Snapple

Dried apricots. Eat a dozen of those and you'll be cleaned out overnight. (Or sooner)

I know I speak of empathy for people who are obese. When I hear comments, I usually say something like "You don't really think that person WANTS to be overweight do you...for many people there are reasons they end up this way beyond their contol!" And then I go on to say that I feel sorry for them and wish they could have surgery to help them.

People think I'm "nice" but inside I'm taking mental notes of the assholes.

Yes! I had this too for the first couple of months actually. I would say that around 3 months out, I was FINALLY able to drink until I was comfortable.

And I was a waterholic too. I drank SO much Water that I would have to get up 2-3 times in the night to use the restroom. But now, that's GONE and I love it. I'm able to get a great nights sleep without getting up.

This surgery has to be the best thing I've ever done for myself for so many reasons. And my husband noted that I no longer snore either.

It will get better. Hang in there and keep on sipping.

14 hours ago, CyndieRI said:

I’m not sure if you are a man or woman or how old you are. Could it be a hot flash? (That’s what it sounds like to me!)

That's what I was going to say. If you are anywhere near the age of 50, that's what I would guess!

I would not involve her at all. Less is more. I had surgery when my girls were little (different kind and was in the hospital for 2 days) and they never knew. I sent them to my mothers and never mentioned it. Zero anxiety for all involved.

I think you look FAB either way, but I am going to comment that the bottom photo makes you look like you are 18 years old! I'm envious! And congratulations on your weight loss and the 5k! Hugs to you!

On 10/6/2018 at 11:10 PM, Frustr8 said:

Isn't it curious that I was told when Obamacare had to pick up maternity care and benefits, Bariatrics was "grandfathered in". Now you tell me I am in error? Dang for $3000 you ought to receive all kinds of lovely benefits. For that amount you should have a licensed face- dauber to wipe your fevered brow.
Dang, 1st time I ever remember Medicare being better,than other insurances. They covered me at 3 months short of 73, without a burp or belch. I always have Medicaid as a back-up, if things don't meet Medicare's hopes. And although I regret not doing this sooner, it's still going to be all good., in the Big Picture.

Yes, I ought to receive a lot of things for $3000/month. But I should also mention that my insurance is also an EPO meaning I HAVE to see the in network doctors and hospital (notice that's not plural) for them to pay for it. Too bad none of their doctors or the hospital is within 2 hours of my home!!!!

13 hours ago, Ed_NW said:

Insurance companies are doing some crazy things in light of the repealing of the individual mandate. Young healthy working class people that don't have employer paid health insurance are taking their chances and not paying the higher premiums. Insurance companies end up with what they consider a sicker pool of clients. In order to recoup some of their losses, (besides raising premiums next year) they will refuse to pay portions of a bill. The healthcare provider will then seek to collect from you the patient. Tell the hospital (or whoever) to resubmit the bill to the insurance. They go back and forth like this all the time. What you don't want to do is just wait and see what happens. At that point they send it to collections.

Or there are working class people who don't have employer paid health insurance who are being taken advantage of (legally) thanks to Obamacare. My health insurance is $3000/month with a $12,500 deductible per person and it's basically un-useable as it covers next to nothing unless of course I want birth control or to have a baby at age 53. And it sure as hell didn't cover bariatric surgery either.

I would switch to the shakes. I was never able to drink any Protein Water. Every time I tried I would start to gag and didn't think throwing up would be good for my stomach.

When I was where you are, I drank a lot of Herb Ox chicken broth. It was a lifesaver and I still drink it once in awhile. It's really good. And I never drank broth a day in my life before this surgery. No protein but maybe you can add some Protein Powder to it?

I do lunchables and snack on one all day really as I can't have much food at all at one time. Also cheese cubes, pimento cheese (homemade), Protein Bars, and cheese curds are my current favorite. I'll do any kind of salad, egg salad, triple zero yogurt, and even plain old strawberries or blueberries.

Every single day right after I wake up and use the restroom. (every ounce counts, LOL)

If I don't lose a pound, I try and adjust my workout accordingly for the day so I make sure and lose a pound the next day. My goal is to lose 15 pounds per month until I hit the big goal.

On 9/3/2018 at 4:54 PM, churchgirl said:

Hey Snapple!

I’ve been out of the June Sleevers loop lately (6/5 down 35 pounds). Sounds like you are doing great! I am at a weird plateau & have been for a few weeks. And I’m feeling like I’ve gotten right back into all of the old bad habits I had for 30 years! I’m so disappointed in myself because everything went so well with the surgery & I felt great losing the weight! So much more energy, getting back into clothes I haven’t worn in years! I was so hopeful. But in the last few weeks everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong. And my entire life focus has had to change again.

My parents - aged 90 & 87 are needing more & more care & even tho we hired an aide, things just keep getting worse. Both have dementia & Mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer. So I’m trying to get them into assisted living, get my Mom’s cancer plan in place, constantly taking them to doctors appointments, working full time, (I just got a promotion!) take care of my family, and I’ve had absolutely no time to plan, track my food, exercise, or take care of me! I feel like I never even had surgery! I do get full fast but if I just wait a while, I can eat again. I’ve starting grazing again! And, just like before, I wake up every morning & say, “Today is the day! I’ll start again. “ and like before, it doesn’t happen. Arghhh I am so mad at myself!

Anyway, sorry to be a bummer! I think I need to get back into this blog & eat like I did after surgery. Maybe some encouragement will help!

keep up your great work!

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear that you have so much going on. Hopefully once you get your parents taken care of things might slow down for a bit? You really can do it!!!!

For me, I've found out that walking is the key. I got a Fitbit and I seriously walk as much as I can. I started at a simple 4000 steps per day and upped it every week until now where I'm currently at 9000. It does take some time, but for awhile I could complete most of this within 30 minutes as I did a few thousand and then when I added the steps I do just in a normal day, I would hit my goal. I've found that the best time to do this is in the morning. If there is any way for you to work this into your day, you won't regret it. And this is the most physical activity I've had in 10 years since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My husband is a physician...a Pulmonologist and an Internal Medicine specialist and he does not believe in these.

Hey, how is everyone doing? My surgery was 6/20 and I'm finally losing again and am at 221 which is a 51# weight loss for me! I'm super happy and just hope and pray this continues. And, what's the most amazing to me is how much better I feel and how much energy I now have.

I'd love to hear how you all are doing. Hugs to you all!

Here's a good one for ya'll.....

I've lost 43 pounds thus far and the only piece of clothing that's too big for me is the cup size of my bra!!!!

FIGURES!

But that's ok, I'll take weight loss anywhere and still be ecstatic! Thank the Lord for Gastric Sleeve!

On 8/2/2018 at 11:45 AM, pacheka said:

Just wondering how much everybody is exercising? I've been reading a bariactric book and says to not exercise post surgery due to the fact we are only eating 500 to 800 calories?

Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have a Fitbit and I make an effort to walk a minimum of 6000 steps per day and next week I'm going to raise that to 7000. I've been trying to raise it by 1000 steps every week. For me I've found that it's best to do this in the morning or I sit and obsess and procrastinate all day long about doing it if I don't.

And I feel SO much better you have no idea. This coming from someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis who hasn't walked more than 3000 steps per day in at least 10 years.

On 8/12/2018 at 8:38 AM, jultrim18 said:

My surgery is on Friday. I just feel like I am waiting for my death. It is so terrible, and I am so scared ugh! Anyone else feel that way? Am I being overdramatic? Please provide some encouragement!

You're looking at it the wrong way....You're waiting for your new life! And trust me, it's going to be better than the old one. Unless you are underweight, weight loss is a positive for everyone. You'll be fine and it's time to get excited about this new chapter!!!

I'm just about 2 months out and I noticed Saturday that I've pretty much lost all of my upper and lower eyelashes. Ugh. Thus said, some of mine might be thyroid related...but I kind of doubt it.

53 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

@ Snapple, back when they put "Belly Bands" in hopes keeping umbilicus flat, they would put a quarter over top of the stump. Then someone decided that wasn't overly,sterile they went to a poker chip instead. Now what do for Dr Hubby's Tummy problem. I lay-prescribe him an,Abdominal binder , now about that hernia, hmm something between the poker chip and a yogurt lid, maybe,better yet a cottage cheese lid. Yep, just,might Work!

Whenever I see it, I ALWAYS think of those old snake in the can gags. Where the person opens the can and the slinky snake pops out! That's what I'm waiting to happen with his hernia, LOL.

He's VERY self conscious about it, but not enough to do anything about it. We're just all supposed to ignore it and not mention the snakes about to jump out of, the over pressurized can, LOL.

Thus said, there's a lot of things about him we are supposed to ignore and not talk about. Because he is Dr. Queen Bee and we are the worker bees.

Thank you for giving me a platform to discuss this. It helps to write my frustrations out as I'm really frustrated with him for very good reason that I won't get into on this board.

33 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

Morbid obesity and he's a doctor? Perhaps he is matrimonially obese, or is he weight challenged or does he have obtuse self image and vision issues, after all,that's just him in the mirror, not 2 friends standing side by side. Sorry but I was married to one for 44 years that put me down and he was always 3 inchs taller, 30-50 pounds heavier yet I was the "Fat Cow" I overeact, makes me sad to remember. When he died,i mourned the man I married no the bitter judgemental oaf he grew into and I cried for the,potential he never realized, he could have been a wonderful husband, was a very well-behaved person until his true colors started showing , I blamed myself but I accept the blame no longer. He stifled my spirit and I had to reinvent,a sense of self worth after his death. Actually told me no one could like me for myself, I was on this earth on forebearance. Now I know Frustr8 is cool, she's pretty wonderful and I didn't have achieve it as an extension of HIM.

THANK YOU!

My husband is tall and fit until he turns and there's the GIANT potbelly, and he has a GIANT umbilical hernia poking out of his belly button and then he wears tight shirts and tucks them in! It's awful and I've kindly hinted that he'd look better if he wore his shirt untucked but NOPE, his appearance doesn't matter because he's clearly the smartest person in every room.

He eats more food than anyone I know. Seriously. And he constantly pushed and still does push me to over eat and eat junk. He didn't want me to get surgery, fought me all the way, and only went to one appointment because I shamed him into going by telling him that the doctor commented about me never having any family with me and asked if I were going through this alone.

At this moment, I would not mourn his death at all.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. And yes, I questioned my decision several times after having it but only because I was scared and nervous.

This is the best I've felt in 10 years and I've only lost 35 pounds. (Current weight 236) I'm hoping when it cools off a little bit I can start jogging. I couldn't even imagine doing that before surgery and didn't even want to.

On 7/27/2018 at 9:02 AM, GreenTealael said:

I'm 9 months post op, immaculate recovery, for me it was worth it but I had no complications. My motivation also was not looks. So every additional benefit was like icing in the cake. Health once lost or gained (regained) can change your life like you've never imagined.

So true about the health regained. I actually walk now and enjoy it. A lot! I haven't enjoyed walking or walked without various sorts of pain for years now.

This surgery was the best thing I've ever done for myself in my life.

Congrats to you too!

On 7/27/2018 at 7:31 AM, Orchids&Dragons said:

We're all very different. For me, yes, it is absolutely worth it. I have been dieting since I was about 12. I'm 59 now. If I were ever going to be successful at maintaining weight loss, I would have known it by now. (I can lose weight fine, I just regain). It's already tough to get older, and hauling around 3 large sacks of dog food on my back was making everything worse. I was fortunate that I did not have co-morbidities, but it was just a matter of time, imho. I'm down 75 lbs. in 5 months. I've never lost more than 40 at any one attempt before. But, don't be fooled. It is hard. The surgery helps, but it takes real commitment from you to make it work.

Your post gives me so much hope!!!!

We are the same height and had the same starting weight. I had my surgery on 6/20 and have lost 35# thus far. If I could lose 78 pounds in 5 months I'd be in heaven!!! And I feel better today than I have in 10 years.

Thank you for posting! Hugs!

On 7/27/2018 at 6:42 AM, MiltonP said:

Had my sleeve on March 5 I’ve lost 109 pounds so far I’m 6 pounds from my goal but as letsgetgoing2018 said this is just a tool you need to follow your Dr diet and work your ass off in the gym also you need to understand they operate on your stomach not you brain so at first you’ll still feel the hunger which is not really there just power through it and in no time you’ll be a whole new person

Your post and stats are an inspiration!!! I'm so hopeful when I read things like this. I had my surgery on 6/20 and have lost 35 pounds so far but sometimes am afraid that my weight loss will end.

Stop eating. You should be on a clear liquid diet anyway. You can go on full liquids after 7 days.

But if you need something, it needs to be something like yogurt or pudding. I'm 6-7 weeks out and I still can't eat anything really hard without being uncomfortable. An example would be a hot dog. I tried to eat one and was miserable because it was too hard. And I chewed that sucker forever. Same with an order of pulled pork nachos. I had to throw them out.

To be honest, the most delicious thing I had to eat when I was 6 days out was Herb Ox chicken broth. It was so salty and delicious it was like a bag of Doritos.