Sleeve Myths

[NMJG 1,266]

Howdy folks. I've noticed a lot of newbies coming onboard recently (welcome!) and some misinformation getting posted. As I learned a lot from vets who posted wise words when I was pre-surgery and early in my journey, I wanted to share the knowledge and dispel some of the inaccurate info I'm seeing posted. Please feel free to add your own info, and as always, there will be exceptions to the info below - there always are! I'm sure I will be flamed by someone who eats McDonalds and pizza day in and day out, never gets their Protein in and drinks vente vanilla lattes every morning and still loses 4 lbs. a week. For the rest of us, this is written to help folks set appropriate expectations about their sleeve. Good luck to all of us on this amazing journey.

Myth #1: The sleeve will do it for you and you have to work at making it fail.

Nope, not true. Even though you will have restriction, you still have to deal with some increase in sleeve capacity that happens over time and the effect of sliders (foods that reduce in your stomach and don't fill you up, like popcorn and chips....) and the calories in liquids (ah Brownie Frappucinos...). So, while the sleeve is an amazing tool and the restriction will help you sooo much, you still have to follow basic rules of sleeve eating in order to have continued success in the long run. The stats for VSG are around 60% excess weight loss. Think of that as an average of some people losing 100% of excess weight, some losing little or none, some only losing half before they stop, and some losing great and then gaining it back.

Myth #2: When you have the sleeve you can eat "whatever you want" or "like a normal person," (whatever that is).

Nope. Unless "whatever you want" includes lots of protein and vegetables and other healthy foods, it's unlikely you will be able to eat whatever you want with no limitations and have the sleeve do it all for you. While we all have exceptional days here and there where we don't eat what's best for us, overall you will be following protein first, vegs second, and carbs third forever. Are there exceptions to this rule? Sure, there are some people who are exceptions and go back to eating fast food, junk food, and sodas every day and keep the weight off, but not many and they certainly are not the majority on this board, at least. Why set yourself up for failure? Learn good habits early on.

Myth #3: Everyone must follow 1200 calories a day (or whatever amount) or they will go into "starvation" mode.

You are not on a regular diet. You are on a medically supervised plan that works in conjunction with major surgery, and most plans utilze VLC (very low calorie) eating plans. I see people here think they can't do on 500 calories a day and use "starvation mode" as an excuse to eat more, then before you know it they are writing in asking for help because they haven't lost in 5 months. Does "starvation mode" exist? I don't know, and some people do drop weight after adding an extra 100 calories a day, but don't go hogwild with the concept of starvation mode. Trust in your nutritionist or find a nutritionist that you can trust. And remember that many people (especially older, postmenapausal or sedentary people) can only maintain on 1200 or 1000 calories a day and will stop losing if they take this advice to eat more. On the other hand, if you are 22 years old and very active, you will probably do just fine with a higher calorie count, but again, everyone is different.

Myth #4: You have to eat X amount of protein, carbs, fats, etc.

Nope. The nutritional guidelines vary from doctor to doctor. Everyone wishes they were the same and it would sure make it easier, but doctors and nutritionists differ. Those in Centers of Excellence have a long track record that they base their recommendations on, and others use published research. Sometimes it seems like our nuts just pull stuff out of the air. Some doctors are very strict and others give vague guidelines with few or no limitations. What to do? If you trust your doctor and nutritionist, then stick with their plan. If you are getting results, stick with your plan. You hired them for their expertise, so trust what they say. If you don't trust your doctor/nut, then move to a different practice if you can and find someone you can trust. Almost everyone agrees that protein is very important for sleeve patients (one thing to agree on!) but what that magic number is ...open to debate. You will see everything from 60 grams of protein a day to 100 or more. And you will see people who can't get it all in and get by on 40 grams a day with no problems. That's why it is important to stick to the plan you trust and works for you. Many people here vary on how many grams of protein, fat, carbs, Fiber, 5:2, Atkins, yadayadayada. What is right for you may not be right for someone else.

Myth #5: You can stop your hair from falling out with Vitamins, protein, etc.

Not really. You can probably help it with vitamins and Biotin and making sure you get in all your protein, but many people do all this and still lose hair. It is the body's natural response to the extreme stress you have put it in with surgery and severely limited calories. A few people don't lose their hair, others lose anywhere from a little to a lot and some resort to wigs. Eventually it grows back, but even that timetable varies from person to person.

Myth #6: Once the honeymoon (6 months) is over you will stop losing.

Not really. As vets can attest to, your first 6 months are your best window of opportunity and your doctor will expect you to lose a significant portion of weight in that time. However, if you stick with (or return to) your basic plan of firm protein first, vegs second, carbs third and lots of Water, you can get back to losing (and it's still easier than if you did not have the sleeve). You may not lose like you did in Month Two, but you will still lose. Some doctors say your window of opportunity is 18 months out from surgery. They vary on this, too.

Myth #7: You have to exercise.

Not really. Lots of people don't and still lose. However, exercise will give you much better results and most importantly, you will be much healthier. Also, if you start building good exercise habits now it will make keeping the weight off much easier in the long run. So, even if it's just a walk around the block, start moving your body around.

Myth #8: You will need plastic surgery when it's over.

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on your age (a lot), how much you had to lose, where you carry your weight, how much you exercise and type of exercise, genetics, if you've born children, etc. A lot of people do need plastic surgery, but a surprising number don't.

Myth #9: If you eat "bad" food it will make you sick.

Nope. While there are some folks who have very delicate tummies (and in the early months there are lots of delicate tummies), in the long run most people can get pretty much anything down.

Myth #10: Sleevers don't dump.

Nope. Sleevers can dump, it just isn't nearly as common as RnY folks. Dumping (aka Gastric Emptying) is just food hitting your intestines too quickly, causing really yucky stomach discomfort, weakness, lightheadedness, flushing, cramps, nausea, explosive diarrhea, and other fun symptoms. It can hit immediately or several hours after eating. Most sleevers never get it, but some do. You'll know it if you do.

[newat52 1,612]

Damn! I was really hoping #7 was true!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

A good list, and I guess my comments are more clarifying rather than disagreeing.

On the topic of exercise - you are right that plenty of people lose just fine without it. I think that you will be a little sad though to find when you get to goal that you have lost so much muscle mass that you can eat so little in maintenance. Exercise does not really cause you to lose weight so much as it increases your fitness/ups your metabolism/preserves lean muscle to make life time maintenance more realistic.

Most of us DON'T NEED plastic surgery. In my case, even after losing 160# I didn't have skin rash or any medical need for plastics. Heck, Spanx or other decent Shapewear kept things together for me just fine. I wanted plastics because it was important to me to look "normal". I truly believe that it will help me with the mental/emotional aspects of long term maintenance. Plastics were really really hard but I am glad I did it. I would also say that people at the beginning of their journey shouldn't even think about all this. As time went on, i got more and more comfortable with the excess skin and if I had not been able to do plastics - I would have been okay with that too.

The honeymoon period is real... but it is debatable how long it lasts. I lost about 100# my first 6 months. Took me another 8 months to lose the next 50 - so it took me 14 months to lose 150# to goal. I stabilized and maintained that 150# loss before I decided to lose 10 more. I was well over 18 months out and it wasn't that hard to lose those 10. It is very true though that the fastest weight loss/least hunger occurs in those early months so TAKE ADVANTAGE. It also means that you shouldn't give up just because you are more than 6-12 months out - it is still possible!

As far as eating - eating the right things is so important, but so is Portion Control. The idea is to learn to eat to absence of hunger, not until full. That was a foreign concept to me, but has really paid off! I still after all this time, eat off smaller plates and use appetizer sized utinsils at home.

One thing you don't mention is the head trip that this whole journey is for many of us. Some get depression, some find their whole worlds turned upside down.... others maybe a smaller impact. Be prepared for major ups and downs though. As that fat sheds, hormones are released which can cause mood swings. You may find that friends and family get tired of hearing about your weight loss, you may find many things out about your relationships during this journey. Don't make big decisions if you can avoid it if you are going through that wild emotional ride.

Mostly... keep your eye on the prize - life at a healthier weight, enjoying doing things you could only dream of when obese. It is so worth it!

[NMJG 1,266]

A good list, and I guess my comments are more clarifying rather than disagreeing.

On the topic of exercise - you are right that plenty of people lose just fine without it. I think that you will be a little sad though to find when you get to goal that you have lost so much muscle mass that you can eat so little in maintenance. Exercise does not really cause you to lose weight so much as it increases your fitness/ups your metabolism/preserves lean muscle to make life time maintenance more realistic.

Most of us DON'T NEED plastic surgery. In my case, even after losing 160# I didn't have skin rash or any medical need for plastics. Heck, Spanx or other decent Shapewear kept things together for me just fine. I wanted plastics because it was important to me to look "normal". I truly believe that it will help me with the mental/emotional aspects of long term maintenance. Plastics were really really hard but I am glad I did it. I would also say that people at the beginning of their journey shouldn't even think about all this. As time went on, i got more and more comfortable with the excess skin and if I had not been able to do plastics - I would have been okay with that too.

The honeymoon period is real... but it is debatable how long it lasts. I lost about 100# my first 6 months. Took me another 8 months to lose the next 50 - so it took me 14 months to lose 150# to goal. I stabilized and maintained that 150# loss before I decided to lose 10 more. I was well over 18 months out and it wasn't that hard to lose those 10. It is very true though that the fastest weight loss/least hunger occurs in those early months so TAKE ADVANTAGE. It also means that you shouldn't give up just because you are more than 6-12 months out - it is still possible!

As far as eating - eating the right things is so important, but so is Portion Control. The idea is to learn to eat to absence of hunger, not until full. That was a foreign concept to me, but has really paid off! I still after all this time, eat off smaller plates and use appetizer sized utinsils at home.

One thing you don't mention is the head trip that this whole journey is for many of us. Some get depression, some find their whole worlds turned upside down.... others maybe a smaller impact. Be prepared for major ups and downs though. As that fat sheds, hormones are released which can cause mood swings. You may find that friends and family get tired of hearing about your weight loss, you may find many things out about your relationships during this journey. Don't make big decisions if you can avoid it if you are going through that wild emotional ride.

Mostly... keep your eye on the prize - life at a healthier weight, enjoying doing things you could only dream of when obese. It is so worth it!

Thanks for the clarifying, CGJ, great insight

[BigGirlPanties 957]

Wonderful insights, ladies...thank you...

bottom line... we are all different and we have to find what works for us ... but we still have to "work"

Thanks, enjoyed the info!

[Lynne1029 61]

Thank you.. That's the best read since I've joined. Has answered many of my questions.

[Georgia 2,908]

Howdy folks. I've noticed a lot of newbies coming onboard recently (welcome!) and some misinformation getting posted. As I learned a lot from vets who posted wise words when I was pre-surgery and early in my journey, I wanted to share the knowledge and dispel some of the inaccurate info I'm seeing posted. Please feel free to add your own info, and as always, there will be exceptions to the info below - there always are! I'm sure I will be flamed by someone who eats McDonalds and pizza day in and day out, never gets their Protein in and drinks vente vanilla lattes every morning and still loses 4 lbs. a week. For the rest of us, this is written to help folks set appropriate expectations about their sleeve. Good luck to all of us on this amazing journey. Myth #1: The sleeve will do it for you and you have to work at making it fail. Nope, not true. Even though you will have restriction, you still have to deal with some increase in sleeve capacity that happens over time and the effect of sliders (foods that reduce in your stomach and don't fill you up, like popcorn and chips....) and the calories in liquids (ah Brownie Frappucinos...). So, while the sleeve is an amazing tool and the restriction will help you sooo much, you still have to follow basic rules of sleeve eating in order to have continued success in the long run. The stats for VSG are around 60% excess weight loss. Think of that as an average of some people losing 100% of excess weight, some losing little or none, some only losing half before they stop, and some losing great and then gaining it back. Myth #2: When you have the sleeve you can eat "whatever you want" or "like a normal person," (whatever that is). Nope. Unless "whatever you want" includes lots of protein and vegetables and other healthy foods, it's unlikely you will be able to eat whatever you want with no limitations and have the sleeve do it all for you. While we all have exceptional days here and there where we don't eat what's best for us, overall you will be following protein first, vegs second, and carbs third forever. Are there exceptions to this rule? Sure, there are some people who are exceptions and go back to eating fast food, junk food, and sodas every day and keep the weight off, but not many and they certainly are not the majority on this board, at least. Why set yourself up for failure? Learn good habits early on. Myth #3: Everyone must follow 1200 calories a day (or whatever amount) or they will go into "starvation" mode. You are not on a regular diet. You are on a medically supervised plan that works in conjunction with major surgery, and most plans utilze VLC (very low calorie) eating plans. I see people here think they can't do on 500 calories a day and use "starvation mode" as an excuse to eat more, then before you know it they are writing in asking for help because they haven't lost in 5 months. Does "starvation mode" exist? I don't know, and some people do drop weight after adding an extra 100 calories a day, but don't go hogwild with the concept of starvation mode. Trust in your nutritionist or find a nutritionist that you can trust. And remember that many people (especially older, postmenapausal or sedentary people) can only maintain on 1200 or 1000 calories a day and will stop losing if they take this advice to eat more. On the other hand, if you are 22 years old and very active, you will probably do just fine with a higher calorie count, but again, everyone is different. Myth #4: You have to eat X amount of protein, carbs, fats, etc. Nope. The nutritional guidelines vary from doctor to doctor. Everyone wishes they were the same and it would sure make it easier, but doctors and nutritionists differ. Those in Centers of Excellence have a long track record that they base their recommendations on, and others use published research. Sometimes it seems like our nuts just pull stuff out of the air. Some doctors are very strict and others give vague guidelines with few or no limitations. What to do? If you trust your doctor and nutritionist, then stick with their plan. If you are getting results, stick with your plan. You hired them for their expertise, so trust what they say. If you don't trust your doctor/nut, then move to a different practice if you can and find someone you can trust. Almost everyone agrees that protein is very important for sleeve patients (one thing to agree on!) but what that magic number is ...open to debate. You will see everything from 60 grams of protein a day to 100 or more. And you will see people who can't get it all in and get by on 40 grams a day with no problems. That's why it is important to stick to the plan you trust and works for you. Many people here vary on how many grams of protein, fat, carbs, Fiber, 5:2, Atkins, yadayadayada. What is right for you may not be right for someone else. Myth #5: You can stop your hair from falling out with Vitamins, protein, etc. Not really. You can probably help it with vitamins and Biotin and making sure you get in all your protein, but many people do all this and still lose hair. It is the body's natural response to the extreme stress you have put it in with surgery and severely limited calories. A few people don't lose their hair, others lose anywhere from a little to a lot and some resort to wigs. Eventually it grows back, but even that timetable varies from person to person. Myth #6: Once the honeymoon (6 months) is over you will stop losing. Not really. As vets can attest to, your first 6 months are your best window of opportunity and your doctor will expect you to lose a significant portion of weight in that time. However, if you stick with (or return to) your basic plan of firm protein first, vegs second, carbs third and lots of Water, you can get back to losing (and it's still easier than if you did not have the sleeve). You may not lose like you did in Month Two, but you will still lose. Some doctors say your window of opportunity is 18 months out from surgery. They vary on this, too. Myth #7: You have to exercise. Not really. Lots of people don't and still lose. However, exercise will give you much better results and most importantly, you will be much healthier. Also, if you start building good exercise habits now it will make keeping the weight off much easier in the long run. So, even if it's just a walk around the block, start moving your body around. Myth #8: You will need plastic surgery when it's over. Maybe, maybe not. Depends on your age (a lot), how much you had to lose, where you carry your weight, how much you exercise and type of exercise, genetics, if you've born children, etc. A lot of people do need plastic surgery, but a surprising number don't. Myth #9: If you eat "bad" food it will make you sick. Nope. While there are some folks who have very delicate tummies (and in the early months there are lots of delicate tummies), in the long run most people can get pretty much anything down. Myth #10: Sleevers don't dump. Nope. Sleevers can dump, it just isn't nearly as common as RnY folks. Dumping (aka Gastric Emptying) is just food hitting your intestines too quickly, causing really yucky stomach discomfort, weakness, lightheadedness, flushing, cramps, nausea, explosive diarrhea, and other fun symptoms. It can hit immediately or several hours after eating. Most sleevers never get it, but some do. You'll know it if you do.

Excellent!!!

[plantosleeve67 12]

Excellent post!!!

I would add....STOP READING YOUR scale everyday! Everyone, especially women, lose at different rates. This can be intake, genetics, hormones, starvation mode, too many carbs, not enough carbs, the position of the moon...

It is not productive, nor is it helpful to worry about stalls constantly. If you follow your plan, work the program, exercise, etc., you will lose weight. It might not be as quickly as the neighbor down the road, but it will come, it is a simple mathematical equation - less calories means less body weight.

God bless!

[Sassy Pants1 186]

Excellent post!

I would add that you really need to manage your expectations about rate of weight loss going into this process. You will see lots of people dropping TONS of weight in a short few months. I mean, like 80-100 pounds! You need to be prepared that you may not be one of them. I was/am disappointed with my (comparatively) slow weight loss. I still struggle with this. But the truth is, the weight IS coming off - just slower than I originally thought.

[NMJG 1,266]

Great info, folks, keep it coming!

[cejiogu 182]

I agree with it all. I lost my goal weight in 9 months. I have been about the same weight for the last 6 weeks. I don't get on the scale more then once a week if that. I do t really get to exercise that much but I am a nurse and according to my fitbit I usually walk 3 miles on a slow night and 5 on a busy one. I also work overnight so my eating and metabolism are not the usual one. Overall I am happy with my weight now but most important my health! I am off all my type two meds I am down to my thyroid med Lipitor and vits! I was taking 6 pills a day for my health to be boarder line bad! Now I don't need them. And on top of it I look better then I did. I haven't sen this face since I was 28 and had my first kid. That kid turned 21 in December. I really did this for myself because I didn't want to die from something stupid! I have a 15 year old with autism that needs me to live as long as possible. Also being a nurse I felt like I know what I am doing wrong better then the average person. I owe this to myself my kids and my family and friends in that order. In the end I only have myself to high five or not. Right now I am high 20 ing myself and hope to for the rest of my hopefully long life!

[dfwtxmissy 108]

This was great and very informative. I so appreciate it.

[cherbear33 288]

Wonderfully written, thank you!

[cherbear33 288]

Wonderfully written, thank you!

[Unbesleeveable 110]

EXCELLENT