ouroborous

Thanks! I SO can't wait to get back to the gym...

Okay, so I'll admit it: I'm deathly afraid of getting man-boobs as I trim down in fat. I've always had a fairly solid set of chest muscles, but I've gotten flabby and I don't want to have a great set of honkers when all is said and done. Anyone got any tips on workouts to avoid the man-boobage? Just the general pec workout (incline/decline/flat press, flies, etc.)? Or is there some magic method? I'd also like to avoid saggy arms if possible, but I'm more scared of the man-boobs.

Yeah I had some pureed potato soup yesterday (and have leftovers today) and I swear, after a nonstop diet of yogurt, jello, and water, it was the most delicious thing I've ever tasted...

First, STOP. Eat ONLY what your doctor clears you to eat. You will NOT be happy if you stretch or damage your sleeve just to have a Freeto! Second, if you're having hunger and growling, it might be false hunger due to acid. Make sure your doc has you on an appropriate dose of acid blocker. Finally, make sure that you follow the sleeve guidelines: no beverages with your meals, chew, chew, chew, Protein first, then veggies, then carbs -- etc.

I'm still not cleared for weight lifting (oh happy day...) but I'm rocking my walk. I'm walking further and further (about 2 miles in a single walk now) and what I'm noticing is that I'm walking FAST. It's not intentional, I just move at a natural pace, but I'm ZIPPING. I guess 30 pounds of flab lost makes a difference in my stamina, eh? What's really surprising me is that I'm starting to ENJOY my walks. I've always, at best, tolerated them. But suddenly I'm looking forward to them. Huzzah! I'm sure that partially the beautiful, beautiful premature summer weather we're having here in Seattle is helping. And I get a little stir crazy sitting here all day -- I'm working from home. But still... me? LIKING exercise? Who'da thunk it?!

This is a very good point, and very important... carbs are useful to give you a little "boost" before physical activity. The whole Atkins "carbs are evil" thing has gone too far. Moderation in all things. Unsustainable weight loss is what got most of us here in the first place. Make sure that you're treating your sleeve as a lifelong change, not just a quick-fix diet. We all know how those turn out.

Folks, our bodies are NOT machines. It's not as simple as calories in/calories out. There are hormonal issues, environmental issues, stress, TYPE of food, Water retention, and so many other things that can make the scale fluctuate from day to day. Your best bet is to STOP watching the scale. Weigh yourself once every couple weeks, or once a week TOPS. By doing this, you'll stop torturing yourself over every little blip, and learn how to be free of the tyranny of the scale. It may be hart to break the addiction, but once you stop treating your body like a machine and start treating it like the complex living organism that it is, and give up on constantly watching the scale every day, you'll be SO much happier. Eat healthy, exercise, know you're doing the right thing, and stop obsessing about the scale. Live your life!

Yeah, I've had some bouts of hiccups that were unpleasant. I think it's some kind of reaction by the nerve clusters in the stomach area. Some sleevers like my girlfriend get a single hiccup when they're full.

Yes, you CAN ask your doctor this, and you should. Doctors are trained to deal with discussions of recreational drugs, and are in fact going to be better at giving you "just the facts" minus the judgment. I have recreationally used marijuana and believe it should be legalized. I don't use it anymore because I've grown out of it, but I think what you do to your body is your choice. It may be a foolish choice, but it's your choice. I am NOT A DOCTOR, but from what I know, this surgery shouldn't interact with marijuana consumption at all, unless you're eating it (rather than smoking it). I would highly recommend waiting a good 6 months after surgery before you partake, however, because god only knows how the marijuana and other meds might interact. I would definitely not smoke anything (including cigarettes, but also marijuana) for a couple months after surgery, because compromised lung function & pneumonia is already a concern. Also, I agree with others -- why on earth would you want to sabotage a perfectly good weight loss surgery with a drug that's best known for giving people the munchies?

I've seen a few people who had significant complications, but even so most of those are glad they had the surgery in the long run. The few "regrets" posts I've seen are usually folks with significant food addictions who didn't really take the time to mourn the loss of their drug of choice.

Since my sleeve, I'm actually continually amazed at just how LITTLE food I need to survive (and thrive!) I think my conception of how much food I needed was way, way out of whack!

I guarantee you that you cannot put on anywhere near 2 lbs of muscle in anything short of a couple of weeks. If you're fluctuating by 2 lbs, it's water weight or other factors. Make sure you're staying adequately hydrated & with good nutrition, and only weigh yourself once a week or so.

Yeah, I'm wondering just how much it is even possible to "stretch" the sleeve. I'm thinking that weight regain with the sleeve will mostly be due to too many "slider" foods and soft calories. That doesn't make it impossible, but much less likely than with the band or the bypass. Plus the hormone thing shouldn't be underestimated. My girlfriend, at 6 months out, says that to this day she still just never feels hungry. That's not trivial at all.

Yeah, definitely: Water and protein, protein and water. Right now, that's the name of the game.

Seriously, I think people go overboard on the "no carbs" thing. From what I know, folks who eat carbs -- even (shudder!) pasta and potatoes and such -- can still lose weight. The key is moderation. And extremely low-carb diets can produce exactly the feelings of listlessness and sluggishness you're mentioning. What use is losing weight if you can't keep it off? And if your diet is making you feel miserable, that's a recipe for not being able to keep it off.

Actually, I just pulled the 1% figure out of... well, out of nowhere :thumbup1: I don't really know how many people have had WLS.

I think that's another word for "sliming." If you've ever vomited, do you know how your mouth fills up with saliva beforehand? That's "sliming" -- it's that mouth-watering feeling that you're about to throw up, just without the throwing up itself (hopefully). It's unpleasant, but not the end of the world, and it's definitely a good wakeup call that you're overdoing it!

I went through a LOT of misgivings and second thoughts before I finally got the surgery done on the 6th. I can't specifically address your emotional relationship to food, but I can address the malnutrition aspect -- you won't have any problem. The first few weeks are challenging, since your stomach is still swollen, and you're still learning how to eat. But after that, it gets much easier. My girlfriend, who was sleeved in November of last year (so, only about 6 months ago) can now pretty much eat anything she wants, just slowly and in small portions. Isn't that about the perfect solution for weight loss? Yes, you'll need to be careful with nutrition and hydration, simply because you'll be consuming a lot less food. And one specific issue (B12) is super important. But really, is taking Multivitamins THAT much of a burden? Compare it to what you'd go through if you had a heart attack or developed diabetes or cancer. You talk about losing weight "the right way" -- by this, I assume you mean through diet and exercise. Yes, it is possible to lose enormous amounts of weight through diet and exercise. Most sleevers, from what I understand, already HAVE lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise, and gained it back. That's the kicker -- they gained the weight bcak... that's always the catch. You can lose the weight, but very, very VERY few people are successful at losing weight and keeping it off through diet and exercise alone. The figure is around 5% -- 1 in 20. When you do the math and consider the known health costs of obesity, consider how very few people can lose the weight and keep it off "the right way," and realize that even though lap sleeve is relatively new, the studies show that it's very likely to become the "gold standard" in weight loss surgery, it just makes sense. None of this makes the fear go away, of course, but it should help you to realize that you're making a smart choice. A rational choice. The RIGHT choice.

You'll be fine! For me, surgery itself was a BREEZE. I told them beforehand that I was a bit anxious and they must have put something in my IV because by the time they wheeled me into the OR, I was really relaxed. They had me spread out and put my arms to my sides and then -- I woke up! The recovery is a bit more of a challenge. The first day you're pretty stoned, so it goes by quickly. Just do everything the doctor tells you and tell them anything that's worrying you, and you'll be fine. After the surgery, be prepared for some pain, and some new sensations. Most of the pain is from the gas used during surgery, not the surgery itself! You'll be burping and farting your way to wellness before you know it When you first take your first sip of Water or whatever, just remember to take tiny, tiny sips until you know how much you can handle. You will inevitably take in too much, but I found that it was better to be safe than sorry. As everyone says, sip, sip, sip, and walk as much as you can (and as much as the doctor will let you) -- it will speed your recovery! Finally, remember to take deep breaths when you can; it will calm you down and also reduce your post operative fever and risk of pneumonia. All things considered, it's a breeze. You'll do great!

I started chewables as soon as I was on full liquids (day 3). I guess it varies per surgeon!

I hear you, brother. I'm DYING for some weightlifting, but I'm making up for it by walking 3-4 times a day for longer and longer intervals. I don't want to end up with man-boobs! Must... lift... weights!

Congratulations, brother! I should meet you under 300 sometime early next week. It's a much nicer place to be, I hear!

I second this: my girlfriend has real problems with supplements; even baby supplements tend to make her want to hurl. But the Bariatric Advantage flavored chewable iron she has no problem with. Do make sure to get your levels re-checked and don't ignore it just because you "feel better." It's really important for us sleevers to keep up on our nutrition.

This is something I'm really interested in. Since my surgery I've been able to consume a lot more than my girlfriend. It's not like I'm trying to race or stuff my face, I just can, without any discomfort. Of course, it's still a LOT less than it was, and if I push it I pay the price. Right now it's useful -- I'm on "full liquids" until Saturday (when I go on puree) and it's really helping me to get down all of my Protein, Vitamins, and Water. I just don't want to sabotage myself when I go to solid foods! I guess that's why they say protein first, then veggies, then carbs.

This is interesting. One of my goals in losing weight was to be sick LESS often. It sounds almost like I can expect the opposite... grr.