I'm 10 days out from a gastric sleeve. I'm down 36 lbs since I started this journey in September and 12 of that since surgery with probably another 90 to go! I just had my post op appt with my surgeon and my hubby was with me.

As we were leaving he said this is the easy part. The first 9 months are when you lose almost all of the weight you will lose because of your sleeve so make the most out of it!

My husband and I were planning on a 10-14 day trip to Europe in May to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I will only be 4 months out. When we left my hubby said maybe we should wait till September?? I wasn't even thinking I would attempt a ten day food and wine festival in Europe. I kinda expected to watch myself there. Although my biggest issues seem to be getting back on track after I fall off the wagon and I do not want to do anything at all to ruin this opportunity to lose the weight.

Thoughts? Would you go? Would you wait?

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I had my surgery on 8/23 and had a Disney vacation planned 12/9. I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to eat or drink the way I wanted while I was there. (For us, Disney is about the food and drinks). I ate what I wanted - within reason, and drank the same way. I lost weight on vacation and as soon as I got home I got right back into my habits. It worked for me. I can honestly say that I've only overeaten ONCE and it made me so miserable I've never done it again.

So, my very first Mother's Day (that I got to Celebrate as a mom) was 2 weeks after surgery. (I had surgery 6 weeks after giving birth to my daughter). The men took all the ladies out to eat. There was NOTHING on the menu I could eat...not even Soup. I sat and held my baby (while crying) and drank my Water when everyone else enjoyed their meal. Then a few weeks later I went out to lunch with some co-workers. I still couldn't eat anything on the menu, but it was less awkward. I didn't cry or even feel bad. I just enjoyed the company. Now, food really doesn't hold the appeal it once did. I still get excited over a good meal, but I am NEVER tempted to overeat. I ate one bite too much once and it was awful. I am almost 2 years out, been below goal for over a year. I eat pretty much what I want and never feel guilty. There will be items you should stay away from, but don't postpone a vacation over it. This is something you will deal with for the rest of your life. Our families used to feel awkward because my hubby and I eat so little now. We actually eat a healthy normal (I get 1400 to 1600 cals a day and my hubby about 1600 to 1800), but overweight folks eat so much they don't realize how many calories they are getting.

I had my RNY on July 2, 2013. By Nov (Thanksgiving) I had to go back to my Surgeon for Strictures. I had a to have 5 Endoscopes with 4 Dialations. Nov 2013, Dec 2013, Jan 2014, July 2014. So I missed Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner the 1st year. With my last Endoscope being Jan 2015. Luckily, I haven't had any problems since. I honestly didn't eat any on the Holidays before the last 2 Thanksgiving's. The 1st one I got sick (two to many bites of Pecan Pie) The 2016 Thanksgiving was a great one. I did great with what I ate and left all the goodies at my daughters. But food just doesn't hold the same value. I think you most will find that it JUST isn't as important as before.

My partner and I toured SE Asia for 3.5 weeks in December/January (about 3 months post-op for me). Because I had long before changed my relationship with food, it was no big deal. I did have to come outside of my protective food bubble, and work to make good choices with what was available, but I did just fine (even though the food I did eat sat very heavy in my stomach a lot of the time). I actually lost 13 pounds during that 3.5 weeks.

The key is to make your trip center around something other than food or drink (even at a food and wine festival). Go and have fun.

Good luck!

I went to Cuba 4 months after having the sleeve. I did take Protein bars, as I wasn't really sure of the standard of foods we would be eating. I went for just over 3 weeks and ate the 24 bars that I took when we were travelling round the island. Once we were at the all inclusive hotel for the last week it was fine. I lost weight and felt great on holiday. Its just about making the right choices and in Europe it should be a doddle.

Kate

Sleeved on 10/26/2016. I'm just over 16 weeks out and next week...I'm going to Hawaii with the fam. I have a plan and I'm going to stick to it. Also don't stress over the "honeymoon period" the time frames different docs give are all over the place.