Pam_2-06-2017

Congratulations!

This is the toughest time. I found that everybody tells you what to eat and how much but they fail to tell you that it takes some time to get there. As you heal you will be able to tolerate meals better. As your swelling goes down you'll be able to fit a bit more in. That early on I could not get 4 ounces down. I ate two ounces at a time all day long. Your protein shakes count as fluid so sip, sip, sip. All day long. Drinking a whole shake at once may not be possible yet. Lastly, don't forget to eat really slowly. I always struggle if I eat too fast. Good luck.

I decided to address some issues with the speed of my weight loss. Not because I'm disappointed or frustrated but to offer perspective and to garner your perspective to help those who are frustrated. On May 6 it will be 3 months out for me. I'm certainly no subject matter expert. Daily I see a new post regarding the speed of weight loss. Usually it is regarding a stall. Heck, I think I even posted one. We've heard and read every one hoping to get a different answer. But that new perspective never comes. So it appears that stalls are reality and normal. Slow weight loss is a reality and normal. Fast weight loss is a reality and normal. I've learned that just because you're in a stall or your weight loss is slow doesn't mean nothing is happening to your body. I slipped right into a size 14 jean at the end of my last two week stall. 1. Help I'm in a stall? What do I do? Look at your journal. Are you getting 60-100g of protein a day? Are you staying within your carb limit? Are you drinking all your water? Are you journaling? Be honest about staying on plan. And understand that even if you do everything right you will stall. 2. Why are others losing weight so much faster than me? First refer to the answer number 1. If you answered yes to all those then you are probably like me. My husband swears I can live on air:-). My weight loss is slow and I have had many stalls in my short three months. In between stalls I'll lose 3-4 lbs then stall again. There are benefits to being slow losers. That lotion you put on twice a day to nourish and heal your skin actually has some time to work. Don't forget to dry brush your skin before climbing into the shower. My skin looks great and I'm nearly 50! Did you expect the weight to just disappear and you're feeling disappointed? By choosing the sleeve you chose one of the slowest of WLS suite of choices. Yep, weight loss can continue for up to 2 years after surgery. Most people who succeed get to goal sooner. In spite of that I feel like I've made the right choice. I feel great, I'm looking pretty great and there is no way I could have dropped 36 pounds in nearly three months any other way. Your frame of mind is important to determining your satisfaction with WLS. In other words,don't look at your daily weigh in as an emotional roller coaster where on loss days you're happy and in stall days you're bummed. You can't eat 800-1000 calories a day and not eventually lose weight. Don't worry, be happy. You will have stalls. Now I've had more stall days than success days and am thankful for them. The misconception is that this is an easy fix to a problem of laziness or lack of self control. Every one who has done this will testify that this is a lie. This is not easier. It's damned hard to make the decision to surgically limit your body to 4-6 ounces of food at a time. Sometimes it sucks when you've made a rockstar meal and want more. Like that amazing, wild Alaska salmon I made last night that I'm also having for lunch today. Yum! After all that work to get to a successful surgery date now is the time to celebrate the successes and the stalls. They are our new reality. Why not make it your new normal. Take care

I weigh daily. At this point I've had more stall days than loss days. Nearly 3 months and I'm down 37 pounds. My longest stall was 3 weeks. I have noticed that during a stall other things are happening. My body shifts. I was at my wits end for clothes and picked up an old pair of size 14 jeans and they slipped right on with room to spare. I was shocked! With good hydration and skin care my stalls are beneficial to giving my skin a chance to repair. I will be 50 in less than a month and although not perfect my skin looks better than I expected. Look for the upside daily to help you through. I weighed yesterday and was up a pound. First up day since surgery. Instead of panic I evaluated my food journal and found two red flags. I did not get all my water and I had a more than my normal 25 carbs. All we can do is keep trying. I'm really thankful for this tool that enables me to be so in control.

500-700 calories is a little low. Try adding a snack or two. It is hard to get enough at first but as your tummy heals it will get easier. Keeping calories too low puts our bodies in starvation mode and it doesn't let go of any excess. For the first 6 weeks 60g of protein was my goal. Now it's pretty easy to get so my new goal is 100g protein. That usually gets me to calorie goal as well but I really don't even worry about calories. Protein, pleasuring and journaling is my focus right now. The weight will come off. Just keep plugging away at it.

4/28 182.6

I'm already post op. Pre op I broke a chair, worried about what people thought of me, bulged my clothes, etc. The thing that I find I celebrate is how my body feels. When I move it is different, lighter. I don't thump so much when I move around the house. I can hop up out of a chair without creaking. I don't always ask my son to get or do something for me. I squat and stand without issue. It really feels so different as to be noticeable numerous times throughout the day.. The movement of my legs when I walk, the feel of my clothes moving against my skin instead of clinging, my skin is dry not sweaty all the time. I reach to scratch and don't have to go though contortions to reach that itchy spot. I could go on and on. My body is unfamiliar to me. But it feels great.

I think hernia repair would be good. It explains the diet changes and weight loss. 40% of WLS patient end up losing their gall bladder and you can't have it taken out again.

I'm not an emotional eater. I did not always seek out food or was drawn to food after a particularly stressful day or situation. That said I did see a therapist to make that determination. I ate good food and lots of it! Portion control was my biggest problem. I had to get my hunger under control. I have a friend that immediately goes to food when she is alone. She started journaling when she ate. As soon as her husband and son left the house she headed to the kitchen or fast food. That seems weird to me but as an emotional eater she has to be very careful to control that behavioral response to being alone. Everyone is different. Finding your trigger will go a long way to helping you control your eating.

So I've never don a challenge post op. Now that I think about it. 10 pounds is not much of a challenge. Never thought I'd say that. Can you change my goal to 20 lbs. I can do that!!! Thanks.

Yep...I sure would like the weight o come off fast:-(. I was sleeved on 2/6 and down 35 pounds. I went into a crazy 3 week stall that made me think I was some kind of anomaly:-). How can I lose 80 percent of my stomach and still not lose weight!? I'm passed that now. Happy for the weight I've lost and thankful it is still heading in the right direction albeit slow. Took me years to get this big. That's what I keep telling myself. Good luck

10 sounds good. June 2nd...

April 21 - 184.8 Scales moving slow this week:-/

So excited for all of you!!! It is the best thing you will do for yourself! It's not easy but it is so worth it!!!

Another thought is that pre-sleeve I was eating nutrient deficient foods. Most of what I ate was probably pretty bad for me. Now I eat dense proteins and few carbs. What carbs I do get are from veggies. My body is fed better than it ever has been. I was not told to take a calcium supplement either but it just made sense. Take care

A lot of people talk about stretching their little tummy. My surgeon said I won't be able to stretch mine. If the surgery is done correctly this is not a worry. The concept of a slider food is new to me and I haven't experienced it yet. Many people mistake the stretched tummy with their ability to put down foods that are bulky on the outside but not inside. Examples: popcorn, chips, etc. once you identify the abuse of a slider food it is important to avoid them in the future.

Your pretty early out so eating much of anything is tough. Most vets say it takes 6 months to fully heal. Right now protein is essential so it's a primary eat. To eat a veggie requires planning. Once I really wanted some kale chips with my dinner. I made sure to drink two premium protein shakes early so I was sure to have my protein before I even started my meal with kale. I ate my kale first:-) Now that I have a little time and healing in, I can eat a bit more than I could at 4 weeks. I still eat my protein first but can fit in a little green veggie. Your vitamins are essential and I would figure out a way to get them down. I did chewables and gummies for quite a while. I still do my biotin in gummie form cause they taste so good:-). Maybe blend them in with your shake or find a chewable that tastes good. Check with your nut. Mine gave me a handful of samples to try. You will be surprised to learn that most food addicts are malnourished. There was little true nourishment in the foods that I was eating. The fact that my body is getting good, dense protein probably makes it pretty happy. Take care

The reason we fail is because we fail to forgive ourselves. There is not one person here that has not eaten something they aren't supposed to. If there is they will eventually do it. You did not gain 2 pounds:-). Lol...but it's good you really care. Keep after it. You're doing great!

I'm sorry it's so hard[emoji8]. I was sleeved on 2/6 and can now eat most foods if I want. Of course I don't but just knowing I can sometimes makes me feel better. Those first few weeks are the absolute toughest. But breakfasts with the hubby will be doable again, I promise. I went to the beach in Port Aransas,TX with my family. I haven't told anyone about my surgery. Nobody noticed that I just nibbled a hot dog with no bun:-). My sister handed me a blueberry vodka with club for a refreshment. I pretended to sip it until nobody was looking and poured it out under the truck:-). Filled my cup with water and sipped away. It won't be long before doing sneaky little things like that are not only entertaining but gives you a feeling of pride that you could eat/drink all that stuff but have the strength not to. Your mindset about food will change. My relationship with food is so different now. I can go to town and run errands and never even think about hitting a drive thru. I think you know how freakin impressive that is considering where we start in this new life journey. I know this doesn't fix today or maybe not even tomorrow but I hope I helped snap you out of your funk even a little bit. Happy Easter[emoji235][emoji235]

Got my hair colored and cut the day before yesterday. It made me feel so good I stopped and got my eyebrows done too:-) It sure felt good to treat myself!

Oh and I turn 50 in May!! We are twins!!! :-)

Hi m-strings! I also had surgery on the 6th of Feb! Lost 35 so far and feel great! Good to see a surgery twin online! Great job on the loss! Pam

Do you mean the nutritional impacts? The sleeve has only been around since 2011 so the data is not in. My logical self says that it will not have much impact. Usually when we get old our appetite decreases and our diversity of food choices decrease as well. Consequently, I feel that nutritionally it will have the least impact of all WLS surgeries as malabsorption is not a factor in the equation. I hope that kind of answer is what you are looking for. P

Hope I'm not too late. I weigh every day so I can give you weight for 4/7. 4/7 - 188 lbs 4/14 - 185.4 Yay! Broke my 4 week plateau this week! Ready for the challenge!!! P

Yep..I went 6 weeks for lifting. Light walking right away and good cardio at 3 weeks.