GemmaLicious

Hi all, I had my sleeve on 1st April 2014 so a couple of weeks ago. I live in Bristol and had my sleeve op there but spend a lot of time in Essex as that's where I grew up & my family still live there. Anyway I'm looking for a support group and found one in Bath not far from Bristol but it's only every 2-3 months. Their next support groups not until mid May which is disappointing. I was hoping to find some others if anyone knows of any? It would also be nice to know if anyone else locally uses this forum? I'm struggling a little with feeling disappointed that although I lost weight the scales seem to be staying the same. I didn't expect it to stop or slow down so soon after wls! I'm also finding I feel quite low and head hungers annoying me as I'm not hungry but am really really missing food. Anyone else feeling the same? Or felt the same in the past?

Hi guys, I gave up smoking over 4 months ago but I vape e-cigarettes now. I feel so much healthier, no longer have a constant cough and can taste and smell again. Is it not the tar and chemicals in a cigarette which are really bad for you and can cause problems healing or is it nicotine? I thought nicotine was addictive but not harmful? E-cigs only have nicotine in, no tar or chemicals. I don't think I can do this liquid diet without vaping, I'm struggling enough without being completely nicotine free as well. I'm due to have my operation on 1st April so only 3 days until surgery What are your experiences please?

Hello Maggie, I really do feel for you as the same thing happened to me. I waited all day, the first patient was having skin removed and took a lot longer than they thought. Another lady was cancelled and sent home. I finally went to theatre and when I woke up my operation had been cancelled as there was apparently a power cut right before they were going to start! I was told to continue on the pre op yoghurt diet and had my op the following week. So I really do understand how disappointed you must be feeling. Yes Sally Norton was my surgeon and despite the power cut etc I was really happy with her. I think Sally told me 75% was removed. I have heard about the current delays and change of surgeon and does sound like a nightmare. How much is the other surgeon saying they remove? I'm doing well thankyou. Weight loss is slower than I thought it would be but at my follow up appointment I was told my weightloss was good and to try and slow it down as its healthier to loose at a slower rate. So that's what Im trying to doing. I am finding it tough though and keep reminding myself its only a tool to help feel fuller and so its all down to me to loose the weight. I'm trying to be more active and go to the gym daily. Have they got any idea when your op will be? Keep your chin up, I know its hard and also mental tourture but your get there soon Im sure. Gemma xxx

Anyone using myfitnesspal or a fitbit please add me as it's nice to be on this weight loss surgery journey together. You can add me by using the following details. User name: gemmasheringham Or my email: gemmasheringham@aol.com I was sleeved on 1st April 2014. When was your surgery and how are you finding things?

You you really do look fab, I'm also going to pinch your idea and do a monthly picture. As far as having further surgery I defiantly will do to much further down the line. Why not, the cost I feel will be worth it. Even though I've got a long way to go for the first time in my life I'm actually liking myself. I can also feel confident this weights coming of and staying of. I never thought this was possible. Totally amazing to be on this journey and am so great-full to not be doing this alone. Happy days ))

Debi are you having problems with loose skin? Are you also doing toning exercises?

Hello illeigh I'm really glad to hear your experiencing the same as me. I'm quite nervous of my surgeon telling me next week I'm not loosing enough quickly. Your right though about slower weightloss being better for our skin. That's something which worries me so in away it's a good thing. Hi Debi that's a lot of exercise, I defiantly need to put a lot more into being more active. I think it's great, well done. )

Wow that's amazing well done you. Do you mind me asking what type of surgery you had? I've had the sleeve and am 3 months post op and only down 33 pounds. My clothes are loose and they used to be really tight but I've not dropped enough. What do you feel you've done to get such a big weight loss so quickly? I'm very interested to know how many calories you've been consuming and how much and what exercise have you been doing? Please share your success and again well done.

Now this is a good thread to read. I've been wondering about protein shakes and have my first follow up appointment with my surgeon next week. I'm 3 months post op and hit a bit of a stall already. I've purchased some Lighterlife milkshakes and meal replacement bars. Anyone else tried using them? If I want to eat I'm allowing myself to eat chicken and turkey and that's it. My calorie intakes 500-800 and on a bad struggling day when I feel hungry and craving food I've allowed myself to go upto 1200 calories and never over that. So do you think I'd be better trying protein shakes or are they the same as Lighterlife food packs? And how many do you have? With lighterlife you can have 4 per day. Do you just replace some meals with the shakes and then eat small healthy meals?

Hi it's been interesting to read all your comments, experience and suggestions and I'm only 3 months post op and only down 33 pounds. I seem to have stalled already. I've also recently started replacing meals with the Lighterlife milkshakes and if I eat anything I'm just sticking to chicken and turkey. I was just walking and gardening for exercise but have bought an exercise machine which I'll put together tomorrow and been swimming today. I think it must be not varying and doing enough cardio exercise. I'm varying my calorie intake between 500 to 800 calories a day and if I have a bad day I allow myself to go up as high as 1200 but never more than that. Think I need to stop that though and stick to under 800. I find it interesting that some of you say your only just starting to crave food as I haven't really stopped. Ok so post op for about 2 weeks I could barely sip water and found eating really hard. Since then, I miss food so much and when I see chocolate or smell bread and home cooked food my mouth waters and I wish I could eat it all lol. I know I can't but it doesn't stop my head obsessing over food.

Wow you look FABULOUS well done

Hey, I'm 10 weeks as well but only down 33 pounds. Wish it was more and instead if only gardening and walking I've been swimming today trying to burn more calories. Hopefully the scales will reflect my efforts lol.

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Oh yeh if you have the iPhone 5s it's got a chip in it so you can select on the apps for your phone to monitor your activity. I didn't realise this when I bought the fitbit one. If I loose it I'll start using mg phone instead. Anyone using myfitnesspal please add me as it's nice to be on this wl journey together. User name: gemmasheringham Or my email: gemmasheringham@aol.com

Snap, I seem to be able to eat anything but just much smaller portions. I wish my body would reject sugary foods but it doesn't so trying to stay away from them.

Snap, I seem to be able to eat anything but just much smaller portions. I wish my body would reject sugary foods but it doesn't so trying to stay away from them.

I have a fitbit one and love it. I like the fact it clips on my bra so can wear it all the time. I also use it with myfitness pal and love the fact they sync together as well as my electrical scales.

Is anyone else having problems shifting weight? I can't seem to get much under 16 stone. I know I've snacked on foods I shouldn't but still feel like I've made huge progress from the days of binging to fix the way I feel. Even if I have had some things I shouldn't they are still healthier choices than pre op. Things like low fat chocolate moose or reduced fat hummus with carrots. I'm not eating to fix the way I feel anymore and feel I'm eating a much healthier diet. I eat between 800 & 1200 caleries a day. Is this what I should be aiming for? I had my sleeve done on 1st April so about 2 months ago. I just feel I should have lost more than 2 stone. My weight hasn't really gone down since 2 weeks post op. It keeps fluctuating around the 16 stone mark. I've been more active than I ever have been trying to walk at least half an hour each day, gardening and even just walking around the shops to keep active when it's raining. My exercising is dependent on how much I can physically bare due to nerve damage pain in my feet plus I've had low blood pressure causing a lot of dizziness. I'm even working voluntarily without being paid at my friends garden centre to keep active. I've never exercised before so am happy with my efforts just not my weight loss. I'm dreading seeing my surgeon as I'm worried I'm not doing well enough. My start weight pre op diet was around the 18 stone mark and now around 16. Anyone else struggling? I was under the impression the first few months the weight would drop of before slowing down. What's your experience please? My dads friend had the bypass and does hardly any exercise at all but has lost significantly over a year and is still losing. I feel I'm failing, please help. Thanks

We'll get there I'm sure. I guess it's just good to try and stay focused as it's got to come of evenually. I'm feeling much more hopeful than when I first wrote this post. I've lost 3 pounds which means it's working just not as fast as I hoped lol.

Hi guys, I struggled massively at first sipping Water and even more trying to sip water with my crushed medication. Stay strong and keep sipping, it gets easier. I'm 2 months post op now and no problems drinking. Not being able to drink enough at the beginning made me dehydrated which caused dizziness and low blood pressure. I mistaked this thinking it was because I was lacking food for energy. Keep sipping your doing just fine.

Thank you everyone for all your replys and advise. It's really helped. I'm going to try all your suggestions and concentrate on Protein and also try eating less. I've been recording everything which I eat on myfitnesspal which has been very helpful. That's my weight since starting my pre op diet. My heaviest weight was nearly 20 stone but I worked hard to get some weight of before starting the pre op diet. However I lost that weight slowly by just trying to make healthier food choices. You're all right, it will come of just not as fast as I'd hoped. I guess it's much healthier to drop weight slowly especially to allow skin to hopefully bounce back. I made the mistake of telling everyone I was having the surgery so when I see anyone I think they're thinking I'm not loosing quick enough. Why I worry about what anyone else thinks I don't know, this is our journey. Thankyou for all your responses

I have tried warburtons flat squares toasted with baked beans. The first time I only had 1/2 and the following time a whole one and was perfectly fine. I wouldn't try any type of thicker bread though for quite some time.

Hello, I wish I could try this Protein bread but I've researched it and it's not available in the UK. I received an email saying they hope to deliver to the UK in the future but god knows how soon that will be. I'll keep an eye out for it though. )

Yes I had the sleeve on the 1st April 2014 so 1 month ago now. My surgeon explained that due to the success rate and complications of the band they are not doing as many as they used to. The sleeve seems to be much more successful. I'm 30 years old and due to my young age she suggested the sleeve. If I was older she said she might have suggested the bypass but once you've had the bypass if in the future I put on weight again there wouldn't be another weight loss surgery option. If you have the sleeve, loose the weight but then regain weight I then have the option of bypass. Fingers crossed that won't happen but I feel it's good I will have that option if needed in the future. I hope that helps you and let us know what you decide to have done.

Hi Androulla, It's a hard choice but all I can say is it's only a tool to help you feel fuller quicker. So the sleeve might sound drastic but it's a life long tool to help you make permanent life changes for better health. From what I've heard about the band I'm glad I didn't have one. Sounds like too many people have complications with the band. I know you can still have complications with the sleeve so it does have to be your decision and what's right for you. I thought I was having the band until I met with my surgeon. I took her advise and listened to her reasons why straight away, agreed at that appointment the sleeve was right for me. Let us know what you decide. )