perspectiveiseverything

Fascinating and very informative reading all the posts. My surgery is scheduled for October 26, which happens to be my birthday. My present to myself!
On the low-low-carb pre-op diet. Not as strict as some mentioned here. My doc recommends Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch, then a regular low-carb dinner. I'm allowed to snack in between as long as the overall daily carb total is 30-60 max. Not so difficult, but then I'm only on day #2!

First off, I'm 64 years old, and had Lap band procedure coming up on 6 years.
Prior to that, I was morbidly obese, diabetes, high BP, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc, etc, you name it, all out of control.
Was seeing as many as 4 different Dr.'s all on a 4-month schedule.
I was so out of shape I would become short of breath and need to rest doing the littlest things like carry groceries into the house.
My PCP simply and straight forwardly stated that if I did not do something, specifically lose 50-80 lbs, I will not be around much longer. I should think about my family, etc, when I am gone.
I told him, yet again, that I have tried every diet under the sun and was never able to keep it off. All diets started out good, but then I back slid and ultimately complete failure.
I went for a stress test, and they found blockages in my arteries, which resulted in angioplasty with stents. It was then they discovered an area of my heart muscle was damaged which was a result of a Myocardial Infarction. They asked me when did I have a heart attack? I said never.
They said Oh yes you did, a quite serious one...However it was silent which is very common for diabetics.
Back to my PCP...suggested as a "Last Resort", I go for WLS. Which I did.
WLS was 100% successful for me, once I got past the initial stages it became the easiest thing I could have ever done.
Lost all my excess body fat, became a gym rat. I don't count calories or anything similar to traditional dieting. With the band I am forced to eat less so when I do eat I just make sure it is something as healthy as I can put together. Always focusing on the Protein.< br />I indulge in things that are usually a hot topic here...point is, I'm not a glutton so a little here and then works just fine with me.
Fast forward to a few days ago....went in for my scheduled Nuclear Stress test. Other people in the waiting room had O2 with them, were using walkers, etc...I came looking like I just came back from the gym knowing I would be running on their treadmill.
Through every phase people would comment how good I looked and I surley worked out.
One TECH wanted to know what my workout routine was.
On the treadmill, where they take it to a high BPM (stress), they had me running at a good clip...I was also carrying on a normal conversation the whole time. Then they inject the isotobe and take pictures of your cardiac arteries
First time I had one of these it didn't take more than a brisk walk, and I was so out of breath I could not speak.
My cardiologist called me later and said I passed with flying colors..everything could not look any better...Perfect...
This is what WLS did for me...literally saved my life. Turned around my Coronary Artery Disease, not to mention reversing my diabetes and everything else I was plagued with.
I'm 64 years old and am the weight I was when I played football and ran track back in HS 45 years ago.
I am at an optimal body fat %, (don't care about BMI's) cannot lose anymore because there is nothing left to lose.
Wear normal clothes right off the rack, or order online without any worries, never short of breath, and I feel like I'm 30 years younger and can do anything.
Last summer I climbed a volcano where the next oldest in the group was 1/2 my age, the rest younger...I led the pack most of the way up.
I read posts on this forum all the time about people complaining about this and that, or having fears of failure only a year or less into it...
People, PLEASE get over it....stop the whining!!! This thing DOES WORK...don't sweat the small stuff, focus on the big picture..like the rest of your life!!!
Ok, off my soapbox.
Thank You

8 days post op today
Pre op 254
SW 228
CW 217
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I had surgery on 1/5/16. I'm down to 135 now and feel Awesome. To be honest, the first 5 days are the roughest. I'd time your surgery so that Christmas is not in the 1st 5 days post op. Either go earlier or ask to go after the 25th.
You can do this. Really, you can! There is a lot of learning how to eat again, but your sleeve will be your guide. It will tell you what feels right, so listen! You will be shocked that carbs suddenly taste bad and you really don't miss them. Protein is your friend...and your sleeve will let you know that too!
Your sleeve will be a tool that changes your life. You got this!
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I am down a total of 31 lbs from when I started. I'm a little dehydrated but he said I'm on par with his other sleeve patients and to just keep trying and doing my best. I was cleared for solids and I celebrated with like...4 bites of grilled chicken and mushrooms. I am so glad I'm past that hump!
SW: 306
CW: 275
GW: 150
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@@Who'sThere I'm sure there are a few members who know the answer to your question or want to know the answer to your question - but are hesitant to respond. There's an LGBT Sleevers forum - is there one for RNY that you could either ask in that forum or PM one of the members? Not that this is only a LGBT issue - but you may have more luck getting a response.

I don't know of many of us that are medically qualified to answer that question. You really ought to check with your doctor on that one.
As far as people's sexual preferences if you don't have a good answer here then don't reply. I can see the concern in this question. My wife is a four-year degree Psychology major with an emphasis in abnormal sexuality. This is not considered abnormal anymore.

Rockin' this sexy gown & waiting for surgery... No nerves yet!
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@@perspectiveiseverything We might have the same plan ???? ???? ????. I cannot wait for some tuna or something... I had creamed Soup today and it had small pieces of chicken in it.. I would chew the chicken till I couldn't do it anymore and then spit it out but it was sooooooo satisfying to chew ???? ???? ????

I am 8 days post sleeve today. Last night, as I was making carnitas with all the fixings for my family, I was starting to feel a little sorry for myself and my current all-liquids-all-the-time diet. Then I started to focus on why I am doing this (perspective is everything!) and the fact that I want to do everything in my power to live as long and as healthy a life as possible. I want to watch my two young kids grow old. I watched them eat their carnitas and I savored every bite of my strained cream of chicken Soup.< /p>
This morning I went to my primary care Dr appt and the scale read 217. That means that I have lost 36 lbs since I started this journey in August (and 11 lbs since my surgery on 10/5). Amazing! I was also officially, completely taken off all my blood pressure medication (one of my primary reasons for doing this). Woohoo!
Today I am going on a hike with a friend and getting a leg/foot massage (oh, and having some more soup). .
There are moments when it's hard, but I am so happy with this decision - and this is only the beginning! Cheers and best of luck to everyone out there!
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I am 8 days post sleeve today. Last night, as I was making carnitas with all the fixings for my family, I was starting to feel a little sorry for myself and my current all-liquids-all-the-time diet. Then I started to focus on why I am doing this (perspective is everything!) and the fact that I want to do everything in my power to live as long and as healthy a life as possible. I want to watch my two young kids grow old. I watched them eat their carnitas and I savored every bite of my strained cream of chicken Soup.< /p>
This morning I went to my primary care Dr appt and the scale read 217. That means that I have lost 36 lbs since I started this journey in August (and 11 lbs since my surgery on 10/5). Amazing! I was also officially, completely taken off all my blood pressure medication (one of my primary reasons for doing this). Woohoo!
Today I am going on a hike with a friend and getting a leg/foot massage (oh, and having some more soup). .
There are moments when it's hard, but I am so happy with this decision - and this is only the beginning! Cheers and best of luck to everyone out there!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am 8 days post sleeve today. Last night, as I was making carnitas with all the fixings for my family, I was starting to feel a little sorry for myself and my current all-liquids-all-the-time diet. Then I started to focus on why I am doing this (perspective is everything!) and the fact that I want to do everything in my power to live as long and as healthy a life as possible. I want to watch my two young kids grow old. I watched them eat their carnitas and I savored every bite of my strained cream of chicken Soup.< /p>
This morning I went to my primary care Dr appt and the scale read 217. That means that I have lost 36 lbs since I started this journey in August (and 11 lbs since my surgery on 10/5). Amazing! I was also officially, completely taken off all my blood pressure medication (one of my primary reasons for doing this). Woohoo!
Today I am going on a hike with a friend and getting a leg/foot massage (oh, and having some more soup). .
There are moments when it's hard, but I am so happy with this decision - and this is only the beginning! Cheers and best of luck to everyone out there!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am 8 days post sleeve today. Last night, as I was making carnitas with all the fixings for my family, I was starting to feel a little sorry for myself and my current all-liquids-all-the-time diet. Then I started to focus on why I am doing this (perspective is everything!) and the fact that I want to do everything in my power to live as long and as healthy a life as possible. I want to watch my two young kids grow old. I watched them eat their carnitas and I savored every bite of my strained cream of chicken Soup.< /p>
This morning I went to my primary care Dr appt and the scale read 217. That means that I have lost 36 lbs since I started this journey in August (and 11 lbs since my surgery on 10/5). Amazing! I was also officially, completely taken off all my blood pressure medication (one of my primary reasons for doing this). Woohoo!
Today I am going on a hike with a friend and getting a leg/foot massage (oh, and having some more soup). .
There are moments when it's hard, but I am so happy with this decision - and this is only the beginning! Cheers and best of luck to everyone out there!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@perspectiveiseverything great work and perspective! Have fun on your hike and enjoy the massage, you deserve it.

I am 8 days post sleeve today. Last night, as I was making carnitas with all the fixings for my family, I was starting to feel a little sorry for myself and my current all-liquids-all-the-time diet. Then I started to focus on why I am doing this (perspective is everything!) and the fact that I want to do everything in my power to live as long and as healthy a life as possible. I want to watch my two young kids grow old. I watched them eat their carnitas and I savored every bite of my strained cream of chicken Soup.< /p>
This morning I went to my primary care Dr appt and the scale read 217. That means that I have lost 36 lbs since I started this journey in August (and 11 lbs since my surgery on 10/5). Amazing! I was also officially, completely taken off all my blood pressure medication (one of my primary reasons for doing this). Woohoo!
Today I am going on a hike with a friend and getting a leg/foot massage (oh, and having some more soup). .
There are moments when it's hard, but I am so happy with this decision - and this is only the beginning! Cheers and best of luck to everyone out there!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I felt very much the same and it turned out that I had a slight stricture. Absolutely no big deal -- in fact, I chose NOT to have it corrected.

I stayed on liquids' (protein' drinks!) for three weeks and then went to pureed' for two. It was slow moving, but at week three I was doing fine on just my shakes' and some greek yogurt, hummus, refried Beans and other really loose foods.

Concentrate on protein' and liquids. Gatorade 50/50 with Water was a HUGE help for me, too.

You will get there!!

@@aryn123 Don't worry about eating anything right now - concentrate on getting in your fluids and Protein shakes. You are most likely dehydrated and will not feel better until you are drinking at least 64 ozs of fluids. Why don't you go back to shakes and liquids for now. Be sure to take your PPI and anti-nausea meds. Walk frequently and sip slowly. Try different temps - sometimes warm is easier than cold. Try some hot broth or tea or sugar free popsicles. Do whatever you can to get in your Protein and fluids.

Don't weigh every day! It'll drive you nuts. The body drops fat on its own schedule and the way it does it sometimes causes weight GAIN, because part of the process of the fat cells shrinking is that they take on Water, first. So you end up retaining Water in your fat cells before they release it with the waste. If you're going to use the scale, use it every couple of weeks. Two days is not a stall.
However, one thing you definitely need to do is get your minimum amount of Protein, no matter what. If that means you need to switch to a different drink (there are a ton of them) do it. Or even get some of the flavorless powder and mix it in with your crystal light or something. Just get that protein...it's crucial to the healing process and more importantly, you MUST maintain as much of your muscle mass as you possibly can. That muscle mass is what burns calories for you all day long. If you don't have that, your calorie-burning machine is compromised...and then no, you won't lose weight very fast, because you won't be burning many calories. Trust me, when you run the caloric deficit that we are in the weeks following surgery, your body is going to find that energy somewhere...and while being in ketosis will cause your body to seek energy from fat, it takes a lot longer to convert...muscle is a lot faster. So you WILL lose muscle mass if you don't protect it. Actually, you'll lose muscle mass even if you DO protect it, but you're going to lose a lot more if you aren't providing Protein sufficiently.
Nutrition is no joke, and post-surgery we have to take it even MORE seriously.

221 wow!!! Dramatic drop this week (had surgery on Wednesday)
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Wow what a great idea. I am stealing it! Lol
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I just hit my goal weight yesterday! It feels amazing! I went ziplining to celebrate!
HW 321, SW 314, CW/GW 150!
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I was sleeved on 10/5 and am physically feeling great. I am getting very tired of liquids too. I went to the Soup bar at whole foods today and bought 3 different kinds of Soups - then came home and strained them to get me thought the next several days at least. Here's to variation!

I was sleeved on 10/5 and am physically feeling great. I am getting very tired of liquids too. I went to the Soup bar at whole foods today and bought 3 different kinds of Soups - then came home and strained them to get me thought the next several days at least. Here's to variation!

I was sleeved on 10/5 and am physically feeling great. I am getting very tired of liquids too. I went to the Soup bar at whole foods today and bought 3 different kinds of Soups - then came home and strained them to get me thought the next several days at least. Here's to variation!

Hi everyone. My name is Holly and I am 8 months post op. I have lost approximately 120 pounds. My start weight on the day of surgery was 344 and my current weight is 224.
I have struggled with my weight all of my adult life. After having my children, it's like my weight just kept increasing. I tried EVERYTHING!! I prayed and prayed for God to heal my body from obesity. Before making the decision to have gastric bypass, I thought about it for years, lol. It was, what if this and what if that. When I finally made the decision, there was no turning back (regardless of what anyone said). I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. My life has changed dramatically. I've lost friends (which is crazy), but my health has improved, my quality of life has improved, I can run around with my kids, I feel BEAUTIFUL, and my marriage has improved. I haven't been this happy in a very long time. I have a long way to go to get to my goal weight, but I know that I will get there.
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