NtvTxn

I'm in Flower Mound, north of DFW airport. A year post-op and at goal - AMEN!

I'm in Abilene working pre-op requirements so I can be sleeved in Ft Worth.

I used to be on here all the time - back when I first had my surgery and a few months post op. I've slowly started coming back due to the realization that I haven't lost anything for at least 5 months and it's because I haven't been in the game at all. I am seeing posts from people that had surgery around the same time as me or much later, that weighed more than me at date of surgery, and they have reached far and beyond my wildest expectations for myself. I just wanted to get below 200 and if I had stayed on plan, I would've accomplished this. The thing is, I can eat almost exactly like I used to and I do feel hunger and I am addicted to sugar/carbs. It is nothing for me to put away a donut and not have a single feeling of fullness. This has been the case for a while now and I know that the same obstacles that prevented weight loss for me prior to surgery still exist post surgery - mostly head hunger and telling myself that I will "get back on it" tomorrow. It's a terrible cycle that perpetuates itself over and over as I give in to a craving or deceive myself into thinking that it's ok because I did lose "some of the weight". I just realized that the only goal I set for myself was to get below 200 but maybe breaking it down might make things a little more doable and I will feel less like a failure. To those who have accomplished their goals, great work and let me know if you have any tricks or tips that you could share. For those who might be in the same boat as me, I feel your pain and maybe it's time today to do something about it. Yesterday was yesterday and tomorrow is a long way off so for now, I am focusing on my actions today.

I told my boss and coworkers before I told my family and I had the biggest cheerleaders. I would like to add that my boss is male and all of my coworkers are also male. But, they have been so supportive through the whole preparing process. I guess I'm lucky.

One often repeated phrase you will hear on this site is that every persons journey is unique. What's crazy to one person is a perfect choice of lifeline for another. None of those people is you! If you and your physician agree that this is the right path, that's really all that matters. I wish you the best journey possible!

That's what it's come to when trying to get my liquid Protein in. I now use the New whey Protein Shots. Some 40 grams of Protein for 4oz of liquid. I only do a quarter at a time as our bodies can only process so much protein at once, but it's a good/simple way to get in a decent amount of protein, and it usually pushes me over 100 grams of protein a day when counting the food ingested.
I just can't do it anymore. Choking down chalky, slimy, nasty tasting Protein drinks. I think I just need to take a break from the shakes. Maybe introduce them again in a month or so...or whenever it is that I can look at the container and not gag.

Some of my biggest cheerleaders were my THIN friends, not the chubby ones, the ones that could and should think about it.....not so much. You know, I am over three years out, I'm not "out" to everyone, but I've told a lot of people......and I know there are many who think's it's the easy way out. I personally think popping prescription diet pills is the 'easy' way out, but whatever. It didn't work, well, it did, but when the prescription runs out, the weight comes back.
If you are sarcastic at all, just say "I'm going to have 85% of my stomach surgically removed.....permanently. Clearly I want to take the easy way out" It's forced Portion Control, the doctor does his job, then it's up to you. If they cannot understand that, then maybe they'll understand when you are thinner, feel better about yourself and are a healthier you.

Some of my biggest cheerleaders were my THIN friends, not the chubby ones, the ones that could and should think about it.....not so much. You know, I am over three years out, I'm not "out" to everyone, but I've told a lot of people......and I know there are many who think's it's the easy way out. I personally think popping prescription diet pills is the 'easy' way out, but whatever. It didn't work, well, it did, but when the prescription runs out, the weight comes back.
If you are sarcastic at all, just say "I'm going to have 85% of my stomach surgically removed.....permanently. Clearly I want to take the easy way out" It's forced Portion Control, the doctor does his job, then it's up to you. If they cannot understand that, then maybe they'll understand when you are thinner, feel better about yourself and are a healthier you.

I am writing these things down, because I am sure there will be times early post op when I wonder "why did I do this?"
This is why:
1. Having to shop from a limited clothing selection. Eff you , size 20, you suck.
2. The feeling of my fat middle squooshing out when I sit down.
3. swolly feet
4. Feeling like the fattest person in the room
5. Being the fattest person in the room
6. Feeling invisible
7. Feeling self conscious and size conscious
8. My stomach touching the table in a restaurant booth
9. Not fitting comfortably in a movie theatre seat
10. Looking at myself in pictures
11. Feeling ugly
12. Body aches, knee aches, hip aches
13. shoes that used to fit, and now are too tight
14. Low energy
15. Not turning heads
16. Looking in the mirror naked
17. clothes that no longer fit.
18. Not being able to wear my rings
19. Being afraid to run into people I haven't seen in a while
20. Not feeling pretty
Ok, I only wrote 20. I'm sure there are more. Help me out. Why do you never want to go back?

I am 6 weeks post op and have found so many great food and gadget ideas on this forum. Here is a list of things I use almost daily. Hopefully, my list will be helpful to someone starting out.
If you have some favorites, please share.
Kitchen scale
http://www.amazon.com/Escali-N115S-Digital-Scale-Silver-Gray/dp/B003ST5YO2/ref=sr_1_10?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1379969433&sr=1-10&keywords=scale+kitchen+escali
Magic Bullet
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Bullet-MBR-1701-17-Piece-Express/dp/B001WAKFDY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1379969577&sr=1-1&keywords=Magic+bullet
Silicone Nipple Covers .. I use these on my surgery scars. I order several pair. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RDGDPQ/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Oh Yeah Trail Mix Bars .. My absolute favorite!
http://www.amazon.com/YEAH-45g-BAR-TRAIL-MIX/dp/B0088BR6GO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379969805&sr=81&keywords=Trail+mix+oh+yeah
Dehydrator .. I use this to make homemade Jerky http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090WOCM6/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Syntrax Fuzzy Navel. ... My favorite Protein drink http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001180348/ref=oh_details_o08_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Ice Cream Maker
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-ICE-21-Frozen-Yogurt-Ice-Sorbet/dp/B003KYSLMW/ref=pd_sim_k_13
Eggface Protein ice cream recipes
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2008/08/protein-ice-cream.html
Syntrex nectar Unflavored Protein powder .. Put this in my coffee everyday http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001I1NSUY/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Torani sugar free Syrup .. All flavors are good. A staple for me http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AXQI3U/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Chick Fil A sugar free Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
- Chick Fil A Grilled chicken Nuggets
- Seapoint Edamame snack Packs (Walmart)
- Budget Sugar Free Popsicles (Walmart)

Pimping out my blog post: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/blog/2630/entry-6709-100-of-people-with-bmi-30-who-lose-weight-with-diet-and-exercise-gain-it-back-and-more-within-3-years/
After I read those quotes I stopped feeling sorry for myself and thinking I should be able to do it with dieting and exercise. I feel no guilt over taking the surgical way. And I will never let anyone guilt or shame me either. I'm only 13 days post-op but this has already changed my life so much. I am so grateful I had the money to self-pay in Mexico. I had a serious, out of control weight management problem and I chose to do a drastic surgery to fix the problem.
Screw those who think they know better than yourself. They have NO idea and never will.

My BFF told me I was taking the easy way out. But then on a different conversation said now she is going to be the only fat one in the group. Can you say HATER. Good luck to you!

At work a bunch of the overweight women are starting a "weigh in" once a week, and everyone pays to weigh and whoever loses the most gets the pot. I was approached on Thursday about joining, and it was someone I felt comfortable telling... and basically said you know it wouldn't be fair for me to be part of the weigh ins, plus I'm fixing to be out. I also just turned in my leave and was worried about getting questioned from management or problems... so, I have "FMLA" papers in process. I am taking a full 5 weeks, I have the sick time and also I have to dead lift 70 lbs at work. I am a mail carrier, and we lift a lot! I came back in from my route on Friday afternoon and was confronted by the Postmaster. She asked me if I was going to participate in the weigh ins. I said NO, and was going to leave it at that. Then she looked at me and said, "You chicken"? I said, "NO... I wouldn't feel right about kicking all your tales and taking all of your money". She was... "WHAT?"" I then spilled it, "I'm having weight loss surgery". She grabbed my arm and told me "she was so proud of me and for me, that she had thought about it for years but didn't have the courage to do it." She wanted specifics, and had a million questions. I decided then and there that maybe I can help others... The hardest person to tell was my mother, but I've dealt with it. Wouldn't feel right leaving her out. My husbands family has been mean to me about my weight, and I told him he better not tell any of them... I don't care if they think I'm on crack, or if I have cancer.... don't tell them anything. They have never supported me and aren't on my support team. I also work with a guy that just had the RNY in June and everyone is supporting him. Hope it is the same for me!

I am new to the sleeved community and new to the site, but I feel like sharing this story. I have had to take off from work a few times to do different procedures in relation to the surgery. A few hours here, a day there...I felt compelled to tell her what was going on so she would know why I was taking 2 hours off tomorrow (for the heart test) and why I had to leave early next thursday (for dietician meeting). I also wanted to give her a heads up that I would be taking 2-3 weeks off in a month or so.
So I took a breath and told her...she spends 15 minutes telling me about the 17 day diet and how it helped her to lose 21 pounds 2 years ago and how it could help me. She was not being aggressive, she was trying to be supportive I guess, but she did not understand why I would do such a crazy, insane thing. Surgery just seemed so extreme to her. She kept asking why I couldn't just eat less. I started explaining my reasons to her, but realized I was starting to feel silly...I started asking my self (internally) why am I doing this? Maybe she is right? Maybe I am I being too extreme? Am I too lazy to stay on the right track?
I had to tell my mom and husband who were not immediately on board, but for some reason this was different. She is the first real "naysayer" that I need to tell that I had not told. The next is one of my closest, most skinniest friends (size 0-2) who has made comments in the past about how bad it is to have WLS surgery. After that it is my sister who is going to be really worried and, quite frankly just as judgmental. Oye....I am not looking forward to those conversations.
Anywayz, I can deal with it really, I just felt like sharing. Have any of you had this experience? How do you all deal with the skinny b***** judgement?

Angela, I totally understood what you were trying to communicate. We all have different stories and we are all in different places on this wild ride we've chosen to board.
At over three years out, it is still hard for ME to analyze this. I've been maintaining for over 2.5 years, and I'm still learning new things. I know of a great PhD doctor that does the psychological evaluations at a hospital in my area. If I could find a reason, I'd go see him one on one. He heads up one of the support groups I attend and he is very wise.
My thoughts and advice are this - the doctor does his job, he removes approx. 85% of our tummy. After that, it's all up to us, there is no end date. What this surgery DOES do for us is make it much easier to make wiser decisions, and resist when we need or want to. For the first time in my life, I don't feel guilt when I eat something sweet. I feel like I eat like a naturally thin person. Nothing other than carbonation, is off limits. There are things I choose not to eat or not to eat often, but it is my choice. This is not a diet, it is a new way of life. To the OP - this is scary and exciting, it's life altering and it's the wisest decision I've ever made. I had no health issues, none, zero.....this is preventive maintenance. My knees feel better and I have more energy. Forced Portion Control is what I needed.
Shopping for ME is fun for the first time in my life. It's fun not being or feeling like the 'biggest girl in the room'. This is totally, 100% your decision, nobody can or should drag you to the OR!!! You need to be on board and ready to make lifestyle changes, changes that you can live with forever.
Good luck to you.......you'll take the plunge when you're ready and join us on the loser's bench. It's a nice view!!
** Angela, kudos to you!!! You are doing great. I STILL log my food on line, I still weigh and/or measure my food and I weigh myself every morning. It's my new life, it's not an effort, it's like breathing to me!!! **

I'm over three years out and I STILL feel this way. I feel surely it will come to a screeching halt. Paranoia, it's not a bad thing!!! LoL
Congratulations, you are doing great. It only gets better!

I'm over three years out and I STILL feel this way. I feel surely it will come to a screeching halt. Paranoia, it's not a bad thing!!! LoL
Congratulations, you are doing great. It only gets better!

Sure it makes sense! Congratulations. REMEMBER, 'Them that's done well need to support them that's having difficulty'. That's how we pay it forward!!!

My recovery hasn't been perfect and I still have my moments of sliming, vomiting, inability to swallow food or liquid and guess what!?!?!
IT'S STILL TOO FREAKING GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Celebrate your success. And when you can, be a blessing to others.

It makes sense, but don't beat yourself up over it. Instead, be the light and the example that inspires people to strive in their journey. You would be surprised who has eyes on your success right now and how you influence their lives.