Rainbow_Warrior

That was kinda funny. But seriously, I've spent all of my life doing this and it lead to a zero sum game. I started this journey because I no longer want food dominating my life. Instead, I want to dominate it.

Acid reflux after sleeve was a possible side effect discussed at length in my pre surgery seminars.
45-50% of sleevers will experience some degree of GERD after surgery.
Most symptoms are managable with medication. Some become severe enough to require a sleeve to bypass conversion.
Try to be patient with your healing process before jumping to conclusions about what your situation will be long term.
Also, keep in mind that getting your microbiota (the bacteria that live in your gut) rebalanced in healthy populations can affect symptoms. That will happen as you heal and add more foods back to your diet.
Wishing you the best, and a quick reduction in symptoms.

Hi y’all! Finally got that call today that we all waited for... surgery finally happening April 5th! Anyone else having on the same day?

I had support from a lot of people. Mainly my mom and granny. They are my biggest supporters. The best way to help her is:
1) Reassuring her she is making the right decision (Many of us get scared and wonder if we are making a mistake. Do we really want to give up food? Are we really ready to change?)
2) This is an emotional rollercoaster and it is not going to be easy for her at all. (She is going to be moody, depressed, upset, frustrated. In turn, this will get on your nerves but be patient with her, it will get better once her energy is up and she starts seeing the changes)
3) If she lives with you, keep the junk food hidden and stock up on healthy food. If she does not, help her learn how to read the nutritional labels carefully. (Lol I ended up teaching my mom how to do this). Calories, Carbs, Fats, and Proteins per serving size.
4) When she slips up, do not hold it against her, just encourage her that the next day is a new day and to start over. (Remember, someone is being asked to change years of bad habits and like a smoker, it is not easy and we have drawbacks. As long as she dusts herself off and get back to it, she will be fine)
5) Get out there and exercise with her. Walk with her, head to the gym with her. When she sees that her change is helping you change, she will be more inclined to continue as she is as much your anchor as you are hers. (My brother and mother work out with me from time to time. They have slowed down as I am now comfortable to go by myself).
I am sure that I am missing more things but these were the top 5 that my family did for me and it really helped me stick to the program. I am grateful for this surgery and my life changing. The key to success is support, determination, and consistency.
I hope she has a great surgery. I love this tool and I would not change having it for anything.

It gets better. However, it may take some more time. I have noticed that my sleeve prefers my solid food lukewarm and not hot. Try eating your solid food at a cooler temperature if you have not tried that.

I am so happy to find this thread!! I will turn 54 four days before my surgery April 9th! I cannot wait! The skinny girl inside me is screaming to get out!

I am 56. Had a gastric band done at about 46 I guess. It worked a treat, held myself at 175lbs effortlessly. Then a health need to empty it and it broke on the refill. Port replaced - but I just never again hit the sweet spot, as the weight gradually accumulated.
RNY late last year when I was up to 230lbs, and it has been a charm. In 3 months, down to 184 and losing 1-2 a week. Little ‘hunger’ and not a lot of interest in eating either. Am loving salads for the first time in my life. Lettuce seems to me a gift from the gods.
Anonymous pics - the top one is as at 230lbs. The bottom one - this morning.

Beautiful afternoon for a nice walk in the park and some selfies! I'm really enjoying living now and not just existing!!
  

VSG 10/11/17
HW = 360
SW = 292
GW #1 = 220 3/7/18
CW = 219.8 (6'5") [emoji256]

Hi I had my RNY surgery in September and I’m very happy I did it.
I’m no longer obese and no longer on diabetes and high blood pressure meds.
I’ve lost nearly 80 pounds since Pre -op diet and feel much better about myself.
Hope you all are doing well.

Anyway, to answer your question -- try to order "a la carte" if you're able. Or, get a meal that's Protein based and ask for substitutions. For example, the other day I went out to eat and ordered a citrus chicken breast served over rice with one side. I asked for creamed spinach instead of rice and got a side salad. Ate a few bites of chicken, ate my salad, and boxed the rest up to take home! I got 2 more meals out of it. Just look over the menu carefully and see what can heat up well, like you mentioned.

Yes, it can be just like that.
I live on 960 calories to 1420 calories per day (average 1265). I also swim EVERY DAY ... never less than 105 minutes but usually 3.5 to 4.25 hours.
Because I am losing weight, I have a massive calorie deficit. (And because I have a massive calorie deficit, I lose a lot of weight.) In reality, I do not eat enough energy/calories to fuel my exercise so I am incredibly tired after my morning swim. I normally nap 90-150 minutes in the middle of the day on four to six days per week. And I sleep a lot better at night than I used to before surgery.
I am exhausted beyond belief some days but I would not change it as I like losing the weight.

@Rainbow_Warrior, your progress is so inspiring!!!

Yes, it can be just like that.
I live on 960 calories to 1420 calories per day (average 1265). I also swim EVERY DAY ... never less than 105 minutes but usually 3.5 to 4.25 hours.
Because I am losing weight, I have a massive calorie deficit. (And because I have a massive calorie deficit, I lose a lot of weight.) In reality, I do not eat enough energy/calories to fuel my exercise so I am incredibly tired after my morning swim. I normally nap 90-150 minutes in the middle of the day on four to six days per week. And I sleep a lot better at night than I used to before surgery.
I am exhausted beyond belief some days but I would not change it as I like losing the weight.

I always Google restaurant menus now. Even if its somewhere I frequented before surgery. I find that the choices I make now are DEF not the ones I made before. So its like everywhere has a new menu for me.

I had a lunch meeting today and tried a new trick. You know how you can get a salad and for x dollars extra add Protein like chicken or salmon? It turns out some restaurants will let you just have the protein without the salad for x dollars. Today I got 4 oz of chicken for a few dollars. The waiter was confused at first and questioned if I really only wanted 4 oz of chicken, but ultimately cooperative. My wife does it all the time and suggested it. I was actually able to eat my whole meal for once!

Yes ... but only about four 330mL bottles (at home) since surgery five months ago.
And, when out socialising, I think the total is three 425mL schooners and three 285mL mid-size "middies".
A first beer of the day used to take me three to ten minutes to consume. These days, it's more likely 70 to 90 minutes about 20 minutes after I eat.
Yes ... have some pre-thought out remarks in your repertoire before you're put on the spot.
e.g. 1 = "I'm a tad woozy after some suspect chicken yesterday. I'm just taking it slowly today/tonight."
e.g. 2 = "After last night's nausea, I'm just taking food more slowly today. I don't want to go too hard and upset my digestion."
e.g. 3 = "Something's had me squeezing out gas both ends so I'm aiming to eat just a little today/tonight."
e.g. 4 = "The food looks delightful, Marlene, but I had a bit of irritable bowel yesterday. I think I was served some MSG."
etc, etc ...

I might just stand in front of the full length mirror and enjoy what I see.

Thanks.
Beautiful summer day is a bit presumptuous for (yesterday) Saturday. 42C (107F) and we were on a four-hour road-trip home.
The car has great air-conditioning and we stayed shut inside until 2 kilometres from home (when stopped to replenish my car's fuel load.) 605 kilometres and the tank had barely 2 litres left from the 51 litres it started with.
We arrived home to a coastline of serious bushfires. Reference NOWRA, NSW Australia in your mapping program/app. Or you could look up Bundeena NSW or Waterfall NSW.
If you are a reader of news, try http://www.abc.net.au/news and catch some of the bushfire and weather stories.

Go to you USER NAME.
Then click or finger-touch SETTINGS.
Then SIGNATURE.
Then choose from the range of tickers which one you want ... and set up a signature that will attach to each of your replies or messages.
Easy as ...

Monday ... weigh-in day for this (nearly) 62yo male.
Check in mass 20 weeks and 4 days since my gastric sleeve op on 12th Oct.
BMI down to 43.16 ...
Post-op Loss
20wks+4days

24.7
kilograms
54.45 pounds
3.89 stones
A happy result.
Not the biggest loss, nor the smallest ... but in median area.

I'm not trying to be unkind, but why in the world would you drink sugary juice (I am assuming from the tone of your post that this is what you meant by juice) and eat potato chips when you have had not one but TWO weight loss surgeries?
At some point, you have to muster the grit and perseverance you need to be successful and rise to the occasion. Otherwise, all of this trauma to your body will be for nothing.
Are you working with a therapist who specializes in bariatric patients? It would probably be helpful. You HAVE to change your relationship with food and embrace the kind of eating that will make you successful (protein rich).
I wish you the best, but only you can make this happen. As you know, the surgery will not do it on its own...

7 to 10 weeks is normal in Australia.
1st Appointment: 17th July
Date Announced: 4th Sept (7 weeks after 1st appt))
Operation Date: 12th Oct (12 weeks after 1st appt)

Fortunately (for me) I am not easily seduced by the smell of warm greasy 'meat-air' and the smell of fried potatoes.
Also immune (to the point of vomiting) if I smell fresh doughnuts/donuts.

In Australia, "White Castle" is a brand name for very effective cleaning products.

5 pounds to my personal goal weight! Healthy and wearing large tall shirts and 34 waist jeans. Hard to believe!!
 

VSG 10/11/17 HW= 360 SW= 292 CW= 225 GW= 220 (6'5")