GACaldwell

The cravings were hard for me too..but what I started doing was taking small bites and appreciating the taste more of the things I craved. It has never done me much good to deny myself anything because it will overwhelm my OCD brain and I'll binge. But where I used to eat an entire king size bar of chocolate (chocolate is my weakness) I nibble on one square at a time now. I still track it..the calories still count but I'm not overdoing it. Also, Learning to replace it with fruits helps..my new fave snack is sliced strawberries with FF cream cheese & splenda.

Also, I've learned to commit to my routines...water, Protein, exercise as an alternative to snacking/overeating. If I can get my BRAIN to STFU first by using one of those then its a win.

I went to Mexico too...My dr removed the drain while I was still there and covered it with gauze/tape...it still weeped a little of the white/pink Fluid but I felt SO much better after the drain came out (admittedly, I thought I was going to puke when it was coming out though!) I didn't have stitched that needed to be removed..they just dissolved.

Hopefully you'll get an answer from your dr!

Enough about me, how's it going for you, so far?

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So far..good! I'm down around 30lbs so far...25 the first month and then I've been hovering with the last 5 this past month. Eh..im not worried about it being slow as Im loosing inches a lot faster than lbs these days. I've been lucky in that I've had VERY few complications...I dont have any issues eating or drinking. I am tired more than I used to be but that's ok..it will come back. Im so glad I had the surgery..it's been life changing. The biggest positive is that my blood pressure is down to a normal level for the first time in almost 9 years! I have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family and my dad has his first heart attack at 40 yrs old. I'm 38 and Ive been on BP meds since I was 30...so the impending heart attack was a big factor for me in having this done. I feel a lot better knowing I'm doing everything I can to help keep me here.

I've heard this happens with some Drs. Please look for another practice! I'm Bi-polar and my Dr had no issues doing the surgery on me. If anything it has helped tremendously.

I did try to go out but did not really help much, i still did not feel that happiness, i was a jolly person and all i feel now is that this sugery sucked it all out from me. Im hoping and praying this pass soon. Thanks for all your support, my next plan of action is to go and talk to a psychiatrist as suggested by my doctor.

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@@henna2010 How are you holding up? Checking in on you!

Hi All!

I was sleeved on July 25th 2016..so far I'm down about 29lbs (It's fluctuating right now due to travel/food choices). I've struggled with my eight all my life..and it took me a while to get to the point of deciding to have this surgery. Meanwhile, my partner of 6.5 years struggles with weight loss too and he's (He's trans..non-operative, Female bodied, Male identified) doing a weight loss program through Quick Weight Loss Centers. I do my best to support his choice though I honestly don't think the diet is viable long term.

The problem is he is SUPER competitive. So when I dropped 25 lbs in the first month he got really jealous and makes comments about how I'm going to "Breeze past him" on the weight loss scale. I tell him all the time it's NOT a competition but it doesn't seem to help. It's to the point that I don't really share with him any weight loss I have, or I'm tentative about it based on his weight loss/feelings. He's seen the drawbacks..the nausea, the not being able to eat full meals etc. But he still gets jealous of what he considers to be "easy".,..needless to say the whole "easy" thing gets me.

Anyone have experience with your partners reactions to your weight loss or dealing with jealousy with it?

So, I am now scheduled for December 23, 2 days before Christmas. I hope I only have to stay 1 night (I think that's the usual stay), as I don't want to miss Christmas Eve (more of a big celebration in my family ). I can't do it earlier because of my work schedule. Hopefully I will feel well enough to work. I still need to be approved for surgery, so my fingers are crossed! Looking forward to sharing our journeys!

Yikes! I'd be scared to do it right before the holidays...we focus too much on food in my family!! But hopefully yours is different. As it is, I'm worried about holidays and I was sleeved in July.

What do you do for work? I have a desk job (Office manager) and I cant stand missing work due to the way they do PTO here but even still I had to be out about a week. Because of the way I scheduled it (I went in on a thursday, had surgery that day & was back to work by the next wed) I had the time off...if you have time off with the holidays thats an excellent reason to schedule it then. I was too impatient to wait and my partner drives a truck so tiem home was a factor.

Didn't read everyones responses but heres my experince:

I was sleeved on July 25th of this year..so far I'm down about 29lbs (It's fluctuating right now due to travel/eating choices) I'm ok with that! I've set my one time goal of 135 by next year..but I'm not stressing getting there all at once. Yes, I weigh in every day, but i don't let it affect me mood...i just see it as a tool..like "Huh, I ate xyz yesterday off plan and this is what happened..ok. I know I can't afford that every day" Kind of thing.

Also, I work at a desk and I have a crazy busy lifestyle (3 jobs, 2 kids, 2 partners, yadda yadda) so I have found ways to include exercise into my day. I belly dance on the weekends...so I do tummy rolls all day sitting at my desk and that helps tone! You can also look up desk exercises you can do at work. I sit on a stability ball so Im always moving even when Im sitting and typing. The bosses thought it was weird at first but now its just my normal. Take the stairs, park further away, do squats while you pull laundry from the dryer...there are a thousand ways to get some type of exercise in every day even when you dont have time to work out.

Also, if no one has mentioned it before..check your measurements...While I haven't lost a ton of weight, Im loosing inches like CRAZY! I've been recording my non scale victories and celebrating them even more than the scale victories.

And remember..you can do this!!

I hate this for you!! Especially because it causes emotional pain.

My partner had to have one done every time he (He's FtM trans) went to his pain management dr. He'd just laugh and tell they they were wasting their time.

I had a hysterectomy when I was 30 yrs old. So when they ask "when was your last menstrual period?" I say 2007.If they are stupid enough to ask if I'm pregnant after that, then I need a new dr.

I had this question at first too because like you, I drink A LOT. I called my Drs and they said there is no way you can stretch on liquids and drinking more than whats suggested is fine as long as you're drinking 0 calories drinks. Look up the "Pyloric valve"...its the valve in your stomach to your intestines that basically lets all liquids go through almost instantly. Once i understood how it worked, it made me feel better.

Fabulous! You're doing great!!

I tried topamax for my depression. It has the nick name "dope-a-max" for a reason. I couldnt function on it (but I was on a high dose!)

I echo what others have said about therapy and seeing your NUT. But on top of that, find something you can focus on that helps you. For me thats been yoga and mindfulness. It doesn't make it all go away..this is a serious condition but it has helped me. I journal...a lot..but I always did. And for my birthday this year, (pre-surgery) I had a semi-colon tat placed on the inside of my left wrist where I write the number of days Ive survived my worst days ever/lived in front of it when I need to. It helps me focus and remember that I have a 100% success rate of surviving so far.

Lastly..reach out..here, family, friends, whoever will help you. You don't have to do this/suffer alone. See if there are local support groups or even just a friend who wants to help. Go for a walk..grab a healthy lunch, join a gym together. Regardless, don't shut yourself off.

Hi All!

A little over 2 months out and I've hit my first stall. I'm wondering how you all track your food/calories/fitness? I've used sparkpeople before but im terrible at remembering to track anything once I leave work.

My tastes changed and I can't drink plain Water anymore...Lately I've been drinking Vitamin Water Zero (Acai-Blue berry-Pomegranate is my fave) I tried the add ins but so far they all give me even worse indigestion. I'm hoping that goes away.

YES!!

Strangely, Water tastes funny to me now, no matter where it comes from. I used to drink a gallon a day...now I can't manage without adding something to it.

My kids are old enough to cook for themselves and the SO are long distance soo....

One thing I've learned is to keep a rotisserie chicken and deli thin sliced light turkey on hand. When they are eating something I can't handle yet, those are my go-to items. Also, Imitation crab meat is an easy thing to have on hand. I sometimes wrap the crab in turkey slices or add Light Laughing cow cheese.

I haven't had any issues with mood swings but I do want to talk about it alot. Sometimes that can get annoying to the SO's...especially if they are working on weight loss too. I try to limit it but its a BIG deal for me...so i dome here to crow sometimes about what's happening and connect with people who are supportive.

One thing, since your little one is of the age to run right into you and want to be held and picked up...make sure you prepare him too to be careful of Mommy's tummy. This was he wont feel put out when you are recovering and wont be able to pick him up or have to be mindful of him running full force into you.

Woohoo!! Congrats to both!! keep it up!

I have a neck now!

Awesome @@GSleeve822!!!

I had one...ONE...well chewed Cheez-it type cracker on the plane ride home from Mexico at 3 days out. The flight attended handed them to me and I just couldn't help myself. Nothing happened...until my partner woke up from his nap and freaked out when I confessed! LOL

At week 3 I had a similar experience. I was fine up until then and then it hit me like a brick wall and i couldn't rest enough. But I'm past week 4 now and doing ok...still a little tired (I see my dr next week) but overall better than I was in week 3! Give it time..you're still healing.

Thats AWESOME pmary!! Talk about a good reason to drop your undies! hahahaha

NSV= Non-scale Victory.

Stupid question: What is an NSV? No small victory??

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement!

I don't really have anywhere to share this...so I hope here is ok.

I hit the 199 lbs mark yesterday and maintained it today. It's been so long since I was under 200 that I can't even remember the last time. I'm down a total of 23 lbs since I started all this. It's exciting but I'm trepidatious about sharing it because my brain still says "this won't work" even though logically, it is working! Plus all the nay-sayers in my world. :-/

I was happy with my body before surgery, but I was unhealthy. Today my blood pressure is down and I managed 20 minutes on the elliptical last night! Better than that, I did the elliptical and I can still walk the next day. I have a neck again and inches have been lost. My rings fit again and my clothes are fitting better.

So one month out, this is my success. Still a ways to go but I'll get there, slowly and surely.

I see that you posted in post-op. Why are you taking aspirin? Is your surgeon aware of this?

Yes my surgeon is aware. I'm taking it on my General Practitioner's orders for my BP (It's always been borderline) but my surgeon ok-ed it once I was off the med he prescribed me.