Maribelle76

Do you have any non number victories? e.g can walk around places no longer getting winded, able to sit in a chair you werent able to before? you need to focus on those just as much if not more than the actual numbers. im only a month post op, for the first 3 weeks i lost nothing and then the 4th week i lost 6pounds, weight loss is not linear, keep doing what you are doing and sooner or later you will start losing weight again. in saying that congratz on losing 116! that is amazing in just 8 months!!!

I noticed today that I actually weigh 5 lbs. less than the wild lie that has been listed on my driver's license for the past 25 years! 🤣🤩 I guess it qualifies as a NSV.

Yes, I’ve lost (and regained) quite a few times so I just want to make sure this works before sharing with anyone (especially considering how young I am).

Thank you for your well wishes. Congrats on your success!!

I sincerely do love this community.

Hi,
I'm 13 days post op and on day 11 I, too, hated my scale. It wasn't moving, then yesterday I lost 4 pounds and today I lost 5. Just give it a few more days. I will say, 500 calories sounds a bit low as far as my plan goes, but we all have different plans.

The problem has been resolved today lol

Thank you so much, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past couple days and it was really helpful, I now feel ready for my surgery 🙂

The problem has been resolved today lol

When I got a little nervous, I read back though the April, May, and June surgery thread, and I noticed that the surgery seems pretty safe. Reading story after story about good itchiness was reassuring. Did you know it is more dangerous to have a C-section than the sleeve?

Hello! I know it's really difficult, but try not to worry so much about the fact that the scales aren't moving. You are guaranteed to be in a calorie deficit, so it's scientifically impossible for you not to be losing fat. I know someone who had the surgery and didn't lose any weight in the first 8 weeks, but she's lost absolutely loads of inches from all over her body, her body shape and size has completely changed! You should take measurements, then you can see the progress you're making even if the scales are being stubborn. Energy wise, are you taking all your Vitamins? If you're not taking B12 you'll have really low energy. I find (6 weeks out today) that if I don't take my vitamins I feel absolutely blah, really tired and lethargic. Hope this helps!

Goal in less than 5 months. I love my sleeve. Follow your surgeons diet plan, excercise and stay hydrated and you will be at a place you never dreamed possible. The other day Sleeve4me and I were laughing over her buying a size 4. Giggling really. But the crazy part was a year ago we both would have been estatic with a size 14. Now we are both wearing size 4. NEVER did I dream this big or "small"
No regrets. I love my sleeve.

I'm in the same boat. My normally healthy libido is completely squashed right now. I don't think mine is related to healing from the surgery. I think it is either a result of the very low calorie diet affecting my hormones (testosterone in my guess) or lingering effect from the anesthesia about 9 days ago. This is a very abrupt change. It reminds me of the way I felt after I had been on antidepressant medications several years ago. I'm kind of glad to see that I'm not the only one experiencing it! But the good news is once either the anesthesia is fully out of my system or I finally get to eat more calories I'm guessing it will go back. I hope it does for you soon!

no. You'd have to eat 1750 calories above and beyond what your body needs to gain 0.5 lbs in true weight. At two weeks post-op, there's no way you're eating that much. It's probably just Water retention - or else your intestines have a lot of "content" in them. Weight fluctuations are normal - if they start playing with your head too much, just start weighing once or twice a week instead of every day.

I'm not sure, but I get sick from Vitamins with Iron, also. I ended up buying capsules without iron, snd I can open them up and sprinkle the powder on applesauce. I hope you feel better soon!

I’m scheduled September 2…VSG!!!…

I am just a week out from surgery, and I think I'm in the stage when people are usually having a lot of regrets, but I'm very happy so far. The pain has been very minimal and after 4 or 5 days I was able to get up and live a relatively normal life. I'm a little bit tired of sipping sipping sipping all day long lol but I am seeing the results every day already.
I had no pain after surgery just a little discomfort. I did not need to take any of the prescribed pain medications or Tylenol. I have always had acid reflux and so far it seems to be a little better than it was before. I take the medications that I took before and it is fine.
So it's been good for me so far!

Just had my surgery 7/15. Day 4 and surprisingly doing well. Fingers are crossed it stays this way.

Every so often I feel torn on these forums about my role and what I should say.
On the one hand, I'm a veteran now....and have had success with this whole undertaking that I feel pretty proud of. There are a lot of struggles and things that I can comment about with some hard earned observations and experiences. I can be all.....mentory...and have good mentor-ish things to say to newbies.
Sometimes I feel a responsibility to *provide a good example* and only say things that are in harmony with the bariatric sages...and play the proper acolyte to the Bariatric Authority.
But here's the part where I feel torn.
I also want to tell the truth. I want to be the kind of poster I really enjoyed reading when I was first looking into this crazy ride.
I want to be unvanished, raw and HONEST. Because I value that in people. I value that risk. I value those stories....because sometimes people really need those stories. Even if they're terrible advice and provide a terrible example! Sometimes just knowing someone else....occasionally has a horrible day and eats the entire pack of four Yasso bars....helps you to live your life and forgive yourself.
I want to say: Yes, I drink diet soda. I know it's probably unwise and I also know there's hype about it that's untrue....AND....I know a lot of you drink it, too. And some of you drink real soda.....and will probably rot in hell for it. LOLOLOL
Ya'll won't admit it....but I've seen ya. I've peeked in those windows and I know you do all sorts of awful stuff. You eat peanut M&Ms and drink soda and beer and buy the occasional McDonald's kid's meal and can of Pringles. At Christmas, you cheat. You eat stuff you shouldn't. You ate Halloween candy. Ok, it was just a couple of pieces...but it made you happy.
We're not perfect. We screw up. We make questionable choices. Sometimes regularly. We STILL have unhealthy food moments. We're works in progress.
Can we talk about it as adults...knowing it's a crap example...but also knowing that it's human?
We still do weird assed extreme things in realtion to food.
How many calories in two almonds and one dried cherry? I HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN.
How many grams of protien in one pint of donated blood? How many calories do I lose when I menstruate? I had a cold and blew my nose ten times and the internet says snot is made of protien...do I have to up my protien?
I once heard a lady on one of these boards say....she had her flinstone chewable multi vitamin....for dessert after her meal. And it was delicious. 😳
Is it wrong to admit I wanted to slap her?
I'll admit it...I ate a S'more about two weeks after I had surgery. I remember it as the most exquisite thing I've ever eaten...and I nibbled that one little square of heaven all night in front of the fireplace with the Christmas lights on. Licked it, actually. Down to a stump. LOL.
And Yes, ..a part of me is still screaming at myself.....You had a freaking S'more right after your surgery???? What the actual H*ll???!!! What were you thinking? (I lived...crap, I even lost weight to goal...but I commited this food crime. Guilty.)
Sometimes I think we lose our humanity in this environment....because as some folks have noticed, there's a competative thing. Some weird ick factor of needing the best score...the tiniest dinner...the least daily calories. "I'm going to get down to my original weight of 9 pounds 3 ounces if it kills me. Could someone please eat the other half of my lentil? It's too much for me."
And then I think....crap, maybe these folks really ARE as together as they seem and I'm just nutty and disordered and still fighting through this mess everyday three years out...isn't normal...
But then I look at the number of folks who wash out...and think......nope. MOST of us are struggling and screw up. MOST of us continue to screw up and figure it out.
Would be fun to do the research to put an actual number on it....
But I'd bet at least 90% of us...have secrets they would never disclose in a forum like this about one screw up or another.
I think we need a Confession thread. Where correction is not allowed. Where worry and concern (and abject horror) are forbidden to be expressed. Where we can just let that other lost soul know....yep, I licked a S'more, too....you're not alone.
All sins can be forgiven. Tomorrow is always a new day.

Saving this gem, good stuff here ↑

When I got a little nervous, I read back though the April, May, and June surgery thread, and I noticed that the surgery seems pretty safe. Reading story after story about good itchiness was reassuring. Did you know it is more dangerous to have a C-section than the sleeve?

Hi everyone! Just checking in five days post op. I've been feeling pretty good! My 3rd day after surgery was the turning point when I started feeling better. I think that was when all the surgery meds were out of my system. The nausea went away at that point and I didn't have any real pain just a little discomfort.
I have been doing fine getting my Water in, and today is the first day that I think I'll be able to do all of my Protein Shakes. I am also allowed to have some pureed food. I had a few ounces of pureed cream Soup two days ago and it was good. Yesterday I tried pureed refried Beans and those were satisfying.
I haven't had any problems with my sleeve hurting when I eat or drink. I am pretty cautious in my sip/bite sizes, probably from my years of terrible experiences with my lap band.
I had no interest in food whatsoever for the first few days after my band, and I really haven't felt hunger yet. I have noticed myself paying more attention to some foods on advertisements or when I am cooking and serving my children their meals. But overall it has been very easy to control. I think part of it is knowing that I can have any food I want eventually in small amounts at some point in the future. That makes me feel less obsessive about it.
This week I want to work on getting my calories up a little bit. I think I've only been around 200- 300 calories a day, and I had a dream last night where my hair was falling out, so I think my body is telling me to get a little more nutrition in there.
My main issue now is a lack of a BM. I hadn't had one for at least a few days before surgery and I haven't had any since then so that's like seven or eight days. I've been taking Miralax since before surgery and every day since then, so I don't think it is a water issue. I think I have motility issues with my actual intestines, and I'm sure the tiny amounts that I'm eating aren't helping that. I'm feeling a little bit bloated but not any pains. I probably will call my doctor on Monday and see if I need to add some sort of Fiber supplement to help.
Anyway things are good so far. I hope everybody else who still recuperating is doing well, and good luck to those of you who are having surgery this week!

Unless testing has confirmed it, don’t assume you’ve stretched your stomach.

[B-side rant]
My view (although no asked 😂) :
If it were any other surgery like knee, hip or even a heart valve replacement no one would bat an eyelash if you needed extra time to adjust or if it needed to be repaired again.
There would be no guilt or shame associated because it would be understood that you can’t stop yourself from using it or the wear associated with its use.
But when it comes to weight loss surgery it seems like you get one chance to have it go perfect and then everything is your fault if it doesn’t.
I have no clue where this ideas come from but I don’t think it helps us at all especially because it doesn’t seem to work like that with almost anything else in life.
Please be kind to yourself ❤️

Hello everyone! It's been a hot minute since I've posted or even visited this page. I need to rant about myself & I know this is a safe, non-judgemental place to do so. I had my surgery on 9/13/20. When I got home from the hospital after a 2 night stay, I was SO HUNGRY. I told myself I wouldn't be a casualty of going off the rails, especially right away but that's what happened.
I hold myself fully accountable. I've most definitely stretched out my stomach although I know it's no where near what it was. My surgeon made my follow-ups for a month out then six months out. The surgeon's office had just switched from doing a month, three months, then six month follow-ups, although I've been told I can make an appointment anytime I want to, free of charge for the rest of my life. I wish I would've made an appointment right away for guidance, instead I listened to the lies my mind was telling me. Now I'm almost 7 months out. I'm down 40 pounds which I'm very happy about but I don't feel like I've "earned" that loss at all.
I know all the things I should be doing. I read & read & read before surgery- on this forum, books, other online resources, etc. I felt so ready. Silly me. I know I can get back on track right this minute & stop any more harm to my health and to my stomach size. I have a book sitting at home that I know will be fantastic at helping me. I ordered an adult tricycle that should be getting put together today or tomorrow. I even bought a $1,400 elliptical trainer I've used maybe 5 times.
I'm just so very disappointed in myself. I'm hoping this confession to y'all will relieve me of some of this guilt I'm carrying around. I feel like crying & if I could kick my own booty. Thanks for listening y'all.

I can relate to most of your fears. I was 54 when I had my surgery. I also worried that the surgery would not work for me, that I'd fail, that it would end up just like every other attempt to lose weight. But my outcome was a happy surprise.
Regarding cravings, the surgery did not eliminate, but seriously dampened the intensity of my cravings. It's much easier to tell myself "no". Actually since I am in maintenance now, it's more like "not right now". Because I do indulge in a treat now and then, since I'm no longer actively trying to lose. I know the surgery doesn't have that effect on everyone, but it did for me.
Surgery also completely defanged my hunger. Yeah, I do get hungry if I go too long without eating, but it's not that raging, insatiable hunger I had before surgery. I'm just aware that I need to eat, but I can delay it if I have to. It's a really different experience.
When it comes to loose skin, I have a LOT. I'm scheduled for plastic surgery this summer to have a Tummy Tuck since that's where most of my extra skin is. Here's a recent picture of me - when clothed, the loose skin is not noticeable. But there's enough of it that I have to buy a whole size bigger to accommodate the stomach! Obviously, there's some stuff I don't wear, but any 56 year-old can say that, LOL.
Honestly, I do look a little older since losing all the weight (my neck especially) but I wouldn't go back to being 250 pounds for anything. Only you can decide if surgery is right for you, but hopefully, our experiences will help.

I agree with all the others. I wish I hadn't been so scared of the surgery and had it 10 or 20 years before I actually did. I felt like I was just existing rather than fully living for all those years. I would do this again in a heartbeat. In fact, I'd do it every year if I had to.
There are a lot of food restrictions early out, but after that first year, no. I can eat most of the same things I did before, I just eat a lot less of them now. And we're not talking a couple of tablespoons (although that's the case the first month or so after surgery) - now I eat like a lot of my never-been-obese women friends do. For example, when I go out, I'll have an appetizer - or I'll order an entree and take half of it home. Honestly, a lot of never-been-fat people eat that way, especially women. Watch some of them sometime.
you can always work with a therapist on your sugar addiction if you think that would help. A lot of WLS patients work with therapists on their food issues and have found it helpful.
finally, I lost over 200 lbs and had a TON of loose skin. However, it was very easy to hide in clothes. No one knew it was there except for me (well, and my husband and doctor, of course). I've since had it removed, but here is a picture of me BEFORE I had plastic surgery. See the loose skin? Trust me, it's there. Especially my gut. Like someone else said, I would take the loose skin any day over weighing 373 lbs again. ANY DAY!!
oh - and you're not too old at all for WLS. Lots of us have it in our 50s and 60s - and a few even in our 70s. I had it at 55. I'm probably 58 in this picture.

Hello. I went through the entire process and had a surgery date in 2016. I got scared and backed out. Now I am older, heavier and have the same fears. I am 48, have diabetes and had a hysterectomy. I am scared that I will fail. I am scared I will not lose weight because of my age and the hysterectomy. Scared of my sugar cravings. I am scared because of the diet. If I can't eat the right foods now, how will I be able to do it after the surgery? I beat myself up everyday because I give in to my sweet tooth. It is truly a sugar addiction and I don't know how to beat it. I am sad thinking that I won't be able to really enjoy eating ever again. I keep thinking, if I put my body through this, only to gain the weight back in 5 yrs, then I have all of my old issues with weight plus the stomach restriction. Deep down, I feel that when I lose weight and start exercising I will be proud and determined to never go back to my old ways. But my fears and anxiety are working against me.
I am scared of loose skin, particularly a sagging face. I have managed to maintain a youthful complexion with minor aging, and being overweight, that is the one thing I feel good about myself with. I know that I would rather be healthy for my 9 yr old son than looking older, but I do not want to look 10 yrs older either! I hope I am exaggerating the severity of it.
I would love some advice and words of encouragement. Thank you for listening to me.