pumpkin07

Hi there. I was on here a whole lot my first year after sleeve. I was so incredibly scared after my surgery. I really felt I had ruined my life or at least I worried I had. I realized I had done something without really understanding how serious of a decision it was to take out such a huge part of my stomach. I was in a total panic. But day by day I made it through. My hair fell out somewhat, and I felt weak for quite a long time. Finally in the second year I got my strength back. And my hair back. It is curlier which is so awesome. I am 5'1" and I weigh 150. That is 70 lbs less than before. I did not exercise at all before surgery or for almost the whole 2 years, but now I started reformer pilates at a small studio and I bought a kettle bell and I'm planning to start my cardio DVD soon. I have been going regularly to pilates for almost a month, and this is something I'm proud of. I might be firm one day! I am finally trying. I don't want surgery, honestly. I'm okay. I wear a size 8-10, mostly 8. I haven't really regained. I was the most stubborn person on Vitamins, but now I'm good at it. I think. I settled in happily with Iron with C (Celebrate brand); CAPSULE Multis for the Sleeve (Celebrate); and quite a bit of Vitamin D. I have not been good at Calcium but I'm checking my bone density soon. I did discover some underlying heart conditions I was not aware of. I had developed consistently high cholesterol before surgery, and it did not go down. That is genetic apparently. Everything else went down, but we have a cholesterol issue in my family. It is the small particles that are my problem, long story. But basically I now am going on statin drug. I also have a valve problem and a right bundle block problem. I kind of think this was all before surgery. My surgeon didn't require an EKG. I had symptoms of problems before surgery. I do not think I am the only person with underlying heart problems discovered after weight loss surgery. They are going to ultrasound my heart in 3 mos so I'll find out more. But I don't think it is urgent and I don't think it was caused by this surgery unless it had something to do with no taking vitamins for a while (?). I am MUCH cuter,my husband still loves me and I sometimes have to pry him off of me. At first it caused some jealousy, etc on his part and perhaps an EGO problem on my part (it was fun to be looked at) but we have both settled in. My libido was down a long time after surgery, but getting better now. I was also chonically consipated after surgery, but now it is so much better. It took a long time though to get better. I have struggled more than others with vitamins and bloodwork being a problem. I hope it is getting better. It was probably my own doing, very stubborn I am. Take your vitamins!! I take mine now faithfully. I still love food, maybe more. I am a better cook now strangety enough. I also don't stuf my family as much anymore with bad stuff. The only real problem I know of that I have is frequent heart burn/acid. Prilosec is my friend. I try to only take it when I must, bc who knows long term problems from that (I have no idea if it is a problem or not) so I try to take half of one and that is usually great. I don't recommend or not recommend this surgery. The only thing I'd do different is keep it more of a secret. Everyone thinks you took the easy way out. I thought by being up front it would help others who had the same problem, but pretty much it didn't matter too much. My brother did get sleeved, so that is good. He has done fine also as far as I know. But it would be more fun to have kept it a secret in my opinion.

Well, it definitely gets easier to fall into bad habits over time. I fall in and out of them, but at least it is a tool to manage your weight. Part of the health issue is simply weight. Supplements for me are best taken at night, because they don't seem to give me any problems then. Beverages, well I can't get much water down but do pretty well with iced tea and so I do that or my koolaid. Few cokes, some coffee which I LOVE now but dehydrates me terribly if I drink too much. I don't exercise although I know I will start sometime. When I walk I lose a few extra lbs. I take my thyroid in the morning and my vitamins at night. I know it isn't enough vitamins, but seems to help. I do the best I can. That is all we can do is find what does work. We are food addicts for the most part, we love food and we are not going to be perfect. You sound a bit compulsive like perfectionist vs. falling off the wagon. Extremes. No forgiveness, no grace. Enjoyment? I am imperfect, but grace is extended if I am at least managing my weight. The best advice I ever got is protein first, then veggies, then carbs. But I do eat candy more than I did before, like Hot Tamales and also I eat a lot of Sunflower Seeds. I could be better, but I know I'm just me. I've ALWAYS liked candy. Not chocolate just sugary stuff. But whatever, I just try not to buy it and that helps sometimes but not others. Lighten up on yourself, you are doing fine. Don't sweat every little thing you do. ENJOY YOUR LIFE!!!

With me, year and a half out or so...the physical exercise helps when I am very busy and I'll lose down to my lowest weight which is 145. But as soon as I stop exercising I put it back on. With snacking I can creep up to 149 or 150 but then if I cut carbs more I lose back to 148 which is more my standard weight. My problem, I know, is my metabolism which has adjusted to my lower weight. I am normally fairly inactive. But mostly even on a bad day I'm not eating a TON of calories, but I guess if I'm not moving so it still tries to store extra weight especially if it was snacks/carbs. But so far it is scarey, but manageable. Usually if I'm busy my weight is lower than if I'm at home with nothing to do but eat. And usually I'm pretty busy so that works for me. The hard part is when you are like stressed and wanting to junk out and you just can't consume the volume. The ultimate irony I guess. Trying to self destruct and yet can't fit the food IN (thank goodness). Or if I go between meals too long and I'm sooooo needing food but get physically full, but just not yet satisfied. Then I have to eat again a short time later. But honestly, I'm so inconsistent and the damn thing still works. I'm a believer. But scared I will creep up. When I hit 150 I am in freak out mode. And usually it goes away quick.

awwwww way to go! You look terrific. When are you due with lil Tatum? Your dream come true!!! So happy for you. I loved having my baby boys...and I love when others are just so excited to have children. All children should be so blessed.

I have had the munchies. Really wanting to eat a lot of food. Bought a big box of Cookies from costco, these danish sugar cookies, bc it seemed like a great deal for $12 bucks. OMG that was such a bad idea. Therea re 25 dozen cookies in the tin. We have had company this weekend and between all of us, mostly me I think, the box is now half empty and I definitely probably ate more than anyone else because I was cooking and they were there. Not to mention that I just ate from sun up to sun down on Saturday. Grazing all my sleeve would allow. How I wanted to eat a lot. I just wanted to eat a ton of roast beef, carrots and potatoes, etc. I wanted VOLUME this weekend for some reason. I didn't lose all my weight after the sleeve. Mostly I'm around 148 now. And tonight I'm at 149 and so thankful. Was scared I'd weigh 155. Not trying purposely to test my sleeve, but just thankful it works. Somehow I do good and I do bad, I am active and inactive, Vitamins and forgetting vitamins. But through it all I'm like 145-150 up and down within my range. I know as long as I'm in my range, I'm good. Would love to weight 128, my doctor's goal for me. Longing to be smaller in the waist but feeling way to lazy about getting there at this point. Not really wanting plastic surgery. I still look fat naked, same shape as before, just smaller. I wear a 10, sometimes an 8. I have worn, S M and L in shirts. One day at Michael Kor I bought 3 shirts, one in each size. Just depends. There are things about me that are just still fat, mostly my muffin top. But when I'm ready to hit it hard, I know my sleeve will be there to help me. And right now, when I'm just seemingly trying to be bad, my sleeve is there for me. It is a win win. I do suffer with a bit of reflux and have to take Prilosec every other day or so. But other than acids trying to shoot into my esophogus, I'm good. I think I have a problem with reflux because my sleeve is small and I am a short person, so small and short I guess (a 34 boughie) My surgeon refused to do a bigger sleeve on me, said I wouldn't lose the weight I wanted. I think he is right, but the reflux sucks. Sometimes I wish I could eat a full meal though, I know someone with a bigger sleeve, and he feels he has to have more will power than me to lose weight. Not sure what the magical answer is, but I'm just thankful for 149 today. Because I deserve to be gaining and I'm not. I'm sort of on hold until I make that decision to start moving for life. I want to do Pilates, walking, weights...but I just never get started.

This is an emotional journey as well as a physical journey.....keep journaling and asking those deep questions to your soul and you will find th eanswers you are looking for. It is a lifetime of habits also, that must be reformed. I used to self sabotage on the scale, the numbers is a big head game for me. The sleeve is a tool. I have a tendency to graze sometimes still, and eat things I don't need, but usually that is followed by the same number of days of just not being so hungry. I feel certain with the sleeve and therapy this will work for you. But like others said, don't self sabotage to the point of getting a leak! Smart to go to therapy and work on this.

I had surgery a long time ago, over a year and a half ago. I don't talk about it to most people because they just don't have any interest in it. It is sorta rude that they don't care and are uninterested, but most people are not interested in things that do not impact their own personal life. People like to say you've lost so much weight, you look great. But most people don't want to know you had weight loss surgery. As soon as you tell them it is like you just told them something tooooooo personal. And with most people you don't have that close of a relationship, they are mostly acquaintances. They ask how you lost it, but they really don't want to know it was weight loss surgery. Best to just say, I eat more Protein and less carbs. So I just really try not to mention it, because it is uncomfortable for people to hear for some reason. Maybe it is kinda like telling someone you had hemmorroid surgery. No one would want to know that either!!! I don't think of it the same, and I didn't know people would react so negatively to WLS. But they do. So if it were your hemmorroids you wouldn't go around talking about it, right? So I guess it is just something for close family to know or close friends but not acquaintenances. When I started this journey I was very open, but now I think people that don't tell a lot of people at work or whatever are smart to keep it private. It really is no ones business.

From what I can see, you lost a heck of a lot of weight. Not that you should want to rub it in her face but dangit, you finally found what works for you and you are excited. Don't let her poo poo that in any way. Her issues with her own weight are separate and are her own. It is great she lost 50 of the 100 and she needs to see the glass is half empty and that is a good/great thing. She is halfway there! I'm sure it changes the dynamics of the relationship, but it sounds like you want to be happy and have worked hard for it. Being overweight is just awful,, and unfortunately it creates scenarios where many of our relationships are built around food. Just like an alcoholic likes to drink with drinkers. Smokers with smokers... She probably misses her old food buddy, but she needs to find her peace with your new gorgeousness!

My surgeon told me most people lose 85 percent of excess weight, which is what I lost. to me those that lose 100 percent work harder or are super lucky.But for me I am okay at 145, size 8 or 10. At 5'1". it beats the heck out of 220. I never exercised and just focused on Protein and got my fluids in. I drank iced tea orvcherry koolaid w sugar made weak the whole way. No chemical sweeteners, but sometimes agave. drank more natural broth than whey protein. I was the naturale girl just sticking to wholesome food not junky food. Ate my favorite stuff but less. Hardly ate a sandwich don't much care for sandwiches or lunchmeat or eggs. Took Vitamin code Vitamins for women made from raw veggies so more BMs finally which is helping me feel better. My internist said I should weigh 130. but I have maintained my weight a year almost and I feel it is fine. don't overanalyze, just focus on finding the best best surgeon.

Yes, I also have maintained at the same weight since a few months out of surgery. For me it has not become harder to maintain the weight I'm at, but I live with the fear of regaining the weight. But thank goodness this tool seems to keep me in check, blunders and all. So far.

We all know this surgery has both risks and potential complications. Trying to live with them is dangerous. Perhaps you need to demand more from your surgeon. Hopefully you have health insurance. Start looking for options with other bariatric surgeon. I am sure there is an answer, but first you have to get the doc to admit it is a problem. If he won't, I would keep going to doctors. Someone will help you

All my life my weight has been a relationship issue because I feel fat or look fat or get fat. Kinda the biggest hurdle for me. Now I'm married and I was just slightly chubby when I met my hubby and then gained like 55 lbs over the years. I always thought he was disappointed about the weight gain, as I was. So now after losing my 70 lbs I lost a couple more lbs on vacay and he hugged me tonight was kind said "AGHHHH" and I was like "WHAT?" and he said "I just don't want you to get toooooo thin". Which I'm not, I'm 5'1" and still weight 146. But it was such a great thing to hear someone say. I'm like, can you say that like 200 times to me. Because my whole life men have been afraid of me GAINING too much weight and I've never had anyone worry I might get too thin. It was just kinda funny.

16 mos out - lost from 220 to 148. I am 48 years old now. Went to DIsneyworld by plane, then to the beach nearby Disney, then on a CRUISE (lifelong dream) to Bahamas with my family and friends. I wanted so many times to write in and just say how much I do not miss those 70 lbs. I wore the cutest sundreses w flip flops and even though they would look better on a 17 yo, they looked good still on me I felt. I know I need to firm up and lose a bit more as I've rested at this weight probalby 6 mos easily, but let me tell you nobody could out walkme and noticed I was usually leading the pack. I had just as much stamina, and even my husband kept saying how I could have never made it through some of the things we did especially at Disney. We went to a waterpark Atlantis in Bahamas and I could easily get in and out of tube and pull my legs and arms in to avoid getting hit. I remember a tube being a disaster before because I was already a tube. A new lease on life you know. I saw a lot of big people and I felt so bad for them at Disney and on the cruise. I even saw a big person toting a big oxygen tank behind her which could not have been real easy. I was never so glad to have done this. No one that sees us has any idea what we have been through, and probably look wishing they could be as small. If only they knew they could... I wondered if it would it be hard on the cruise...not being able to pig out...because I've always heard about hte endless food. Well, honestly the food was overwhelmingly overrated, and kinda gross at times. I was so thiankful for the good coffee bar to get an occaional latte to clear my stomach because the food just wasn't as fresh as I'm used to nowadays and tended to make me feel so bloated and gassy. It was manageable but after a few days really lost so much appeal. But it was frankly just not an issue except that it wasn't great food overall, just a few good things. I usually couldn't stomch a bite of dessert bc I'd eat to try to fill up because we would tend to be so hungry bc we didn't snack as much as my usual and I'd fill up so fast. I found the same as always, searching for good Protein, usually lean. Altho I did have a nice piece of fried chicken on the cruise which was probably the best thing I ate. But they had a lot of fish and baked potatoes and I tended to eat that and got full quickly. One night at Disney we ate at Cape May which was awesome. I ate so much, like 4 oz of clam chowder which was the best, then 3 of those snow crab halves dipped in butter. And a roll I think. It was the best meal of my life I think. My husband couldn't believe I ate so much, but maybe bc the crab looks like more than it is and we were there a really long time. My brother is getting this surgery soon I heard. So happy for that. I wonder if my son, who is 13, might wind up in the same boat someday because definitely I passed on the gluton-syndrome to him. He ate quite a bit at mealtime, hoping he didn't gain. And soda after soda. But overall, a good trip. The kids behaved and it was a safe trip. Next time I doubt we would do Disney or the cruise, bc Disney was exhausting and the cruise, well we went Carnival and there was so much partying/sex/drinking it was a turn off to me. Not a very good environment for kids, kinda scarey. But we stayed safe. The best part was the Bahamas, so I think next time we'll just fly to Atlantis resort and stay there, it was verrrrry nice. This was kind of a vacation of a lifetime for us, and for me a celebration of my weight loss journey. I would put on a cute dress and my husband would say "Wow, bet you don't miss those 70 lbs now." And I'd ask, DO YOU? And he was like "NO WAY...". Tomorrow we will be home, still in Florida now resting up for the last leg of the trip. No worries here...

You are right. You can't be real heavy and then thin and expect to look the same - obesity has its scars. It is but a small reminder that we don't want to go back there again, right? So excited for you. I know you are living your dream right now. And you know what, you totally deserve it.

I forget so much I need to fire myself. But don't worry...they can make a size 10 a size 6. Just hard to make a 6 a 10. You'll be fine. Your post made me laugh. Where do you live?