GalileeGal

Hi everyone! I am only 2 months out, but am very pleased so far. At age 54, I knew I must not only change my eating habits, but completely change my lifestyle. So....next week we are going to Eilat for a few days (I live in Israel). In the past, I would spend days searching out the best restaurants and plan our vacations around where will be eating. Now, I booked at a hotel that is right on the coral reef and has bicycles for the guests, and we will be spending our time cycling and snorkeling. I don't know (or care) where we will be eating. For me, after a lifetime of food addiction, that's what I call FREEDOM!!!!

Great topic for me as right now I am a bit over 2 months out and couldn't overeat even if I wanted to! I find if I eat even one bite more than a tiny portion, I vomit. I have a friend who just visited from Australia, and she was sleeved in 2009, lost almost 40 kilos and gained it all back! This is really scary to me, as she said every meal she just ate a bit more than she should have, and managed to stretch her sleeve. I am determined to lose it all and keep it off, and am already seriously exercising, eating very few carbs and mainly protein and vegetables. Any tips on how to make sure the weight never comes back?

Great to have found this forum! I am wondering if anyone else has found they are losing slower than the younger folks who have done this? My dietitian said that if you lose slowly on diets, you will likely find the same after being sleeved, and that's me! I actually gained weight following Weight Watchers! I am very happy with my sleeve, but am eating very little and losing very slowly. I am sure being post-menopausal has something to do with it. Anyone else?

Hi there everybody! My Mom died 2 years ago from obesity-related diseases, and I decided not to follow the same path. As many of you have said, I had tried everything and my life was a series of dieting, losing and then gaining it back, plus more. I was pre-diabetic, high blood pressure, etc etc. and I finally said ENOUGH! I don't know that even if it was available, if I would have gotten sleeved when I was younger. I think I was in denial and thought I could always take it off when I wanted to...I enjoy food too much....Big Beautiful Women are wonderful.... I am thankful for the opportunity and happy that I have a good chance of being around another few decades to enjoy my life!

I am also a salty, crunchy addict, and I found it helpful to keep a cup of crunchy vegetables with salt and some fresh lemon squeezed over them. Really helps me with those cravings.

Amazing to me how different doctors advise such different diets. I am 6 weeks out and can eat just about anything, but after just a few bites of pasta (my old favorite) made me sick, I am still sticking with mainly protein and some mostly cooked vegetables. Sometimes it is frustrating that I am physically unable to eat more than a few bites when I would love to eat more, but love the way I feel! All that fattening food will always be available, so we can take a few bites here or there and ONE bite is just as delicious as pigging out on tons. In fact, I am finding food tastes even better as we can eat so little of it so I really appreciate it. Anyone else?

Yes! I am almost 6 weeks out, and if I get the hiccups for more than a few minutes, it usually means I ate too fast and am about to vomit. Not often, but I find it is a reminder to slow down!

What a wonderful and inspirational story! Keep up the good work and thanks so much for being so open about your journey!

Thanks for asking, Jess! I would love to hear how everyone is doing and what is "normal" at this point. I am a month post-op and feeling good. I have lost 20 pounds and can cross my legs, move easier and am looking forward to exercising more than just walking. The only problem I have had is that occasionally I start hiccoughing and then vomit. I guess it is from eating too fast. How about you all?

Great idea to have a September 2013 group so we can follow each other's progress. I was sleeved September 10th in Haifa, Israel. I am an American living in Israel and the socialized medicine system here is terrific. Everything was covered and I was in the hospital 4 days. Now 8 days later, have dropped 12 pounds and feel great! I am a little worried as food has always been my addiction, and I keep reading about people who gain it back later on. For now though, I am determined and very glad I did this.

Yoga Lady, good for you! It is a really tough decision and I am only 8 days post-op. We are about the same age and I can relate to how hard (impossible) it is to lose weight. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Do you have a good support system? I have found that is very important, maybe more important than anything else.

Is there a way to edit after posting? My man is a green BUILDER (not a building) (I edited it thanks to the help of a couple of community members. Thanks! I didn't see the "edit" button as it looks grayed-out.)

Thanks to everyone for sharing who they are and what makes you happy. Getting back to the basics of the members is not a given in these online communities, and I really appreciate the openness of the members here. So....here I go! I am only one week post-op, so I am really a newbie, but am feeling great and grateful this opportunity is available. I am a young and energetic 54 year old. I was a fat kid and lost it as a teenager and it didn't come back until I became a MOM and the weight crept up on me slowly. I am a real foodie and love to cook and explore ethnic cuisine, so somehow I turned around and found myself OBESE with diabetes, high blood pressure and nothing seemed to work for me, so I got sleeved! I work in marketing communications and social media for a wonderful company in Israel that is franchised in 34 countries, teaching English to kids the same way they learn their mother tongue. I am divorced many years, but live with my soul mate in the mountains of the Galilee, Israel and together we have SIX wonderful daughters and a granddaughter, none of whom live with us full time. Our lovable schnoodle and tortoiseshell cat keep us company though. My guy is a green builder, and he built us an incredible house which I absolutely LOVE! Oh! I am also a singer and sing mostly folk rock. Keep up the good (and HARD) work all of us!