BryBro63

My personal experience?? Mind over matter!! I tried to stop thinking so much about the 'not eating' part, and concentrated more on the upcoming events...prepping for the surgery itself, thinking about all the lifestyle changes, and just continually doing more research to prepare as much as possible for the new life that I'll be creating. The eating part with the new lifestyle will be a challenge in itself, but the payoff for all of your efforts will be absolutely priceless!!! Wishing you the very best success...you'll do really great!!!

My first goal now is to train and be in shape enough to run the Tough Mudder with my son this year....so far it looks like it might happen, even though these runs seem pretty INSANE!!

I had the same thing at one of my incision sites...I asked my surgeon about it ,and he says it's common. I'm now over a year out, and although it's much smaller and has no pain, it's still there and pretty much unnoticeable

Thanks much for the compliments, folks...makin' me feel all special!!!

Not sure where you're located or what's around you, but I found one at Pathmark that best suits my needs...7 days, and the sections are big enough to hold my chewable Vitamins, Calcium pills, and all my other dailies. Been using it for over 5 years with no issues or breaking clasps. Wish you the best success!!!

Thanks much, randoval....this is EXACTLY the type of advice I was looking for!!! Thanks much for this, for real...very much appreciated!!!

After much waiting...and much heat from my sleever homies...I'm posting my before and after pics!!! I hit my goal weight back in August, and haven't had any significant gain whatsoever...swearing that I'm never going back to 'Heavy B' again!!

On the weight training issue...just trying to tone, and again trying to regain lost muscle. When doing sets, should be able to comfortably lift the amount of weight I'm lifting? I'm trying to max my weight, but at the end I lose all sorts of form when struggling to get in those last reps...is that overdoing it?

Congratulations, my man!!!! Great job!!!! I'm trying my best to get the guts to post my own before and after pics...really trying!!! Much, much success to you, Rogofulm!!!

Oh and yes...what I did NOT mention are where I am relaxing... I do eat sweets every now and then I eat starches (in VERY limited quantities) I have relaxed a little bit on the waiting 30 minutes between eating and drinking Everything else has seemed to become old habit, so sticking to pretty much all the other rules have become second nature.

Mike...Congrats, Dude!!! It's a great feeling!!! If I've said this once, I've said it a thousand times...PLEASE don't make the same mistake I did!!! I got so excited that I got out of my 44 - 46 pants and into 36's that I went on a damned shopping spree!!! And then about 2 months later, THEY were all too big and I had to give them all away!!! Don't invest in a true wardrobe until you get down your comfortable goal weight, which you most definitely WILL achieve!!! Once again...congrats, my man...keep up the good work!!!

I think i have followed every single rule mentioned in this thread, since they were ALL either mentioned by my nutritionist or found during my research. I think it was because I was so afraid of failure that I wanted to assure any failure wouldn't be something of my own doing. Once I hit goal weight, my nutritionist recommended going into 'maintenance mode', which is a new set of rules in itself, since you hit the 'I'm at goal...now what???' mentality. Also I lost a bit of muscle which I'd like to gain back, but at the same time I don't want to gain back too much weight. Conclusion...it was, is, and continues to be a constantly learning process!!

I think I was sort of the same way as you are when I was pre-op...and I think everything sank in for me when I had my first vomiting episode. That's when I realized that it's all happening now and it's all real, and that this HAD to be a definitive lifestyle change. From there, I was sure to make every necessary change needed, and I have been striving for success ever since...now the whole thing is second nature to me, and no longer a sacrifice but a part my newly successful life!!! Hope your surgery goes smoothly, and wish you the best!!

If you have a GNC where you are, you can try the Isopure Protein drinks...they aren't shakes, and in most cases they go down pretty well during the initial stages after surgery. I suggest just getting one or two at first, and try different flavors...they come in quite a few different varieties. Also, I was told instead of just plain broths, you can try any Soups that you can see through, but need to strain all the solids out of it. Not as hearty, but more flavor than broth!! To get a little sweet flavor, try sugar-free ice pops...I still have those for snack even now!!

Welcome, Bonnie!!! I think you'll like it here...everyone makes you feel quite comfortable!! There are a lot of great, understanding and knowledgeable folks here, who will can relate to and guide you though your journey. Again, welcome...and I wish you great success!!!

Hello All...just curious... Prior to sleeve surgery, my gastroenterologyst said had a very slight (if that means anything!!) possible case of Chrohn's disease, and in order to follow up on this, he wanted to do an upper and lower endoscopy on me sometime soon. When I told my sleeve surgeon about this, he very strongly suggested that I put this off for at least 18 months after sleeve surgery, for I suppose obvious reasons...wouldn't want to be probing too much into the stomach too close to surgery. I think I'm with the sleeve surgeon on this one, but just wondering if anyone has had any similar experience like this? Thanks!!!

I gotta say that this is truly all new to me...as much research I did and questions I asked, the actual size never really entered my mind to ask my surgeon. I imagine what the surgeon did for me did indeed work, since I hit my goal in what I thought was a reasonable time frame. But wow...certainly learned something new today!!! Thanks much for this!!!

Not sure if you want to hear a male perspective, but what has happened to me is the more and harder I work out, the hungrier I get...and I was told the same thing by my nutritionist...be sure to add more Protein to your diet, for 2 reasons. One is because protein stays with you longer and causes you to not to be quite as hungry, and two is because the food...especially protein foods...help you develop more muscle, which in turn helps you burn more fat. But in either case, since you are working your body harder, your body will be looking for more fuel along with burning fat, so there's no real danger in taking in a little more, as long as it's not in excess, which most of us can't really do anyway with the limitations of the sleeve. Hope this helps...wish you much success!!!

Check with your surgeon, but I was told that once your surgical wounds are fully healed over, you should be good...although I wouldn't go and challenge Michael Phelps to a race just yet!! LOL!!!

I see tomorrow's the big day...congrats!!! Wishing you much success!!! Just remember...as soon as you're allowed to, walking is your best medicine, and whatever they give you to eat or drink, take it SLOWLY!!! Once again, congrats!!! Much success to you, and see you on the loser's side!!! Do this, my sistah!! LOL!!!

Thanks very much for this...very interesting reading!!!

I dunno, but if you're anything like me, once the MC starts kicking in, the last thing you're gonna be thinking about is how tart that stuff tastes!!! Magnesium Citrate does a great job in assuring that your bowels are quite clean!!! Just please stay close to the bathroom!!

Donald0717, your story sounds a great deal like mine...I don't think it's appropriate for me to get into the dirty details, because this is about you and your upcoming success!! Just know that you CAN definitely do this!!! I guess at first here I have no choice but to make a few assumptions...I'm guessing since you're posting in the Gastric Sleeve forum that you're preparing for the sleeve surgery. I'm also guessing that you have just started the process and have initially started the visits with the surgeons, nutritionist and such. If so, congratulations on taking the first step!!! As with just about all of us, there will be a few ups and downs, but believe me when I tell you that it's all worth it in the end!!! We're here to encourage, educate, and share experiences with you along the way!!! Much success...you can do this!!!

Chiming in with BLERDgirl, this is what got me through...just eating everything VERY SLOWLY...it's a bit annoying, but it does help you get through, get something in your system, and it does make you feel better...in time it does indeed get easier! I'm a little over a year out, and one thing that gets me now is seemingly the opposite. If I skip a meal and am very hungry, the next meal I have makes me a little bit uncomfortable...not painful, but just slight discomfort. Even though the meals are indeed smaller, they are important and should not be skipped.