I'm wondering at what point do you feel normal? I understand you feel different in the sense of eating, but when do you feel you have enough energy? When do you stop worrying about hurting your stomach? When do you simply eat and drink without thinking it through so much? Is there a day where you dont' think about the surgery and what you've done and just live and enjoy the day?

For those of you who had the surgery done 1 or more years ago, why do you still come to the forum? Is it because you still need support or is it because you simply want to help others? If you still need the support, why? What is it?

I guess I'm hoping after surgery I could just move onto my new normal life.

Thanks so much!

well I don't know if I can exactly answer that one. When you have surgery you will need help through a support group or therapy. We didn't get fat overnight. There are reasons for being overweight. when you have this surgery you are forced I mean literally forced to change your eating habit as well as your life. Well the only problem with that is that you ate the way you wanted too for years and years. So now you get depressed because you cant eat that big mac and large fries anymore. This place is a sounding board for people who need help. So when you help others you inturn help yourself.

As far as thinking about the surgery I think about it everyday because i know were I was and were I am going and I don't want to ever forget how unhealthy and unhappy I was at my weight. I believe that you learn something every day and this place lets me know that I am not the only one who thinks the way I do.

The surgery is never far from my mind, because it springs to mind the moment I look in a mirror, but I think I began to feel the "new normal" about 2-3 months after surgery, though I couldn't pinpoint an exact moment.

I'm only ten months out (not a year like you asked), but I'm beyond really needing this place for advice very often. I do enjoy the community aspect of it, and like to answer questions if the situation is right.

Thanks you two! So I will mourn food because I still crave it? I guess I was hoping I wouldn't feel hungry....so much so that I wouldn't crave food.

I'm concerned about visiting in-laws for Christmas, for I will be 4 months out by then. I'm hoping I will feel a bit more normal and be able to eat in front of others comfortably.

Thanks you two! So I will mourn food because I still crave it? I guess I was hoping I wouldn't feel hungry....so much so that I wouldn't crave food.

I'm concerned about visiting in-laws for Christmas, for I will be 4 months out by then. I'm hoping I will feel a bit more normal and be able to eat in front of others comfortably.

I had my surfery 4 weeks ago today and have felt "normal" as far as energy for about 2 weeks

I felt more normal after 2 months had passed. Everything gets a little more comfortable and you have learned your new eating habits and they don't seem as strange or difficult. You will have had a few rough experiences trying new foods and you will have a better sense of what you can eat and what you can't. You will also be more comfortable with your new likes / dislikes (I can't eat sweet stuff anymore - yuck!).

I am at 3 months now and I feel really normal. I am settled into my habits and my energy is back up. I can eat pretty much anything, but only a tiny bit of it. I have seen a lot of progress with my weight so I am not worried about whether or not the surgery is working.

At 4 months, you'll be doing great!!

Thanks everyone!

You mentioned sweets making you feel sick....do you still crave them though? That would be torture!

One last thing.......Will I still enjoy eating? Will the experience last long enough to enjoy the smell and taste? Or will I always struggle to eat and do it just for fuel?

I'm wondering at what point do you feel normal? I understand you feel different in the sense of eating, but when do you feel you have enough energy? I didn't start feeling normal with energy levels at least for the first two months. I didn't even gain back enough stamina for my workouts until around 4-5 months post op. Don't worry though, it does happen. It is really really worth it. I feel completely 100% normal today. The only time I am reminded I have a sleeve is when I post here or if I eat too much or too fast.

When do you stop worrying about hurting your stomach? Never! You never want to fill your stomach too much, but you can generally expect that you should be completely healed around 2 months out.

When do you simply eat and drink without thinking it through so much? At almost 9 months out I can really drink much faster than I did at only about 1 month out. But I still can't guzzle like I did pre surgery. I still need to keep close attention to my full signal because pushing even one bite too much can leave me feeling miserable.

Is there a day where you dont' think about the surgery and what you've done and just live and enjoy the day? Why can't you do both? I think about my surgery daily because I have to every time I eat or drink - yet I do still live and enjoy my day!

For those of you who had the surgery done 1 or more years ago, why do you still come to the forum? Is it because you still need support or is it because you simply want to help others? If you still need the support, why? What is it? Well I'm close to one year out, but I'll tell you why I still come here. Simply because the awesome folks here were there for me when I needed answers and now it's my turn. I owe it to this great community. I still get amazing advice to this day! There will always be someone here who is further out than me and can help me out with questions. I don't think I'm having many issues per se, but this is a lifetime decision. Our sleeves will be wtih us until we pass away, so it's nice to have a place like this to come back to whenever.

I guess I'm hoping after surgery I could just move onto my new normal life. You will!!!!!!!

Thanks so much!