Brialis

I think the most interesting part to me is my feelings toward what used to be my favorite foods... I'm 3 months post op now and have found so many changes in likes and dislikes... For instance... I love fish now and it used to be I didn't care for any of it other than shrimp!!! I'm constantły aware of which food choices to make and Im pretty good at making the right ones... I'm really thankful when I want an old favorite that may not be the best choice... that I can eat very little of it... Try not to worry too much about whether or not you'll be able to eat your favorites ever again... Focus on what you're doing now... It's too hard to predict how your body will manage different foods down the road... Pay attention to your body and what it's telling you... You'll be fine!!!

I received an email yesterday about starting local chapters. I would LOVE to start a chapter in Spokane WA. I had surgery just over 6 months ago and have lost 82 lbs... I have encouraged and supported several ladies as they've looked into and are now on the road to their own surgeries... I can't express enough how life changing this has been and how much I want to support and share this with anyone who is struggling with weight issues... I feel that to be a good leader you have to help empower those around you by helping them discover and utilize the tools necessary for their success... Being we all fall at times, it's important to know how to get back up and move forward and that needs to happen WITHOUT criticism and guilt placed by others... Having been overweight my entire adult life, I understand how it feels to be judged because of weight... I have a strong belief in weight loss surgery and a passion to help others... I want others to be able to write their own weight loss stories and together build a strong network of support... If you find me to be a good candidate for this opportunity, I would gladly accept...

I would be interested in joining the group. Could you email me info at shebaker1@yahoo.com
Thanks,
REbecca

I'd be interested in this as well!!

I received an email yesterday about starting local chapters. I would LOVE to start a chapter in Spokane WA. I had surgery just over 6 months ago and have lost 82 lbs... I have encouraged and supported several ladies as they've looked into and are now on the road to their own surgeries... I can't express enough how life changing this has been and how much I want to support and share this with anyone who is struggling with weight issues... I feel that to be a good leader you have to help empower those around you by helping them discover and utilize the tools necessary for their success... Being we all fall at times, it's important to know how to get back up and move forward and that needs to happen WITHOUT criticism and guilt placed by others... Having been overweight my entire adult life, I understand how it feels to be judged because of weight... I have a strong belief in weight loss surgery and a passion to help others... I want others to be able to write their own weight loss stories and together build a strong network of support... If you find me to be a good candidate for this opportunity, I would gladly accept...

I received an email yesterday about starting local chapters. I would LOVE to start a chapter in Spokane WA. I had surgery just over 6 months ago and have lost 82 lbs... I have encouraged and supported several ladies as they've looked into and are now on the road to their own surgeries... I can't express enough how life changing this has been and how much I want to support and share this with anyone who is struggling with weight issues... I feel that to be a good leader you have to help empower those around you by helping them discover and utilize the tools necessary for their success... Being we all fall at times, it's important to know how to get back up and move forward and that needs to happen WITHOUT criticism and guilt placed by others... Having been overweight my entire adult life, I understand how it feels to be judged because of weight... I have a strong belief in weight loss surgery and a passion to help others... I want others to be able to write their own weight loss stories and together build a strong network of support... If you find me to be a good candidate for this opportunity, I would gladly accept...

I received an email yesterday about starting local chapters. I would LOVE to start a chapter in Spokane WA. I had surgery just over 6 months ago and have lost 82 lbs... I have encouraged and supported several ladies as they've looked into and are now on the road to their own surgeries... I can't express enough how life changing this has been and how much I want to support and share this with anyone who is struggling with weight issues... I feel that to be a good leader you have to help empower those around you by helping them discover and utilize the tools necessary for their success... Being we all fall at times, it's important to know how to get back up and move forward and that needs to happen WITHOUT criticism and guilt placed by others... Having been overweight my entire adult life, I understand how it feels to be judged because of weight... I have a strong belief in weight loss surgery and a passion to help others... I want others to be able to write their own weight loss stories and together build a strong network of support... If you find me to be a good candidate for this opportunity, I would gladly accept...

Hello! Peggums here...........
I'm post op RNY 5/8/2014... Just getting used to my inner newnesses...I'm also an RN who worked in outpatient surgery setting for many decades...but BEING the one having the surgery is way way different...HA! I learned a lot about the PAIN I didn't expect...I learned I was capable of getting thru it...but it got down to minutes...meaning how long it took for the pain med to help then finally ease up the pain....LOVE the little green button!(PCA)...I had more than one moment of complete anger at myself for not being able to control my weight my whole life and ending up having to have a surgery (which I really really wanted)...and also wondering...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE NOW!! Thankfully, that passed....time passed and I got home to recover without incident...but taking it easy ,too.
I really love the idea of local in-person support group. My Bariatric Facility..OHSU has a support group in Portland as well that I haven't gone to as yet.
I live about an hour north of Portland, in Silverlake,Wa and would love to know about any groups formed in the Southwest Washington area.
Thanks~P

I think the most interesting part to me is my feelings toward what used to be my favorite foods... I'm 3 months post op now and have found so many changes in likes and dislikes... For instance... I love fish now and it used to be I didn't care for any of it other than shrimp!!! I'm constantły aware of which food choices to make and Im pretty good at making the right ones... I'm really thankful when I want an old favorite that may not be the best choice... that I can eat very little of it... Try not to worry too much about whether or not you'll be able to eat your favorites ever again... Focus on what you're doing now... It's too hard to predict how your body will manage different foods down the road... Pay attention to your body and what it's telling you... You'll be fine!!!

Your surgery must be today... Good luck and hopefully you will recover quickly!!! It's exciting...

You will be able to do it!!! I'm excited for you... Good luck and know there is great support on this site... It seems there is always someone quick to reply with help... suggestions or advice....

Dpb...
Have you tried Flinstones Gummy Vitamins??? Those taste pretty good and they seem to be mild on my stomach... My regular meds make me feel sick to my stomach no matter what I seem to do as I have to grind them up... I only have a month left to do that so I'm not going to complain... I'm glad you're doing well otherwise... I find almost as many differences in the way people have recovered as I do the things we have in common... I've found it so helpful here... I hope things continue to be positive for you...

Dpb...
How are you feeling? Is everything postoperative going ok??? I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op now... Things are FINALLY getting better... It's been rough but now I can say it was worth it...

I'm brand new to bariatric pal. I'm looking forward to reading all the wisdom and advise here. I started my pre op liquid diet on the 9th and have my sleeve surgery on Friday. I'm EXCITED and nervous. I have a concern I'm hoping someone will be able to relate to. I've lost 2 pounds since the 9th on this liquid diet. Is that and indicator of the weight loss after surgery? I've felt really excited as I've read the success others have had from the beginning. I find it amazing to be able to be at this point and on the verge of surgery. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Hi there. I don't get my sleeve until March but wanted to say congrats on ur loss. Ur doing great

I think the most important thing to remember is that it's all about choice... You can go to McDonald's or probably anywhere and make a healthy choice... You can make an unhealthy one at home just a well!!! I believe the original concern was whether or not one could ever eat at a restaurant again... Of course you can... Part of the choice is keeping in mind the hierarchy of foods... Protein... Veggies... Fruit... I've personally found it's not nearly as easy as it sounds to make the wrong choice as many foods don't settle well anymore... My doctor told me... and yes... I realize every doctor might say something different... That it's important not to rob yourself of things you really like... Such as... one morning at work they were serving biscuits and gravy... my favorite... However... I went for cottage cheese and fruit and ONE piece of sausage... My doctor thought that was a great compromise... I don't do it everyday... It's protein... but I ate extra fat as well... I don't do things perfectly but I'm working hard on it and the weight is coming off... I've appreciated coming here for the support and would hate to see another leave because of serious critism...

Your surgery must be today... Good luck and hopefully you will recover quickly!!! It's exciting...

Thank-You for the good info. Surgery set for 2/10/14 getting all my ducks in a row

Of course we aren't expected to agree or ride the same band wagon... There is a huge diversity in how each of us go about our post op experience and in the things we eat... I would guess most are very aware of how they became overweight and now it's... at least for me at this point... a constant awareness of food and what I need to do to make it all work the way I'm supposed to... That's coming with trial and error... For some that includes more eating out than others... I honestly don't think I've read any post for sleevers where they are unwilling to make the effort to their their relationship with food... We're all different and that's the beauty of things... We have the opportunity to learn from someone else because their experience is different...

I wasn't required to have psych evaluation but congratulations to you on passing yours. You didn't strike a nerve, perhaps you are reading emotion into my text that simply isn't there? Seriously, I am not at all bothered. I don't really eat fast food, didn't much before surgery, and only very, very rarely post surgery so there was nothing in your comments that bothered me.
I just thought your comments odd given that only one person in this whole thread had even mentioned MacDonalds and even then that was in reference to a grilled chicken salad. Yet your reading comprehension translated that into something so very different, and elicited a very self righteous yet uninformed response.
I was trying to help you understand some of the realities of the sleeve post surgery, I believe knowledge and understanding is the key to making this work. Your experiences may very well differ and best of luck to you with that. That was, after all, the whole point of my second post. Difference. What works for one will not work for another. And you simply do not know, prior to being sleeved, what it will be like for you despite whatever you imagine. None of us did.
I haven't lost 'some weight', I have lost a significant amount of weight. I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved and know it is through my hard work, commitment, mindfulness, and conscious decision making that I have had such success. I hope if I am ever self righteous about it that someone slaps me down. I know the hard work involved, and do my level headed best not to judge the decisions others make. People will find what works for them, even when it is different to what works for me.
As for 'issues', you are the one who openly states you are an addict. Being an addict isn't 'cured' with the sleeve. Addiction is a serious psychological condition. It requires serious response.

I think the most important thing to remember is that it's all about choice... You can go to McDonald's or probably anywhere and make a healthy choice... You can make an unhealthy one at home just a well!!! I believe the original concern was whether or not one could ever eat at a restaurant again... Of course you can... Part of the choice is keeping in mind the hierarchy of foods... Protein... Veggies... Fruit... I've personally found it's not nearly as easy as it sounds to make the wrong choice as many foods don't settle well anymore... My doctor told me... and yes... I realize every doctor might say something different... That it's important not to rob yourself of things you really like... Such as... one morning at work they were serving biscuits and gravy... my favorite... However... I went for cottage cheese and fruit and ONE piece of sausage... My doctor thought that was a great compromise... I don't do it everyday... It's protein... but I ate extra fat as well... I don't do things perfectly but I'm working hard on it and the weight is coming off... I've appreciated coming here for the support and would hate to see another leave because of serious critism...

Wow and you have a date already...Lucky girl!! I'm dying over here waiting until 1/31 to submit paperwork then another 2 weeks just to get a response...Imma need a paper bag in order to breath until then...lol
Good luck with everything!!

Here ya go:
Before:

After:

Gained 240 pounds between us.
Sorry...kidding....reverse everything.

Here's me...a couple of days before surgery (I don't look happy in that picture) and the other one was from last week...about 28 pounds difference between the two pics.

This is a great place for discussion, so long as that discussion doesn't involve insulting other people and calling them "nuts" for their decisions. Do that, and yes, some people will call you on it. As it simply isn't polite and does not lead to positive discourse.
Difference is good, as we are all different and that is very much obvious once you start to hear about the different journeys post sleeves have. The key is not to make assumptions.
You consider yourself a food addict, many don't. I know I am not a food addict nor have I ever been. So don't assume that because you have emotional issues with food that others became obese because they share this. They don't. If you can get the sleeve and never, ever again darken the door of a fast food restaurant, or mindlessly scoff a bag of potato chips six months post surgery, or enjoy a piece of cake on your birthday then more power to you. You will be in the minority.
The biggest mistake you can make pre sleeve is in believing it is some thing magical. It isn't. It is simply a tool, all it does is significantly reduce the volume of food you can consume, and, if you are like me and one of the lucky ones, it can alter the production of the hormone ghrelin and significantly reduce your hunger. It may, like many, impact on your ability to consume overly fatty or sweet foods. Awesome. But that doesn't happen for everyone.
Ultimately, once you are past the first year, this journey really does require you to be mindful and make good choices. You can make just as poor choices at home as you can in a restaurant. You need to resolve whatever psychological issues you have with addiction and food because the sleeve is not a magically bullet that will blow them away for good. It still comes down to you at the end of the day and your ability to choose well. It still comes back to you being able to say "no" in the face of endless and often relentless poor food options.
And believe me, you can still eat a phenomenal amount of 'slider' foods like chips and ice cream. Foods that are pure dirty and slide down that sleeve easier than Water did pre sleeve. Which, oddly enough, doesn't slide down that easily post sleeve for me.