PdxMan

Did they have the Premier brand? I love those.

Hmmm ... not here. I would say I was/am just the opposite. Early on, the food and flavours did get monotonous. The textures were all the same and the flavors, while good, became stale. I seeked out bold flavors such as sharp cheddar and blue cheeses, vinegar based sauces ... anything with a bold flavor. And now, since I am over 10 months out and can eat anything, I can honestly say my post-op food selections are pretty much EXACTLY what I was eating pre-op. Just FAAAAR smaller quantities. Now what might be the issue ... IMO ... is fear. I did worry about what would happen if I return to my old eating habits. Before I started seeking out bolder flavors, I was afraid. I was losing weight doing what I was doing, eating the same foods day after day, so why should I change? What if it hurts to eat those foods again? What if I gorge myself and stretch my sleeve? Well, I didn't worry about the last one as I had a talk with my surgeon about stretching the sleeve, but I know that is a big concern amongst a lot of people here. So, he may just need a kick in his complacency, but I think it has to be a self-kick. You can suggest, but it is a demon he has to address and conquer himself.

Whew! I was worried there about my guys ... "Uhhh ... Doctor ... there's something you didn't tell me you were going to do ..."

I didn't lose length, but width. Went from wide to normal. Down 120#

Well, if I find myself on fire, I think I have other things to worry about. But barring that, I think there are other ways to survive and thrive than feeding on our fellow Earthlings. Yes, they are tasty, but I think they may object if they had a say in it. But that is another topic for another thread.

Congrats! I am happy you are happy with your decision. I know I am with my sleeve.

No ... you just supported a long held mystery of women and sex.

What exactly does THAT mean?

You'll know if it doesn't feel right. I hope you are with a partner who understands what you are going through and is OK, if you say, "Wait, something doesn't feel right", but lose the anxiety surrounding it. It really isn't a big deal. Just go nice and slow. You may actually enjoy it. Ever hear of scissor position? Not a problem.

One day, this too, is my goal. I have done it before, but my relationship with food was so poor that I could not see it for what it needs to be, for me. With the sleeve, that relationship has changed and my confidence in being stronger over food allows me to think that I can do it. Just like when I was first sleeved, I have to set myself up for success and be sure that I am mentally ready for that next step. I am not there now, but I can see a day when I will be. As far as ability to get the needed Proteins, I think it would be difficult to do early out. But now, at 10 months out, I have learned what I can eat and how to work the sleeve to my needs. I'm pretty sure the average vegan is not a food gorger and now, neither am I, so, I know I can do this.

4 days here. Just do whatever feels right and no swinging from the tightropes.

I forgot to add about fruit. As I work out a lot, fruit is one of the best ways for me to get my carbs in. I don't recommend this for the average Joe Sleever, but if you are working out at the levels I am, it is difficult to get healthy carbs in. I don't really eat breads, Pasta and rice as, for me, they are nutritionally void. I know a lot of folks go for the low carb route, but if you are active, your body needs carbs.

I had only been able to follow a diet plan for a few weeks, maybe a couple months in previous weight loss attempts, so I know what you mean. What will make this different ... ? For me, as a participant in other 12 step programs, I had to come to grips with the fact I was powerless over food and I could not do this on my own. I needed help. I needed a fundamental change in my relationship with food. If a candidate cannot accept this as a fact, I think their WLS journey will be a more difficult one as the demons in your head don't leave just because your stomach has been shrunk. A change must also occur in the head.

Catracks, my salads and Soups always include a lean meat. My soups usually have chicken, turkey or ham. My salads have tuna, chicken, ham, turkey or shrimp, and I don't spare the quantity, either. Usually 3 to 4 oz, at least. Yes, it does take me half to an hour to eat the salad, but since the soups have a liquid composition, I can get them down much quicker, for sure. About once a week, I will grab a 6 oz beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon. My daughter helps me out eating a few bites. I will do this a couple days before a race to get my Iron up. Takes me awhile to eat it, but I get 'er down! It is just too good.

LOL!! I wondered this, too. Now, 10 months post op, I don't want it back. We all have our relationships with food. Mine was unhealthy, for sure. I went for the quantity and snacking, not necessarily the unhealthy. After the surgery, I was a little sad that I could not gorge myself like I used to, but then I was physically becoming the person I had always envisioned myself to be. At that point, I was so happy that my relationship with food had changed. Yes, I still eat. Often. But the quantity is soooo much less. With the sleeve, it still gives me the feeling of satiety, which is what I always yearned for pre-sleeve. For me, this is exactly what I needed.

I have excess skin, but would I call it an issue? No Do I have a lot? No I can pinch half and inch on my thighs and arms. About and inch on my hiney. My torso is where I held most of my fat as I think most guys do, so that is where I have most of my extra skin. I can pinch a good 2, 3 inches just about anywhere there. I also have the turkey skin under by chin. 2 years post op, I will assess where I am at with the excess skin. I am relatively young (45), but I was a smoker and have gained and lost weight over the years, which will cost me in the skin elasticity department. I'll wait until then to worry about what I am going to do, but until then, I am going to work out and get my fluids. There is a great post that has been stickied concerning excess skin. I'll definately take the turkey neck over the high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heavy breathing climbing stairs ...

Rough outline 7:00 - Wake up with Protein shake 8:00 - Go to work 8:30 - Eat banana 9:30 - coffee 10:00 - prunes 10:30 - Water 11:00 - apple 11:30 - Soup 12:30 - coffee 1:30 - orange 2:30 - water 3:00 - something sweet from HR 3:30 - water 4:30 - water 5:00 - crackers/cheese 5:30 - water - running 6:30 - water - Protein Drink 7:00 - salad 7:30 - water 9:00 - snack 10:00 - water 10:30 - bed 11:00 - sleep.

Yeah, I kinda feel like Cat and Wheetsin, I can't tell the difference between a snack and a meal. I pretty much have something next to me all the time. Just finished my tuna salad and right now, I have an orange next to me. I won't eat anything on my train ride home, but then I will grab a couple crackers with cheese. Probably have soup for dinner and then a couple more crackers with cheese after that. In the morning, I'll wake up to a protein shake, then a banana, some prunes and then turkey chili, then back to my orange. I am pretty much eating all day long. When I am not eating, I am drinking water or a gatorade type liquid and I try to space that out so I am not eating/drinking at the same time.

Oh man, I hear you. I remember early out I just craved any food with texture. Salads, especially. But ... salads are difficult for the stomach to digest. A normal one, even. So, a sleeved one needs some time. I believe I was about 3 months out before I slowly introduced them. I started with iceburg and slowly added romain, then added spinach. At about 6 months I was able to eat anything. Having a romain and spinach with tuna and blue cheese crumbles for lunch today. Yum!!

Do a site search (upper right corner on web browser) for head hunger. Just because our stomach shrunk, doesn't mean our brain knows that.

Just got back from Disneyland a couple weeks ago. Went to McD's a couple times. The grilled chx salad was perfect. Shared with the wife and still had leftovers.

As I understand it, New_Hope is correct. Because our stomachs are so much smaller, we don't have the quantity of bacteria we used to have. They aid in the digestion of the food. Having the food broken down better allows nutrients to be better absorbed in the intestines. Perhaps this allows your body to not crave certain foods as its nutritional needs are being met better, therefore you don't eat as much food ...?

Walking and light ellipitical are great choices. I like elliptical better. Have you ever seen those treadmill tradgedies? That would not be good on a new sleeve.

The extra skin question is a tough one. It depends on: genetics age whether you were a smoker or drinker did you bear children ... twins, perhaps have you lost a lot of weight previously and regained ... more ... multiple times ... how obese you are where you carry your weight how long you have been obese musculature amount of weight loss rate of weight loss ... Very difficult to compare with others and to do so, I think, would be meaningless. I know it is a concern and is a reality. I have extra skin, but time will tell if I need to have something done. I plan on waiting two years post sleeve and will assess then. Until then, I am not going to worry about it. It is what it is. I'm just happy I am no longer obese and am healthier.

The 20-25 pounds you are referencing is not lost fat. Maybe a couple pounds ... yes, but let's look at this objectively. It is widely accepted that 1 pound represents 3,500 calories. Consume 3,500 more calories than you burn, you gain a pound. Burn 3,500 calories more than you consume, you lose a pound. So: 3,500 x 20 (lbs) = 70,000 That means, over whatever period of time your chose (1, 2 weeks) you need to run a deficeit of 70,000 calories ... Hmmm ... So, hopefully you can see there is no possible way to do that, even with the sleeve. So, what could it be? Water. Water is heavy and easily moved in (pre-sleeve) and not so much after sleeving. So, just listen to your Dr, do what you are supposed to do and get rid of the scale. It is completely meaningless at this point in your story. You are losing fat, but not much. You are also going to be losing muscle, so be sure to get your Protein in to help combat that. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.