Tony B - NJ

Personally I would really start to concentrate on specifically what you are taking into your body to make sure you are not over eating. Measure and track your intake to the recommended calorie levels. I would also increase exercise. Unless you simply cannot get in Protein, I would try to get more of that. Your body could be craving protein and retaining weight because of that. That of course is a nutritionist/Doctor question.

12 minutes ago, justforme1 said:

I have such a hard time getting my fluids in daily. I was a terrible Water (any Fluid really-all I drank was Water & 1 cup of coffee) drinker before surgery but now I feel like I am drinking all day long & still not reaching my goal. Also, I have to have my water very cold. It gets warm so quickly that I lose interest. I am about 2.5 weeks out and I sometimes get a rapid heart rate with dizziness. I am told this is because I am dehydrated.

By yourself a nice Yeti covered drink cup. Put about a third full of ice and the rest with water and it will stay cold for a long, long time.

Same with coffee...keeps coffee hot for hours.

I have taken melatonin from the week of my surgery with no issues. The tablets are so small and dissolve quickly so I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to take them. I have also been taking Vitamin capsules and my normal meds (up until I no longer needed them after the weight loss). My doctor told me if I could get them down comfortably they are fine to take.

For your size and BMI, the Sleeve is going to get you to where you need to be weight wise for sure if you stick to the plan and commit yourself to it. I think it is a little less radical than the bypass and a few less issues to worry about like dumping, absorption of nutrients etc.

They say you can lose 60-70 percent of your excess weight on it which is I think on the conservative side because I am over 80 percent of excess weight lost and still going (slowly, but still losing).

I am more than happy with the result.

19 minutes ago, pmorgan315 said:

ONE YEAR LATER… my surgery for gastric sleeve was on May 26, 2021… I have lost 90 pounds and still hope to lose about 20 pounds but I feel great. I started at 268 and wearing 2xl and size 20 pants and XL tops. They were all snug. I am now wearing 12-14 (size L) bottoms and M tops. I carry most of my weight from the waist down.

My surgery and recovery was not bad at all. I immediately began walking and am back up to walking/jogging 3-4 miles several times a week. I also do reformer Pilates four times a week. That has been a game changer for me.

I have had NO reflux and no other issues since surgery. For that I am most thankful. I don’t get hungry and minimal cravings. I don’t really eat a lot of dairy since surgery. It may be the only adverse outcome from surgery. I am looking forward to the warmer months so I can benefit from the fresh fruit and veggies that are available.

This surgery was a game changer for me. I am so glad I did it and am thankful for my surgical team and my husband for his amazing support. I am considering doing some skin removal but maybe not for another year to see where we are then.

The first photo is from the first day of my two week liquid diet before surgery and a photo taken last month. The other four are a series of photos one of my coworkers took over the past year - date stamped.

Wishing all of you a happy 1 year anniversary! Hope we can all continue to give as many success stories a year from now!!!

You look fantastic!!!! great job.

1 hour ago, BypassingMyPhatAss♡ said:

I agree. We gave the benefit of the doubt with what info we were given in the beginning. That's all we can do. It's not good to jump to assumptions about someone in the beginning that's here asking for support/help/info. You might suspect that they're not doing what their plan says, but you have to gather info from them to make an assessment and sometimes they're not completely transparent.

I think I have a good sense of people and when it seems like they are not being completely truthful or are leaving out big portions of the story.

Such a good question for a post. I have dieted many times, lost and regained. I think for me it is the psychological aspect of committing to do a major surgery to my body to lose the weight. I think it would be insanely stupid for me to put myself through the trauma of surgery and then piss away all the benefits by not committing to weight loss and changing my life style permanently. I am 8 months into this process and the momentum for me builds as I reach new milestones in my weight loss. I am committed to this as I have ever been to anything in my life. I have lost 105 pounds and I continue to lose although much more slowly now than in the beginning...but still losing. My goal is to get down to "normal" BMI....I am getting close to that goal now.

Along the way, with the exercise I am doing, I am also as healthy as I have been in 20 plus years. My resting heart rate is down in the mid to high 40 range, my cholesterol is very, very good, my BP is fantastic and my glucose and A1C are perfect. I can run with my grand daughter better than most young people can and I look better than I did 25 years ago when I was in my late 30s.

The more benefits I see the more motivated I am to continue this life style change and keep up doing what I am doing.

The only thing I feel these hydration bars are good for is if you went out and got totally fall down drunk and have a meeting to attend the next day. I used it on a work convention I went to once. I got really hammered and had to present that afternoon. I had the IV fluids and I felt much better and was able to function very well. Outside of that, I don't see it.

I have one of these pans as well. It has become the most used pan in our house. Why dirty a big pan when you don't have to. It also cleans up so quickly.

42 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

As I said on the original thread, you were right, and I apologize. I just err on the side of taking people at their word. She said she was eating 1200 calories, and I know there are people who don't lose weight well after surgery - but I didn't realize that the weight loss with ESG is really kinda low anyway. So, she just chose the wrong surgery and her head wasn't in the right place, as she made clear in her later responses.

I still don't think tough love is the best strategy for most people, but it sounds like she really needed further work on herself before she went through with ANY surgery.

Again, my apologies for attacking you yesterday.

Thank you. Let's move on and try to help others be successful like we have been to this point.

43 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

You were right. She made herself clear in her later posts. I was giving her the benefit of the doubt, but I was wrong, and I apologize.

FWIW, I don't think she was a troll.

No worries...for what it is worth. I may come off cold at times but I am truly trying to help. I truly believe that people can be successful in their journey if they get out of their own way and commit. Some people need a good boot in the ass at times to open their eyes and get serious.

15 hours ago, ms.sss said:

Ok. I may regret dipping my toes into these waters, as i am anti-confrontation…but im feeling particularly ballsy today. Here goes:

Im gonna declare myself Team Tony here…to a certain degree.

Tony, i just read “that” thread that is being referred to and specifically looked up this thread up as it was mentioned there (am a glutton for punishment).

For what its worth, your initial response did not read unhelpful and mean to ME. I got what i think was your intention to sincerely (and firmly) help sans any coddling.

I’ve read some truly unhelpful and mean posts here before (and that guy was banned thank goodness Superman/Mikey, anyone???) and yours does not come close.

However.

The OP did not see/read into your post your intention, and said so (however “colourful” thier reply). At this point it *may* have been more prudent to just shrug and walk away. OP was looking for something else (commiseration, maybe? Validation? A place to vent? Love?). Further reading into that thread made it clear they weren’t looking for specific advice for change. Your well-intended words will hold zero Water here.

Now, i also feel for you (or anyone) when you got called stuff in CAPITAL LETTERS. I got second hand bad-feelings reading that.

Anyway just wanted to say a little something cuz i kinda feel you were misunderstood and then dumped on.

I may not agree with everything you say, but i respect your desire to share it (respectfully).

❤️

Thanks....as I said earlier. My intentions were good. I just don't think this person really wanted help.

I was attacked for being honest with this person because I saw what you all saw recently right from the beginning. This person wanted the easy way out, would not weight food, would not give up Indian Food, wanted to have her desserts etc, etc.

Case Rested. This was either a troll or someone who just does not want to do what it takes to be succesful and wants to blame it on the surgery, others, human nature etc.

10 minutes ago, Miratia said:

Actually, I did say what I wanted to hear. I said, please tell me I haven't failed. It's literally in the title.

Making a passive-aggressive post over here about my thread is kinda rude.

It was not just about your post. There have been several on here, one a couple weeks ago when the poster asked questions and many people answered and the person got very mean and attacked them. I truly just wanted to help. Good luck.

7 minutes ago, liveaboard15 said:

I found that gatorade zero helps a ton with hitting my fluid goals. Just Water is ok but harder for me to drink the full amount.

I agree on the gatorade zero...it makes it so much easier to get the liquid down. Be careful not to overdue it because there is a ton of sodium in gatorade zero and unless you are working out and sweating a lot, the sodium may not be good for you. I try to keep it to one per day.

7 minutes ago, SleeveDiva2022 said:

YIKES. Ok this is a tough one. I am a very blunt, call it like I see it person IRL. I call out BS and I don't put up with pity parties and manipulation. And yes, I've seen a person or 2 on here that falls into that category, so I tend to stay away from those posts. The reason being, food addiction is a real thing. It's an ugly beast that can strike at any time. Some may not be doing what they need to, and while my first instinct (and clearly yours) is to point it out and "give it to em straight", there's a way to say things that still get the point across without the humiliation and hurt and aggressiveness. We have all suffered that IRL. That's part of why we're here and had the surgery. We are looking for like minded people that truly understand the unrelenting hold that food demon has on us. And we're looking for compassionate advice on how to get past it and get (or stay) on track. Maybe therapy is needed, maybe accountability IRL is needed, maybe experiences from others and how they did it is needed, maybe just strength and encouragement is needed (this might be the only place they get it). And yes, sometimes tough love is needed. But it's not up to us to give it. We don't know their state of mind, their emotional status, anything. I am as motivated as they come. But if I falter, if I mess up, I would hope I could get some compassionate and supportive help to get me back on track and not be bereted for not living up to the ideal standards.

A huge difference between being berated and being told that you are making mistakes and pointing out improvement opportunities.

36 minutes ago, Healthy4longerlife said:

I read the 3 pages on the original post you are referring to. And I have to agree with you on this. I understand people want support, but your original reply to the article was not rude, you tried your best to say it in a nice way. If people just want support with whatever their results are they anything we do in life is okay. I agree we all need to be positive , but if someone has a surgery that went far from what was planned as far as results, something needs to change, maybe a revision surgery, a change in the diet, see a therapist to deal with the demons we all have. You seemed to be more helpful than most on that chat that are just cheering on anything as its greaaaaaattt like tony the tiger. I really wish the OP of that chat a very successful weight loss journey.

Thank you for capturing and understanding my intention. Sometimes it takes a little intelligence and patience to read through and understand what people are trying to say!! Thank you again!!

25 minutes ago, kcuster83 said:

There is a fine line between supportive and mean... gotta tread lightly.

Very true....but I feel it is important to tell people the truth. Maybe my method is a little rough but the heart is in the right place, I can assure you.

I truly don't care how you feel about this. I see you trying to reassure people they are doing the right thing all the time and that is fine...it is your opinion and I never, ever comment on other people's responses. But your approach is different than mine and I think it is prudent to tell people the truth. She even states her Doctor does not think her progress is satisfactory so obviously something is not being done correctly.

I think it best for you to back off and keep your opinion to yourself like I do when I do not agree with your approach. My opinion in this particular issue may not be correct, maybe it is correct, but the same goes for your opinion on it. You may be correct and you may be wrong. Respect other people's opinions.

Finally, people post on here for opinions and advice. If they expect everyone to agree with them, they should not ask for opinions or maybe just say what they want to hear and everyone can answer how they want to be answered.

17 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

You're not helpful. Most people do not find being told they're doing everything wrong helpful in any way shape or form. Most people find supportive comments more helpful in changing their behavior then "tough love".

And... YOU ARE NOT HER DOCTOR.

Why don't you just mind your business. Cheering her on and telling her everything is going to be alright is not the answer either. Tell me how telling her she is going everything right changes the trajectory of her situation?

1 minute ago, Miratia said:

God forbid anyone post for encouragement and comfort. Go away, please.

I am sorry you feel that way. I was assuming you wanted truthful advice, not just to have people reassure you that everything is going to be ok even if they don't believe that. I will never post to your account again if you don't actually want help to be succesful.

All,

I was attacked by another member for telling a poster what I think is the truth to try to give them some tough love and open their eyes to what is happening. When people post on here, it is not a stretch to assume that they have a real problem and are looking at real solutions. What good does it do to reassure people that they are just fine and they are doing the right thing just to make them feel good. They are on here because they have a problem they need help with. If they want to solve the problem, sometimes they are going to have to hear something that may not make them smile. Sometimes the truth hurts and in order to come to a solution, you have to look at everything realistically to make the corrections needed.

I was accused of purposely being unhelpful and I take offense to that. I have posted many more encouraging posts to people than the opposite because most people here just need a little reassurance and they are doing the right things to be successful. Once in a while, people are not doing what their surgical team recommends or may be doing things counterproductive and I have said that point blank. Does that make me a "mean" person as this person accused me of? Maybe, but maybe, just maybe the original poster needed to hear the "mean" truth in order to understand what needs to be done.

Bottom line is, if people post on here, I again assume they want people to be truthful and helpful, not just be a cheerleader and try to make them feel better. They will feel better when they are successful in their journey.

1 hour ago, Miratia said:

And now I just want to give up entirely. This is the opposite of helpful. I guess I'm really just bad at everything.

Not the point. The point is that you need to reevaluate what you are doing and make the adjustments that are needed. REALLY count and track what you are eating, do more exercise, drink lots of Water etc, etc. Back to Bariatric Basics.

Just give it time. It is way to early to be worrying about weight. With the Water weight that they pumped into you after surgery, it will take a while to shed that and you will see the pounds fall off. Be patient...it will happen soon.

52 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

Don't worry about @Tony B - NJ. He just likes to be unhelpful and mean. Get back in touch with your surgery center and see what they say.

Unhelpful and mean? No maam. I just try to be honest with people and tell them the truth. There is something not right about what is going on there. 20 pounds after a year is not success and to say so is not helpful to the poster. If you want to just be told what you want to hear, then do not post. This is trying to help people, not just make them feel good and continue doing what they are doing.