juliarg

I got on a Southwest flight when there were only middle seats left and people didn't universally avert their eyes as I walked down the aisle looking for a seat. Also, I could walk down the aisle without bumping into everyone's arms!

About a year ago, I had my sleeve surgery. It's been a long road with a few bumps every now and again, but I would do it over in a minute. I'm a slow loser and because I carry my weight in my legs (lipedema) I may never get to "thin" but I'm much healthier and happier now than I was. I'm posting before and after pix here! Julia

My HW before pre-op diet was 282. I'm now down to 199 in eight months. I'm pear-shape and carry my weight in my legs (I have a circulatory condition) and my butt, which I think is harder to lose than apple-shaped, stomach/bust weight, but even though I'm slower than some on this list, the losses have been steady and my eating is at a very sustainable pace. I don't feel that I'm dieting or that I'm deprived. With the help of Mr. Sleeve, I perceive myself as eating like a "normal" person - I eat, get full, and stop eating. Before surgery, I never got full unless it was Thanksgiving dinner! Unlike some others on this list, I don't have any forbidden foods. I eat out at restaurants often due to the nature of my work but choose lean Proteins and only eat half portions. I even eat dessert sometimes - eating one cookie can satisfy me now rather than 6 (or 12?) Cookies. The first two weeks are by far the hardest. The three week stall is hard too. But after that, I hope it is as smooth for you as it's been for me.

I just got there too, and am also about halfway. Congratulations! It's a great feeling, isn't it? Keep up the good work and remind yourself we don't ever need to go back!

When you don't worry about someone else parking too close to you in the parking lot for you to get into your car.

Thanks all for the wonderful posts!

Surgery date 7/2/14, HW 282, SW 265, today 199! Progress has been slower than many of you but steady. I'm totally thrilled but my family and friends don't get it, so I'm thankful for this forum. Random list of things I can do now that I couldn't do before: - get on an airplane without worrying about the seatbelt or angry co-passengers - park in a tight space and still get out of my car - jump - dance in public - know that I can stop eating when I'm full Looking for comments to help me Celebrate since I can't celebrate with food!

I'm a little over 4 months out. Things are mostly ok, nutrition is fine, numbers are good, but I burp all the time. Worse when I eat too fast, but happens almost anytime I eat anything. I don't drink any soda or use straws or anything obvious like that. It's not like huge burps, just more of a low-level thing. Most of the time I can keep it silent (although around my family I tend to let it rip). Has anyone had this? Does it ever go away? Does it mean something is wrong with my sleeve? Thanks!

I was sleeved 7/2 (after being postponed from 6/16). Between the pre-op diet -- which was interrupted by the postponement -- and post-op, I'm down 23 lbs. For 8 days now, I haven't lost an ounce. I'm relieved that many others seem to have this same problem, but I'm frustrated. I've worked so hard to eat real food (it would be so easy just to go back to living on liquid protein) but it seems my body doesn't lose weight on real food! I'm eating about 800 calories a day, up from about 500 when the plateau started and people suggested I eat a bit more. I think my diet is good, mainly protein, fruits and veggies - no bread, no sweets -- but I've had a lot of trouble getting enough liquid in. Water still tastes really bad to me, but I hate the flavored waters and am very tired of Crystal Lite. Mostly drinking tea and chicken soup or chicken soup flavored protein. Although I know that ultimately the weight loss is about changing my head not my stomach, I had hoped for a longer "honeymoon" where the head game wasn't so front and center. Instead, I'm stressing about it and craving "forbidden" foods as an antidote to the frustration. Advice and encouragement welcomed.

I'm a week out from surgery, feeling better, and really, really want to eat. The protein drinks are just awful at this point and it's hard to exist on just vitamin water and tea. I did a two week liquid pre-op that ended up being closer to three weeks because of a surgery date change so I'm pretty tired of it at this point. Tips for surviving? How long did people really stay on clear liquids after the surgery?

Surgery was 7/2 and was discharged today on the 4 th. Every time I take a sip I get either bubbles back up and/ or chest pain that dissipates after a few seconds. Having lots of trouble getting my fluids in. Did anyone else have this? How long should it last? Maybe stomach sims just extremely swollen? If you had a similar experience and have tips, please write!

I was originally scheduled to have my surgery on June 16, but unfortunately it just got changed to July 3. I was already more than halfway through the two-week liquid diet so I'm beyond disappointed. Now I'm supposed to go back to eating food for two weeks (although not too much of course) and then resume the liquid diet for at least a week before surgery. Much harder than just getting it over with! I'm 5'3 and -- at the moment, ie post-liquid diet -- about 270 lbs. Age 50, married, mom of a 10 year old, in case there are others similarly situated.

Unfortunately my surgery has been rescheduled for July 3. Turns out my surgeon would not operate due to a medication I was taking, even though my other doctors were fine with it. Very disappointing, as I was more than halfway through two weeks of liquid diet! Good luck to all of you and I look forward to hearing how it goes.

Thanks for writing back. I'm glad I'm not alone. My daughter also likes me "cuddly."

I'm getting sleeved in ten days and I have a ten year old daughter who is pretty upset that I'm doing this. Part of it might be because she's anxious by nature, but it also might be because she's already overweight, and may be wondering what this means for her, esp in terms of what we eat in the house and whether eating meals together will still be any fun. Would love any advice about how you handled things with your kids, esp girls in those very vulnerable tween/early teen years.