juliarh

I too eat low carb. In fact, I was just mentioning to my husband that I have never felt better mentally. I do suffer from depression occasionally and in the almost 9 months that I've been post-op, I have not had a single episode of depression. For me, that's almost a miracle. I have to agree with what everyone has said about carbs. In addition to what they've said, I find when I eat them, I unleash a "hunger monster" in my head -- it wants to eat and eat and eat. When I'm eating low carb, I could care less about food and never really think about it. So, personally, it's the realization that I am carb sensitive and that I probably should keep my carbs to a minimum for the rest of my life. Now that said, I DO eat fruits and vegetables because they have Fiber and are good for you -- but the rest of the stuff, I don't touch it.

17 pounds is fantastic!! That's almost a pound a day! You will lose weight, have no doubt about it, but remember our weight loss is not like a straight line on a graph -- it's going to go in stairsteps -- some days we lose, some days we don't -- but overall the trend is going to be going down! Great job on the 17 pounds! Keep it up!

Congratulations!! Great job -- and you know what?? It's only gonna get better!

Yep, I lost it in buckets (well, it seemed like it) and right around the 8th month it slowed down and I'm shedding at a normal rate now, I think.

I'm with everyone -- I think the chocolate will make you sick physically and not help (you'll beat yourself up over it and that won't be helpful either) -- Like Thin said, organization is the key (and coffee) -- prep your kids -- tell them what you're going to be going through -- have them take on extra tasks and tell them there will be a reward at the end of this time period. They'll be happy to think about the extra nice thing coming their way. Get your husband's area ready for his recovery -- I'd figure out how much of your assistance he'll need versus needing "anyone" to do it -- for example if he needs tea or needs food, your kids can do that. And work and the papers I know you've got that all figured out. Taking it day by day is the key -- sometime when we look at the entire thing, we get overwhelmed. I think you're gonna do fine Big hugs!

You're doing great Patrice!! Congrats on beating the "doubt-myself-monster" -- I think we all go through phases where we don't think we can do it and we give in and then we realize we still want to lose -- that's the nice thing about the sleeve, even if we have our moments of self-doubt, we can always go back and start again You're looking fabulous too!

Good info -- I've had it happen to me a couple of times -- it's scary -- I always make sure I have some fruit juice quick at hand -- it's a good way to get in some good carbs fast -- glad you figured out what it is . . . hope you recovered quickly too!

You know, I go through phases like that too -- I feel fat, I don't want to do the new lifestyle anymore, I'm grumpy, blah, blah blah -- and then in a couple of days, I'm better. I have no idea why I go through it, but I do. So I just wait it out and usually complain to my hubby

It's weird that you brought this up right now -- I was just commenting to my husband that I am not depressed or bad humored or bitter or angry or anything anymore -- and it seems to stem from the fact that I am thinner ??? I don't know, but I haven't been this content EVER. Weird.

This is really good info to know -- guess we should all be vigilant with our vitamins!

Great thread -- love the positivity 3. Being in "normal sized" clothes for the first time in 26 years . . . 2. Feeling normal when I'm at a party or out shopping (no one gives me "god, she's huge" looks anymore) 1. Liking the person I see in the mirror

Hooray Sofia!!! I've been keeping my eye out for this for quite a while!! Doing the happy dance with you, sweetie!! SOOOO HAPPY!!!

Hooray!!!

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Juliarh............187................178..............165...........13 wow it's been a hard couple of weeks -- hopefully my weight loss will pick up so I can lose the rest by July 4th!

Great thread! Ok here are/were some of mine: 1 -- to get to 250 (don't know why but it was a marker -- I could never seem to be lower than that) -- DONE! 2. ride a horse -- DONE! 3. to get to 220 (lowest weight since I was 25) - DONE! 4. to get to 200 (put me in overweight range) - DONE! 5. wear a size 12 (the size I was in college) - DONE (now wearing an 8 or 10) 6. GET LOWER THAN MY HUSBAND -- we are the same height -- he doesn't have a problem with his weight (fluctuates 5 -7 lbs) -- he's currently 171 (can get down to 165) -- I am within 7 lbs of the man!!!! whoot! 7. get down to 179 -- weight I weighed when I got pregnant my first child (WHO IS NOW 19 YEARS OLD!!) -- DONE! 8. interestingly enough, I have no other clothes goals -- I didn't anticipate being in clothes this size 9. I wanted to play golf again (was on my HS golf team) -- DONE! 10. I want to get to 169 -- my high end of "normal" for my 5'9" frame 11. I would like to get to 155 which would give me nice "padding" for maintenance.

That is sooo cool!! I had a similar thing happen to me too -- funny when you get low enough in weight, you don't realize what size you are -- I guess the body dysmorphia continues . . . I bought size 8 pencil skirts to wear to work come this fall (I teach) -- well, when they came in the mail, I decided to try them on and they fit -- who'da thunk? So happy happy day!! Size 6 -- hooray!

Good to know that your sleeve is looking good -- I always wonder what mine will look like when I'm out as far as you how did the surgery go?? Keep us up to date with how you're doing!

Suzette, you've done a spectacular job -- congratulations!!! I hope that you post some pics of your wedding -- that would be awesome -- can hardly wait to hear about it

You're doing a great job! Congratulations on 150 lbs -- that is simply awesome -- can hardly wait to hear more updates

I still take everything, including B12. My labs are good, but I was reading on the FB Gastric sleeve support group today, one person stopped taking her vitamins (she's 9ish months out) and she became very deficient. So, I took that as a big warning

You look absolutely amazing -- truly!! You look really slim and trim Congratulations -- you've done a fantastic job!

I'm a pear shape too -- initially lost on the top (like always) -- but have since lost my butt (I *had* a bubble butt before) -- now it's flat (whaa!) -- my legs look like they melted (literally) because of the skin. Don't think I'll ever wear short skirts again. sigh. But my arms look pretty good (no huge bat wings) -- my stomach is horrible (must have at least 10 lbs of skin there) - another sigh. BUT I would do again in a heartbeat!! (Today I am wearing a size 8 pencil skirt -- used to be in a TIGHT size 24). You couldn't hold me back from having this surgery -- best thing I ever did!

$12,000 in Asuncion, Paraguay -- with Dr. Carlos Paiva. Would pay more now if you asked It's been a terrific experience.

Totally agree with iegal. I was an overeater/throw upper initially too. There is usually a "sign" of fullness before you actually get the sensation of feeling full -- mine is nausea. First sign of nausea, I STOP -- if I go further, I WILL throw up. My second sign is a hiccup. I know a lot of people have a hiccup. And I can't stress how much you have to slow down when eating. and measuring your food -- I still can only eat about 4 oz. of food at a time (that's weighed food, not measured in a cup). That's it. So I make sure that I serve myself less than a cup of food or 4 oz. of food or less. If I want more, then I can get more. AND I make sure that I take really tiny bites. Kind of like the size you might cut up for a toddler. That seems to help. Hope this helps!

1) How long have you been sleeved? 8 1/2 months 2) Who was your surgeon? Dr. Carlos Paiva More (in Asuncion, Paraguay) 3) What were your experiences with your surgeon? Awesome -- he's very supportive, gave me great medical care -- last appt. basically told me just to come back when I'm at goal weight 4) Would you recommend your surgeon? Yep! 5) How much weight have you lost since your sleeve date? 125 lbs. so far 6) What type of sleeve do you have? regular old sleeve (85 percent removed and stapled) 7) Would you recommend the type of sleeve you have? over and over again 8) Do you find you still have the necessary level of energy to sustain a good workout? yep! 9) Do you find it difficult to keep the weight off once you have lost it? nope, not at all 10) Do you have trouble eating, such as getting �stuck�? never 11) What is the one things about getting the surgery that you regret? nothing 12) Would you do this surgery again, or would you have made another choice? I would do it over again and you couldn't hold me back!