Greensleevie

Watch Dr Matthew Weiners videos about the myths about WLS. He explains the whole stretching phenomenon.

I am an actual, successful WLS patient who is 3 years post op, so my actual experience is my expertise.

Don't state things like they are fact when you don't know. The stretching debate will always be a sticking point. I've done my research, lived my truth, hence my conclusion. Because you don't agree with it doesn't mean I'm wrong and you're right or vice versa. I, too, was sharing my ACTUAL experience with it as a veteran of WLS.

16 hours ago, mlbdl said:

Based on the lecture the NUT gave this week, carbonation and overeating will stretch the sleeve/pouch. She had a patient that went back to frequently drinking non-diet soda and regained all her weight. She had some other stories. We aren't born with stomachs the sizes of footballs. They stretched. Our sleeves can stretch too large if we don't take care of them.

In my experience, most NUTS don't know what they are talking about.

The stretchy part, or fundus, is cut out during the surgery, therefore making stretching VERY difficult. A few carbonation bubbles do not have enough force to stretch anything. We do not have "regular" stomachs anymore. Drinking non diet soda with all the empty calories was the cause of weight gain, not stretching.

There are studies proving this, but believe what you want.

For the record, I've drank carbonation for a couple of years in the form of selzer waters, and my capacity is exactly the same as it was from the year before. So your NUTS "theory" pretty much is disproven.

It is normal and natural to be able to eat more as things heal up and the swelling goes down.

By 5 years post op, you will be able to eat a small dinner plate of food. Why that happens is debateble, but it happens to everyone.

That's why it's important to not rely on the tool itself, but changing our lifestyle and use to tool as added benefit.

I always say that WLS is really only the temporary solution to the permanent problem of obesity.

1 hour ago, ryan_86 said:

Am I eating too much? Am I slipping into old habits? Is this one treat the start of a slippery slope? Am I stretching my sleeve? Am I going to end up like I was? Will this flabby middle ever go away? Can I ever eat what I want without feeling guilt and failure and the dread that it's the start of backsliding? Is this as good as it gets? Will I always feel like this?

Am I the only one who goes through these thought every-single-day?

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Wondering if you're eating too much can be solved by tracking and measuring your intake.

One treat once in a while shouldn't derail you. Allowing a treat evert day? That's when it needs to be reeled in again.

Sleeves don't stretch. Besides, the benefits of the tool wane over time anyway, so changing your habits is your best bet for success in the long run.

You'll only end up like you were if you go back to doing the stuff you were doing before. If you are following your plan 90% of the time, you'll be good.

Your flabby middle may not go away. Not the end of the world. That's what Spanx or surgery is for.

You shouldn't be able to eat whatever you want. Doing that is what got us fat. Eating a healthy diet of protien and veggies 90% of the time is the best way to lose and keep the weight off.

You yourself are in complete control of how good your life gets, and no, you won't always feel like that. You'll get into somewhat of a routine to where you feel comfortable that you've got some control of your life again as time goes on. You won't lose the fear of regain, but you'll feel you have more control about whether it happens or not.

How's that?

It's normal and completely natural for us to be able to eat more as the sleeve heals and the swelling goes down. It has absolutely nothing to do with stretching. At 3 year out, I can now eat a cup of food depending on what it is, and my surgeon says that's completely normal.

Because capacity increases with time, over reliance on the tool itself is not recommended. A complete change of habits is. That will be what gets you to goal and keeps you there, not how much you can eat.

I suggest you watch Dr Matthew Weiners videos on YouTube about WLS myths. Stretching is one he talks about.

It just takes a bit longer and a little more persistence for lower BMI people. You'll get there if you keep following your plan. It's not a race.

I've had plastics, and my surgeon wouldn't do the surgery until I was at a steady weight for at least year because going up or down in weight will cause problems with the surgical results. Also, you'll notice your body changing after a while at goal weight. You may change your mind about certain areas and be surprised about how well others faired.

4 hours ago, achappex3 said:

I did read the rest of your post. Regardless you seem very rude. You could've answered much more respectful and not have treated her like she's a child. The "Newbie" comment for example was beyond uncalled for. But anyways, I don't stand for being rude/mean for no reason.

You have a great day!

Oh you don't stand for it? What are you, the forum police?

I wasn't rude. I gave her an answer, she didn't like my answer, so I explained further.

It is true that there are some indignant noobs on this forum. You're proving that.

Never mind. You'll never lose hair, you won't have loose skin, and you'll never have to diet again.

Is this what you all want to hear?

1 minute ago, bodyxo said:

I'm sorry but I acted indignant? But in the next line, you said that you found some chill? Not hardly.

As I mentioned before, I simply asked the forum a question, and you answered extremely 'matter of fact-ly,' when the truth is, your stats were incorrect. Alternative facts, if you will.

Your INITIAL response was completely out of pocket, but I'm thankful that someone else saw how smug it was so I wouldn't be led to believe that I'm imagining things.

I hope you have a great weekend.

What, so it's not true that most people lose hair? You took offense to my 99% number. In the literally HUNDREDS OF people I've known who have had WLS, I've known TWO who have said they haven't lost any hair. Two.

Now I'm no statistician, but I would say those stats are pretty close to my experience. If you're wanting hard facts, nothing is stopping you from googling. I also do know there isn't a lot you can do to stop it, either. I answered your question, didn't I?

And you can skip your passive aggressive responses. I'm done here.

That contrary to popular belief, if you want to keep the weight off for good, you WILL be dieting and exercising for the rest of your life.

There's too many know it all newbs on this forum who don't bother to listen to the people who have been there and have much more knowledge than they do. I just get tired of it.

3 hours ago, achappex3 said:

Why in the world are you acting like that? She's asking a question because she wants to know. That is the purpose of this. To help each other out. Your "numbers" seems extreme so it was questioned. You need to chill

Because she acted indignant when I informed her that most people do lose hair.

Why don't you chill. If you took time to read my later post, you'de see I did chill. So stop trying to start something.

14 minutes ago, bodyxo said:

I'm sorry but where in my post did I say that I knew more than you do?

There was no denial in anything that I said. What I did ask was how are you coming up with your statistics? When someone posts percentages on anything, onlookers DO have the right to ask where they've received their data. You specifically said 99%; I asked where and how you were able to draw such a factual conclusion. This isn't a denial. It's simply calling you on your sh*t since you offered a forum "exacts" without providing data to support your claim.

And I'm not saying that it doesn't happen. But you also don't have the right to tell someone on this board with a very RATIONAL fear that they simply shouldn't' do something if they can't "deal." I wanted to know other people's solutions, and that is exactly what I asked for. Considering that I have done my own research and see that certain side effects are common, I've also seen several people who didn't experience the same side effects and if those people exist on THIS forum, THAT was who I requested information from because in MY opinion, it definitely doesn't hurt to try.

Fair enough.

I'm just trying to help people understand that even though these things may happen, the benefits of the surgery far outweigh the loss of hair and loose skin. hair grows back. No big deal. My hair is back to pre surgery thickness, and I lost about 30% of it. But I would gladly lose it again, because losing a bit of hair is a small price to pay to have my life back.

6 hours ago, bodyxo said:

Where did you get your 99% data from?

Also, there have been people who didn't get loose skin (which I didn't mention), as a lot of factors come into play with that, such as how long one has been overweight, genetics, as well as activity levels pre and post surgery. I'm a newcomer to the board, but I'm not so new when it comes to issues dealing with skin. And that information you provided referencing skin is false.

Most people lose hair after WLS. There is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent it. Fact.

Most people who are 100+ pounds overweight have some loose skin when they lose it. Some can be minimized with exercise, some only surgery will correct. Fact.

Denying it doesn't mean it's not going to happen to you.

I'm 3 years post op, and have seen 100's of posts on WLS boards and been involved with several WLS groups and have gone to conventions and meet and greets and am very involved in the WLS community.

But please, keep telling me you know more than I do, newbie.

Eating gobs of Pasta and bread is what got me fat.

At 3 years out with a mellowed out metabolism and larger sleeve capacity, if I ate Pasta and bread at on a regualr basis, I would get fat. Again.

Besides, it causes a spike in our insulin levels and therefore cravings. This is hard enough. Why do that to yourself?

H air loss starts at around 3-4 months post op and happens to 99% of people post surgery to a certain extent. No, there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Yes, there may be some things you can do to minimize it.

People just need to accept the fact that hair loss and loose skin is all part of the process. If you can't, then surgery is not for you.

I'm 3 year out, and my appetite is back with a vengeance. It really started coming back around 2 years, and has slowly increased. Enjoy your honeymoon period, because it definitely doesn't last!

If you can weigh daily and understand that there are going to be fluctuations and not let it ruin your day, by all means weigh daily. Sometimes it is better to weigh less frequently in the weight loss phase so you don't see the stalls or freak out about any normal fluctuations.

For me in the maintenence phase, weighing daily is imortant for accountability purposes. Avoiding the scale is what got me to the point of needing WLS.

I have found that most people who have an over reliance on the tool itself to prevent them from eating certain foods as opposed to utilizing to the tool along side a total change in lifestyle usually struggle with success in the long run.

Get whatever surgery you think is best for you, and utilize the tool, don't depend on it. Dependence will let you down every time.

I really wish you people would listen to the vets

On 2/8/2017 at 9:08 AM, kar12345 said:

I guess I am in the 3 week stall. No weight loss week 3 to 4 so far. Have increased walking time to 45 mins per day, but still just a brisk walk.

Please understand with as little calories and Protein you're consuming right now, more exercise can be counter productive and cause you to actually hold onto weight.

Exercising more that early out will not help the stall. Keep getting your fluids and Protein and just let yourself heal. Walking is great, and keep doing it, but be careful not to go overboard. This is healing time, not weight loss time.

1 hour ago, boilernos said:

Weight loss is a really simple formula. Calories in vs calories out. Keep at a deficit and it will come off.

I find it detrimental to view other people's mega success posts. Number one they might not be telling the whole truth and two everyone is different. Keep on keeping on. You've lost 40 lbs in five months. If you lose another 40 you'll be 230 in June. Pretty impressive.


Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I disagree. It's not as simple as calories in/calories out, especially with WLS.

This is completely normal.

The puréed foods stage usually coincides with the Third Week Stall that 99% of us have gone through. A little weight gain is normal right before a stall due to glycogen storage.

It's a prescription diet given to you so you don't rip open your incisions and cause a leak, not a Jenny Craig diet. I suggest you stick to it for your safety.

You'll want a lot of things on this journey. Whether you give into it or not will be the key to success.

This whole thing is all about learning to delay gratification when it comes to food and finding other things to satisfy you emotionally. The people who don't learn to do that are the ones that struggle and give up.

If something isn't working, and you really want to change things, you find different ways to make it work.

You track your intake so you know where you are and where you need to be to get things moving again. Do you know EXACTLY how many calories, Protein and carbs you're getting a day?

Do you know if you're not overdoing it with sugar and simple carbs?

Are you moving more or changing up your exercise routine to jump start your metabolism again?

Are you drinking at least 64 Oz of Water?

Have you talked to your surgeon or NUT?

The surgery only does so much. I figure that's the 60% expected weight loss they are talking about that just happens. You have to be proactive through out the process to help things along from time to time.

I would have never gotten to my goal weight if I was just waiting around for it to happen.