MegInNOLA

It's pretty easy to eat quickly on liquids. That will come to a screeching halt when you move to mushies. :-) I say if it's not causing you physical discomfort, work on it, but also realize that restriction is going to kick in as your diet advances--and I think you'll find it a whole lot easier to eat more slowly at that point. I know I did/do!!

First of all, a big hug from me. That must be a really difficult thing to deal with. I think I understand that you have 2 separate issues here--one, you get sick whenever you eat, even if it's just a few bites, and two, you deliberately overeat to make yourself sick. If that's not correct, I apologize. If it is correct, I think the first problem might be similar to one I had. When I was first sleeved, I could never eat comfortably and was sick every single day for 8 weeks--didn't matter what I ate, how little, how well-chewed, how slowly. I threw up every stupid day. THEN people on this forum advised me to start taking Prilosec, and I did. WOW what a difference. A couple of days after starting it, I actually could tolerate eating without throwing up. Immediately, my mood and energy improved and I was able to start living more or less "normally." I can't help with the bulimic aspect of your issue (and I'm really glad you have a counselor with whom you're addressing these problems), but it's entirely possible that you need to get on a particular type of antacid so that you can eat small amounts without needing to throw up from a physical standpoint. Sending wishes for healing and peace--

I had to wait from January (when I was approved) until April (when I had the time off!) to have the surgery--longest four months of my life!!! LOL Seriously. I, too, never felt fatter than right during that time; I was keenly aware of my body and my size and how I was so flipping ready to make a change!!! Then I tell ya, things started changing and changing fast. :-) Hang in there. You won't really remember all this icky stuff later unless you try to think about it--because things get better with your body so fast. Here's hoping the time flies!

You look great! Congratulations!!!

Wow! What a great pic! Looking gooooood!!!!

For me, it's still and always about volume control. I'm planning to pack a couple of the little containers I use to measure, and I don't mind using them at the table to be sure I'm not getting too much--just one bite over can sometimes cause an unpleasant response, and I sure don't want that while I'm visiting with my family. Also, Thanksgiving can be a great source of good protein-y foods--turkey, ham, deviled eggs--so you won't really have trouble finding appropriate stuff. Eat that first, THEN allow yourself a bite of the "goodies." I've already told my husband I'm planning 2 bites of pie (1 pumpkin, 1 pecan), but I'm not going to have them together, and I'm not going to have them until I've had my Protein at a meal. I'll enjoy the tar out of it without feeling guilty. Have a great holiday!!

I agree with Sharon--at first, I was petrified that I would eat myself back into gaining the weight I had lost. Over time, you will relax and realize that as long as you're following the plan (Protein first, then veggies), you're going to have a much easier time keeping the weight off long-term. It's still kind of surreal for me, I admit, but I'm loving it! Keep up the good work! You're on the loser's bench now and on your way!

Thanks, everyone! This board has been a lifesaver for me on numerous occasions! Sharon and Lynda, let's do this! My goal is to be in Onederland at the new year; I think I can do that, even with the slowdown in weight loss and the holidays. :-)

I think you will discover that post-sleeve, your hunger issues will change. They may not go away, but they will change. When they remove a good chunk of your stomach, a lot of the places that the hunger hormone, grehlin, is produced are gone. I definitely still get hungry, but it's a true physical hunger, not a head hunger (I'm able to ignore the "Oh, a little snack sounds good right about now" voice much more easily now!). You can't physically eat a lot of volume post-sleeve, so it's almost like your body realizes this and food becomes much less important--you can't physically do it, so you don't even want to try. Planning is actually very important post-sleeve--but you can definitely make allowances that will give you some flexibility, too. I carry Protein bars and almonds in my purse. Because it's not that big a deal any more, I have frequently had 1/2 a Protein Bar for lunch without worrying about eating something else--seriously, I never thought that would happen to me. The whole hunger thing, again, is different, and I find mine is much more easily satisfied than I ever would have imagined. Stress or emotional eating--I can't comment on that because I don't really do that. But I will say that the sleeve will prevent you from overindulging in any kind of eating--volume control doesn't turn on and off. :-) The sleeve has made me much more aware of the types of food I'm selecting as well as the volume of food, and that has been a relief, in a strange sort of way. I LIKE the limitations I have with the sleeve--it allows me to eat enough to live on but the whole reliance on food as a sort of numbing or emotional necessity is gone now. I like that freedom. I will also say that no matter how much you plan and prepare, when you're actually there, things are different, sometimes in surprisingly positive ways. My husband says he was prepared for the sleeve to limit his overeating; he was not prepared for the almost complete change in his eating preferences, from high-fat, high-calorie foods pre-sleeve to healthy foods post-sleeve--just overcoming that urge to eat, eat, eat helped him make better choices almost from the get-go. We both prefer healthier options now to our previous diets, which were undisciplined to say the least...and I can tell you that's due to our sleeves.

I've always hated the music they play in gyms and exercise classes, too... but I don't think you're going to find a lot of "alternative" music on exercise videos or in typical exercise classes. Sounds like there might be a niche market there--hmm.... You might approach one or more of the instructors at your neighborhood gym to see if they might include an exercise class or a workout block (like a 2-hour block of time) which would use different music. Some of these places have multiple stations available to them, while some are contracted through a particular service that provides only the "pop" style or whatever they've currently got. Doesn't hurt to inquire! Meantime, why not figure out how to use your own music and develop a routine that isn't routine? You can alternate activities or work out a schedule so that you don't get bored with doing the same thing over and over--maybe hike one day, bicycle the next, swim the next, Nautilus circuit the next, etc. If you put together a series of playlists on your iPod or whatever you have, you can make them all for around an hour or a half hour (whichever your workouts tend to be), and you'll always be set with acceptable music for whatever activity you're planning. I understand that would put you into a solitary sort of exercise pattern; that's why I suggest speaking with the instructors and/or management at your local gyms to see if they might be open to switching music for blocks of time to cater to different tastes. Good luck!

Shae, I really love this post. Great list!! Keep rocking it, my friend, and you'll be at goal in no time!

I, too, have never low-carbed and am 16 pounds away from my goal--I've already exceeded my nutritionist's goal (which was 212--I'm 6'2"). I don't eat sugary foods, baked goods, potatoes, or Pasta, but I do eat plenty of dairy, nuts, and legumes/beans. I don't know if it makes a chemical difference to my body that my carbs are in the form of healthy foods that also contain protein; it doesn't really matter, since that's what my sleeve tolerates, so that's what I eat. :-) I've also been horrible about exercise. I sort of have lost the weight despite everything, for which I am vastly grateful to my sleeve!! My husband and I (he's also a sleever) are slowly coming round to the notion of beginning an exercise regimen, and I'm actually looking forward to that to see how it changes my body's shape and overall fitness.

Congratulations! It's a wonderful feeling--and you've already come so much further than you have to go!! Keep rocking that sleeve!!

I couldn't get by without my coffee--and I drink it iced with milk, so I consider it a Protein source!!! LOL This way, it can sit around for a few hours as I slowly sip it. I literally get one every morning and take it to work, and it lasts me throughout the morning hours. I usually have another on the way home from work (caffeine does not keep me up at night) at 5 or so. Love it and am really happy that my sleeve also likes it okay.

I'm kind of the odd one out, I guess. I was very open about it from the beginning with my family, friends, and coworkers. I didn't broadcast it, but I did mention it when it was appropriate. I received nothing but support and positive attitudes; this may be because I teach at a university and people are fairly open-minded, but I think it's also that folks realized that if I was taking this drastic step, it must be because I needed to do it, had thought it through, and was doing it for my health and longevity. Different people are in different situations. I have a friend who had the sleeve, and she did not feel comfortable telling anyone other than her immediate family. There's no right or wrong in deciding who to tell; there's only what's right for you in your situation. On the back side, I have been amazed and grateful for the hundreds of positive comments regarding the success of my surgery. My colleagues and students are so thoughtful and supportive; it's been a real kick to be complimented and teased (in a pleasant way!) about my weight loss--one of my colleagues now calls me "Slim," which makes me laugh out loud!! I haven't heard any negative comments; if someone has them, they're keeping them to themselves, which is a good thing. :-)

It really all depends on what you're able to tolerate. I think a lot of people would eat part of a grilled chicken or fish or shrimp salad--get dressing on the side so you can take your leftovers home without them getting completely soggy. That's what my 1-1/2-years-sleeved husband eats when we go out. I always go for soup or something soft. Today, for instance, at lunch, we went to a Mediterranean restaurant. I had a taste of his hummus and 1 cabbage roll (a little bigger than the size of my thumb). I was entirely full. When we eat Mexican food, I usually get a scoop of taco meat and mix it into some cheese dip and eat slowly (it's more dense and harder on my sleeve). Shrimp cocktail is great--I can now eat 3 shrimp instead of just the 2 I started out being able to eat--LOL!!! I find that at this point, I'm able to find acceptable choices wherever we go, even if it's something like soup and eating a bite or two of my husband's steak or whatever. I also try to sneak a bite of his salad--my sleeve isn't fond of raw veggies yet, but I keep trying. You can definitely find tons of acceptable choices--maybe have to look at the "appetizer" portion of the menu instead of the Entrees, or think about splitting with someone. My husband and I split meals now on a regular basis--I always order an appetizer of something that can either be refrigerated or will reheat, so if there are leftovers, we're good to go.

My husband was sleeved April 2010 and stopped snoring almost immediately. He no longer uses his CPAP and sleeps well--and so do I--no more snoring or machine from that side of the bed!! He says I don't snore any more, either.... not that I ever did, mind you! LOL My husband was also a brittle diabetic--on max doses of 5 different diabetic medications with no real control of blood sugar. He was also taking medication for blood pressure and cholesterol. Now, a year and a half after surgery, he is down 85 pounds and maintaining, and on NO MEDICATION except Vitamins. !!!! What a blessing!!! I get to keep him around longer. YAY!!!

Girl, you are one of the most determined people I've ever seen! Hope your procedure was smooth and you're resting comfortably. Hurry back!

Warrior, I am right there with you! I have a newly-discovered love for Chico's, and I could never shop there pre-sleeve--I just bought a WAY cute jacket there in their size 2 (that's a 14/16 US ladies' size)--ME, I actually bought a cute jacket on sale in a size that isn't the largest size that store carries!!!! It is motivating, for sure. Congratulations on your new jacket, because we all know it isn't really the jacket that's the big deal!!!

Y'all, a PPI is a proton pump inhibitor--a particular type of antacid (Prilosec, for instance). There are different types of antacids, and if one type doesn't work for you, there are others that might, so you may have to experiment a bit until you find a good combination. I should say that I stopped the Prilosec gradually around my 5th month and never have acid issues now. I guess for my stomach it was just part of the healing process. Crop Queen, I think that egg-white stuff is what is "fondly" referred to as "the slimes," and it's just extra mucus and gastric juice. It's gross. Yes, the PPI did cut that down, as well, but again, I rarely am sick these days--last time was probably a month ago from eating way too fast--so all of my stomach issues have disappeared with time. I think that's pretty typical. And I'm still losing and still loving that I can only eat tiny amounts!! It's so freeing!!

I lose a pound a day for a few days, then nothing for a week or a week and a half---it did come off a LOT faster a few months ago! LOL I'm with the others--just take it, smile, and keep doing what you're doing. If you're meeting your nutrition goals, seems like your body has caught up with the plan!

I'm looking forward to the visit with my family and plan eat like I always do--at 7 months out, that means frequent small meals (1/2 cup max), chewing really thoroughly, and avoiding the foods that my sleeve still doesn't like. There will be plenty of opportunity for exercise (walking, gardening, shopping, chasing kids and dogs). I'm actually really excited, since most of the crew hasn't seen me since August, and I've dropped around 30 pounds since then. My brother's family hasn't seen me since June, so it's going to be especially fun to see them. (They are all extremely supportive and positive about my having had the surgery.) I will definitely be having a bite of pie and probably a bite of sweet potato at some point (both foods that I haven't tried post-sleeve yet). Hopefully they will be tolerable, and if not, no more and no big deal. I'm enjoying the fact that my emphasis isn't on the "big meal" but on seeing and enjoying my family--kind of like I think it's supposed to be in the "never been overweight" world.

Wow, can definitely see a difference! Congratulations, and keep up the great work!!

Congratulations, Coops!! You look amazing!!

I'm at 7 months out. On a typical day, I usually have: Breakfast: Iced coffee with milk (I sip on this all morning, really), maybe a couple of cheese or Peanut Butter crackers or a couple bites of a whole-grain cookie, but typically just the coffee/milk drink. Snack: Half a Protein bar. Lunch: 3/4 c. soup, as high in protein as I can find (lentil, black bean, chili, etc.). Snack: The other half of the Protein Bar and another iced coffee with milk on the way home from work. Supper: Cheese, soup, yogurt, some Beans, whatever sounds good at the time that has protein in it. Snack: Grapefruit or melon--some kind of fruit. I confess that I have never really gotten back into the "meals" way of eating--I tend to eat small, snack-size quantities of different foods through the day as tolerated. My sleeve still doesn't like a lot of raw veggies, but I keep trying salads! Dairy and beans/lentils are my main sources of protein now--not on purpose; it's just what my sleeve likes. I've become quite the cheese snob and usually have a couple of soups in the fridge for quick and easy reheating. When we go out to eat, I usually will order a cup of soup and I'll have a bite or two off my husband's plate. Overall, it's been amazingly easy to live a "normal" life, even though I definitely do not eat "normal meals" or even really "meals," per se.