Lattedah

Starting weight was 299.

I was sleeved on 4/10/2017. I feel great, haven't had any issues with re-flux, able to drink plenty of fluids with out any issues. Incisions are healing great and no left over surgery pain. I have no issues with eating most foods and take my time eating and chewing; however, I am much hungrier than I thought I would be. Actually, when I hit a stall and actually gained about 4 lbs, I asked my NUT what I might be doing wrong... it appears I was eating too much. I honestly misunderstood my eating instruction sheet. I thought I was up to 1/2 cup per meal. Well... that is not the case. I'm supposed to be at 1/4 cup per meal. Also I was walking regularly until my arthritic knees starting bothering me (although my knees have been feeling great since surgery). I just purchased a stationary bike and working on getting up to speed on that! Now, that I lowered my food intake, I have lost 6 lbs. So, a total of 37 lbs. I'm fine with losing slowly, but I can't wait to get to 1/2 cup and then to 1 cup. I think there will be stalls at every change in the amount of food intake. Just need to look for ways to overcome those stalls.
Everyone is doing great!

I was sleeved 4/19. I'm feeling great and have lost 42 lbs. I'm in another stall- first was at 3 weeks. Now I've been at the same weight for 10 days. I wish I could just throw the scale away, but I'm addicted to getting on it! [emoji6] I can see a difference in my face and chest, but thighs and waist are holding tight to the pounds! I did start back to Zumba last week, so hopefully that will help!

4/5 here and down 36 lbs since surgery and almost 45 overall. I'm cleared to eat everything but grains. I'm also cleared to exercise as much as I want. Now that I'm much lighter, I can run a little and do some HIIT workouts. I'm increasing my strength training.
I don't tolerate eggs very well which is fine because I never really liked them anyways. Water can be a challenge. I should be over 64 ounces since I live in the hot AZ desert but I struggle to remember.
The first month was really tough for me and I had buyers regret for a while. I missed food, I missed crunchy things and I missed the family celebrations that came with food. Now, I don't really think about food in the same way. While I spend a lot of time planning food out, it's not with the same obsession as before. Most of the cravings are gone. Potato chips are my one hold out. I don't allow them in the house because I will seek them out.

Sleeved April 4th. Down 58 lbs. Feeling good. Exercising some... in a stall right now. [emoji853]

To my fellow April sleevers where are you at now in your journey?
I was sleeved 4/19 at 263. I had my six week check up 5/30 and weighed in at 241. I'm gonna weigh again this Tuesday hoping to hit 235 by then.
Everything's going well for me. I don't have any gerd or problems with bowel movements. I also started working out 2 weeks ago.
So how's everything with everyone else?

I was sleeved on 4/6 and weighed 233. I weighed myself this morning and was 203. My weight loss this second month has definitely slowed down, but I am happy with where it is going. I have not exercised as much as I should have because the day after my surgery I found out my mom has pancreatic cancer so she has with me for three of the weeks since surgery. I've taken her to the mayo clinic for doctor appointments and also have been at her house cleaning and cooking. I have not taken care of myself as much as I should have, but she is most important to me right now. Anyway, I have mostly felt good but have not had a lot of energy and have been pretty tired. I can't eat much and never feel hungry so I am hoping that once I get into the routine of faithfully exercising, that the pounds will start coming off a little easier again. Best of luck to you!

Jen- i'm in a stall too-- will be 2 weeks tomorrow without any movement. I know eventually we'll both keep moving forward, but it's definitely frustrating when the scale isn't moving! Hope you move past your stall soon!

I was sleeved 4/11.
HW. 191.8
SW. 182.4
CW 158.4
Lately its been a very slow process about a pound a week. I feel good and seem to be able to eat just about anything I try with no problems. I had hoped to lose?a bit more at this point (9 weeks out) but I started with a lower BMI and I guess this is the process.
Water and exersice all good.
Any other low Bmi' ers out there????
Would love to see if they are in the same boat as I am with the slow loss

Sent from my SM-N920P using BariatricPal mobile app

I was sleeved on 4/18, and am down 26 lbs.

I've been making this lately and it's so good and satisfying! (Im 8 months post op so no food restrictions as long as they are healthy)
BLT, but I use iceberg lettuce instead of bread. For me personally, I watch my carbs and don't worry as much about fats.
I use crisp bacon, Tomato, mayo, and iceberg.

Unfortunately, when we ask for free advice and suggestions on weight loss surgery forums, nearly 100 percent of the time the respondents are not going to be 'experts' with fancy doctoral degrees. The advice is free, after all.
If people who want advice and suggestions really need an educated professional, there's the option of paying the big bucks for consulting with one.
Alas, we get what we pay for. If the snarky advice is free, an individual can log off.
Speaking of signing off, many people lie to themselves. They seek only those opinions and comments that will validate their worldview or a terrible decision they're wanting to make, often under the guise of "looking for support" or "needing advice."
In other words, many folks are really seeking Yes-people, cheerleaders, "supportive" Pollyanna types and others who tell them exactly what they want to hear, nothing more. Tough love and blunt advice that opposes the person's worldview or poor decision is discounted as rude.
Sometimes candor and tough love are what the doctor ordered.

Ok, so in case y'all haven't figured it out..
Ice cream without chunks fits into the "full liquids" category.

Yes 33 lbs in 7 weeks is pretty amazing .. i also had a couple stalls in the very beginning but i was also really constipated ALL THE TIME (sorry TMI), it started to discourage me so i stopped weighing myself every day .. i notice it always seems to work its self out . But you are doing an amazing job keep it up !!

Hi. Thanks for posting this. I'm about 7 weeks out and have been stalled for the last two weeks. I am at 32-33 lbs lost. I have tried upping my calories a little for a few days and then back to my normal daily intake. Just keep bouncing around 32-33 lbs lost. I was walking but having a little issue with my knees when walking. I ordered stationary bike that is supposed to be low impact on the knees. Did anyone else notice a stall at 7 weeks? Seems like this would be too soon.

Today I had an "ah-ha" moment. It took 4 years, but I think I get it! It was triggered by this before photo popping up in my Facebook memories from 5 years ago, (coupled with my most recent post-op photo taken last week, down 120 pounds since surgery in 2013). (attached below)
....And then reading the following quote on a friend's post:
"Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe it's about unbecoming everything that isn't you so you can be who you were in the first place."
I've struggled for years since losing the weight after surgery with questions of "is this the 'real' me, or am I just pretending and the 'real' 'fat' me will resurface sooner or later?" "Can people really change long-term?" It felt like the obese, sad, self-hating "me" was a monster waiting just below the surface to re-emerge. Give enough time and the right circumstances, the "real me" monster will rear it's head and I'll find myself back at nearly 300 pounds.
Guys! I get it now! It's not about change. It's not about the "sticking power" of change. It's not about willpower or determination. It's not even about counting carbs, Protein, calories, and ounces of Water. Sure those are tools that help. But it's not about that.
It's about doing the hard emotional work to figure out why I was hiding myself behind 150 excess pounds. It was about allowing myself to have a voice and using it. It was about demanding self-respect and respect from others. It was about leaving behind, painfully as it was in some cases, the toxic people in my life who emotionally damaged me. It was about processing the feelings that I didn't allow myself to feel for 18 years.
Once I realized this, once I did this work, I could little by little shed the layers that hid who I was. I don't hate myself anymore. I'm not even angry at myself for letting myself get to be 300 pounds like I was when my journey started. I realize now that I was coping. I was doing the best I knew how to do at the time. I look at that person in the "before" picture below and I feel compassion because I know she did her best.
I'm able now to let go the "fear" - and trust me, it's a literal fear - of that "real me" monster re-emerging from just below the surface. I can let it go because I realize, this is the real me. It was actually opposite. It was all the hiding I was doing under the emotional eating and the 150 excess pounds that was hiding the "real me."
So I have to on some level disagree with those who say this is a process of change. Sure, you have to change your behavioral choices with food and exercise or none of this will work. But for me it was not "becoming a new person" or "changing" who I am as a person. For me it was about simply allowing myself to feel and allowing myself to return home to who I was before I was hurt and who the universe intends me to be.
Feel free to check out my blog linked in my signature for more of my journey!

I had lost exactly 79.5 pounds at one year post-op. I weighed 218 on surgery day, and on my one-year sleeve anniversary I weighed 138.5 pounds.
It took me approximately 17 months to lose 100 pounds. Yes, I was a slower loser. However, a slow and steady pace is still capable of achieving the goal. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the reply, Introversion and LittleLizzielillyput (great name!). I am glad to hear that this is maybe somewhat normal, especially since I'm a band to sleeve revisionist ... I was a little worried going in that I might not lose as much or as quickly due to the band. I'm still optimistic! Especially as you two have lost a good deal of weight! Congratulations, by the way! That is inspirational! Also, "LLL," I have noticed I've gone down 2 dress sizes. Maybe I should take my measurements! Thanks again for the encouraging words!

Ok. Rules are SOMETIMES meant to be broken. So, Here's the deal. I am 2 weeks post op today. I am one of those who had zero issues and had a smooth ride from recovery room to date!! This post is not intended to mean I am sure I will have a long term good go at this! It also doesn't address the future, but really ONLY the many threads that I have read regarding the preo op and post op liquid diets and the Pre and post few weeks Do's and Dont's!
I have read almost every post on here before and after surgery, lol. Here is the point that I will explain. Your/Our obsession over following diet rules is what got us here in the first place.. isn't it?? I mean, it's great to have black and white rules.. Do's and Don's. can and cant's.. That's why we were ALL great on Atkins (remember the carb counting obsession), and South Beach (remember how carefully we chose the meals), weight watchers, low cal, grapefruit, slimfast , yada yada yada......RIGHT?
Sure, it worked. THEN WE WENT OFF THE WAGON and got sick of the rules and restrictions and put weight back on (and then some).... That's because it was a DIET.. Why do so many of you do that on here? I'm not judging, but trying to help! Yes, it's easier for me, since I have had no issues. I come from a strong medical family (i had bio as a minor,4 docs and 2 nurses in immed family) and I always love to understand WHY the rules are in place. If something doesn't make sense, I want to know why and not just follow a rule because it was put out there.
My surgeon told me that "rules" are on here for the lower end of reaction spectrum. meaning, many need not follow them, but since 30%, for ex, will have issues with some things, they want to make a general rule......
As EVERYONE says on here, as well as EVERY doc, ALL OF US ARE DIFFERENT! We heal differently, We tolerate pain differently, foods differently, weight loss differently, etc..... EVERY SINGLE ONE So, the rules need not be applied to the T!
Now, as a caveat and from feedback so far on this post, this is not an excuse to eat junk NOR stay on bad habits. I don't mean to enable anyone. here is what BUTTERTHEBEAN wrote:
"The only reason I say "enabling" is because I think there are some people waiting in the wings to hear someone tell them it's okay to eat whatever they want. They haven't tackled their food addictions and they are hoping for "permission" to go back to their old ways. I know there are some that can learn to eat "all things in moderation." I have no problem with that. For me, I chose to embrace my inner health nut. It's not fear or weakness or lack of self control...it's the desire to live a long, healthy and active life. I'm not depriving myself, or sacrifing. The things I'm doing and the life I'm leading now feel way better than eating pizza and cupcakes ever did (even in moderation). By that I mean that food did not give me pleasure (never did, I just thought it did), so I no longer look to food to satisfy my needs, except nutritionally."
Ok... Back to the post. Specifically, here is what I have had debunked by my brother (Anesthesiologist for bariatric), My mom (nurse and nutritionist), my bro's good friend and bariatric surgeon, and my surgeon..........
* Yes, the liquid PRE OP diet is not to be messed with. It sucked, but we need the liver to be soft and looking like liver in a supermarket. That will happen in most cases with one week.. Many docs do one week only and many do 2 weeks..... So, if you have a 2 week doc, don't worry if you cheat a little and wants some low calorie food.. It's OK!! have the Soup... etc. I didn't cheat as mine was only a week and I did not want to have a lifetime of liver issues if it was frail and broke a bit/injured while being moved for my surgery....
* Most docs on here POST OP put you on liquids for 2 weeks.. Why?? NOTHING medical. Really? Many docs, including mine, put me on Clear Liquids only day 1 in the hospital and then put me instantly on pureed foods (tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, greek yogurts, ricotta cheese, etc).. Yes. DAY 2! He does this for EVERY patient.. He has had NO MORE COMPLICATIONS than anyone else ever.... It is NOT true that eating this will cause a leak.. It can't get caught in you stitches, lol, as they are on the outside and you can't see them even in your stomach.. The ONLY risk is a)that you eat way too much and thus can cause leaks, so don't do that. and that is WAY too much. Meaning you go out of your way to test the limits. As any surgeon will tell you, stretching the stomach to break the staples is no easy task.... easy enough to follow that rule .. and the risk is that you get nauseated.. Ok.. we are all different. Some take 90 minutes the first time they eat to get down 4 oz of chicken salad.. I didn't . I got it down in 15 min and could have done it in 5..... But the point is, listen to your body. start slowly and if you tolerate it, then screw the rules.....
What does this mean? It means so what if you doc put you on 2 week post liquid. That is soo hard.. so, do it mostly, but don't obsess about cheating. have a friggin plate of tuna salad.. It will taste yummy.. Add some great yogurt. If you can handle it, you are good to go! I did.. They also want you on this liquid to max your weight loss for motivation up front? do you really need that?? I don't care if it takes me 1 more week than you to hit the same goal? Frankly, I decided to keep my calories around 800ish anyway for my first 2 weeks. It was a little hard, but nothing like your liquid nightmare and i lost as much weight... I'm now on 1200 cal full diet plan (less hard carbs and hard veggies) as of last night.
I've heard people say they are craving one Dorito chip.. Then the advice replies were "lick the cheese off" or "take a bit and spit it out...." LOL. Really? This is your diet/lifestyle for the rest of your life. HAVE A CHIP.. See if you get a lot of gas.. Chew it well.. If not problem, then enjoy the one chip. You got here because you at a half bag . One or three chips won't kill you! You need to find a way to eat what you will do.. The docs want you to build your healthy habits now.
*The first year is where you get your max weight loss- Ok. For sure,, so, as noted, build your healthy habits now.. but make it last. So, if I want a Dorito chip. I have one or two.. On my pureed phase, my kids had pretzels at a game. I took 2 small ones....I had a qtr of his hotdog meat.. The point is, if we can seriously lower the number of calories we eat (which, for me, they figured i was eating between 3500-4000 per day and needed to be at 2400 or so.. Now, with 1200, which believe me, with the sleeve is a mini feast, I will be eating half the amount and will lose a lot of weight. So, yes, build good eating habits and i'm working on good food choices that I can live with! Can I eat white bread. Damn right?should I// nO?? it's a waste of calories and spikes your sugar and appetite. But, I sure will if i want a hamburger or great sandwich. A month ago i would have had 2 cheeseburgers and 2 hotdogs at a bbq. .So, guess what, i'll lose weight. Can't make it a daily thing.. But, again, stop obsessing..
*Eating and drinking slowly eating- well, you don't HAVE to eat slowly, but as we have been told our whole lives, eat slowly so that when you are really full, you know it! Also, you need to see what your bod can tolerate and if you eat too quickly, you may not have realized you were about to puke. If you can tolerate it, you can eat and drink quicker than others, but not a good idea for reasons mentioned. so work on it, but don't obsess.. At the hospital, they told me I had to drink in in little tiny medical cups a few cc evry 20 min. I laughed, as Water went down easily in recovery even. ALL NURSES TOLD ME NO. When I saw my doc, i asked why I can't just drink as I can tolerate it at home and get my 64 oz is. HE said dont' chug, but do whatever you can do without discomfort. So, 8 oz bottle of Water went down in 5 minutes... etc....
*Chewing your food- ALL true... We have that banana sized stomach.. So, the doughy breads, and stringy veggies and large pieces of non chewed enough food INDEED often get stuck! Not stuck like a lap band, but rather, they move toward the pyloric valve and are too big to pass through it, since there isn't as much acid, etc in your stomach and, well, the route to the valve is now MUCH shorter.. So, it sits in front of it and as soon as the next item goes there, it waits in line. your body puts out gas and then knows there is a problem, so will signal you to vomit it up. not fun... So, chew! All true! Also makes us take longer to eat and thus enjoy the tastes more than ever and have the full signal sent to our brain while we are still eating or pretty close to that!
*Caffein is bad... Ok. Google whether it's an appetite suppressant or stimulant.. It's hysterical.. You'll get equal replies from GREAT sources that say the opposite. I WANT my one cup a day. I'm not an addict. I asked. I am now sipping on my first REAL one. It is indeed a diuretic for some. So, drink a half cup more water than a day! If you feel it makes you hungry after you have it and you don't want to hold back, then stop the coffee.. It doesn't for me. It does for some... But what will you be doing in a year from now??/ There is NO medical reason why you can't have caffein after a few weeks
*ALCOHOL is a no no for 2 months. NONSENSE.. Again, just there so we don't put empty calories. BUT what if I WANT one drink or two on a date tonight?? I am told, go for it, but just know you will have ingested 400 wasted calories. Ok. I get it, but I WILL drink in my life, although never drank a ton and that was not the cause of most of my weight.. Watch the calories and don't do it twice most weeks.. Or if you will, then cut back a bit on your Snacks, etc. Anyway, looking forward to a martini with my date tomorrow at dinner.. Oh, most people on here for a while, will tell you since there is less food to bind with alcohol, it goes into your intestines/blood stream much quicker and you get a nice buzz faster with less! way cool!
* Most other rules and comments on here are just not universal and again, if you feel the NEED to cheat, then well, cheat! How can it be cheating if this will be your new life! WOrk hard at right food choices and don't make this soooo hard. The harder you make it, the more YOU WILL revolt and end up going off the wagon like the good old days... Since I have had no pain, etc and pretty much eat what I wanted (and cheated on my puree period even), I feel this is just toooo easy. I hear so many of you struggling (not because you have pain, but because you want to break a rul) and so many of you "supporting them" to stay strong, that I just wanted to add this post! Also, again, much of the medical advice that our well meaning friends on here provide, just isn't true. Sorry, but it isnt.
I hope this helps some of you enjoy your Pre and Post diets much more than you may be now!
Best, my friends!

I keep telling myself...this is a choice you made in order to be healthy and live longer. My biggest fear is dying at 60 like my dad did. It is sometimes an obsessive thought I have and that is only 15 years away... I want to be healthy, take less meds, feel comfortable in my skin and happy with my life.


[emoji1591]Angie

A lot of people feel like this the 1st week or 2. You'll be happy with your choice soon. It's just a stage, it'll pass....

I didn't notice a stall at 7 weeks because I wasn't weighing myself daily, or even weekly. It's hard to notice stalls when you weigh in no more than once a month.
By the way, it took me an entire 3 months to lose 33 pounds. You accomplished that in less than 7 weeks so you are still doing well. Keep up the good work.

I don't lose weight rapidly but my body keeps getting slimmer. I'm in a size 12 now and haven't lost a single lb yet I was a size 14 2 weeks ago. lol!

Mine is slow and steady but my body is changing more rapidly.

I think that anyone who has not had a band to sleeve revision won't feel what we feel. Alas...you are in luck. I know exactly what you are feeling and seeing and feel that I have adequately navigated through it. I was banded for 6 years. Lost 75 lbs, gained 50, lost 60, gained 10, etc. I had to have a revision because I couldn't eat foods that are good for me because of the restriction. If you are looking for the same feeling of restriction with the band and sleeve, stop now. You won't get it. It is so different. I can drink plenty of fluids, eat all of the slider foods, and anything liquid or soupy that I want without ever reaching that full feeling. I know my satiety depends on what I am eating. If I am doing sugar, carbs, dairy, fruit or anything like that in anything other than really small quantities, I never reach a "full" feeling. I know it is hormonal and blood sugar related. If I eat mainly Protein and veggies with the occasional taste of sugar, I have to force myself to eat. I'm never hungry. I don't know if this helps, but it is my experience and it is a tough road to navigate! You can do this!

Hello, everyone. I'm 6 weeks out from my surgery. Here are some things that I know, am learning or have learned:
I knew going in that the sleeve would be a tool and not fix my head hunger nor my bad food habits. I have to work on those things myself! I'm not going to B*ll Sh*T myself. I either do this or I make excuses not to. The sleeve will offer restriction and help me; however, again, I have to work with it, not against it. Support is huge, either family, friends, this forum, therapy or support groups. But, I am stubborn. If I AM NOT in it, no support will "make" me successful. It's going to be a long-haul and I have to remind myself (everyday) why I did this. It's because I want to lose the weight so I can be happy and healthy and be around for a while. I may fall off the wagon and if I do, I have to choose to get back on! 32 lbs down and I feel better already... but I know that could change easily if I don't stay the course!