JeanZ_RN

Absolutely I still enjoy food! I just eat less of it at a time.

I'm finally at a point where I actually CAN and WILL stop after just a few bites, even if it's a food I really enjoy. That's the best part of being sleeved, to me - the safety net factor. I no longer can eat a whole package of Cookies in an evening, even if I want to. I'm still a carb addict, but now I have this wonderful tool to help me control the amount I eat.

I want to know about the non-surgical face lift!

Lortab is strong stuff. If it isn't controlling your pain you should definitely call your surgeon.

Even though you're not feeling true heartburn, the hunger sensation might be from gastric acid. If you're already on a medication for that (like Prilosec) you might benefit from having the dose increased; or if you're not on one you might benefit from starting one. Talk to your surgeon about it.

And you are NOT a failure! You haven't had TIME to decide that yet! Take a deep breath and relax. Follow the rules and you WILL lose, I promise!

Try chewing gum, or even bubble gum. There are even flavored chewing gums out there.

I remember being SO glad when I could EAT something again, even a Protein bar. But I stuck to the rules, and I'm glad I did.

You can do this!

Madame Rev, we need a pic!

OregonDaisy... wow, 61 years old and NO grey?? Lucky you! I started going grey in my 30s, and now the only part of my hair that isn't colored is the white streak. When I get in the neighborhood of my goal weight I plan to stop coloring my hair and get a cute, short style with bangs.

I'm 5'3" and you can see my weights below. My goal is to lose 70 lbs, and my goal weight is 130.

Most of the above replies did not mention age, but it's definitely a factor in my case when speaking of sagging because I'm 60 years old and I have never been a fan of exercize. On the positive side: I have always avoided being out in the sun, I've never been hugely overweight, and I have not had any children.

I've lost 38 lbs so far, and I'm sagging several places but it's not horrifying (yet ). Places I notice the sagging most are my neck, upper arms, boobs and belly. I may well have plastic surgery after I've been at goal for a while - depends how bad the saggies are at that point.

Best wishes on your journey!

I'm 3 months post op, and I haven't tried anything carbonated yet. One of these days I'll give in and try some Barq's Diet Root Beer... but not yet.

I just Googled "treadmill band slips" and there are lots of articles / videos. I have no personal knowledge, so you're on your own regarding which ones will be helpful.

Or it could be excess stomach acid. If you're already on an acid reducing medication such as Prilosec, you might need an increase in the dosage. Or if you're not on one, you might benefit from adding one. Ask your doc!

I was on oral meds and insulin. On doctor's orders I stopped the oral meds the day of surgery, and decreased my insulin dose markedly at that point also. I kept checking my blood sugars several times a day, and the last time I took any insulin was 6 weeks after surgery. Now I check my fasting blood sugar a few times a week, and it has been 110-135. That's not perfect, but at that level I don't need meds so I'll take it!

Best wishes!

My employer's insurance also has an exclusion for WLS, so I was self pay. Any complications will also be self pay. I had my surgery done in Dallas, TX, so I have follow-up care available from my surgeon and his staff. That's comforting, no matter who is paying.

I'm also a nurse, in a desk job. Also I'm single, so I have no responsibilities other than myself and my 2 small dogs when I'm home. That's a big factor you'll need to consider in figuring out what you will be able to do when, post-op.

My surgery was on a Wednesday, and I was fortunate in that I did not experience fatigue to any significant degree after the first few days post op. I went back to work the following Wednesday. I did ok, but in hindsight it would have been better to take 2 more workdays off and return Monday. Not because of fatigue, but because I was a lot more interested in the changes happening with my body and dealing with my new diet than in doing my job.

I agree with others that given how active your job is, three weeks sounds good. Or if you have the luxury, 4 weeks.

Another factor to consider is how bored or stressed you might be if you stay at home longer. I can stay home for weeks and not be bored, but not everyone can.

Thanks for the post! I've been on this forum since last October, and this is the first I've heard of Protein Ice.

It sounds too good to be true, but so far I don't see any down side. The types of Protein in the drink, as listed on the company's web site (http://www.a1supplements.com/Protein-Ice-20-Oz.-12-Bottles-p-21370.html), are whey protein isolate and enzymatic hydrolyzed protein isolate.

whey protein is a by-product of cheese production. It is easily digested and very useful for WLS patients.

From the little research I've done so far, enzymatic hydrolyzed protein isolate is a vague term that could mean protein from whey, casein, soy or some other source -- so it could be usable by the body or or not. (Not-usable sources include protein from shark cartilage, which apparently is not harmful but it isn't useful either.) Unfortunately, what I've read so far on their site doesn't say what percent of the protein in the drink comes from whey.

The reason this is important to me is that I avoid all forms of soy, because it plays havoc with my body's thermostat. When I consume soy I get way too hot - not hot flashes, just generally too hot most of the time until the soy is out of my body. It's unfortunate for me, because soy is an excellent source of high-quality protein.

There are other types of protein, and I am not an expert about any of them. I just know what has worked for me so far on this journey.

If anyone has or can find details about the enzymatic hydrolyzed protein isolate in Protein Ice, I would like to know.

My viewpoint is different from most of the others on this thread. I have never been ashamed that I'm fat. I've been disgusted with my lack of willpower, and dissatisfied with my size, but not ashamed.

I'm a nurse, working in an administrative job in a small hospital. Another nurse was hired for a similar position in our hospital, and in the course of conversation he soon volunteered the information that he had the sleeve surgery. I was aware of the band and RNY, but had not heard of the sleeve, so I asked some questions, did my research and decided to start the journey. When I scheduled the time off for the surgery it just seemed natural to tell my peers on the management team the purpose of that leave. They have ALL been supportive, which has helped me tremendously. My only family - 2 sisters and 1 brother - all live hours away, and while we are emotionally close and do keep in touch by phone and email, it's great to have supportive people whom I see every work day. Now I get to hear several times a week congratulations on how great I look and other congratulatory stuff. I'll TAKE it!

My viewpoint is different from most of the others on this thread.

I'm a nurse, working in an administrative job in a small hospital. Another nurse was hired for a similar position in our hospital, and in the course of conversation he soon volunteered the information that he had the sleeve surgery. I had not heard of it, so I asked some questions, did my research and decided to start the journey. When I scheduled the time off for the surgery it just seemed natural to tell my peers on the management team the purpose of that leave. They have ALL been supportive, which has helped me tremendously. My only family - 2 sisters and 1 brother - all live hours away, and while we do keep in touch by phone and email, it's great to have supportive people whom I see every work day. Now I get to hear several times a week congratulations on how great I look and other congratulatory stuff. I'll TAKE it!

I have no idea what if anything they say behind my back, but I'm not going to worry about it. I'm not getting any vibes to indicate they are anything other than supportive, so I have no reason to think there's any nastiness going on.

5'3" here, sleeved 11/13/13

High weight 214, stable wt when I started all this 204

SW 192 CW 167 - half way to my goal of 130

Wow! Wonderful job and amazing pics! You look very happy. Are you tall?

I agree with the other posts, especially about how you write - it evokes such a clear picture!

Recommend you find some people who haven't seen you since your journey began,

Everyone who tries it, please post regarding your results. I look forward to hearing how it works out, particularly with Premier Protein shakes. Thanks.

One of the veterans on this forum, ButterTheBean, has this as part of his signature:

The 3 week stall.....If you just had surgery and your weight loss has already stalled, read THIS.

It's a very helpful article - I recommend it!

You've lost an average of 7 lbs a WEEK and you don't know if that's good?? It's GREAT! And since you're working out that much, you're probably adding muscle, which weighs more than fat per cubic inch, so that makes your weight loss numbers even more impressive. Good job!

Private pay may be the last resort, but it is always an option. It was my only choice, so I didn't have to wonder or jump through hoops.

Quest Protein bars! LOL... but I'm serious. I don't cook, so I keep a selection of them handy all the time.

I keep a pencil and paper beside me, and jot the time down. Otherwise I'd lose track.