Teachamy

My husband wasn't overly full of compliments when I lost weight. We live together, see each other every day, so I am not sure it was a dramatic change for him like it was for others. At any rate, I had my surgery in Dec. of 2013. It has taken him until now to adapt to a healthier lifestyle change himself. He is eating better, exercising, losing weight, and high-fiving me when I finish my cardio. (Which I really hate, btw)
My point is, I find him more able to give compliments as his self-esteem and health improves. That is vital.

My husband wasn't overly full of compliments when I lost weight. We live together, see each other every day, so I am not sure it was a dramatic change for him like it was for others. At any rate, I had my surgery in Dec. of 2013. It has taken him until now to adapt to a healthier lifestyle change himself. He is eating better, exercising, losing weight, and high-fiving me when I finish my cardio. (Which I really hate, btw)
My point is, I find him more able to give compliments as his self-esteem and health improves. That is vital.

My husband wasn't overly full of compliments when I lost weight. We live together, see each other every day, so I am not sure it was a dramatic change for him like it was for others. At any rate, I had my surgery in Dec. of 2013. It has taken him until now to adapt to a healthier lifestyle change himself. He is eating better, exercising, losing weight, and high-fiving me when I finish my cardio. (Which I really hate, btw)
My point is, I find him more able to give compliments as his self-esteem and health improves. That is vital.

My husband wasn't overly full of compliments when I lost weight. We live together, see each other every day, so I am not sure it was a dramatic change for him like it was for others. At any rate, I had my surgery in Dec. of 2013. It has taken him until now to adapt to a healthier lifestyle change himself. He is eating better, exercising, losing weight, and high-fiving me when I finish my cardio. (Which I really hate, btw)
My point is, I find him more able to give compliments as his self-esteem and health improves. That is vital.

My husband wasn't overly full of compliments when I lost weight. We live together, see each other every day, so I am not sure it was a dramatic change for him like it was for others. At any rate, I had my surgery in Dec. of 2013. It has taken him until now to adapt to a healthier lifestyle change himself. He is eating better, exercising, losing weight, and high-fiving me when I finish my cardio. (Which I really hate, btw)
My point is, I find him more able to give compliments as his self-esteem and health improves. That is vital.

For me there is no such thing as a Maintenance Phase to this.
Since surgery, I have learned how to eat all over again, good foods, small portions, etc etc.
It is NOT a diet as was before surgery. I've been on numerous, countless diets and know all about the different phases including Maintence....THIS is something different.
Because of that, my weight slowly and consistently came off....untill my body decided it has reached what it considers normal.
Not my goal as if I can turn this on and off....I can't...it's surgery.
And because of a New Normal lifestyle, my body weight, etc, has adjusted to that new normal.....
And I will continue living this new way for the rest of my life.
I eat and exercise a certain way now, and my body adapted to that way and there it will stay...so No Maintenance....
I live and eat the same way people who have never been fat live and eat....

VSGAnn mentioned something important. I am too am a religious MFP user, but it's important for me to look at my weekly average calories. I have a 1300-1400 goal, but am trying to keep it in the 1100-1200 range of late, as I am 5 pounds up at the moment. That means some days I may need to eat a little more than 1000 or 1200, or a little less, but if my weekly average stays where I need it, I am fine. If the 5 pounds sticks around, I will ramp up my weekend cardio to an hour a day, and make sure I am working out 7 days a week. Then I'll drop major calories if need be.
BTW--grapes are my new best friend. Who ever thought grapes could be filling? (I hadn't eaten them at all in 2014-2015.) A half cup keeps me filled up!

Because of orthopedic issues that limit my activity, the weight X 100 would pack on pounds very quickly.
Much to my dismay, maintenance for me settled at 1,000 calories. There are many days where it just feels like I am not eating enough, and I go to bed hungry. I keep sugar-free Jello on hand, but it's not a filler.
My nut told me to spread my food out so that I can have a little something at bedtime, but then I don't have enough energy to sustain any exercise or household activity. Bummer.
So, this week I have experimented with drinking 4 ounces of milk at bedtime and am not doing too badly with that.
This is so subjective, though. I have some spinal reconstruction coming up at the end of the month and expect to be in a turtle shell brace for six months. If my activity drops any further, I will have to cut back to 800 calories to maintain without gaining.
One bad habit that I started up again is going through all kinds of books and articles reading things like 32 Ways to Help Lose Weight Quickly or Five Foods You Should Never Eat if You Want to Lose Weight, or The 21 Day Diet - Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days.
Geeze, it seems like this will never end. I am delighted with my sleeve and weight loss, but it's no lie - the mental battle is forever. Finding that perfect balance between food, energy, and maintenance is a crazy-maker.

Someone came up to me today looking very serious and said, "what are you doing?" I said, "what do you mean?" They repeated the question. Then they said, "you've lost so much weight! How did you do it?" My real NSV is that I've been at goal for so long now, I had no idea what he was talking about! I used to hear that several times a day, now people are used to the skinny new me. It felt pretty good!

You should have your allergist do a blood test for chronic-autoimmune hives. I have them too. They went away after surgery, but returned over the summer, then went into remission again. I take OTC Allegra everyday, and unless I am having a flair, it keeps them at bay. There is also a shot that used to be used only for asthma that is now being used for hives too. The name escapes me, but your allergist might know.

Many wonderful things have happened to my blood glucose and insulin levels since VSG surgery. My sleeve has made my blood glucose levels near perfect, and has dropped my insulin levels to a third of what I once took. I am feeling deeply frustrated today, however, because with every pound I lose, my insulin need drops dramatically. Before this realization occurs, I experience horrible low blood sugar reactions, sometimes several a day. Last night I awoke to a 39 blood sugar, and couldn't believe I didn't go unconscious in my sleep.
I am on an insulin pump and I lower my basals everyday. I don't need reminders of how much this is improving my health. I guess I just needed to vent.
Thanks,
Amy

I was sleeved 3.5 months ago. I know this is an old post, but please feel free to message me. (Anyone) I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

My name is Amy and I am a diet pepsi--aholic. I gave it up finally about a year before I had my sleeve surgery, and switched to seltzer. I still miss the carbonation, and occasionally have dreams of diet pepsi. I once even dreamed I was on a beach drinking it with Brad Pitt! But I know it is really bad for me and makes me crave the salty crunchy snack food that got me to an obese BMI. Brad Pitt may be bad for me too, but I am willing to give him a try! (Don't tell Angelina-- the chick scares me.)

Doesn't it suck that the restriction feels like it disappears after a while? I try to remember a word of advice from my surgeon...sit at the table, not in front of the TV. Eat a meal for 20 minutes. When time is up, you're done. I also have measuring cups everywhere--everywhere! My issue has been that my carbs creep up when I look the other way. So I've been logging in MFP religiously. It helps me be honest. I loved your post!

I guess I should have also explained that I have some sort of weird MS-like neurological illness. (A growing spinal lesion and many brain lesions.) So considering this "elective" surgery feels completely vain in light of the fact it is now going on 3 years and several neurologists with no clear diagnosis. WLS got rid of so many co-morbidities, and I am so thankful for that, but asthma got worse, as did this spinal mess. BUT it might be possible that looking better in a bathing suit and losing some weight in front might also relieve some pressure on my back? I AM SO CONFUSED!

"Well screw Arnold"? That's not a bad thing if your wife was pretending you were him.

@@wannaBthinsoon Holy cow, how'd I miss that diet? popcorn is my favorite food. Pretty sure I wouldn't have lost a pound.
For me, it was the disgusting lemonade/cayenne pepper fast. My stomach turns just thinking about it.

Ok, looking for the dumbest, silliest, craziest weight loss program you ever tried?
Mine was the Arnold Schwarzenegger diet. I saw it in a newspaper one day. Here was the diet -- (at the time Arnold was the President's Exercise Guru) -- Everytime there was a food decision to make, such as carrots or doughnuts, you just thought "What would Arnold do?". Of course, Arnold would have the carrots. I thought this was silly, but started trying it. Sure enough, a week later, down 5 pounds, then 10 the next week. My wife was pretending I was Arnold as well, but that is another story. Finally, after about three weeks, I said to the Arnold question -- "Well, screw Arnold"!! And that was that.

So I can't seem to help myself, folks. I keep looking at local cosmetic surgery offices' online Tummy Tuck galleries. I would make a perfect "before" model. I've always had that nasty under- the- belly "pooch", no matter what size I am. It is a butt in the front! My clothes hide it fine, and if you didn't know it was there, well, you probably wouldn't see it. My mom says, I don't see a gut! (As I lovingly refer to it.) My response is always, "You haven't seen me naked lately!" And bathing suits don't hide it very well--even Miracle Suits.
I dunno. I had a rough year with the matter of a hysterectomy that knocked me on my ass for a couple months. I don't know if I can justify another surgery. I am training at the gym again, and have decided to reassess if I get down to 5 pounds below goal. WLS was necessary, but I feel like a Tummy Tuck is just vanity.
Any thoughts peanut gallery?
Many thanks!

Happy to hear you are OK and the hospital/doctors know their stuff after all. As as a type 1, I have found the need to drastically taper my insulin. I am on a pump too, and if II bolus, it is rare. (And usually a mistake, as I tend to tank after doing so. ) I am still trying to balance the need to treat lows with carbs while needing to keep my carbs low for weight loss. It slowed things down significantly this week. Hopefully it will all figure itself out!
Best of luck to you too!

I only trust the scale at my doctor's office and the scale at my dietician's office. I will pop in either place occasionally to check my weight there. They are calibrated, so I trust them.

Hi! I am Amy
Age: 41
Sex: Yes, please. Err, I mean Female.
Location:Maine
Married: to an amazing man for 13 yrs. this July.
Mom: of 2 amazing kiddos
Happy to be a VIP!

Your sleeve most likely won't be fully healed until you are 3 months post op. I was told the bubbles could compromise the effectiveness of the sleeve, and could slow healing. If you can hold off for a while, that's probably your best bet. Glad you had no discomfort!
Best,
Amy

I ate healthy meals--no pre-op diet per sé. My doctor considered my weight from our first appointment and didn't weigh me thereafter. Insurance was no problem. She wasn't worried about a fatty liver with me either, considering my relatively low BMI. I'm sure that's what your surgeon is thinking. You will be fine. Breathe, my fellow low BMI'er. This is the best decision you ever made!

Hi! I am Amy
Age: 41
Sex: Yes, please. Err, I mean Female.
Location:Maine
Married: to an amazing man for 13 yrs. this July.
Mom: of 2 amazing kiddos
Happy to be a VIP!