justhere4theshow

I think what people mean when they make the comparison between muscle and fat is that a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. Of course a pound is a pound is a pound.

Oh goodness you are indeed tripping!! 8 DAYS. You will need to heal and adjust before you start dropping any meaningful weight. I know you want it now, because I did, too. Your main concern this early should be Water and Protein. You will see results when things get settled down. Just follow your doctor's instructions and stick with your plan. It will happen.

Aaaaahhhh, yes! I read that wrong the first time, haha!! Good for you!!

@@OKCPirate I am glad you liked my post. I can imagine the hormones are a nightmare for men, also!

I am not "afraid" of certain foods either, but I do have certain foods that I have a healthy amount of respect for. Some, I simply do not eat, because I know that they will either slow or stop my progress. My sleeve has really helped me to choose better foods, to savor every portion, and make sure it's something that helps me rather than hurting me. I never thought I would be able to eat healthy and not feel deprived and depressed about it. Love my sleeve!! once past having medical problems and cleared to eat any kind of food, I refuse to be *afraid of* or *guilty* about any foods. that being said the sleeve makes it pretty darn easy for me to stick with my plan, and that is why I am happy with my surgery results. before surgery my hunger was unmanageable.

I am 46.

Some people just don't tolerate carbs well in any form. I am one of those people. I have to keep the carbs very minimal in order to lose weight. And, yes, even "healthy" carbs.

The purpose of the pre-op diet is multi-faceted. You need to be able to make necessary changes in your eating habits. You need to shrink your liver (that is usually the 2 weeks immediately preceding surgery). You need to be able to not gain weight during the pre-op phase, as most every insurance company will not cover surgery if this happens. You risk having to start over and wait another 3 to 6 months. Every program is different, many doctors have a different approach, but insurance requirements tend to be pretty standard. I personally found it easier to lose weight pre-op, but it's coming back around as my body adjusts. I just never could maintain long-term weight loss before. The surgery throws your body for a loop, so things can take time to adjust. I have been able to make so many positive changes with the help of this tool. I quit smoking, I have broken my addiction to soda and sugar, and I feel better about myself each day. I think it all started with the pre-op diet and the self-discipline it required of me to make changes.

All protein bars are not created equal. You just have to read labels. Some bars are for weight gain, some are for building muscle mass, and some are meal replacements. Some are just glorified candy bars, but there are some really healthy ones, also. Remember to subtract grams of fiber from carbohydrates to get "net carbs". It is entirely possible to be successful using protein bars to supplement a healthy diet. Some people just can't eat enough food to get all the protein necessary. Do your homework and find what works for you. Your NUT should be able to help as well.

I bought Charco tabs today. They are supposed to reduce the odor a bit. So far no such luck. UGH.

Sleeve patients continue to lose weight as far out as 2 years. It is not necessarily faster in the beginning at all for lower BMI patients. You are absolutely going to have to slow down a bit...you're giving your body too much to deal with right now. I know you love to exercise, but you have to eat more when you work out so much. My weight loss has been slower also, but the further out I get from surgery, I am losing more and more. I had to stop expecting a certain rate of loss, and just let it happen. Follow your program and do what you have to do, but suspend your expectations for a while and just let your body do what it needs to do. This takes time, especially for sleevers. Be patient, be diligent in your efforts but don't kill yourself, and relax. You will lose the weight. (I'm not sure how you ended up overweight to begin with) Keep posting and let us know how you're doing. My best to you.

Good luck!!!

@@Ale Nunez so sorry you have had a painful experience. It just takes time, and you will be feeling better soon. I know that sounds lame, but it really is true. Keep posting and let us know how it's going for you.

It will get better! Surgery is hard on your body, and it's been some time since you had solid food. Keep working on the Protein and make sure you get as much Water as you possibly can. You'll feel better as time passes and your body adjusts. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.

Sounds like you're going to be just fine. And yes, Go Us!!!

Sometimes you just need to give yourself a break. I am not very far out yet, but I have found that my weight loss tends to go better when I keep my metabolism guessing a little. Change up your exercise, be sure you get your protein and water, and rest when you need to. It's a long haul, and I imagine we all get a little weary from time to time. Hang in there. Keep us posted.

Pretty sure you need to be on a computer.

The surgery is well worth it!

You just update your profile to indicate a surgery date and update any other info. Welcome to the loser's bench!

So glad to see the update! I am happy for you. Sounds like you're going to be just fine!

Congratulations! Nerves are normal, so just keep thinking about all of the reasons you decided to have surgery. I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas morning!! The first days can get rough, but luckily it all improves rather quickly for most. The best bit of advice I ever got was to keep sipping fluids and walk walk walk! It will help your soreness to go away so much faster when you walk. I didn't even have pain on the ride home from the hospital, so it works! Also it helps keep your blood moving so you have less risk for blood clots. Stay positive and be patient with yourself. Best wishes, and keep posting to let us know how you are doing.

Any time!

Never, ever fully trust a fart. Words to live by. Farts are not trustworthy.

My experience is slightly different, but I think it will still translate. I quit cigarettes a couple of years before I made the decision to have WLS, but I used e-cigarettes to do it. I still had the addiction to nicotine, and had merely traded one addiction for what was pretty much the same habit. When I learned that I had to be free of nicotine to qualify for surgery, I became so determined to have the surgery that I immediately bought zero-nicotine juice for my e-cig and set my mind to quitting. I made it through the nicotine withdrawal on sheer determination. Then I decided it was stupid to continue using my e-cig with no nicotine, so I eventually quit that, too. I am certainly not giving you a recommendation to just pick up a different habit, but trying to explain how I got it done. I just had to decide what was most important to me. What do you want more? I wanted this surgery more than I had wanted almost anything in my life. I struggled for a year to lose the weight on my own and simply could not do it. It helped me to visualize myself having reached my weight loss goal. Also, there is no shame in getting help. I had a severe sugar addiction also, and I spent some stressful days and nights really pissed off that I had to give up the things I loved. I was pretty bitter about the fact that I essentially had no more vices. I had to learn to cope without my addictions. It was so very hard, but so very worthwhile. You CAN do this. I have now learned to face my emotions and allow myself to feel them. I still cry. I still get cranky. It does take less time to get over it, though. I have had some pretty wicked mood swings, but I know why I have them and I know they won't last forever. I hope you find your answer. You are stronger than you think you are. Good luck to you!

@@Alex Brecher Thank you so much for your response!