Medi619

Today is my one year post op!! How this year has flown by!! I am so incredibly happy I made this decision for myself, and wouldn't change a minute of it. Today I sit in my office 90 lbs lighter, 6 sizes smaller, healther, and happier than I've ever been!! I can run on the treadmill now and not feel like I'm going to die or my lungs are going to burst, I can sit on a plane without spilling over into the other seat, I can cross my legs like a lady (even on the plane!!), and I can wear a swimming suit in public with my head held high! So many things I was afraid I would never actually do!! I will forever be greatful for this gift and second chance at life! It's crazy to look back at pictures and videos of myself a year ago and see how much I've changed physically. My self confidence is 100x what it was, and I'm not afraid to put myself out there anymore. The mental changes have been even better. I still have days where I'm not perfect, but I don't crave all of the junk I used to, and it's so much easier to make smart decisions on a daily basis. Working out has still been my weak point...but I'm working on that. I know that this will be a lifelong fight for me, and I can never go back to what I used to do, but my sleeve has been an amazing tool and I will always appreciate what it has given me!

I think if I would have followed Ann's plan, I would have been to goal by now. Months 4-7 I was only getting 600-800 calories, and it really slowed things down for me. I was stalling all the time and barely losing. There was one month where I only lost 2 pounds! Not until I took some advice and looked at what she was doing did I smarten up and increased my calories to 1000 and now to 1200. Since then, I've been pretty steady and only had one or two tiny stalls. Now I'm 6 pounds to goal.
But yes, everyone is different too

I can tell you my experience:
My highest weight was 235. I lost almost 20 pounds pre-op (on my own diet and my surgeon's pre-op diet). Surgery day I weighed 216.
Month 1 I got up (finally) to almost 800 calories (was hitting closer to 500 most of that month).
Months 2-4 I ate 800 cals/day on average.
Months 5-6 (thanks to my bariatric PA's advice - who knows TONS of stuff about bariatric nutrition, more than my NUT, frankly) I gradually bumped up my cals to 1,000 cals/day.
Months 7-8 I gradually raised my daily cals to 1,200.
I hit my weight goal (150 pounds) 8.3 months post-op.
In the last 2.7 months I've been trying to hit 1,750 calories/day -- the calorie budget that my PA, my NUT, my exercise consultant and I all independently determined would be a good maintenance diet for me. That's pretty hard to do, and as a result I've lost another 6 pounds. However, I think that finally at 144 pounds the 1,750 cals/day thing is working for me.
I am sooo glad I didn't eat 800 calories for 8 months. There's no way to know for sure, but my feeling is that if I had eaten less during that time that my maintenance calorie budget would be lower than it is.
I don't want to lose anymore. I am older (69 years old now) and look just fine. I also want to be able to bounce if I fall down. And I don't want to eat like a bird to maintain some fantasy 125 pound weight that's too light for me at my age.
This has worked out really well for me.
Everyone's mileage may differ considerably from mine, but that's my story.

One thing that helps the fat brain is to take pictures. I remember when I was 250lbs, I didn't think I was that fat and then I'd see a picture of myself and it would knock the wind out of me. (that's why we hate pictures when we're fat, it's harder to stay in denial) Now when I'm feeling like I look exactly the same as I did at 250lbs, I look at a picture and it tells a whole different story. The camera doesn't lie (unless you have photoshop!).
Your brain will adjust, it'll take some time.

SOMETIMES I FEEL JUST AS FAT AS I EVER WAS, AND THEN OTHER DAYS I FEEL FANTASTIC.

I totally understand. When I started this journey I had hoped to get down to size 12 (started as a 22) and now 15 months later I am wearing a size 6. I know what a size 6 is and that I am wearing it but I do not at all feel like I am a size 6. I still look around the room and feel like I am the largest person. When I see someone that I think is a nice size I ask my husband how I compare to them. The mental part is just as hard of a battle as the physical. Not sure how to get past it - I guess time and positive self talk - but it's hard to change a life long self image. Until I can see myself as I am, I will depend on the scale and how my clothes fit to know where I am. Congrats on your success!

I have the same problem. I'm six weeks out today and I am doing fine with Protein but the fluids are hard for me. I've always been a Water drinker and never really had this problem before. However, I've realized that I used to chug about two cups of water at a time and drink a lot when I ate. Sense I can't do that now, I'm struggling. And like others mentioned, the no water 30 mins before or after eating, and eating 5-6 times a day poses a real problem too. I do find cold works better and makes me less nauseous. I'm hoping that as time goes on I'll be able to drink more at a time. I'll keep trying to figure something else out in the meantime. It's nice to know others feel the same. Good luck!

I am only 3 weeks post op and I have had feelings of failure too. I've been wondering what I got myself into with this sleeve surgery because I can't seem to get enough fluids in yet. But I keep reminding myself that I did this because I want to be healthier. I know there are days that we are going to struggle with this but we didn't go through major surgery for nothing. 75lbs lost is great. Try to focus on the positive and don't be sorry for venting we all need to once in a while.

I am only 3 weeks post op and I have had feelings of failure too. I've been wondering what I got myself into with this sleeve surgery because I can't seem to get enough fluids in yet. But I keep reminding myself that I did this because I want to be healthier. I know there are days that we are going to struggle with this but we didn't go through major surgery for nothing. 75lbs lost is great. Try to focus on the positive and don't be sorry for venting we all need to once in a while.

@@Medi619 I am 7 weeks out and felt like crap when I was where you are. You well turn the corner SOON. Just keep your Protein up abd Water going. I promise the last 2 weeks for me have been WAY better

I am only 3 weeks post op and I have had feelings of failure too. I've been wondering what I got myself into with this sleeve surgery because I can't seem to get enough fluids in yet. But I keep reminding myself that I did this because I want to be healthier. I know there are days that we are going to struggle with this but we didn't go through major surgery for nothing. 75lbs lost is great. Try to focus on the positive and don't be sorry for venting we all need to once in a while.