Fusilli66

I am 4 weeks from surgery and I am constantly thinking of things I want to do that I haven't been able to because of my weight. I'm sure this has been posted before, but for us newbies, lets keep track of the things we want to be able to do after we have lost our weight.... I want to... Buy underwear & bras at Victorias Secret instead of Lane Bryant

I am almost 4 months out from surgery now and have lost almost 60 lbs (some pre-op but most since surgery). I have gone from a size 20 to a size 14 in the blink of an eye and I'm still losing. My life has changed in so many ways. I feel better, the constant pain in my back is gone, I breathe easier, I have energy to do things and for sure I look better. I was aware of all of these things. But Sunday I was made aware of something else.....how much happier I am. Obviously I'm happy with the loss and all that has come with it, but I didn't realize that I am just generally a happier person. I am always in a good mood, I'm not moody at all, I have little stress and I just love life again, something I hadn't done in a long time. On Sunday I went to a super bowl party and having seen someone I hadn't seen since last summer, she of course mentioned my weight loss and how good I looked. But she ended it with saying that there is something in my face that she can see that I just look happier. So interesting. I hadn't realized it before how unhappy I was, and how I was putting that out there. I didn't realize that I gave off an unhappy air. I am very lucky, I have a good life, a husband, 2 great sons, a job, a home. I am one of the lucky ones. But I never felt happy. I guess I was depressed, although I did antidepressants for a while and they didn't change anything. But the fact is I was standing in the way of my own happiness by allowing myself to get fatter and fatter. I don't know why, but I was. There was very little I enjoyed in life, other than food. I was my own worst enemy. And I am so glad I am not anymore. I just wake up happier, I like what I see in the mirror, I like how my clothes fit. I like just throwing something on to go to work and not having to spend 20 minutes figuring out how to make it look ok. I just get dressed now, any pants, any shirt, any shoes and they all look good. I like how I feel. I used to feel like I was wearing a fat suit that I couldn't take off. I always felt heavy, bloated, lumpy. Now I feel lighter....metaphorically, as well as literally. This surgery was the best thing I ever did - it has changed my life in more ways than I ever thought it would. It isn't just about dropping pounds, its about changing your life physically and emotionally. Thanks for reading, I just needed to share!

I'm so glad you guys liked my post. It is truly how I feel and I was hoping I would help someone else. Pay it forward. I was never nervous about the surgery but there was a little apprehension. But reading posts like this kept me inspired, pre and post op and I wanted to do that to. Before surgery I didn't tell very many people that I was having it. Since surgery I tell almost everyone. I have no reason not to and I want to be an advocate for it and inspire others. When I look in the mirror sometimes I can't believe what I see. And this is still at 190 lbs! I can't imagine how I will continue to feel 20 or 30 lbs from now. Quite frankly, I am so happy at 190, that even if I never lost another pound again I could live the rest of my life at this weight and be happy with myself. My goal is set a little high, higher than what 'they" consider a normal BMI to be. But I don't really care. I'm 45 years old, 5' 5", I was 140 lbs. when I was 21 and really don't expect or even want to be 140 lbs again. I think 165 is good for me, for my body. I like curves, I like a little meat, I like having a full butt, thats just me. It's all about doing this for yourself and making yourself happy!

I was so excited to get the call yesterday that I was approved for my surgery on 10/11! And I was so happy with the whole process. My insurance has always been GHI - CBP for City of NY Employees. Years ago I had looked into getting the surgery, but they didn't cover it at all then. Now they do (for a few years I believe). Anyway, there requirements are BMI of 40 or 35 with a co-morbidity. Also the 6 month thing and psych evaluation. Mine was 40.2 and I had 2 co-morbidites - sleep apnea and osteoarthritis (which not every insurance company accepts, but they do). Originally my doctors office said they had to schedule surgery in order to submit it to the insurance company with a surgery date. I thought they were nuts. I asked them, what if we schedule surgery and then they deny. They told me not to worry, I had met all the requirements and there was no reason for them to deny it. They just said the only problem with GHI is that they take about 5 weeks to approve so we would schedule for 6 weeks out. Then, once all of my doctors visits were complete and I had the clearance from the cardio and all the others I got a call from the doctors office scheduling me for 10/11 which was only 4 weeks out. I told them it was too soon because of my insurance company. But they told me, no it wasn't because GHI is now EmblemHealth and although GHI takes a long time, EmblemHealth is much quicker and thats who they were submitting it to. So they submitted last Monday and I got the approval yesterday in only 1 week! Very happy about the whole thing. I just wish the surgery was sooner now! I just can't wait. It's 3 weeks from today and they time is going very slow but I'm sure it will be here in the blink of any eye. So that's my insurance story for any of you GHI/Emblem people out there.

I ate an awful lot of Egg Drop soup in the beginning, and still do sometimes. It goes down easy and the eggs are protein. Win Win in my book. Enjoy.

I cleaned out my closet on New Years Eve. I decided that was a good "out with old" day. I had been putting things in bags and bringing them to the church prior to that, but just little by little. On New Years I went crazy and got rid of almost everything in my closet and dresser drawers. I am 3 months out and have dropped from a size 20/22 to a comfortable 16 and some 14's. I went from a 2XL top to a regular Large or XL. I am a busty so I still need XL's for the girls. I ended up bringing 4 large black garbage bags overflowing with clothes to the church. It felt so good! My closet is a little thin right now, but my Mom let me "shop" in her closet and she gave me some sweaters and stuff to get through the winter. I also bought a couple of pairs of jeans (which are already getting big). I am trying not to shop too much, but I am going on a cruise in 4 weeks and do need some stuff. Plus, I am finding shopping addicting! I used to hate to shop. Hated trying on, hated how I looked, just hated it. Now I'm loving it!

The problem probably isn't the Water, but the temperature of the water. I have the same problem, still, and I am 3 months out. I can tolerate it better now but still any cold beverage feels stuck in my chest. In the beginning it actually caused me pain in my chest. Warm liquids go down really well. I realize warm water isn't all that appealing, but tea is fine. I have learned to love teas - green tea, peppermint, chamomile. The go down great and count towards water. Good luck to you!

I haven't posted alot in a while, not since maybe a few weeks after my surgery. But I felt compelled to share my story because I am so happy and I want to give hope to those who need it. I was one of those. I needed hope because I had none, until today. I am 45 years old, 5'5", mother, wife, and I have been obese for just about all of my adult life. I wasn't always obese. I was actually a thin child and a thin but shapely teenager. It wasn't until my 20's when the weight piled on. It started with the bliss of being married (when I was 21) and continued throughout motherhood. I gained most of my weight after my first son was born. From there it just ballooned up and up over the years and I hovered around 225 for most of the years. In January 2001 I started Weight Watchers and it was the only actual success I had over the years. I started at 220 and by September I was down to 180. It took me 9 months to lose 40 lbs. I live in New York and on 9/11/01 I stopped going to WW, stopped caring, and rapidly put all the weight and then some back on. In the last 10 years I was close to 250. I never actually got to that dreaded number (not at least where I actually saw the number on a scale, I avoided that by avoiding scales for many years). So I probably did hit 250 or so at some point. When I started this journey around this past January, the scale said 249 so that is the number I go by. When I say I had no hope, I really mean that. I never believed I would ever see this day. I didn't believe the surgery would be approved by my insurance company. Even when they did approve it, I kept expecting them to change their mind. Every day leading up to the surgery I kept expecting the other shoe to drop. Didn't know what it was, but I was so unbelievable pessimistic about it. As the surgery day approached and I had to follow a 4 week liquid pre op diet, I thought I would die. I wanted to quit. I considered cancelling my surgery. I never in a million years thought I would be able to handle 4 weeks of liquid. I cried alot during those 4 weeks, had a breakdown or two, but I lived through it. The one thing I never thought would happen, and thankfully didn't, was complications from surgery. I knew if I got through the surgery, it would go well. I am generally in good health so I expected it to go as well as it did. A little bit of optimism in a pessimistic world I was living in. The one thing I really was worried about was that it wouldn't work. That I would lose really really slowly, or not at all. So here I am, 10 weeks post op, and I have dropped 50 lbs. When I say 50 lbs, I count from where I was when I started. In actuality I lost 12 lbs. in the months leading up to surgery, I lost another 12 lbs on the 4 week pre op diet, and the rest has come off since the surgery. I just wanted that to be clear to you guys, but to me it doesn't matter how its sliced. I am still 50 lbs lighter than I was a year ago. Seeing the 199 on the scale this morning was indescribable. It is a feeling you can't get from anything. It's an old metaphor but it is so true - nothing has ever tasted as good as that felt! So for all of you without hope, please have hope. It does happen, it can happen. It happened to me and I never ever thought it could. In the past 10 weeks I have had weeks where I gained a pound and weeks where I have lost only 1 pound (3 weeks in a row) then all of a sudden drop 4 or 5 lbs. It is frustrating but it does come off eventually. I shop in regular stores now. I am a 16 in pants (from a 20) and a regular XL in shirts. I cancelled my Lane Bryant charge card. I tuck shirts in. I wear leggings. I wear sexy bras. I don't feel like everyone is staring at me anymore. I like what I see in the mirror. I get out of bed in the morning and don't have any pain in my back or legs. I can breathe easier. I can run on a treadmill. I don't lose my breath walking up stairs. I still have some ways to go, but my life is infinitely better than it was. Thank you to all of you on these boards who got me through some rough spots. I hope I can do the same for someone else today. Wishing you all the best and Happy Holidays! I got my Christmas present already and it is the best one I ever gave myself!

Mine was the same. I am 6 weeks post op. I ate very little, just a small bite of turkey and a little bit of sweet potatoes for the main course. I had a bite of cake for dessert as well as some pudding (that I made, which was low fat, no sugar). What I found to be the best part of it was that I didn't feel upset that I couldn't eat everything. I really was ok with it. I sat at the table and took a lot of time to eat what little I could, so I still felt a part of the dinner, even without enjoying the food. I realized that spending time sitting with family is more important than what I actually consume. I hadn't seen a lot of my family since before my surgery. And nothing they served could have possible tasted as good as it felt when everyone first saw me and complimented me on my weight loss. That felt better than anything has ever tasted and that's what made me realize that not being able to eat much is soooo worth how good I look and feel now! What a great Thanksgiving!

Maybe instead of a therapist you should see a nutritionist to learn the best way to eat. I am 6 weeks out from my sleeve surgery and all of a sudden I am finding myself vomiting sometimes after meals because I had just one bite to many. My problem is that I eat to fast and I am really working on slowing down while I eat. But I find it is so easy to vomit because it's almost not like vomiting because the food seems to get stuck in my esophagus and then it just comes up before it ever really went down. I have never been able to force myself to vomit (pre-surgery) and I am not forcing myself to now. It just happens here and there if I go a little overboard. I am eating so little already so I still need to find that sweet spot between eating the right amount and eating to much. I am still pretty new to the sleeve so I am still learning what and how to eat (and how much), so I'm going to give it some time and if it doesn't get better eventually go to see what I can learn from a nutritionist. But it seems like you have been dealing with the issue longer so you might want to consider seeing one now. Good luck and feel better.

I had my surgery on 10/11 (5 weeks ago). I lost 13 lbs as of 10/31. Since 10/31 - 15 days ago - I have not lost one freakin ounce! And no, my clothes aren't getting bigger which would indicate inches and not pounds. What the heck! I am one week into the soft foods phase. I have been very good. Maybe not getting in all my liquid every day, but close to it. If anything I am under the calories that I should be, probably about 800-900 per day. And starvation mode is a myth so its not that. I have tried to be very patient, but it's really starting to get to me. The only thing I can say is I lost a decent amount of weight quickly. I was on the pre-op diet for 4 weeks and lost 12 lbs. Which isn't really alot. I lost 6 the first week and then 6 in the next 3 weeks. So I lost 25 lbs since 9/7 when I started pre-op. Prior to that I had lost some weight also. Again, not a lot. I am a slow loser, I already know that. But I figured taking this drastic measure of having this surgery would really make me lose, and I am just getting very fed up. I have even been exercising, not a heck of a lot as my energy levels were a bit low. This coming week I'm definitely taking it up a notch, even scheduled to work with a personal trainer. If I don't lose soon I am going to scream. I don't think screaming will help, but it may make me feel better. I know the weight will come off eventually - I mean it has to. I can't imagine not losing at all. I could see if I was eating candy and ice cream, but I'm really not. I'm eating lots of Protein (eggs, Beans, meats, cheese) and very little carbs. Anyway, just really needed to vent.

Shae...I actually started using it today. I saw another post about it (maybe it was you, don't remember) and I joined yesterday and started tracking today. It is a great little tool, so easy to use and I was even able to download and app for my android phone. It will be interesting to see what that shows me. Thanks so much because until yesterday I had heard of it, but thought it was just for exercise. Didn't realize how handy it was for this. I really like it. I am tracking my fiber also because I don't think I'm getting enough of that either because (TMI) things aren't moving well (or all that often) in the plumbing department either. And the plumbing was very regular prior to surgery.

I'm 5 weeks post op and I had the same problems. I will tell you that sometime last week I felt actual hunger for the first time. But the smallest amount of food fills you up. But I am still able to get more down now than I could at 2 weeks. My doctor told me it takes time to get all the needed protein and fluids in, but you will be able to eventually. Hang in there.

I guess the thing that frustrates me the most is that I expected the dreaded stall - but not 3 weeks after surgery. A stall is something that comes after some amount of significant weight loss. I am sure it will pass, but in the meantime it sucks! I'm thinking of doing the liquid diet again for a few days just to jumpstart it. I figure if I did liquid for 4 weeks prior to surgery, it should be pretty easy to do it now when I have very little appetite and I get full from a glass of water! I'll give it a few days though.

I just finished the puree stage and egg drop soup was one of my favorites too. Another thing I did was take a can of beans and pour it into a pot (with all the liquid from the can, don't drain it) with some boxed chicken broth. It is super high in protein and fiber and very tasty. You can use pretty much any beans you like. I did it with cannellini (white) beans and also with black beans. You don't need to puree the beans because they are so soft anyway. I would also sprinkle in a little grated Parmesan cheese for some flavor.

I am seeing my doctor on Thursday, and I will have a lot of questions for him. But I thought I can get some feedback here first. I am 4 weeks out from surgery and I just haven't any idea what the heck I'm doing when it comes to eating. I'm basically eating when I'm hungry, which is rare. And I'm only eating things like eggs, yogurt, ricotta cheese, other soft cheeses, applesauce, sf pudding. I'm also eating small portions (like ridiculously small portions) of whatever I'm making my family for dinner - within reason. But in general, I am quite sure that I am not eating enough, at all. I figure I'm getting about 600-800 calories a day. I am also finding myself to be to tired to exercise. Like 0 stamina. Like 10 minutes on an elliptical and I'm done. Here is a typical day for me: Morning: Decaf tea or coffee 1 Egg or 2 tbsp. ricotta cheese or greek yogurt Lunch: Egg drop Soup or egg salad or yogurt dinner: 2 or 3 bites of chicken, or various foods made with chopped meat, or yogurt snacks: (one or twice a day) apple sauce or a sf pudding Note: I limit eggs to once a day, so if I have one for Breakfast I don't for lunch. Same with the yogurt, usually only 1 per day. Now today I started the next stage which is the soft foods. I really never did the pureed foods because pureed meat is unappealing to me. I'd rather not eat at all. This morning I had 1/4 cup oatmeal and for lunch I had egg salad (with 1 tsp. lite mayo) and 4 saltine crackers. I also had an applesauce in between. Just tell me if this sounds about right to you guys. Also keep in mind that I have very little hunger and am really only eating because I have to.

Thanks for the advice. And I'm far from India, I'm in Long Island, New York. You probably saw my doctors name, he is from India. Anyway, there are PLENTY of fast food restaurants, which certainly helped me get to where I needed VSG I will definitely try them from Taco Bell, seems a lot easier and cheaper than making them. Thanks again!

Thank you so much Lissa for your response. I did try some Beans last week, and I don't know why I forgot about them this week. One day I had Wendy's chili and it was really tasty and went down good, but it didn't agree with my stomach afterward. I will try that again though, as well as the beans. I'm not really sure what refried beans are. Where do you get them? Do you make them or buy them made. I would be interested in trying that. I do throw in a Protein shake here and there, but I really should make a habit of having at least one a day. And I will do the broth also, probably with the beans. Make a nice soup out of it. As for the Water, I am trying so hard to get in the 64 oz. but I usually fall short, but not by a lot. I have a 24 oz. cup that I keep on my desk. I try to drink 2 of those a day when I'm an work, but I never quite get that far. Maybe 1 1/2. I also have a 12 oz decaf coffee or tea and usually some liquid at night. But you are right in everything you said. I will up the protein and the liquids! And I'll be making myself beans for dinner tonight.

Today is 3 weeks since my surgery and I have a question for the experienced sleevers. I am in the pureed stage, but I really haven't pureed anything. I'm sorry but the thought of pureed meat does not appeal to me. Instead I have been eating all soft foods - eggs, egg drop Soup, Progresso lite Soups, Beans, chopped chicken, etc. Also a lot of yogurts and sf puddings. Anything with chunks in it I make sure I chew very well before swallowing. However, no matter what I eat (even yogurt & pudding) seems to get stuck in my esophagus. Like I literally feel it right in my chest. I know I have to try to eat slower (not easy as eating fast is a habit I am working on breaking), but I just don't understand the why it is stuck there? They didn't operate on my esophogus - it is still the same as it was before. So just wondering about the mechanics of it all and why things seem to stop there and will it always be that way. If it will, I can deal with it. It actually forces me and reminds me to eat slower, but I am the kind of person that needs to understand the inner workings of things and I can't figure this one out. Thanks! BTW - LOVE my sleeve. It is the best decision I have ever made for myself. No buyers remorse here, not for one minute. Look at my ticker below - that amount of weight loss would have taken me 6 months on Weight Watchers, at which time I would have just about given up! So thankful I did this and to these boards for all I have learned here.

Do you guys have any idea how inspiring you all are to me? You are all doing so amazing and it makes me so happy for you and hopeful for myself. Congratulations and keep up the good work and keep on inspiring me. I am 3 weeks out today and I keep wondering where I will be in 2 months, 3 months, 4 months. And although I know everyone is different and loses at different speeds, seeing your losses shows me what can be done! You are all awesome!

I am 3 weeks out today and I had the same thing happen. I lost 8 lbs. in the first 7 days and then nothing for a week. Then all of a sudden this week I am losing like crazy. I lost 3 lbs. in 4 days this week. But even though it wasn't showing on the scale, my clothes were getting bigger and bigger so I know I lost a lot of inches. Just keep doing what you are doing and it will come off. Also, for the weighing part - I keep weighing myself everyday just as a gauge. I know I shouldn't do that, but I can't seem to stop myself. That being said, I know that if the scale fluctuates from day to day, it has a lot more to do with Water and not fat loss. I couldn't possibly be gaining any actual weight with the little amount of calories I am taking in. I know that. For example, this morning I was 1/2 lb up from yesterday. I didn't let it upset me in the least. I only really care about the week to week numbers and the way my clothes fit. I am going to try to stop daily weighing, but its addicting when you see the pounds coming off!

I am a little over 2 weeks out also and I am experiencing what you are experiencing. I have had some trouble getting some foods down, but once they are down my stomach hasn't been sensitive to anything. I haven't had anything with sugar or any sweets but I do find myself snacking on SF puddings and Jello and yogurt. I also am not really following the guidelines set by my doctor and I know that is wrong. I should be in the pureed foods stage but quite frankly the thought of pureed meat is nauseating to me so instead I eat little bits of meat and chew them really good. But nothing tough. I had 1/2 a meatball for dinner last night and that filled me up. I have also been eating Beans (black & white mixed with chicken broth) for lunch because they are high in Protein. But I don't puree them. I feel like they are soft enough. Soup has been my best friend, especially egg drop from the chinese restaurant. But I get what you mean about hunger. I have been experiencing that also. Although I know it is head hunger, but the littlest amounts of foods satisfy it. So if you have to snack, just stick to sf Snacks, apple sauce, yogurt and you should be ok.

I'm glad it's not just me. I am 15 days out from surgery and I still have a lot of pain at that same incision. Last week it was so bad I called the doctor but he said it was normal as that incision is the largest and it was stitched from the inside as opposed to the other incisions. It also hurts so much because of where it is. Mine is right at the crease of my belly (slightly higher and to the right of my belly button). So every time I sit or stand it hurts.I had all good intentions of going back to the gym to just start some cardio this week, but it hurts just to walk. I have been wearing a waist cyncher and that actually helps alot. It's not a tight one, but it holds that area tight and it feels better when I walk. Anyway, I'm not glad anyone else is in pain, but I'm glad to hear it is normal.

It sounds like all the symptoms of lactose intolerance to me. My doctor said you can become lactose intolerant after surgery. I had some problems with lactose in the last few years anyway so I have been making my shakes with Lactose Free milk just to avoid any issues. I have been using the Smart Balance Lactose Free Milk. It also has more Protein than regular milk (10/g vs 8/g). There is also Lactaid brand - it depends what they sell where you live. I will be 2 weeks out tomorrow and I have had some gas, but nothing terrible and not what you have described. I also hardly have moved my bowels, maybe 5 times since surgery. I just started adding some benefiber to my shakes to get things moving a little better. Although I don't feel constipated, I know it will happen eventually. But try the lactose free milk, it may make the difference.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks for me and I'm also not feeling so great, but I'm managing. I actually felt better last week. I'm able to swallow pills, but it is true that warm liquid is very soothing and goes down easier. I actually find puddings and yogurts go down easier than liquid. My doctor also told me hydration is priority right now, nutrition is second. I do start my day with an unjury Protein drink with milk and I warm it for 40 seconds in the microwave just to get it a little warm. It goes down easy and I am getting 8 oz liquid and 30 grams of protein all down at the start of my day. The rest of the day I'm sipping liquid, I also make sure to have a chobani yogurt a day as they are really tasty and slide right down and there is another 18 grams of protein. My biggest issue right now is the incision sites. One in particular, the big one where the stomach came out. It is in such a bad spot and it is killing me every time I move or bend. The other incisions don't hurt at all but my entire stomach area in general hurts. Have you every done any ab workouts like crunches or something? My stomach feels like the day after doing 100 crunches. I don't know why but that is the exact feeling. Weird. I'm sure we'll all feel good soon enough. Stay strong everyone! It will all be worth it in end!