kmaitre

Congratulations! You will be fine! First advise... Walk! Walk! Walk!

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I can eat all the foods I liked pre-op. I don't eat them, I have found low carb alternatives or I eat them every once in a while.
By the time you are healed you can eat almost anything and by year 1 or 2 you will probably be able to eat anything.
If you don't think people can and do eat any and everything, just read the regain threads or watch youtube videos.
How you feel right now is really temporary. Enjoy it, because it is the easiest time to lose and make good habits that will help you later down the road.

@Siyaa Ela You are pre-op so you have no idea what post-op life is like or how miserable people can feel immediately post-op. Have surgery then offer your opinion.

Depression is normal. If it continues once you begin solid foods, I would join a WLS suppirt group (one that is a therapy session, not an online group).

You will regain energy. Right now, you aren't getting any nutrients to fuel your body, so you're running on fumes. From the sound of it...gas fumes. [emoji3]

I pretty much slept the first two weeks. It all gets better with time. I am nine months out & don't regret a thing. Some things are still a struggle, like not drinking with my meals, but the struggles become less noticeable & just a way of life after a while.

Amazing! You have done great!!! So happy for you! I can't wait to see where I am at on my 1 year anniversary. I am 7 months post Gastric Bypass and have lost 108lbs. The saggy skin is starting to really bother me though but I know I need to get past that and Celebrate my success and how good I feel. Keep up the good work and thank you for being an amazing example for all to see. Have a wonderful New Year!
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I tried to be tough and thought I would bounce back in one week because my surgeon said most people go back after one week. I ended up taking a 2nd week unplanned because I was just not ready physically. Mostly constant nausea and fatigue were the problem. I would plan on at least 2 weeks off. Everyone is different. If your situation allows more time, I would take it because you really dont know how your own body is going to react to the surgery, diet, and weight loss. Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App

Amazing! You have done great!!! So happy for you! I can't wait to see where I am at on my 1 year anniversary. I am 7 months post Gastric Bypass and have lost 108lbs. The saggy skin is starting to really bother me though but I know I need to get past that and Celebrate my success and how good I feel. Keep up the good work and thank you for being an amazing example for all to see. Have a wonderful New Year!
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It's been one year today since I had my sleeve done. My life has changed in every aspect.
My start weight was 333.1lbs
My weight this morning was 137.8lbs
That's a total loss of 195.3lbs!!
I've also lost a total of 95 inches...I'm a size 6 now...used to be a size 30.
I have accomplished this by being very focused and strict with my eating and exercise.
I eat very low carb, and always get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water every day.
For all of you just starting out, just know that anything is possible, and if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything!! 
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Congratulations! You look fabulous! Well done! Hope you are feeling well.
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Congratulations! You look fabulous! Well done! Hope you are feeling well.
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9 weeks post Roux-En-Y (RNY)
Starting weight: 325 lbs.
Current weight: 275 lbs.
Weight lost: 50 lbs.
Getting necessary Protein is tough!
Taking all the Vitamins is tough!
Drinking 64 oz. Fluid daily is tough!
Hopefully it will get better!
- Kel

The weight did affect it when I was heaviest, losing the weight was the closet thing to a "cure" I will get. Mainly the extra weight caused my body to work in overtime creating even more excess spinal Fluid, causing even more excess pressure.
I work for an airline, fly a lot and scuba dive a lot....I've not been able to do those two things in three years because my head would literally explode due to excess pressure from the extra spinal Fluid on my skull and the added pressure from the atmospheric changes.
I've had no issues with this condition since my surgery. In fact, my papilledema swelling in my eyes from the pseudotumor haso been reduced by 85 percent in the 5 months since my surgery and I will be completely off the neurological medications in the next few months!

Just curious... How and why would this list offend anyone? What am I missing? It's a great read!
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Just curious... How and why would this list offend anyone? What am I missing? It's a great read!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I got my first tattoo at 46. Always wanted one but had to do one that I knew I could proudly live with for the rest of my life and be proud of always. My Mom was born in Dublin Ireland and was adopted. I have spent over 15 years looking for her birth family and have finally found them. I got 1 shamrock with 4 leaves and 4 smaller shamrocks with 3 leaves on my right outer ankle to symbolize my Irish Pride. The 4 smaller shamrocks represent My Husband, 2 children and myself. I absolutely LOVE it!
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Your hormones have taken a trip to wiggity town. It's normal. As you lose fat, the estrogen that is built up in those cells is released (says my NP) and it makes you an emotional clown.

Warn your family. Remind yourself to be nice. Don't read the forums if you feel particularly b!tchy/sad/sensitive. Treat yourself with kindness.

You will be back to normal in a few months. Seriously.

I got my first tattoo at 46. Always wanted one but had to do one that I knew I could proudly live with for the rest of my life and be proud of always. My Mom was born in Dublin Ireland and was adopted. I have spent over 15 years looking for her birth family and have finally found them. I got 1 shamrock with 4 leaves and 4 smaller shamrocks with 3 leaves on my right outer ankle to symbolize my Irish Pride. The 4 smaller shamrocks represent My Husband, 2 children and myself. I absolutely LOVE it!
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I got my first tattoo at 46. Always wanted one but had to do one that I knew I could proudly live with for the rest of my life and be proud of always. My Mom was born in Dublin Ireland and was adopted. I have spent over 15 years looking for her birth family and have finally found them. I got 1 shamrock with 4 leaves and 4 smaller shamrocks with 3 leaves on my right outer ankle to symbolize my Irish Pride. The 4 smaller shamrocks represent My Husband, 2 children and myself. I absolutely LOVE it!
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I got my first tattoo at 46. Always wanted one but had to do one that I knew I could proudly live with for the rest of my life and be proud of always. My Mom was born in Dublin Ireland and was adopted. I have spent over 15 years looking for her birth family and have finally found them. I got 1 shamrock with 4 leaves and 4 smaller shamrocks with 3 leaves on my right outer ankle to symbolize my Irish Pride. The 4 smaller shamrocks represent My Husband, 2 children and myself. I absolutely LOVE it!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I got my first tattoo at 46. Always wanted one but had to do one that I knew I could proudly live with for the rest of my life and be proud of always. My Mom was born in Dublin Ireland and was adopted. I have spent over 15 years looking for her birth family and have finally found them. I got 1 shamrock with 4 leaves and 4 smaller shamrocks with 3 leaves on my right outer ankle to symbolize my Irish Pride. The 4 smaller shamrocks represent My Husband, 2 children and myself. I absolutely LOVE it!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I got my first tattoo at 46. Always wanted one but had to do one that I knew I could proudly live with for the rest of my life and be proud of always. My Mom was born in Dublin Ireland and was adopted. I have spent over 15 years looking for her birth family and have finally found them. I got 1 shamrock with 4 leaves and 4 smaller shamrocks with 3 leaves on my right outer ankle to symbolize my Irish Pride. The 4 smaller shamrocks represent My Husband, 2 children and myself. I absolutely LOVE it!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

Wow! What a difference a year makes! I have been thinking about this day all week. One year... What a ride!
Here are some stats: I am 1.1 pound away from being "normal" BMI; I am down 147.8 pounds total (121 pounds of that since surgery); I have lost 83.5 inches (18 inches off my hips ALONE / 12 inches off EACH thigh!); pants size down from loose 28 to 12 or 14; dress size down from 24 or 26 to a size 12.
Some of the best NSV's: Buckling airplane seatbelt and not having bruises on my thighs from the plane seat arms; ability to get up and down off the floor so easily; my clothes have stopped falling off hangers; ability to fit in a "normal" robe when I go to a spa or even the doctor; crossing my legs; not sweating all the time; diabetes in remission and no diabetes meds; off cholesterol meds; ability to mow my own lawn without being so exhausted I had to lay down for hours afterwards. I know there are more....
How did I do it? Perseverance. Seriously one bite at a time. I ate poorly or too much, I got right back up and did better next meal - not tomorrow, not next Monday.
My keys to success: Therapy and logging my food daily and having occasional checkups with my NUT. (It is good to have someone look over my food logs and say "careful on that, or try more of this"). I really think therapy though is my number one tool. I had some breakthroughs just this week in how I saw food and will continue to see this therapist for AT least another year if not longer. Oh and I cannot forget the support I received from friends and family. Were it not for those cheering me on and yet still staying out of my business (i.e. not constantly saying "should you be eating that"), I do not think I would have been so successful. And of course this incredible website. Without the advice and the ability to rant and read others experiences here, I would never have been able to do this!
What do I eat: deli turkey, cheese, blackberries, blueberries, apples, tuna, pork tenderloin, lean ground beef (less than once per week), turkey sausage, turkey pepperoni, LOTS AND LOTS of chicken (grilled, boiled, fajita style, rotisserie, baked, roasted, etc etc), cucumbers, avocado, green olives, mushrooms, onions, occasional slice of bread (a few times a week), triscuit crackers (limiting myself to 2 or 3 at a time), did I say cheese LOTS and LOTS of cheese. I still have 1 Protein Shake per day (30g protein) to make sure I get to my Protein goals. I eat around 100 - 120g protein per day / 60-80g carbs / 45-55g fat - total calories 1100-1300. (I have been averaging closer to 1000 this last 2 weeks and I need to be sure t get those calories UP because I am ready to stop losing weight.) I cook for myself, so it is much easier to manage I am sure than others who cook for families.
What didn't change: I am not one of those people that have SO much energy they cannot stand it. Nope. I am still a fairly lazy person. I hate that I am but it is true. I watch too much tv still and I still don't enjoy exercising really (and don't do it as often as I should). (I mostly walk and it is nice to know that I can go on a 2 mile walk without a lot of effort but I don't get that HIGH from exercising some talk about.) I want to be healthier and I will keep working on that part but I will never be a marathon runner or CrossFitter, etc. I still struggle with making food choices. The struggle is much easier than it used to be (most things don't even cross my mind to eat anymore) but I still crave salty Snacks. I give in sometimes but I am working on the addiction part of that. Not because you cannot have salty snacks but because it is an ADDICTION for me.
And yes - I have loose skin. LOTS of it. My butt and boobs took the worst hit. You cannot see it when I am dressed and it isn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I am going to have it fixed. I am planning my first of plastics for this fall. I took money out of my 401K to pay for it. I do not need to be perfect, but I want to be able to wear sleeveless shirts and some shorts without being uncomfortable and I need my butt and thighs to be reshaped so I can fit in pants (which are tough to buy right now).
I had some struggles in the beginning - I had a stricture which we didn't figure out until 3 months post-op so I was constantly vomiting. I stayed nauseas until 6 months post-op. The Constipation is probably the very worst part and it has only really resolved in the last couple of months as I have started to incorporate more Fiber in my diet. (It is tough to get fiber in the beginning.) I thought I was a SLOW loser (average 10-12 pounds per month). I know now that isn't slow. It is just right.
My best advice to people starting this journey - DO IT! Seriously - just do it. Just work the program. Use the tools - all of them - therapy, logging, NUT, restriction, Vitamins, exercise. STOP comparing yourself to others!! It will derail you! (PLUS I just don't buy into the "I lost 40 pounds my first month") This is your journey. No one else's. Everyone's journey is different and comparing yourself to others is defeating mentally. GO SEE A THERAPIST! Please... accept that you have a food "issue". I will buy that some of you don't but let's be honest, the overwhelming majority of us have food "issues" and until you face that fact, you cannot learn how to start to move past it. HANG IN THERE - just keep moving forward. You are going to be stunned when you look back a year from now...
My journey is not over. The hardest part is just beginning - Maintenance. I have lost weight before but never kept it off, so this is the real test. Can I do this for the rest of my life? I truly hope so. I have a great head start by having developed some great new habits and faced some of my food addiction issues that I allowed to derail me in the past. I have some big changes in my life coming up job-wise and it is going to take discipline to make it work. I will keep seeing my therapist and keep my eye on the prize!

Hi Chelsea!! I am June 13th too!! ☺ I am extremely excited and looking at this as a whole way thinking about food and food choices! My sister had hers done around 5 years ago......she has a 5 lbs here, 5 pounds there, but for the most part, she has melt it off and no regrets!!! June 13th a new beginning for you!! ☺
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Anything that facilitates the meeting of different people will leave drama in it's wake. This is especially true of online forums where people can 'hide' behind a computer and not actually have to face the sh*t they stir up. We all just have to absorb what we need, leave whatever we can give, and ignore what we don't like. Utopias do not exist.