep more of my money in my pocket

My big fat ass is natural, and it's definitely not good for me...
Or anybody for that matter!!

Today's the day!! Good luck to all my 26th of June sleevers!!
It's your anything like me your up early bc you can't sleep (it's 430am here in CA and I'm not scheduled till 1130, why can't I sleep?)
Anyway good luck to everyone for smooth surgeries today!!!!!
:-)

Ok so I'm taking it easy..I'm not lifting weights or doing crunches or running (lol as if!) .....but I'm here and I got on the bike and I've been going steady for 40 minutes at 65-70 rpm and though I'm getting tired and going to go home right after this I just want to say...
I DID IT I GOT BACK INTO THE GYM!!!!!
(Oh and ps I tried the elliptical first for about 5 mins it was too much for my incisions.. no damage- I checked- but I don't recommend it this close to surgery..they got a little sore)

Welcome ..I've found this site to be very helpful even when it comes to some of those silly questions you otherwise wouldn't think to ask (or might not want to ask)
Good luck!!

they arent his weights. I use weights as soon as they walk away from them. it is called sharing, i learned how to do that in kindergarten
alex

I'm three years out. We have a vet board here and have several 2-4 years out that visit regularly.
Your sleeve is what you make of it, so yes, success is possible if you are willing to change.
The sleeve does one guaranteed thing: it removes 85% of your stomach and gives you restriction.
Not even the loss of hunger is guaranteed, and I've seen folks report that it returns the farther out from surgery you get.
Everything that made you obese is still there. Obesity is not just about eating large portions and poor genetics. In most cases it's also a sign of disordered eating, and whatever your particular issue happens to be will still be there even with a sleeved stomach. So it's really, really important to take advantage of that early period where eating is tough and you don't enjoy food as much to learn how to break those bad habits and cope differently.
If you eat around your sleeve, you will regain or not lose or not achieve goal.
If you make permanent changes, not just in how you eat but in how you deal with food, you can have long term success.
This is not about making goal, as crazy as that sounds. The trick isn't losing weight - that's actually much easier with a sleeve than it's ever been for me on any diet before. The trick is learning how to balance real life with good food choices once you're at goal, so that you can stay there.
~Cheri

Im up to 45 minutes straight at an easy pace on the trail behind my house
I've noticed each day I do it im less sore and less tired...I started out with just 10 mins

After 3 weeks of hell... I can now confirm there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I ate all normal soft foods today after a hellacious 3 weeks. It was amazing!!!! 2 pieces of steamed shrimp and one Tomato slice with a small slice of fresh mozzarella for dinner. No pain, no nausea, no reflux, and I feel full. Just finished my 30 min wait and sipping some sugar free juice. There is hope for all of you suffering - just keep looking forward.

I am 11 days post sleeve (June 26) and I don't drink much at all. Maybe I got 12 oz in yesterday, and that was the most in one day since surgery. Doing really bad with Proteins too... eating chicken as my Protein n trying hard to drink liquids.. down 22 lbs since surg!!

Mine started at the beginning of week 2 though. But I, too, am trying to find other things to fill my time. I knew this would be an adjustment but I had no idea how much until I actually was living it! I know I'll make it. It's just gonna take time. I joined the gym the other day and will start Monday. That should distract me a bit!

I so empathize with you. What a horrid feeling. I've been paying close attention too. One way I've found to get 15mg Protein first thing in the morning is to heat up my Atkins caramel mocha and sip like coffee. Hope this helps. I'm just 10 days post op myself so I'm learning right along with you.

It is a fairly minor inconvenience to pay for the benefits of the sleeve. It also forces you to eat low sugar / low fat and slower. For me, I succinctly rember it occurring after eating some ham from a diner that was too fatty at month 2. It caused about 30 minutes of "why did I eat that ham." However, it is easy to trigger also a related issue with the vagus nerve if you overeat or eat too fast. For me, this forced me to eat slower when getting used to dense Proteins. However, eating slow is something I need to continue to work on even if there are no longer negative physical reactions from eating too fast.

My first week post op I learned a very valuable lesson: Never trust a fart.< /p>

It was on my checklist of things to do before surgery provvided by doctor. I ordered mine from www.laurens hope.com. They have a great selection of fashion bracelets. Since you pay per word for engraving, I had "gastric sleeve no blind NG" put on mine.

I too had to EAT!! I went into my fridge and snagged cream cheese and then felt soooo bad.... I was fine and continue to lose so i guess we are not alone!! Its HARD!!!

Hey guys! I am so happy for everyone and I know we have all made this decision to better our quality of life.
I had my 2 weeks checkup today. The doctor was very happy with the 28 lbs I have lost since beginning my pre-op diet to now. Surgery was June 19th.
I was cleared to swim in the pool and lake. He said that I do not need to soak in the lake or stay longer than an hour. I can get in and sit in a tube or float. He said I can purchase waterproof bandages if I want to overkill it. He said my incisions are completely healed on the inside and outside. I can also take a bath. He said that would help the bandages fall off. I do still have strips on my incisions and I keep cutting them back. He said they would completely fall off within the week.
I also have left side pain still. He said that is a stitch in my left incision that is causing the pain. The stitch will dissolve and I may feel a pop and not to worry.
I am able to get in my 60g of Protein daily. I was worried because I do not have to sip at all. I can take normal drinks and I feel like I did before surgery without the hunger feelings. It is very odd. He said that is normal and that liquid would not stretch my stomach out.
In one week I can move to mushy foods. I am allowed the following foods starting next Wednesday and do this for three weeks:
applesauce
eggs
yogurt
cottage cheese
thin lunch meat
2% string cheese
any ground meat
tuna
canned chicken
cooked veggies
bananas
I am not limited to just this but if I do anything else it needs to be of the same consistency as these foods. I feel like the list is perfect for three weeks. If any human can make it for three weeks on liquids then this is like thanksgiving dinner!!! LOL
After 6 weeks I can have raw veggies and fruit.< /p>
Before Sleeve 203
Today 175

I haven't had a problem and man can I do some walking in the pool..making whirl pools and breaking them...

I think it's a combo of both them and us. But to answer the post question...YES we were invisible when we were heavier! Sad but true. But clearly you're not invisible anymore so enjoy that while keeping a critical eye of who all of a sudden noticed you.

Screw him!!! I'm so proud of you!!! Way to go for standing up for yourself! The road you travel its yours and yours alone, if you traveled it skinny/ fat or as a 3 legged people eater all those happy moments and all those hurts are yours.. and yours alone to OWN...I'm so glad you didn't delete your memories because some butt head couldn't get over HIS body issues and get to know the person in front of him today...
You just proved you are super strong!! :-) proud of you!
Leave him in the dust girl there are waaay better men out there!!!!

Excuse me while I rant: what is this nonsense about "losing weight the natural way?" Every pound I have lost has been lost through my hard work. The surgery didn't remove any weight ( well other than about 2 lbs of my stomach). It's not like they hooked up a vacuum and sucked out the weight.
My weight was lost by sticking to a 2&1/2 week complete liquid pre-op diet. It was done by following my doctor's post-op diet (mostly) to the letter. It was sweated off in daily exercise sessions. It was lost by resisting the urges to indulge in slider foods, wheat and sugar.
What is "the natural way?" Is it taking dangerous prescription drugs (been there)? Is it reading 100s of diet books? Is it numerous counseling, and weight loss group sessions? Is it starting a new diet every Monday morning, then admitting failure by Tuesday? Is it yoyo dieting, losing 10 lbs, then regaining 20; losing 30, regaining 40, and on and on?
VSG is a TOOL. Like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem is a tool. No one looks down their noses at those tools. Why do we put up with people looking down their noses at our tool?
End of rant . . . well, for now.