MrsMurky721

It's SO hard at first, but it gets better! I'm almost 3 months out, and being able to have just a taste of something you didn't think you'd have again is so rewarding.
(And what is it about Mexican food? I thought about it non-stop post-op too!)

I'm loving this little sleeve and just had to share!
69lbs from journey start.
Surgery date 11-4
surgery weight 312
7 weeks today
Current weight 279
Happy to be a successful looser!

Oh man I just read this topic at the right time. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one (I really didn't think I was)
The quitting food part really hits home, because you can't. I never seem to be able to stick to self-imposed diets. There's always that idea of cheating that comes through, that "I'll just have this one..." It never occurs to me to ever cheat on my husband, so why can't I apply that to myself? Why do I insist on cheating on ME?
I know surgery won't be the magic fix, but I do hope it will help me "change my relationship" with food. Because when you are that restricted, you really do have to view food as a tool to survive rather than something pleasurable.

My primary problem is not my relationship with food but more with my source for a reward. It first started with my overuse of opiet medication. After a long day, I would look forward to it as a reward for getting everything done. Of course, after a length of time, that reward started occurring multiple times a day in larger, out of control quantities. During my 30 day rehab, I was relieved that they allowed smoking every 3 hours. Thus, creating another type of unhealthy reward for quitting the opiets and something to look forward to in my dulldrum life existence. When I gave up smoking, I replaced it with snacking.
This "entitlement to a reward" or just a sense of needing something to look forward to plagues my brain when I am bored, overworked, stressed, tired, anxious, or depressed. Okay, pretty much all the darn time. It will always be a struggle of mind over matter. It comes down to diverting my attention to other activities that I find enjoyable. I don't think this is a step by step process, but more of a rationalization. My problem is not cross addiction (although it clearly seems so), but a problem within the pathways of my brain. Knowing this is helpful, but doing something about it is the only way to make my surgery successful.

I help run a martial arts school and we have a large afterschool program. I am the friendly, outgoing one who chats up all the parents, smooths over any issues and generally makes sure everyone is happy.

There was one parent who has always been rather standoffish. When someone acts cold or distant, I chalk it up to them being shy or introverted and I rarely take it personally. Over the 6 months or so, she has really started to come around, chatting with me while her kids get their shoes on, smiling a lot more, just being much friendly in general. I figured she was one of the rare people that is very slow to warm up -- no big deal.
Until Friday.
Friday she looked at me and said, "You know. I find it much easier to take you seriously now that you are not so big." She held her arms out and rounded as if to mime a big, fat person (which, to her defense, I was).

I looked at her, smiled, and before I could stop myself, I said, "You know what? I found it much easier to take YOU seriously when I *WAS* big.", and I held out my arms to mimic hers.

Silly bitch.

So one of my good friends came over today. I haven't seen her in about 5 or 6 weeks because we have both been busy. Well, when I opened the door she was shocked!!!!! She started crying. I'm 12 weeks out and have lost 60 lbs. She said she was so happy for me and proud of me. She just could not get over the difference. This has finally made me see just what a change this is. I could see the scale and the clothes size moving down but the reaction from other people really makes it more real to me. Just wanted to share. I look forward to continuing to trend downwards but I'm feeling pretty good right now!

thanks for the diagnosis but i think i had a craving and wanted to taste some pizza

As a fellow RN, I must agree with bittersweet, about the above comment about 'putting the fear of God' into nurses by taking down names and saying you're writing an article. You would likely have better luck by showing appreciation of the staff, kind of like the old saying you can attract more flies with honey instead of vinegar. Every nurse I know treat everyone the same; we don't care if you are a so-call" VIP "patient or a homeless person, you get the same care. I treat my patients well because i enjoy my profession and like to help people. I am sure there are some bad apples but dont let that color the perception of all nurses.
I have similar advice as bittersweet: Ask questions, There is no stupid question except for the unasked one. Even write down questions as you think of them, so you wont forget them. If something seems wrong, ask, I promise we don't mind explaining why something is the way it is or why we are doing something. If you need something ask, we are not mind readers, if at all possible we will try to get it or make it happen. Ask for pain medication before it gets excruciating. When it is time to ambulate, suck it up and do it, it may hurt like a bitch at first, but the more you do it, the better you will feel. Follow your pre and post surgical instructions to the letter.
I hope everyone has an excellent experience and have an awesome staff to take care of them. Good luck to everyone on your weightloss journey. I am on my six month pre-qualifing-doctor- monitored-diet phase, so I am on the journey as well.

I was on liquids postop all through Christmas and New Years last year. Made festive flavored Protein shakes....vanilla pumpkin pie spice, cake batter gingerbread, vanilla eggnog, etc. Also had "rich" indulgent cream Soups like lobster bisque and butternut squash with added unflavored Protein Powder.< /p>

Oh my gosh!!! That is wonderful!!!! I'm so happy for you! Congrats!

Hey guys! It's Sarah again! So I'm 8 days out from surgery and down 15 pounds
Here are my stats:
Highest Weight - 375 (January 2014)
Surgery Weight - 337
Current Weight - 322
THAT'S 53 POUNDS I'VE LOST IN A YEAR!!! I still have 160lbs to go but I feel that it's better to focus on the positive right now and show just how big of a difference -50 pounds is.
Here's a before and current pic-

I'm so excited! I can see little differences everywhere! My boobs are smaller, my legs are smaller, my waist is smaller, my face is smaller! I'm so proud of myself! AND I lost most of that weight pre-op so wooooo!!
So pretty much I just want to encourage others to take a minute and Celebrate how far you've come instead of how far left you have to go. Think positive! Let yourself see the changes. You are awesome!

Mmmm @@kymmiej11 That sounds great! And I already have all the ingredients ! I'll have to make that! I'm thinking if I were to make it and the serve it with pita triangles at Christmas it would be a great appetizer. And then I could just eat it without the bread and not look too out of place. Perfect Thanks!

Had my sleeve done last Tuesday, Dec 16, and today was the one week follow up.
Down 15 pounds, with nearly no pain (except that one time I sneezed and I thought every muscle in my midsection was exploding!), and laproscopic wounds that look like five little cat scratches.
I went back to work-full day's work- three days after the surgery. No heavy lifting, which is strange, but feel great...STARVING, but great.
At my follow up today, my surgeon told me everything looked great. He said some people don't lose anything in the first week, because of the fluids from the IV. I told him that I must be a perfect case then, because not only have I started losing, I have near-to-no pain, nearly no scars, didn't take pain meds once I left the hospital, and went back to work three days later.
I have had ONE weird thing that I didn't expect: insomnia...for the last week, even when going to sleep between 10-11pm, I can't fall asleep until nearly 3am.
There's no way to tell if it is related, I guess, but the surgeon told me that this is sometimes a side effect of the deep anesthesia, and should wear off.
I've been drinking Premium Protein Shakes, and as of yesterday some pureed peas in chicken stock (4oz at a time). Drinking tons of Water.< /p>
Anyhow, I know this is just the very beginning of a life-long change, but I must say that from pre-op to one week post-surgery, I feel like a million bucks.
Wishing all of you all the luck I've had so far and more.

Hi! I'm looking for buddies too! My surgery is tomorrow! I'm a bundle of nerves but trying to kwep myself busy today. Let's keep in touch!

AH! I'm so jealous ! Seeing my collarbone again is one of my all-time biggest goals ! I can't wait until I get there! I hope it looks as good as yours ! Well done!

Yes, it's true. My collarbones have been missing for the better part of 15 years and now they are back and I find them, well...beautiful. It's funny how when you are heavy, you almost disassociate from your body. Your body is a thing wholly separate from your true self when it is heavy. I always felt like my heavy body had betrayed me and I had betrayed it.
But as I regain my old self, it's important to connect again. And part of that connection is finding little beautiful things about your body.
What do you now find beautiful about yourself?

I need to share this because over a year ago, I was the one looking for post of people that were post op and finally got pregnant with PCOS. Polycystic Ovary syndrome can feel like all womanhood is gone and leave you infertile. I was diagnosed back in 2006 and never was informed to take any meds or anything just lose weight to normalize my hormones.
Well I could always lose a few pounds 10-20 but it looks like 100 lbs was my magic number because around the time I hit that milestone, I find out that I am pregnant...the real thing, not a faint line, not just feeling pregnant, all 4 test were positive and I am 3 weeks late and my husband and I are so shocked and scared at the same time so we're keeping this under wraps until the doctor says it's all good and we make it out of the 1st trimester!! It's funny because we had just decided to give up on the baby thing since our daughter is heading off to college this upcoming year, we said, it's finally our time, let's move to Cali and rekindle what the kid took for the past 17 years and then GOD says, hey, who asked me my timeline?!?!?!....lol....and now HIS work will be done on HIS time and not mine!! AMEN
We do plan on telling our moms at Christmas dinner, lets see who hits the floor first...LMAO!!!! P.S. his mom is like 20 years older than mine, my mom, will jump up and down screaming, his mom is going down...I'M SO SURE!!!! Were we wrong to seriously make that $50 bet, because we sure did!!!!!!
Good luck ladies and Happy Holidays ALL!!

Oh! And a pair of slip-on shoes !!! It will hurt far too much to bend over and battle with the shoe laces for the first few days.

Lexington Ky!

Girl!!!! I am so excited to be able to wear affordable clothes! I'm going to need to get a very large closet !

Girl!!!! I am so excited to be able to wear affordable clothes! I'm going to need to get a very large closet !

Girl!!!! I am so excited to be able to wear affordable clothes! I'm going to need to get a very large closet !

I purchased two shirts for (post op) less than $15!!! Can't do that at Lane Bryant! Can not wait to wear them!!! 

One year ago today, I had my VSG. I am feeling better than I have in over a decade.
There were challenges. It wasn't all fairy dust and unicorn farts
Lord Almighty it was worth it. This photo was taken at work today.
Blessings,
Kathleen

HW 285, SW 266, CW 252. 5'5", 57 yo. Grateful and proud. I love my sleeve! I'm learning every day, and slowly but surely building a new relationship with food. Accent on the slowly for me, and that's fine.