SKCUNNINGHAM

I read a book on intuitive eating and tried as much as possible to follow that for the 5 years before I had sleeve surgery 4 months ago. I basically maintained my weight for that time period except for the 4 months prior to starting the pre surgery diet - when I lost about 10-15 pounds (working at it). It took me a full year to get qualified / approved for the surgery due to job and insurance changes. What finally led me to work to get approved for the surgery was my probablility of dying young and soon. I'm 54 and my dad dropped dead of a massive heart attack at my age. I was walking too closely in his footsteps - I don't want to die from weight related issues before my time. I thought I was going to have a heart attack last September when I was walking/hiking up a hill. Scared me right into getting serious about living healthier to live longer. To me it wasn't loving myself fat or loving myself thin - it was wanting to delay that inevetible end we all face. I have a family (husband, son, daughter) I love dearly and two young granddaughers I want to see grow up. Anything I need to do to increase my odds of doing that, I will do. Facing the scale, changing how I eat, saying goodbye to some favorite food or drink - not a hardship compared to not living long enough to enjoy more time with my family. The satisfaction I thought I got from how I related to food previously pales in comparison with spending quality time with those I love. Weight loss surgery is an incredibly lucrative thing for surgeons now. I think you could find a qualified surgeon willing to work with you on your terms. But this is something to need to want really badly, and commit yourself to its success. If you aren't willing to do that - I think it would be a mistake to have the surgery. Good luck to you. I will be pulling for your success - whichever path you choose.

I will be sleeved 4 months as of the 22nd of this month. If I go 4-5 hours without putting Protein in my stomach, I get hungry. Other than that - I don't get hungry. I do get that old response sometimes - the "I'm bored, let's get something to eat " - head hunger - but that is easy to ignore. Sometimes, if I forget to drink, my thirst is easy to mistake for hunger. So - the first thing I do if I ever feel hungry is to drink Water. My acid doesn't feel like hunger - it feels like acid - which is different to me. If you do feel hungry - drink a cup of boullion and see if that helps.

:P :P :P My wedding rings fit! YEA!

1) Weigh Less than my husband (Reached this one)! 2) Be smaller than my husband's ex wife (Reached this one, too) 3) Able to wear my original wedding rings again (Got this one this weekend) 4) Be able to wear shorts in public (am doing this for the first time in many years) and a swimsuit (not there yet) 5) Be able to exercise again and not think I'm going to die while doing it (am starting to do this now - it is still tough!) 6) Be able to play / run around with my grandkids 7) Be able to "play" with my husband like we used to 8) Not be discounted at work because I'm fat 9) Not be ashamed to be in pictures, or in any life-situation because of my size 10) Wear the size clothes I want to wear 11)Not die from weight related complications 12)Not feel like a failure in life because I COULDN'T CONTROL MY WEIGHT

I wouldn't wish an IUD on my worst enemy! I had a horrible experience with one, and ended up having a hysterectomy.

The Wall Streeet Journal has an interesting article: Does this Sales Trip make me look fat? http://blogs.wsj.com/in-charge/2011/05/06/does-this-sales-trip-make-me-look-fat/?KEYWORDS=make+me+look+fat I know that travelling can definately blow a healthy eating lifestyle. I went from a size 8 who exercised six days a week to taking a job where I travelled 80% of the time continuously for a year. The only workouts I got were at restaurant tables - lifting a knife and fork; airports schlepping a bag; and powershopping in the stores as I started going back up in size. I want some hints from sleevers that travel. Two questions: 1) How do you maintain your post-goal weight while travelling? or: 2) What do you do while losing toward your goal while you are travelling to stay on plan? Look forward to hearing from you all - this is a great site for real suggestions from people who know what they are talking about.

I too am a Christian. Your question reminds me of a joke ( I am not making light of your question - there is a point to the joke.) It is not my intent to offend anyone's faith here. A man lived in a house close to the river. The river was swollen with flood waters; the waters were still rising. Authorities were telling people to evacuate. The man refused to go, saying he was a Christian and God would provide for him. As the waters were rising and he was forced to go to the second floor of his house to get away from the flood waters, friends in a small boat came by to rescue him. He refused to go, saying again he was a Christian and God would provide. The waters continued to rise, and the man was forced to go onto his roof. A police yatch came by and told the man to get in the boat - they would take him to safety. Again, he said the same thing and the police reluctantly left him on his roof. A little later, a rescue helicopter hovered over him, dropping the ladder down so he could climb on - only the very highest part of his roof was still out of Water. And again - he refused to go - saying God would provide. Well - the man drowned. He went to Heaven, and stood before St. Peter at the gate. He wasn't very happy - and St. Peter asked what was bothering him. He told St. Peter he was surprised he had drowned - he had expected God to save him. St. Peter said to him "Who do you think sent the two boats and the helicopter?" I view the sleeve as my personal ladder coming down from the helicopter. Dr. Nick did the surgery - but the man upstairs definately played a major role in my success with the sleeve.

Before I was sleeved, I bought a 35 oz (2.2 pound) cannister of nectar brand whey proten isolate, lemon tea flavor. I have used 1 scoop of Protein from it. I am now getting my protein from food, and am no longer using the powder. It tastes fine - I just don't need it. If someone would like it (a $28 value) and has a paypal account - I will send it to you for $10 + shipping. Let me know.

I was sleeved on 2/22 of this year, so I am approaching my 4 month mark. Since I started the presurgery diet - I have lost ~ 66 pounds. I have lost from a 24W to a 16W. I've lost 6" from my waist and 7" from my bust and hips. Gotten off half my blood pressure med already. I love the sleeve! My side effects include reflux - but easily controlled by pills; being in "puberty hell" from the hormones being released into my system from the fat cells that are disappearing; and some "brain fog" (discussed on a different thread). Well worth the issues to be losing the weight! I'm not wrinkled to badly - but my skin is really loose. Think of a tomatoe or a peach after you have blanched it then plunged it into ice Water. Know how loose the skin on those are? That's how mine is right now. I have been bad and haven't been exercising to get it tightened back up. But, I start Zoomba/Zumba tomorrow - so that should tighten things up.

I'll take think with brain fog any day over what I was before I started.!

Pardon me for digressing from ROOTMAN's issue (glad you are doing better, Rootman). 16 OZ of water is NOT ENOUGH. Force yourself to drink more - small sips all day. You will end up in the emergency room with an IV needle in your arm if you don't. Take care of yourself - please.

Back in the 1980's I worked with a guy that probably weighed ~ 400 pounds. He had to fly frequently and his normal practice was to either upgrade to first class, or buy a second coach seat, so he could comfortably fit in coach. Even though he worked for a living - he was actually independently wealthy - and worked for the joy of what he did. The money wasn't a problem for him - he just wanted to be comfortable. If I knew an airlines policy was to charge fat people for two seats - I would book two seats next to each other when I was making the reservation. By god, if they charge me for two, I'm going to get two! Then you could be comfortable flying. As crammed together as the seats in coach are these days - it would be heavenly. Even when I hit goal - I wish I had the money to routinely book two seats. It would keep the person next to you from boring you to death with talking, or spreading germs on you. I used to have to fly a lot. All airlines seat belts are not the same length. Some are as much as 4-6" shorter than others. At my heaviest, I was right on the borderline of needing the seatbelt extender. Some flights I had to have one, some not. And I overcame the discomfort of asking. Thankfully those days (both traveling frequently and needing the extender) are behind me.

Irene - you are an inspiration. Your progress is amazing and your pictures certainly show the results! About your stomach being sensitive to foods that are too high in fat or too "carby" - I am right there with you. I am trying to find some types of beef that I can eat because I am anemic (even though I am on iron supplements). So far, pot roast or meatloaf seem to do OK and not give me that sick feeling you describe. Grilled steak or burgers don't set well at all. The first time I ate one of those, I had to go back on lquids for a couple of days to get over the sick feeling. Oh well, I'm thrilled with my sleeve - I'm willing to give up heavy beef and pork dishes to continue of my journey to being thin. I look forward to your posts - you always have something interesting to say.

I admire you for going through the couseling to identify what was causing your overeating. That is a HUGE step. I am so pleased with my sleecve - it is really the right choice for me. I wish you good luck with your weight loss journey.

Don't let it bother you! I agree with you, the HR lady shouldn't have asked.

I will include you in my prayers. Here is hoping you have a speedy recovery.

I drink the chocolate and the vanilla. It is only vanilla ready to drink I can stand the taste of. There are a few varieties of this product - some with higher or lower carbs - I go for the low carb varieties. Years ago when I was thin and compulsively working out - my trainer would have me drink one after a hardworkout. I agree with the earlier post - I don't think they are bad for you, I believe they are a reliable source of good Protein.

Where do yout get the collagen and the other drug you are taking? Are either prescription drugs?

MY HUNGER IS GONE. If I go 4-5 hours without putting a little bit of Protein in my stomach - I feel the need to eat (kind of a blood surgar sag / hungry feeling)- but other than that - it's gone. 1) How long have you been sleeved? 3 1/2 months 2) Who was your surgeon? Dr. Nicholson from Plano, TX 3) What were your experiences with your surgeon? HE IS GREAT! 4) Would you recommend your surgeon? ABSOLUTELY! 5) How much weight have you lost since your sleeve date? 63 pounds 6) What type of sleeve do you have? Heck if I know - it works great. 7) Would you recommend the type of sleeve you have? Yes 8) Do you find you still have the necessary level of energy to sustain a good workout? Right now, I am anemic - so I get tired after 15 to 20 minutes. As my Iron levels get back to normal, I will get more stamina 9) Do you find it difficult to keep the weight off once you have lost it? Still losing- not the right person to ask 10) Do you have trouble eating, such as getting �stuck�? If I eat past the point of being satisfied/full - it is uncomfortable.(Did that once) Nothing has ever gotten stuck. 11) What is the one things about getting the surgery that you regret? Not doing it sooner - but my insurance just started accepting the sleeve - and I wouldn't want any other kind of WLS 12) Would you do this surgery again, or would you have made another choice? Yes, I would do it again. I have no interest in getting banded, having a duodenal switch, or getting a bypass.

I had my surgery February 22, so I am 3 1/2 months out. I have lost 63 pounds and about the same number of inches as pounds. I have lost 7" from my bust and hips and 6" from my waist. I was wearing size 24 W - now i am wearing a size 16W. My BMI has dropped from 42 to 32. I have gotten off of most of my meds - still take one blood pressure med and estrogen (since I had a hysterectomy years ago) and all the recommended Vitamins. My bloodwork at the 3 month mark was remarkably better than pre-surgery. My total cholesterol, "good" cholesterol, and "bad" cholesterol were normal. My triglycerides were normal and half of their pre-surgery level. The only reading not normal is my Iron - I am anemic. I am taking iron and eating red meat to fix that issue. I am sleeping much better than before surgery. My sleep apnea is GONE. I still snore - so my husband is still having to tolerate that - but no gasping and choking in my sleep like before. I feel much better than before surgery - my joints don't hurt nearly like they used to. I have a bad ankle (car wreck souvenir) and it doesn't bother me as much as it did. I am fatigued at the end of the day - but as I get my anemia under control - that will lessen. The rapid weight loss has released all the estrogen stored in those fat cells into my bloodstream - so I am like a pubescent 13 year old - or a pregnant woman - my hormones are raging. I vary from wanting to tear someone's head off that ticked me off, to weeping easily, to wanting to distract my husband for fun and games. If that's the worst side effect from losing weight - I can handle that! So far - no hair loss. But I am OK if it all falls out - that's what wigs are for. Even if it all goes - it will come back. I am having reflux - but that is to be expected. And, I had reflux years ago when I was skinny - so I am pre-disposed to that problem. There are good meds out there, and I'm sure this problem will go away as I get further from my surgery date. I don't have major issues with craving any food. I eat small quantities of the stuff I want. I focus on eating Protein first, then veggies. I eat some dairy (cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt). I don't eat complex carbs yet - don't have room for them after the important stuff is eaten. I am much happier with myself than pre-surgery. As the t-shirt company's slogan says "Life is Good."

How wonderful for you! I love "shopping" from my saved "skiiny" clothes.

Just to add my two cents - I tried alcohol twice recently. I am 3 months out from surgery, so it was really too soon to try it. But I wanted to know. The first time, I drank 1/4 cup of beer - slowly - sipping it with little baby sips. After the 1/4 cup, I had a buzz like I had just downed a couple of shots of tequila (back when I was young and stupid). No ill effects the next day - and I had allowed for the carbs in my daily carb allotment. The next week, I tried 2 tablespoons of a fine tequila. Again, I sipped it with hummingbird sips - and got a distinct glow from it. No ill effects again, and I had allowed for the carbs and calories. Experiments complete. I don't plan on having any more alcohol until I hit goal. I think it would be GREAT if sugar made me sick. I had that reaction to it after I was without it for over a year when dieting several years ago. That response makes it easier for me to leave the sweet stuff alone.

I am so happy for you! Thank you for the thoughtful and honest post. I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes by smoothly and quickly for you. Your pictures are adorable.

When the scale isn't showing you any love, ignore it for a few days. If you can't NOT step on it when it is out in the open - put is in the closet. Instead of the scales - compare your measurements with before measurements. Sometimes, if you are losing pounds, the inches come of slowly and visa versa. Or, if you haven't measured - try on some clothes that you used to wear and see how lose they are now. Or, if you have skinny clothes in your closet, see which ones you can wear now - or "almost" wear. The weight will come of - hang in there.