Eli Alexander

Silly, not at all. I think you have a great attitude, and that's what will guarantee success. I love the idea of verbalizing the many dream scenarios right after surgery, although you might find sleepiness, pain and a sore throat hinder those plans for a few hours. Day two that's a great idea.

It was real tough to get enough liquids/proteins down my first day off IV, but I was determined to make my goal, and I did. Second day was easier and by the third day it was a cakewalk. I like the idea of suffering through the drama of making your goals on the first day because then you will never have those hurdles again, and you can start enjoying the process more. Although everyone's body is different, and I know that for some people it's not a matter of pushing through, their esophagus and stomach is just too swollen to permit the goal to be achieved. Just do enough that at the end of day one you can confidently tell yourself that you gave 100% effort.

We all go through a very similar process with the same fears, dreams, pains and victories, but the timing is very different by the individual. We must judge ourselves and not compare too closely to others. Two years from now, when you weigh your goal weight, will it matter at all if it took you an extra month to tolerate solid food, or that your weightloss stalled for three weeks in December? What matters from the planning stages you are in, to the post op stage I'm in, through to the living a normal life stage we one day will be in, is to always be working towards improvement.

You sound awesome, keep it going!

Hi eli! Huge congrats on your success so far!! Sounds like you have done incredibly well! Over 27K steps is amazing, do you have a fit bit?

My surgery is in 24 days, looking forward to my new tiny tummy but also so anxious and a bit scared. What you shared has eased my mind. thanks

I don't have Fitbit, but have been thinking about getting one. I just downloaded a free app called pacer on my iPhone which counts every step I take, as long as I have my phone on me. Works great, I went on a hike with a friend yesterday who has a Fitbit, and the numbers were almost identical.

This process has been a joy. I know it's weird to think of this in such positive terms, but the sense of accomplishment every day has been tremendous. I am wearing shirts I couldn't button before, and they are actually fitting perfectly. Yesterday I bumped into someone I hadn't seen for a few months and their first words were "crap, you look great!" An odd compliment, but a great one.

I'm lucky because the weather where I live had been sunny for the past week, I'm taking so much advantage of it that I've gotten tan. Your nerves will be unavoidable, but also make sure to let yourself get excited. Dream about the payoff, the little things like knowing everything at a clothing store comes in your size, going scuba diving, or bumping into old buddies and watching their reactions. And dream about the big things too, spending quality years with your loved ones and having respect for yourself.

Good luck, let us know how your process goes.

Everyone gets the nerves, fears about losing out on the good times of eating whatever you want. It's normal and you will have those concerns until you wake up from surgery. Then, at least in my case, all those concerns are gone and I'm just thrilled at the success I'm seeing.

I was sleeved 11 days ago. My heaviest was 310, I lost 27 pounds pre op and in my 11 days post surgery I've lost another 17 pounds. To put that in perspective, in the last two months I've lost about the same weight as a medium sized dog. I would take that over cheesecake any day.

Also, once I really got going on the pre-op diet and especially the post op one, my focus on weightloss became so great that I am now actually getting as much or more happiness (in the way of pride) skipping calories then I ever did eating them.

I had that amusement park ride issue once too. So embarrassing right in from of the kid you want to be a hero to. Well, now you get a chance to be that hero. To show him how to accomplish a goal no matter what, to show him that you will be alive when he/she goes off to college, gets married etc. To have more energy to play baseball or scuba dive with the kid. I think all that makes nachos a little less important in the grand scheme.

Good luck, this has been one of the best decisions I've ever made, I hope you feel this way too one day soon.

I'm in Portland and was sleeved on 1/20/1, 11 days ago. I am doing great, but would be thrilled to meet other sleeves. Perhaps go for a walk or get a cup of tea. If anyone is interested, send me a message and we can go from there.

Oh, and capsule pills can be opened up and sprinkled on the yogurt, sugar free pudding or whatever works for you that's not hot.

I was told that Vitamins could wait one week. As far as medication that couldn't, make sure they are broken up to be smaller than an mm candy and I would have them with yogurt. It will be easy in a couple days, just take the necessary ones till then.

Girls don't poop!

Kidding, that was hilarious, thanks. By the way are you taking a stool softener, it helped me.

24 is pretty tight. You need to change your perspective if you aren't thrilled with this success, otherwise you will not get the joy you deserve for all the hard work you've put in.

I had mine on the 20th, took pills for three days. But it's totally normal for some people to use over a week. I just hated Constipation more than the pain. Also, my pain was just slight by that time.

Just Beth, my surgeon at Ohsu was Dr. Mattar and I highly recommend him. He runs a very tight ship and he only does two surgeries. He had performed over 700 sleeves and was fabulous. The rest of the staff I dealt with were decent to good, but I'd choose a great surgeon working with a pack of chimps over a crappy surgeon and having everyone else be great.

One problem I had with Ohsu leading up to the surgery was they were not very good at communication. You have to be your own advocate and speak up. When you do, they are quite good. I think they just get very busy, don't be the one to fall through the cracks.

Good luck and if you want to ask any more detailed questions or just chat about the process, send me a message. We could even meet for tea if you live in town. The process is longer and harder than I thought it would be, but so far, the payoff has been outstanding.

There are so many little hidden gems to getting this surgery that outweigh the dread.

- Getting on a plane and not having all the eyes looking at you, praying you don't sit next to them.

-Going out to fancier dinners and having it be cheap cause you order off the appetizer menu.

-Knowing that everything in a clothing store will come in your size.

-much better sex

-not feeling like you are going to knock people over on a crowded sidewalk.

- hiking or swimming or tennis or whatever you used to dread cause it tired you out and hurt your knees, now is fun and a great way socialize.

As much as the health, the quality of life just multiplies. Your fears were my fears and will be the fears of future WLS folk, but you have to take into account the joy. There will be tough times, initially there will be pain. But time keeps moving ahead and what really sticks in those memories are the good times, the loving moments, the prideful senses of accomplishments. It's ok to be afraid, but also get excited, that's the emotion to grab ahold of.

Good luck.

Congrats on the countdown. Take pride in every skipped slice of birthday cake and hunger pang. They become your strength and a scaffolding to build the healthier you.

Like many here, I have kind of set a goal of 199. There is something about breaking that 200 mark that I just want to achieve. My brother, who has very similar frame gets as low as 165 when he's skinny but usually bounces between 185 and 200. So if i hit 199 I would be at the upper range of what my brother is at, and he bike races and hikes frequently, living a healthy life. But sometimes I think 199 is too unrealistic, I haven't been that since I was 16 (40 now). Other times I think I want to shoot for the moon and break 180. I guess I'll just have a bunch of smaller goals and Celebrate more frequently.

I was given great advise from another member. Treat recovery like a job. It keeps you focused and pushing ahead towards the easier days. This is serious work walking, drinking and eating sufficiently. Know what you have to accomplish every hour and push through.

Better days are sooooo close.

Nprcowboy, I just found this thread and am rooting so strongly for you to beat these issues. Great to hear the cancer was just a scare and your wife is going well. I wish I could do something to help, but for now just know there is one more person cheering you on and wishing only the best. Stay strong and rest on your loving wife's shoulders.

I'm at day ten now and it improves so quickly. I'm going on a bike ride later and I did a four mile hike yesterday.

You got this, stay focused on the goals and sleep as much as you can for a couple days. There are so many unexpected wonderful moments right around the corner, you just need to get there.

Good luck.

Congrats. I'm 10 days post surgery and can already tell you it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. All the worries melt away with the pounds.

There are tough moments, surgery day being my biggest so far, but it's nothing in comparison to this joyous feeling I have now that I'm going to live the fulfilling life I deserve. And you deserve. Go us! All of us!

This is awesome! Congrats, and good luck.

Remember, thing improve very quickly. Time marches on. Tomorrow will be better than today and by day three you should be clearly on your way to healing and living a better, healthier life.

Thanks. So is goal weight set at a certain bmi?

So where I just got sleeved they don't believe in setting goal weights because they don't like having people who lose 100 pounds feel like losers because they didn't lose 125. I understand their thinking, but for me, I do well with goals. And I know myself, if I don't make my goal, but know I gave an awesome effort, I'd still be thrilled in my accomplishment.

So, here are my numbers I'd you want to try and set my goal. Height 5'8" fattest 310. Weight day of surgery 283. Weight today, 10 days post op, 266

Ask me anything

So where I just got sleeved they don't believe in setting goal weights because they don't like having people who lose 100 pounds feel like losers because they didn't lose 125. I understand their thinking, but for me, I do well with goals. And I know myself, if I don't make my goal, but know I gave an awesome effort, I'd still be thrilled in my accomplishment.

So, here are my numbers I'd you want to try and set my goal. Height 5'8" fattest 310. Weight day of surgery 283. Weight today, 10 days post op, 266

Ask me anything

It's been one week since I was sleeved and I am shocked how well everything has gone for me. Pain was minimal, and I actually stopped taking any pain meds on day three. Only nausea was twice from strawberry shakes so I can't have those, but everything else goes down well. Been averaging about 80 ounces liquid, 65 grams Protein and about 600 calories per day. And it's paying off. Pre surgery I lost 27lbs in two months, and post surgery it's been 14 lbs in a week. So that's a total of 41lbs already.

I try not to care about flavor or food as anything more than fuel, no speciality shakes or anything like that. Store bought shakes, broth and yogurt is basically everything I've had so far.

It's showing in my face. It's so awesome. Best of luck everyone. I know I'm having a strangely easy and successful time, and some others are struggling. I'm hoping for the best for all of us. The stalls will end, the pain will end, but the compliments will keep coming.

The store bone broth is not that good, but 9g of Protein in 8 oz is pretty good. I've had it a couple times. But where I live there is a specialty food cart that makes the broth from beef. It is so much richer and yummier than any other that I've had. And although I don't know exactly how much Protein is in it, it's really high, likely in the 20grams plus. I know this cause the whole thing turns to jelly when cold, which happens due to tons of collagen, basically pure protein.

But the chicken Bone Broth is just ok.

Simple solution. Convert.

Just kidding. Good luck.

Question.

I'm still a week away from mushies, but love eggs with hot sauce. Can we eat spicy food?