Recidivist

It's not going to make any difference when it comes to your surgery. Some doctors don't even require a liquid diet prior to surgery. Let it go and don't beat yourself up over this.

I did a 2-week liquid diet (protein shakes) with no solid food at all. As others have said, it gets easier after a few days. Also, you won't feel this hungry again for months after your surgery.

i'm at two years and have noticed a lack of energy. In my case, I think it's the fact that I'm still not physically fit, although I'm quite slim. I had hoped to join a gym and start a regular fitness routine when I reached maintenance, but COVID had other plans. That will be my next goal.

Typically a process where the post op phases are undertaken in a much shorter time frame eg over a week, 10 days or a fortnight. I assume it is to help with not just weight loss but help reset someone's mindframe.

As usual, I agree with Catwoman. I think the "pouch reset" is more of a psychological reset than an actual physical phenomenon. It might be useful if it gets you back in the mindset of watching what you eat and sticking to a high Protein, low carb diet. Whatever works for you.

I haven't been here in five years, but I thought I should share what I've learned on this journey...
1. My sleeve was a very minor surgery. Less than 30 minutes passed between being knocked out and the recovery room. Quite frankly, I think this option should be more widely available for marginally obese people. Unlike the other bariatric surgeries - which change your plumbing, this is simply the removal of the stretchy part of the stomach.
2. Think long and hard about who you tell. I told a handful of family members and I think that was a mistake. I suggest you either tell everyone, or just the absolute minimum (spouse or care giver). Within the first year I was sure everyone knew and I felt I was being dishonest.
3. The honeymoon is real. For 18 months it's virtually impossible to gain weight, but after that, you most certainly can. My smaller stomach can hold 8-10 ounces of food and get refilled after about an hour. If you fill it with sugar or fat and keep refilling it, you can certainly get back all your weight. I initially lost about 90 pounds and that was too much. People kept asking me if I had cancer. I've since put 25 pounds back on and while I wish it was 15, it's fine. My weight is what it was when I was an athlete in college. I have used my reduced weight and energy to excercise and I think that has helped. I generally do 100,000 steps a week. Again, eating/drinking the wrong stuff and not exercising would surely lead to more weight gain.
4. I no longer count calories, but I do have a few tricks to keep things in check. I have designed a menu with a lot of 200-500 calorie meals and I have 3-4 of these every day. I burn enough EXTRA calories a day exercising to offset the calories I drink (I only drink 100 calorie cocktails - nothing sugary).
5. There's a lot of good and bad information on alcohol on this site. I waited 6 weeks (the European guideline) and the eased in with weak cocktails and wine. I don't think it hits me harder, but since I'm likely to have less food in my stomach, the effect is to be hit harder. I can see no reason to wait 6 months or a year other than minimizing caloric intake. The Sleeve is a timeout from your bad lifestyle, but it's not a permanent timeout. At some point you'll create a new lifestyle that will include birthday cakes, pizza, French fries and booze. You need to manage around all of these risky consumables. You should think about it ll as you enter your journey, never stop reevaluating, and constantly adjust.
I hope this helps someone...

Hi, all. I already posted this in the general forum, but I wanted to let all of my February 2019 friends know as well. (You may recall that I was an "honorary" member of the February group after my original February surgery date was postponed until March.)
I celebrated my two-year surgery anniversary a few days ago (March 3, 2019), and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!)
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken two days ago to show what I look like these days. I hope all of the February 2019 members are doing well!

Congratulations! It looks like you are doing well. I had the bypass surgery and was alarmed after about 18 months that the little stomach of mine that was left behind two years ago is able to accommodate much more than it was used to (not a good thing). I am now able to eat an entire bagel with cream cheese. Not a good choice, but it seems to be something I am always craving. I have been very strict with what I drink (only Water, Premier Protein, and Vitamin Zero), but lately I'm been craving seltzer water. Are any of you drinking carbonated beverages? If so, does it seem to be going OK for you? I had breast reduction surgery and a pannilectomy in October and am happy to have both done as it's improved my neck pain considerably. I'm hovering around 150 (was hoping to get down to 130) at 5 foot six inches. I think 150 is my maintenance weight. Not bad considering where I was two years ago. I just need to stop eating bagels...
Another thing. Kidney stones! I had a few pass recently and I've read that kidney stones are often associated with gastric bypass. Any one else had the unfortunate experience of having a kidney stone?

Okay--since you brought it up, let me post my "before" and "after" pictures side by side.

Yes, that was indeed me. Thanks for the compliment! I'm turning 62 in May!

My only close family member (my sister) was completely unsupportive, and it actually seemed that she hoped I would fail. (I haven't.) I did have a spouse and a couple of close friends who were quite supportive, and I could rely on them when things got tough. However, they didn't really understand what I was going through (or even why I wanted surgery in the first place).
I can tell you that this forum was an incredibly valuable source of support for me, both before and after my surgery. If you post here often, you will find a number of people who reply regularly and whose advice you can trust. As BetterMe said, don't worry about what others think. You know that you are doing this for yourself so that you can be healthy and not burdened by obesity in your daily life. Keep your eyes on the prize!

Woot! Well done!

@Recidivist: Um, are you aging backwards? I remember a post of a pic you posted a while back of you standing in a plaza or sorts (wearing pretty cool socks, if I recall correctly) and you look much younger in this pic than what I remember from that old one.
I always thought losing weight made people look older, but I am seeing more and more evidence that this is just not the case all the time. Nice!
Also: congrats on your efforts, you look pretty amazing (and happy ❤️)

Okay--since you brought it up, let me post my "before" and "after" pictures side by side.

My gastric bypass was two years ago yesterday, and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!).
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken this morning to show what I look like these days. I think it's useful for those of you just starting this journey to get a glimpse of what life can be on the other side, particularly in maintenance.

My gastric bypass was two years ago yesterday, and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!).
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken this morning to show what I look like these days. I think it's useful for those of you just starting this journey to get a glimpse of what life can be on the other side, particularly in maintenance.

My gastric bypass was two years ago yesterday, and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!).
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken this morning to show what I look like these days. I think it's useful for those of you just starting this journey to get a glimpse of what life can be on the other side, particularly in maintenance.

My gastric bypass was two years ago yesterday, and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!).
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken this morning to show what I look like these days. I think it's useful for those of you just starting this journey to get a glimpse of what life can be on the other side, particularly in maintenance.

AMAZING! CONGRATULATIONS 🎉

I agree with both Tim and Catwoman. My recovery was incredibly easy, with almost no pain. (Well, it was after they repaired a leak the day after surgery.) I felt essentially no hunger for months, and I agree that you may well be feeling "head hunger," which is some ways can be more challenging than actual hunger after surgery.

My gastric bypass was two years ago yesterday, and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!).
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken this morning to show what I look like these days. I think it's useful for those of you just starting this journey to get a glimpse of what life can be on the other side, particularly in maintenance.

My gastric bypass was two years ago yesterday, and I'm happy to report that things are going well. I gained about ten pounds during maintenance, and in retrospect I think that my low weight of 132 was too thin. (I never dreamed two years ago that I would be saying those words!).
I feel like I am eating "normally," though in smaller quantities and without most of the junk I ate when I was obese. I still avoid sugar, carbs and fat, but I've gotten a bit more relaxed about indulging from time to time. I celebrated my two-year anniversary with a huge piece of cake washed down with an ice-cold Coke. (Just kidding--I ate my usual diet!)
I'm attaching a photo taken this morning to show what I look like these days. I think it's useful for those of you just starting this journey to get a glimpse of what life can be on the other side, particularly in maintenance.

My only close family member (my sister) was completely unsupportive, and it actually seemed that she hoped I would fail. (I haven't.) I did have a spouse and a couple of close friends who were quite supportive, and I could rely on them when things got tough. However, they didn't really understand what I was going through (or even why I wanted surgery in the first place).
I can tell you that this forum was an incredibly valuable source of support for me, both before and after my surgery. If you post here often, you will find a number of people who reply regularly and whose advice you can trust. As BetterMe said, don't worry about what others think. You know that you are doing this for yourself so that you can be healthy and not burdened by obesity in your daily life. Keep your eyes on the prize!

Shannon, I'm so sorry to hear that you don't have a support team. Are there Bariatric Support Groups through your hospital? I would look there, you could find others that are in the same position you are in and also people that have had the surgery already. First and foremost though you have to remember that you are doing this for you, to make yourself healthier, and it really doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. None of them have offered to pay for it have they? It's your money spend it how you want! Just kidding. But seriously, it is your life and you have to live it for you and if this is what you want in your heart then follow your heart no one can take that from you. Hang in there you will do great!

THATS AMAZING!!! Not sure what you looked like before but HELL none of that matters now anyways, definitely sure you've came along wayyy! You look great and the smile on your face looks very happy!!!!! Im only 3 weeks out of my gastric sleeve on my 1st stall but I love reading about stories like yours!!!! Keeps me motivated, thank you and HAPPPPPPYYYY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!! [emoji2957][emoji898][emoji322][emoji322][emoji322][emoji322][emoji323][emoji323][emoji323][emoji323]

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