maxcimax

What branch of the service are you trying to get into? Each branch of the Military has it's own restrictions. The Navy & Air Force are harder to get into because they have more health restrictions. The Army is the easiest. I have a son that doesn't have a spleen & the Navy wouldn't take him for that reason even tho' he is healthy. I hope you get what you want. I grew up in a military (Navy) family & was married to a Seabee (Navy). God Bless you for wanting to do this.

I just ordered a book that sounds promising, "The Bariatric Foodie Guide to Perfect Protein shakes." If you make them yourself, you have the flexibility to make them just the way you like.

Saw my surgeon today for my first post op visit. Down 25 lbs since starting this whole thing in January. Sleeve surgery was done 5/12/14 & I weighted 284 on that day. I was told I could now have soft/pureed foods. I made the mistake of not THINNING my avocado. Wasn't a good thing. For the first time I felt really awful. I drank Water to try & make the food go thru my stomach faster but I have no idea if this worked. I felt so awful that I took a nap & got up felling a lot better. Believe me, all foods will be thinned for a while. I have had very little in the way of nausea but this came close. Would I do this again? Absolutely. I'm very happy with my progress & so was my surgeon. Onward & downward.

Skip the carbs period if you want to lose weight. Eating Protein and veggies works for us. Being diabetic makes this an easy choice because I am off Metformin and don't want to go back, ever!

If I could make a couple of suggestions...these saved my sanity:
1. Don't weigh every day - it's bad for your soul. I went so far as to have my husband hide the scale and bring it out once per week. I realized a couple of months in that my body was going to lose weight at it's own pace and it wasn't as fast as my brain wanted it to lose.
2. Take your measurements - I measure about once per month. You will see your numbers getting smaller even if the scale says your weight is slow. (Case in point - I lost 3 pounds last month, but I lost 5 inches.)
3. Document your journey with pictures. I have pics from about 2-3 times per month since I decided to have surgery. It's nice to refer back to those pictures when the scale isn't moving.
4. Be kind to yourself. I know I'm my own worst critic and my own worst enemy...I've had to learn to like myself - something I haven't done since high school.
Best of luck to you!

I'll be 6 weeks out on Thursday and have lost 33 lbs and I'm happy with that. I would rather lose it slowly actually. I've always thought it wasn't healthy to lose weight too fast. My friend lost 70 lbs in 3 months and is now losing her hair. Is it related, I don't know, but I figure it
probably didn't help her. If you lose slowly, it means you're keeping everything in so your body
is getting enough nutrients to stay healthy. That's how I see it anyways.

My weight loss has been weird. I weight 297 in January at my first doctor visit. In April I saw my surgeon again and weighed 294. I started my pre-op diet May 1st & got down to 284 the day of surgery. After 3 days in the hospital I weighed myself when I got home and was back up to 294. Imagine my shock! I lost that 10 lbs in about 2 days. I assume part of the issue was the gas they fill you up with for the surgery. I am now 2 weeks post-op & I'm down to 270. Slow going but worth it. I am on oxygen so walking around outside is an issue. I started walking around my apartment for exercise. Tomorrow I see my surgeon for my 1st post-op visit. Hopefully I can put soft foods in my diet. The Protein Shakes are about to do me in. I'm going to get some Protein that is unflavored. This should help my protein intake. I'm glad I had this done. I don't think I will ever regret it. The crazy thing is I don't even miss eating chocolate or bread.< /p>

Why would anyone want to eat around the sleeve? It was so hard to get approved and wanting to lose weight, way why would you want to sabotage it. I have never really understood this. Especially if you really wanted this surgary and pain after to work. Sorry I needed to vent.

I had my sleeve done in September 2013. It's been 8 months since surgery and I have lost 122 pounds. I came from 350, BMI of 52 to 228, BMI 33. I walked into surgery wearing size 28 pants and a 30/32 top and today i noticed my size 18's were a little saggy in butt! I walked 4.5 miles today before I got tired and that in and of itself is a miracle! I'm so glad I made the decision to have this procedure, it has helped me so much. Though I am doing well, I struggle EVERY DAY to make good food choices. I'm (head) hungry all the time for all the wrong foods and it's a constant battle. Some days I lose, but most days I do well.
My original goal was to get to the size I was in junior high school, size 18. But now that I'm here, I've readjusted my goal to a "normal" BMI of 24, which means I have 63 pounds to go.
I thank all of you for your support as I silently stalk all of your posts. They help me stay on track and stay motivated to be better

Best advise is go back to liquids. Specially if you're having a hard time eating. When you trow up your stomach gets irritated and swollen making it difficult to hold food down. If you continue to eat and trow up you can end up being so swollen you won't be able keep liquids down. Do liquids for a few days then try puréed Soups, yogurt and then progress your diet slowly adding one ring at a time. You just had major surgery give your baby tummy time to heal..

Hey Dragon Fly
I was sleeved on the 14th. Sounds like you really need to up your Water intake. It really will help rid your body of the excess fluids they pumped into you via your IV. I only think I figured out a way that works for me to get the 8 glasses of Water in yesterday but I was doing ok before. I use the little Dixie cups (3oz) and drink 3 of these an hour. Plus I make sure to get out and walk around the house every hour to help with the gas. Although, this hasn't been horrendous for me. I have lost 8 iOS since being home but I notice it fluctuates daily. Right now do your best to get your liquids in so you do not get dehydrated
-Nancy

Turbo and others:
I'm feeling an array of emotions as well! Eating to live vs. living to Eat is my motto going forward! Each day I'm more excited and then nervous..rollercoaster! However, I am looking forward to this tool to give me the start I have needed for sooo many years! Want my outside to match my inside....new career, new body, great health....NEW ME! I have alot of living yet to do!!!

I'm 70 & just got my surgery date of 5/12/14. I'm glad to read posts by other 70+ sleeve patients. My family is concerned about my age & having this surgery. Hopefully this will make them feel better that others my age have done this. My goal is to get off the CPAP at night & the oxygen 24/7. I have other health issues that should go away also. Just the idea of taking fewer pills each day is a plus.

I'm 70 & just got my surgery date of 5/12/14. I'm glad to read posts by other 70+ sleeve patients. My family is concerned about my age & having this surgery. Hopefully this will make them feel better that others my age have done this. My goal is to get off the CPAP at night & the oxygen 24/7. I have other health issues that should go away also. Just the idea of taking fewer pills each day is a plus.

I'm 70 & just got my surgery date of 5/12/14. I'm glad to read posts by other 70+ sleeve patients. My family is concerned about my age & having this surgery. Hopefully this will make them feel better that others my age have done this. My goal is to get off the CPAP at night & the oxygen 24/7. I have other health issues that should go away also. Just the idea of taking fewer pills each day is a plus.

I'm 70 & just got my surgery date of 5/12/14. I'm glad to read posts by other 70+ sleeve patients. My family is concerned about my age & having this surgery. Hopefully this will make them feel better that others my age have done this. My goal is to get off the CPAP at night & the oxygen 24/7. I have other health issues that should go away also. Just the idea of taking fewer pills each day is a plus.

I'm 70 & just got my surgery date of 5/12/14. I'm glad to read posts by other 70+ sleeve patients. My family is concerned about my age & having this surgery. Hopefully this will make them feel better that others my age have done this. My goal is to get off the CPAP at night & the oxygen 24/7. I have other health issues that should go away also. Just the idea of taking fewer pills each day is a plus.

I'm 70 & just got my surgery date of 5/12/14. I'm glad to read posts by other 70+ sleeve patients. My family is concerned about my age & having this surgery. Hopefully this will make them feel better that others my age have done this. My goal is to get off the CPAP at night & the oxygen 24/7. I have other health issues that should go away also. Just the idea of taking fewer pills each day is a plus.

YOU GO GIRL!!!! Let's be honest...This is NOT an easy decision to make. A lot of people think it is an easy way out of obesity, it isn't that either. It is what it is, a tool to help you in your fight to get your life back. Opinions are like b*ttholes, everyone has one! You came to terms with your reality and chose to have WLS. That is your decision based on your life and your body. It is no one else's, period. Whether they are being caring, condescending, curious or whatever - YOU have to live with your choice. (NOT THEM) I applaud that you decided to do what you needed to do for your life and are sticking to your guns. Eventually you won't be the novelty act and they will get bored with the crusade. ( While you will go on living your life and enjoying all the wonderful things NOT weighing 300lbs will bring!) I started at 316lbs and let me tell you it is AWESOME the day you realize you don't hurt all the time... Not to mention the thousands of other benefits it will afford you. As said before - YOU GO GIRL!!!

Two previously supportive coworkers tag-teamed me with their opinions today. Came out of nowhere. I figured it would happen at some point, but I'm still frustrated. Oh well - I was falling asleep and now I've been annoyed awake...at least I'll be productive the rest of the day.
This was all the usual stuff. Just eat 1500 - no, 1800 calories. Eat every 2 hours. Low carb. No, no carb. No carb is good. Don't waste the money on surgery. Eat broccoli and boiled chicken. After surgery you'll have to diet, why not do it now? Blah blah blah and some more blah.
One of them is my size, getting larger, and in denial about it. Stuffs herself into her clothes like a sausage in a casing and won't admit to being over 200 pounds. She goes through wild swings. One day you can offer her something and she goes off the deep end at you about how she's on a diet and isn't eating crap like that - the next day she's stuffing rolls and M&M's in her piehole hand over fist.
The other one, I'm very proud of - she's about a size 4 now and used to be >250 pounds, and did it via the "boiled chicken" method with boot camps twice per day. Good for her. But her way isn't the only way, and being on the other end of a lecture from a sanctimonious ex-fatty who thinks her answers are the only answers is not my idea of a fun way to spend the afternoon.
I'm having this surgery because I'm 36 and 300 pounds. I've been fat my entire life. My knees hurt. My feet hurt. My blood pressure is poorly controlled. I want babies before I'm too old to raise them. I. Don't. Want. To. Die. And anyone who thinks they're going to talk me out of doing something to save my life can kiss my fat a$$ for as long as I still have it.
Rant, over.

Being put on a CPAP & being tied to an oxygen tank 24/7. I haven't been shopping in a mall for about 2 years because it's to difficult to walk around. I just turned 70 & I don't want to spend the rest of my life struggling to just walk. My cardiologist has other patients that have had the Sleeve & they have had good results.

Hi everyone. This is my first post here. But I thought this was a very appropriate place to start.
My straw was getting on a plane for a business trip and having to ask the stewardess for an extension belt. As I sat there tugging at the belt trying to make it fit, I had to decide whether to ask for the extender or pretend that my seat belt fit. In the end I decided my safety was the most important thing. But that experience was mortifying.
When you add that to the fact that at 35, I have been on blood pressure medicine for the last three years and have chronic back problems and arthritis in both knees, I knew I had to do something. I have 10 nieces and nephews that I adore and want to see grow up. And if this was me at 35, I couldn't imagine what 40 and 50 looked like.
I decided to be selfish for the first time in my life and take care of me. I always take care of the people I care about, be it my family or friends. But in the process I neglect myself. Well guess what??? I realized if I didn't take care of me, I wouldn't be here to take care of the people I love. Once I found out my insurance covered bariatric surgery, I really didn't have any excuses left. So I started the process in October 2013 and had my surgery on March 20, 2014. I am down almost 32 pounds in a month (16.6 pounds since surgery). It is hard but so worth it. I have no doubt that as long as I stay the course I'll be chasing down the rugrats for many years to come.