Catcutie

Not sure who Anthony Weiner is, but this was in reference to Dr. Matthew Weiner, a bariactric surgeon, and he does promote eating vegetables fairly soon (a spinach and fruit smoothie once full liquids are tolerated) and cooked vegetables at the beginning of phase 2 when soft foods are typically introduced. His video on uTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J420pX3vfpI.

Here is the website of videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner a bariatric surgeon who is also in line with eating healthy, minimally processed foods and even, advises that after 3 months post surgery, switch to vegetables first-drmatthewweiner.com. I hope with the advance of nutritional therapists, eventually we'll see more traditional nutritionists get on board with whole food nutrition, especially for bariatric patients who need maximum nutrition due to our limited food intake, but like all things it's a way of thinking process that takes time to gain acceptance. Meantime thanks to everyone who makes the effort to bring this healthy food information to us.

@@Eclectick my thoughts are that he is telling you straight up, he just wants you as a friend and not as a spouse or real relationship.
Move out, get your own place.
You can stay friends with him if you want, but you're not giving yourself a chance to find a real relationship as long as you are living with this man in this quasi-relationship/friendship.
Just my thoughts!

The biggest and absolute strangest byproduct of this surgery is actually the psychological detachment from the absolute love of food. I heard it before the operation but....did I understand it? I really look back before the operation to my (yes) obsession with food, how addicted and enslaved I was to the thought of food. How I planned meals around every event, .... I admit in the months before the operation....trying to do "the final tour" of all my favorite foods in abundance.... saying goodbye as you will. There never could be enough food........
Then the operation....
the first few days were rough....but ....no hunger. The day back home I got a cold slap of reality when my wife was cooking bacon..."she profusely apologized "Oh I'm sorry...this must be torture to you!" but no it wasn't... the bacon aroma smelled nice but there wasn't that attachment to oh let me try some.... no it was like when you smell flowers....you'd never eat a flower...because it dosent trigger it.... The liquid diet over the next few weeks really challenges you not in the amount you eat...but variety.... A new taste of say cream of chicken a few days in is delightful. learning to eat slower and learning the full point becomes an art in itself. But (at least in my case I still enjoy what I eat, but the crazy cravings are gone.
One thing I thought that I would loose is my love of cooking..... but no I am still cooking for the family. My dinner is usually made seperate... but you can still do it. Best advice is buy yourself some small plates! It really works.
Like the alcoholic....and the junkie.... we did harm to our bodies with food... and food ruled our thoughts and actions. You have to look at it that way. Looking back I realize that now. I am thankful now for this tool of VSG surgery. and for this forum to put it into words.... Thanks

I haven't been here in a good while. I see some familiar names and lots of names that are new. Right before surgery and for several months after this forum was very helpful to me.
I freely admit that I did not follow the recommended path after my gastric sleeve. I got some stern commentary from a few members here and I probably deserved it. Overall the members here have good intentions and the advice they give is sound. There will be a few here that remember me - to you I say Hola! Nice to see you all are still around. For the ones that I haven't had the pleasure of seeing before - Hey there. I'm Sharon, I'm in Mesquite TX, and I went to Tijuana in March of 2013. Dr Almanza did my surgery. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience with him and the staff.
I've lost 50 pounds. For the past year I have been maintaining that. I didn't really have a goal weight when I started this thing. I was tired of fighting the fat battle and I found a way to make the battle stop. I could lose more weight if I put my mind to it but I'm really pretty happy where I am. I went from a size 18 or 20 to a size 12. In an effort to be brief I'm going to list my main thoughts below and maybe a few of them will be helpful to someone else.
Do not underestimate the need for counseling before this type of surgery. In going to Mexico I bypassed all of the preparation that you get in the US. I figured I didn't need it. Haha! It didn't happen that way. I was completely unprepared for the emotional changes. It took over a year for me to start to get a grip on my feelings. It was hard, it sucked, and I wouldn't advise going it alone. I'm doing ok now and I will say that being forced to deal with the issues that made me a fat girl in the first place have made me a stronger person. Like...a lot stronger. I know myself better than I ever did before and truthfully I like me better now after having to fight thru the emotions. But seriously - get the pre-surgery counseling - all of it and take it to heart. Don't be like me and think you don't need it. You do.
Would I do it again? I don't know. Probably so. Some days I would give anything to eat a whole hamburger. After you spend your life relating to food in one way then it changes abruptly - well it can be quite frustrating. But you learn to live with it. I do like my results and I like the size of my clothes. I eat anything I want and I don't gain weight. People talk of the sleeve stretching and gaining weight back. This hasn't happened to me. This thing is unforgiving and it doesn't budge. I can actually eat less now than a year ago. I must say that Dr Almanza did a bang up job. The sleeve he gave me is quite sturdy and dependable. When it comes to eating, the sleeve wins every time.
Yes the sleeve gave me everything I wanted from it. I asked for it and I got it. I got the results I wanted and my appearance changed permanently. But this is the thing - when you are fatter you are kind of invisible. Lose a lot of weight and suddenly you aren't invisible anymore. Once again I got what I asked for. Well - it makes me very uncomfortable. Sometimes I just want to be invisible again. Not all the time but for the most part I just don't need the extra attention. Just another case of be careful what you ask for. I'm not meaning to be negative. Just saying that a lot of times what we think we want isn't necessarily going to make us happy. Happiness can only come from inside yourself. A lower number on the scales and a slimmer physique will not equate to happiness. Change yourself from the inside first if you want to be happy.
These are the most pleasant things you gain from the sleeve from my perspective: I'm proud of myself for having the courage to do it and I'm more proud of myself for making the emotional journey. There will always be those who think weight loss surgery is the easy way out. WRONG. Its the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.
Self confidence. That elusive thing that we all want more of. Well guess what? I got it. I have confidence in my appearance and somewhere along the way I started to carry myself with confidence. If I catch a glimpse of myself in a store window I am still surprised at the way I look walking along. Sometimes I can't believe that's me. But it is and I like it. Here's the thing: Yes, some of the confidence comes from my outward appearance. But the most of the confidence comes from having emerged alive after the emotional issues were ( mostly) conquered. So see, the confidence was in there the whole time. I just didn't know how to find it. Yours is in there too! Being thinner won't allow it to come out. Only you can do that.
I have learned so much about myself. I am a different person than before. Once again, on the inside. I don't care anymore if I'm fat or thin. I always thought that's what defined me as a person. How I looked. What a silly girl I was. My self worth is no longer defined by a number on a scale or by a size on a pair of pants.
So there it is. Thanks to those of you that read this. I do hope someone finds something useful in what I've said. But mostly I said it because I needed to for me. 2 years ago I would have never opened up like this. Now I can and I'm not afraid of how I feel. That's what the sleeve did for me. I hope it does something good for you too.

LOL..... married but had to put something on here.

I was disappointed with my slow loss at first as well. I am almost 5 months out and only down 38 pounds since my surgery on Sept. 1. But, I've come to peace with it now. The weight IS coming off. The scale IS moving down. And why do I need to race? I will eventually get where I need to be.
Pre-op and the first month or two post op, I was thinking about this like I'd thought about diets in the past. I wanted to lose weight and get to goal as fast as possible so I could be "done". But with VSG, you are never "done". Your sleeve is for life. So what's the hurry?
Plus there are some big advantages to losing slowly. I don't constantly get asked about my weight loss and have to come up with lies to tell people I'm not comfortable discussing my surgery with. And, since I'm losing weight more slowly, I'm not having to constantly replace clothing only to have to replace it again almost immediately. Also, I think it's less taxing on my skin than if I dropped weight really quickly.

everyone responding to what has happened to you, is with you in spirit. I can only imagine that you are feeling emotionally and physically tapped out. And yet, u must find the strength to get your fluids in to give your body what it needs so you can heal and move on to the next phase with food, etc., and then day by day, you'll start feeling better. In the meantime, do you have the energy to take short walks...even if it's in your living room? Moving, change of senery, or fresh air, might help with your back pain and lift your mood. Is there anything you can think of to do that would cheer you or help you feel better, e.g., watch a funny movie, take a shower, mediation, a friend or family you could call...? I feel for you sweetie and pray you r feeling better very soon.

everyone responding to what has happened to you, is with you in spirit. I can only imagine that you are feeling emotionally and physically tapped out. And yet, u must find the strength to get your fluids in to give your body what it needs so you can heal and move on to the next phase with food, etc., and then day by day, you'll start feeling better. In the meantime, do you have the energy to take short walks...even if it's in your living room? Moving, change of senery, or fresh air, might help with your back pain and lift your mood. Is there anything you can think of to do that would cheer you or help you feel better, e.g., watch a funny movie, take a shower, mediation, a friend or family you could call...? I feel for you sweetie and pray you r feeling better very soon.

Well this morning I finally made it to goal! It took me exactly 7 1/2 months to get here and I'm totally thrilled with the entire journey! For those wondering how it happened so quickly, I can only say that I followed all the rules meticulously: 80-100 grams of Protein, no starches/sugars, some veggies, no booze/soda, and 64-120 ounces of Water every...single...day, plus daily walking and once a week workouts. I always had a plan for what I was going to eat, even at parties and restaurants, and if I deviated from the plan, it was always protein-based, like cheese, nuts and beef/turkey Jerky. So... going in, was I worried about missing out on food? Yes. Did I feel deprived during my journey? Nope, as my tag-line says, "Nothing tastes as good as slender feels!" What's next? Lose 4-5 more pounds so I can have a little wiggle-room and still stay at or below my goal weight. Will I go crazy now and eat all the stuff I've missed? I don't think so because I've tried to get my head straight about this being a lifelong effort. Can you do it too? Absolutely!!! Thank you to all who have given me support and guidance along the way. I hope I was able to help you too. And my plan is to keep coming here and posting my message about The Dreaded Week-3 Stall, because it almost broke me at the beginning of my journey. I wish everyone who reads this a world of success!!! If you want to ask questions or get tips on how I worked my program, send me a message and I'll try to give you a thoughtful answer. Okay, here are some embarrassing photos and some slightly less embarrassing photos.....

Sending you nothing but good vibes!! I feel where you're coming from. I lost weight pretty rapidly the first year to 16 or 18 months as well. Then I realized I could eat whatever I wanted and not get sick from anything and if I worked out, I pretty much stayed within a 2-3 pound range. That's all fine and dandy until life hits you in the face! The unexpected death of my sister, job stress, surgeries, a cancer scare, and then the death of a beloved pet in the past 3 months has lead to me falling into old habits to just "get by" until I could finish the thing causing me stress at work and actually take time to grieve the loss of my sister. STUPID choice on my part! Life didn't stop while I was trying to get myself back in order and I paid for it by putting on 14 pounds. I've lost 4 of that in the past week by making time for ME again and I know it's not going to be easy to NOT take the easy way out and go back to old eating patterns in the future, but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm worth more than that! Not to mention that there's now a voice in my head that tells me to "suck it up" because I'm sure my sister would still like to be here living the life she had with her husband and kids, so I should take advantage of the life I have and live it FULLY!

Sleeved on 1/29, down 21 lbs since surgery, down 40 lbs overall. Easing into regular diet. Only issues have been passing a kidney stone and hormones wacky - in menopause but had a period. Yuck! I am loving the lack of appetite and the feeling of being in control of my eating for the first time in my life. it is just wonderful and I am going to do everything I can to make sure I build a foundation of healthy dietary habits to carry me through the rest of my life, like eating mindfully, choosing healthy foods, obeying to my body's "enough signal" and tracking my food intake.
So nice to see all of the Dec sleevers posts and hear how everyone is doing.

I hit my surgeon's goal for me at 6 months out and I plan on hitting my personal goal at 1 year out.
I know me, and that means logging and measuring are things I will need to do every day for the rest of my life. I function better that way. Freestyle just does not work for me.

When all of the sudden you notice that you are sitting with your legs crossed!

I was at a sheetz today getting some lunch and in walked a family the mom and dad were kinda big folks but the son was hugh and looked to only be around 10 or 11 and i immediatly felt sad. I seen myself in this kid and also my owen boys it it scared me i felt so bad for this kid knowing the struggles he more than likely faces everyday due to his weight.and i found myself thinking about when i was around this kids age the crap i was put through. I said a little pray for him to myself and then i thought oh man im glad ive made the decision for weight loss not only for myself but for the fact i want to get in shape and show my kids a healthier lifestyle change and hope they follow.

Sleeved on 1/29, down 21 lbs since surgery, down 40 lbs overall. Easing into regular diet. Only issues have been passing a kidney stone and hormones wacky - in menopause but had a period. Yuck! I am loving the lack of appetite and the feeling of being in control of my eating for the first time in my life. it is just wonderful and I am going to do everything I can to make sure I build a foundation of healthy dietary habits to carry me through the rest of my life, like eating mindfully, choosing healthy foods, obeying to my body's "enough signal" and tracking my food intake.
So nice to see all of the Dec sleevers posts and hear how everyone is doing.

Since your ears are hurting its possible its an ear infection. Get thee to a doctor!
Hope you feel better soon.

I am 3 years post op and I travel and surely eat "crazy bad foods" sometimes.
Here are my thoughts - take it or leave it - I think that when you do a vacation trip it is MOST important to keep portions small and to not graze. So have that butter laden whatever, but just a tiny bit. don't let yourself munch and snack all day - eat enough to be satiated, eat those 4-5 mini meals (or whatever your program calls for). reason I say this is that you really haven't gone off your routine or caused long term problems, you are just eating higher calorie/higher carb food for a few days and it is much easier to go back to your routine once you get home. If you let yourself "stuff yourself" you will be hungrier and it might be harder to get back on track immediately.
I also try to stay really active on vacation and stay away from "food oriented" vacations. March last year I spent 8-9 days in Mexico, I actually lost weight even though I had been at goal for a year already.
when I drink, I stay away from sugary mixers.
So, this applies probably more to people who have alot to lose. I was determined to get to goal, but had to lose over 150# to do it. what I knew is that the honeymoon periond only lasts "so long" so I didn't drink, didn't go eating junky food and really didn't allow myself food vacations until after getting to goal. I realize this isn't for everyone, but in my case, it was something that was very important to me. That first year post op wasn't filled with fun and frolic for me, it was filled with disciplined eating and exercise. I only share this - not as any kind of judgement - but so that newbies reading this don't think that I lost that kind of weight in that time frame any other way - reality check.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! You are seriously concerned that you ONLY lost 24 pounds in a month?
I "only" lost 14.8 pounds my first month. Tomorrow is my 5 month surgiversary and it's looking like I will have under a 5 pound loss for January. And you know what? I couldn't be more thrilled! I'm down 40 pounds... 64 since I started working to lose weight pre-op. I promise you, a year from now, when you are at or near goal, you won't care how much weight you lost the first month.

I use mine to make hummus. And green smoothies as I have a hard time eating enough vegetables otherwise.

My surgeon used the davinci robot for my surgery also. She told me it allowed more natural wrist turning/bending, so I was all for it. 4 wks after surgery no leaks and seem to be healing well.

Added some pics of my journey. I'm down 61lbs since pre-op. Lost too much too fast when sick but can of focus on working towards goal as last 2 months was focused on just surviving. Pic with fish in white shirt was in July at 295,got to 308 now at 247. Pic with large bass was a month ago when sick, but wanted to feel normal for 5 minutes and used all my strength and first cast got this 9 lb monster! Ty again to all for outpouring of support!

Awesome! Way to go! Can't wait to be where you are.

Here is the website of videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner a bariatric surgeon who is also in line with eating healthy, minimally processed foods and even, advises that after 3 months post surgery, switch to vegetables first-drmatthewweiner.com. I hope with the advance of nutritional therapists, eventually we'll see more traditional nutritionists get on board with whole food nutrition, especially for bariatric patients who need maximum nutrition due to our limited food intake, but like all things it's a way of thinking process that takes time to gain acceptance. Meantime thanks to everyone who makes the effort to bring this healthy food information to us.