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What my sleeve has taught me



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I probably would have said I eat when stressed before surgery but now, at 4 1/2 weeks post op, it is such a noticeable event! It's so noticeable to me because I can't just fall into my old habit of eating whatever and in excess quantities like I did before. Pre- surgery I would scarf down whatever the pleasure of the moment was (crackers and cheese, cheetos, doritoes, chips, whatever) and I wouldn't even realize what I had done, I did it so fast. To think back now, it shocks me what I would pack away!

Now I still have that need to munch but because my sleeve stops me, I notice it so much easier and I can stop and attempt to control it. I'm still working on an alternative activity to the munching (i've tried mentally relaxing, exercising, TV) I'm not sure which activity works the best yet but its something I can work on. Even when I give in to the munching, its such a small quantity (yesterday I did munch 4 doritos) that I'm so glad I was sleeved. The first step to controlling this issue of mine is recognizing it and the sleeve is helping me do that so much more than before. I haven't conquered it yet but I've definitely made steps in the right direction.

Thank you, sleeve!

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I probably would have said I eat when stressed before surgery but now, at 4 1/2 weeks post op, it is such a noticeable event! It's so noticeable to me because I can't just fall into my old habit of eating whatever and in excess quantities like I did before. Pre- surgery I would scarf down whatever the pleasure of the moment was (crackers and cheese, cheetos, doritoes, chips, whatever) and I wouldn't even realize what I had done, I did it so fast. To think back now, it shocks me what I would pack away!

Now I still have that need to munch but because my sleeve stops me, I notice it so much easier and I can stop and attempt to control it. I'm still working on an alternative activity to the munching (i've tried mentally relaxing, exercising, TV) I'm not sure which activity works the best yet but its something I can work on. Even when I give in to the munching, its such a small quantity (yesterday I did munch 4 doritos) that I'm so glad I was sleeved. The first step to controlling this issue of mine is recognizing it and the sleeve is helping me do that so much more than before. I haven't conquered it yet but I've definitely made steps in the right direction.

Thank you, sleeve!

I am still pre-sleeve but I, too, have noticed that there are times when I don't even really realize what I am eating until after it's gone! I think just being aware of what I am eating is helping already and I can't wait to have my sleep to help me realize it before as well tongue.gif

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Yay! I agree, the sleeve gives me that extra couple of minutes to really ask myself if I am really hungry and what should I really eat. Even if I do start eating, I can only eat a couple of bites so I can't do much damage. I found that was the weirdest part about the first month - recognizing how often my mind would go to food to entertain me or soothe me and then working through the fact that I couldn't really have it.

Lara

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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