TakeitorSleeveit

I had a very easy recovery. I, too, have a fairly high pain tolerance. I took the pain meds for a couple days, and then one more night. After that, I occasionally took liquid Tylenol.

The biggest adjustment is getting into a groove of getting your liquid Protein in and sipping all day. But as far as pain goes, I had no issues. My surgeon prescribed anti nausea meds, just in case I needed them. However, I never even got them filled.

I hope you have as easy a recover as I did. Good luck!

I just saw this. Sorry so late in replying. He's my surgeon, and I love him. I've had a great experience with him and his entire staff.

"When you throw trash into your body instead of a can, you’re not helping starving children in Africa. If you really want to help them, why not make a donation? Donate, say, a penny for every calorie you dump, or a quarter for every cookie you toss. Now that’s how putting yourself first can help out others in need!"

That's awesome! Love this idea.

Other than the lifting restrictions, I was allowed to drive, hope, etc. I only took pain meds the first day after arriving at home. After that, I took liquid Tylenol a couple times just at night. But other than that, I had no complications....no nausea, very little pain. And I even had additional hernia repair along with my sleeve surgery.

Again, everyone is different, so some have easier recoveries and some harder.

@@byebyefat

What do you mean "everything is different" ?

Every*one* is different.

I, also, was pretty much back to normal, except for my eating (or lack of eating at that point). I felt really good and had no complications at all.

The location of the laparoscopic scars for the Sleeve Surgery are *almost* identical to the ones I had for my gallbladder surgery.

Nashville. Dr. Houston at Centennial is the man and his support staff are phenomenal. I had the sleeve 7/13/15 and hit the ground running. Zero complications and down 99lbs since surgery, 174 for the year so far. I was THE WORST naysayer and was sure I'd regret it, but have had a great experience and stuck it on my employers insurance, so double win for me!

Dr. Hugh Houston is the absolute best combination of support and bluntness. His staff is wonderful, too. I'm so glad I went through them for my surgery.

I had my sleeve surgery on 6/23/15, and so far I'm down 68 since surgery and 88 total. I couldn't be happier with him and his staff. Oh....and no complications at all. His post surgery eating plan is much stricter than many I've seen on here, but it's totally worth it. I feel great.

I had Dr Houston too!!

Don't you just love that entire group? From what I've seen on this forum, we are very lucky to have found such a great place. Their follow-up and access to professionals for the rest of our lifetime seems to be unmatched anywhere else! I've been very pleased.

I'm also in Nashville. My surgery was with Dr. Houston at Centennial. Love him!

I'm so happy for you! I also made it to Onederland this weekend! It's a great feeling, isn't it?

This weekend, I blew right into Onederland!! Woohoo! I'm 53, and I had my sleeve surgery on 6/23/15. Since then, I've lost 56 pounds. I lost 20 during the 3 month pre-surgical period required by my insurance.

I feel a bit like a new person. And I don't really mean emotionally. I was a pretty confident fat person before surgery. But now, my knees and ankles and feet don't hurt. I'm enjoying wearing my clothes again, and I'm so excited about the future. I have five grandchildren, and I'm back to being that fun grandmother I always planned to be. Now, instead of just being fun in the kitchen and at the sewing machine, I'm active with them. I can be physically fun with them!

I'm not losing a whole lot faster than you. I had my surgery on 6/23/15. Since then I've lost 59 pounds. I had lost 20 prior to surgery from my highest weight.

But I'm happy, and I feel great. Honestly, I would find it difficult to get too many more calories in right now, without eating a lot more carbs. And eating this low carb count is making me feel so great. It's done wonders for my knee pain, even before I lost much weight. Just a couple weeks of very low "bad" carbs, and my knee pain was much improved.

Wow! You are doing great!

My surgeon seems to be much more conservative and strict compared to many of the ones I read about on this forum. During the weight loss stage, he has me on a high protein/low carb diet (60-80 grams of Protein and 15 or less grams of carbs), and wants me to stay between 550 and 650 calories per day.

From what I understand at this point, once I reach about 75% of my excess weight lost, I will start adding in more calories and a few more carbs. But I will always be following a high protein/low carb diet.

It's absolutely qualified for NSV. And I have also experienced this phenomenon. And also? I love Grey's Anatomy and thought of the show immediately when you said "Ladie's Town". LOL

LOL @ Stall Killer!

@ - Just out of curiosity what are you doing for exercise? Personally I found yoga very helpful in creating tone and proportion. (Congrats on your 42 pound loss to date BTW).

OCKPIrate, regarding yoga....is there a specific version of it that you started out doing? Did you take a class or use at home versions? I've long heard about the benefits, but I know I'd be below a beginner at this point. I'm very interested in toning and being more flexible and healthy, so I'd welcome any advice....from the others as well!

Woohoo!!!!! Great job. Enjoy your success.

This is such a long journey. And the bigger issue is that even once we get to goal, it's not over. Then we have to maintain. This is the way it will be for the rest of my life.

I'm finding that, at least for me, it's less about being motivated and more about being determined.

Just keep doing what you're doing. It will happen.

Hey guys. So glad I found this forum. I'm entering goal weight and I'm afraid of slipping back into old eating patterns. I'm at a loss of how to eat now. For the last 6 months I've had a severe stricture which made my food choices very limited. It's opening up now and I've been able to eat more, and I need to make sure I set good habits.

I'm not near goal yet, but here are examples of my normal day. I'm sure you, being at goal, are allowed more carbs than I am, but maybe this will help.

1. Breakfast.< /p>

I really struggle with this one. Can you give me some low carb, low fat ideas for breakfast? I've been eating Bagels and Cereal which I feel is too high carb.

I usually eat a piece of turkey sausage and Greek yogurt. I get the Kroger Light Greek (one of only two brands my NUT wants me to eat). It's got 14 grams of Protein and only 7 carbs. And it's really good.

2. lunch.

I hate smoothies- and I eat out a ton because of my job. Anyone have any great lunch ideas that will keep me satisfied until at least the afternoon?

​When I find myself eating out, I usually go for grilled fish or shrimp and add in a green vegetable. I'm still not eating large amounts of the veggies, since I'm focused on the Protein, but I can usually hold a TBL or a little more. I

3. snack

I don't really like snacking but I do get hungry in the afternoon. I've been eating beef Jerky. Any other ideas as to what will keep in my car?

I'm not a big snacker, but occasionally I'll have a BabyBel Light cheese or a boiled egg.

4. dinner.

I'm always at a loss for dinner. What do you eat?

Dinner varies for me. Sometimes I'll make an omelet and add turkey bacon and cheese and maybe some veggies. Other than that, any lean protein (chicken, fish, shrimp) and a green vegetable is my standard go-to.

5. Late night snack.

I like to eat before bed although I know I shouldn't. Hopefully I can get some options here besides cereal which is my go to.

I seldom ever snack at night, but if I do want something sweet, I'm a big fan of S/F popsicles (banana are my favorite). I know they are totally Frankenfood, but yum. ;o)

Oh.......and congrats on getting to goal! That's wonderful and happy......and did I say wonderful?!!!

Thanks guys!!!!

Woohoo! I'm so happy and excited for you. Really and truly!

I'm getting close myself, and like you, it's been a good twenty years since I've been there. Enjoy your well earned reward!

Honestly, when I saw the subject line of "17lbs in a month", I thought this was going to be a happy post.

That's a great loss in just a month.....especially considering you have a fairly low starting weight. I'm not sure why you aren't happy about that loss.

Finding the bright side is going to be a helpful thing for you over the long haul of this journey.

Today I had my three month check up, I started this journey at 260, today I am at 200. I am so excited and feeling awesome but can't wait for onederland to happen. Dr said I was doing great and I go back in December and I have to get my blood draw 2 weeks before appt. but I gave blood yesterday and my Iron level was 14.5 they said that was great. So I am not worried about the rest of the blood count. I will be posting that next post soon!!!! Can't wait to be in the 100's!!! Celebrating can't come soon enough!!

Congratulations! Looks like you and I are on a similar pace. BTW, I'm also a grandma, but of 5. ;o)

I started at 275, and yesterday was my 3 month mark. I've lost 64, including my pre-surgery requirement. I'm 11 pounds from onederland, and I am excited to be so close!

That's right at 3 pounds a week, on average. Sounds like a great pace to me! Keep doing what you're doing and try to get in more Water. You're doing just fine.

There isn't a whole lot to be added to this thread, except for this.......

For the first 6 months to a year, you are not driving the bus! You can eat all sorts of crap (in smaller quantities), and you'll still lose weight. The surgery you had is doing all the work for you. However, at some point during those last few months of the first year post-op, the surgery stops doing the work for you. At that point, if you haven't made the necessary changes in your diet and your lifestyle, you will not only stop losing, but you will likely begin to gain your weight back. This fact was explained to me before and also after my surgery.

It happens all the time. None of us would be in the situation of needing surgery to lose large amounts of weight if we hadn't made bad choices in either (and sometimes both) the quantity or the quality of the food we have eaten over the years. We have to be careful to not assume the surgery will fix everything for us. While the motivation is high and the hunger is most controlled is the best time to make the diet/behavior changes. And I just can't see how eating ice cream (even sugar free) is a good choice in the first months after surgery.

Personally, I haven't had one sweet thing or one starchy carb since my surgery three months ago. And I don't plan to start until my surgeon tells me it's OK.....which will not be until I've reached at least 75% of my weight loss goal. I've proven to not be the best at making decisions for attaining a healthy weight. Now I've had body changing surgery, and I plan to follow the plan to a T.

Again, and it's been said a few times in this thread, to each his/her own. But don't be upset when proven veterans on this forum offer their guidance and experience. They know what they are talking about. I'm very grateful for being able to read the tough love on this forum, especially when it comes from people who have been there and done that. I can only hope I have as much success as some of you!

I'm within a couple days of being two months post-op. My surgeon and nutritionist have set my limit at no more than 15 per day.

I've found that my post op plan is a little stricter than most people's. I'm not allowed any starchy carbs, no bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, crackers, etc.

Right now the only carbs I'm getting are from Greek yogurt and the very small amount of non-starchy vegetables I have room for, once I eat my Protein for each meal.