Hey gang,

I was sleeved on 12/22 with an umbilical hernia repair and it has been an excellent experience overall. Since I'm keeping the surgery a secret (I have a lot of judgemental people around me), im looking for some folks to go through this journey with.

If you were sleeved in December of 2014, please friend me on here as well as on Myfitnesspal.

My user name is ChrisJane180.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to encouraging each other!

@@CJSLEEVE, great weight loss thus far! Congrats. I was sleeved on 31st December and am recovering nicely, too. Just started eating solid foods. Who would have thought that crackers would be so exciting!?

Hey there!

I had my surgery on Dec 8th, 2014. I am sorry to hear you are surrounded by people you may feel are judgemental about such a thing. I was worried before my surgery about this but thankfully I had a friend that had it a year ago (part of reason I finally decided to do it) and I have picked her ear to death about everything! I have had good luck with letting others know about my surgery. Certainly I don't start conversations with it, but when people found out I had surgery I didn't hid what I did, and others who have asked how I have started loosing I have also not hid it. At first I felt like I had to give a 30 minute speech about having tried every kind of diet and excercise and why I finally decided on this surgery, but found it wasn't always necessary. I also found that almost everyone has a relative or close friend who has had the sleeve or another surgery done for weight loss. It is becoming more known and accepted. I was worried I would be judged by people who may think all I ate was butter and bon bons all day (not my diet at all but thought people would think that was how I ate) and had no willpower so I had to have surgery as a cop out instead of doing actual diet and exercise. Thankfully that is not the response I was getting from others and they have understood there is a real struggle for many, possibly a hereditary condition, and that this often is our only option for getting truly healthy. I am not looking to be a super model nor do I have a set weight that I have to be. I justwant to be healthy and happy. I hope you can find some great friends and support on here but also hope that you can find someone in your inner circle of friends who can support and be with you too, because it is rewarding! Good luck, you have made a good decision and we can all be there to help eachother through this time!

Hi!

I had my gastric sleeve surgery on Dec. 30th, 2014. Due to my family's negative response when I brought up weight loss surgery, I did not share my plans with anyone except my husband. I am very happy to have found this support forum. 40 lbs so far, and many more to go. I just can't keep up with the water! I am constantly reminding myself how much healthier I have already become. Judgmental families are tough to deal with, but you are doing this for you so congratulate yourself every so often!

Hi! Great to meet other December people. I was sleeved on 12/30. The first 3-5 weeks were rough. Doing well now.

Would love to know if all of you are getting your Protein and Water in, I went back to one Protein shake a day, because I couldn't fit in all the food required to hit my 60-70 grams of protein. Still struggling with the water.

Also, curious if anyone else has had multiple stalls? I hit one at three weeks and it seems like I am in one again. Looking forward to learning about others experience.

@@Liz5012, Our situations are very similar! I was sleeved on the 31st of Dec, am down 38 pounds now, am doing well except for Water which is still a challenge. I haven't told anyone but my hubby either, and no one has noticed yet. But I don't mind, I am down a few clothes sizes, and feeling great.

@@HealthArtLove, I starting eating Protein bars & chips a few weeks ago because I just couldn't stomach adding a shake back in and wasn't getting my 70 grams. I found a few I really like: Pure Protein Bar, gives 20 g of protein; quinoa chips by Simply 7, with 9 g of protein; and spicy chili chips with 15 g of protein. All of them you can take anywhere, and they satisfy that need for something crispy. This has really helped me a lot with the protein requirement. I have hit multiple stalls, too -- seem to lose nothing for a week or so, then a bunch, then nothing again. So I am just not worrying about it .... (as much as possible, lol). Good luck!

@NewBeginning201, we do have quite a bit in common, don't we? Iyou are doing wonderful! Our current weight losses are also quite close, I am at 40 lost, but that is from a weigh in theee days ago, so who knows it sounds like we are losing at the same rate too! My weight loss is obvious only because i always lose quite a bit in my face first, weird, huh? By the way, people are noticing, they may be jealous! lol

@HealtArtLove, So nice to meet you! i too have had challenges with the protein as I couldn't stand the protein shakes. I have found the Syntax Necter to be tolerable and have also had my share of protein bars, etc and have also found them to much more pleasant. I still have a protein drink a day. The water? I too have to be careful. If I drink too much water I am not hungry! As far as a weight plateau, yes and it can be annoying, but I just keep on moving and it works itself out. I weigh myself once a week. Hang in there!

Seems like it's taking so long to get under 200lbs. When it happens I will be jumping for joy !!!

I am only five pounds away from 199lbs !!!

I had my sleeve surgery on December 2, 2014. Liz, why wouldn't anyone especially your family

want you to be healthy and happy? !! It is such an unselfish move you made to have the

Sleeve surgery. You will be around for your family . You do it for yourself but, you also are doing

it for all your family and friends and so forth so that they can have you around for a long time. I would

think they want you to live a long life. Well, having the surgery doesn't guarantee you a long life but,

it helps your chances of a long life greatly !!!

Forget about the negatives and surround yourself with positive people even if you have to

avoid your family. Having negatives around you is only detrimental to your health. Keep up

the great work losing weight and getting healthy.

Liz, I forgot to say I also had family members that didn't agree with the surgery. Therefore, to

avoid negativeness I told these folks post op sleeve surgery.

Were you sleeved in December 2014? Come join us on our 1st year surgiversary cruise to the Bahamas!

Our December 2014 Sleevers Facebook group is having a 1-year surgiversary get together! We are going to do a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. Below is the information:

Departing: December 4, 2015

Returning: December 7, 2015

Departure location: Miami, FL

The cost is based on double occupancy, however you may chose to have a room of your own, but you will still be charged the double occupancy rate.

Itinerary: Miami --> Coco Keys (cruise line's private island) --> Nassau (8 hours) --> Miami

Ship: Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas

Cabin Costs: (total cost for cruise per person)

Interior - $358/pp

Porthole Ocean-view - $341/pp

Portrait Window - $348.50/pp

Jr. Suite - $641/pp

Grand Suite - $941/pp

Payments - A $50 deposit is due, per cabin, within 21 days. Another $150 is due within 120 days of cruise departure, and the final balance is due within 75 days of cruise departure. We have been assigned our own personal group agent that will send everyone a copy of the agreement with all payment due dates, etc. If you are not able to make the entire cruise payment at one time, you will have the options of making payments payments toward your final bill as you like as long as they are made by the appropriate dates. All payments are made to the travel agency organizing this cruise. No payments are made to me.

Required Documents - For this particular cruise, the documents required are Passport OR Certified copy of your birth certificate and your state ID.

We are also inviting a spouse or significant other should they have a desire to go, and it makes your participation easier. There are quite a few people in our lives that have been through quite a bit since we started our journey, and I feel strongly that their love and support should also be celebrated.

If you want to join us on this cruise, please send me a message with your name, contact information, and how many people you are bringing so that I can confirm your participation and make sure you get all the necessary information from the travel agent.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me.

You would be surprised at how judgemental my siblings can be. I solved it a long time ago by cutting negative people out of my life, so we think alike!

My husband and friends are wonderful! I only wish the weight would move away a bit faster!

Your thoughts and comments are encouraging and thoughtful. Thank you so much! Look at what you have accomplished in such a short time, Congratulations Sweet One!

Were you sleeved in December 2014? Come join us on our 1st year surgiversary cruise to the Bahamas!

Our December 2014 Sleevers Facebook group is having a 1-year surgiversary get together! We are going to do a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. Below is the information:

Departing: December 4, 2015

Returning: December 7, 2015

Departure location: Miami, FL

The cost is based on double occupancy, however you may chose to have a room of your own, but you will still be charged the double occupancy rate.

Itinerary: Miami --> Coco Keys (cruise line's private island) --> Nassau (8 hours) --> Miami

Ship: Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas

Cabin Costs: (total cost for cruise per person)

Interior - $358/pp

Porthole Ocean-view - $341/pp

Portrait Window - $348.50/pp

Jr. Suite - $641/pp

Grand Suite - $941/pp

Payments - A $50 deposit is due, per cabin, within 21 days. Another $150 is due within 120 days of cruise departure, and the final balance is due within 75 days of cruise departure. We have been assigned our own personal group agent that will send everyone a copy of the agreement with all payment due dates, etc. If you are not able to make the entire cruise payment at one time, you will have the options of making payments payments toward your final bill as you like as long as they are made by the appropriate dates. All payments are made to the travel agency organizing this cruise. No payments are made to me.

Required Documents - For this particular cruise, the documents required are Passport OR Certified copy of your birth certificate and your state ID.

We are also inviting a spouse or significant other should they have a desire to go, and it makes your participation easier. There are quite a few people in our lives that have been through quite a bit since we started our journey, and I feel strongly that their love and support should also be celebrated.

If you want to join us on this cruise, please send me a message with your name, contact information, and how many people you are bringing so that I can confirm your participation and make sure you get all the necessary information from the travel agent.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me.

How much fun does this sound like?! I will not be able to go, but so wish I could.

@@CJSLEEVE

Hi Chris, I'm a little slow navigating my way through these forums, as I've just found this one. I was sleeved 12/17 and things are going even better since I busted through a 2 month stall. How are things with you?