MCM13

Always wise words from you Cheri. All very good points to keep in mind.

Sept 10th is my date and i am just so excited i am doing my pre op now and i am down 9 pounds

My goal is to be healthy and still maintain some muscle mass

I still have a way to go, but I don't think I'm doing too badly considering I'm still recovering from knee surgery, thus my exercise is limited.

Hope this helps someone.
For those who don't know, I started at almost 300lbs. And in almost no notable muscle.

You know the food funeral thing is a tough one..
When I knew I had a date I went to the store before my pre op and picked up a pint of some kind of ice cream (can't even remember the flavor how sad) went home and ate half of it that night and finished it the next day..
After I ate it?? Nothing, it was just gone it didn't feel special it didn't make me feel better, in fact it did nothing for me except make me feel crappier about myself and add more weight to lose!
Fast forward to today, I can eat normal again so if I wanted a bit of ice cream I could. So I guess what I'm saying is don't sabotage yourself with thoughts of "I need to eat this now because I can never have it again"

I don't think the results are much different than this study:
http://img2.timg.co.il/forums/1_151963966.pdf
The abstract for the article,http://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(13)00228-1/abstract, states: LSG was effective 5.9 years postoperatively with an excessive BMI loss of almost 60% and a considerable improvement or even remission of co-morbidities.
This study doesn't show much regain later either, EWL was 61% at 1 year and 57% at five years. I know we all want 100% EWL, but the fact is some people are not going to get there. We improve our chances by hanging here and staying accountable.
Lynda
Lynda

My take on is that 70% of the people lost ALL the weight they should have. About 30% didn't lose all of it, but even they lost more than half their excess weight. And they all had fewer comorbidities, and none of them gained enough to need the DS. Also that if your band fails, you might should consider RNY not the sleeve.
Good news, good news I think. I'd take 70-30 odds and the worst cast being I only lost 60% of my excess weight.

I was reading another forum last night and a woman just got back from a seminar with her bariatric doctors they told the people that the sleeve is great, but also said that after about the five year mark the restriction goes away and hunger is back all the way and most need to be re-sleeved!! Thoughts?
So I've been thinking about it all day, and have done some poking about a bit and some reading..
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/40490
And I found this an interesting statement coming from a doctor at a bariatric conference...
“Doctors are constantly concerned with durability. The gastric sleeve gained instant popularity because it is quick and easy to master, and is a less difficult operation than a bypass,” said Dr. Coon. However, he stressed the need for surgeons to learn all of the facts, perform extensive prep work, and communicate effectively with each patient before deciding whether the sleeve gastrectomy is appropriate.
“With new surgeries, outcome is always hard to predict,” he said. “If five years from now it still seems to be a good operation, then it probably will continue — and then again it might fail. Regardless, people will continue to promote it or disagree with it.”

Tell you what. At five years out (and 10 and 15 and etc...mother nature willing...), I will still be rocking this emeffing sleeve. No WAY I'm cutting out most of my stomach then just being a recidivist fat chick. I mean: NO. WAY. Stats can suck it.
ETA: I never lost my hunger anyhow, so I've had to learn to cope with that being present the entire process. So meh.
EATA: OMG, that is my bariatric clinic being quoted...! They are experts in this procedure, but I normally only see them quoted in academic literature...

Save the best bite for FIRST because it's highly unlikely I will get to eat it if I save it for last!
I "blame" a lot of my weight issues on my previous tendency to make big luscious meals, pile my plate high and then save the best bites for last, ensuring that I will clean my plate.
I've always done this, from my first PB&J (eat around the crust first, from the driest bottom side, all the way around the edge to the squishy under butt of the crust and then circling around to the fattest middle filled with squishy deliciousness), to a pan of brownies (eat all the gooey, slightly under baked middle first, saving the crispy edges for last). I had a method of gluttony for eating everything (green bean casserole, push most of the crispy onions to one side to be enjoyed in the last crunchy salty bite) and the last bite had to be eaten no matter how stuffed I was. After all, it was the best bite, right?
Never did I consider simply cutting off the crust, just eating the edge of the brownies or simply adding a few more onions to a smaller portion of casserole. My mom has always been skinny and her dieting motto was to always leave at least one bite of everything on your plate, two bites of your favorite thing. My skinny friends rarely finish their plates nor do they need to eye everyone else's plate for one delicious morsel.
It really feels good to eat my bites best to worst, because when I am done, I'm done! It's still habit to save the best for last, but it's one I'm breaking slowly now that I've missed out on it so many times.

I've known a man or two who already thought he was carrying that.....quite baselessly I assure you

Had my pre-op testing this morning, chest x-ray, urine & blood test, did a ekg last year so they used that one. I didn't realize that my doctors are the only one with the Center of Excellence from Sacramento CA to Portland OR, that's a very comforting thought, I was also informed that I will have a private room in a new addition to our hospital with a special bariatric trained staff, some of which have already had the procedure, another calming thought! After my appointments I stopped by the local 'Carb Essentials' and picked up a container of Unjury chicken Soup Flavored Protein Powder, a customer standing in line was also a patient from my doctors office, said to mix that with fat free chicken broth and it was very tasty. I was excited for another Protein option, especially since its not a sweet one!! I am a salty girl and I don't care who knows it! lol, getting close, 10 days and counting

OMG is it ever!! I have to hold legs up when they prep them for a leg surgery. Talk about heavy and it's LOTS worse holding up two at the same time. I'll be glad to get rid of my tree trunk legs in the near future.

After my gallbladder was removed in 1994, I had dumping syndrome for about 6 months whenever I ate a fatty, or rich meal. I had to run to the bathroom after most meals. After I learned to adjust my diet to eliminate these types of foods, it got much better. Since then, I've always had problems with crab, lobster, Ice cream, buttery rich and sweet foods. Now, with my sleeve, I still have problems with these foods. It's not dumping syndrome, it's an intolerance that just isn't going away and I now finally get it!!! No sweets, no creamy foods of any kind for me.
So, I wonder if others sleevers are really having actual dumping syndrome or do they just need to identify foods that they are intolerant to and eliminate them for life?

Your starting stats are very similar to mine. I hope I have the amazing loss you're having. You're definitely kicking butt and look great. You'll be at goal before long.

I, too, have lost an elephant's penis! Whew! Hated carrying that thing around!

Ok....so here is something I thought I would never say.....I am 2lbs away from losing an elephant's penis!!!!! Who knew THAT would be one of my goals?!?!?!? Lmbo!!! I love this!!!

Whenever someone asks me a question I don't care to answer, I simply say, "Now why in the world would you ask someone a question like that?" and then smile at them as if they were a total asshat, which of course, they are.

I was sleeved January 16th and I have NEVER been happier. I've lost almost 80lbs and am only 15 lbs from my goal! I never thought I would see this day coming. I feel amazing. I can eat almost anything I want, in little portions. To anyone considering this surgery.. do it. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner

I thought I was the only one screaming in my car!
I'm ready for a renewed life.

I have told two people I work with that I have to have surgery "you know female issues". :ph34r: can we say blabber mouths and gossip I just don't feel like explaining. Or hearing anyone else tell me I could do this on my own if I had will power. This is not my first rodeo, or diet.

I think everyone should relax. Read through the previous months sleevers threads and you will see this same trend but the stall wont last, it cant. It just takes your body time to adjust. Get in your protien 80-100g per day. I have faith that you all will be fine.

1 pound away from normal bmi 5'4" and 146 lbs 9 months after getting sleeved at 230 lbs. some updated pics from the summer.

Down 85 lbs in 7-8 months! That's fantastic. We're 12 days post-op and he is down 26 lbs and I'm down 21 so we're pretty happy so far.

I had surgery last August with Dr. A. and just returned home today from taking my daughter to Dr. Alvarez for sleeve surgery. :-)He is truly the kindest Dr. That I have ever met. He did so good with my daughter, she had never had a surgery in her life. He took the time to talk with her about everything that he would do before the surgery and what she could expect after. She told me that she really expected it to be much more painful than it was. I recommend him so often because he is really there for his patients, long after the operation is over.