MBird

I was sleeved May 23 2017. I am 129 pounds down in 11 months. I have worked out but very, VERY sporadically. I have a quarter clubbed foot I had surgery on three weeks after my sleeve and have been healing it. I’m active, walk a lot. Another fear of mine (perhaps ignorant of me) was concern about starting a workout regiment too soon because before the sleeve I had lost 119 pounds naturally and worked out like crazy :: cycled to gym, did a two hour work out that included a full body circuit of positive and negative exercises isolating the muscles, and at least 45 minutes of cardio, plus finishing exercises, and then the cycle ride home. Then my body said forget it, you can’t lose from here. And I regained. To cut a long story short I feared exercising too soon after my sleeve would change the natural process of weight loss that happens with the sleeve and mess with my metabolism. Perhaps it was the fear of losing (since age 13) and regaining. The sleeve is the last shot and so far I’m feeling I should have been eating this way all along. It’s effortless. I do follow my plan, eating under calorie because I cannot get more than 2-3 ounces of food in. Sometimes only one or two bites depending on the consistency of the food. I’m ready to work out. Walking is easy, weights too. BUT I love the elliptical but when I try to get on it lately I cannot stand to use it more than three minutes! This is after a warm up walk. I used to do 45 minutes at a time, followed my twenty minutes of fast cycling and circuit training after, before the surgery. I guess that’s muscle loss and my not having built up the endurance. I am wondering if others have waited until about half way through their weight loss to work out? If anyone waited until half way though their weightloss to work out, how did it go? Was it very slow going or ? I’m curious to hear opinions, thoughts, or any ideas this post may bring to anyone’s mind. Thank you for reading!

I never had mood swings. Or depression. Any I did have was due to other circumstances beyond the sleeve - I did have issues with getting the protein in. What I figured out was to have two to three, 35 ounce bottles of water, and add my protein to that. It helped a lot. For some that’s normal, the mood swings. The hormones after surgery fluctuate and change. For some people who are sensitive to that it’s awful. The protein helps with the moods and energy. I started feeling 100% about 3 months out, really. But like JennyPenny said, with all the weight coming off, it’s hard to be sad. (In my experience!)

You’ve not had pulled pork in 14 months? That’s wild. I started eating chicken, pork, beef about a month out. But I chew it into a mush. You have to, and you have to go slow. I needed the protein and that protein, especially pork, will keep you satiated a long, long time. So yes! Pulled pork is fine, it can be turned very soft. Just remember to chew chew chew and go slow.

I had a near death experience but mine brought me into deeper peace, and anchored me for the rest of my life. Mine happened when I was 16. I won’t share the details on this forum but to me, considering the grave circumstances, it was a miracle. There was also a very spiritual aspect that I can only describe as a collective conscience, as I basically died. Without getting too philosophical, I think the fear happens when we have not made peace with the idea of death and/or the leaving behind of loved ones. It’s akin to crying when a loved one dies, we are really crying due to our own loss. They are not suffering. Two opposites of the same coin. Once I was in a plane headed from Arizona to California and the thing took a nose dive that left the cabin screaming. I sat quietly with my hands folded on my lap just after a mild panic, and thought, ‘well, it’s a moment in time if I die.’ I’m a realist. To the point I examine all facets of living and dying. At sixteen I was already acquainted with death and was objective about it. Yes it still makes me sad but not really. I feel sad I won’t see them alive again but my experience when I was sixteen makes it hard for me to not see death as a transition, much like birth is. And the experience forever remains my guarantee that death is just another journey for us all, a really exciting and peaceful, wondrous journey. Maybe time to examine your heart and ask yourself what it is you haven’t made peace with or what frightened you? Was it the idea of pain, of your family grieving, or something else? Or all of it? I hope you will be ok. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.

I’m hoping that the outcome is good. Please let us know what happens in case anyone here has some advice or information that will help you with your cause. I got a kick out of your comment about HER needing the sleeve. lol [emoji23]

Good idea!!! I love the elliptical, just not this one lol

Thank you so much for this feedback! It clears a lot of questions up for me.

I’ve been away and most people I knew left, I think. I wonder if there are any May sleevers still using this, would be great to hear how everybody’s journey has been going 11 months post surgery and to also know much they have lost I was sleeved May 23 SW 381 SW 367 CW 252 GW 145

I eat about 400-700 a day. Depends on the food and what I can get down. So far my weightloss pattern is a few weeks of the scale not moving and then a week where it melts off. I eat whatever I want and only weigh it out to 4oz. But most times stop at 2-3oz because 2oz seems to be where I feel best after eating.

Thank you!!!

No full body shots! I can show you in my face, which really changed. The body shots will be 50 pounds from now when I hit onederland ~

I’m 11 months post op, I’m losing 1-5 pounds a week steadily. I’m not trying. I just follow the healthy foods and foods high in protein. I eat 2-3 oz. I’m losing more now than I did early on. From what I’ve read the honeymoon period happens differently for different folks but is within the first year of dieting. Though, I’ve heard of some three years out where nothing has changed, they lost steadily the entire way there, and continue to keep it off without trying. The last twenty pounds for me will be all on my own, so my doc tells me. I’m prepared. And, I think the honeymoon period is going to vary from person to person and be largely dependent on how closely one follows the diet and works out.

Lifetime requirement. In fact I often do 90oz. The list Water provides us as human beings, especially on our weight-loss journey, is endless and indispensable. Like you I have issues with it. While there is no taste, it can make me gag. I do it anyway. I cannot drink anything remotely sweet, even with artificial sweetener after being sleeved because my buds changed. But if you can stand it, try crystal light, or an unsweetened flavored drink without caffeine that you can sweeten yourself using stevia or another artificial sweetener. I used to do 35 Oz water, scoop of Protein and one packet of crystal light. It helped. Also you can also do ice pops. Or any other water based and unsweetened fluids. Personally I prefer only water due to the fact my skin is better, I age slower (46 going on 32) and it keeps food digested and bowels regular. I also like that I know water is natural as I hate pills and the hidden additives and preservatives in most juices and drinks that claim to be water. Best of luck!

It’s up to you. If I had to place bets ( and not intending to insult you but I would tell anyone in your position this) I would say that you will lose and regain it all, then some extra - if you don’t do it. Unless you decide to eat very small portions ( the label serving size) and only very healthy foods, clock carbs, protein, and fats, and work out daily or several times a week - plus know you can refrain from binge eating naturally and on your own, and unless you know you can do it all natural and without surgery for the rest of your life, I’d definitely have the surgery. I had no fear, was balls in to do the surgery and excited. I knew I could mess up, had doubts if this would work on me, as if somehow I am different than the thousands of other obese people out there who have this procedure done - but I had been dieting, losing, regaining, even working out 21/2 hours in the gym while imitating the sleeve portions, just to lose 119 pounds and regain it all. In fact gained an extra 250 pounds over time trying to reach the healthy goal weight for my build and height. My doctor said this surgery turns us healthy and reverses other things such as diabetes and heart issues - I had to do it. He also said the risk of losing and regaining without the surgery (to-to dieting) were 95% high and likely to happen without it. None of us is an expert when we begin this journey, and none of us knows what will happen after. All of us try or like to think we know what will happen during weight loss with a sleeve. Most people do not go into this surgery knowing 110% they are gonna stick with it, much less be perfect at it, but instead hope that will be the case. We think we know what we are capable of, or we have a plan and hope for the best. My question to you and what you may wish to consider, the grenolin is removed when they take the tummy out - for me this kills my hunger, allowing me to plan ahead, and eat less - I also took about six months of OA meetings before the surgery to squelch any head hunger issues. I tackled weaknesses before going in. You may wish to list the pros and cons. I think though, if you are here with us sleevers asking, you have s good idea of what you need to do. Wishing you all the best.

Mine used 34 or 36 as 11 months out I can only do two ounces. The goal is eight ounces. No nausea in recovery whatsoever. I went very very slow with anything I sipped. It doesn’t matter about the Bougie size one bit. People have been operated on (especially when this procedure was new) using a 50 and lost tons of weight. A smaller Bougie can cause leeks or issues with eating in the initial stages of recover (according to a few doctors ) and others use a Bougie based off the initial weight of the patient going into surgery. No matter what size Bougie anyone uses, it’s still determined on eating portion and content. Best of luck, and congrats on starting your journey!

This is normal in the early stages as we are relearning how to chew. Plus your body is tender from surgery. I have a stricture - as a result I could feel it sliding down and getting stuck (not to be confused with restriction) - My only advice, and this helps me, is chew the food very very thoroughly, otherwise even the smallest chunk of unchewed food can be an annoyance. Keep tabs on the things that hurt going down the most and eat those less, or chew them more thoroughly. If it continues after a month, see your doctor and troubleshoot the issue.

This is very normal. I had the same Curiosity as you when I noticed that I could drink tons of water. One day I tried gulping, low and behold, I could. I asked my Doc. He said there will be no restriction with water. The water passes through the pyloric valve quickly, which is why. I drink water before I eat, but never after due to food abstracting the valve. I wait one hour and then drink, this way my body absorbs the nutrition in the meal. So drink away! And congrats on your recently weight loss. Well done!

A week as well

You’ve got your first stall. Stall is just another word for plateau. You will have many stalls/plateaus. While your body is not losing pounds at the moment, it IS losing inches. This is rule of thumb for everybody on this journey. My first stall happened about a month into it, it last three or so weeks. I’ve had about four since, (give or take) with one almost an entire month before suddenly dropping five pounds in two days. You may even gain a pound or two once in a while through your journey, I find for me is normal. If that happens I will double check my ounces in food I had prior to that. I find most times it’s just water retention or constipation. You will want to lose 1-2 pounds a week. You will find that some weeks you lose nothing, others you drop weight fast. Weighing everyday can help you notice patterns in your weight loss journey. Whether the amount of weight you lost is normal or not is difficult and moot at best. I only say that because bigger people shed more weight quicker than smaller ones do. You are losing weight well and doing fantastic. Just continue to eat healthy as well as exercise. One other thing, some bariatric patients will stall for a few months. Remember: during a long stall, you are losing inches too.

Everybody sheds weight differently. My tummy and derrière are always last to go. My face and arms, legs, neck always first. Just keep going and isolate the parts that are hard to shed fat when you work out. You look great! Congrats and keep going [emoji4]

I’m sorry that has happened to you, and it sounds like she is abusive and not doing her job. I would wonder if she is seeing a therapist herself. Or, I would wonder if she is qualified as a bariatric shrink. I can assume she is young, because she seems unprofessional? Not implying all young people are this socially inept - she is especially rude. I feel awful she seems to be guiding your choice for you, because you’ve already selected the best choice in your life for your health. I would go to weight watchers and return to her and ( and this is true for me ) tell her you are not going to start an eating regime that is costly, unhealthy due to high caloric Intake, and will most likely cause you to gain more weight. I would tell her you have a nutritionist and have made your choice and are comfortable with getting “cut up”, even if it means the trade off is that you are healthier to be more productive as a mother. I would also ask her why she is trying to get you to not have the surgery, and also ask her what her purpose in the psych evaluation is. I would then tell her that he co-morbidities she listed as possible outcomes for you ( she was correct in what she said but she was still inappropriate) are why you’re having the surgery and that being overweight and having diabetes is genetic and she is making assumptions and accusations that only amount to her opinion. I would then call my insurance company if she keeps insulting you. And I would write a letter to whomever has employed her and explain briefly what she has said and done without making overt threats. One gets more bees with honey, than with vinegar. Shes there to ask questions, maybe possibly help you have a few epiphanies, she is there to encourage and build you up, not shake you up or make you feel bad for your choice. She seems abusive considering the powerful cards she is holding but, she’s also stoppable. She also seems very uninformed about the bariatric process. I’m so damn crazy that I’d probably have a small tape recorder in my pocket turned on so I could prove she’s not professional. I’m sorry this happened to you and hope it doesn’t thwart your goals. Mine was an amazing African American woman who encouraged me and knew five minutes into our talk I was solid for the surgery. I had seen her twice. She merely suggested really great ideas, like doing physical activity rather than dining out with friends after the surgery. She had a fabulous sense of humor and shared her life with me, right down to giving me a fabulous recipe her granny back home had for collard greens. I kid you not. I loved my shrink and feel blessed that even though I had a year and two months worth of classes and seminars, that the people who were holding positions of authority, and would ultimately make the choice for me, well they were compassionate and encouraging... and informed.

Only told close friends. Nobody else knows. I don’t even know if I care that they know. I guess it’s just another opinion if people do not like the fact people have this surgery. Other’s judgments based off no factual basis or done out of negativity/spitefulness, or ignorance, isn’t going to make a dent in my day. As long as I personally am healthy and happy, I think that’s what my focus ought to remain

Congratulations! [emoji898]

I lost a lot of hair, which would often come out in the shower. I’d say, maybe four months in. My hair was substantially thinner. It started growing out end of December, small tuffs around my face. And my hair is back to normal now, trimmed, healthy and full due to short hair coming in at the roots. It wasn’t a big deal for me. But everyone might be different and lose differing amounts depending on stress levels and other factors, such as what one manages to eat. From articles I’ve read iron helps reduce this. Didn’t work for me. But it may for you. Also prenatal vitamins and biotin.

without your age and weight stats, it is hard to know if you are taking an easy way out, or really qualify. Nothing about this is easy. Nothing. Its work to plan meals, weigh food, get sick if you eat half a bite too much, and the heartburn sucks. I lost tons of hair, thankfully eleven months later it has grown back and is healthy. I had a mpnth of weakness and mood swings due to hormonal changes. My point is, in my opinion, I have seen a lot of people who weigh in at a weight that I personally think is manageable without surgery, it doesn't mean that I'm right. Everybody is different and maybe 100 pounds to me is a cake walk, to someone else a trial. I know people who five pounds is a nightmare for them to lose and they just cant. If you sit with yourself and ask yourself how you really feel and are willing to follow through with the gut instinct, then you have done what is best for you, and that is all that matters