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I'm 21 and as much as I thought I knew and was prepared its definitely been hard to get use to all this. But I've read a lot of stuff on here that makes me feel confident that I will be happy with this in the future. So I'm just curious if there's any sleevers my age and how you have come to cope and how you feel about your sleeve?

I'm 6 weeks post op and I'm still at the stage where I just wish I could eat how I used to lol but I mean at 21 and being almost 300lbs that is obviously not something I should ever need to do. I was required to lose 10% of my body weight in order to get my sleeve, so pre op I was 263 and the day of surgery I was 215.

I've constantly questioned myself, thinking I should have not gotten the surgery and just kept going by myself, but me and my mother agree, I had the surgery as a prize, so if I didn't have that, I don't know if I could have lost all that weight.

As of now I weight 197 and am insanely happy and can't believe I'm under 200lbs, I honestly don't remember the last time that I was this light.. And yeah that's sad saying that when I'm only 21.

But again I'm still trying to convince myself that this is going to be a good change, and that going out will be possible again, even if I can't eat a whole plate like I used to.

I just want some people my age to give me hope of my future lol

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I'm 20 and my last appointment will be November 26 by then ill be 21. I'm at 256 and I need to be 240 by surgery

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I am just now 22 and I had the same feeling that I should just do it myself but it was too easy to fall off the wagon. I find I made the right decision and when I want to grab for a bad food I think of all the money I spent.

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I'm in my 50s so far from your age group, but I've often wondered what I'd advise a young person if ever I was asked. To my mind 60 or 70 years of food restriction and - over that long period - the risk of you needing a bit of your body that's been cut out, mean this op shouldn't be entered into lightly. Particularly if you still have time on your side to try to avoid or address health issues.

But you've had the surgery now, and there will no doubt be benefits... providing you commit long term to working with your sleeve. I'm sure you've worked out by now - as I have - that it really wouldn't be that hard to gain weight with the sleeve. Just eat junk or graze all day.

You need never experience the health issues that gradually build over years of carrying excess weight. You can develop lifelong exercise habits before weight erodes your joints. You can enjoy feeling your outer image reflects your inner self, through the important twenties years. You will hopefully embrace a full range of life's experiences, free from the restrictions that obesity often places on us. You won't face the economic and emotional costs that weight related illnesses place on us. When it comes time to have a family, your fertility and pregnancy health won't be affected by your weight, as it is for so many.

Regarding restricted eating, remember that our "normal" was only ever one version. Many people are naturally small portion eaters. Embrace the fact that this is now your normal and perfect it! Enjoy that you can savour flavour and are freed from the need to eat large amounts to feel satisfied.

Don't regret, adjust. If you had lost most of your stomach due to accident or illness, with your family's help you would embrace your "second life" and thrive.

Shift your thinking and go for it. Good luck!

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I'm 21! I'm in my 3rd/4th month of being on my pcp diet. I'm hoping to get sleeved in October :)

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HI I AM 26 IN I HOPE TO HAVE MY VSG 07/24/2013

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I'm in my 50s so far from your age group' date=' but I've often wondered what I'd advise a young person if ever I was asked. To my mind 60 or 70 years of food restriction and - over that long period - the risk of you needing a bit of your body that's been cut out, mean this op shouldn't be entered into lightly. Particularly if you still have time on your side to try to avoid or address health issues.

But you've had the surgery now, and there will no doubt be benefits... providing you commit long term to working with your sleeve. I'm sure you've worked out by now - as I have - that it really wouldn't be that hard to gain weight with the sleeve. Just eat junk or graze all day.

You need never experience the health issues that gradually build over years of carrying excess weight. You can develop lifelong exercise habits before weight erodes your joints. You can enjoy feeling your outer image reflects your inner self, through the important twenties years. You will hopefully embrace a full range of life's experiences, free from the restrictions that obesity often places on us. You won't face the economic and emotional costs that weight related illnesses place on us. When it comes time to have a family, your fertility and pregnancy health won't be affected by your weight, as it is for so many.

Regarding restricted eating, remember that our "normal" was only ever one version. Many people are naturally small portion eaters. Embrace the fact that this is now your normal and perfect it! Enjoy that you can savour flavour and are freed from the need to eat large amounts to feel satisfied.

Don't regret, adjust. If you had lost most of your stomach due to accident or illness, with your family's help you would embrace your "second life" and thrive.

Shift your thinking and go for it. Good luck![/quote']

Thank you so much, I need to remember that I was on a path that if I had kept on, would have caused me a lot more health issues and I would have been a lot worse off.

Adjusting is definitely something I am looking forward to doing, being able to for once in my life feel healthy and beautiful is something I strive for.

I really appreciate it.

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Best of luck to both of you!! :D

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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

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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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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