iegal

How about 75lbs to lose? Met my surgeons goal in 5 months. My life is incredible, I can't believe it still. I feel great! I look great. The sleeve is wonderful, best thing I ever did for myself. I wish I had done this earlier and younger like you. Being worried is normal, this is surgery with the normal risks. I am sure you have chosen a good surgeon. Please feel free to ask any questions we are here to root you on. Best of luck Monday!

I felt I was prepared prior to surgery but did I really know how much this would change my life? Wish I would have learned to eat more slowly, drinks separate from meals prior to surgery Wish I would have realized how special my surgeon was and asked more questions about post op care. I have no regrets, wish I would I would had the sleeve surgery earlier.

You mean Bisquick? Thanks for the smiles today! Congrats on your weight loss and there is more to good things to come.

Is your fear normal? Yes. Surgery is scary to all of us. We face dangers by overeating too. Being worried is common, so don't think you are unrational. Suggest you contact MINI-ME, she had surgery with your same doctor in LV and has nothing but good things to say. Her success story was an inspiration to me. Good luck!

Stay full longer? Hon - you don't experience hunger. So even on empty I have to REMIND myself to eat. Without my DH around, sometimes I skip meals which is not good nutritionally. So - you can enjoy just about everything...just in much smaller amounts. Chili con carne-YUM. Not much of a jelly pastry lover but you could have a few bites and be happy. Not recommended to have this daily. Breads yes, but they are only fillers. Nothing like a good sourdough toast with some jam. Half a slice is perfect. I now just add eggs on top and am completely satisfied. My relationship with food has changed, I still think about food, prepare food but am not obsessed by food anymore. The sleeve means you have restriction...that full feeling all the time. Yes you can still have bangers and mash if desired in much smaller quanities. I eat off of smaller plates now. Caution - during weight loss with sleeve, you will need to watch your carbs and learn to make better choices. The sleeve is a tool for weight loss. You can not eat crap and lose weight. Are you prepared to make a major change in your life?

Yep - you will have loose skin and there is no miracle cure. I will always have evidence of my past. Good news - I don't walk around in a bikini all day so most cloths cover up any lose skin. My DH could care less and who else do I care about seeing the bikini body? he he

Welcome; Yes - the sleeve will work. You don't have to "diet" for the rest of your life. I eat what I want but choose healthy foods first and then have some Snacks too. At 8 months out I am at goal weight loss and do not fear regaining weight. Our stories are similar - I too was a self payer since in the US, I was not severly obese so insurance would not pay - at 75+ poungs overwieght I did not qualify, so I paid for the sleeve totally out of my own pocketbook. Lost and gained back weight more often than I can recall, without the ability to keep weight off long term. What I received was a permanent restriction, so I eat and enjoy all foods just in moderation. I eat meat, fish, vegetables, fast food, pizza, fruit, pastas, choosing among the best in smaller quantities. Why choose the sleeve vs. bypass? My friends here will give you other reasons than what I list. No malabsorption issues like with bypass - ie Vitamin deficiencies Less supplements to take for the rest of my life My intestines were not rerouted, just part of my stomach taken. I have a normal functioning digestive system, unlike bypass. I don't experience hunger, really I don't. Head hunger but not the mantra of "I am hungry" that my body used to scream all the time Can take NSAIDS - over the counter pain meds, unlike bypass No dumping syndrome, which can be quite scary to those who experience it Long term weight loss is similar for both surgeries I can eat what I want...but am restricted to how much always. Bypass you have foods that will always be no no's. A single piece of good dark chocolate is enough to satisfy me and it tastes so good! Complications are less. I don't get diarrhea, gas pains when eating some treats. I love my sleeve and made the best choice for me. Never will I regain my weight as long as I do not feast on just milkshakes and chips. I am free from me and am able to no longer "diet" and fail over and over. I have won. Best wishes!

That is great news! Keep up the great work and you will soon hit goal.

Stacy; WOW, yes you can see a difference already. Pretty before...beautiful now.

Glad to hear you are sleeved, sorry about the extra pain. Good news you are home, semi alert and doing the best you can by sipping often, walking and resting. Looking forward to hearing your stories of success.

Good luck tomorrow. Hugs for you and prayers for a speedy recovery. Tomorrow really is the start to "a new" you.

Careful - you worked hard to break that coffee habit so now is the time to find something else. Maybe decaf tea? If you are cringing right now try decaf coffee...but only if you getting in your liquids. Can you add milk to your coffee so you are getting in some protien and Calcium too? So early out it is important to remember you have such little space that you need to make sure you save that space for Protein and liquids that nourish and hydrate you. So - are you getting in the recommend 64oz of liquid (coffee can not be counted in this formula) and 60-70 grams of protein a day? If yes, try a small cup of decaf. No caffine cause you don't want to irritate or damage any work the surgeon has done. Glad to hear you are doing well! Happy one month sleeve-anniversary.

Happy anniversary! Keep bouncing back and forth between your post and pictures. While your words are a lot of fun to read - your expression and modeling pose tells the whole story. You look great! While I will never be pregnant again, my husband says I have dinosaur eggs, I appreciate you being open about how hard it is for one to put on weight after you hit goal weight. Thank you for sharing your insight. Sounds like you are a baby growing mama...and a good one at that. Congrats again to you, hubby and big brother to sprout.

How exciting! Are you ready for the big changes ahead?

Sounds like you are really organized. It is good to look at a plan and map things out. Good luck to you!

You are dizzy and weak because you probably went from 2200+ calories a day to around 1000 calories a day. Your body is mad at you. Pre-op diet is not easy and yes, you are probably sick of it. But hang in there, you only have one day left of this and you can do it! Surgery is so close. Be honest with your surgeon about the antibiotics. Remember to stay on the diet, no cheating - surgeon needs a less fatty liver so surgery is less risky which is better for you. Good luck!

Be excited...the new you starts tomorrow. Relax, take a walk, call some friends or go shopping in the morning and look in a section that you never have before. Dreams are about to come true. Smile - good things are happening!

Great advice, your tastebuds change. I threw out more protien shakes, powders and drinks post op. Some I could tolerate before but not after. My tastebuds changed but now are someone back to normal. Except at 8 months out I still do not like fast food burgers or pizza. Good news is that your grocery bill will be cut in half or more. So take that money and you can buy yourself a few things. Your health is at stake so you need to be most concerned about getting in the proper nutrition post op. No matter what the cost. An unhealthy you is not an option, right? Good luck and maybe look under the preop/postop diet forum for more ideas on what to get.

What a great converstation to have. Our sleeves are a miracle! Ha ha - not knowing when you are full. Right now you will most likely have to measure everything. liquids you can get more in than dense chewable Protein, so a cup of solids does not equal a cup of liquid. If 1/2 cup makes you full, try eating more slowly as your meals should be consumed over a 20-30 minute period. Eat a bite, count to 20 and try again. Now I eat much more than I used to at two months out. I can tell you early on my signal was either slimy drooling (yuck) or hiccups. Over time you will recognize your signals but as all with our sleeve, this is a journey of discovery. Now (8 months out) my signal has changed and I sneeze. Really. At every meal I sneeze when I am full. Family meals are a joke and at the dinner table people will look at me and say "all done?" Crazy signal but I love my sleeve! Best wishes on your adventure and learning about the new you!

Sorry you have been disappointed by the band. There is a forum on here for band revision, I think you will find a lot of encouragement there. I can tell you the sleeve works and I am proof. My name should have been Failed again with all the groups I joined, pills I took, shots I paid for, TV programs, etc. Prayers for a quick recovery for your surgery tomorrow (today). I have no regrets and love my sleeve. Looking forward to hearing about your journey of weight loss.

You need some tough love. PreOp diet is to help you so surgeon does not possibly lacerate your liver during surgery. Surgery can be longer and more dangerous due to a fatty liver. Your surgeon only looking out for your wellbeing. You also are on this diet to help you for post op, which is liquid diet too. If you cheat postop you could cause a leak. Yes, the preop diet is a form of torture. The sleeve works but first you must get sleeved. What you need is to remember that this is all about you and you only. You are only jeopardizing yourself and your future success. How much do you want this surgery to be successful and minimize the risks? My surgeon was a straight no humor man who told me he would not complete surgery if my liver was too fatty. Yep, they can tell. I was two weeks total liquids only preop diet and I did not cheat once. Not once and it was so hard I still remember it, almost like labor. I cried, I was mean; I was in agony at all the commercials bombarding me on TV so I can empathize with your dilemma. T.ips - get out of the lunch room and drink alone in your car with a good book. Take a walk. Cry. What ever it takes for the short time frame. You can do anything for a couple of days for this miracle ahead of you. Advice? Suck it up and put on your big girl drawers. You are worth the next few days of anguish to begin a journey of successful weight loss. Best wishes!

Call your surgeon and see what he says. Stress is not going to make it better. Rest often so your body can fight this, drink a lot of fluid and relax.

Normal. Now if you had not done your research, then you fears might be well founded. Get some great rest tonight because tomorrow there is a new you! Good luck.

YEAH on your date! Talk to sleeve 4 me, she was Kaiser too and I believe Kaiser uses your start weight, not your surgery weight. My advice, start to learn new eating habits now. Stop drinking with your meals. Eat more slowly, count to 20 while you chew and then swallow, eat your Protein first, watch your liquid intake, get used to taking Vitamins and other needed suppliments. Keep us in the loop. Thrilled for you!

What an incredible day for you and your family! Looking forward to hearing back from you about when you get a date. Those obstacles are minor if you look what you have accomplished already. Getting a loan and a job...WOW. Smiles for you.