antigone40

About an hour before bed make yourself the biggest hot tea ever. Like 20 oz. fruit flavors make it feel like dessert, blueberry is my favorite. Drink it and it will fill your tummy and get rid of hunger pangs and the warmth helps make you sleepy. This trick got me through a 4 week pre-op diet.

@@Bubba's Mom Hi! I think we as mothers spend so much of our lives catering to our children and families that we keep ourselves On the bottom of the totem pole which for some of us has contributed to our weight issues. I know as a mother you want your daughters approval, you love her but this is your time. This is about your health and your Quality of life. Sometimes you have to do what's best for YOU. I think we have pretty much all thought the same things "I can do this myself" "I just didn't work hard enough, this time I will" trust me I thought the same thing but I finally got sick of the roller coaster of constant ups and downs with my weight so I decided to get off that ride. I think anyone would tell you this surgery is not a fix all. You will still have to put the work in and eat right, exercise ect...but this tool will help you to lose the weight if you work with it and allow it to work for you. If you look at the big picture what are the chances you will succeed on your own without it? I'm defiantly not saying you couldn't but do you want to try all over again or Are you ready to make a change? Only you know what's right for you in your heart. There's nothing wrong with backing out and there's Nothing wrong with following through. It's a life changer and its your decision to make just make sure you are making the decision for YOU

What a thoughtful mother you are!
That being said if you really find it necessary to get her on board I would tell her that you spoke to your doctor and he/she recommended this for you given your documented failed attempts in the past to lose weight and keep it off. That yoyo dieting had hurt your health and then send her a link to one of those online seminars. I'm pretty sure NYUs program in NYC has an online seminar.
In the end it is your decision and she sounds like she is just very scared. There will be naysayers during this process. That is just noise. Don't let it keep you back. Good luck!

@@kaitieb
welcome, welcome, welcome to sleeveland
glad you found our little group
you are having surgery on my b'day
i will be 61 years young on January 12
side note to my fellow WLS people
i will be accepting b'day gifts and cards starting in January
i know how you feel about being the middle child with the other 2 being normal weight
I am the 2nd oldest of 5 kids
they were ALL lovely, normal (or thinner weight)
I was frequently "reminded" of this with different stares and comments
you have a couple of months before your sleeve
continue to read these boards
research about the sleeve
go on the internet and explore bariatric surgery
go to U-tube, you'll see many videos with peoples experiences
here are some weight loss "rules" you will be following for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life
try and practice doing them now
get used to a few things
below are just a few of the many things you must learn Post surgery
drink 64 oz of Water a day
stop drinking about 30 minutes before you eat
never, ever, ever drink while you are eating
don't drink for about 45-60 minutes after you eat
take teeny, tiny, tiny bites
chew thoroughly into little pieces
put fork down and start again
always measure your food
keep records/diary on a board for tracking your intake
many people used MFP - my fitness pal
my history is pretty basic
around the age of 13 i started to gain weight, up, up and away
yo yo dieted all my adult life
i would loose the weight, regain +
could never maintain
i had physical problems stemming from my weight
diabetes/insulin - high blood pressure - CPAP - and many meds - back problems
PO i quicly lost the diabetes meds, CPAP and blood pressure meds etc
i am at a great place now
healthier and happier i've EVER been
kathy
good luck

Like many I have always had a weight problem. Chubby kid, that grew into a chubby teen and eventually turned into a morbidly obese adult. The one thing different is I always thought I was cute. I was't ashamed of my curves and had an active and happy social life. However in my 40's things started to change. I got uterine cancer and was told that excess weight could put me in a line for a recurrence. I would diet on and off, losing and gaining 30 - 50 lbs each time. I was a frequent exercisers but slowly things like walking became more of a challenge. At 45 I had a wake up call. I got a severe bout of facial shingles that completely knocked me on my butt. I promised then and there to do better for myself. I joined a gym, began working out and once again lost 35lbs. Then I got sick again and regained it all plus 10 more. I have multiple allergies and between that and the after effects of older illnesses, I was on a cycle of get better, get sick, regain. A friend of mind had GPS and did really well. I decided to investigate for myself. I looked at 2 local hospitals programs, gathered my information and decided between the GPS and the sleeve. I decided the sleeve was for me and went with my friend's doctor. My process couldn't have been easier. They provided me with a binder that listed all the testing I needed to have done.The doctor sent in the request for authorization to my insurance company ( I was approved on the first request). I didn't have to lose any weight pre-surgery. They quite literally walked me through the whole process. I had a vena cava filter placed as a precaution and on 09/18/14 I had the gastric sleeve done laproscopically. Hospital course was a breeze. I was walking in recovery. In fact I had to pee and they asked if I wanted a bedpan or could I walk. I opted to walk. I had to go so bad, I practically ran into the bathroom and the nurses laughed. I was in the hospital for 2 days. Only mild pain, no worse than a bad cramp and not gas pains at all. They arranged a visiting nurse since I live alone. She discharged me after my 2 week follow up since I was doing so well.
I am 6 weeks post op. I'll be having my vena cava filter removed as soon as possible. So far I'm down 32lbs and feeling great. My biggest challenges are being a vegetarian with food allergies on an already limited diet, but I am making it work! Best decision I ever made. In fact, I wish I had done this sooner.

Hi Risky Girl,
I'm very new here also, but have been doing a lot of reading recently - have not had surgery yet. My surgeon recommended the gastric sleeve to me. He said he would not recommend the lap band, as he has had to take more out lately than he would like. It seems that even those with lots of extra weight do get the lap band and have great luck though. My thoughts were: 1) Go with what the surgeon recommended 2) I didn't really want the maintenance of a lap band (going in for fills) 3) I wanted a reduced risk of dumping syndrome which I think is more common with the lap band? 4) I wanted to aim for a longer term solution than the lap band might offer 5) I did not like the idea of re-routing my small intestine - just personally seemed too much fiddling around with my insides! 6) A guy at work just had the gastric sleeve and he is thrilled with the results.....Those are just some of the reasons, but I'm sure you'll find many more as you read.
Best,
Janet

I chose the RNY bypass because I was diabetic, had high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. I also had over 100 pounds to lose to get to a normal BMI. I am 8 months post-op and have lost 105 pounds with 5 more to go. No complications and I can eat everything I want in just much smaller amounts. I do try to eat healthy and exercise every day. Life is good. No regrets!

My primary physician referred me to the bariatric clinic when I asked if I might be a good candidate for a lap band. My older sister had a gastric bypass years ago and had complications with an abdominal infection. What surprised me was that there was a third option called vertical sleeve gastrectomy, which I had never heard of. I liked the idea that there was no re-routing of my intestines, and no abdominal port like with the band.
So, I took the option of the sleeve and do not regret it. I am over halfway to goal and feel better because my spine (which was collapsing under my weight) does not have to bear such a burden. My internal systems are much happier with my healthy Protein - rich diet. I have been dropped from two medications related to pre-diabetes. I am very happy with my decision and would do it again.

Hi, I am still thinking of which surgery to choose. It would help me a lot to here from you all your choice and your reasons for that choice. I want to know all the factors that are or were involved in your choice of surgery. Also if you already had the surgery I'd like to here how you are living since you had the surgery. THANK YOU!!

I bought a pair of size 12 jeans at a consignment store recently waiting for the day I could fit in them. Today was finally my day! This is the first time since 1989 that I've been in a size 12, and these aren't acid washed!

I'm trying my hardest to quit. Much easier said then done. I've told my dr I quit months ago and haven't been asked about it since. Anyone have any ideas as to what might help or has anyone continued smoking right up to the surgery? Once I'm all done with the surgery (if I'm approved by my insurance) I plan not ever looking back. It's just very hard right now.