anewmee

I'd love to ask some people with low BMI how the surgery has gone for you. I'm a BMI of 30 and my surgeon will do the sleeve. I'm happy as I'm going to use this as a tool to change my life FOREVER.
I have some health complications too, and I hope to sort those out.
BUT, I'm terrified of losing too much. Any more than 25 kilos (56 pounds) will make me look ill. I will be asking my surgeon about this but I do wonder if any of you can give me some advice?

I had a bmi of 34 and about 60-70 pounds to lose and self pay. . I struggled with the decision for a long time .i kept thinking- come on you can lose 50 pounds.... But the fact is I have been overweight for my whole life and dieting my whole life. I wanted to be done with the roller coaster . I had surgery on August and last time I weighed had lost 49. It took me a long time to be happy with this surgery because I felt horrible for about 6 -7 - weeks --- weeks 8-week 15 and really worried about what I had done.
I am happy now. I love how food doesn't rule my brain. I don't think about it really except to try to get ij Protein. I love weighing less than my husband! And I love feeling more in control.
Really think about it . It is def a huge decision and I honestly don't think I knew how much it would change my life .
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So I'm a week down and have lost 4 kilos (8.8 pounds). I'm very happy with that. It's been an interesting week. I can't feel my balloon, have no nausea, no reflux and I wouldn't know it was there!
Strangely, I feel hungry. Not head hunger or cravings but hungry. I wasn't expecting that but I'm so determined to lose the weight that I'm sticking to the program anyway!!!!

@@anewmee - I was really burpy at first. :-) Still kind of am, but they are not gross (like I have heard others describe) - just airy.
Glad your insertion went well and that you're not nauseous. You're off to a great start!! Good luck! :-)

I have a date for my balloon insertion. Next Wednesday! I'm very excited but nervous too. Hopefully I'll be able to manage the nausea and cramping.
I held a balloon at the doctors and I must say, I was surprised how heavy it felt.
Any hints or advice for me? Can;t wait to join you all on this journey and lose this weight and get my health back.

I have a date for my balloon insertion. Next Wednesday! I'm very excited but nervous too. Hopefully I'll be able to manage the nausea and cramping.
I held a balloon at the doctors and I must say, I was surprised how heavy it felt.
Any hints or advice for me? Can;t wait to join you all on this journey and lose this weight and get my health back.

thanks for sharing and I think you've done a brilliant job!

I didnt think of pinterest! Thank you. Chicken cacciatore is a fantastic idea. I haven't had that for years but I love it.

Well I did wonder that. Things is he is one of the most respected surgeons where I am from so i would be surprised but the whole thing is rather odd.

You are right. It doesn't stretch but surgeon explained over time and years the brain gets used to increases of food and therefore portions increase. One bite of pizza becomes a piece, then two which is why firstly food needs to be good quality and secondly these are tools. We need to work on the mind and the types and portions of food we consume.

Thanks. That's really helpful. I'm pretty determined at times and I've made my mind up that I'm having it. I'm just going to do exactly what I'm told by orbera to eat and follow it to the t. I've booked in with a new surgeon for next week because quite honestly, the other guy gave me the sh**s.
I can deal with reflux as I had that badly when pregnant. I am scared of uncontrollable vomiting though. Fingers crossed it wont come to that though.
Yoghurt is good, I'm happy that's a good food as i do enjoy it.

You are right. It doesn't stretch but surgeon explained over time and years the brain gets used to increases of food and therefore portions increase. One bite of pizza becomes a piece, then two which is why firstly food needs to be good quality and secondly these are tools. We need to work on the mind and the types and portions of food we consume.

I agree whole heartedly that NO surgery is 100 % guaranteed long term to be successful. Out of everyone I know that has been banded (10 friends) all have gained and most are looking at the sleeve. The sleeve can stretch. These are tools and the person needs to change habits 100 %. Its a life change for me. Orbera provides strict eating guidelines for life and that is what I'm going to follow.

Interesting. It has been a great solution for me, but I'm the first to say that it's not for everyone. I've had it for about 4 months and have lost over 40 pounds. I will not reach my overall goal within the six months (hoping to get to at least 50), but I will be WAY closer and thankful for the time with the balloon. Yes, the first couple of days were miserable, but not as bad as I expected and then I bounced right back.
The challenge is that not everyone has the same experience - in terms of how they feel and how much they lose - so it's a bit of a gamble. However the same can be said of more major WLS options ... I know plenty of people who have gained most/all+ of their weight back after WLS, and/or felt miserable after their surgeries. So no one solution is for everyone.
In the end, ALL require you to be in the right frame of mind before you do them, because you MUST change your eating habits and relationship with food. Without that they are all a waste of time and money.

Thanks for the advice. I don't really qualify for Sleeve or band (i could with one surgeon but I feel my BMi is just too low).
I have 20 -24 kilos to lose. Around 50 pounds.
jansluv how was the first week and the rest if the time when you struggled, was it managable?

Thanks for the advice. I don't really qualify for Sleeve or band (i could with one surgeon but I feel my BMi is just too low).
I have 20 -24 kilos to lose. Around 50 pounds.
jansluv how was the first week and the rest if the time when you struggled, was it managable?

I am having my balloon removed TODAY, after 6 3/4 months. It DID work for me. Not as great as I wanted. I lost 31 pounds, 2 pant sizes, brought my cholesterol and blood pressure down to normal and got my sleep apnea under control. My BMI went from 35 to 30. The balloon was challenging from Day 1. Lots of nausea, acid reflux, and gas the first 2-3 months. AND yes, the weight loss stalled, big time month 4-5 - no weight loss at all. But then I dropped 5 pounds in month 6 for some reason. Its not perfect. Its not the magic pill. But if you need a kick start and/or have medical issues that you need to get under control it does work...but you have to really want it, because you still have to work for the weight loss. I keep my calories under 1200 most days and worked out several times a week. But the balloon kept me feeling full the first few months, then just satisfied the rest of the time (my stomach adjusted, I think, to having the balloon in and I stopped having the full feeling after a few months, but I never really felt very hungry.) Could I have lost 30 pounds on my own? Yes, but I didn't have that motivation and my medical issues were building up. Now, I have the motivation, because I have had success. I am more than half way to my ultimate goal. I look good and feel great. So, hopefully, I can keep this momentum going on my own. Good luck with your decision.

OMG. So freakin rude! I'm in australia too and would love a buddy as I will be having the op in the next couple of months.

OMG. So freakin rude! I'm in australia too and would love a buddy as I will be having the op in the next couple of months.

It worked for me! I never had the band, but unless I was taking phentermine, I was a bottomless pit. I could eat and eat and eat until I was stuffed and then crave more food 30 minutes later.

Even when I did WWs, Atkins, South Beach, etc. food was constantly on my mind. Phentermine was the only thing that really turned that off for me until sleeve surgery.

Now I hate being full. I think about food, but I don't crave it. I crave certain things from time to time, but it's a"I'd love to eat some..." not a "I **MUST** eat something..."

I am three years out and I am thankful for this change every day.

@@Valentina Chinese Cresteds are so adorable! I have a Frenchton, he's 3/4 French bulldog and 1/4 Boston Terrier. He's white with big spots on his butt like a cow! He's still just a puppy, 7 months old. Had him since he was 8 weeks old. Best decision I ever made!

The initial post op phase of this thing sure does suck doesn't it? You want food, you don't fully get the implications of the emotional aspect, it's hard to adjust, and to top it all off, how will you ever find any comfort being as you cannot have much to eat. I know those feelings well. All of us do.
To be quite honest, sometimes it still sucks now. When I'm at a restaurant, when it's a holiday gathering, when I cook all day for the family and can only eat 5 bites, when nothing would make me happier than a huge cheeseburger - but wait - why am I going to waste money on a huge cheeseburger I can only eat a few bites of?
Having to work through the emotional part of this journey sucks too.
Let me tell you what I've gained by having to learn to live the sleeve life. I'm healthy, I'm not ever the fattest one in the room, I never count calories, I eat how ever much I can of whatever I want, and when I see my reflection in the store window I giggle because I cannot believe that's me.
Oh yeah - and I gained peace, confidence, and emotional maturity. I got these things by having to fight my way through the regret, the wild hormonal changes, the frustration of being denied my favorite method of comfort ( food), and the realization that I had quite a few issues to deal with.
There is no price you can put on that last part. It is priceless and it has given me a new found calm and rationale that I never new existed. They call this a journey. Everywhere you look someone is speaking of their "journey". And it's all true. If you want the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow you have to go the the rough part of the journey. It's a worthy journey. You can do it.

I drink Water. The movies are a great place to get your Water in for the day, since you are sitting there with nothing else to do. That is what I did early on. I go to the movies almost every weekend.
Now I bring a Protein bar if I know I will be cutting it close on 2-3 hour eating window. If i go to the AMC that serves Brussel Sprouts, I get those.
I suggest though, eating before a movie, and not getting anything at the movies except the rare special occasion. The tradition in our family was we went to dinner or brunch before a movie so we arrived at the movie full. Not only does it save money, it is just healthier overall.@@Bufflehead is right, picking snacking back up early on is probably not the best idea.

@@anewmee - I'm traveling right now so I can't tell you exactly, but the last time I weighed I was down 28.4 (since the balloon was inserted).
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thanks for all the advice. I have started looking at the sleeve or band procedures as I feel that I need longer term assistance. Best of luck with the balloons and I'll update if I go ahead with either 3 procedures.