Rogofulm

I say, "Thanks very much, that's what I'm going for!" Fact of the matter is, I only intend to make this journey one last time, so I'm basking in the moment knowing full well that in a couple of months the compliments will start drying up. Who knows when the very last "Wow, you look great!" will come? And anyone new I meet from here on out will have never known me as a big guy. So while this has been a great ride, I know the real work is ahead... without all those motivating compliments. So enjoy them while they last!

170. Thanks, Susan!

Bariatric Support Groups are great! I consider sharing my experience with pre-op patients to be an important part of my program. Whether it's in person, or in forums like this one, I want to provide tips and set a good example for newbies, and that helps me stay on track. At our hospital support group, most of the session is spent answering the pre-ops' questions. The flip side of that is the post-ops don't get much of a chance to discuss their issues and get the support that they may need. So our group has started having two back-to-back sessions: one for everyone, and one for post-ops. We time it so that the post-op session begins as the pre-ops leave for their nutrition class/weigh-in. And the post-op folks are encouraged to attend both sessions. I share this as an idea for other bariatric support groups out there who may be facing the same dilemma. We've only done it once so far, but it worked very well so I expect we will continue it.

My favorite pre-op lunch? A dozen Buffalo Wild Wings (very spicy), with french fries, carrots with blue cheese dressing, and 4 large glasses of iced tea. Now? 4.5 oz of leftover steak and maybe a few green beans; and no drinking for 45 minutes. I enjoyed my eating more then, but I feel much better now. Bottom line? Now is better!

Congratulations on a very successful year! You look wonderful, and I know you feel even better!!!

First of all, congratulations! You have reached The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. You may even be getting to the end of it. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or even longer. But don't worry – after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. And, the inches will continue to come off even while the scale isn't budging. Here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again like crazy! You did the right and courageous thing sticking with Protein for Thanksgiving, especially in the face of such criticism. And here's what I'd say to unsupportive people... Thanks for your concern. Listen, I've started hundreds of diets over the years, and look where they got me – miserable and unhealthy. So I've decided to go with a modern technique that's proven to be the most effective weight-loss tool there is. It'll still take a lot of hard work, but I'm optimistic. I'm really excited about it and I hope you'll be happy for me too. It's a really cool procedure! If you're interested, I can tell you about it... I find that most people are hooked at this point and want to hear more. Information is what gets people on board. And then they stop judging. But if they still insist on giving you a hard time, tell them, "Look, I've made a major decision to improve my health and turn my life around. If you can't be supportive, then I'm afraid I can't be around you right now." Then go find supportive people to hang out with, go to a bariatric support group in your area, and spend time on forums like these. Good luck and keep making the right choices. It's SO worth it!!!!!

Yeah, I guess I'm more vain than before. But as @@Katcloudshepherd said, "I'm more "vain" if you consider being more concerned about my appearance than prior to surgery." I dress better now, tuck in my shirt more often, and enjoy being surprised by how I look in the mirror. And all the compliments encourage a little vanity too! But the reality is that if we are truly successful in our journey, before too long people will get used to us this way. The compliments will slow down or stop, and hopefully we'll also get used to seeing ourselves as a normal-weight person. I imagine at that point, the novelty of our new slimmer looks in the mirror will wear off, and the vanity will ebb. So I suppose my philosophy is that a little vanity is okay during our journey – if it helps us stay on course.

Height loss? Gosh I hope not!

All my friends and co-workers know and are very supportive. And if anyone asks how I lost 95 pounds in 5 1/2 months, I tell them, "Good clean livin', diet, exercise....and bariatric surgery." It's usually good for a laugh. Everyone has been great, and many people are fascinated by the surgery and ask lost of questions. If anybody has disapproved, they've kept it to themselves. So it's all been good!

I was a Type 2 diabetic on Janumet pills and Lantus Solo injections. My pre-op A1C, with meds, was 6.9, down from 13.5 before meds. Got sleeved on June 24, 2014, and a week later went off all my diabetes meds and my daily tests were normal. Yesterday, 5 1/2 months post-op, I met with my endocrinologist who told me that my A1C was.... 5.6! That's below the 5.7 threshold for pre-diabetes, so as far as he is concerned, I'm no longer even pre-diabetic. The apnea also went away a week or two after surgery and I was able to give up the machine. Cholesterol hangs on 6 months or longer, I'm told, and that was true in my recent labs. @@TiaMarie, Congratulations on making a wonderful decision to take control of your health and your life! Good luck!!!!

Good morning, Susan! 172 today. Thanks for doing this!!! Rog

No preaching? Are you serious? REALLY?!! Maybe you're just goofing around and trying to get a rise out of people who are working hard on their program. I hope so (although that would mean you're a jerk). But if you're truly only ten days out, I'd put your chance of success at around zero. I really wish you the best in this journey, but you're gonna need to get your head screwed on straight. You've gone through too much already to just throw it away catching a buzz. Please prove me wrong – I'd love to have to apologize!

It gets easier. I find that anything in a sauce goes down easily. And I don't really worry about calories from the sauces. At 700-900 calories a day, we have room to spare so I don't think they'll hurt me too much.

There's a huge difference between "can never eat" and "should never eat". The two items my doc warns about are fruit juices and ice cream. They are high-sugar, high-calorie foods that go down easily, pass through your "stomach" quickly, and you can consume them without getting or staying full. He says they are the quickest and easiest way to "cheat your tool" and nothing good can come of that. This was warning, not a tip!

Not sure how long ago you went off the tracks, but I'd do exactly what you posted. Try to do a couple of weeks of the pre/post-op liquid diet. Hopefully that will detox you from the sugar/starch cravings. If you just have to have something more substantial, I'd eat lean Protein only. And make sure you get at least 64+ oz of fluids in every day! That can help stave off the hunger. Then start fresh making the choices that you already know you should make. By the way, my understanding is that the sleeve procedure removes the stretchy part of our stomachs and leaves us with the muscle portion. As a result, it's less likely to stretch very much. Some, perhaps, but nothing like it used to. Don't let poor choices be an option. You can do this!!! Good luck!

If anyone asks how I lost all that weight, I tell them, "Clean living, diet, exercise.... and bariatric surgery." Usually gets a laugh – and most people are fascinated by it.

What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man! Congratulations and continued happiness in your life together!!!

Don't know why, but since my surgery I'm drinking more coffee than I ever have before. Doesn't seem to be slowing my weight loss, but maybe that's because I drink at least 72 oz of other fluids every day as well. (Glub, Glub!)

From all my lifelong roller-coaster dieting, I've discovered that whenever I get down around 180, people start telling me I'm getting too thin and need to slow down or stop losing weight. Really? According to the BMI charts, for my height 180 is still 25 pounds overweight! So this time around, for the first time, I'm not listening to them. If anyone tries to press harder, I say something like, "Thanks for the compliment, but I have a goal weight that has been approved by my doctor, and that's what I'm working towards." It seems to do the trick. They don't mean any harm, they're just not used to seeing us at the lower weight. Also, at some point we stop filling-out our wrinkles, so we may look a little gaunt. Just take it as a compliment and change the subject.

Hiccups are my sign that something got stuck - usually a hunk of chicken that didn't get chewed enough or was a little too dry. Sometimes it goes on down, and sometimes it comes back up (perhaps even aided by a finger). And then the hiccups go away.

Moo goo gai pan (chicken with vegetables in a white sauce) works for me too. And no rice, noodles, dumplings, spring/egg rolls, or fortune Cookies. (They're usually stale, anyway, right?)

Bottom line? Always have a plan for what you will eat. My family and I eat out all the time! Chinese? chicken and vegetables (no rice or spring rolls). Mexican? Steak fajitas or carne asada (no chips, tortillas or rice). Italian? Chicken Picatta (no bread or pasta). Family restaurant? Chicken breasts or a small steak (swap the starch for a second veggie). Seafood? Salmon or even lobster. Car trip munchies? Beef or turkey Jerky, baby! Last week we traveled to New Orleans and Mississippi for a wedding, a 50th birthday party, an anniversary party, and Thanksgiving. We also went to at least 7 restaurants. Guess what? I ate great, never felt deprived, and still lost 3 pounds on the trip! I brought Protein shakes and beef jerky for breakfasts and Snacks, and made good choices at all other meals. Just focus on protein (and a few veggies), completely avoid all starches and Desserts, keep getting your fluids in, and walk as much as possible. If you always have a plan and follow it, you'll do fine.

My doc told me that post-op hunger is usually thirst. Work on getting your fluids in. And ditto for the exercise. Good luck!

Thank you for your honesty! Posts like yours are the reason I started coming to BP in the first place. And they're the reason I keep coming back. My greatest fear is exactly what you are going through right now. The reality is that the beast is still out there for all of us. Statistics show that there is a high likelihood of a "bounce" from our low weight. But from what I've read, if you can get it back under control, you stand an excellent chance of making it permanent. You've taken the first step. Keep your sleeve full of liquid between meals to stave off the hunger. I wish you total success in your new journey. You know how to do this, now do it!!!

Congratulations! You have reached The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or even longer. But don't worry – after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. And, the inches will continue to come off even while the scale isn't budging. Here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again like crazy! (Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)