On a scale from 1-10, how difficult are the lifestyle changes after acclimation? I think about all the time, effort and self-hate that goes into my day now (what foods I should eat, which I shouldn't, am I really hungry or just emotionally hungry?, exercise, weight gain, guilt, etc). I know it will be a lot of work post-op but I hope the self-hate and constant disappointment subside, at least a little.

I hate to break this to you.... but all those "head" issues are still around post-op. .

I still occationaly find myself struggling with the "grazing" behavior- and although I cant sabatoge myself that much (I cant eat a whole slice of pizza let alone a whole damn thing!) I can easily spend the whole day "nibbling"- effectively cheating the sleeve.

If you struggle with head hunger or compulsive behaviors- do whatever it takes to overcome your mind... if not, you could be faced with an uphill battle.

I hate to break this to you.... but all those "head" issues are still around post-op. .

I still occationaly find myself struggling with the "grazing" behavior- and although I cant sabatoge myself that much (I cant eat a whole slice of pizza let alone a whole damn thing!) I can easily spend the whole day "nibbling"- effectively cheating the sleeve.

If you struggle with head hunger or compulsive behaviors- do whatever it takes to overcome your mind... if not, you could be faced with an uphill battle.

Thanks, CaliKat. I've got some work to do. Emotional work is the toughest because I don't feel like I can "fix" it...change the way I think and react to situations. Let the fun begin

In my experience (1 year post op---lost 100 lbs) the acclimation to lifestyle changes is much less than the acclimation to the pesky physical changes. These include burping, GERD, sinus drip (which I am told is related to the GERD). Now that I have acclimated my body to being able to eat small amounts of pretty much anything, the main acclimation is the few times that I am socially expected to make some explanation for eating so little. This includes dinner parties, and especially when I eat in a restaurant and the server figures that I don't like the food and he/she won't get tipped. I always make a point of saying, "The food was great. I just don't eat too much." But think about it, these few things should be my worst problem in exchange for feeling and looking like $20,000,000 in cash.

Some people suggest seeing someone to cope with those things and most that have insurance must do this before the surgery.

Others, myself included, that did self pay didn't have to. I found myself struggling with emotional eating still and the feeling of guilt when I did eat "bad" things. I went to see a therapist here at UCSB and they helped a lot. Maybe you should consider it.

After meeting the requirements for two visits with a fherapist for the psych evaluation I continued in therapy for an entire year. I do not think I would have been succesfull with my pre-op diet (lost 50pounds in the last 3 - 4 months before surgery) and certainly wouldn't have been ready to successfully face the challenges that come with gastric sleeve surgery. My therapist helped me work through so many issues with self esteem, food addiction, emotional eating, etc.

I was sleeved on May 17, 2012. I had mutiple complications during and post surgery. I am just this week able to begin eating soft foods, after undergoing 4 endoscopies where my surgeon stretched a narrow area in my funky, figure 8 shaped sleeve. In the 9 weeks since surgery I have lost an additional 46 pounds for a total of 96 pounds. Would I do it again? There were a lot of times in the last month that I tbought my answer would be no way,, but today my answer is you bet your life. Sorry this is so long but just had to tell it like is.

By the way, I still have about 100 pounds to lose, so I still gave a long way to go. Hopefully the worst is over and I can start enjoying the health benefits of this process and getting some long awaited energy so I can actually start living this new life.

I'm 18 months post-op. I don't have any post-op problems, no GERD, no nothing. I don't hate myself anymore due to my size. I don't buy mail-order clothes anymore to avoid seeing myself in the mirror. i'm not ashamed by what I put in the grocery cart. I admit, I was a carnivore before surgery so protein first is easy for me, but before surgery every meal ended with dessert and that doesn't happen anymore; partly because everything tastes too sweet now and partly because I like being a size 6. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being easy and 10 being very difficult, it's been about a 3 for me to maintain the changes I've made. I really, really wanted to lose all my excess weight and was determined to do it as quickly as possible so that was my priority. Now my priority is to keep it off.

im 14 months post op......and I have no issues. I've found it quite easy to addapt to this new life style, although I still avoid that "I can eat anything", im still trying to stick to what ive learned is good for me to eat, and avoid the crap food. My goal is still to try to get in my 60 to 80 grams of Protein per day. when I go to a reasturant, I split a meal w/ hubby, no questions ever get asked.......If I get a meal by myself, i've only had this happen 1 time where they thought i didnt like it, all you have to do is reassure them it was great, tell them you ate as much as you could. don't feel like u need to explain anything more, its none of their business....lol

on a scale of 1 to 10.....its a 8....real easy.....

I was embarrassed to be out in public when i was heavy, now, i hold my head up high!