Suzzann

Hi all. The Facebook group we had started still goes on. I think most of us slowed down to a crawl or stopped losing by February. I know my body kept changing for awhile but I haven't lost any weight in awhile. My doc wasn't all about suddenly becoming a perfect eater or someone who magically started working out. He fixed portion size. I certainly can eat double what I used to but it's much easier to control if I go crazy. If you are gaining track your calories and find out where they are going. It's impossible for me to eat a big dinner but Snacks and candy go down easy. Lol. So if I stick with meat it's simple to not eat much. If I have a bad day and I'm up a pound I just back off the snacking the next day and it goes back down. There is no "hunger" like before so it's more of a head thing on wanting to eat. The sleeve helps when I want to eat a cookie or a piece of cake- I eat one cookie not the bag, and half a piece of cake or something and can't really stomach more. I love the sleeve. I'd do it again in a minute! I'm down 115.

Hi everyone,
Wow kudos and thanks to all you hardcore peeps keeping this board going. I can relate with so much of what you have shared! I sure wasn't checking in and it's no wonder I fell off the wagon hard. I became pregnant in feb and lost it at 7 weeks so for two months I ate with reckless abandoned and blamed hormones. Afterwards I ate with reckless abandoned and blamed grief and hormones. I had gotten down to 213, but then through this had gained to 232, which is crazy to think can happen in just a short 3 months even with the sleeve. Today, I'm now on the fourth day of <50 carbs, back to basics and coming in at 222.
May is coming and I'm feeling sad I've "wasted" so many months of my "easy losing time" and I'm way below what I would have hoped for for expected loss. But I can only control what I do today and so that will just have to be enough.
At least I've stopped losing my hair, and I have like 1" sprigs pointing out on my part in all directions from it coming back.

I'll be a year out tomorrow! Still stalled at 152, but I have a lot of energy and trying to do the 5/2 diet to get to goal! 30 lbs to go and it's seems impossible... Wish me luck! Congrats to everyone who has reached goal wait, I'm so jealous

I will be one year out as of May 6th!! What a crazy year it's been! I am down from 231 to 147 (need to change my ticker). This is the first time I have been below 150 since I was 14 years old. I currently wear anywhere from a size 6-10. I still somehow believe that I look the same, and am surprised when people tell me I look like a different person. Sometimes I put on clothes that used to be tight on me, as though to prove to myself that I am actually that much smaller... Crazy how the mind tricks you!

As of today, May 4, I'm down 90 pounds from 270 to 180. I'm 5'9" and tend to weigh more than I look so the numbers don't bother me even though I haven't hit my goal weight of 160, which was an arbitrary number. I wear size 10 now and look good even though a size 8 was my original goal. My diet is great, fairly low-carb, no breads or Pasta, rice, Bagels, cereals, chips or crackers, etc. Not as hard to do as I thought it would be. I was exercising regularly but then tore the labrum muscle in my right shoulder so had to temporarily stop yoga and weight training for several weeks while it heals. I need to run more, especially since I'm signed up for a 5k at Disneyland in Sept. but I'm not as motivated as I should be. This summer I'll be swimming more, snorkeling, go back to yoga and weight training and starting tennis again.
Overall, I'm doing great and my sleeve is the best thing I did for myself. I look better, move easier, feel great and I can continue to build on my success by exercising more and toning up some of these flabby bits. Didn't expect the arms to flap so I may some day sign up for arm surgery. I can handle the rest.
It's great to stay in touch and I wish you all much success and delicious Protein shakes!

I was sleeved 5/6/14. 5'4"- Pre-op weight #221; current weight #127. No more BP meds!!
I take Centrum Vitamin for women twice per day, Oscal w/Vitamin D twice per day, Biotin in the AM.
For food- I focus on Protein, then veggies, then fruit if room. I eat very minimal carbs. I love the Think Thin Protein Bars, and Quest bars. Haven't had Protein shakes in awhile- my nut wants most Protein (65/day) to come from "real food." I drink 16 oz of Water at least 4x a day. I walk the dogs 3-4 miles 3x per week. My summer goal is to start going back for weight lifting and swimming at the gym at least 2x per week. I work 8a-4:30p M-F, so I think I'll start going on my way home from work?
I'm starting to hear the "you look amazing, but getting too skinny" comments. My nut says I'm right where I should be. If I drop below #125, then we will add more calories.
All in all, I think this surgery was the best thing I could have done for myself ????. No more size 16- I'm buying 2-4 now! I'm considering an arm (loose skin) and thigh lift (wrinkled inner thighs & no tush), but haven't decided yet. Has anyone else decided on plastics?
It's so nice to be able to hear from others who had surgery the same month!

I can't believe it's almost a year as well. Those first few weeks were difficult, and it continues to be a bit of a struggle for me, but I feel great, I can do so much more now! No regrets! Boy has the time flown by

May 27th 107lbs

You have identified the problem. You are under stress and have fallen back into the habit of using food to self soothe. Now it's time to take yourself in hand and find other outlets for your stress. Some suggestions: exercise, call your bestie and have a long talk, drink chamomile tea, soak in a bubble bath, read a chick lit novel, sex.

My answer to something like this?
"Cool!" and walk away.
or if you really want to poke 'em...
"You know, as I consulted my doctor, my therapist, my NP, the surgeon, my nutritionist, something was nagging at me and I finally figured out what it was... YOUR opinion. That's exactly what I was waiting for. So thank you."

Or kick 'em in the junk.
Your choice.

Well I just threw up in a trash can in my office during a conference call because I ate something that my sleeve didn't approve of so yeah, super easy. Your post is exactly why I didn't tell a single soul at work. People can be dense sometimes.

I don't know how he found out, I really hadn't told many people at work, but I guess people talk. Anyway, it came up in conversation, and he started questioning my motivation, saying that didn't I worry that I was taking that easy way out. That if I just worked hard and stayed disciplined, I could do it all on my own. He made it sound so simple. I could tell he thought he was being positive, but he was being condescending, something he has a reputation for doing.
First of all, it's not so simple. I am well over 200+ lbs over. I have gone past the point of no return. And while I make no excuses for how I got this way, I know it's all on me, and I haven't made the best choices in my past. But I'm at the point where medical intervention is required, and my doctor wholeheartedly agrees (I love her by the way!). And I'm going to do this like I do everything in my life. To the best of my abilities. Despite his opinion, I know this will most certainly not be easy. In fact, I want to it to be hard. It will make it that much more worth it once I reach my goal.
And second. This is life and death, I'm in my mid 30s now, and the clock is ticking. If I keep going on this path, I will not have much time left on this planet. I am not concerned with preserving my honor in his eyes. I have family and friends who are all united in their support of me on this. And he's just some guy we hired last year to do . . .I really don't know what he does.
So for those that say, we're cheating, or taking the easy way out. Kindly direct them to engage in intercourse with themselves. Rant over.

I think that's called the slimes? I've never experienced it but others on this board have.
I too need to breakup with Quest bars.... Great source of Protein , but not to have all the time
I had a month where I didn't drop weight... I didn't gain, but in this game not losing feels like gaining because our " honeymoon " period is almost over! I started slipping back into bad habits ... I went back and looked at my pre surgery pics ..129 pounds ago, and that gave me the kick in the ass I really needed again
We all got the way we were because of crap in our heads... We need to continue working on that stuff every day to be successful... It will always be a struggle for me !

I wish my mouth and my tummy liked the same things. Most of the time they agree but this afternoon.....

Thank god for my nutri bullet shakes are super smooth I'm on Bariatric Advantage strawberry flavor. I'm hanging in there telling myself this isn't forever I will eat again.

I wish I had gotten an immersion blender before I started the pre-diet. It sure make whipping up a Protein shake fast and lump free with minimum cleanup.
Good luck! You can do it!

I love Quest bars to much sigh

That's my tip: journaling your food intake. It has been key for me. It has educated me about what I've been eating and also influenced my food choices. (I don't want everyone to know how foolish I can be, so I am more likely to pass on treats or extra Snacks.) And of course, part of journaling is weighing/measuring food so that your food journal is accurate.
Now that I weigh less than I ever have as an adult, my appetite has increased quite a bit. I think my body wants to go back to its former 244 pounds! So when I feel munch-y, I have been finding things to distract myself, or I'll allow myself Snacks that don't have too much impact on my daily totals. This will be my battle ground for a while, I think.

I follow the rules you described above.
About 95% of the time.
I'm a roaring success!

Oh Niquee. That is more than a bit unsettling! You are going to have to keep us informed!

I recently passed my final goal weight (122 lbs) and want to hear how my fellow May 2014 sleevers are doing. I hope everyone of us has had a positive 9 months post surgery.
I am also interested in maintenance stories.

They do Cool Sculpting (http://www.coolsculpting.com) around here which looks to be similar. The lady at the spa place thinks highly of it but I know she is biased. I have really not considered any of those body things at this time but I been thinking more about my face. Losing the weight is making a few of my smile lines (I don't have wrinkles!) a bit more prominent.

About gone here too. =) Other parts are also disappearing. Seems like I need a smaller bra every other month too.

Hmmm... it's all about jealosy.... Wait till the weight starts coming down ... then you'll REALLY see it then. I have family members as well as coworkers treating me very differently too. I shrug it off. You just go about your happy self with this tremendous decision that will change your life -- for the better and not mind the opinion of others my dear. I choose to IGNORE those who either used sarcasm or negativity towards my WLS and I am just too happy to deal with that.

There are some foods that my tummy just does not care for and too much of a bad thing (**think cookie**) really makes my tummy fuss. And when did my tummy get such a voice?