PdxMan

From my own personal experience, sleeve was the decision I felt was best for me. I had severe reflux issues and weighed just over 300 pounds. Unknown to me, I had a hiatal hernia, which the surgeon said was most likely the cause of my reflux issues. He repaired that when he did my sleeve. My surgery was almost 3 years ago and I have only had one bout with reflux since surgery, which was pretty amazing considering I had bottles of Tums all around and took Prilosec constantly. If you know what a hiatal hernia is, then you know those things are not going to cure reflux. The sleeve surgery and repair of the hernia, did. I have also lost my excess weight. At one point, I had lost over 145 pounds dropping down to under 160#, but I received so many comments at how gaunt I looked and when my wife also said I was too skinny, I put 25# back on. I now sit at a very happy, healthy 185-190# range. I can eat anything and everything I wish, just smaller quantities. I have no malabsorption issues and am enjoying my new relationship with food.

Lots of excellent advise. And PDXman did say it best. I was actually referring to real people I know. Looking back, I didn't realize what I said could be used for the forum as well. I guess I'm frustrated from my friends, whining and crying, while shoveling crap into their mouth. While I'm over her trying to be Miss Goody Two Shoes. I should try to stop watching others and worry about myself. That's when I actually do my best. Because when it comes down to the scale, it's me and the scale. Thanks all!!! I think everything in the thread can be used for real life as well as the forum. As I mentioned, all we really need to do is be accountable to ourselves and keep our side of the street clean. Don't let people's egos or behaviors affect you.

We all do not measure success in the same way. One person may only want to lose enough weight to get off of some medications or be eligible for knee surgery. We don't know what everyone's story is nor should we want to. The only thing we need to worry about is keeping our side of the street clean. Do not measure other people's journey's by your own measure of success. I can guarantee you the folks on here will never be able to meet your expectations. Remember, expectations are merely future resentments. Do yourself a favor and don't take other people's inventory. But don't let that keep you from sharing your experiences. When you share your experience, strength and hope, the one you are helping is yourself. Keep it real, folks. Remember where we all came from, lest we be damned to repeat it.

I also want to encourage everyone to not worry about what they will or will not be able to eat a year from now. Just take it one day at a time. Today, you cannot control what you put in your mouth a year from now, so don't worry about it. Just do the right thing today. Prepare for tomorrow today. When tomorrow arrives, follow your plan. Keep doing this one day at a time and you will be successful.

My friends keep scolding me because I say "I ONLY lost fifteen pounds in the first four weeks post op". They all think it's great, but I'm comparing it to my friend who lost almost 30. It's hard not to compare. Tell your friend to "F-off" If you think about it, it really doesn't make any sense to compare. What are you really comparing? There is no way two people came to the starting line with the same backgrounds. Let's think about the differences: - Age - Gender - Weight loss experience - Percentage of body fat (not BMI, that is almost worthless) - Amount of musculature - BMR - Pre-op weight loss (a person who lost 10# pre-op will appear to be a slower loser than the person who did not have a pre-op diet, which can throw your mind off) - Fitness level (I can be fat, yet still fit and when doing an exercise class with someone who is not, my body will get to an aerobic zone sooner) The list goes on and on. The only reason to compare yourself to another is to either make them or yourself feel bad. At least, that is what the end result always seems to be. It just does no good and there really is no basis for whatever results you discover from your comparison. What does it mean, anyway? They are more/less compliant than you? They have more/less willpower than you? You are more/less of a person than they are? Just stay focused on your program and stay as compliant to the guidelines as you can, and in 12 months you will see how little was gained and how much was lost by comparing.

This was my thing, too. I worried about not being able to eat some foods, but I later learned what I mourned was not being able to abuse food the way I used to. That is just sick thinking, but it was my reality. I was satisfied quantity wise and the flavor was great ... but I still wanted more. Watching other people having more made me sad. But, I looked deep into what I was looking to fill and these discoveries have been a side benefit I did not expect.

As long as you are following the guidelines as closely as possible, then you will lose at the rate your body and composition is supposed to. Try not to compare yourself to others as no two people are alike. Only disappointment results from comparisons as there is no way to satisfy your expectations. Just keep doing the next right thing and you will lose weight.

Popcorn is one of the last things to be cleared for. Just like foods which contain seeds, the thought behind it is you do not want anything getting "stuck" in the suture line during the healing process. It would infect and all sorts of ickyness will soon follow. I believe I was around 6 months post before I had popcorn for the first time. No rush ... the day will come again.

I know I could have lost weight without bariatric surgery. After all, I have done it many, many times in the past. I had done it with fad diet methods and doing it purely by eating less and working out. Grapefruit, cabbage, Atkins, South Beach ... each one, I lost weight. A lot of weight. I was very successful at them, because, they work. But maintaining them ... now that is something else altogether different. Could I really maintain the grapefruit or cabbage diet ... ? No ... Atkins? Well, I lost about 40 pounds in 6 months on that one, and lord knows I tried to maintain, but alas, a year later, I had gained 50. One injury after another derailed my intense exercise routine, so add another 40 there. The bottom line, for me, was yes, I could lose weight "on my own", but I had great difficulty maintaining. I have been at goal and maintaining just fine for over 2 years now. This is something I have never been able to do before and has been the help I was looking for with VSG.

I believe with my place you could "rent a nurse" for $250. Might want to check that out. Where is the hospital?

Hey GamerGirl, glad you took your break and happy to see you back. Hope all is well.

If you are doing exercises where you are burning these levels of calories, then you need to be recovering just like any other type of athlete. This is a huge strain on your system and helping your body recover is extremely important. Ask any casual runner who goes out for their Saturday long run ... they have to have a recovery plan. Not only to get themselves back, but also to make their exercise worth while. If you do not recover properly, you are not getting all of the benefits of said exercise.

I was outpatient and I had a very easy recovery. That being said, I was SO THANKFUL to have my wife around for the few days post surgery. There are just so many little things that you just don't think of where it is soooo nice to have someone help you. And again, I had a very easy recovery. I would hate to imagine if I was dealing with any issues. Even normal, post anesthesia kind of weirdness. This is major surgery. You are going to have 85% of your stomach removed. How much are you willing to gamble on your amazingness?

So, let me ask you this ... how compliant to the guidelines are you? Please know that I am not perfect. I don't want to come across as someone who is 100% compliant. I follow more of the 90/10 line, meaning, 90% of the time I eat nutritious, balanced meals, 10% of the time, I don't. It works for me. But when I read something like what you wrote, "I have no surprises", it makes me wonder about compliance. If you know you are compliant, then you should have nothing to worry about. It's that little voice inside my head that tells me when I am out of balance on my 90/10 plan that tells me I should be worried. Know what I mean?

Congrats on your surgery and heading in the right direction. That is awesome. I don't mean to poop on your party, but I do have to mention that the first 10 come off pretty easy and quickly. This is similar to like all the other diets I tried where I would lose 10 in the first week and then struggle after. I would get discouraged and throw in the towel. The difference here, though, is the sleeve doesn't really allow us to do that, but mentally, it can be frustrating. If you have been reading the forums you will see this common theme. Just know that this is normal. Also know, that you have the 3rd week stall coming up. This, too, is completely normal. It is a part of the journey as your body gets accustomed to your new consumption. Again, congrats! 10 pounds which are never coming back.

You'll be fine to do ordinary household stuff in a couple weeks. Again, even today, if you are smart about it. Just listen to your body. It is OK to take a break every 5 minutes. Sometimes, that is the only way to get through this early out. 5 minutes at a time.

Where are you at on your journey? Your profile isn't filled in, so I can't figure this one out. If you are newly sleeved, then being dehydrated can cause this. Of course, contact your medical team for best advice.

You know, setting goal weight makes me a little crazy. What does it really mean? I struggled with what my goal weight "should" be, but then decided to just throw it out the window. I figured I would just keep exercising (I ran and did classes and WT, too) and my body and my weight would be what it would be. I know if I got discouraged and gave up, I would definitely not reach ANY goals, so, I just kept doing what I was doing and only weigh once a month. I was feeling great, exercising like I had never done before and reaching levels of fitness I never knew I could achieve. I was looking great and feeling great. Isn't that my true goal anyway? Who cares what the scale says? It only measures weight, not fat and it definitely doesn't measure my overall health, so ... why get on it?

When was your surgery? Lifting laundry, you can do right now. Just be smart. You do not have to remove the entire contents of the dryer at once. You can move small amounts into the clothes basket, dump it in the bedroom and return for more. The bottom line for lifting is to be smart about it. You should be able to lift pretty much everything around the house, but I love the idea of making the spouse do it ... As far as how long until fully recovered, my Dr said 6 weeks for the suture line to fully scar over the staples.

For the most part, we're just happy to get you naked. We're not going to complain. But that said, I think there is a tipping point, but it is much higher than I'm guessing most women would believe. Knowing what my skin looks like after 120# lost, I would generalize saying a 200# loss might get me to go, "Woa". Would give me pause before going back for seconds, maybe, but I think it would be dependent on the overall performance, if you know what I mean.

Two weeks of Protein shakes for breakfast/lunch and a lean and green dinner. First 5 days was hard, but then after that, I was all good.

How long ago did your Dr tell you this? At 10 months out, you should have progressed to eating a balanced diet of Protein and veggies. Are you trying to do low carb? If so, I can almost assure you that is the reason why your energy is low. Carbs are quickly converted to glycogen and stored in your liver. Glycogen is what your body needs for energy. Did you have your surgery in the U.S.? Do you have access to a nutritionist? Have you tried Premier Protein shakes from Costco/Sam's Club? Many, many folks who have struggled with protein shakes have found them tasty. But, I'm more concerned that you aren't able to eat a balanced diet. Are you to tell me all you eat all day long is meat or meat type products?

You're allowed to have anything you want. You just have to be prepared to accept the consequences. But, you do know that the "energy drinks" are not really that great for you, right? It's like asking if I can have a cigarette 10 months post. Sure I can, but after going so long without, why would I want to put something in my body like that? If you are looking for energy, look at your general nutrition. Are you getting enough carbs? Healthy carbs, like veggies, legumes ... Are you getting any exercise? Walks?