AmyInOrlando

I try never to discuss religion or politics.... But I remember my Dad said once, "The worst part of being an Athiest is..... NO HOLIDAYS !!!!!

7 years ago I had lost 150 pounds with diet and exercise. It was not the first time I had lost and regained 100 pounds. This time, over the course of 7 years, and for many reasons I gained back 75 pounds. When I saw the scale quickly approaching the 200 pound mark, I knew it was time to do something drastic. That's when I decided to have the surgery. When I scheduled my surgery, I was 198 pounds. I then binged my way up to 204.8. I started the pre-op liquid diet a week early, just to stop the bingeing. The day of surgery I weighed 195. I was able to lose weight.... I'd done it all my life, only to regain some or all. I didn't want to do it again. I needed a new tool In my toolbox to lose the weight for the LAST time.

Go to Endobariatrics.com and order Dr. Alvarez's book. "Successful Weight Loss with the Gastric Sleeve". It's an easy read, I keep it on my kitchen counter as a resource

My dog Kaity is much cuter then I am, and she's only 3 (of course that's 21 in dog years), and no, she's not fat, just fluffy.

Zoftig... I wouldn't be concerned with not doing all the pre-op things that people do in the states. Most of that is for insurance companies to either stall you or find a reason to not approve your surgery. Most of us know how to diet... Hell, we're professional dieters and can probably write books on nutrition, so 6 months of documented dieting just prolongs your surgery. As for the psych stuff.... we've all got "issues"... some of us have "full subscriptions". There is a high percentage of us that have histories of sexual abuse, depression, dysfunctional families, etc. Finding out why we're FAT doesn't solve the problem. We need to change the behaviors. The sleeve is a tool. We still need to do the work. I've been a Psych Nurse for 38 years and have been to therapy myself. As long as your medical problems don't exclude you... the biggest question is are you willing to commit to the lifestyle changes that will be necessary for this life changing procedure to be successful? This isn't something we can start and stop like a "diet" when we lose our motivation or willpower. The consequences of not adhering to the post op guidelines will mean regaining the weight, like all of us have done in the past. For most of us this is a last resort, not a first choice at weight control.

I was sleeved on August 1st. I'm doing great. I haven't been hungry once since surgery. I've reached my goal of 70 grams of Protein and 64 oz. of fluids everyday. I get full pretty easily, and sometimes have to divide my 4 oz meal into 2 meals. I'm having 6 mini meals instead of 3. No regrets... it was the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Holy Guacamole..... Phantompouch, I'm scheduled for surgery with Dr. Alvarez on August 1st. I thought I had researched him thoroughly, but after reading your post, I'm concerned. Hopefully, his experience in the VSG will make up for his lack of Post-Graduate Fellowship Training in Bariatric Surgery. I'm a Certified Psych RN with 38 years experience. I've got the ANCC Certification, but not a BSN. My experience more then makes up for the degree, and I'm an excellent Nurse. Dr. A has done over 3000 surgeries, and I've yet to find a Patient that's given him a bad review. At this point, there's no turning back for me. All I can do is hope and pray that I made the right decision, and hopefully I'll be back to post my own positive review.

I turned 61 today... I had surgery on 8/1/13. I've lost 34.2 pounds. I'll update my stats on my "official" weigh day which is Thursday.

Why not call her and ask her what's going on? Tell her you're disappointed that you haven't heard from her, and don't understand it. Don't text, call her and invite her over for "lunch". Let her know you miss her...

My dog Kaity is much cuter then I am, and she's only 3 (of course that's 21 in dog years), and no, she's not fat, just fluffy.

My dog Kaity is much cuter then I am, and she's only 3 (of course that's 21 in dog years), and no, she's not fat, just fluffy.

I try never to discuss religion or politics.... But I remember my Dad said once, "The worst part of being an Athiest is..... NO HOLIDAYS !!!!!

I totally agree with all the replies. Trust me, you NEVER had restriction for donuts!! I can and DID Down bags of powdered donuts over the last year! You can pack a whole lot of junk down our small stomachs if we choose to do so.
Again, as others have said. You still have the tool you need and you can still accomplish YOUR goals! Get your head back in the game, stay totally connected to others like us who have the same struggles and are dealing daily with it and I think you will find yourself quickly in a "better place!"

Hi stromlin,
Nice to see you back
It's never to late to get back in the game. It's all about saying ok today I'm working towards health and happiness. And realizing this is a lifetime change.
I've had points where I get sad knowing that I will have to deal with this for life.
But then again, I now know that I have to deal with this for life!
That was the problem with diets I started them, lost the weight and I was "done"
Hello weight gain.
So we have this... For lack of a better word "tool"
It's great but not a miracle worker.
But it's built in and still there!
So when I fall off the rails I know it's within my power to pick myself up again and use it to its full potential.
The fact of the matter is I can eat unlimited amounts of **** foods. But I still have my restriction for dense Proteins.
So what do we do? Yep, get rid of the crap from our house and our diets and go back to the basics protien and veggies.
Simple huh?
No not really because of the whole detoxing from carbs is hard I know. But start today and take it day by day. Hell sometimes I take it minute by minute. But if you hang tough long enough you will get through a day then tomorrow is a little easier.
Come here stay here and talk it out.
It helps me so much that others will listen if I'm struggling

The vets forum is JAM PACKED with ideas, tips and support!
What I want to say first isn't advice about losing weight, but it is more about the mental part of this. I think that surgical technique has helped some of us more then others. I discussed this with my surgeon at my 18 month. He was giving me all the credit BUT also mentioned that with band to sleeve revisions like me they sometimes cannot get a good tight pouch (that is still safe and not so small you have constant reflux) and he felt that in my case, we got a little lucky there.
I also want to say that losing and maintaining weight loss for women over 40, especially post menopause is a whole different ballgame then for some others.
Finally, there is this other... sort of wildcard... like that right combination of everything coming together. I was so determined to make goal, but, I also won the getting an amazing NUT to work with lottery, supportive friends, finding this bulletin board... really a bunch of things. I more or less turned a year of my life over to losing weight and now that I am maintaining, I am making my weight and health a very very high priority. I wasn't able to do that when I was banded. i can bash the lapband as being the medival torture device that it was, but, in truth, I also didn't do as well with "my part of the bargain".
So, don't kick yourself too hard, you can STILL do this. Realize that we all have our own journey and any one of us could have better or worse results. Even though I feel AMAZINGLY successful, I still sometimes wonder why i didn't get to a 23 BMI... you know what I mean? It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that someone else has it better, did it better or whatever... truth is ... this is our own journey and we all just do the best we can.
Having said all that, I did a bunch of different things over the course of the journey that got me to success beyond my widest dreams. I changed things up, tuned them, listened to myself and others to figure out what is needed at that particular time.
Should i find myself in your situation, I would basically start over. Eating just like a post op - high Protein, low carbs, small quantities (use small plates!) , get fluids in - all the tricks for newbies is also the best way to start over. Do NOT EAT SLIDERS. A donut is a classic example of a slider. I bet if I ate them i could eat a whole one and be hungry in an hour... I just.don't.do.it. It is like a physical addiction - I hate crappy food, don't even enjoy it, but once I start on it, the siren call is strong... very strong. i eat as clean of food as possible - Protein, veggies, some limited fruit and very low on healthy carb sources and the occasional "treat" like when I go out.
If I have the "munchies" like I just have to eat even when it isnt really time I have a piece of turkey, maybe with some cheese! If I am still hungry, maybe I have some salad greens or another piece of turkey meat.
As far as exercise, alot depends on your fitness level and your level of "wanting it". High intensity interval training is how I got from the 170s to the 150s - I don't think i could have done it without it. However, that is HARD and just getting out and moving more might be a better option until you are really fit enough to do it.

My dog Kaity is much cuter then I am, and she's only 3 (of course that's 21 in dog years), and no, she's not fat, just fluffy.

I had that feeling for the first 6 weeks. I was told it was because of the Hiatal Hernia repair I had during my VSG. Now it's gone.... but it does occur periodically if I've eaten too quickly or don't chew thoroughly. The only thing that helps is walking.

I had that feeling for the first 6 weeks. I was told it was because of the Hiatal Hernia repair I had during my VSG. Now it's gone.... but it does occur periodically if I've eaten too quickly or don't chew thoroughly. The only thing that helps is walking.

If they're willing to approve the band and not the sleeve, then obviously they've got the Mental Health issues..... That's INSANE. Just my Professional opinion... I've been a Psych Nurse for 38 years.
Amy Brock, R.N., B.C.

Spandex is my best friend. 7 years ago I lost 150 pounds with just diet and exercise. Dressed, I looked great in a petite size 4. Naked, I looked like a Sharpei puppy (much cuter visual then a 90 year old woman). Since this isn't my first rodeo, I imagine things will be the same (or worse) when I reach my goal of 125 this time. I'll trade the skin for the weight anytime. I don't wear shorts or anything sleeveless now (and I live in FL, which sucks), but that's the price I have to pay for years of abusing my body. I hope to have skin removal surgery this time, so I'll be trading the skin for scars, but again... I can't turn the clock back...

Spandex is my best friend. 7 years ago I lost 150 pounds with just diet and exercise. Dressed, I looked great in a petite size 4. Naked, I looked like a Sharpei puppy (much cuter visual then a 90 year old woman). Since this isn't my first rodeo, I imagine things will be the same (or worse) when I reach my goal of 125 this time. I'll trade the skin for the weight anytime. I don't wear shorts or anything sleeveless now (and I live in FL, which sucks), but that's the price I have to pay for years of abusing my body. I hope to have skin removal surgery this time, so I'll be trading the skin for scars, but again... I can't turn the clock back...

I turned 61 today... I had surgery on 8/1/13. I've lost 34.2 pounds. I'll update my stats on my "official" weigh day which is Thursday.

Your risk of dying is higher driving to hospital then having the surgery. Make sure you've got your seatbelt on.... watch your speed... and tell the pre-op Nurse, "Bring on the Versed" Before you know it, you'll be in recovery saying "really? it's over?"

Spandex is my best friend. 7 years ago I lost 150 pounds with just diet and exercise. Dressed, I looked great in a petite size 4. Naked, I looked like a Sharpei puppy (much cuter visual then a 90 year old woman). Since this isn't my first rodeo, I imagine things will be the same (or worse) when I reach my goal of 125 this time. I'll trade the skin for the weight anytime. I don't wear shorts or anything sleeveless now (and I live in FL, which sucks), but that's the price I have to pay for years of abusing my body. I hope to have skin removal surgery this time, so I'll be trading the skin for scars, but again... I can't turn the clock back...

Your risk of dying is higher driving to hospital then having the surgery. Make sure you've got your seatbelt on.... watch your speed... and tell the pre-op Nurse, "Bring on the Versed" Before you know it, you'll be in recovery saying "really? it's over?"