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Has anyone found the journey after surgery easy?



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I'm just over 3 months out from surgery. Anyone who tells you this is the "easy way out" hasn't had a gastric bypass. Eating is an uncomfortable chore for me. It's as if I've lost my best friend: food. I remind myself daily, hourly if need be, that I am no longer diabetic, my blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides are now normal, and I can shop for clothing anywhere. I'm working on taking things day at a time.

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YES!

Pre-op I was told there would be changes and to prepare for them.

My biggest fears were I would grieve the loss of my relationship with food,

and that I would be HUNGRY.

Well I wasn't hungry at all, not even yet.

The only thing I struggle with is keeping on track for my supplements.

So I got a smart phone to remind me.

I also got a new computer, a new car and I am seeking a new job.

I have been purging my house and I no longer have time for other peoples BS.

I took my first yoga class and I liked it.

I joined SNAP fittness.

I order Protein shakes from unjury and bodybuilding.com

Life is great.

My one regret is that I waited so long.

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Good for you 2twonkle!! I'm only 4 weeks out and I'm already so sorry I waited so long. I do struggle with the Vitamins and Water though....

But it's better than all the prescriptions I'm getting rid of!!

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I am 14 months post op. 5'4" . Went from 287 to 158. I don't think it was hard at all. Was it an adjustment? Yes. Do you have to fight cravings? Yes. You will hit stalls and get frustrated. You must stick to the plan as much as possible and stay active and the weight will fall right off. So hard for me? No. Always easy? No, but I wouldn't say it's hard. I've never been successful at weight loss until I had this tool. Just stay the course, stay focused and you will have success!!

I completely agree!

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Bwhahahahahahah. No.

Some people really do though!!

Still worth it

Edited by bellabloom

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Easy is not the word I would use. I think changing my relationship with food and not having a protective fatsuit forced me to deal with alot of things that had been previously, quite literally, swallowed.

Good news is life on the other side is so much better!

I was sleeved 4 years ago and maintaining. ..

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During the "honeymoon stage" it was easy. Didn't matter what I ate I would lose. All of that ended in December 2015. My body has suddenly become very resistant to losing. Had to re- think my lifestyle as my "little bites" of the foods I used to eat started creeping back into my life.

That along with having a couple of drinks a day ( which also includes snacking) was stalling me big time.

I'm back on track, stopped the alcohol, the drinking with meals and have limited the carbs. That along with no snacking between meals and exercise is doing the trick.

So easy for bad habits to resurface!!!

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I started this thread.

I'm now 2 weeks post op. I had a small complication, a burst blood vessel after the op...I lost a lot of blood and ended up needing a blood transfusion...that part was very unpleasant!

Nope it's not easy, not for me anyway, although I wouldn't call it hard. I would prefer to use the word challenging......

For me it's about regaining my energy and it's getting better every day. I started using my Fitbit last week setting small challenges. I started at 3000 steps. Today I did 6500 steps, so I'm up for 7000 tomorrow.

I started purees today....yeah I can still eat eggs!...love em....although I can eat about 1 egg over 40 mins.

Getting in enough Protein is challenging but I'll start adding more Protein powder to my purees.

I'm not craving sweets. Which is amazing for me, I've been a sugar addict most of my life.

I can look at cake, biscuits, donuts and now its like looking at cardboard.

Ive been lucky with pain. I have had a tiny bit of muscle pain when I move now, but nothing to complain about, so that's been easy.

My weight has been up and down, I've been sticking to the program, I lost approx 11 pounds post surgery....and in the past 2 days I've put back on 4 pounds.....what the????? I know there are stalls but really????? I know it just Fluid or maybe dodgy scales...I felt like throwing them threw the window this morning!

So yes my experience has been challenging....but not hard, so far....

I'm still glad I made the decision to have this op.....now I just need patience.

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Hang in there. I'm 6 weeks out and still fight to get the Water and Protein. I had a terrible time with the Vitamins the first few weeks, they turned my stomach terribly. It's better now. I have not found i have developed any food issues. I'm pretty much on a regular diet now. Small amts of course . It will all be worth it. I dropped 22 pounds the first 4 weeks and nothing the past two. My nutritionist said not to look at the short term or you will get discouraged, there are going to be upset and downs. But as long as the trend is down you're fine. I wish you Good luck and a great recovery.

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The first few weeks are the hardest. And strangest! All of the wondering if it will really work and waiting for the scale to move. Next thing you know, your clothes will be falling off you and you will need to go shopping! I'm one year out. Started at 200 something with a band gone bad revision. Today. 135 and absolutely amazed!! Trying NOT to lose anymore because I'm on my third round of the clothes / shopping issue!

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

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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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