stefanie0804

So maybe the sleeve is no diffrent then any other diet.

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No - it's different. WW didn't restrict portions or remove hunger hormones. You had to do all the work. We screwed up our metabolism doing diets in the past. Surgery is really the only effective treatment to combat severe obesity and maintain weight loss. Only 5% or less of patients who lose on their own keep the weight off. You need to be mentally ready for surgery but it's not comparable to dieting .

I guess this is the part im trying to wrap my head around...

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@@stefanie0804 The sleeve is just a tool. You need to do the work and eat healthy. It should be easier because the surgery removes most of the hunger hormone and quantity is restricted with the smaller stomach. Head hunger and emotional eating issues need to be addressed because surgery won't help with those. I had therapy to help me with emotional eating. I was never a binge eater but therapy can help with that. Most of us have failed other diets too.

then i keep going back to the same question, should i just continue to try and do this on my own with therapy? weight watchers was just a tool for me too and i still screwed that up. I worry im going to make this horrible decision and still screw up. Cuz believe me I want this, and I do very well sometimes loosing up to 15lbs on my own and then it all comes back...

As I'm sure many of you have all done before being sleeved i've watched every video, read every forum and talked to as many people as possible. I finally have an orientation day Nov 30th, 2016 though the Ontario Netwrok which means i will hopefully be approved and not have to pay, along with having a support network.

Anyways I ask about diet because i was watching a you-tuber last night and she was talking about how she fell off the wagon, and has gotten back on using weight watchers.

Now I know that the sleeve isn't any miracle, but I've failed at weight watchers, Dr. Bernstein, low carb and may diets before. I'm trying to change my eating habits, but i still make wrong choices, and sometimes I feel so hungry I binge.

Tell me how i wont sabotage this?

Its a start but aome how that terrified the crap out of me!

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I am about nine weeks out doing quit well no problem with binging, my stomach is small so am full fairly fast. Have lost 35 pounds since the month before surgery. Glad I did it no regrets!

I've been trying to eat like i already have the sleeve as suggested by a few people, but i still feel so hungry...I still ate juik food but tried to eat less. (small burger, instead of the whole meal with fries and pop). I'm just so worried i wont be able to sastaine this

I am a 52 year old post menopausal woman. No amount of dieting will help me lose the pounds I need to lose - I just can't stick with it. I can sometimes lose but then can't keep it off. I never really felt the feeling of hungry because I was constantly grazing. My surgery was Tuesday. Including the 7 pounds I lost on my own pre-op, I'm down almost 18 pounds 4 days after surgery ... And I'm not hungry. It's got a similar sensation of just after your Thanksgiving meal and someone offers you another piece of pie and it makes you want to throw up. You can easily say no. I am stunned at the difference and was worried I would be the "one" that this wouldn't work on, but so far it's going great. I am still very tired, but my cravings for my favorite foods are gone. I have no desire to really eat any particular thing. I just have a desire to keep my body hydrated and nourished. Hope this helps.

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I actually feel like im that "one perskn this wont work for" i have honestly tried everything even dr. Bernstein (low carb with injection) sure i starved myself and lost but i gained it all back. I started saving pee becuase they checked if you were in ketosis and all i wanted was a sandwhich!

I really hope this process doesnt take more then a year! I feel like ive found somthing tbat might actually force me to eat less and say no.

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I also did a low carb/injection deal with a local Dr - I lost the weight but as soon as I stopped the injections and low Carbing it all came back on and more. With this new tool, you're forced to not overeat. I'm happy and e cited that I've virtually made it impossible to sabotage myself!

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The more and more i research i get more excited. Although tarified im ready to feel better and hopfully look better too

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I am a 52 year old post menopausal woman. No amount of dieting will help me lose the pounds I need to lose - I just can't stick with it. I can sometimes lose but then can't keep it off. I never really felt the feeling of hungry because I was constantly grazing. My surgery was Tuesday. Including the 7 pounds I lost on my own pre-op, I'm down almost 18 pounds 4 days after surgery ... And I'm not hungry. It's got a similar sensation of just after your Thanksgiving meal and someone offers you another piece of pie and it makes you want to throw up. You can easily say no. I am stunned at the difference and was worried I would be the "one" that this wouldn't work on, but so far it's going great. I am still very tired, but my cravings for my favorite foods are gone. I have no desire to really eat any particular thing. I just have a desire to keep my body hydrated and nourished. Hope this helps.

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I actually feel like im that "one perskn this wont work for" i have honestly tried everything even dr. Bernstein (low carb with injection) sure i starved myself and lost but i gained it all back. I started saving pee becuase they checked if you were in ketosis and all i wanted was a sandwhich!

I really hope this process doesnt take more then a year! I feel like ive found somthing tbat might actually force me to eat less and say no.

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Now almost three years post-VSG, I don't have "will power" issues at all. With my EYES, I might lament that I can't eat a big ol' meal like I used to, but not really.

The sleeve will let you know that you cannot eat as you did before. I love the restriction it gives me, especially if I eat slowly.

Eating too fast is tempting (especially the further you are away from the surgery). But if you eat too fast, you really feel full and it is not comfortable at all. Damn; is my stomach going to burst!? Am I going to stretch my sleeve? I don't want to worry about that, so if I eat slowly, I notice when I need to stop eating, and I do. And for most things, I pull off most of the bread, push aside 90% of any Pasta, etc., and always have 'to go' boxes with stuff still in them in my refrigerator.

This kind of sounds wonderful. Somtimes i dont feel full. I just ate dinner and still want more. So it will be nice to have some restriction. So i dont eat as much, i think its gonna take some training in my part to eat slower and still make better choices. But if i see weightloss i wont be as discouraged. I really hope i can get this all sorted out soon. Seems like the waiting list is long here in Ontario

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Looking to be sleeved, live in Toronto Ontario, was refereed to the Ontario Bariatric Network. Was just wondering what others wait times were like. (a more updated list). they haven't received the referral from my doctor yet errr (not happy about that) but the girl at Toronto Western was nice and said they are booking for their Nov orientation, she cant do anything till i come though their system.

I have seen only one option to self pay about $13,000 in Montreal.

thoughts feelings

I think I may be the minority here--- but this is my story.

I tried EVERYTHING for years with no success. Finally when I thought I was actually going to die, I decided to get surgery. I truly thought this was my last hope. The moment I went into the orientation I decided to start eating like I had already had the surgery. Rather than the 6 months that my insurance required, I actually ended up going almost 9 months before being sleeved. By that time I had lost 68 pounds on my own. After being sleeved 10 months ago I have lost an additional 50 pounds with about 33 left to go.

I was 58 years old at surgery. It went extremely well and I recovered quickly. I never had the side effect of not being hungry. I did realize that a lot of my "hunger" was head-hunger-- just me thinking I needed to have something in my mouth when I really didn't need it.

I almost immediately could eat lots of food. I didn't just have the ability to eat a tablespoon or so... I learned that I needed to not drink too close to meals and really savor my food. I was actually losing more before the surgery.

That being said. I am SO happy I did this. I don't think I ever would have gotten on the "straight and narrow" if I did not have to have the supervised NUT visits every month- and also the requirement that I needed not to have a gain during this time. This gave me 9 months of getting good habits. I realized that nothing is a quick (or permanent) fix. I had to change. After reading about other folks who lot weight and then put some/all of it back on- I realize that I must always be diligent and take nothing for granted.

I have been on this journey for 18 months and am down 118 pounds! I am thrilled. I feel wonderful (in fact yesterday I walked 15,000 steps---before I could not even walk around the block without being in intense pain.)

I never had the "honeymoon" period that folks talk about-- but I have developed new habit. I also don't take anything for granted. Is it hard-- Sometime it really is! But I think the "hard" days come less frequently with each passing day. Being able to "participate in the world" is so much better than that piece of cake. I still love food but don't revolve my entire life around it. Good luck with you journey. We are all rooting for you.

Do you feel like the sleeve has finally allowed you to keep it off?

Do you think you could have sustained weightlessness from pre op if you didnt end up getting the sugrey? Was it because you had something to look forward too?

My biggest concern is that i could maybe try the "diet" for a while. But i've even done Keto and when i get hungry i just want to eat. I'm concerned as a few people still said they felt hungr post surgery . Maybe it was head hunger but how do i even over come this? I hope to work with a diettian and therapist about all of the additional problems. But dont know if i can trust myself.

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I don't know how long the effect will last, but here's my experience shopping last night at just over 2 weeks post-op:

Walked in the produce section and was drawn to the smell of the nectarines. Mind you, I have SERIOUS food issues (Dad physically force fed me veggies when I was very young) and in the past would have serious anxiety about eating anything outside my comfort zone. I can't tell you if I've ever even tried a nectarine. But damn they smelled awesome. So hubby said he likes nectarines, and we grabbed a couple. (Tried them at home, they're good but not really by themselves, needs to be in a cobbler or Cereal or something.)

Walked by the Little Debbie display - one of my old binge foods. Part of my brain went "oooohhhhh, Little Debbies, that would count as soft food". (Don't worry, I didn't get them.) But then the part of my brain that was imagining eating them, went "eh."

Walked through the Breakfast section - PopTarts are another one of my old binge foods. Used to be I only loved the chocolate fudge ones. Those had no appeal. The cherry ones had more appeal, but there's better ways to get cherry tastes like fruit in yogurt. Walked on by, no cravings no nothing.

Even if this effect doesn't last forever, if it lasts long enough for me to establish some healthier eating patterns, it'll be good enough.

And, I'm 30 lbs down from my highest weight. Jeans I haven't been able to wear since last fall are comfortable on the verge of being loose, and my wedding band which I haven't been able to wear for months is finally back on my hand. Just getting the boost of that 30 lbs gone is exhilarating and making me very excited about the future.

this is amazing, i want this to be me so badly....if i only lost 50lbs with this sleeve i would be happy! I almost wish i had this done years ago. now i have to wait.... or i could pau $13,000 and have it done.

@@stefanie0804 It's helpful to get some therapy to deal with emotional eating issues before surgery. This can also help to determine if you're ready for WLS or if you want to try on your own. Once I heard only 5% of people who lose on their own keep it off - surgery was a no brainier for me.

This is kind of where I'm at, after speaking to my family doctor there is an Ontario Bariatric group so I would see a dietitian and a therapist to be more successful. My only problem is after researching this for over 6months. I just spoke to my doctor about it. so the weight could be months to years. I could self pay for about $13,000. trying to give it tme but now i want to get the ball rolling as the more research i do the more if feel this is right for me.

I'm am big because I loved to eat in volume. Small amounts left me hungry. Real hungry - not head hungry. Even healthy food like salad and veg, I wanted huge amounts of to make the grumble go away. Even worse if fast food was involved. Now I'm satisfied by a small portion be it healthy or a treat. I still feel real hunger but it is satisfied easily and goes away long enough that I'm not always thinking of food. I also catch head hunger so much easier now and rarely get that craving type hunger for really unhealthy food. This has made all the good things I was capable of, so much easier. Also after surgery nothing seems scary. Like joining a gym which I had always been too scared to do. As soon as I was cleared I went and joined. After being seen in a hospital gown, my tights and long top seemed just fine. Good luck with your decision.

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Thank you so much for this. I am pre-surgery and I always say I am fat because I am hungry all the time. When I make good choices I am still hungry. I eat a healthy dinner and an hour later I am back in the kitchen because I am hungry. I had a super skinny person tell me once that they reason I am always hungry is because all I eat is junk, my body is craving real food and lacking Vitamins, etc. Nope, I do eat good stuff, I just eat too much of (for instance, LOVE nuts, eat way too many of them) and I also eat things like carbs because they fill me up.

Love your comment, can't wait for my approval!!!

This was me exactly!! I ate pretty healthy but I ate way way too much!!....now I ate some unhealthy stuff too but for the most part it was just a volume problem for me............Well this surgery has certainly fix that!! Best decision ever!! Good luck to you!!

1000x this! i try to eat well and im still hungry a hand full of nuts turns in to the whole bag or tin. I have tried every diet, Weight watchers was the closest thing to working but by the end of the day i was still hungry. My hope is that this sleeve will move me a way from feeling hungry so i dont snack or want to fill myself with carbs

This surgery (I'm only 9 weeks post-op) has taken away my cravings and hunger, so I'm establishing new eating habits right now. I had the surgery because I care about my health, and when I can only eat a few tablespoons of food, no way am I going to have that few tablespoons be carb-y garbage like bread, rice, baked goods, ice cream, etc. That mindset keeps me from eating dumb, useless foods. Instead, I now know that I need Protein to feel good. Before my sleeve, I could eat a bunch of crappy food AND the Protein I needed for survival. Now, I have to choose and for me, it's been easy. The restriction helps to keep my portions where they need to be as I train my body to be satisfied with small portions, and the lack of hunger allows me to portion appropriately and avoid mindless eating.

It IS hard to explain and even harder to understand until you're in the midst of it, but this is the most effective tool I've ever had access to and I'm loving it.

Very well put! I tend to eat my "good dinner" first then snack later as a reward, or if im still hungry (like dinner tonight was a sandwich followed by a cookie x3) so this may be a good tool for me after all... i'm just so over whelmed with everything im reading. I'm not sure i could live with myself if i had this and still failed

To me, willpower is a load of crap.

Before the sleeve: 1) conventional dieting meant I was at constant war with my body, 2) conventional dieting wasn't making me healthier but was creating my obesity, 3) willpower only meant I was an adversary to myself, and 4) no matter how hard I worked, every diet eventually led to even more weight gain.

Post-op, I am learning 1) how to work with my body and not against it; 2) how to satisfy my needs with small amounts of delicious, nutritious, food; and 3) my efforts and hard work reaps positive results.

Unfortunately, it is hard to describe the difference to someone who hasn't been sleeved. Because of that, it is one of the biggest fears and concerns that people have pre-op.

I can see that, and this is whats making my decision soo difficult. I currently eat fairly well during the week, with a little binge on the weekends. Today I had subway for dinner (we went out with friends and got home late) Trying to make better choices and all ive done for the last 2 years is maintained or lost maybe 5lbs. (i wont lie, after eatting the sandwich i was still hungry and had 2 cookies)

Im trying to record my eatting habits so that i can show this to the group and see if this really is the right choice for me. the internet is a great place but i might be getting too much information. I feel like I can make an informed decsion but the out come (based on everyone experience good and bad) could be anyone guess.

the only good thing im seeing is that, most people even those making "bad" choices still, have still lost weight.

I'm only 2 weeks out, so FWIW... the part of the stomach that is lost is responsible for a lot of the hormones that drive our cravings. I have zero appetite. I have to remind myself to eat and drink. It's a whole different world from what I had pre-surgery.

Just reading your story. How was your eating before hand? I tend to snack and binge sometimes out of being board i think. I wonder if this would really help those cravings. Its so hard to tell as everyone has a diffrent story.

Do you feel you can stick to the diet once you get back on to solids?

I am just over 2 months out and I dont see willpower being a factor, at least so far. Having a good goal, belief in your surgeon and a huge desire to lose aND keep the weight off makes it different from using willpower for me. A sleeve only allows so much food so it is a great tool not only for portion size, but for eating healthier. There isnt room for much beyond Protein requirements. I feel satisfied after eating and don't feel deprived in this weight loss phase. Maintenance will probably come with some more mental adjustments, but I want a good quality of life for the rest of my life.

So you're feeling good that this tool is actually helpful? how did you break away from your old habits? I'm fearful I'll give up and eat the piece of bread instead of the protein first, which is my concern for the willpower part

I'm new here, looking to get sleeved. From what I'm reading, Sleevers still need to have strong will power to eat the right things. How has having the sleeve made a difference compared to regular dieting and choosing the right foods?

I fear i might not have the will power, and i will fail at this too!

@@Maltese gal

How long did your OHIP process take?

From the Niagara area 7 months post op sleeved in buffalo

Would you mind if i ask where you went, and cost?

Hey guys, I'm super early in the entire process (just saw my Dr. last week for a referral), but I'm curious about some realistic waiting periods I'm getting referred to one of the Toronto Clinics so now I'm not-so-patiently waiting to hear from them. Can anyone share some info as to how long their process took from here on out until actual surgery? I'm wanting the sleeve. I was quoted $13,000 to pay out of pocket in Montreal I'm wondering if its better to go the Pay route.

Thanks!

Hey Ontario I'm super early in the entire process (just saw my Dr. last week for a referral), but I'm curious about some realistic waiting periods and such. I'm getting referred to the centre in Hamilton, so now I'm not-so-patiently waiting to hear from them. Can anyone share some info as to how long their process took from here on out until actual surgery? I'm wanting the sleeve

Thanks!

Hey @kel_05. I'm exactly where you were in 2014. how did your process go, was it a long wait?