BriDawn

For the first three weeks or so, it took me about an hour to finish a yogurt or pudding cup.

Soups did go down easier, so I recommend those made with milk for some Protein. Or, since Water goes down okay, try just sipping milk all day long. Great Protein and it should go down nice and easy.

Definitely eat slow! I would have to reheat my Soup five times before I ever finished it! And try eating with a baby spoon.

It will definitely get better. I was personally happy to leave the hospital (though I'm so terrified of hospitals that I had the worst panic attack of my life the first night I was there!) and left the second morning.

I was in a morphine haze those first two days and then went home with loratab, I believe. After a few days, I was down to regular old Tylenol. Which I took for probably two weeks straight afterwards.

It took me about 3 weeks to really start feeling better, but it does! It hurt to drink Water at first. It took me an HOUR to eat a yogurt cup. Now I can eat that yogurt in 2 minutes if I had to

It'll get better soon!

Honestly, you're an adult. There is no big difference from now than when you're in your twenties. I'm 24 now, had surgery at 23. My age was a huge concern for me too. I'm so young to be forever altering my body. But then, should I wait till I'm 40 and 200lbs heavier with diabetes?

That was my logic... I wanted to have it done so I could get on with living a HAPPY and HEALTHY life while I'm still young and have a lot of time ahead of me.

If you were still growing (like 13) I would say to wait. But you're an adult and you know what is best for you.

I researched the crap out of this. I looked into how it might affect pregnancy (it doesn't, really) and any long term health risks (minimal, if any at all). That being said, make sure you're psychologically ready for this. That was so much harder than any physical problems for me.

I was so depressed the first month after surgery. My anxiety skyrocketed and I had several panic attacks, mostly fueled by "omg what did I do to myself?!" Now six months out, I'm down 65 lbs, feeling amazing and I'm eating almost anything I want, just less!

Some people may frown on it but I do still eat chips, Pasta, bread, cake, etc. on occasion! Obviously Protein and fruit/veggies are first but I had this particular surgery because I wanted to be able to eat all the foods I still enjoyed.

Good luck! Do your research!

Taken day before surgery and then about 3 weeks ago...

And taken a couple days ago...

From 240 to about 178 now!

Welcome to the three week stall! I think the majority of us were all there with ya. I lost 15lbs the first two/three weeks and then lost nothing for about two weeks.

Your body is in shock, it's adjusting and healing. Just keep tracking and it will move, I promise!

Two nights, left early the third morning. I hate hospitals so I had several panic attacks and was taking quite a bit of Ativan and morphine to calm me down! Not fun. I was very glad to go home.

Wow, looking awesome! Here's mine 5.5 months in.

Not really. I went on a date the other week and was nervous about this too. I ordered the quiche and it also came with a huge potion of those Breakfast potatoes. I ate half the quiche and picked at the potatoes. The guy didn't notice anything out of the ordinary and I just ate slowly and enjoyed the conversation more than just hovering my food like before

I'm 5.5 months out and I can usually eat half my plate when we're out which, for many normal "thin" people, is average. My mom eats the same amount as me.

Absolutely not. There are way too many more health concerns that seem to go with the bypass. You can lose as much weight as you want with the sleeve! It's a tool for you to use and it won't rule over your life.

I'm down 60lbs in 5.5 months and only 20lbs from goal. Couldn't be happier with my choice. If my option had been bypass or nothing, I would've done nothing.

Almost five months out for me now and I feel amazing! I really questioned my choice for surgery for the first month or so, but since then I've been quite thrilled.

I've lost about 50 pounds now and want to lose another 20-30. I'm eating about 1200-1400 calories a day and try to get at least 70g of Protein. I walk everyday and take bootcamp and kickboxing. I can eat almost anything. Red meat like steak bugs me, as does rice and really doughy bread.

So how're the other April sleevers doing??

By the way' date=' how long did it take you? What are you doing to get there... exercise, food, etc[/quote']

My surgery was April 22 so almost 4 months out.

I walk my dog everyday between 30-60 minutes. And I do kickboxing and bootcamp each 2-3 times a week! I've always loved working out.

I've been eating between 1000-1200 calories since about one month out. Now I sometimes get up to 1500 a day, but I'm burning upwards of 800 calories some days so I'm okay with that!

I've been able to eat anything so far, though rice, soft bread, and heavy beef don't sit too well so I avoid them. But I eat a lot of yogurt, cheese, nuts, subs/pitas, fruit smoothies with soy Protein, and I give myself a treat once a day usually too (like a small bowl of chips or a mini ice cream sandwich). I'm very happy with my restriction!

Down about 45lbs and couldn't be happier! Another 30-35 to go!

One of my favorites too! We have a little market near my house that has the BEST thin crust pizzas. My favorite was a proscuitto and pineapple one. It's got the thinnest, crispest crust ever!

I'm not as big a fan of the fast food thin crusts because I find them quite greasy and soggy, which causes me some grief!

I had this surgery to live a normal life. I'm about 4 months out now and can eat basically anything. I've had fast food, I've had chips and candy, I've had alcohol. Nothing has caused me much problems.

Obviously it's all in moderation. I eat well, make good choices, and make sure my Protein levels are where they should be. I work out a lot. If, at the end of the day, I have a couple hundred calories left, I'll allow myself a treat.

I'm down about 45lbs now and have another 30ish to go. I still lose 1-2lbs a week steadily and I'm happy with that! I'm happy that I can eat what I want, but less of it. That's exactly what I hoped for from surgery.

Definitely. Greasy restaurant food disgusts me now. Maybe it's because we are chewing more and actually tasting the food, rather than just inhaling it like before? That's what I figure.

I went out with a friend and we shared a couple appetizers and I was disgusted by the deep fried stuff.

The best dinner out I've had since surgery was at a higher end restaurant and it was a chicken breast with a balsamic sauce and mushrooms. With roasted potatoes. It was so damn delicious. And I had more than enough for lunch the next day!

If you feel like you need a drink to get the food to move along, it probably means you need to chew a bit better. That's how I was at 6 weeks out and now at about 13 weeks I don't feel like I nee the drink.

I do occasionally take a sip just by habit or, like you, I'll swish it in my mouth to help clean my teeth lol.

I say eat what your body tells you is okay but just make sure to follow your calorie and Protein guidelines.

I was eating 1000 calories by 1 month out an now at 3 months I usually hit about 1200. I'm still losing 2-3 lbs a week which is what I want. I also workout a lot.

Some days (like today) I eat less. Just randomly. I was busy all day an didn't remember to eat dinner till like 11PM (bad I know!) but that's very rare for me.

If your stomach feels good eating that big salad, then eat it. Stop when you feel satisfied. This sleeve is all about living a normal life.

Yep. Three week stall. Happens to the majority as far as I've seen.

I lost 15lbs in the first two weeks and then didn't budge for two, almost three, weeks after that. Since then I've lost 2-3lbs a week quite steadily!

Don't worry, it WILL start moving again. Just keep your Water and Protein intake up and definitely start some moderate exercise like walking.

I worried myself sick about this before returning to work. Turns out, no one asked. They knew I had surgery and they obviously noticed the weightless but no one questioned it.

Well, one nosy coworker did. I told her I has PCOS (true) and I had surgery to help correct it and now I was on a strict doctor supervised diet. All technically true. The office does know I'm on a diet. But we're all pretty open and talk a lot about dieting and exercise. Some girls even exercise in the office!

Anyways, don't worry too much. I'm happy I didn't tell anyone though. I'm almost three months out and feel quite normal so I'd hate to have to deal with people constantly asking me about what I can and can't eat, how much weight I've lost, etc etc. I wanted to continue my normal life! My friends and family know and that's enough for me

When were you sleeved?

I had severe pain in my right side about three weeks after surgery too. I thought I was all healed and then bam, that pain. I asked my nurse and surgeon and both weren't concerned. It was just scar tissue pulling and there's also a big stitch in there.

It went away in about a week. I used a heating pad a lot which helped, but avoid bending or lifting at all.

If that's not it, then yes it could be your gallbladder... But I've had gallstones and the pain was in the left side not the right. And it is excruciating curl-into-the-fetal-position-and-sob kind of pain.

Definitely talk to your doctor! But I've heard this pain happens a lot to people after surgery.

I had steri-strips which took about a month to all fall off. My surgeon told me my incisions were closed as soon as a left the hospital. I just had to be careful not to let them get infected (like taking long baths). Almost three months out now and the scars are starting the smooth down already. I do use bio-oil everyday though!

At 4 weeks I was eating about 800 calories a day of actual food, no shakes (my dietician isn't a fan of Protein shakes or liquid calories at all).

I did get really bad head rushes around that time. Are you on prenatal Vitamins or some kind of Iron supplement? When I started my prenatals, the dizziness got much better. Even now, I can tell if I forget to take one because of the head rushes.

Try not to stand up too fast. Try to up your calorie and Protein intake. Talk to your doctor/dietician. And take your vitamins!

I'm 2.5 months out and for almost two months have lost 2-3 lbs a week. It's slowing to 1-2 lbs a week now, but still moving continually!

Down about 35lbs in 2.5 months!

How tall are you? I finally just got down to an 18 this week after my stall and loosing 40lbs from my highest. So now I'm at 240

I'm 5'8"!