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I think that is totally normal! It's a huge life change, plus a medical procedure. That's a lot to process. I remember a couple days before my surgery having a complete emotional meltdown because I think I realized my coping mechanism - stress eating - was going to be basically taken away and it was a huge realization. Everything worked out amazingly though, as I'm sure it will for you too! Good luck!

You are 100% right. My ex would have been very happy keeping me unhappy because it was more comfortable for him. Once I lost the weight he became obsessed with all the "what if's" in his head that were not at all based on reality. Hopefully though, since you are thinking about this now, it's something that you can work through maybe through therapy or something. Ultimately, you are only responsible for YOUR happiness and health, not anyone else's.

In the end you may not be able to "convince" him and that's ok. You are an adult and are making a decision for your healthy based on the research that you have done.

With all due respect to the marriage thing...... It is your body, and not his. It is your life, not his. When you look back on your life, you don't want to regret not making a change for yourself because of him. And it all reality, if you would choose not to mainly because of his objection then I would put money on you resenting him for it. There may also be deeper reasons behind it and he may not even be aware that deep down he may be more comfortable with you not losing the weight for whatever reason. It's a very loaded issue in an individual's life and within a marriage. Ultimately, my husband was not able to adapt to the thin version of me. As a part of the process, I regained my personal agency and my personal power, which kind of threw off the dynamic of our marriage and he wasn't able to get on the same page with me. I'm not at all trying to discourage you, it just is something worth being mindful of. In the end, you need to make the decision that you can live with in the end. It sounds to me like you want a life that you are actively living and you have every right to that life. :-)

The eating quickly might also be contributing to some of the heartburn. Heartburn is a pretty common side effect. Talk to your doctor about getting on some heartburn meds if you haven't already. I just had to have them for a very short time and haven't needed them since, but some need them forever after. It just depends. Heartburn can also make you feel like you're hungry when you're not, so it's helpful to take care of it to avoid that. Yes, your tastes and your appetite will change. Things you liked before you won't like at all, and you will like new things. It's all part of the process as you get the carbs and sugar out of your system. I was the same; eggs made me nauseous. I still can't really eat them, though I try to choke them down from time to time.

I was 2 months post op at my first thanksgiving. Honestly, I agree with what another poster said. I found it pretty easy at that stage because I was just so happy to be able to eat solid foods. I stuck to a little bit of turkey and a couple bites of mashed potatoes and that filled me up. I can give you these words of wisdom JUST PASS on the bread and the sweets. Honestly, the longer you can just stay off of it completely.......i said COMPLETELY....the better off you will be in the long run!

Your surgeon should give you a list. If I were you, I would stick to the higher Protein options first rather than the higher carb ones.

I reached my first goal weight in 10 months. But then I revised it. I never dreamed I would lose that much so quickly, so I didn't realize I would need a "phase 2" goal weight. I think that's pretty common though.

Just keep at it. That is pretty normal. I definitely remember that struggle. You are right, it is super important to not get dehydrated, but you have to keep trying. Don't try to drink a lot at once though, you are right, that will hurt. I drank from the little 1 oz medicine cups and just keep going it againa and again and again. You won't get the full 80 in for a while, but you have to get enough to keep you healthy!

First of all, I can assure you that this option is not the easy way out, so you can stop beating yourself up about that part of it! :-) Reading your post, I was transported back to when I felt the feelings you are describing. It is a horrible place to be stuck in. But the good news is, I got out of it and so can you! Do all the research you can, be as informed as you can be, and then be assured that you are doing something amazing and wonderful for yourself and for your kids. I was about the same as you when I had surgery, mid-30s, 4 kiddos, lots of stress and about the same weight (I was a bit higher at 278). I can tell you that 4 years later (from my first pre-op appointment) I have never regretted this for a moment. I actually just posted my 3 year surgiversary update on my blog with some reflections on the process. Feel free to check it out. Good luck to you! It's a tough decision, but being informed will help you make the right one I"m sure!

Depends on your insurance requirements. If you find out what they are, do what they require and you should be approved. I think recently more and more insurance has been covering the procedures more readily. Good luck!

Very exciting! I would say just read up as much as you can so you are as prepared as possible. I really like Geneen Roth's books on emotional eating. I wish I had discovered them before surgery so I was more prepared for that part of it. There's also lots of good blogs and video blogs from "vets" you could check out for "what to expect" kind of info. My blog is linked in my signature. It goes back 4 years to my first pre-op appt through now. Good luck to you

That's so exciting! Congrats on starting your journey! I started a blog before my first pre-op appointment, almost 4 years ago now. It's linked in my signature. I've tried to keep it up to date and honest with the good, the bad, and the ugly, so feel free to check it out. It always helps to gather as much info as possible in the stage you're at and it sounds like you're doing that. Good luck!

Congrats on starting your journey! I didn't find that biotin really helped. I don't know if the products I listed would help preventatively or not. I can say that now, 3 years post op, I'm back to a full, thick head of hair.

So September 12th was my 3 year surgiversary. I don't know why I've been putting off updating, but I think it's just hard to put into words everything this surgery has done for me or -rather - has enabled me to do for myself. I wrote a blog post with my update and some of my favorite pictures from the journey. For those of you wondering if the surgery can work long term, read the post..... it can if you do! themeiamnow.blogspot.com

I usually just by the Protein hot chocolate from bariwise. I don't like the way heated up Protein shakes tend to separate.

Absolutely not. Not only do I not miss the physical part of it (being WAY overweight), but I also do not miss the person I was in that body. Losing weight and getting to the root of my food issues has empowered me to make a lot of other changes in my life beyond pants size.

I shared with my family and just a few close friends who I felt compelled to share with. Otherwise, my story has always been that I changed my lifestyle, cut carbs, increased protein & water, and started running. None of those things are untrue. :-)

Starting Weight last week: 156.6 Today's Weight for check in - 153.8

I was 3 years post op in September. It's weird....I kind of feel like I'm holding my breath waiting for the "dreaded regain" and then I think "wait a minute.....I've kept it off for 3 years. This is the new normal!" I've worked hard physically & emotionally to maintain the 125 pound loss. I used to think I was a fat girl who goat skinny & eventually will go back to the real me. Slowly, my perspective has changed & I realized the "real me" is me right now & I couldn't discover me until the weight came off. Success doesn't come without a lot of effort & there will for sure be lots of ups and downs..... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I hear you! I had a TT & panini in April 2015 & I was so excited to have insurance approve it that I didn't even really think about the pain. I WAY underestimated the recovery. I would say it took a full year to fully fully recovered & even now 1.5 years out I still have tightness & numbness. Not pain, just a weird feeling. Totally worth it though. Amazing results. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I buy the Protein hot chocolate made by bariwise. It's good! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I would recommend reading up on emotional eating because that (or the loss of that) was more emotional than I expected. I recommend Geneen Roth's books. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've always been hesitant to post on this board because the title "Tell Your Story" just makes me feel like it implies you have a complete and finished story to tell. I've not felt before this point like I came full circle. I don't think this journey ever ends, but at 3 years post op, losing 140 pounds, having had skin removal, becoming very ill, having a little regain, battling back and losing it, facing down my eating disorder, I feel like I have some perspective and that things have really come full circle. I wrote a post on my blog about it, with some of my favorite pictures from the journey. If you are considering WLS, or new to the journey and feeling discouraged, I would strongly urge you to read it. It gives you the full picture of my journey and the struggles and the victories. Enjoy! themeiamnow.blogspot.com

Great questions. First, I would say if you haven't already, find a good eating disorder therapist to work with. That has made all the difference for me. In my teen years and early in adulthood I struggled with anorexia and got very, very thin. Then after having children and being "forced" in some ways to have to gain weight for the pregnancies, I kind of swung in the other direction and developed binge eating disorder, which let me to the sleeve surgery. After surgery the weight flew off and the constant counting of calories, carbs, Proteins, etc. along with the rapid weight loss really reignited those obsessive thoughts about food and I found myself struggling again with anorexia. For me, it wasn't until I began therapy at 10 months post op and 38 years old that I realized I ever even had any eating disorder at all, let alone one that consumed so much of my time, energy, and thoughts. Therapy really helped me to identify the behaviors and naming them in some way really helped. I've been able to focus on the "why" of my eating issues and that has made all the difference in the long term success. I didn't need someone telling me "what" to eat. I'd been on so many diets I could have been a nutritionist...lol. What I needed to understand was why I was sabotaging myself. So, that was a lengthy answer, but my take-away would be that it is GREAT that you are asking these questions right now. I think going into the surgery already knowing some of these things would have been SO good for me. I think if you go into it knowing yourself, knowing you have that history and really working with someone to help you stay in check if those behaviors start resurfacing you will be really successful! Good luck to you!