bellabill

I lost 18 pounds in the month before and 23 in the first 2 weeks after. Then NOTHING FOR ALMOST 5 MONTHS!!! ???????????? but I'm 6 pounds out and the last time I weighed I was 63 pounds down!! My doc says that some people lose a lot up front then the rest come off slow. Some people lose slow up front then the weight just falls off after a few months. Some people have said that they lost super slow up until about the 6 month mark and then it picks up greatest after that until about 18 months. It varies greatly. I'm hoping I'm one of those who doesn't have such a difficult time with stalls from now until 18 months.

Wow, I feel so bad for this horrible ordeal you and your wife have to go through. I would be mad as hell about this missed opportunity of treatments that should have gotten in the first place. Praying for you and wife! ????

I think my pet peeve is when people say, "oh your husband must be so happy now." News flash people... My husband has been happy and loved me fat, thin, young and older. Why do people think your spouse is miserable if you are fat. That is my pet peeve.

My best friend not being able to handle my losing weight and distancing herself. I don't think the friendship will survive it and I realize I am okay with that????. I choose to get healthy and have no regrets.

@@Babbs I just say nope I can't drink it...that gives them something to ponder.

Most all gastric surgeries are done laparoscopically. Robotic is also laparoscopic but the only difference the surgeon works with computer with robotic attachments using lap instruments. I hope this helps. I am an senior instrument tech with 30 years of experience and seen how this works in the OR.

Most all gastric surgeries are done laparoscopically. Robotic is also laparoscopic but the only difference the surgeon works with computer with robotic attachments using lap instruments. I hope this helps. I am an senior instrument tech with 30 years of experience and seen how this works in the OR.

You look fantastic! You are in my height weight range and thanks for inspiring me. I think surgery is going to be around late Nov. or Dec. I hope to have the same turn out as you

I was the one said that when I sneezed I pee. Well, things are so much better now. I guess the weight off my bladder makes a difference. I don't get up as much either through the night. ????
I was the one said that when I sneezed I pee. Well, things are so much better now. I guess the weight off my bladder makes a difference. I don't get up as much either through the night. ????

My knees need to be replaced and I got tired trying to lose weight on my own so when I heard about the sleeve it was a GO!

I was basically a functional alcoholic before my WLS. I drank every day for years. I used both food and alcohol as coping mechanisms. I drank with friends. I drank alone. Part of the problem was my tolerance. I could out drink a football team and barely felt drunk.
I stopped drinking alcohol cold turkey the day I started my preop diet. It was simply part of what was required to be mentally committed to WLS. Postop I had my first drink of wine at a birthday party about 4 months out. Once In maintenance I've had a few cocktails 2-3 times/month. I was looking forward to being a cheap drunk, but alas, alcohol does not affect me any differently. At this point the thousands of calories in alcohol I used to drink just aren't worth the mini buzz I get. Having a drink now is more or less the same as the occasional desert or carby meal that I indulge in.
So despite some horrible losses and the emotional trainwreck that is my life at this point, I am still choosing not to use food or alcohol for comfort. For me these choices are just part of the lifelong commitment that I made when I decided to have WLS.

I myself rarely drink maybe 2 in 8 months. Not because it bothers me but because I like girly drinks and they are FULL of stinking sugar!

Mine allowed coffee on discharge from the hospital. I have had no issues.
Since there are such widely divergent perspectives on the subject, you need to follow the directions you get from YOUR doctor and nutritionist.

I was allowed coffee at 3 weeks, I have two cups per day. Everyday!

The texture is definitely love it or hate it. Kind of like a tootsie roll in my opinion

You will get out of that funky feeling. You'll see....Hang in there!

You will get out of that funky feeling. You'll see....Hang in there!

My husband is the one that gets noticed all the time. He is very good looking and nice body build 6 ft tall. Now, I can't wait to have that moment Cowgirl Jane had. I am not jealous of him at all but it's always the girls that I don't trust. We are 50 years old and I do feel blessed to have him not for his looks but great funny personality. Sometimes I wonder why he likes me......

I thought laser will do a better job permanently destroying hair. It's so annoying to have to shave.

1. Follow your plan 98% of the time.
2. Move. You don't have to be a marathon runner, but find something you like to do and stick with it. But also understand that weight loss comes mostly with diet and not exercise. But you want a healthy heart, too.
3. Be patient, persistent, and resilient. It's not going to fall off of you. You will have a few gains. You will stall. Weight loss will slow down a little as time goes by. If you are doing what you need to do (See number 1), it's just normal stuff we all go through.
4.Learn as much as you can from books, WLS forums, blogs, Youtube vlogs, etc...LISTEN to the veterans on these forums! They know what they are talking about! I couldn't have done this without them!
5. Enjoy your new life!

To the OP's issue -- finding new goals that interest and motivate us -- and to the other issue mentioned above about the seduction of continuing to lose weight, either out of habit or obsession ....
Yes. Uh-huh. Me, too. Amen!
I'm now 4 pounds below goal. And trying hard (at least some of the time) to stop losing weight. My avowed new goals are similar to others' -- reduce my body fat / increase my lean body mass, get stronger, faster, leaner (but not lighter), etc.
The pattern that I'm following now (may have to shake this up) is to eat 1,400 calories during the week (with equal calories from Protein, carbs and fats) and then eat 1,700-2,000 on the weekends.
I'm still using MFP to plan and track all my menus / food intake. I expect to do that most of the time to not let this "get away from me." My nutritionist and exercise consultant and I think that my maintenance calories will be around 1,600 - 1,700 at my current exercise levels. We shall see what happens.
On the regain issues ... my shrink works with a number of bariatric patients and has seen many people go through this process. Back in January (over four months ago) I asked him, "What issues do you see patients struggling with who regain weight? And by that I don't mean that they're eating too much. I'm really asking what's going on inside them that leads them to regain?"
After thinking a moment, he said: "What I mostly see is that they're struggling to find new reasons and new motivations to focus on their weight and fitness.
"After they hit their goal weights, many of the rewards they got while losing weight go away. They're no longer motivated by seeing the scale move down. After a while, their family and friends get used to what they look like and stop commenting on their weight loss or weight. Even people who were their strongest supporters during the weight loss phase no longer offer supportive comments. And when this positive reinforcement disappears, that has a negative effect on the patients.
"So then they must find new goals and new motivations to maintain their weight and to be fit. And for some folks that's not easy."
So that's one shrink's brief observations about the cause of WLS patients' weight regain. Maybe that will ring some bells for other readers.

I was at a sales dinner last night. I sat next to a very nice woman, who happens to be very, very, trim. In addition to cheese and crackers, plus at least one glass of wine pre-dinner, then two glasses with dinner, she ate the (large) starter salad, cleaned her plate (8-10oz sirloin, asparagas, and onions), plus two rolls with butter. Then dessert, tiramisu with coffee. If that is eating like a thin person, no. I'll never be able to eat like that.
I have no idea how she normally eats, but I was suitably impressed - in an odd way.
I had some cheese and a few grapes before dinner. A few bites of salad. Did my best to estimate 4 oz of steak, and a had a few asparagas spears. I was more than done.
There was a time when I could have eaten that much food, but I would have felt like crap afterwards. I'm quite happy eating smaller meals. I still enjoy what I eat. I think that's important.

I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "eating like a skinny person" but I can explain how it works for me. I have found that dieting rules are so much simpler to follow since my band has been tight enough. I am guilty of grazing (not sure if that's a bad thing). What I love is that I can go out with friends, go to a wedding, or some other function and eat some of most of what is served including dessert. The difference is that I have only one or two spoons of some of the foods served including dessert - and don't feel like I cheated or that I did something terrible. If I see that my weight loss is slowing down more than I want I can track what I'm eating and follow a normal eating plan for me, and I will see the weight begin to move down again. To me this is the way skinny people eat. Moderation and Portion Control without feeling deprived. Good luck!

Fantastic!!

How is everyone doing so far? 2 months now! I have had some trial and errors. Sometimes I go over my 800 calorie a day...needing to tighten the reins. Managing Proteins and Water can be a challenge! I hope I am not the only one?