Sleeve1stFitNext

Not everyone is going to support you. Also, they could be scared for you. If this is something that you want, go for it. It’s your life. Just remember, there are people who are here to support you and encourage you. Also, they will not understand what you are going through. Don’t let negativity stop you from taking back your life. Now is the time to pull in and focus on you. I am sorry you do not have much support at home. It is something that will help you succeed because they won’t stress you out and cause you to relapse. However, you can do this!!

Welcome to the loser bench!! I was nervous too. No need to be. Trust your team. The excitement is the best part. I call my surgery date my Phoenix Day. It was the day, the old me was left on that surgical table and the new me was born. I have changed so much in a year. With 71 lbs gone, I can never imagine going back. I refuse. I love what I have accomplished. I done more in one year than I could ever imagine. It’s the best feeling and I cannot wait for when you feel that way!!!! Good luck!!!

I wouldn’t suggest diet pills because they mess up your metabolism. Try increasing your water intake. Increase the intensity of your workouts or adding an additional 30 minutes to your workout. Are you eating enough? Sometimes you may need to agh 50 calories on workout days.

I believe I was only allowed to have non-starchy vegetables and protein shakes. Mines was soo hard and I only had to do it for 14 days. I wish you the best of luck. I ate soo many pickles and cucumbers during that time.

Eating ice does not dehydrate you. However, since ice does not provide you with the amount of water necessary to hydrate your body properly, it is not advised to only have ice. There is no way to eat enough ice to compensate for the amount of water you need to stay hydrated. Therefore, use ice to keep cool. Try drinking water at a warmer temperature.

Well, here a few: 1) Focus on your liquid intake. Drink your Gatorade and water. You are not going to be hungry at this time. Liquids will fill you easily. 2) Make sure to set reminders to get up and walk around. (It is soo easy to stay in bed when you are in pain but it is important) 3) Hot/Warm showers will be your best friend when your incisions or stomach starts hurting. 4) Make a pillow fort on your bed. One on each side. One your lower back. One between your hands. One under your lower back. These are the main ones that I remember at this time. If you have any specific remedies you would like, let me know.

I was not around you weight range when I had my surgery. However, loose skin can happen to anyone. My suggestion is to start focusing on toning up the skin after about 2 months out (maybe sooner). It also depends on where you are carrying a lot of fat. Most people tend to not need surgery on their legs because it gains muscle and bounces back pretty nicely. However, stomach, back, and arms are the most difficult to tone up. You also want to spend at least a year truly trying to tighten your skin before deciding to get additional surgeries. My friend lost 100 lbs by dieting and exercising. Her stomach had loose skin but she has worked on it and the Abs have actually helped her tighten the skin up, as well as her arms. Surgeons typically suggest waiting for 2 years before getting pregnant as your body is going through major changes and needs to adapt to the new calorie intake. If you are hoping to get pregnant prior to that time, it's probably best that you wait on the surgery. However, there are many women who have gotten pregnant right after surgery and have had healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy. It is that you will head into unfamiliar territory and a tricky situation. Good luck!!! Welcome to the Losers Bench.

I had an issue with cold water. It was like my sleeve tenses up and limits the amount of water. However, I could drink a room temperature fine. If nothing else cold or hot was giving you an issue, maybe it is more of a mindset thing. Are you a person that usually liked water? If not, you may have to put flavoring to the water. I ate a lot of things at room temperature because too cold would not go down and too hot would hurt too.

Dumping sucks honestly. It can last until you get the food out of your system or it can last the entire day. It felt like I was getting my period (I have endometriosis). I get all the symptoms so I just get rid of it and then sleep. The healing process depends on your body. I stayed out of work for 10 days as my job is highly stressful and demands a lot of attention and energy. However, I was energetic when I went back.

Personally, I use MyfitnessPal. It is easier for me to track and also I had it before my surgery. I tried Baritastic and it was not for me. I know people who prefer Baritastic over MyfitnessPal. I would say try them both out. They are both free and figure out which one works for you. I had Ricotta bake at Phase 3 (soft foods) under my plan.

Honestly, it depends on your body. Since I have a slight form of keloid skin, it will take over a year for mines to fade. However, palmers cocoa butter or Mederma will work with helping the scar fade.

I have 5 incisions and compared to my loose skin, it is nothing. Once I have my stomach fixed, I may be left with just 2 or 3. I have no complaints here.

My surgeon suggests I could sleep on my stomach when I was about 2 weeks out or when the pain in my incisions stopped hurting.

I can't even look at other people eat anymore lol. I am just like, "how can you eat all of that?"

My suggestion, a small amount once a week as a treat for not giving in all week. You may need to start bringing your own snacks to work to help keep you pre-occupied. Also, try increasing your water intake. When I feel full, I do not feel the need to eat.

Oh, I was terrified. If I ate too much I would get sick and be like, "I'm gonna die. I am greedy. This is what I get. My life is over and a lie" lol I am extra dramatic. It was not until maybe my 6th month, did I start to not worry as much. However, it is still something that concerns me when I eat too much.

lol I cannot with you two. Hilarious!!!

I had the IUD after I had my surgery. Prior to my Pre-op, I was advised to get off my hormonal birth control (At the time was on Depot for Endometriosis). I do not believe that the Mirena affects weight loss or weight gain like other birth controls do. I did not see any difference in my weight or it affecting my weight. However, everyone is different and it could affect your weight.

It's best to talk with your surgeon in regards to that. If you lose too much, many insurance companies may think you can do it on your own and if you don't lose enough, they may deny it and think you are not trying hard enough. It also depends on what your BMI is. For example, someone I know was over 5'5 and almost 385 lbs. She lost 50 lbs during her 6 month wait period and was still approved because her BMI was too high and the surgeon justified it by saying that the fat around her organs needed to decrease to do the surgery successfully. It is really up to your surgeon and his team and how he feels comfortable too with doing the surgery. As a reminder, they are the ones that can word it in a way in which can convince the insurance company to cover it.

I agree with @blizair09 the only way to succeed, is to change your mindset. This is not easy. No one said it was or would be. Just like dieting and exercising before the surgery, it is hard. The surgery only helps with portions but it cannot change what you eat. Another thing is, increase your exercise. That is the key. This tool will not work without calories burned in workouts. My scale did not move from September until February. I had to resort to depending on workouts, losing inches and before and after photos to keep me going. At least you are self-aware. I had issues with food and I found myself snacking all the time. Once I was realized that I was not really giving it my all, I decided to make a change and to really create a plan that worked for me. Remember you have been given an opportunity to take your life back. To take control of this food addiction and really be the person you always wanted to be. This is your time to succeed when others may have thought you wouldn't. For you to do that one thing that you always wanted to do with your kids or significant other. Find those reasons for why you decided to get the surgery and hold onto to them. They are your anchor when you feel like you are drowning.

Something I do while eating to get the 30 minutes and this works for me, it may not work for you. I will watch something on TV that is interesting. I will chew put everything down and watch a show until a commercial. Then I will pause, take a bike and resume watching. This gets me about 30 minutes of eating time. Once the show is over, I do not eat anymore.

It's buyer's remorse. We all have been there in that first month. Honestly, it gets better. I can drink more now. I have a small plate. I eat in small sections and I pace myself. When I look at how much I could eat my first month versus now. I am still in shock. Granted I cannot eat like a normal person anymore but the portion size has increased. 1 Cup of low starchy vegetables and 3 oz of meat is what I can eat in 30 minutes. I made a video about it back then: https://youtu.be/CTpNC77HeXU

A great game plan is to get at least 8 oz before starting your day. I have to be to work at 6 am. I live in NYC so I have to be up way earlier than necessary. I wake up early and drink an 8 oz cup while getting ready for work. As I am traveling to work, I have a 20 oz bottle (I usually try to drink half in the hour it takes me to get to work). Then I spend the first hour finishing my 20 oz. I will eat something small, like boiled egg whites. 30 minutes later, I am drinking 10 oz. Halfway through my work day, I am 38 oz. Then I spend the remainder, getting a 10 oz cup of tea and 10 oz cold water. I drink the tea first. Then I drink the water (warmer temperatures go down easier for me). I drink my 20 oz bottle on the way home or at the gym. After that, it is drinking when I feel thirsty. This is what I do. When I work the night shift, it is the same just the times change.

My Foods were: Chicken - I could not wait to have baked chicken that was not in broth. Tomatoes - I did not like tomatoes before surgery and then all of a sudden, I was craving them. Pears - I love pears Corn - I do not know why but I wanted corn on a cob with some butter. Watermelon - I love them but the seeds were a no go. I did not have watermelon until I was about 3 - 4 months out. Turkey - I missed having a turkey sandwich Less Healthy: Pork Bacon and Red Meat. I have not been one for bacon and red meat in general but after surgery, I wanted it like crazy. I got my fill when I tried Keto and now I am back to barely eating it.

Try using the proteins mixture that you would place in water. Premier protein makes water now. I had the same issue. I spent the first 2 weeks not getting enough protein. However, my surgeon advised me to go to Phase 2. https://www.samsclub.com/sams/premier-clear-rtd-12ct/prod21030708.ip?&source=ifpla&CAWELAID=730010300001268773&pid=_CSE_Google_PLA_1013571991&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=239353267573&wl4=pla-296145862202&wl5=9004367&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=1247713&wl11=online&wl12=3866&wl13=&wl15=55345805172&wl17=1o1&veh=sem&source=ifpla