Rogofulm

Yep, I agree. It's all about the Protein now, with the occasional veggie if there's room in my sleeve afterward. Haven't had a bite of starch or refined sugar for 4+ months. And I don't miss them! I also pick the fat out of my meat before eating it, take the skin off my chicken, and only eat the occasional bite of fruit. This is what's so astonishing. I used to eat the fatty bite first, or grab any chicken skin off the platter when someone else left it behind, and could eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. In fact, I was hooked on Buffalo Wild Wings for months before my surgery. Now? Don't want 'em and don't miss 'em. If my wife and kid were out of town, it was a whole box of mac'n'cheese with a spoon right out of the pot - as a snack! Now, when I splurge, it's on on beef and turkey Jerky. That's a hint, by the way. Low fat, acceptable calories, and tons of protein! I've had a really crazy week and haven't been home for dinner all week. I've probably consumed a dozen 3-oz bags of Jerky this week, and still lost half a pound. Yay sleeve!

Yep, it gets better pretty quickly. I found the during the first week, I felt a constriction where whatever I drank seemed to have trouble negotiating the curve into my stomach. Then in the second week, I felt constriction higher up in my chest, followed by gurgling when stuff released into my stomach. In both cases, my doctor's office attributed it to post-surgery swelling. Once that goes down, things get more like what will be your new "normal" going forward. Now at 4 months out, I get occasional gurgling when I drink something too soon after eating and it has to negotiate it's way through the food. But it's more amusing than anything else. Remember, you are healing right now, and things are going to feel a little weird for a couple of more weeks. Good luck on your journey!

80 lbs in four months. That's just seems unreal to me.

I know, me too! But I've been working it really hard, too. Making all the right choices and trying to walk 2 miles a day. Also, a big key is pre-planning for meals when you're not at home. I take a cooler with me so I have "fall-back food" in case nothing is available that I should eat. Haven't had a starch or any refined sugar since my surgery, and I feel great!

YES!!! Way to go! Enjoy the moment, but don't let up. Set your target firmly on your next goal. Congratulations on your entry into Onederland!!!

OMG, it lasts 2-3 weeks?!

Yep. Here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there!

We were all scared. It's normal. But most of us are really glad we went through it. Poke around this Forum and you'll get a feel for the good, the bad, and even a little of the ugly. I'm so glad I got my sleeve four months and 80 pounds ago....

Since you seem to be familiar with The Dreaded Week-3 Stall, I won't go on about it, except to say that it lasts 2-3 weeks, and then the weight should start coming off again. Hang in there!

If you poke around this forum, you'll find hundreds, if not thousands of folks who would not look back. I count myself among them. I'm 4 months out from surgery and my BMI has dropped from 42.8 to 29.9. My diabetes and apnea are gone, as is my weight-related asthma. And I expect to get off cholesterol and BP meds at my next doctor's appointment. I eat healthy, get regular exercise, get compliments on how I look, and feel great! Almost everybody is nervous once the date is scheduled. That's perfectly normal. I love my sleeve and so far, have never looked back. You will too!

What a great idea! Please count me in!

I was sleeved on June 24th. I'm down 80 from my high, and 69 since my surgery. And I'm officially "overweight" now! 31 to goal... and then comes the rest of my life!

Hi Tiffany,

1. Your energy will come back gradually over the first 2-3 weeks. Protein will give you your energy now, instead of carbs. And magical B-12 supplements will help too!

2. 64+ ounces of Fluid per day. This will be hard to do at first, but keep at it. Fluids are even more important than Protein during the first couple of weeks to keep you hydrated and prevent Constipation. Speaking of which, it's a real risk. I'd suggest having some Miralax or something similar on hand in case you need it. Also, I take a Psyllium husk capsule twice a day. They're basically Fiber pills and Walmart has a store brand called Fiber Therapy. Haven't had a problem since week 1-2 once I got on them.

3. The calories will take care of themselves for a while. If you keep to your recommended program, you won't see 1,000 calories for months. 4 months out, I usually get 700-900 calories per day. For hydration I rely on Crystal Light sugar-free, Decaf iced tea (or generic). I bought myself two 24-oz. Tervis tumblers (and the separate handles) – one for work and the other for home. At work I drink one tumbler between Breakfast and lunch and one after lunch. Then at home, a drink another one after dinner. That's 72 oz. right there. Be sure not to drink for at least 1/2 hour before and after meals, though.

4. I didn't have much of a problem with nausea, but I did have discomfort in my stomach for several weeks after surgery, especially when I ran out of the Protonix (or generic) stomach pills the doc sent me home with. Once I got back on them, that took care of the discomfort.

5. Walk early and often! They will get you out of your hospital bed shortly after surgery to get you to walk. Do it! It's hard at first, but midway through the night it gets easier. Keep it up when you're at home recovering. Go for several walks a day. At first they may just be a few hundred feet, but gradually increase the distance. About 3 weeks out, I was walking 2 miles almost every day with no problem.

Assuming you don't have complications, as long as you do what you're supposed to and make good choices, you'll be successful. Good luck!

Hah – cinder blocks and kitty litter, love it! I just told someone yesterday that I've lost 2 bags of mulch (40 lbs each). I said, "imagine strapping one bag of mulch to your front, and another to your back. Now walk around all day, including going up and down stairs in your house. That's how I felt before surgery." Not any more!!!

Mu surgeon has me on prescription Protonix (or the generic). Works great!

You should start dropping weight soon as the swelling and Water retention subside. But also, here's a head's up – at about three weeks out you will stop losing again for 2-3 weeks. Don't freak out - it's normal and expected. After that the weight will start falling off again if you stick to your program. And really work to get your fluids in every day! It's important!!!

They all take up to 72 hours to help. Miralax works pretty well for the immediate situation. After a really,really bad time during my first two weeks out, I started taking psyllium husk capsules twice a day (Fiber Therapy at Walmart). Haven't had a problem since. Work on getting your 64+ oz of fluids in every day. That's very important in controlling Constipation too! All the products I researched seem to work by making your "stuff" absorb Water, making them softer and easier to pass. So the more Water you drink, the better. Okay, I just grossed myself out so I'm signing off. Good luck!

That doesn't sound like too much to me. In fact, it may be too little pretty soon. My daily calories hover between 700-1000, my Protein 70-100 grams, and my fluids 70-100 ounces. (Wow, I just noticed that all my ranges look the same!) It seems to be working. I feel good and have lost 80 pounds in four months. Good luck, you'll figure it out.

Everyone looks amazing!!! I met my personal/final goal of 160lbs yesterday! Doing my first 5k November 16th!! So damn excited!!ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414168876.905219.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414168895.440311.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414168915.341506.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414168941.260129.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414168958.628299.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414168985.881158.jpg

Congrats on making goal! Good luck on the run!

I think it's natural to have these dreams. For years after quitting smoking, I would dream that I bummed a smoke from someone, then immediately smoked a second cigarette. That's when I'd wake up in a sweat, terrified that I was hooked again. I'm sure food dreams are much the same. In both cases we dream that we're back to being addicted. They fade eventually. Good luck and sweet(ner) dreams!

For what it's worth... I had type 2 diabetes and was treating it with Lantus injections and Janumet pills. I stopped them all one week after sleeve surgery and have never gone back. At my last endocrinologist appointment, my A1C was lower without meds than it was before surgery with meds. My endo was really excited for me and joked, "Those bastards are going to run me out of business!" Apnea was gone in a couple of weeks, and asthma went away quickly as the weight came down. Still taking cholesterol and BP meds, but my levels are great and I expect to get off them at about 6 months. So my question would be... If you have a reasonable chance of getting these types of results with just the sleeve, why escalate until you know it's needed? I'll bet it's possible to get a revision to the new procedure if the sleeve doesn't do the trick for you. Good luck with your decision!

You look amazing! Today is my one year anniversary, and I've lost 93 pounds. Here's a before and after pic. ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1414057240.418196.jpg

Congratulations, Holly! You look terrific and I'll bet you feel even better!!!

I bought two 24-oz Tervis Tumblers (and handles) at Bed, Bath & Beyond -- one for home and one for work. About 45 minutes minutes after drinking my morning Protein shake, I fill one with Crystal Light (or generic) sugar-free iced tea and sip it all morning, finishing it up about 30 minutes before lunch. About 45 minutes after lunch, I fill another tumbler of tea and sip it all afternoon, finishing well before dinner. About 45 minutes after dinner, I fill one more at home and sip that all evening. Voila! 72 ounces of Fluid, plus whatever coffee or hot tea I may drink during the day. I think the trick is to build it into a schedule. Weekends are a harder because the schedule is more squishy. But I really try to stick to 24oz after Breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner. If I'm running errands, I bring a tumbler with me in the car. If I go to a meetings or social event, I bring my big, gaudy tumbler with me. Good luck! If you tie it to a schedule, it's much easier...

I also had to face a stall before the doors to Onederland would open for me. Now I'm stalled at 0.7 pounds above my double-milestone of 185, which will be 80 pounds down and finally achieving "overweight" status on the BMI. So yep, I agree that the emotion of a big milestone can slow us down. Don't know that any scientific folk would confirm that, but it sure feels like it. Good luck to everyone who's hanging on the brink of a goal! If we keep making the right choices, we will eventually "break on through to the other side".

I hit the four month stall and haven't lost much in 6 weeks. But I am staying on program, exercising, and no losing faith. I've talked to several nurses about it and they assured me this happens.

Yeah.... My losses have really slowed down for the past 3-4 weeks. I'll get an occasional 1-1.5 drop, but then nothing for another week or so. It's tough sledding, but we know this is part of the process. Just waiting for the roller coaster to start down again.

Holy smokes! Way to rock those horizontal stripes! Congratulations!!!

Hey Rach,

Take a look at the article I linked to above. It will explain what really happens around weeks 3-5. I'm 17 weeks out, and still only consume 700-900 calories a day. My doc says that's normal. I get 70-90 grams of Protein and drink 72+ ounces of Fluid each day. Along with my Multi-Vitamin and calcium-plus-D chews, that's supposed to be all I need. Your situation may be different. Each doc and nut has a different opinion of what's the best way to go. And it may depend on your starting place. Good luck on your journey! It's so worth it!!!!!