I'm brand new to this site, however I am almost through with the doctors visits that are required of me. I guess my main questions have to do with how I will lose. I always had to struggle with weight loss. My main problem is portion control. When diet programs would tell me how much I could have it just looked absolutely unreal. I am a repeat offender of Weight Watchers in particular. I'm a smaller sleever, having never weighed this much before, but whatever weight I gain seems to stick on me like glue. Sigh.

Does anyone still have the urge to over eat? Or does that start to heal over time?

Also hair loss? What?!

~Kay

I'm only 5 days out and since surgery I have no desire to eat whatsoever.

Yes, the urges to overeat do not go away. My sleeve stops me around bite 5-6 and I always want to eat more but I don't because I made a commitment to my sleeve.

Unfortunately they only do surgery on your stomach, not your mind.

I'm definitely ready to use the sleeve as a tool to help me conquer this problem. I've never eaten myself to being sick, but definitely take in way too many calories for a 5' 2" woman.

What weight are you??

I'm going to have to agree with Endless80. A lot of people don't lose the desire to eat or even overeat. I wasn't hungry for about 4 weeks postop, then the hunger started to come back. It's not as voracious as it used to be, but it's still there and I still need to be vigilant. The sleeve is a great tool if used properly. I have been by no means perfect in my diet post-sleeve, and still managed to lose 68 lbs in less than 5 months. Went from a size 24/22 to a 12! Others have lost faster than me, sure, but I am so proud of my accomplishments thus far. You can't compare yourself to anyone else because everyone is different.

But if I overeat at one meal or eat something I shouldn't, I make up for it later in the day or the next day by eating less. I also bust my butt at the gym 6 days a week. Every day is a new day and I don't beat myself up about it. The sleeve did help change my mindset in some way - I am more confident in my ability to lose this weight and keep it off. I feel more in control of my actions and decisions. That was something Weight Watchers could never do for me.

I'll say this about Weight Watchers - At its best it's not designed for obese people. At its worst it is designed to keep members paying their dues (ie: still on the diet) for life. It sounds cynical but they are a multimillion dollar business. Their business is to make money, not to make people healthier. I have yet to meet more than one or two people who have lost weight on WW and managed to keep it off. The vast majority yo-yo and keep going back to the plan. It's a vicious cycle. The sleeve surgery and the sleeve diet - high Protein, low carb and exercise are much more effective tools for obese people to lose weight and keep it off (gastric bypass, too). But like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it.

As for hair loss - I lost some at about 3 1/2 - 4 months postop. I still am shedding a little more than usual but it's pretty much normalized now. The trauma of surgery causes the hair loss, though it's a delayed reaction. You will still be regrowing new hairs to replace it, but for most people the falling out outpaces the growth. It's very temporary. The best ways to help speed it along and maybe loose less are to eat at least 70 g protein a day and you can take Biotin supplements. I take 5000 mcg a day.

Good luck!

Thank you so much! That was very helpful. I was just unsure. I had heard from some people that their hunger literally goes away almost entirely. Which I was actually a little bit scared of. I just want to get to a healthy weight.. Something I've never actually been able to do for my height.

I am currently 205 and I carry most of my weight in my chest and thighs.

I'm brand new to this site' date=' however I am almost through with the doctors visits that are required of me. I guess my main questions have to do with how I will lose. I always had to struggle with weight loss. My main problem is portion control. When diet programs would tell me how much I could have it just looked absolutely unreal. I am a repeat offender of Weight Watchers in particular. I'm a smaller sleever, having never weighed this much before, but whatever weight I gain seems to stick on me like glue. Sigh.

Does anyone still have the urge to over eat? Or does that start to heal over time?

Also hair loss? What?!

~Kay[/quote']

I just measure everything I eat, even in a restaurant I have learned to measure out a portion then ask for a to go container. And take the access off my plate and put it away. I eat slowly and usually can't finish everything I've measured out usually leave a bite or two.. When you feel full stop eating. ( I've decided to name my sleeve tiny Tim) when tiny Tim says I'm done.. I stop eating and that's that.

I figured since I paid my out of pocket part of my surgery and my insurance company paid the bulk of it... That I owe it to myself to really put forth effort and be successful.

But as crazy as it sounds to measure everything out it honestly helps. I count pieces in order to have a serving or 1/2 of a serving of something depending on the serving size and what it is.

I get my measuring cups out and measure all my soft food. Or weigh foods in oz. on the scale if its meats.. It's a little more work but its another tool I found that works for me.

I just measure everything I eat' date=' even in a restaurant I have learned to measure out a portion then ask for a to go container. And take the access off my plate and put it away. I eat slowly and usually can't finish everything I've measured out usually leave a bite or two.. When you feel full stop eating. ( I've decided to name my sleeve tiny Tim) when tiny Tim says I'm done.. I stop eating and that's that.

I figured since I paid my out of pocket part of my surgery and my insurance company paid the bulk of it... That I owe it to myself to really put forth effort and be successful.

But as crazy as it sounds to measure everything out it honestly helps. I count pieces in order to have a serving or 1/2 of a serving of something depending on the serving size and what it is.

I get my measuring cups out and measure all my soft food. Or weigh foods in oz. on the scale if its meats.. It's a little more work but its another tool I found that works for me.[/quote']

I plan on doing like you. I just want to be successful. How long ago was it you were sleeved? Did you have any complications?

I'm only 5 days out and since surgery I have no desire to eat whatsoever.

. Im 7 days out and tomorrow morning it should get better i was the same way and i thought i would starve myself! I woke up today with a the ball of energy. I ate a good bit of my protein today which i think has something to do with it! Keep it up its hard but so worth it i can feel it alreay

I plan on doing like you. I just want to be successful. How long ago was it you were sleeved? Did you have any complications?

Sleeved 8/12/13 I developed an allergy to the Protein shakes so that was difficult but after that I've been good.

You will do great.

Oh wow, I'm reading the forum on Band To Sleeve revisions and yikes! To think I was actually considering the band, and asked my surgeon for it. I'm happy he pointed me in this direction. I haven't heard of hardly any long term complications like the band and that gives me a lot of hope.