Lyngolean

52 Minnesotan married mother of 3, but currently empty nester. Registered nurse. Former social worker. Love outdoor activities, reading, board games. Happy to have my life back! Oh! Gotta update my ticker! I hit 90 pounds down over the weekend! Whoopee!

52 Minnesotan married mother of 3, but currently empty nester. Registered nurse. Former social worker. Love outdoor activities, reading, board games. Happy to have my life back! Oh! Gotta update my ticker! I hit 90 pounds down over the weekend! Whoopee!

52 Minnesotan married mother of 3, but currently empty nester. Registered nurse. Former social worker. Love outdoor activities, reading, board games. Happy to have my life back! Oh! Gotta update my ticker! I hit 90 pounds down over the weekend! Whoopee!

My surgeon relayed that it could be done as same day surgery also, about the same risks as a gall bladder removal which is typically same day as long as it's done laproscopically (and not open). My surgeon prefers patients stay overnight due to feeling that managing the symptoms post op can be tricky, and the nurses do a good job of helping you figure out how to manage your pain and stay hydrated and any other things that might come up that first night. I have to say I had a great experience and was happy to have the watchful eyes of the nursing staff. I am biased though as I am a nurse myself.

No strange smells or injections here. Very interesting all the variations of peoples' experiences you learn about here. You just don't know what your path will hold in store until you get there...

Hello fellow sleevers. I have been on this site very little in the past couple of years but have logged in today to respond to a question. Since I'm here, I feel obligated to tell you all the things I've learned after 5 years.
1. The people that told me my approach to living life with the sleeve was all wrong and that I would fail, gain weight in a few years, stretch my sleeve, and regret my actions are mostly gone now. I have seen a couple of them around but the most are long gone. Do not pay much attention to the know-it-alls. They know no more than anyone else and are just as likely to fail.
2. Obviously you want to follow your Dr's instructions but don't get too hung up on strict rules and diets. If you make reasonable decisions and balance your good and bad food choices, your sleeve will do most of the work for you. I have eaten anything I wanted since day one. I try to pay attention to Protein etc., but I do not deny myself anything. You have the sleeve for a reason. Let it do it's job. Don't force it to hold more than it can and do not deny yourself the things that make you happy. Balance - just do it.
3. WLS is much more than losing weight. It is getting to the bottom of the issues that cause us to compensate with food in the first place. Pay more attention to your mental well being than the numbers on the scale. Your long term success depends on it.
4. Know that even after you reach your goal weight you will still be the same person with the same insecurities. Being thin changes nothing. If you did it for health reasons then hopefully those will no longer be an issue, but the person you are and how you feel inside doesn't change from losing weight. That has to change on the inside. No way around it.
5. Know that once you have made the necessary changes inside and out there will be some people that don't relate to you the same or just plain don't like you anymore. Also know that what they think is completely irrelevant . Physical and mental changes for the better intimidate those with small minds. Don't give them a second thought.
Thanks for reading.

I plan to buy myself a fishing kayak when I reach goal weight (60-65kg). I had looked at them a few years ago but came to the conclusion that I was really too heavy to be able to safely and comfortably use the most stable/suitable fishing kayaks available. We just spent a weekend camping with some families from my kids school and several brought some small kids and larger tandem kayaks and my son and husband loved them I'll have to get a wetsuit to go with it (something I also wasn't keen to do at size 24/26).

I will also be getting myself some new fishing waders as I'm already swimming in my old ones, plus my feet are shrinking a bit and my old ones were sized to include my orthotics I used to need.

I already did a massive clothes shopping trip a few weeks ago, out of necessity, as I"m now a size 16 and my old size 22-26 spring/summer clothing wasn't going to work at all. I stuck with very affordable stuff from k-mart/best and less though, as I'd likely be needing stuff in smaller sizes again in another 3-4 months (though I can start borrowing stuff from my sister and mum soon too)

Hey, does anybody want to share their non-food rewards? I hit 60 lbs down today and I'm going to take a long lunch break from work and go see Night School. I've also just scheduled a massage and facial. Whee!
Anybody else? I'd love to build a list of non-food rewards that we can turn to when we deserve a treat but cheesecake is NOT it!
xo
Ally

My non food reward was to buy a motorcycle! I did not want to be heavy on one so I always told myself if I lost enough weight I would finally get one!

At 90 lbs down I treated myself to a new fall coat and 3 new pairs of shoes.

I have a charm Bracelet (in the Pandora style, but it isn't Pandora-branded) that I'm adding a charm to, every time I lose 10 pounds.

Fairview southdale, so far am doing great it’s just the gas that’s not working well with me. But a lot better today compared to other days.

Been there, done that! The first month is tough and can be discouraging. Give it some time. Your body has been put through the wringer and needs time.

You’ve also lost a lb a day! Holy moly!

Give it some time. I was where you were. Just expect the first month to be hard, and look forward to month two. I promise it will get better. I'm only 3.5 months out and 55 lbs. down. It's an amazing feeling!

Thank you all for the reality check. I know and have read about the stalls. But I know we have each other so we can vent too. And that’s what I’m doing. I just need to snap out of it and know 14 pounds is a lot! Patience is something I need to work on

I'm 15 days post-op I've lost 10lbs since surgery date. I'm not complaining at all, would I have liked to be one of those statistics that lost 20+ in the first week, sure. But, first off, the weight did not magically appear overnight, and while I'd love to think the surgery would make it all (OK 1/2) disappear overnight, it will not. I've read, reread the advice of many on these forums and they all say same / similar things. It's a marathon not a race and there will be stalls and you will get past them as long as you follow the plan.
The decision to do this is life long, it's irreversible and you have to be committed to living a healthy lifestyle. I've read failures and most are because they chose not to follow their plan early on. Be patient. From one newbie to another, we are all here for the same thing, weight loss to a healthy new life. Trust your body and trust the plan you agreed to before entering this lifetime commitment. And listen to the experts who have been here and done this.

Chill peeps.....this is a long term, different journey than ever before. It is not magic, not TV, not Slim Fast.....
There are just so many factors here, age, genetics, physical abilities, starting weight, what you lost prior to surgery, pre-op diet, hydration, Protein intake, yada yada yada.....
Your hormones are out of whack, you are recovering, your body is in shock, your mind is hyper-vigilant. STOP. Go find something to do, take a damn nap! Get a hobby, weight loss is not your hobby.....or your life...
There WILL be stalls, and it will suck. But 'we' promise, it all works out as long as you follow the golden rules:
Hydration, hydration, hydration. No drinking with solid food meals. Get required protein in first, then veg Walk daily 15 min minimum. Vitamins. This is all you do for the first 6 months.

I have to agree. I don't know if its these doctors are giving completely unrealistic expectations, or the OPs who think that its purely magic and there isn't an ounce of effort or time involved. Either way. I'd say all of your advice is spot on. I have nothing better to say.

Ugh. While I do sympathize and validate the feelings expressed here, someone has just GOT to talk about the elephant in the living room with the pink tutu on!
Reality check here guys...your brains are totes SCREWED up! I don't know what does it. Maybe it's all the fault of My 600lb Life? Dunno...
But OP you've lost 14lbs in ONE WEEK (by your words Aug 21 thru Aug 28--that's 7 days if math serves me). Let me repeat that and shout it out for you: YOU'VE LOST 14 LBS IN ONE FREAKIN' WEEK! Instead of being busted and down, you should want to turn cartwheels. That's amazing! Congrats! Turn that frown upside down and get ready for the very common "3 week stall" that happens somewhere between weeks 2 and 4. You will likely average anywhere from 2-4lbs/week. This is not magic surgery. And WL will never be linear. It's the best thing that's ever happened to most of us. (And for the record? I've NEVER lost 14lbs in one week. EVS.)
.
I honestly want to ask if you're pullin' our chain? Cuz let's do some more basic math: August 21 - Sept. 4 = 13days. In 13 days you've lost 20lbs. That is WELL over 1lb per day. LOL. That's phenomenal and you can't possibly hope to keep that up. It won't happen. Please read above at the 3week stall phenomenon.
You ladies, need to reality check your brains and reframe how you look at this surgical intervention. This is usually about slow steady progress--not huge losses overnight. But some DO experience those dramatic losses. Hell. You are both experiencing it right now.
Dig in. Sit back. Do the work and enjoy the ride. Cuz the weight loss WILL happen unless you screw the pooch. And nobody wants to screw the pooch.
Congrats to you both. I'd trade places with either of you in a heart beat.

Thank you for your response; Yes I do believe I am losing inches and it does not show on scale. I just started with dry mouth and know I am headed in the wrong direction so I am drinking, drinking and drinking. Not eliminating much but it is now pale yellow instead of sinking copper! I see MD in one day hoping I can get control of this dehydration thing before I have to go to ER.

Marathon, not a sprint. It's a lifestyle change and tool. You'll lose weight if you follow your surgical team's plan for you.

I think we have to give it time. This is not going to be a quick fix. Look at what you posted 14lbs in a week that’s amazing!

Give it time 2 years post op 100 lbs gone . Only regret was not doing it sooner .. good luck and hang in there

Hopefully you can stick with approach.
Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think "eating what you really want" doesn't mean stuffing your face with junk food until you pass out every single day of your life.
I personally think it takes a lot of willpower and stamina and faith in yourself and in the process and approach so you don't get sucked back into the I'm-a-hopeless-food-addict-and-need-to-be-abstintent-for-the-rest-of-my-life world. This is especially hard in the WLS community, at least in one where so many people are immediately or only a few months post-op.

Not for "whatever reason". There seems to be a specific reason when you have chosen to believe into the approach that there aren't foods that are forbidden and need to be avoided at all costs: the sweets are "allowed" now. That's the reason you don't crave them as you used to.
This "they're allowed now" makes the sweets less interesting. They're just a food now you can have any single day if you want to. And since the sweets are only for you and you don't have to worry about that they won't be there anymore the minute you really want them there is also no longer the need to "eat them while you still can".
People who experimented with the "intuitive eating" approach are most likely familiar with this effect. It's a very pleasant one.
I personally think this approach takes a lot of courage. However, I also firmly believe it's the most rewarding one in the long run.