pumpkin07

I hate lemonade now. Love tomato and coffee (not at the same time of course) more than ever before. Not a big soda fan now, ewwww, especially orange soda. I loved pecans before, but now hooked on sunflower seeds for life. Loved corn tortillas, not so much now. Chinese food...tastes good...doesn't like to go down for some strange reason NOT satisfying to me. ALWAYS loved Soups, but now not so much. AND I HATE Protein shakes hahahaha not that I ever liked them.

This made me laugh, because I was mad I never got to see/keep the part of the stomach that was cut off to make my sleeve. It was MINE!

Congrats. It is soooo exciting isn't it. What is more exciting is you'll never see that 2 again.

awwww sounds sweet to me.

I'm 1/2 Italian - and love carbs too. But I've done fine without them. Welcome on board. I believe you could always still get the bypass if the sleeve did not work out. But I doubt you would want to...the sleeve does it job just fine. Just get a great doctor that has done at least 100 sleeves.

Stacy I thought that was a GREAT point...rid ourselves of all toxic things.......

When I read this it described my childhood a lot too. Also on a diet at that age. I was the fat cute girl, very bubbly, but quite sensitive and troubled on the inside. No one knew I guess. I think you might benefit from the book boundaries. It was such a foreign concept to me when I first learned it, and I still struggle. I was the doormat at work and with 'friends' for a long time. The worst thing I hated is that I would be a real target for nice people that were not responsible and I would mostly volunteer to help them. It was like situations where most people would see it coming but I could not see it. And later I would be in this situation that became hard to get out of. A lot of time it was people that were not accountable and they would be looking to use someone's credit or money, for example. Just real dumb stuff like co-signing on something or letting them move in with me for a while or loaning money, or hiring them in my small business even though they were not what I needed at work. I would create this stressful situation for myself, and even I began to see the pattern and realize a lot of the problem was ME. I realized I needed to stay more in control of my generosity. I read this book called Boundaries, and I started trying to see these situations coming at me. I started standing up for myself little by little, even to the point I might overdo it!! Learning to be assertively protective of ones self takes time for some of us. But I began to draw lines around a lot of people and situations. I still struggle with boundaries and walk into traps. But I'm better now. And a lot of times I see situations coming at me. Sometimes we are in relationships where our needs are not getting met. I guess it is sort of this same problem, where you are doing the giving and they are doing the taking. There is a balance of power. By losing weight, this self absorbed friend feels you getting attention instead of her, or taking some attention away from her. Sounds like she is a taker, and you the giver. If you change, she might not be motivated to be friends anymore b/c she might not be able to change. This does not sound like a friend to me. A friend would be happy if their friend lost weight, even if they were a tad jealous. I would agree this does not sound like a healthy friendship, and you may find over time that you need some distance. Right now you need support, positive feedback, and encouragement. Try to focus on friendships that provide that support back to you. This friend obviously is not that person. And btw congrats on your weight loss...this surgery, if performed well, is truly a gift to ones self.

Everyone told me measure in a 2 oz. measuring cup and take it with you. That might help. I was thinking after surgery when I ate something THICK, dense, like a potato, it was too much for my lil sleeve. I remember I about choked to death on hummus which was pretty thick. Just a thought.

As far as I know these surgeries are good and successful. There are people out there that need to hear more about it so that they will see the upside. Go for it, unless you are private about it. There is nothing wrong with doing it, as long as you are spreading the message of doing it with caution and great doctors.

Thanks guys, I was not expecting those comments at all, just thought it was a good question and reflecting how much a few lbs changed quality of life for me and my family. And btw I'm 47 years old. I do have a 3yo - and a 12 yo and they are an inspiration to me.

Lets look at it this way. What used to be hard was having sex with my husband and feeling like a walrus. What used to be hard was sitting in the middle seat of a plane and feeling like a stuffed animal trying not to breathe as to invade the people next to me. What used to be hard was going for my annual ob visit and having the doctor look disgusted by my gluttony. What used to be hard was having my pediatrician fuss hard at me for over feeding my children. What used to be hard was having to buy only clothes that kind of fit as opposed to what I liked to wear. What used to be hard was having men look at me not bc I was pretty but bc they were so unattracted to me. What used to be hard was running into people from high school that knew me at half the weight. What used to be hard is having my kids and husband mimick my snores and sleep noises as my body struggled to get air. What used to be hard was having to wait to wake up in the morning to see how much energy I had that day, so I could see whether I'd have any mental/physical ability to be productive or not. What used to be hard was knowing my life expectancy was short and praying I could live as long as my kids might need me around. And what was hardest, for me, was having no self control to change things to make it better for me and my family. To escape the rut. Flash forward to last night my husband was making love to me while telling me he felt like he had a new girlfriend. Flash forward to every morning as I wake up I feeling my old friends...my solid high school hip bones that were long ago forgotten but now rediscovered. Flash forward to flyng on a plane in July and realizing the airlines had finally made more room in the seats, and my belt now had inches to spare. Flash forward to now I do not allow my sons to overindulge as much on sugar, sodas, flour and we work out as a family at home. Flash forward to a few months after surgery my 3yo became frantic in the darkness of night bc he felt he "lost his family"...he could not find our bed bc he couldn't hear me snoring anymore to direct him where to go. Flash forward to EVERY DAY I now have the energy I need to do what I need to do and my businesses are more successful as a result. Flash forward to realizing I can live plenty of years now bc my health risks are all but gone, and my husband won't have to search for a new wife/mother of our children because Mommy passed away from overeating. This surgery simply, because it is simple if done well, saved my life. I would not change a thing.

And think about complications. If you have a complication, you will likely be in your home town. What great doctor do you think will see you? If you have a complication, do you have good insurance here? If so, then I would suggest finding a great, not good, doctor here in the states. I have insurance that does not cover complications. I paid a doctor here, but then afterwards met people that had complications. I met several of them sitting in the doctor's office. But who will take you/treat you if they did not do their surgery? It is harder than you think to get a bariatric surgeon to take you after the fact. For liability reasons for one thing, for their stats, etc. For this reason alone, if it were me I would find the BEST bariatric surgeon near you, the very very best by checking him out in many of the ways you are checking out Dr. Alvarez. If you have the best bariatric surgeon near you, then you have less chance of a leak in the first place. But at least if you do have a complication you will be near your doctor, most likely, when you have it. You can get good treatment immediately by a good doctor close to your home. Imagine having a leak or complication and getting bad treatment just because you do not have access to the best bariatric surgeon in your area? This happened to a friend of ours here. I know everyone loves Dr. Aceves, and he is obviously great great great. But he is not near your home town. I was not in this site prior to surgery, at least not before I picked my doctor. If I was I might have felt very swayed towards Mexico. Otherwise honestly I wouldn't have known about it at all. But I'm not sure I would have made that decision understanding that if I have a complication HERE who will be willing to treat me? I would be at the mercy of doctors that I did not pay to do my surgery, doctors that are not liable to me in any way. And most of them for their own reasons, say no. Perhaps we should support oulr great doctors here in our country. It is a bit more expensive to do so, but in the end I feel you will be more connected in case you have an emergency. It is important if you do have a leak to be diagnosed quickly and to get the appropriate treatment immediately. You won't have time to find the best doctor near your home if you have a complication. You need to already have that connection. I am sure others will disagree, and in a best case scenario it works to go to a great doctor in Mexico. But complications can arise that can kill you without appropriate medical care. Support America.

It does seem odd, doesn't it. I can tell you I had surgery 2 days before you and I'm slowly still losing. Usually 5 lb a month, which is slow. But I'm not exercising much. I cheat some, pretty much eat like I always did except less and less spicey/less fried, etc. just like you. Recently I ate the greatest bowl of black Beans with ham and weiners in it, and onion and tomato and a touch of jalapeno. OMG it was so awesome. And after I ate it I realized I was full. And I realized I had eaten no bread with it or drank anything. So I took my little bowl and poured Water to the fill line of where the beans were and I measured the water. It was 6 oz, maybe slightly less. I was very full and shocked I could eat that much. If I could eat more than this, hmmm, I don't know if I'd be losing weight. Maybe you need to really see how many ounces you are getting down to know if you have a size issue. That would be a total shame I know. But still better to know. Other than that, maybe get a second opinion from a great doctor.

Thanks for the pep talk.. You did a great job, and I am so happy for you. I guess we all miss eating more at times, but I know I got the restriction knowing that I obviously needed it. It is amazing how we adapt to it. You are doing a great thing for yourself. Hoorah!

I am soooo happy for you. You are a normal weight. Wow. Normal. Such a cool word.

Wow, I too am so sorry. I think that you should still Celebrate the 100 lbs, and if this surgery didn't do the whole enchilada for you then if you don't mind a little more saggy skin then don't give up.y You have lost a TON of weight. So this surgery IS a success for you. Perhaps try your darndest to eat Protein first, measure carbs, limit sugar grams. Be your own best friend. And then leave at that until you are ready to think about another surgery with an excellent surgery. As you know, the sleeve may not be enough for every person. But there are more options for you out there. Don't be scared to come here. We just might not have all the answers.

BJean I am with you. I drink Kool Aid with sugar, very diluted. Also Iced Tea with agave or sometimes a little sugar. I am not losing weight really fast, but gosh, I guess fast enough. I also have an aversion to chemical sweeteners of any kind and frankly will rarely drink them/eat them. It makes no sense to me. I know sugar is unwanted calories, but I just really try hard to minimize it. I like a little flavor in my drink. But I will try to arrowhead Water. I don't really have any issues with drinks though. I have done this since the beginning with the kool aid. Usually it is 1 of those little packets each day.

I know, I know. I have good hair too. But some encouragement here. Mine starting shedding at 4 mos after surgery. And it shed, and shed. My hairdresser and I met at about 5.5 mos and she said it looked like I had lost 20% of hair. I have one baldish spot where a receding hairline would start on the left. But she said absolutely I have little hairs popping up all over my head and my baldish spot is covered in little hairs already. My hairdresser swears it will come back. I think now it has stopped falling out. She swears it is b/c of surgery in general. I am terrible with my Vitamins and don't do Biotin. And it is STILL coming back. Hang in there. I don't notice mine anymore.

Great for you!!! I cannot believe how fast you have lost!! WOO HOO!!!!

Wow Donna. What a simple answer! I agree, and also looked at happiness over time. I found so many happy sleevesters. I also found some sicklier bypass friends. I was self pay, 47 years old, and about 220 lbs. And short. Hypothyroid. Doctor said definitely he'd recommend the sleeve b/c he found that people in my age group/weight range had plenty of success with the sleeve and a high satisfaction from the procedure. He felt the bypass would be too much for me - more than what was needed. I agreed. Another friend of mine, heavier by about 80 lbs (but taller) - she is a little older. Maybe 10 years I'm not certain. And her doctor, who is a great doctor here in Houston, really recommended the bypass for her. I wasn't sure why he did that, but wondered if it is because her insurance wouldn't cover the sleeve, because it wouldn't. She questioned it a lot, and he basically told her she'd be fine with the bypass. Her family doctor agreed. And she has been fine so far about 3 mos out. But years out a lot of bypass patients do have problems absorbing the right nutrients. I saw a lot of evidence of it on line. Maybe get some doctors opinions and check with your insurance. But if you are self pay, shoot, I'd definitely go for the sleeve. It is simpler even though it is risky. But with either surgery the doctor, which doctor, is paramount. These are all very dangerous procedures. You can post the doctor's name and people will give you feedback. Find someone great. If you come to Houston I can give you referrals - I know you are in Texas but not sure where that town is. But if you look around on this site you'll find out who the preferred doctors are.

I wish I had a pic. My doctor does a single incision surgery at the belly button and it looks pretty good. He did slice outside of belly button about an inch on each side. I gave permission to do a little knick cut next to the sleeve b/c it helps if they put their camera in there. It looks like nothing. So I'm all for not having the 5 cuts if not needed.

I went on vacation for a week with no scale. I thought of packing it, but on a plane? OK no I'm not that obsessed. So I lived without the scale for a week. It was a relief to me. Thinking now the scale needs to go on vacation. Lost a lb that week though - which was a success considering how much we ate out.

I have a 34, but wanted a 40. It seems fine though. I think the truth is most doctors have also done their research and are quite opinionated. My doctor was, and he said he only does a 32 or 34 b/c that is what research shows the most satisfaction with over time. My friend's doctor did a 40, but says it winds up smaller b/c of the way he sews it - as someone mentioned earlier. Let your surgeon convince you of why he does the size he does - and see if it makes sense to you. I don't think, from what I've heard, that many doctors let the patient decide. I told my doctor I was concerned about getting too thin and so he did the larger of the two and that is as far as he would go.

I am glad you feel better. I have to say my emotions were all over the place - too many to describe. But it levels out eventually...it took me a few months to feel totally myself again. But it gets better each day, week, month. Hang in there.

I have some bad days too. I realize my eating habits have changed in some ways for the good, because I eat more lean Protein and less bread than ever. Less cokes. But I'm not eating enough fruits and veggies and I'm eating too many Snacks which has ALWAYS been a problem...chips, crackers w/PB, stuff like that. Not drinking enough Water. Still too much sugar in my diet, although it is less. Darn! It is slowing down my weight loss, but I'm just being patient with myself. I'm still adjusting. LIke you said, calorie wise I'm fine, but to be truly healthy I still have more work to do. One day I got really uptight and nervous and tried to eat a lot. I felt so sick. It was beef Jerky mostly and then some shrimp. But it was too much. I finally threw up. It was nervous eating, which is so obvious now when it happens. But I still try. I hate the feeling of overeating now, but I guess it will take me a while to not have that tendency. I'm definitely a person that overeats when I have anxiety.