To Be Thin 2011

Hi, I have a desk job... my doc said 2-4 weeks.. I chose to take the 4 weeks "just in case" and I was glad I did, but I also was fortuneate enough that the sleeve was "medical" so I completed all my work ppwk in advance, doc signatures, etc.. so I was good to go on the 4 weeks. Please remember if you take 2 or 4 you are still going to have bouts with fatique....I remember being so extremely tired after work I basically would come home, drink a protien shake and go to bed... I was exhausted. It took me until about the 3 month mark before I got more energy... It all works out in the end! My only regret with my work is I had wished I would not have told people the truth, that I was having weight loss surgery... I wish I would have said gall bladder or ulcer repair, something like that... Because at my work there are people that totally look at me differently now, like I am a lesser person for choosing surgery. I also had one co-worker with an attitude about having to pick up my work because of weight loss surgery.. she actually said it was very selfish of me to choose this surgery when I am needed at work.. UGH... 20 YEARS overweight and planned the timing just perfectly to give my coworker grief!! I think not... anyway, in hindsight I would not have told a sole at work about my real intention / surgery.. I totally would have told them gall bladder or stomach ulcer... Good luck

Awww.. I wish I had some powerful words of wisdom to share with you about weight loss, about our bodies trying to catch up with the surgery, the hormones, our chemistry out of wack and metobolism changes. There are so many key areas that all play a part in our bodies. Hang in there, I had days that I was very hormonal, mine was more aggressive - I was very snippy and quick to bite someones head off! Then 2 weeks later I went to through the I could burst out crying reading a hallmark card stage. Thank God I had a 3 month check up with the doc and I mentioned my mood swings and he did say the surgery throws our hormones out of balance...it will calm down in time. It did, my doc was right. I hope for you, things calm down in time as well... hang in there...

Hello, Confession time... I am one of those people that have read posts before about stalls, or not losing any weight in a week or two.. and honestly I thought that person just "has" to be doing something wrong. I am the one that is wrong. I have done so much reading the last 3 weeks about stalls and plateau's.... I myself am in a 3 week stall.. 3 weeks... ugh.. my scale is awesomely accurate and the last 3 weeks I have varied in ounces, but that is nothing...I have been at the exact same weight for 3 frustrating weeks. I have examined my calorie intake, my carbs, I love crystal light and drinking fluids is no problem at all... excercise... I am the most active I have ever been in my life. I walk outside or on the treadmill 5 X a week, started slow and am now up to 3 miles ! I am so proud of what I have lost, I am so proud of how healthy I am eating and I totally feel great being more active. Inside my head...I am sad, I get frustrated, I also am a bit scared, like what if I cant lose anymore weight? I am still 100 pounds from goal...which adds to my frustration because I have so much further to go on this journey then most people who post on the forum.. I should be kicking weight loss butt with as much as I have to lose...but I am not.. O.k.. so point of my rambeling... is all the reading I have been doing the past 3 weeks.. is telling me our bodies need time to catch up to the drastic changes, our hormones, chemistry, metabolism are all changing. From everything I am reading, it is not uncommon to go 3-4 weeks without a loss... hard to believe, but it is true.. hang in there.. you keep pluggling along and I will keep plugging along and I sincerely hope a month from now, both you and I are higher on the loser bracket!!! Good Luck..

Isnt it amazing and only 2 months!!! Congratulations!!!!

Absolutely! Totally the best thing I have ever, ever done for myself. My only regret is that I have spent 20 years of my life being obese.

You have a great list! I am curious if your doc /place of surgery has a nutritonist availabe too. "Sometimes" a doctor is so vague, but a nutrionist really gets in depth, espeically your questions about carbs, complex carbs, etc.. There has been chatter back & forth regarding the carb aspect, some of us count and watch carbs and some of us do not. Some docs mention it and some dont... Wishing you well

I would not say the protein shots are "not good at all"... If a person is having difficulty with food, and needs to get in protein and liquids the shots are a source. Our bodies may not totally absorb the complete protein that comes from the concentrated shots, but our bodies will absorb some, and some is better than not at all when you are going through a rough time with foods or protein levels. Check with your doc &/or nut, I questioned this about 2 months ago after reading a post on this forum and both agreed that some is better than none, the protein shots are a source of protein.

We are an instant gratiication society...... LOL! My stats are below... I weigh myself only once a week, and typically "complain" about only losing 2-3 pounds a week because so many on this forum post awesome, incredible high numbers of weight loss... Well, enough complaining about small numbers... I have not lost one single pound in the last 3 weeks... I am totally shocked, totally frustrated and disapointed.. but.. I do know as Tiffykins pointed out, our bodies do have to catch up to what is going on, the surgery, the loss of carbs, and OMG I walk now, which b/4 I would sit watching tv with a bag of chips... So I am sure my body is wondering what in the world has happened! I am frustrated. But... I know I have been watching my carbs, calories and Water.. I am more active the past month than I have been my entire life.. so I am holding out that my true stall will pass... 3 weeks without a loss is tough... Good luck to you & try to be patient with your body...

I am still hungry ALL the time.. ugh............. annoying and frustrating!

Yep, I was able to introduce cheese @ 2 week out too. The laughing cow cheese comes in a perfect round container, everyone sells it, and I love the simple triangle size serving. I use it on celery and I bought some Special K crackers that I spread it on too... ummm

I miss that feeling too!!! Although I love dropping down 3 sizes in clothing,, and feeling better and being able to move easier,etc... I do miss that full food satifaction feeling..

Hi! Dont fret it... get a window seat, towards the back of the plane. I am a frequent traveler and alway get window towars the back, I always take a sweater and I pull the seat belt towards the window, put my sweater over me (but the seat belt show some) and it looks just like you are safely buckled in... no problem! I have been flying this way for years! Hopefully some day I will fit comfortably in a plane seat. Safe travels

At first reading your post I thought back to my naseaus "attacks" that I would have up to 6 weeks after surgery. But I never had the pain as you are describing above. It would not hurt to call your doc's office and let them know, see what your doc advise. The naseaus attacks that I got came out of no where, it could be 1/2 prior to eating or 1/2 after eating, it could be an hour and 1/2 after eating.. no pattern or reason. it could happen twice in one day, or I could go 5 days without one and then boom I would be on the bathroom floor so sick.. It could be early morning, afternoon or evening,, there was no patern to the attacks I would have. I would get so extremly naseaus, I could not tell which way it was going to come through me.. and it never did, I never vomit or direaha - just the extreme naseaus that comes with it. Sometimes I would have the cold clamy sweats, I couldnt get air, would be so hot... I felt like I was rocking back and forth, not the room rocking, me rocking.. even though I was laid out on the floor.. sometimes it would leave in 20 minutes, one time it lasted 45 minutes... I went to the doc twice about it, he ran tests, everything with my tummy was fine and everything in my bloodwork was fine.. he told me it is just a temporary thing, my body adjusting, it will pass..and he put me a gas pill and a naseaus pill and it stopped! I only took the med for a couple of weeks, then I tried not taking them to see how I was and it was fine, have never had another attack since..... very thankful for that! Hopefully what you are experiencing is temporary and will leave you soon.. good luck, call your doc

WOW - I love reading others success! Weight loss sure does vary by person... it is hard to not get frustrated.. I feel like I am a slow loser too, then boom, in one week I lost 4 pounds, which makes my monthly loss look good! or good to me at least! I will take any loss I get! My stats are below..just for the record.. I only weigh myself once a week, every Wed.. . Since the first Wed in June, I have not lost one single pound I was so hoping to hit the 250 Lb mark on my 6 month surgery date, but not going to make it.... thats o.k... I know what I am eating is in line, I know that I am kicking butt on exercising.. the weight will come off, I just need to keep on the right path. Good Luck to you, and dont be hung up on the scale...it can be frustating.

WOW -- good for you! Talk about a great incentive! Your family will be amazed, and you will be smiling from ear to ear! Below are my stats... I have not lost one single pound since first of June... I'am not worried about it, I know what I am eating and how hard I am working out....the scales will move again soon... Good Luck to you!!

Funny you would ask this question because this morning I was putting on eyeshadow and I have so much darn skin on my upper eye lid that it folds to were you dont see my eye shadow at all.......... cannot wait for an eye lift or something to be done, but got to lose more weight yet... I have never had plastic surgery before, but I will be looking into it once I am at goal weight...

Yep, you are very normal, you had a major surgery and your body is healing..... it will get better!!!! You are walking, sipping and gas is coming out of you... that is all great!!! Soon you will wake up one morning and actually feel good, and each day will be better!!

I still hold on to my Fat Free Cottage Cheese, yogart and beef jerkey. I totally love anykind of seafood (baked, broiled or grilled only).

Hello, I too am at the 5 month mark, well 5 1/2!... I weigh myself once a week, and have not lost a pound since the first of June. I havent changed a thing, my Protein intake, calorie intake, Water intake and exercise have all been within goals of where they should be. I thought possibly I could shake this stahl if I kicked in more water intake, I also exercised every day this week instead of 5-6 days and today was weigh in day and nothing.. totally same weight for two weeks. I have a confession, I would read others posts about a stahl and I instantly thought the person has changed something, they are not watching calories, or carbs... they have done something different in order to NOT lose any weight..... I did suspect others with stahls of goofing off, not sticking to the guidelines... and now here I am, sticking to the guidelines and then some but not showing a loss on the scales. Karma! It is very, very hard, but I am trying to convince myself to not worry about it, stay on track and keep doing the same and it will show eventually.... I hope I am right! You asked about slow weeks, then a good week, and I have had that in the past 5 months.. one time I only lost 1 pound that week and the next week I lost 5 pounds!!! Hang in there and Good luck sleeve sister!

Protein Bars --- YES..... I have one a day still and could not forsee that ever stoping! Some do have higher calories than you want, and if you count carbs, some are very hight. I stick with Atkins bars...from the Atkins diet plan. They are available everywhere, to big chain stores, big chain pharmacies, etc... On the outside of the box you can easily identify protein, calories and carbs for each bar. They make a Chocolate Chip Granola Bar that is great! I have trouble keeping my grandkids out of them! 17 g. Protein, 1 g sugar, 3 g Net Carbs and 200 Calories. They also have Chocalte Peanut Butter Bar that has 19 g protein, 1 g sugar, 2 Net Carbs and 240 Calories.... you just have to read labels good on any brand protein bars. Good Luck!!

Hi, I am a little over 5 months out and totally rely on protein shake in morning and a protein tube shot mixed with water and crystal light in the afternoon. I eat a small meal at noon, and a small meal for dinner... other than that I rely on the liquid protein to help meet my protien levels. I havent had a bit of problem with this and actually have a good routine worked out. I have read several other posts on here that people say thier doctors want them to "eat" their protien daily, not drink thier protien... I am curious if anyone knows why thier doc wants them to eat the protein rather than drink? What is the benefit? thanks for your input please...

Marie --- you are so, so right in saying unless you are 100% committed to take this path with WLS -- don't do it. It is not easy, your life does change and you will have obsticles... my husband tells me at least 3 times a week he cannot believe how determined I am! I have to be,,, I have tried so many weight loss programs and diets... this is my life line, and I need to make it work. I am 100% committed. Which means I have to tell people no - I will not have cake & ice cream, but this is a great party and I'am so happy to be here! No, I will not eat a full plate or even a 2nd plate at our office potluck,, etc... WLS gives us a tool.. the committment has to be on your part 100%... good luck!!!

Thanks all... I go to the doc on the 20th and I am going to ask both my doc and the nut... What is odd is that where I had my surgery done, they have a little store that sells along with several other WLS items, it seels several protien power mix, pre-mix shakes and the shots.... so it made me wonder why they sell the protein shots if sleevers dont gain any benefit from the shots.. hmmmm..

Ugh,, the scale!!!! I had read several posts about people weighing themselves each day and they would comment they gained 2 pounds in one day, or whatever... I saw how frustrating it can be for those that weight themselves daily or several times a day. I made my mind up prior to surgery that I would only weight myself once a week... and it has been very hard to hold to it! I have "cheated" twice now and weighed myself prior to my scheduled day.... I could not imagine only weighing myself at doctors visits!!! I can say it does get very frustrating for me to only see a 1 pound loss in a week.. or one time I had a .08 of a pound loss.. not even a full pound! I could not imagine how frustrating it would be for those people obsessed and weighing themselves multiple times each week. For me, I picked Wednesday, that was the day my surgery was on, it gives me incentive during mid week to keep going! I actually look forward to Wednesday mornings in order to weigh myself...once a week works, and gives me something to look forward to each Wednesday!

Hi, I agree with "feedyoureye"...... it is a slow loss, not a race. I have had weeks of lossing only 1 pound, .08 of a pound, then two weeks later I lost 4 lbs in a week... It has been balancing around the 10 -11 lb loss a month. Are you saying in 5 weeks time you have not lost a pound or has just been too slow? I only weigh my self once a week, I have not lost anything in the last 2 weeks....frustrating, very frustating, but I can feel it in my clothes that I am losing, pants that I wore a month ago are just barely hanging on me! Yet the scale hasnt moved. If I could suggest, go back and look at the basic requirements and truly evaluate if you are doing your part to help.. the sleeve cant do it all.. Look at your water intake, protein intake, calories and excersise... make sure you have these basics in line.... hope it gets better for you and your stahl gets broke... good luck....