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OutsideMatchInside

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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Posts posted by OutsideMatchInside


  1. I am almost 3 years out. My restriction is almost exactly the same as 1 year. I really think people play mind games with themselves. I can still only eat 4 ounces of dense Protein comfortably which is what I am supposed to be able to eat, that is a proper portion-ish.

    I can however eat almost limitless amounts of mushy, moist or crumbly foods (sliders). The only reason why I would think that my sleeve had stretched would be that as time went on, I became more comfortable with my weight and my sleeve (I knew I was healed and it wouldn't bust open) and I incorporated different foods. My sleeve is still doing it's job as intended. What changed is how I utilize it.

    People just have to be mindful of what they are eating and get real about their food.

    I'm trying to hit some new personal goals and did a couple days of mostly liquids. My sleeve is still tight as a drum.

    Overall people just have unrealistic expectations of how their surgery will work, set mostly by incompetent Drs and staff, or worse no expectations set by their team at all.

    I had the same issue as @MichiganChic, super stressed out over life over the winter. Not watching what I ate, I just gave up. Gained weight. Just a couple weeks of eating right and it is flying off.

    The rate that I gained weight didn't even make sense, so it had to be more stress than what I was eating.

    Now that my life has calmed down and I am focused on my food, it is coming right off. My sleeve helps me still. I went from raging hunger, because I was stressed back to no appetite, and I have to force/remind myself to eat.


  2. On 1/31/2018 at 11:44 PM, tfarr said:


    How would the metabolism be tested? I’ve never heard of that. I’m about to call UNH to get this doNE STAT!

    You lay on a table and don't move and don't fall asleep for 30 minutes with a tent over your face, a machine measures your breath.

    Basically it calculates how many calories your burn being a slug, just existing. That is your baseline metabolism, before any activity or movement.

    It is a good way to set your maintenance calories especially for those people who aren't sure how many calories they should be eating.


  3. 1 hour ago, Torriluv87 said:


    Wow. That's crazy. Thanks for the explanation. I know if I'm not following my plan I'm usually more prone to heartburn. I didn't even consider Iron pills giving me a problem. I've been anemic for a bit but have been scared of iron pills since my bathroom habits aren't as consistent as they used to be if you know what i mean. That makes me think. Thanks for that.

    Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

    I just take a stool softener if I am having issues staying regular.

    Not taking iron isn't an option for me.

    Since I switched to the extended release iron pills and started taking nexium, my GERD is much better. I think in 6 months it might be gone. I'll update


  4. @IveGotThePower

    Get your metabolism tested at a local university. Find someone that puts you on a table and has you be still for about 30 minutes. That is the most accurate. It should run around $50. Then you can know what your metabolism is, without guessing.

    I have a normal metabolism even after losing a lot of weight. Some people do, some people don't. It is better to be tested and be sure, than just guessing.

    Your NUT isn't taking into account that people who are morbidly obese gain a lot of muscle to carry all that extra weight, and whole you lose some muscle when losing fat, if you are meeting your Protein goal, you should maintain most of your muscle.

    If you want to lose more weight, tracking and weighing your food really helps.


  5. 23 hours ago, Torriluv87 said:


    How did eliminating meat make things worse? I've never heard of that. I'm always going back and forth with if i should eat meat or not but never thought it'd make heartburn worse by getting rid of it. What happened if you don't mind me asking. I'm genuinely curious.

    Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

    It created a domino effect of issues. Even though I was taking Vitamins and supplementing with Iron, removing meat from my diet made my anemia completely out of control and I only did it for about 6 weeks. My Dr put me on 650 mg of iron a day to correct my anemia, but the iron completely tore my stomach up. From the moment I would take a pill I could feel it literally burning in my stomach. The burning and heartburn the iron pills caused, caused me to eat more, which made the heartburn worse.

    I have been anemic since I started puberty so it isn't WLS related at all. I was taking 65mg 2x a day since surgery and that wasn't enough once I gave up meat.


  6. @tfarr

    I took Prilosec for a while, it did nothing.

    I have been taking 40mg of Nexium (well the generic) every morning and my GERD has greatly improved and is almost gone mostly.

    My GERD issues are caused by how I eat, if I push my food limits, I get GERD. Then it takes me months to correct it. I just have to be careful with how I eat, period. Mostly I get GERD if I am eating out a lot and not measuring my food. Pushing my sleeve limits for days on end causes GERD for me. I also was on a really high dose of Iron for my anemia and that literally ripped my stomach to shreds. They switched my iron and my stomach is healing with the help of the Nexium.

    I also want to add, I am having gallbladder issues so it all related. I am really trying to avoid another surgery, I just flat out don't have time for it. I have been taking supplements the past couple months after a gallbladder attack and my gallblader issues have greatly improved.

    And this all started because I gave up meat for a while last year which was the worst decision I have ever made in my life, it caused so many problems for me, I'll never do it again.


  7. @crazyplantlady

    How I eat at 2.5 years is basically the same as how I was eating at year one. Just slightly larger portions. My dense Protein portion size is unchanged at 4 ounces but I can easily eat 8 ounces of fish or a 6 ounce burger. Which is fine for me. 8 ounces of fish doesn't even hit 200 calories.

    My calories vary wildly depending on my day or mood, anywhere from 1200 to 2200. The average 1400/1500 if I am home all day (which I am most of the time I work from home).

    I keep my carbs below 25 most days. My protein is always a minimum 100 grams, goal is 130 grams.

    At 6 months post-op I picked a way of eating that I felt natural to me that I could stick to, so there is no real reason to change it.

    My physical hunger still has not returned at all unless I go about 16 hours without eating. I do WANT to eat more, but that is due to RL circumstances. I'm a stress eater and 2017 was high stress for me. In the summer I can work off steam being outside, in the winter, when I am trapped in doors it is harder.

    The mental game is harder, but my sleeve is still function as always.


  8. My Vitamin outline says to take certain Vitamins separately because some vitamins do not absorb with other vitamins. Like I have to take Iron separate from everything else. Same with vitamin D. Zinc and iron can cancel each other out, so it is better to take them separately. Most Multi Vitamins even the Bariartic ones lump all these vitamins together. You can save money with a regular multi, and then buy the the vitamins your need to supplement in higher doses separately. I am anemic, always have been so I have to take a high grade and dose of iron, but even with that, I spend less than $50 a month on supplements and $50 is high, it is probably more in the $30-40 range.

    If you want to save money, just compare the doses of the vitamins that your Dr wants you to take and look around for regular vitamins.

    B-12 and D-3 are cheap and affordable at Sam's club. I purchase almost a year and a half of B-12 at Sam's for 9.99 or 12.99 or something. It works fine my B-12 is off the charts high.

    Saving money takes a little more leg work than just buying the Bari formulas, so it ends up being time vs money.


  9. I use DEXA scans and metabolic testing to set my Protein and calorie goals. Genetic testing has became more affordable and accessible for recreational and lay use. I decided to give it a whirl. I am not going to name companies here since the site is google searchable but if someone messages me I will name the companies privately.

    My DNA was sequenced by 2 companies. One company does everything self contained and another company sequences DNA and then sells you partner products based on that sequenced DNA. The first company allows you to download your DNA for upload to other companies. The 2nd company does not accept other DNA and does not allow you to export your DNA. I would suggest using a company that allows you to export and share your DNA.

    These two tests were done a few months apart so I had the first company for a few months to go over the results and also to upload my DNA to other places.

    I'm not going to get too deep into my DNA here, but the one thing from the larger (imo more reputable) company that sequenced my DNA is that basically I can eat however I want and lose weight. The type of diet doesn't matter, just the calorie deficit. Also, I am a part of a small percentage (12%) the population that doesn't need to exercise to lose weight. My body is predisposed to gaining muscle easily and to weigh about average. This company provides information for ancestry and overall wellness.

    The 2nd company I signed up for sells diet and fitness coaching. The results from this company are almost the opposite of the original company and the other sites I uploaded my DNA to. Why would the same DNA yield such different results? My conclusion is because they are trying to sell a coaching plan for $1000. If I really believe their interpretation of my DNA I might be inclined to purchase their services, but since this information contradicts all the other information I have obtained over the past few months prior to this test, I believe their results are bias so convince people to purchase their services, which is disappointing. For example they state I have a genetic predisposition to gain weight from dietary fat, when everything else has stated the opposite and my own eating habits have proved the opposite. Their results also say I am less likely to gain weight from Carbs, which personally I know is not true at all. The only thing they agreed about was my overall body composition (genetic predisposed to a smaller weight and normal weight).

    So if anyone is considering DNA testing for diet and fitness suggestions. Just keep in mind that DNA testing is new, highly subjective and can be interpreted different ways.

    I am still going to pursue this for more information. There are a couple other nutrition services based on DNA I want to try. I will update with results over the next few months.


  10. @Gundy

    My boobs aren't fake at all and they look just like that in a good bra, that is what a bra is supposed to do for you if you have a good one. The picture you are talking about is about breasts not collarbone. That picture wasn't there in the original post months ago, but it still all natural, even if it is at a weird angle.

    My collar bone looks even more pronounced than the woman in picture because I have a big frame with wideish shoulders. If I was stretching all my skin and bones out by taking a picture with my hands above my head, I would look like Skeletor.

    That picture is weird, but there is nothing fake or emaciated about it.


  11. On 1/5/2018 at 11:49 AM, Andrew0929 said:


    I use an app on my phone called SparkPeople and use a simple kitchen scale. Since I eat the same Breakfast and Snacks daily I created groups of meals. I probably spend less than 1 minute a day logging.

    It’s not for everyone, but I need to do this to maintain control.

    Agreed. I probably spend less than 30 seconds a meal logging. If you log all the time and you have foods saved it goes really fast.


  12. On 11/8/2017 at 3:05 AM, Oregondaisy said:

    I crave sweets all the time. It's very hard not to give into all the sweets I come across every single day.

    Have you tried keep low carb/low calorie sweets on you? I try to keep something on me, so if I get tempted I have a better option. Lily's chocolate, Protein Bar, Protein brownie, Keto cookie, something.

    Long term I think it is better to have replacements than just try to flat out deprive yourself. At least it is working for me


  13. I love cooking more now than before because instead of making a lot of time tested family recipes. I am making lots of new recipes with new ingredients (healthy substitutions). Also I cook one serving at time, sometimes 2, so my cooking involves a lot of math which I also enjoy. Meal prep and cooking is a part of my entire meal. That makes my small meals seem longer and more satisfying, even though the portions are small. I cook all my meals fresh as I eat them and that also adds a lot of enjoyment for me, since I love fresh food.

    I'm probably more of a foodie, food snob than ever before. I make every calorie count like it is a dollar I spending. I refuse to eat anything subpar or that I don't like. If I get something out and it doesn't taste good, I just toss it.


  14. 2 hours ago, CowgirlJane said:

    I know this is an old post - but very relevant. It is hard to sustain the focus!

    I am nearly 6 years post conversion from band to sleeve so I have a cumulative 16 years of failing and succeeding post bariatric surgery (my goodness, how time flies). For me, the only way I can maintain is to maintain diligence; or to regain diligence quickly when it inevitably weakens a bit. It can be depressing, BUT, I am lucky that as a horsewoman I have friends who tend towards fitness. As they age along side me, it seems they struggle about the same I do - I am just more fatigued...haha. Also, I probably could be 300-350# again if I let it get that far out of control, and that consequence is unlikely for them. So, I think for me, the consequences are bigger - more life and death.

    I just joined a 6 week body transformation along with a bunch of other desk job types who have no concept of morbid obesity. I feel so normal - ha - struggling over the pounds along with everyone else!

    Long time no see!

    Yeah I learned that tail end of summer that not tracking is not an option for me. I have a lot of flexibility in how I eat, but I still need to track because it is easy to let things get out of hand.

    I have to accept that I will always have to be conscious of what I eat, and in what quantities. Which can seem overwhelming when you think about an entire lifetime, but it is still better than the alternative. Being super morbidly obese is not an option.


  15. @sleevedshereen

    If I wanted to insult you, I would do it directly and @ you, not indirectly. I'm not passive aggressive. Unless you are a stock holder in these brands (and even if you are), you have no reason to be offended unless you just want to be.

    I shop at all of those stores, which is how I know what they stock and the quality. I already said I like hoe clothes and if you read my whole post before flying off the handle you would have realized that, you stopped at Preppy and skipped over the hoe part. I have said it multiple times here over the past year since I have been shopping in regular sizes. I bought tanks and dresses from old navy when I was transitioning sizes and I suggested other people shop there too because it is cheap, cheaper than thrift stores when there is a sale. However the price reflects the quality and you can't compare Old Navy to banana Republic or J.Crew. The cuts and fabrics at Old Navy are inferior, however they are great if you are transitioning sizes rapidly because of the costs. The vanity sizing there along with the inferior cuts, is a bit much though, so you don't get a good grasp on your sizing in normal sizes.

    Charolette Russe is not comparable at all to Torrid in regular sizes. The quality is lower, but the prices are lower too, so that balances out. The shoes in both stores are crappy, so they are equal there. The jewelry at Torrid is slightly better, but the jewelry at CR is cuter and cheaper. CR because of their price point does not have all the licensed graphic tees like Torrid does. They have random graphic tees. A lot of their stuff is made of inferior materials and you have to hand wash it, it can't go in the machine or the dryer. Most of their clothes are designed for single wear, because once Water touches it, it is never the same. They are seriously fast fashion, worse than F21. they have no distinctive style, the clothes they sell you can get anywhere. They make the same clothes as everyone else and they recycle styles a lot.

    I like Windsor better for wear once club clothes, they have better designs and construction, but it is decidedly smaller juniors cuts.

    Torrid has a very distinct and collective style. They have rockabilly looks, trendy hoewear or the proper term, clubwear, lots of collaborations with licensed clothes (Disney, Star Wars, Marvel), and punk. All in one store. There is no brand that has that in normal sizes, not a womens specialty store. A Dept Store juniors section is the closest anyone is going to get to that, because they stock multiple brands. Most womens specialty brands are not that eclectic in style.

    I have been short changing Torrid because their pricing and down grade in quality has annoyed me over the years but honestly they are a very unique clothing brand with a unique market position, they have no equivalent in womens specialty clothing. OP specifically asked about youthful clothing, Torrid is unique in their offerings and there is no duplication in normal sizes.

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