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Follow your doctor's orders, in my 'Bariatric Bible' (that's what I call it) from Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas, below is a cut and paste on week 2 & 3. Dr. Davidson said NOTHING that won't go through a straw. I added sugar free Jello with sugar free cool whip. Just something most won't think about. I hope this helps. Gastric Sleeve – Weeks 2 and 3 Add cream/blended soups and drinkable yogurts NO lumps, bumps, or chunks! Continue Multivitamin and mineral supplements Use Protein supplements 1-2x per day (goal 40-60 grams/day)

All of the above....and in the south, especially in Texas, Vanity rules. Even women like me, who had no health issues, choose to have 85% of our stomach's removed. We're tired of fighting to maintain a weight of 200+. It IS unhealthy, and eventually, as we age, our weight will go higher and higher, resulting in at best, bad knees. I wanted to buy cute clothes, look good in them and have fun shopping for once in my adult life. Mission accomplished. I call it preventive maintainence, a win/win!

I'd lost 6 lbs at 2 weeks out. There is a lot of Fluid etc. It will happen. During my losing phase, I kept my Protein between 60 and 70, my calories between 450 and closer to goal I managed to some times get 800 calories in per day. I still do the on line tracking, I like to keep up with calories and protein. I take in 1200 - 1400 per day.

I am 2 yrs 7 months out. I do not remember my average each month, but I reached my physician's goal in five months, and my goal (5 lbs less, for that 5 lb "pad") a month later. I continued to lose and started freaking out because I couldn't stop......a call to the doctor's office and I was able to put on the brakes and even gain about twelve lbs back. My very lowest was 18 lbs under his goal. I am now up to between 144 and 148 and have been maintaining for about 18 months. Since I'm never really hungry, it's easy. If I'm a couple of lbs up, then I just cut out a snack or two for a few days and it's gone again. I have to 'graze' to get in the calories I need to maintain, otherwise I could lose more. I initially wanted to lose 50 lbs, but it came off so easily, I knew I could reach his goal without any problem. About 85% of your tummy was removed, it's forced portion control. Every pound is a pound forever gone. Enjoy the ride, it's wild!!!

Amen to that! Texas doesn't have weight on ours either. They know Texas women are way to vain, we'd lie, protest....it would be ugly!!!!

I underestimated what we can do with this 'tool'. You've had approx. 85% of your tummy removed, permanently. It's not sectioned off, it's not a 'pouch'. It's GONE. The sky is the limit if you work it. At the seminar we were told, this is not a diet, it's a way of life. That's fine and dandy, but until I reached goal, I treated it as the most important, serious diet of my life!!! I wasn't hungry, so it was easy really. I am 31 months out and I still, most of the time when I'm home, will weigh or measure my food. Until I reached goal, I rarely ate any bread, none at home and only a nibble if we were out. I ordered dinner out, without added butter (they brush butter on almost everything) I never had a bite of anything fried, NOTHING sweet at all. I started getting all my Protein in within 2 months and I kept up the protein. I was fanatical about sleeve surgery and being successful. I had two goals, one, to lose weight, two, NOT to lose my hair. Mission accomplished. If you approach this like I did, or similar, then you can lose to a healthy BMI, I'm sure of it!!! Good luck!!!!

I was sleeved in June 2010 - you described it perfectly, empty. That's my new 'hunger'. I say "I'm hungry" but it isn't anything like others feel. Empty, the new norm. I had bloodwork done recently, all the yearly stuff, so I had to fast. Waiting until 10:30 AM was no problem. I could have waited until noon. I love this! I hope it lasts forever.

I did not know what I could do with this 'tool' we now have. My physician's goal was 150, I wanted a 5 lb 'pad'. There are many people who will think you are too skinny and/or should not lose any more weight. I lost too much and made myself get back to my goal. At one point I was 18 lbs below the doc's goal.....it was like I couldn't quit. I finally figured out, with the help of my dietitian, that all I needed to do was 'lighten up' a little, add a couple of snacks, if a topping is available I.E. peppercorn gravy, with a dish ordered, get it on the side and dip. Life is good!!I gained back to a healthy weight and at 31 months out, I find it easy to eat like a naturally thin person and stay between 144 and 148. I'm comfy here. So, my advice is listen to your body and your physician. Get past the numbers, because it is real tempting to get lower and lower just because it's possible!!! When my size 4's were getting baggy, I knew I needed to seek the help of the dietitian.....face it, size 2's are hard to come by. It's obvious what my priorities are!! LoL Good luck.....enjoy the ride, it is sooooo much fun!!

Preventive maintainence, that is EXACTLY what I've told people. My paternal grandmother and all my aunts on my dad's side of the family were heavy, much heavier than I was when I had surgery, but I envisioned myself at 300+ lbs twenty years from now and I didn't like it at all. I had NO health issues, yet. I'm hoping I have prevented any of those that my aunts and many cousins have experienced.

I've lost approx 84 lbs, depending on the day. When I initially started this process, 34 months ago, I was hoping to lose 60 lbs, forever. I'd lost 50 lbs three times previously and promptly gained it back and then some. I knew I would be on this roller coaster for the rest of my life. I struggled to maintain around 225, give or take ten lbs. After watching a friend have WLS a few years earlier, and living to tell about and living to talk to me about following suit, I did it! 31 months ago, I took the plunge. When I got to 170, I was thrilled beyond belief, and it happened so quickly and I KNEW I could go lower. My physician's goal was 150, I think their goal is always right there at a healthy BMI. Once I saw what was possible with sleeve surgery, I wanted to go 5 lbs lower than his goal. I did that and kept going. I couldn't quit, or so it seemed. My dietitian told me to add a snack or two. I needed to up my calories. So I did, grazing is what I do best. I eat three small meals a day and several Snacks. I am not snacking on bon bons, but I do have a jr. ice cream at Braum's just not often. I like Snackwell's Cookies, low fat graham crackers with Natural Peanut Butter on them.....I was able to re-gain about 10 lbs to get to a weight that is easy for me to maintain and a weight where I don't look like I'm sick. I feel good, and find it easy to stay between 144 and 148. Why did I do this....because I was 50 and I knew that it was going to be harder and harder to lose weight and as my PCP said, almost impossible to keep it off without eating nothing but grass and weeds. Following through was by far, the best decision I've EVER made FOR ME, aside from marrying my husband. I love shopping, I feel good about myself, sex is better than ever. I may not have been morbidly obese, but no matter where you are on the scale, if you are on the heavy side, the feelings are the same. My BMI was right at 36 and now it's just under 23. I wouldn't change a thing!

I'm two years and 7 month out......I have Never, Ever had one minute of buyer's remorse! I'd have surgery again in a heartbeat. I love shopping, I love not being the biggest girl in the room. I am still shocked when somebody comments on how small I am or says I'm skinny. ME???!!!! I feel like I eat like a naturally thin person, I make choices, most good, some not so much, just like a normal person. My life feels good, like this is the way it should be. I still worry about 'gaining it all back'. In reality I know I'd have to TRY and gain it all back. I go up and down four lbs. If I'm up a little, I cut back, which is easy since I'm never really hungry and I lose the few lbs in just a few days. Forced portion control, that is what I needed. I don't see how this surgery can't work.

Another thing that is helpful, I also found this idea before surgery....it is really neat. When you are with someone close to you, you spouse, friend, mom or dad......at a mall or grocery store, anywhere public. Have them point out someone who is your size. I still have my husband do this once in a while, and it still shocks me!!!

The 8's are the 'Curvy' style, I do like the way the fit, and since I'm not losing any more, I'm hoping it wasn't a waste of money!! The Long 'N Lean are my 4's. The probably look the best, but some times I feel fat. I know, I know, but still, even when we are thin, we can feel fat. My tummy hasn't been perfectly flat since I wore a 6X in 2nd grade. The 4's are fine with a shirt that isn't form fitting, with a tighter shirt, I have that little roll that I seem to focus on. I can't remember what the 6's are, they may be Long 'N Lean as well.

I'm not sure where I saw this idea, on one of these threads prior to surgery. It suggested getting a disposable camera and taking a picture the day of surgery, then taking a picture every month on the same date, for me, that was the 11th of every month, do this for that first year. After your one year anniversary and picture, have the film developed. Wow, the transformation is amazing!!!! It's fun to look back at the pictures. I did NOT realize I was that big.

LoL I need to do that, I only have a couple of things, one is a pair of white denim shorts, size 20!!! I should keep them within reach!!! Good idea. Like you, I went from an 18 - 20 and now I wear 4's and 6's. I like Gap jeans, and have three different styles and three different sizes. 4, 6 and an 8. The 4's look the best but the 6's are more comfortable! LoL The size 8's fit just like the 6's for some reason. I STILL look at the 4's and think 'surely not'. LoL I love, love, love to shop now....before, I shopped because I HAD to have something. I never felt good about it or had a fun time.

I am 2 years and 7 months out and I STILL have head game problems!! I am not sure it will ever end. I had someone comment on a picture just yesterday, she said 'you are so tiny' ME???? Surely she cannot be talking about me. Tiny, small, skinny.....those are not words I'm use to. I responded, 'It's an optical illusion' LoL Will we ever be able to acknowledge our new me??!!! I don't know. I look at me and if I can just look from the neck down, I see somebody that is slim, but it's hard to associate that person with the inside me. I still worry about what I eat, I know I know always make wise choices, but they told us, 'this is not a diet, it is a way of life' I think I eat like a naturally thin person. I am aware of every single thing I put in my mouth. I like to graze, and I do. Sometimes more than I probably should, but this is how I get all the calories I need every day. I am never really hungry, I eat because it's fun, social and I know I MUST. Life is good, if I put on a few lbs, I just cut out something for a few days and it's gone. Good luck.....but I think that this is just part of it. What do you think? Any other stories like this?

YouKnowIt - I am very much like you I think. I 'celebrated' two years out this past June. I reached goal quickly and kept on dropping, dropping. I got it under control and gained a little, I did not like feeling like a stick figure. My 4 jeans were getting baggy. Not good, at least in my opinion for ME. The first time I've 'gained' since I reached goal, the first time it was not trying to stabilize, was this past summer. Family reunion, vacation, out of town company.....so many sweets!! I gained between five and six lbs. I've lost five and would like to drop another couple just for the heck of it. The difference between now and prior to surgery is I am not hungry. My 'hunger' is an empty feeling, it's not a 'I am starving' hunger at all. I like to graze, and that is one way I've managed to maintain and get in enough calories per day! I like graham crackers w/peanut butter and I love the Snackwell vanilla cream sandwich cookies. I will have one or both a few times per day. Probably not a 'good' habit, but it works for me. I get in 60 or more grams of protein every day, so I'm good there. What I'm getting to is how easy it was to drop the added lbs. I just cut out two of my three snacks, or cut DOWN from 1.5 grams to a half, two of the four cookies in the four cookie pack. I was not deprived and it took five or six weeks, but is that really that long to lose five lbs? I got it off and maintaining again for about a month now. Easy as pie really!!! I did find if I drink a cup of coffee in the afternoon, that will take the place of a snack, the 'empty' feeling vanishes!!

Love it, thanks!

You are so correct, keeping a food log is important. I had surgery in June 2010 and I STILL keep a food log, I miss occasionally, but for the most part, I do this daily!! I also still measure or weigh my food when I'm home. It's habit now.....oh, and I weigh EVERY day. I know exactly where I am and I don't 'freak out' if I'm a lb or two up, I just adjust a little. I WANT to know, it is much easier to take off three, four or five lbs. Ten, that would be a little more alarming to me.

We are so use to years of 'failure' - it's easy to think 'what if....' Mine now, since I'm at goal and can now eat more....'What if I gain it all back' Ugh, the mind games we play. I gained five lbs over the summer due to way too many sweets at the family reunion, all the church get togethers and vacation. As of this morning, I'm within the range I'm comfortable at ( 143 - 146). I don't get hungry, so all I have to do now is use self control. "Dieting" is easy when there is little or no hunger. I just cut back a little and up my Protein. It's taken 3 weeks, but I did it. I figure in another 3 weeks, I can get down to 144. As far as losing.....girlfriend, you are going to have approx 85% of your tummy removed, you WILL LOSE!!!!! How much and how quickly does depend a little on you. I treated my sleeve as the most important 'diet' of my life. No sweets, fried food....nothing I should not have until I reached goal. Slowly but surely I eat normally.....a NEW normal. I don't deprive myself, I think I NOW eat like a naturally thin person and I make choices, I don't mindlesslly eat!! I am aware of everything I put into my mouth. It is much easier than before!! You will lose...enjoy the ride, it is WILD!!!!

Carbonated drinks, that's the only "no no" - but there are things I CHOOSE not to eat. I don't mindlessly eat now, I am aware of everything I put in my mouth, sometimes I shouldn't but I am aware of it. I just had most of a hot fudge sundae from McDonald's and now I wish I'd not had it. It didn't taste nearly as good as I'd anticipated. Oh well....this happens some times, and I've done a lot of research, the McDonald's sundae is the least of all evils as far as ice cream goes.

Who cares what anyone says!!??? My BMI was 36, I'm not quite 5'7" and everyone said I didn't "need" it. I wanted the surgery, I was tired of losing some lbs just to regain it plus some. I was tired of dreading going shopping, the list is endless. I only WISH I'd had this option when I was your age. Go for it girl....and enjoy the ride!

Yeah, there is nothing "easier" than having 85% of your tummy removed!! LoL Granted, it is "easier" than Weight Watchers or popping prescription pills, losing some then gaining it back, sometimes MORE than you'd lost.....when hunger is gone it does make things easier but we still must have self control, we still must make wise choices. It's easier to avoid temptations now, but sleeve surgery is not a quick fix. Anyone who thinks it is, well, they're stupid or jealous!! LoL

How is maintenence going for y'all? I had gained about five lbs when we were on vacation, but three came off last week and I'm counting on losing the other two in the next week to ten days! Fingers are crossed!!! I feel like I'm pretty much living a 'normal' life, eating like a 'naturally thin person'.

I use Fitday to track protein and calories! I'm 27 months out and still log my food and I weigh every day.