NoDramaLlama

While shopping for an event yesterday I asked the saleswomen for assistance in finding some items. Without hesitation one brought me some items. Before I could tell her my size she had already brought me a size 6 which fit perfectly. It was so exciting to have someone see me as a smaller size. My final selections.

I am 2.5 years post op and have had hunger ups and downs and so I have some suggestions I hope you will try.
#1 take a good PPI! You may not think you have reflux but acid feels like hunger and many surgeons prescribe PPIs for everyone those first 3 months since it takes time for the tummy to produce less...smaller stomach needs less.
#2 Quest bars are like candy with Protein. I love em and can't keep them in the house. They are not filling and really are sliders for me. Don't eat slider type food...it is not satisfying and can trigger over eating.
#3 eat dense Proteins first! In the early months I was advised to eat 5 mini meals a day, always starting with dense Proteins. If room, veggies. So a snack mini meal might be a Greek yogurt or a bit of sandwich meat or beef Jerky or a bit of roast chicken. (I eat less often now, but it worked well at your stage...ask your NUT for a plan)
#4 eat until no longer hungry. FULL is not the goal. It takes awhile to reset the brain on this one but over time this will payoff big time.
#5 stay hydrated. Follow the rules about not drinking near mealtimes but load up when you can. Thirst feels like hunger.

I am scheduled for August 4th, but I am still waiting for BC/BS approval. No food funeral for me...I've enjoyed losing some weight during my nutritionist visits...so I just look at this as getting a head start on the surgery. I'm down 20 lbs since April. I am DREADING the pre-op liquid diet; my doctor requires two weeks on shakes and Clear liquids.

I got my approval yesterday when I called, yay!! it took exactly 7 days )

Just a thought - why do you read the 300 post threads that offend you? When I am reading a thread and it starts to go a way I disagree with or am offended by, I stop reading it. You can find support or you can find negativity. It's not up to the owner to not allow people to debate and have free speech. It is up to each individual whether to participate in it.
If you stay, this seems like a very supportive thread. If you leave, good luck with your surgery!

Congratulations!

Just got my approval (Yay!). Just over two weeks from submission to approval.

I read a post from my phone that inspired me to write this... but I can't find the post so I am starting a new thread!
So many share incredible transformation stories - and that post mentioned people who pose in bikinis (raising hand here) to show off this transformation. We all Celebrate and say "wow" and all that great stuff.... but how does it make people feel who have more "average" results, not quite getting to goal, maybe not doing plastics etc so they don't feel as "wowed" by their transformations.
I want to say something about this. i reviewed some progress photos and looked long and hard at the ones where I weighed about 190... I started at over 300# so it was a big difference. at 5'5" I was still overweight at 190, but you know, I was "pretty good". It's very hard to not feel a certain pressure to succeed in the way that others define it, but truth is this is our own journey and not someone elses. If I had stopped at maintained at 190 or thereabouts... or even in the 170s... I really met my most important goals. Improved health, no more sleep apnea, no more high blood pressure, could hike and ride more easily and could shop at normal sized stores.
BTW, as far as attention from the opposite gender, it was definately MORE when I weighed around 160-170 range then my current weight of 140. I have no idea why... but it is the truth.
From a quality of life perspective - getting down to my current weight did not really improve it much more. We need to define our own success and not let the excitement of the success story board make you feel like you aren't successful.
Lets be honest, statistically, many of us reporting getting down to that elusive "goal" will regain a few pounds or 20 over the coming years. I don't plan on that, but it is a very common occurance.
I want to give a shout out to all of you who have had amazing success even if your BMI is still over 25. Think about how far you have come and how much you have improved your life! also, look around, the average person has gotten bigger over the decades and someone in the 25-30 BMI range is considered pretty average size now.
congrats to all of us for taking control of our health and fitness!!!!

I recently had my band removed (banded in 2007) and I am really enjoying this period between band removal and sleeve (my surgeon requires separate procedures). I am eating healthier food than I ever could with the band. Foods like fresh vegetables, salad, etc. One of the worst parts of my band was the "stuck" pain of eating a food like raw broccoli or carrots.
My question for those who've gone from band to sleeve is this: does the restriction of the sleeve feel like that "stuck" feeling? I don't mind fullness, but with the band I would have the stuck feeling simultaneously with still feeling hungry, and that was torture. Can you describe the difference in full/stuck from band to sleeve?

I was sleeved exactly 2 months prior to my wife. My surgery and recovery were textbook...zero complications. Now my wife on the other hand...let's just say when I read your post, I almost said, "Honey, is that you???". LOL
She also had hernia repair (two) and an issue getting enough fluids. It took about a month for me to sleep with both eyes closed (in her state of mind, she was not to be trusted! ), however she is doing great now and that early period is a distant memory. I pray you have a speedy recovery and hope you have the same outcome as my bride. She is now 9 months out and we're lovin' life!
Good luck!