GotItDoneInHarlem

How much are you eating? How many calories are you getting in? I've found that when I've been stuck for a few days if I increase my calories for a few days it gets me back to losing. I've heard other anecdotal reports on the forums that increasing just a bit kicks you out of starvation mode and lets your body get back to burning fat.

Used a Nutri Bullet for post-op meals. It was PERFECT for what I needed it for, but don't think I'm ever going to use it again. Bought the EXACT system below. Still have the original box. $50+shipping. PM me if interested. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TIE0GQ/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've got some pretty serious tattoos and have held off on adding for years because of my weight. I've been DYING to add an upper chest piece. Some wording that goes from collarbone to collarbone. It's a pretty flat area now but I'm not sure how well my moobs are going to shrink and if I'll need plastics to flatten out my lower chest down the road. I don't want to get a great piece done and have it hacked up later. Anyone with experience?

Don't do a pre-op without guidance. Some surgeons don't require one and it may be the surgeon doesn't feel you need to. Just go by what your doctor says, and if the surgeon says you don't need one that's AWESOME.

Hoo hoos are above my pay grade, but I feel ya. I'm losing weight like crazy and the fat pad of my pelvis hasn't gone anywhere and I too feel like I have a FUPA.

Sent you a PM.

It's great that they found it now! Just a bump on the road. The road is bumpy for everyone.

Do destroy your will to live. In all seriousness, it's so that you drop a bunch of weight right before the surgery to shrink your liver and make the procedure safer. They have to physically lift your liver up to get to your stomach and the more flexible, pliable, and moveable it is the fewer complications that can come up. It may suck in the beginning, but when you're post-op and counting every pound you'll be excited to include your post-op losses in your total loss. I've lost 27 since surgery in one month, but saying I lost 43 since I began my pre-op diet sound even better!

I keep trying new recipes. Healthy ones that sound delicious, and they are! BUT my new tummy hates them and it's back to basics. The most exotic thing I've incorporated is spinach and mushrooms. Ground anything is a nightmare. What are your favorite "simple" foods? Cooking, prep, type, all that doesn't matter to me. I just want something high Protein, delicious, preferably savory, and preferably easy to pack.

OMG the largest incision is the worst one. EVERYONE has that same experience. Coughing, sneezing, laughing can hurt for a little while. Keep sipping and do your best. Time will fly by. Walking is gas' #1 enemy. Walk as much as you can tolerate it. If you can tolerate over 15 minutes you should try. It will make a world of difference with gas and help you lose weight faster. Welcome to the other side.

Hang tight. Follow your diet plan and know that this will end soon.

Same thing happened to me. Drink Water. Take emergen-c. Search my earlier posts. I had a little cough going into surgery and it was brutal to have in recovery.

Awesome! I'd love to hear your story!

I struggled with this same concept. I chose to have the sleeve because I wanted ONE internal wound with ONE staple line to heal. I didn't want to re-route anything and I didn't want t deal with absorption issues (I take antivirals for HIV and that's a big no no). The decision is if you are ready to make this commitment. Yeah you lose weight, but it's an entire lifestyle change. For me, I have loved ever second of it and I've only just begun. Like you, I CAN lose weight, and have many times, but I ALWAYS put it back on and then some. But, I am ready for stability in my life. I am ready to only be able to eat so much yet be content. I too put on most of my weight with meds, mine were psych meds. Once upon a time I said I'd rather be fat than sad all the time, then realized I CAN be healthy, at a healthy weight, AND happy. There is not place other than a list of pros and cons that can help you decide. It doesn't sound like you're convinced it's for you. I wasn't ready for a long time and put it off, but once I was ready and did it I love it. You may need more time to make the decision for yourself. DOn't let anyone say you are or aren't ready. That's your decision. I will say the one thing that nudged me towards surgery were all the regret postings on this website. 99% of people on here, even people who endured SERIOUS LIFE-THREATNING COMPLICATIONS, all say the same thing. "My only regret is that I waited this long." Best of luck. Ask as many questions as you can. Educate yourself. Know why you want to do it. Know what you are scared of and face them all. After surgery is too late to second guess. I hope you find your answer and have peace with it. -J

Thanks to everyone that responded. I appreciate it.

OMG Lark, I've been dying! I have found 2 things that have saved me. (I woke up with bloody legs one morning from scratching in my sleep). 1) Olive oil. Take it to the shower or bath with you and slather it on. Rinse it off, don't wash with soap 2) Cover it all in a thick layer of Sarna.

Maybe the disappeared to the "veterans" site that we're all not worthy enough to see.

I have been doing whatever it takes to get me out of the house. #1- I've learned to love the movies again. I didn't go for a long time because I stayed in because of my weight. Now I see something almost every weekend #2- I've gotten back into reading. You say you don't like reading, but there's got to be a fiction or non-fiction that would spark your interests. I do this at the library or a book store or outside if it's warm enough. #3- I've been spending more time with friends #4- Closest and cabinets purge. THE BEST WEEKEND PROJECTS EVER #5- I may be a guy but I treat myself to a mani or pedi or both every week. Usually when I know I have boredom time coming up. #6- Concerts. Book events. Museums Pick ONE thing you love in your city and go learn everything about it Just keep moving and don't let yourself get bored and stuck in your head.

I'm on regular foods. Getting 70-100 grams of Protein a day and drinking like a champ. I'm one month out and have lost 25 already. I'm getting 700-900 calories a day (one all time high day of 1000). Does this seem like to much to anyone? I have little mini-stalls here and there but the weight loss has been consistent. I definitely have around a 4oz restriction. Or, should I shut my trap. Be grateful that I'm losing and not stress the day to day calories?

28 Days Later! One month! High Weight 298 Beginning of Pre-op Diet 290 Day of Surgery 275 28 Days Later 250 I haven't weight this little in over three years! This is one of the best decisions I have ever made and certainly one that I wish I had done much, much earlier! I want to thank EVERYONE on this board for their support. You guys have been amazing!

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That was one hell of a welcome Ramona. Lol

Hello All, I'm J Was sleeved Dec 2013. Loving it and being successful with it. Nice to see a little community of LGBTQQ on here. Why are there so few posts going on? Also, I'm adding that I'm HIV+ so that others searching for those who have been sleeved with HIV have a person to come talk to.

I've felt AMAZING for the last three weeks, but have run right into a wall of depression. It started Friday, but it's lingering and strengthening and I know this pattern in myself. I'm not mourning food. Work is great. I've only had positive reactions from those around me. My expectations are realistic and have been surpassed. If the scale dictated my mood I should technically be experiencing a manic episode and not depression. So, that leaves it to a biological reaction to surgery which is possible. It could also just be that my winter blues arrived late this year. They usually hit in November, so this is unexpected. I thought I had made it through my "danger zone." I will say that in spite of feeling good, and in spite of losing like a champ, and in spite of intentionally surrounding myself with loved ones and friends WAY more than usual, I'm feeling SUPER lonely. This is manifesting with a lot of reminiscing on past relationships, feeling excitement and fear for dating again, and, the constant one, having HIV. HIV I have tackled for years and won in therapy, but when relationships come back into the picture it rears it's ugly head. How long do the post-op blues last in your experience?

I'm averaging 4oz per meal eating every 3 hours. We have the same medical team. You're doing great!