sweetchef76

Tomorrow, I will be 7 weeks post op (October 18)!!! This has been an amazing journey to date. I have committed to making this work and have lost over 20% of my excess body weight!!! PreOp 465lbs, now 405lbs.
1 rough 45min stretch post-op the first night home, needed pain meds but only took twice once home. Slept in my recliner the rest of the night, felt much better than flat bed.
Diabetic Meds - Gone!!!
Acid Reflux - Gone!!!
Back Pain - Gone!!
Knee Pain - Gone!!
Blood Pressure - Down below normal ranges!!!
Cholesterol- Down below normal ranges!!
Blood Sugar/A1C - Down to normal ranges!!!
Wearing clothes that are 3-5 years old!!!
Walking stride is improving and moving faster!!
Doing 45min of Cardio on Elliptical!!!
Walked in the mall in the first couple of weeks!!!
No Fast food in over 3 months!!!
Not hungry, no cravings!!!
My wife has stated that I have a positive disposition and have tackled this in the right manner.
Doctor and nurses all say I am making great progress.
I have moved beyond the purée stage and working to learn the soft diet stage. Taking my time!!!
Advice to others....
1 - Go to Support Group before/after surgery and get comfortable
2 - Find a person to share progress.
3 - Go to the grocery store and read labels.
4 - Walk, Walk, Walk - Advance to cardio machines if you have access
5 - Water, Water, Water
6 - Protein ( I started Protein shakes 2 months before just to get use to them)
7 - Be Patient (Trust the process)
8 - Vitamins and supplements
9 - Plan ahead (this was my weaknesses prior to surgery and one day after - I learned quick)
10 - Challenge your tastebuds to try new healthy foods!!!!
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Sleeved at 9am yesterday and pretty much woke up from anesthesia totally around 7pm that night.
Immediately got up and walked and did 5 laps.
Then around 11-12 am, the gas pains set in.
Ugggggggg!
The bear helps a little!

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Hello all. Happy holidays. Just doing a follow up. I was sleeved 5/29/15. Pre surgery weight 345 SW 320 CW 200. My Dr told me my goal would be 225 but I passed that in the first 6 months. It was easy losing. The hard part is maintaining but I'm trying my best. It's just important to surround yourself with positive people and unfortunately at times we have to let go of some relationships because of their lack of respect. Hope everyone is doing well. You're welcome to ask any question. I'm in NYC if there are any locals for chatting.    

I'm scheduled dec 6 , 2016
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I had my gastric sleeve done January 11th. I weighed 333.1lbs.
I'm 10 months post op now and weigh 144.2lbs.
I've set new goal weights as I've gone along...first was just to get under 200lbs, then I thought I wanted my goal weight to be 180lbs. When I got there, I made the crazy goal of 150lbs never thinking I'd make it....but I did. So then I figured my goal would be 145lbs which puts me at a normal bmi...which I haven't been since I was around 10.
Now that I weight 144lbs, I've decided my final goal will 133lbs, which will mean I will have lost a total of 200lbs....and I'll do it, I know I can.
I never thought when I had surgery that weighing in the 130's would even be possible.
I've gone from wearing sizes 5-6x, and 28-30, now I wear smalls and mediums and am a size 8....I would be around a 6 if it wasn't for the large amount of skin I have around my stomach and thighs....but it's a price I'm more than happy to pay.
I've been extremely disciplined this whole 10 months. I can honestly say I've never put a bad food in my mouth...not once. I follow a very low carb diet still, drink about 85oz of Water every day and get in around 80oz of Protein. I take all my required Vitamins daily.
The gym has become a big part of my life. I workout around 5-6 days per week doing a variety of exercising....spin class, step  class, yoga, cardio machines....I like doing different things so I don't get bored.
Anyway, because I'm so close to goal, I just wanted to share this. And for the people who have a lot of weight to lose like I did....remember, you can do this! I'm living proof!!
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@ I drank Atkins Lift early on...it's very palatable and easy on your stomach. I liked the lemon flavor and never tried the berry. The consistency is thinner than Isopure clear drinks.

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Congrats everyone! I'm 13 months post-op today and feel wonderful at the ripe young age of 54

You guys are all so supportive!
So I had my own version of a "food funeral" a couple days ago. I had purchased a new rifle and was headed out to the mountains to sight it in. On the way out there I stopped to get fuel and decided to get a bottle of Water. While in the gas station I noticed the Coke-a-cola cooler and thought about how much of that I used to drink. Sometimes I'd have up to three cans of it at a meal. So I thought why not have a little symbolism of not letting those things have any grip on me anymore. So I bought a 20oz coke. Then I pulled into McDonalds and bought a bigmac. Once I made it up to the mountains I sighted in the new rifle and set out the soda and the bigmac. I also set up my GoPro. Stood back and took a shot at the soda, it literally exploded. Same thing when I shot the Big Mac. It actually looked like it was raining Big Mac for a few seconds. Felt pretty good to get some kind of closure, to actually say, "no, I am not going to give into this drug called "junk food" anymore!" It is so much like a drug, I think these foods are engineered to make you want them more and more. Then I went up to my GoPro and hadn't pressed record. Bummer, I was looking forward to sharing my "food funeral" video with you all.
This morning I weighed in at 50lbs down. That's a nice mile stone to hit! Many more to go! This was also my first day back at work. Not like a real work day as I headed out of town for a business trip. Now I'm several hours from home staying in a hotel. Brought a cooler full of foods that are okay for my stage of the post op diet. Still one of my coworkers wanted to go out to dinner, heck employer is footing the bill so why not. Went to a nice seafood restaurant, I got a cup of clam chowder and only had about a 1/4 cup of the broth before I felt full. Not the best food selection as chowder is a bit high in fat content, but it was a decision I can live with. No ill effects. I'm on the purée stage so it was something that was on my list from the nutritionist that I could have as long as I steered clear of the chunks which I did.
Tomorrow I'm going to try and hunt down some scrambled eggs for Breakfast and will probably work on a Protein shake for lunch. Then I'll have to decide if I stay in for dinner or go out again.

Bird Dog, your posts have been extremely informative and reassuring. They reinforce what I learned in my classes and what my surgeon says. I even had my wife read them to kind of know what to expect. She went to the last class with me. My surgery is in Monday the 19th. Thanks so much for documenting your journey.
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My 2 big incisions always hurt (2 out of 10). I stopped my pain meds 2 days after. Had mines done 9/08, I will be screaming GasX strips all up and down these forums! Because it's important! And get some milk of mag, if you need it. I couldn't even think of adding anything to my stomach it was so uncomfortable until I had a BM. If once you start full liquids you have pain, start walking immediately, helped me A LOT!
So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I had sleeve surgery on 9/6/16. I came home the next day and have been doing great. I never really had any pain, just some gas the first couple of days. But that has subsided. Now it's easier to drink more too. I've been walking 3-4 miles a day since 3 days after surgery. I've been dropping between 1-3 pounds a day. I must confess I'm sick of the shakes and have started eating real food. I'm probably not supposed. I'm eating very small portions (1/4cup) of chicken or turkey meat and the same size of cooked carrots or cauliflower. I chew really well and mush it all up and have not had any pain, nausea or ill repercussions. I've had a little broth too and 1 SF Popsicle. Things are going great.
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Day 6, got a full 64+oz of liquids in today. That included an Isopure drink that was 40g of Protein. I had another quarter cup of Tomato Soup. My wife wanted to go to some antique stores so we went and strolled around a few of them. Got in quite a bit of walking. The pain wasn't nearly as bad as it has been, at one point today I had gone almost 9 hours without pain meds, but my dog put an end to that. He's been pretty bummed that I wouldn't let him lay on me while I was in my recliner. So he decided to just jump up there. Landed right on the large incision. Good thing he's just a Chihuahua but still hurt like a bugger, gave in and took some pain medicine. No leakage or anything from the wound so all seems to be well. Just hurt quite a bit there for a while. Blood pressure and blood sugar are still not being treated with medication and are both well within the normal range. I'm really happy to be off of some of the pills and am excited to come off the rest.
Today was the first time I got a little depressed and was questioning what I had done to myself. After a quick pep talk from my wife and a review of my lists, I was good to go. Come to think of it I don't think I've shared my lists with you guys. Basically I have a list of the pros/cons or having the surgery and a list of things I want to accomplish that losing the weight will allow me to do. I keep them with me and it's a good motivator when I'm down. Anywho, here's to tomorrow being as good or better than today

Day 5, getting better every day. Today I finally got in a decent amount of fluids 60oz so far. Still not much Protein, but I'm working on that. Got some Isopure drinks today, those should help. Did a little pacing in the house. Then around noon my wife and I went and saw a movie at the theater, I got a 20oz Water for $5 and sipped on that throughout the movie. Luckily our local theater has some comfy recliners so I wasn't in pain at all during the movie. Except for the occasional laugh, that smarted a little. Came back home and I rested for a bit, then we headed off to GNC for some Isopure drinks and non-flavored Protein powder. We also hit the grocery store. Since my surgeon allows strained Soups at this point I picked up some Tomato Soup. Once we got home, my wife warmed up a quarter cup of it and I worked on that with a baby spoon. That little bit of Soup was plenty. No pain and it didn't try to come back up. So all went well with that. Sure felt nice to get something other than Water in the system. Oh and in other big news, had my first bowel movement since September 1st. Good to know everything is still working.
My wife has been a angel throughout this process, I have no idea how people get through this alone. If you are going through this alone or have already done it my hats off to you, you are obviously tougher than I. I would be lost and in a lot more pain than I am now. She is doing everything she can to make sure I'm comfortable and doing everything she can to keep me from injuring myself where they operated.
Goal for tomorrow is to get in my recommended amount of water and my Protein. Oh and walk walk walk. These shots of blood thinner are getting old.

Yesterday I was able to eat enough Protein and only had 1 Protein shake. The Protein shakes are meant to help you get Protein if you aren't able to consume the protein you need with actual food. Am I wrong to only have one? I'd prefer to not have shakes at all and just get protein from the foods on my list of what I can eat.
Here's what I ate yesterday:
Breakfast
1.5 oz natural Peanut Butter - 9 grams protein
1 4oz sugar free applesauce (my pills mixed in with it)
lunch
2 hard boiled eggs with a tablespoon of mayo - 12 grams protein
1 4oz serving sugar free pudding
snack
2oz pureed chicken - 15 grams protein
2 tablespoons mashed potato - 1 gram protein
dinner
4 oz pureed turkey - 18 grams protein
4oz Protein Shake - 34 grams protein
TOTAL PROTEIN = 89 GRAMS

Thank you, yo u look great. I bet you feel like a new person. I start my journey on Dec 7 and I can't wait. Was it smooth for you?
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December 6th. I'm in
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That is so fantastic to hear more I am happy for all of your continued success.
Thank you also for making me feel slightly at ease. You are kind to share.
Best!!
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Congratulations on your continued success. Very inspiring
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It has been almost 10 months since I had the sleeved and I am down 171 pounds 14 sizes down and total body loss 127 inches. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and follow the program. The sleeve is not going to do all of the work for you but if you work for it you can achieve your desired results. Wish I would have done this 10 years ago.

Drink a Protein shake in the morning on the way to work.
Eat a Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt around 10:00
Eat 2-3 oz of chicken or turkeys around 1:00
Eat about 2-3 oz pouch of tuna around 5:00
Eat about 2 oz Protein with some roasted veggies around 8:00
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at 5 weeks out i was drinking 80 oz of Fluid a day INCLUDING my smoothies. i kept fluid next to me at all times; from when i got up until about 8 pm, or i would be up all night. experiment with bigger sips, small mouthfuls and see how it feels. you almost need to have the mentality of a nurse pushing fluids on a feverish child. i am almost 6 months post op and routinely drink 96 oz a day. for me, this is enough and i will stay at this level. this helps with keeping things moving, too. congrats on your successes.

While I'm getting ready in the morning I get a glass of Water and drink it. This is every day and I get 12-15 oz of Water extra by doing this. At the beginning I only had the water, now that I'm almost 5 months I add a tablespoon of chia seeds and 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed (this helps with any constipation) plus I get the Omega. But my point is to drink water as soon as you wake up and it will become a habit.