Ruth1ess

So far so good I've identified that I use food as a 'reward' for doing well in other areas of my life, as well as stress eating to feel better. Working on rerouting those triggers with other behavior. I drink one beer every week or every other week, or not at all, down from 4-5 weekly. Don't do sugary drinks, never have since living a low carb lifestyle. The occasional diet soda if I feel the craving, but that's rare. I don't do sugar replacements/sugar alcohols. Splenda is a migraine trigger for me, and sugar alcohols are bad for the gut, so I cut them out completely to get my palette used to natural sweetness instead of overly sweet fixations. I've found some Vitamins I like and can tolerate. I've been playing with Protein powders and just bought some unsweetened pea protein, excited to try that. I'm an overachiever... next!

I'm ready now too!! Here's my intro post, I'm going to be updating it along the way.. will also post here! Looking forward to having friends going through the same kinds of things! http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/360035-the-start-of-my-new-life-in-2016/

Thank you so much for the thoughtful responses. Biohack.. nice term! I guess you're kind of right there. I've been able to lose 60-70 lbs a few times during my lifetime, and maintain it for a few years after. It always creeps back, something always happens, and I always gain back more than what I lost. That's the pattern I want to break with the sleeve. I can lose the weight on my own, but, it won't stay off and I know that. That's why I'm excited for the sleeve as a long term solution to always be with me on my journey. I've been using the calculator the same way. I'm just not really sure if our bodies work that way. I guess I will just have to find out for myself through my own experience at this point, since it doesn't really seem to be something that other people have done. I realize the numbers don't mean much, but, consider it boredom from waiting.. to overanalyze and see if this is really the best way or if I can somehow optimize results along the way.

I wholeheartedly understand that the sleeve is a tool and that what I put into this is what I will get back from it. I understand there are major behavioral and life changes ahead for me if I am to succeed. I also understand that the numbers my doctor gives me are averages and aren't to be relied on. I've put a lot of thought and research into this decision. I am also very aware that the numbers are from excess weight, not total weight, as I specified in my original post. Specifically, if I were to put off the sleeve for another 6 months or so in theory and I lost 40 more lbs, I'm curious if the sleeve would kind of halt at the same place as if I had started now, or if I could expect a greater weight loss overall. I'm trying to get the greatest benefit from my new tool as I possibly can, I know it can be a lot more frustrating towards the end. I can't really determine what my 'normal' is right now, as I've slowly put on another 20 lbs or so in the past year. I'm looking for opinions and any life experience that may be able to shed some light on my question as I ponder

I appreciate your thoughts. Still looking for an answer to the question, though!

I'm expecting my sleeve date to be somewhere in April appropriate since it's my birthday month! I don't use FB, though, just here and G+

Good morning! I've been doing some thinking, wanted to pick the brains of the veterans in here. I'm still pre-op with no date, probably about two months out. I've lost 10 lbs in the past month by working with my nutritionist. I could probably lose another 10-20 lbs before my surgery, which is awesome! But, wanted to ask, if in your experience, the pre-op weight loss is included in the ~60-70% of anticipated weight loss I can expect to lose with my sleeve? OR is it on top of that? As in, is it worth delaying surgery a little while so I can lose more weight, then my sleeve would bring me down even further than it would have before? I'm wondering if that anticipated 60-70% loss of excess weight is because that's how far my body will want to go, period (so weight lost beforehand factors in as well and I will lose less on my sleeve). Any insight you can give would be great HW: 296 CW: 285 HT: 5'7" BMI: 46

Did anything ever happen in Jacksonville?

Good luck on your journey!

Anyone have a favorite scale they use? I feel like splurging and the one I have now is horrible.. the most basic you can get and only works half the time! I'm probably going to be spending a lot of time on this sucker..

I have yet to be sleeved, but my body seems to do that when I'm trying to lose weight. I'll gain three lbs, then lose 5. Gain 2, lose 6. It's a weird process, but it's what my body wants to do even when I'm doing everything right.

Big step for me... I needed someone to act as caregiver and take me to my bariatric classes, so I told my grandma about my plans on Tuesday night. My fear was that she would be judgmental, tell me I didn't need it, tell me I just need to eat less, etc, as she's done in the past. She's always the first one to comment on my weight. Reality was, she started crying and hugged me. She thinks WLS is a great idea, supports me 100%, and literally cleared her schedule for me. She says she's been praying for something like this as she's been worried about my health. I was able to reassure her that I was not pre-diabetic as I had also feared, my bloodwork all came back really good, and my blood pressure is still 112/72. I cried a lot that night -- her acceptance meant a lot to me, and now I have someone to hold my hand through the process... and not just anyone! I respect her more than anyone else in this world.

I did low carb for a long time. I try to avoid the sugary veggies (corn, carrots) and focus on the deep greens. The super sweet fruits are to be avoided as well... bananas are a killer. Melons and berries are your best bet to keep the carbs down, and like someone else said above, fiber! Any fiber you can subtract from the carb count.

I have a prenatal Vitamin that I'm taking prior to surgery, but, I'm wondering how I'm going to get this giant pill down after. Is it OK to crush these? I don't see why not, as it's not an extended release.

When's the last time you lost 28 lbs in almost two months? Sounds like you're doing amazing!

@@Sammysmiles Cool!! I wondered if there were any other Mayo patients on here My first class is on Feb 16th, then March 9th is my last one. I'm also hoping for an April surgery. I don't have a follow up with Dr. Lynch beforehand, though. He said he wouldn't see me until after the surgery. I'm sure we'll see each other at one point or another Do you know if there are any support groups local to Jax?

Age: 34 Personality: INFJ Weight: 288 lbs Relationship status: Committed Location: Florida Health: Good, but not much stamina That's me, in a nutshell. My favorite thing to do is to travel and explore everything around me. I'm insatiably curious and love interacting with different cultures. I've traveled to several countries with various missionary and relief projects because I believe in spending my resources helping those less fortunate. I love hiking in the woods, zip-lining between mountains, scuba diving, getting intentionally lost in new cities on foot, and meeting new people. Skydiving is on my bucket list. I'm fiercely independent and stubbornness is my fatal flaw. History: I've done all of these things overweight. I've lost up to 60 lbs (twice), my lowest adult weight being 220 at one time. I felt marvelous and my energy was unending. The weight stayed off for about two years, but when it came back brought another 10 or 20 on top of what my highest had previously been. Recently, the scale tipped 296, something I never thought I'd see. I was mortified that I'd let myself get that high, as I'd started feeling the physical signs of that much weight: Being physically uncomfortable with that much bulge (sitting comfortably), energy sapping quickly, sore feet after just a couple of hours of exploring New York. Knees painful when climbing stairs. I noticed in myself the last few months that I've started withdrawing from social situations and meeting new people out of embarrassment over how I look. I had an internet friend visit the states from the UK recently, and I wanted to fly out to meet her. I didn't. I want to visit my dad back home in Minnesota since it's been six years. I'm not. I've tried two dieting attempts in the past year. I lost 12 lbs doing very strict low carb, which was confusing to me since usually I dropped weight quicker with healthy eating. My doctor explained it as my body becoming resistant to low carb dieting, since I've tried it and failed so many times before. I knew I needed help this time, so I made an appointment with bariatrics to talk about getting put on a dieting pill -- they had another solution for me. Present: Long story short, I've come to the conclusion that the sleeve will be the help I need to really make a lifestyle change. I know it won't be easy, and due to my stubbornness, I'm not used to doing things the easy way. I'm ready. My excitement is growing. I've been stalking and lurking this forum and youtube for the past two weeks, learning all I can. Here're a few things that really were the tipping point for this decision: -Getting rid of my PCOS. I want to bear children sometime soon! I know PCOS will complicate that. - Airplane seat belts. I fly every 3 weeks or so, and having a seat belt not fit was mortifying. About 50% of seat belts fit me, depending on the plane. If they don't, I tuck the buckle under my belly. Also, seats in general.. not comfortable. -Ahem.. intimate positions. I really enjoy sex, and have been increasingly sad that I'm not able to do the things I once could. -Social embarrassment/afraid to meet people -Meeting my boyfriend's parents is sometime in the near future (They're Asian. Even though my boyfriend is also overweight, he's dating a white girl.. and a fat one at that. Two strikes against me in Asian culture) -Wedding pictures.. nuff said. -I've always dreamed of a trip around the world, and I finally have the funds for it. How much fun would it be if I tire easily, though? -How far away is diabetes with my sugar addiction and weight, really? -I completed a GoRuck (physical endurance) Light challenge this summer and loved it. I want to do more. Things I just can't wait for: - Stamina! Being able to explore all day and not have to stop to rest my aching feet and knees. - Traveling comfortably. Airplane belts that fit. Not having to squeeze between people in a restaurant. - Forgoing that first assessment when entering a room where I look around to see if I'm the fattest person there... you know what I mean. - Summer dresses!! -Cute shoes and cute clothes. Not having to shop in Lane Bryant for everything. -If I need something, being able to simply go to the store and get it. Explaining to my boyfriend why I couldn't just go into the mall and get a winter coat was embarrassing. Not being able to buy emergency clothes in Central America.. ugh. Packing light and buying clothes wherever I travel to would be a real possibility. - -Theme park rides. I love roller coasters, and the last time I went, it was touch and go whether or not I fit in the seat. -Boots that fit my calves! -Skydiving -Being able to do more than a couple sets of stairs without my knees starting to hurt -Enough room to snuggle comfortably on the couch with my boyfriend -GoRuck Tough!! Anyway.. that's me! My name is Rio and I'm starting this journey now. I'm telling very few people in my life..my direct coworkers, my wonderful, supportive boyfriend, and a couple of close friends. I'm not close with most of my family, and I know there will be a lot of judgment there, so I've chosen to not tell them. I'm trying not to go overboard and over-prepare.. already looking at bariatric plates, collagen cream for loose skin.. lol. When I'm excited, I prepare (I've mostly contained myself, but I did try a Protein drink powder and I bought a cute bento bowl for my lunches). I'm about two months away from surgery with no firm date set yet. I'll be getting sleeved at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I am just one EGD and two classes away from my workup being completed.

Wow! I can't imagine waiting 6 months. I just decided a couple of weeks ago to pursue surgery and it's already too long! I'm ready to start my new life I've done: psych eval consultation nutritionist oximetry bloodwork/EKG I get clearance from the sleep doctor in a few minutes, have a non-sedation endoscopy next week. I'm hoping to have my surgery date after that, because all that will be left is classes in February and in the beginning of March.

Thanks, everyone, for helping me through what was a really very emotional couple of weeks. My doctor said yes, the psychologist was right, but in a much kinder way. After doing a lot of research on the sleeve and reading through posts here, I decided to pursue surgery. There's still a stigma there, I won't lie. Some part of me still says surgery is drastic and unnatural and I don't need it.. then the practical side of me shuts me up because I'm done fighting my weight. I need a drastic tool like this to help me, and I want to get on with my life knowing I'm not alone in my fight. I'm ready. I'm about halfway through my presurgical prep, and the excitement is growing.

Agreed! I've found mine, we've been dating just over a year. He's entirely supportive of me as I contemplate surgery and is even doing his own research. He cherishes me for me, not for my weight

First post.. I'm frustrated and need a place to vent. I've been browsing these forums for the past week reading up on the gastric sleeve procedure, success stories, and complications. Here's some history on me: Last week, I went through the bariatric workup program at a very prominent, high profile, good reputation clinic. My goal was to meet with the physician and his team to help me lose weight non-surgically. I'm 34, just weighed in at 295 (my absolute highest, I was mortified), and have tried several attempts at low carb resulting in 20, 40, or 60 lbs lost. I was able to keep off the weight for about two years with maintaining a low carb lifestyle and running in the mornings until I injured my knee at my old job. I regained the weight quickly and have been discouraged many times since. The really discouraging part, though, happened during my appointments. I met with the nutritionist and she listened carefully; we mapped out a diet program for me and I left the office feeling positive about making smaller, incremental changes instead of drastic 'no sugar ever' changes that I've fallen from before. Next was the psychologist. The first question that the psychologist asked was, "So, what kind of surgery are you contemplating?" I told her politely that I hadn't been interested in surgery, that I was coming for a doctor-guided weight loss program since I've until now just worked on my own. That's when the appt went downhill.. From there on, she told me that I would not ever be able to break the cycle of weight loss/frustration/weight gain. She said my body would always want to be 295 now that I'd topped out at this weight, and that nothing would work for me except for biological intervention (cutting out that hunger center in the stomach) through surgery. She said choosing not to do surgery would be choosing to be morbidly obese for the rest of my life, and spent the rest of the appointment going over the two kinds of surgery they provide (bypass and sleeve). I left that appointment feeling miserable. I'm a very rebellious person, so my tendency is to want to prove her wrong and double down on my weight loss attempts. The other part of me is miserable and worrisome, and concerned that she's just telling me a hard truth that I don't want to swallow. I don't know what to do. I'm conflicted, sad, and frustrated. That appointment has left me an emotional mess as I try to sort out the truths and fallacies in her statements towards me. I'm open to the concept of having surgery, but I have avoided serious consideration until now because it seems like such a drastic intervention.. but now I feel like I've been punched in the gut saying that I can't do this through dieting and never will be able to. I'm 34 and I've been heavy since I was a teenager. I've failed multiple attempts at diets. But does that really mean I'll never be able to do it? Would love to hear your thoughts