patrice1

Your post made me totally jazzed! Congrats. You are beautiful and I could relate to everything you said. Your post is the last one I read tonight ... And I will carry it with me in mind as I go for my surgery tomorrow morning! Yay!!!!

Your post made me totally jazzed! Congrats. You are beautiful and I could relate to everything you said. Your post is the last one I read tonight ... And I will carry it with me in mind as I go for my surgery tomorrow morning! Yay!!!!

Your post made me totally jazzed! Congrats. You are beautiful and I could relate to everything you said. Your post is the last one I read tonight ... And I will carry it with me in mind as I go for my surgery tomorrow morning! Yay!!!!

My VSG takes place tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. I can't sleep and I am very very very happy that at last my Day has come. I had been contemplating WLS for over a year and a half. Almost nine months ago I started the process....and now it's here! It seems a bit unreal still but I am ready for my new life and my new "tool."
I know how many of the stories I have read here inspired me and have supported me through this process. I was excited for every person posting about their own surgery day. And now, it is my turn! Yay! I know I should be sleeping, but I am wide awake. Anyone else experience that?
Wish me well, fellow Sleevers!
Patrice

My VSG takes place tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. I can't sleep and I am very very very happy that at last my Day has come. I had been contemplating WLS for over a year and a half. Almost nine months ago I started the process....and now it's here! It seems a bit unreal still but I am ready for my new life and my new "tool."
I know how many of the stories I have read here inspired me and have supported me through this process. I was excited for every person posting about their own surgery day. And now, it is my turn! Yay! I know I should be sleeping, but I am wide awake. Anyone else experience that?
Wish me well, fellow Sleevers!
Patrice

My VSG takes place tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. I can't sleep and I am very very very happy that at last my Day has come. I had been contemplating WLS for over a year and a half. Almost nine months ago I started the process....and now it's here! It seems a bit unreal still but I am ready for my new life and my new "tool."
I know how many of the stories I have read here inspired me and have supported me through this process. I was excited for every person posting about their own surgery day. And now, it is my turn! Yay! I know I should be sleeping, but I am wide awake. Anyone else experience that?
Wish me well, fellow Sleevers!
Patrice

My VSG takes place tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. I can't sleep and I am very very very happy that at last my Day has come. I had been contemplating WLS for over a year and a half. Almost nine months ago I started the process....and now it's here! It seems a bit unreal still but I am ready for my new life and my new "tool."
I know how many of the stories I have read here inspired me and have supported me through this process. I was excited for every person posting about their own surgery day. And now, it is my turn! Yay! I know I should be sleeping, but I am wide awake. Anyone else experience that?
Wish me well, fellow Sleevers!
Patrice

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your post! I read it and saw myself. All my lab tests--wonderfully normal including the EKG. I am the life of the party--people literally change the dates of parties and BBQs if I am working (I work at a hospital and have alternating weekends) so I can attend. I admit, my knees and back get painful if I walk too far, gardening is getting tougher and I am getting lazier to the point of being a couch potato so that is why I am doing it! I will be 56 when I get my surgery this fall and I can't wait to feel better and have more energy!
I am glad there will be a more active future for me

My surgery date is in 6 days for the gastric sleeve. I have asked myself these same questions, and had other people say the same to me: "If you have to watch what you eat and exercise anyway, just do it without the surgery." Well, if I had been able to do that before, I would never have contemplated surgery. However, your question is one that everyone must answer for themselves, that I know. I have lost (and regained) significant amounts of weight repeatedly throughout my life. The sorry statistic of 3-5% of those who are successful at keeping it off (without surgery) is dismal.
As my nurse said to me in my last pre-surgery appointment: "We all know we don't just eat when we are hungry." I have been in therapy ever since I decided to get weight loss surgery, and I have learned a lot about myself. I was on the fence until I took a long hard look at the type of eater I am. I eat very well until my binges. Overeating and binging (I never purged, thankfully) is considered an eating disorder (as my therapist told me). I need to have the tool that will keep me from overeating in a frenzy during times of emotional stress. Sure, I could force more food down my soon to be tiny stomach every 30 minutes as another person said earlier in this thread, but that 30 minute delay (which I didn't have before) is usually a good space to get myself together.
With a large stomach, I go until I am sick. Someone else may not need this restriction, I do. This gives me a tool, "a slap in the face"if you will, if I do get out of control. I also know I am going to stay in therapy as I get used to my new lifestyle. Can I still beat the system later? Sure. People do. It's personal choice, just like everything is: We have to make the choice to do what is best for us long-term. For me, this gives me a sense of security knowing that restriction is there. I need it. I know I do.
I also spoke with people who have had WLS and had the same issue I did. While they ate healthily, exercised, much of the time, they also had these severe binges that caused them to gain weight back, and thus were never successful in permanently keeping it off. I followed their advice: get therapy, work your program, do what your doctor says, exercise, keep track of everything that goes into your mouth, join a support group, get therapy if you need it, and stay in touch with your NUT (all the things we know)... However, all of them said that their taste buds changed after surgery, that they no longer craved the foods they did before surgery, and the sense of fullness after a small portion kept them on track. THAT is what the surgery gave them in addition to the usual smart things we all know to do and couldn't do permanently before WLS.
That makes me hopeful, and at the same time knowing that this is up to me.... but whatever you choose, you know what is right for you. I have a suggestion - look at why you eat and your patterns that led to gaining weight. You might have a different solution than I did, or someone else does. If you can do it without WLS, and keep it off on a permanent basis, wonderful, wonderful. You are right to ask yourself all these questions. Go on a program that fits your lifestyle and see if you can keep it off. Give yourself a timeline. If you reach that timeline and still aren't satisfied that you were able to get your weight under control, despite everything, you can reconsider the surgery.
That's exactly what I did. I reached that time, and realized that WLS was necessary. But I went into it with the peace of knowing I had done everything else I could.
Best of luck and grace to you on your journey!
Patrice

powaqqatsi,
Before I give my input, please understand I am in the same position as you are. I am just now starting my 6 month program and I have my first "Lifestyle Class" next week. I asked myself the same question you are asking...."what's the point if I still have to diet and exercise?"
If you notice, every single diet plan/weight loss program out there comes with the instructions "diet and exercise". So what makes this any different? If you can diet and exercise on your own without the surgery the same as you would with the surgery, what's the point?
The question that I finally asked myself provided me with the answer that made me start this journey. That is "if I can get the weight off on my own, why haven't I".
So, I can't give you any answers about post op or even preop really as I'm just starting myself. I've read everyone's responses and they are only encouraging me more. We are all responsible for our own actions. I CHOOSE to put the unhealthy food in my mouth. I CHOOSE to buy the junk food at the grocery store KNOWING I will eat it. That's why I'm really looking forward to the LIFESTYLE change that is required with surgery. It will be the most helpful tool I have to change my lifestyle. For someone like me that grew up in the south where eating is our way of celebrating (weddings, funerals, homecoming, church, holidays, birthdays), this is going to be tough. But I look at it this way.......
1. I KNOW I can learn to turn away from unhealthy food if I have the hunger under control. I need a tool to help with hunger. I need to LEARN to turn away from those foods.
2. The surgery is not going to keep my mother from making a sausage and rice casserole after church that's so greasy you don't even need to chew it because it slides right down your throat. It won't stop everyone around me from eating unhealthy. It will HELP me CHOOSE not to join them.
3. I haven't been able to get the weight off on my own for one reason or another. No matter how many diets I try, I have failed (I failed, not the diet) to get my weight off. I have to take responsibility and reflect on things I need to change. The surgery will be my tool to do that. Many people are very successful with the available diets out there like weight watchers, HCG, adkins, Jenny Craig, etc. I am not one of them.
I know I haven't answered your question because I am not even close to my surgery. I hope I haven't sounded offensive in any of my thoughts. I just wanted to share with you the reasons I am starting this journey. If you are seriously considering it, but have doubts, ask yourself this.....if you can get the weight off on your own without surgery, why haven't you?
I wish you luck in whatever you decide. If you decide the surgery is right for you, I hope to see you around on these forums as we get through this journey. It's going to be tough, but having such a wonderful support group available, and seeing all the successful stories will make it much easier. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!

I want something that will be a tool for a lifetime, not just for a few months to a year. I wish I could post this same question in the veteran's forum, but it won't let me. I would love to hear from people who are 5 or more years out. The trouble is, because of human nature, I may not hear from many people for whom this hasn't worked that great for that far out.
Thank you all for your input and again, I am very happy for you and wish you continued success.
Hi powaqqatsi,
A Veterans Forum member here--I'm not 5 years as you asked for, but I am 3 years post-surgery and I am so glad you asked this question. My sleeve will be "working" just as well at 5, 10, 20 years as it is working now because I AM THE ONE who makes it work; IT DOESN'T WORK BY ITSELF just because I had the operation.
Please don't take this as a rude or flip answer--your question really is what a lot of people who are just begining to look into weight loss surgery believe to be true--You have the surgery, and then you lose the weight, and then you're not hungry any more, yet you can eat all the same unhealthy stuff you always ate (that got you into the trouble you're in in the first place), and you live happily ever after. As so many people say--weight loss surgery is the "easy way out." Nothing could be further from the truth!
There are two distinctive parts to WLS: 1) the operation 2) a FOREVER new eating plan & physical/emotional lifestyle
Any weight loss surgery is about personal CHOICES, ACCOUNTABILITY, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, and CHANGING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH food that you have had for your entire life. It is a lot of hard work every day, but among the most life-changing events you will ever experience. I love eating healthy now. I use food as medicine for my body and don't like putting junk food in it any more. Can you believe that a formerly morbidly obese person can change their way of thinking THAT MUCH? Sometimes I still have to pinch myself that that's ME talking!
I was morbidly obese since puberty. At age 59 and 252 lbs I was sleeved. I have maintained my 105 lb weight loss with a peace and joy I have never known. I CHOSE to make my adventure FUN, not DRUDGERY. I was diabetic, on 4 BP meds, 2 chol meds. No more of any of that. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy life--who could ask for more? Please feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions I could help you with.

I still get hungry, but it's different. Before, after two weeks on an 800 cal diet, I'd be hungry and craving anything just to fill me up a little more.
Before, It was like the minute I went back to eating like "a normal person" the weight would just plop back on. Well, since the sleeve, I have easily eaten 600-800 calories a day and it's ok.
Now, my hunger message is like someone writing "Hey, I'm kinda hungry" on a post it note. Before it was like a marching band playing a hungry song and flying a banner saying "EAT NOW DAMMIT" while throwing Cheetos to the crowd.

I think you got some great answers. I tried and tried and tried to lose and keep ANY weight off for years. I considered it wonderful if I could be under 250# - at 5'5" not exactly svelte.
I was hungry 24/7 - I had a drive to eat that was at times overwhelming. I would try different programs and have temporary success and then regain. I reached a point where I wasn't even having temporary success anymore - yikes!
So, for me the point of the sleeve was to give me a forced restriction of food, and a true hunger reduction to give me a chance to get off the eating/obesity hamster wheel. A chance to learn new behaviors. A chance to understand the physical drives and how to control them. Oh, and Portion Control.< /p>
What I started to realize is how carb sensitive I am. That processed foods have something in them that just isn't good for me, makes me want to consume compulsively. I realized that something about being obese itself actually triggers hunger - like a chemical imbalance or something.
My hunger did start to return about 8 months out and I worried... My NUT pointed out I was eating Protein bars like candy. Two things there 1. too many carbs and 2. Behavior. Knowledge is power and you can be sure my favorite Protein Bars no longer live in my house. Same with Peanut Butter and other trigger type foods. This didn't happen overnight, but I eat small portions, I keep trigger foods out of the house and I have good strategies for situations.
I am 2.5 year out, I have lost about 160 pounds (currently weigh 140). My hunger is under very good control. I work at it, but not nearly as hard as I previously worked to stay under 300#.
I treat my obesity like a disease in remission... my condition is still there, but I am currently managing it's primary symptom - excess weight, very well. I must remain focused or it could very easily creep back... although frankly right now, it is not a problem at all.

McButterpants says it very well, especially this: "The sleeve will only stop you from eating copious amounts of food in one sitting. It doesn't stop you from going back to the bag of chips 30 minutes later when you can fit more into your sleeve. The sleeve is simply one tool in your tool box.."
Here's my added 2 cents...
I was very fortunate in that I was not hungry at all for 2-3 months post op. I ate because I knew I should. When my hunger returned it wasn't as intense as before, and by then I had established my new eating habits which helped a LOT. Now I eat every 4 hours (8a, 12n, 4p and 8p), and I keep my carb intake as low as humanly possible. Both factors contribute to my never being hungry for very long at a time.

What keeps me on track when I could never stick to a diet before:
The feeling of satisfaction / fullness after each meal, plus the decreased hunger, is the main thing that makes it possible for me to stick to the plan. I do get head hunger sometimes, and when I can't ignore it I have a SF popsicle or some SF Crystal Light. If those don't work and I indulge in a cookie, I can now stop with one - which I could never do before. I've lost a significant amount of weight doing this, so I KNOW it works. I've been able to stick to the plan for 7 months now, which is way longer than diets I tried before surgery. I will be da**ed if I'm going to throw away the $12,500 I paid out of my pocket to have this done, not to mention all the work I've done (and the goodies I've resisted eating) to get to this point. Sometimes I just repeat to myself, as many times as necessary "I'm not going to eat that. Not gonna do it. There will be goodies available when I'm at my goal." And I walk away from the temptation. The support available on this site and on the Facebook group I belong to is PHENOMINAL. It helps SO much, especially at those times when family/friends would probably beat me to death if I mention one more thing about the trials and tribulations -- or the NSVs -- related to being sleeved. Hope that helps. Best wishes.

I'll be honest - I had similar thoughts pre-surgery. And, I failed at so many diets that I wondered "will I fail at this, too?"
First, I wasn't prepared for the emotional / mental part of this process. I read and researched so much about the physical part - how the surgery is performed. I didn't think much about the reasons I got to 256 pounds - I didn't think about my binge eating, my eating in secret, emotional eating, etc. I wish I had been more mentally/emotionally prepared - it would have made things easier in the beginning. Instead, I had to address my emotional issues while I was learning how to eat with my new tiny tummy.
Second, the sleeve doesn't stop you from making bad decisions. I have a sleeve of steel...The only thing that bothers my stomach to the point of getting sick is my bariatric Vitamins. I haven't found a food that my stomach doesn't like. That's a double edged sword. I can eat anything - that's not necessarily a good thing for an overeater. So, I have to CHOOSE to make good food decisions. I can eat ice cream before I go to bed...I have to choose not to do that. I can eat a bag of tortilla chips because that's a slider food for me - I have to choose to not have them in my house. The sleeve will only stop you from eating copious amounts of food in one sitting. It doesn't stop you from going back to the bag of chips 30 minutes later when you can fit more into your sleeve. The sleeve is simply one tool in your tool box.
Thirdly, the sleeve doesn't drive you to the gym or make you put on your tennis shoes to go for a walk. That's you. You are responsible for that.
As far as being able to lose 2-3 pounds a week - you're right. I could lose 2-3 pounds per week up to about 20-30 pounds. Then the weight loss would stop and I'd fall off the wagon. What you're doing on the pre-op diet and immediately after surgery isn't sustainable for the long-term. My husband said it best right before surgery...."This is going to force your hand." It has. My weight loss at 7 months out is moving at a snail's pace...I log 80-100 miles in a month at the gym and I focus on getting my Protein in. I get discouraged because I'm not losing at the same rate I was 5 months ago, but I'm still fighting the good fight - and you know what? It's easier to fight knowing I have this tool in my tool box.

I don't think you sound bitchy! It's exactly correct! I had the surgery because I've spent the past 30 years as an over weight or morbidly obese person. I've tried so many diets and exercise plans. Nothing worked long term. I'm done being obese. The sleeve is a tool only. I still want chocolate cake and donuts but not enough to eat it often. I think my physical cravings have diminished but my head hunger has continued. I'm still the same person! I love food!

At the end of the day, you are still the SAME PERSON. I am the same person that got morbidly obese, and so is everybody else here. We've all had inappropriate/unhealthy relationships with food. If we only ate when truly hungry, nobody would need theses extreme interventions! And after surgery and recovery, that same person is still inside you. You still have to face your overeating triggers like stress, depression, etc. and cravings, too. Just because my tummy got tiny, chocolate did not become less delicious. Just because I got the sleeve, exercise didn't become something I don't rolls eyes about. It's a tool, and you still have to put in work. Otherwise youre not ready for this so don't waste your time.
I'm sorry if I sound bitchy, but this is the cold truth.

Powaqqatsi,
This is a great topic. You primary point -- that these surgeries are NOT a panacea or magic wand of weight loss is totally correct. If you can lose weight on your own and keep it off, then I wouldn't consider this surgery. For me, I just couldn't and wanted to extra help.
You can still gain weight by eating the wrong foods, not exercising, etc. I'm six months post opp and sugar drinks, alcohol, Cookies, ice cream, and chips basically go down just as easily post surgery as they did pre surgery for me. So, if those are your big weaknesses, then I'd tell you it's not going to help. Fortunately, for me, those weren't my problem. My thing was that I ate way too much and had a ridiculous appetite all the time and this surgery does help tremendously for that. For example, in the past, I'd eat a large rack of baby back ribs with fries and slaw and then wonder about desert. Now, I eat 2 or 3 ribs (no fries, no slaw) and feel completely stuffed and satisfied. That kind of help has allowed me to get back to my high school weight and has been totally life changing.
Anyhow, going in "eyes wide open" is super smart. Loosing a bunch of weight can make folks feel exuberant about their decision and your right to set expectations properly.

Honestly it depends on each individual person, and this surgery may not be for you. I'm still a "newbie" to this procedure only 3 weeks out but I can tell you this. For me, this is the only way I've been able to lose more then 10 lbs due to a very sluggish, practically dead metabolism. It's not some quick weight loss scheme, It is very much a lifestyle change and really only a tool to help you make the change to a healthier lifestyle. Do I still want bad food? Yes, however it's changed. My body no longer tolerates sweet stuff and I get full very fast but for me, this was one of the best decisions of my life.

Hi All! My surgery is June 20th. I am very excited, same as all of you. I am totally cool with staying in touch via Facebook or through the forums here or private messages. I have a few people I am friends with that I met either through my pre-surgery classes at Kaiser or here on Bariatric Pal. It's super helpful to share tips, etc. from those who have had the surgery. This forum is great because we are going through this pretty much at the same time. Love it.

I had my pre op today and will be going to the hospital on Monday. June 9 sleevers ready for the big day.

I'm staying at the Mariott Casa Magna flying in on the 10th and leaving on the 17th
I sure am edgy .., getting anxious and a little freaked. Friends and family are being supportive ... Even though they really don't understand ... I'm thankful and appreciate their, and your, prayerful thoughts.
Let's get this done! :0)

Hello all....good luck to all sleevers going in today and congrats to all sleevers from yesterday.......save all us behind u room on the loosers bench!

Everyone please know that SUE (Mowgli19) is the one that started this fabulous list. Thanks to her caring heart and kindness everyone is staying connected and checking on those going in for surgery.
Thank you SUE for this awesome list!!!!!!!
If anyone sees a newbie having trouble putting name on list please feel free to add them. I don't want to leave anyone out.
Thanks gang for being such good people and supportive to everyone.
We have an awesome group!!!!

Good Evening all! I had my surgery this morning. I awoke to great of gas pain, but no other pain. No nausea and no vomiting. Walking is definitely the key. I have walked every hour on the hours since 2 hours after surgery. I have even managed to finished off two 20 oz bottles of Water and 16.9 oz bottle of propel zero!!! Feeling great. They just weighed me and I'm up 7 lbs from all the Fluid. It just means I'm not dehydrated!! :-). Good luck to the rest of you!!!