NewSetOfCurves

It’s a combination of the meds and lack of calories. It is normal. I was very weak the first two weeks, week one being what I called "hell week". However, it does get better and it will pass. No matter how uncomfortable it feels, you need to work on getting that liquid into your system. Sip on the broth, get those sugar free popsicles (in my experience, those were a lot easier to get down), have someone make you sugar free Jell-O. GET THOSE CALORIES and LIQUID IN! The first couple of weeks are hard; you begin to doubt your decision, but IT WILL PASS! I promise!!!! Good things are coming. You WILL feel like yourself again. Give it time. Work hard in getting in what you can. You can do this, girl!

Congrats! I'm glad you're doing well! Oh, and welcome to the losers bench... It's a great place to be!

Woohoo!!! Awesome! It's a wonderful land to be in and it is a great achievement. Good for you! Congrats!

Sip, sip, sip all day long. You drink as much as you can, when you can, even when you do not want to. An alternative to sipping is sugar free popsicles. They were on my approved Clear liquids list and they were so much easier to get down than liquid; they helped me out so much! In fact, the first couple of weeks post-op, popsicles were my life line (that and my heating pad to alleviate the pain from the left over air in my body). I could never get in the required 64 oz, as requested by my doctor, but I usually ranged from 40-55 ounces. It was work, but when you are determined enough, it is feasible. You will be fine. Do what you need to do. Don’t fight it. Congrats on your upcoming surgery and good luck! Oh... and the density of Water is lessened when you add those sugar free additives, like crystal light or those MIO squirt bottles. It makes water so much easier to drink! Eventually, you will be able to drink water without a problem! I can (almost) chug water now, at 8 months out. You will adjust! Any hardships are weill worth it in the end. That is how it ahs been for me anyway!

Heating pads work wonders for the gas pain! I had my heating almost 24/7 the first week!

Hello my fellow June 2013 Sleevers! I'm so happy to see so much success on this thread...isn't absolutely amazing?! I started my journey with the sleeve at 249 pounds, size 18/20, XXL tops. Today I am 157 pounds, size 8/10, small/medium tops. 20 pounds were dropped pre-op, 70 post-op and I am 12 pounds away from my goal weight if 145. Weight loss has slowed to about 3-4 pounds a month...this month might be less (however, I attribute that to less gym time due to my hectic schedule this past month), but I am not complaining. The sleeve has changed my life and I feel lighter (both physically and spiritually), happier, and just enjoy life with a greater quality. Did I mention how great it is to cross my legs at the thighs without a second thought, or bend over to tie my shoe, run, jump, climb stairs, go shopping and EVERYTHING fits??? Ha! Loving my sleeved life! Congrats fellow June Sleevers!!!!!!

Everyone is giving you great advice!

Woohoo! You look terrific Bailey!!! Congrats!!!

Woohoo! Congrats!!! My advice would be to: follow your surgeons instructions, both pre-op and post-op not stock up on too many post-op foods. You do not know what your tummy will tolerate and you do not want all that food to go to waste try the sugar free popsicles. They were on my Clear liquids approval list. They were my life savor as far as getting liquid in, so (based on my experience) I would definitely try those have a heating pad at hand. Post-op you will most likely feel pain from the left over air trapped inside from the surgery. Your doctor will most likely prescribe you some sort of pain management, but my true source of comfort was my heating pad. remember that the extreme restriction will pass! Your tummy will be swollen, but it will soon heal. You will get used to restriction before you know it. The discomfort and transition into your new eating life style might be difficult at first, but IT WILL PASS! Before you know it (in a couple of months), you will be released to a full diet and you will be able to reintroduce your tummy to all the healthy, delicious foods you love. In no time, you will be looking and loving the new, healthier you! Happy for you and wishing you the best!

You are absolutely right! We hit those stalls and we feel unaccomplished or like we are failing; but when we look at the big picture, we are definitely winning!

Of course, that is a menu for a full diet. Immediately post-op, you will be on you r clear liquids, then full liquids, soft foods, etc. When I went out to eat with my family, once I was on full liquid, we would go to restaurants that offered soups and I would drink the broth. When I was released to soft foods, I would still order the soups, but I would actually eat the veggies or dumplings, or whatever was in there. As you progress, just remember to listen to your body, eat slowly, and reintroduce foods to your new tummy slowly. You will have a full diet before you know it and you’ll be able to enjoy the good foods that are out there once again.

Fast food: I order the salad with the grilled chicken and water; if I order the burger, I do not eat the bread. I do not order the meal. I never eat the fries or other greasy sides. McDonalds has those apple slices, so I’ll get that as my side. Sit down restaurants: I'll get the small salad, or veggie with the salmon, grilled chicken, or leanest cut of steak, with Water. I do not take any bites of the appetizers, because there will be no room for my meal, and I can NEVER finish my meal. I’ll take it to go, or my husband will finish it for me. Eating out is doable. Almost every menu has something you can order or modify.

Definitely. I think my biggest challenge has been to stay away from those bad slider foods. I have done really well, so far, staying away from them. I don’t buy them for the house, because if I do I—we, meaning my family and I—will eat them. However, in the past couple of weeks an old family friend has returned (she is like a sister to me, an aunt to my children) and she is constantly buying and bringing junk food to the house since her return. I have stalled since she has arrived because I find it difficult to stop myself from eating them. They are so addicting and unfulfilling. I finally—this morning as a matter of fact—gathered them all up and threw them in the trash and I called her and said, “DO NOT bring any more junk, please!” Other than that, it has been smooth sailing. I MAKE time to exercise, even if I have to get up at 4 a.m. I buy healthy foods, stay away from bad carbs. I don’t miss the old greasy, unhealthy foods. Usually, when I eat something unhealthy, it is planned and accounted for and I don’t feel guilty about eating it. Post-op is difficult for anyone. You have to adjust to the restriction and you have more restriction because of the swelling due to surgery, but it will soon pass. You will adjust. You will discover there is a new, healthier you underneath, and you will love it! I truly hope and wish you the best. You can message me anytime if you have questions.

I was sleeved on June 18th of 2013. I am almost 8 months post-op.

Good luck!!! We shall see you on the other side...on the post-op side, that is!

Wow...truly amazing transformations for both you and your wife. I cannot congratulate you enough. I love the analogy you used and I agree. Our past lives were definitely dictated by our tyrannical impulses to consume; caged within the obesity of that bottomless pit we called a stomach. With the sleeve that bottomless pit is no longer is no longer confined to the need to constantly feed, but it is free to say, STOP. I love that about my sleeve. My job—our job—is to fill it up with the right stuff, so that we never regress to that old life that allowed us to wallow in the misery of obesity.

Good luck!!! The first few days or even the first week or two can be tough as you adjust to the restriction, especially with your swollen tummy. But it will pass! In time you and your tummy will adjust, and you'll soon discover the new, healthier you! I had tons of trouble getting fluid in, but those sugar free Popsicles were my life line. Keep us posted!

WOW! WOW! WOW! You are almost literally 1/3 of the person that you use to be! And in just a little over a year! You look G-R-E-A-T!!! Congrats on your TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!!!

Truly amazing transformation!!! You look awesome! Beautiful! A different you!!!

Thank you!

One week post op I still had pain. I slept in my recliner, it helped a bunch! I also used heating pads for my back to help move the left over gas that was trapped from surgery. My pain isolated itself in my back and left shoulder. Walking and heating pads were the only things that really helped. I do want to mention that the left shoulder discomfort from the left over gas lasted several weeks. After the month mark I could still feel it when I walked briskly or trotted. It did FINALLY go away after 6-8 weeks. But try the heating pads!

My suggestion to you would be to break up your workouts by muscle groups so that they have time to repair. Your first and third overlap many of the same muscles, and if they're preformed within a few days of each other, you are hindering muscle growth. When you lift, the muscle tears. When the muscle rebuilds and heals itself, that is when muscle growth occurs. If you lift before the muscle is healed, it stays torn and does not heal as fast. Hence, the hindrance of muscle growth. Maybe combine chest and biceps exercises for day 1; back day 2; shoulders and triceps day 3; legs on day 4. Factor in your rest days in between or after, and you muscles are healed and ready for the following week to make some more gains. Don't forget the Protein within 30 minutes post workout to aide towards recovery, and lots of water! Take it or leave it...I wish you the best of luck and congrats to you on all of your success.

Size 18 / 20 tops and bottoms or 2x/3x tops Now Small/Medium tops or 8/10 pants. Depends on hip and leg room, I have a small waist and generous hips and thighs. All my pants fit huge at the waist and perfect in those other areas. But I'll take that problem any day!

Bandista is very right. I was just engaging in a debate with 2muchfun. I wasn't offended, I hope he wasn't offended. In my mind we were just offering the knowledge that we have each gained through our own experiences and research. We will each interpret that knowledge in our way, and that is why it's critical to read, read, read & ask, ask, ask and synthesize your own opinion. Again, I wish you the best.

I too will concede that stats do change and numbers were different when I was researching this over a year ago. However, despite what others might feel or agree with, the sleeve is not a malabsorption issue. http://gastricsleevenow.com/advantages-of-gastric-sleeve-surgery I talked to death about this with my doctor because I am horrible at taking vitamins/ pills/ medications/ etc.