heathernowak

Hey VWFielder! Your story could have been written by me! We are the same height, same starting weight, and I'm 35. I had the same feelings you are having, I think most people do. I'm 6 months out and have lost 60 pounds. I'm thrilled with the results! I'm not saying that it is easy, BUT, every day since surgery has been twice as good as any day before the surgery. My obsession with food has diminished a lot. I don't think about stopping and getting a cake because I can't really eat that much of it anyway. It seems like a tease to me to just have a piece when I'm in my "binging" mood. So I just don't get it at all. I have not been as strict as some of the others in here and I think that's why I have lost slower than most, but it does seem like I've changed my life...I mean REALLY changed my way of eating for good. I eat normally, I just eat less of everything. I do track my calories everyday just to keep myself in line but it's shocking to me that moderation really is the key. I have NEVER been able to understand that and really got mad when people would suggest it to me. If I could eat in moderation I wouldn't have been fat :-)! I eat in moderation now and it is much more freeing to not have to avoid things I want just because it might set me off. It reallly feels more like a lifestyle change. Anyway, this decision is such a personal decision and it's only one that you can make. I spent hours reading posts and looking at information before I did this, but I did have the surgery about 4 weeks after I had even heard of it. Good luck to you in whatever you decide!! :-)

Thanks for the detail Tiff! I got that feeling in the pit of my stomach and thought maybe I wasn't going to be as successful as I originally thought I was. Thanks for all your support :-). ~Heather

I'm not saying that you will fail, but the little "honeymoon stage" doesn't last forever. Now that I'm 16 months out, I can eat triple the amounts I could at your stage, and it takes effort to steer clear of the dessert cart, and keep my hand out of the bag of chips. Because those foods are wasted calories, and nothing but junk, they're not going to do me any favors, but I sure can eat a helluva lot of them. If I didn't make changes, I could easily see a regain, I could easily suck down a 2000 calorie milkshake if I wanted to, but I chose to have surgery to live a healthy life, and not have food control me. Hey, Tiff! I'm a little nervous after reading what you said above. If you can now eat three times what you ate in the beginning then it sounds like you can eat normally now? If that's the case and doctors say that only 1% of obese people can keep their weight off...what is the advantage of having the sleeve after "it" relaxes? I'm now nervous that I might get to my goal and then fight the same battle I did last time I lost the weight and gain it alll back. I know that you are the most knowledgeable person on here and I just thought that I would never be able to eat as much as I once could. Please tell me I misunderstood...I'm feeling a little defeated already.

I still get that sometimes too. Do you take Prilosec or something? That took care of most of it for me. I hope you get it solved soon :-).

OK, I totally feel weird. I'm hungry and food tastes good to me. Does that mean I'm in trouble?!

Hey Girls! I also got my sleeve on the 20th and I cannot believe you had your jp drain for so long. I got my out on day 3 and you are right about it being freaky!! I don't want to do that again any time soon!! I go tomorrow to my first post op appointment and I have just started full liquids. I have yogurt and pudding and today I made potato soup and pureed it and it was delicious!! Can't eat very much though. I still have random pains right under by boobs....maybe gas? Do you all have that? It kind of builds up in intensity and then fades away. I'm on Prilosec and take gas pills when I need them. I'm glad you girls are doing well!!

Stir it until the carbonation is gone. If you've ever driven a lawn mower with a beer, you know what I'm talking about! :-)

WOW! You are doing awesome with your protein and liquids! I'm not doing even half of that. I am so sore on my right side, it is still difficult getting up and down and sitting upright.

I was on the 20th...didn't that JP drain feel weird coming out? I thought my husband was going to hit the floor!! :-)

Cornell's eating plan is so great!! Why can't that be my plan? And it's the same one they use for the by-pass patients as well. WHY! WHY! WHY!

So Gayle, you add milk to your Slim fast and then add powder also? How many grams of protein do you end up with at the end? I also hate all these protein drinks and would like to find something better. I just had my surgery on Monday.

I was told I could start taking my birth control pills 30 days after surgery. Why were you told they wouldn't work anymore? So sorry you had a bad night of sleep, that makes everything look worse to me.

Oh, I love hearing how everyone is doing! It seems to be getting easier to drink. I have protein shots that have 46 grams of protein in it so I water 1/2 of it down for lunch and then I have Unjury protein powder chicken broth and try to do that twice for a total of about 64 grams of protein. I couldn't get down the last chicken broth because it really is starting to get to me. I can't wait til Tuesday when I can have tomato soup and milk and yogurt!!

Wow Gena! You can have frozen yogurt?! I'm so jealous!! I can only have thin liquids....broth, protein drink, and water, oh, and jello (which tastes gross for some reason). I'm hungry today and wish I could eat something. :-( I slept last night from 11 til 5:30 and then went potty and slept til 8:30!! I was so happy! So glad I found you all!! My right side hurts and pulls when I move but the other side feels perfect! Weird.

I also had my surgery on Monday and have a hard time sleeping on my back. Last night I used a full body pillow and was able to sleep half the night on my side. I also will cherish those words, "you'll be amazed at how much easier it gets each day out".

Oh, I'm so glad to find you all! I just had my surgery on Monday also and today is the first day I feel anything close to normal. They did not give me my anxiety medication while I was in the hospital so my last full day in the hospital and the first day home was not pretty. I got back on it yesterday and can already tell the difference. I have about 4 or 5 incisions and they were all glued shut except for the one that had the jp drain in it. That one seems to hurt the most, man was that thing long!! Ughhh! I feel most frustrated by trying to get comfortable sleeping and trying to get this nasty protein stuff down. Oh, and when I'm thirsty, I only get a sip instead of draining it. Anyway, I am so glad to have someone to discuss all this stuff with!! Oh, and that feeling like something is stuck going down when I swallow, wears me out! Sorry for all the complaining!! :-)

Hi! I just found out that I am having mine on the 20th also!! Maybe we can support each other!! Good luck..

Hey All! I have been reading this blog for several weeks...since I decided not to do the band. I have been so encouraged and have really found myself being excited to have the surgery. I feel like I'm mourning the loss of the big portions of dessert I like to eat but I know it's for the best. I'll keep you updated along my journey!! Thanks for listening!!