Stephanie Stroup McIntosh

First off, congrats on opening up. It takes a lot of nerve. I personally found it freeing. 7 months ago, I would never have told anyone my weight. Today, I practically shout it from the roof tops and I am still morbidly obese. You know what has changed the most...my attitude. I found that when I opened up to people about it, I found so many other people that were also struggling. I found that I had a lot of support and that really helps to make everything else easier. Its hard to pass up the pizza and pepsi, but the compliments I get from people satisfy my so much more.
I think its important to get to the root cause of your initial weight problems. Why do you turn to food? Take a deep look at this and see the real reasons. It may even help to talk to a counselor about it. So many people struggle with food issues and don't know it. For me, it was a control issue and the fact that I grew up poor and couldn't have things, so as I earned my own money, I could spend it. I could justify spending it on food, because we had to eat. That problem continued into adulthood. When you figure out why you have a problem, it will be easier to move on.
Also, you need to really ask yourself why you want to have surgery. Why now? Be honest with yourself (and others if that will help you) and make sure you are ready to change your life.
Most insurance companies require a supervised diet program. Take that time to make sure you are well informed on all the aspects of your surgery. Also use that time to start changing your habits. Ween yourself off the fast foods and sugar now, so you don't go into a state of withdrawal or shock. Start exercising now. It will make everything easier for surgery.
I am not trying to sound harsh. I weighed 295 in September, possibly more before, but that was the first time I got on the scale in almost a year. On the morning of my surgery I weighed 263. Now at 23 days post-op I weigh 241. We all got overweight for a reason and we have to really be willing to change for surgery to work. I am here if you ever need to talk. You can do it.

I am in the later phases of getting my approval and am terrified and excited. I've never ever had any surgery before so it's pretty scary overall. I go through all these food funerals (eating everything in sight because it's the last time). However I start realizing that it's not that I won't ever eat again it's just that I'll eat different. This mentality of binge eating and loving food is what has me here in the first place. Will I be able to eat 3 slices of pizza NO but maybe 1/2 a slice once in a while. Hey... I might not want that half a slice anymore because you realize you don't need it after being healthy. So my long winded point is that it's normal to be nervous, anxious, scared, excited, curious..... This is a life changing surgery but know that it will be for the better (Atleast for majority of folks here it is)
Good luck and take it all a step at a time. It's a lot of work but from what I've read worth it!

Can I add that it bothers me when people reply to the post without actually reading what it says? So many times I see people give all the information in the original post and then will see people respond with a comment asking something that was clearly written in the original post. Its fine if you don't read all the comments, but please read the question if you are going to answer it.

The human body is crazy. It will try to store the calories that you do consume, because it is in shock. Stay with the program. It will work. I understand the frustration. I routinely burn more calories at the gym than I consume, but my weight doesn't always show it.

Panniculectomy is a skin surgery that removes the excess belly skin below the belly button. Many insurance companies will cover it if you are having problems like rashes from the excess skin.

Panniculectomy is a skin surgery that removes the excess belly skin below the belly button. Many insurance companies will cover it if you are having problems like rashes from the excess skin.

Today's Weight = 245
Memorial Day Goal = 230

I had to wait 2 weeks for pureed foods according to my surgeon. Take it slow. If you need to stay on liquids for a few days, do that. It takes time for the swelling to go down and for your digestive system to start working again. Make sure that when you are eating foods that you are taking small bites.

Brushing my teeth helped me. By this point you should be close to having your swallow test and assuming you pass that you will be able to drink. I found that tea and juice helped me the most that first day after surgery.

As a young child, I grew up poor. We rarely ate out or got special treats. As I got money of my own, I spent it on the foods that I wanted but could never have. I am sure that this was a large part of me becoming overweight. Everywhere I would go, I would think about food. Where would I eat? What would I eat? I almost felt like I needed to eat everywhere that I went, even if I wasn't hungry. I think it was because I could eat in these situations, where as a child/teen I would have never been able to eat.
Fast forward to my 3 week post-op experience... I went to a baseball game last night for a buck night special. Hot dogs, beer, pepsi, and popcorn were only $1. Its a good thing I am still so close to surgery, because it was hard to refuse these items that really are on the top of my favorite foods list. It rained, which I think helped too. At least that way I didn't have to smell the popcorn.
food has such a hold on so many of us. Its a daily effort to remember why we had surgery and why we are changing our lives. Let's all drink a Protein shot to our successes and move on from our failures.

As a young child, I grew up poor. We rarely ate out or got special treats. As I got money of my own, I spent it on the foods that I wanted but could never have. I am sure that this was a large part of me becoming overweight. Everywhere I would go, I would think about food. Where would I eat? What would I eat? I almost felt like I needed to eat everywhere that I went, even if I wasn't hungry. I think it was because I could eat in these situations, where as a child/teen I would have never been able to eat.
Fast forward to my 3 week post-op experience... I went to a baseball game last night for a buck night special. Hot dogs, beer, pepsi, and popcorn were only $1. Its a good thing I am still so close to surgery, because it was hard to refuse these items that really are on the top of my favorite foods list. It rained, which I think helped too. At least that way I didn't have to smell the popcorn.
food has such a hold on so many of us. Its a daily effort to remember why we had surgery and why we are changing our lives. Let's all drink a Protein shot to our successes and move on from our failures.

Great posts @@Stephanie Stroup McIntosh and @@Miss Mac! And I totally hear ya both! So much of my eating is habitual and based on how I grew up. For me, food was/is a reward system.
Now that I'm so much more aware of how few calories I need to maintain a healthy weight, it's rather disturbing to think how much food I used to slam down my gullet. I think I've successfully changed my habits. I don't really think of food in terms of rewards...it's for health.
Hopefully I can maintain this way of thinking. I've done the yo-yo of course, so there's that fear that all of us have, but feeling really confident that the surgery is helping me for the long haul. And right now that long haul!
Best of luck to everyone!

As a young child, I grew up poor. We rarely ate out or got special treats. As I got money of my own, I spent it on the foods that I wanted but could never have. I am sure that this was a large part of me becoming overweight. Everywhere I would go, I would think about food. Where would I eat? What would I eat? I almost felt like I needed to eat everywhere that I went, even if I wasn't hungry. I think it was because I could eat in these situations, where as a child/teen I would have never been able to eat.
Fast forward to my 3 week post-op experience... I went to a baseball game last night for a buck night special. Hot dogs, beer, pepsi, and popcorn were only $1. Its a good thing I am still so close to surgery, because it was hard to refuse these items that really are on the top of my favorite foods list. It rained, which I think helped too. At least that way I didn't have to smell the popcorn.
food has such a hold on so many of us. Its a daily effort to remember why we had surgery and why we are changing our lives. Let's all drink a Protein shot to our successes and move on from our failures.

Hopefully you feel better soon. This could delay your surgery, but thats just to make sure you are healthy enough to have surgery.

Been banded over 4 years, lost all my weight a while back...so I don't get NSV';s that often anymore....
But Saturday Night was a big one!
First, I graduated HS in 1970....I weighed 165, played football, ran track, etc.
There is a class mate, who has become a very popular comedian, tours all over the world, TV, Movies...etc. (I'm not going to mention his name)
Well the word went out through face book, that he would be the headline act at "Catch a Rising Star" here in New Jersey....and people from the Class of 70 were being contacted to attend...sort of a mini reunion....which a good number of us did.
To get to the point, people I have not seen in over 40 years were there....of course everyone was thrilled to see each other. Lots of Love going around!.....and everyone could not get over how I have not changed one bit...I am still the same weight, and I am still in tip-top shape as I was in High School! People said I have obviously done pretty good for myself.
The joke was, where everyone is getting older...I am gong in the opposite direction!
IF THEY ONLY KNEW!!!! It's been over 40 years and they do not know I was once morbidly obese, was once a diabetic, have cardiac issues, along with a long list of other things.
And as a last resort, I had to undergo Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery...and only then did I turn my life around....but they don't know, and that's just fine with me....just let it ride.
I was walking on air all night, and it was not just the alcohol we were consuming! (of course we partied!)
Stuff like his makes it all worth it....best decision I ever made!

My flavored greek yogurt has 12-15 g Protein and under 15 carbs. I often take plain greek yogurt and add flavored Protein powder to it making it over 40g Protein for only about 8 carbs.

Hopefully you feel better soon. This could delay your surgery, but thats just to make sure you are healthy enough to have surgery.

I grew up in the exact same way, and have often wondered if that's part of the problem.. Congrats on staying strong at game and I just did my Protein shot ????

As a young child, I grew up poor. We rarely ate out or got special treats. As I got money of my own, I spent it on the foods that I wanted but could never have. I am sure that this was a large part of me becoming overweight. Everywhere I would go, I would think about food. Where would I eat? What would I eat? I almost felt like I needed to eat everywhere that I went, even if I wasn't hungry. I think it was because I could eat in these situations, where as a child/teen I would have never been able to eat.
Fast forward to my 3 week post-op experience... I went to a baseball game last night for a buck night special. Hot dogs, beer, pepsi, and popcorn were only $1. Its a good thing I am still so close to surgery, because it was hard to refuse these items that really are on the top of my favorite foods list. It rained, which I think helped too. At least that way I didn't have to smell the popcorn.
food has such a hold on so many of us. Its a daily effort to remember why we had surgery and why we are changing our lives. Let's all drink a Protein shot to our successes and move on from our failures.

I was sleeved on 3/23. I lost 20lbs in the first 2 weeks then I put on 2 pounds when I got my period. I finally lost those 2 pounds today. I had my post op appointment and they said that I did really well. I have already lost 29% of my excess weight. Everyone loses at a different rate, so don't be too concerned. Just make sure you are getting your Protein and Water and exercise.

Really chew your foods. My surgeon says to chew each bite 30 times. That alone will make it that you aren't swallowing too quickly. Also use smaller utensils to take smaller bites.

You are doing everything right. Unfortunately there are a lot of Mr. Wrongs and only a few Mr. Rights. It may take some time, but its important that you find someone that is supportive of the decision you made and will be a positive part of your life. Don't settle for anything less.

@@CanyonBaby, great post! So much truth and I hope people read and absorb it. It can be a real struggle, but I think it's worth it.
I want to elaborate a bit on your: "You may gain weight back." a little. I've seen so many people online and off who say thing about weight loss surgery being PERMANENT weight loss. No damned way. SO many people lose considerable amounts of weight and yet gain back every pound and sometimes more because they go right back to eating the foods they did before and sometimes nearly the same amount.
I have a friend who had surgery six months before me and she had less to lose than I do. She was 10 pounds from her goal around Christmas. A piece of pizza turned into three. A piece of pie at Thanksgiving had turned into trying a piece of each pie at Christmas along with Cookies and fudge. After the holidays it kept going and it continues to as of this month.
This story also touches on your "you may lose friends" point as well, because she blew up at me a week ago because I wouldn't go out for pizza with her. I offered to have her over for something else but she insisted we get a pizza. Pizza is a food I used to love but I haven't had a bite of it since I started preparing for surgery last March because I know me and I need to focus to stay on track. She's gained back 40 pounds since December and shows no signs of stopping. She told me I'm obsessed with my surgery and my weight loss and that it isn't healthy for her to be around me anymore. It made me a little sad, but I can't afford to let anyone or anything knock me off my track. I used to weigh 450 pounds and I never want to be there again.
I'm telling this not for pity, but to illustrate how even people who've been on a journey like yours, it isn't exactly like yours. We all arrived at the decision for surgery for myriad reasons and our weight loss paths are going to be different a well. There isn't one way to do it right, you have to do what's right for YOU to keep yourself moving in the losing direction. It's too easy to stumble and go backwards.

You came to the right place. This group is full over sleevers. Good luck and welcome to the group.

I am so sorry that you don't have a great support system. I am fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of people that really do support me. Surprisingly some of my coworkers have been the most supportive. I would really suggest finding someone who you can talk to about everything. I know its really the most important thing going on in my life right now and it is what I want to talk about. Feel free to Facebook me or e-mail me. Smileystephanie1@aol.com