Catracks

When I reach goal I'm going to do something I've never done and go to a spa. I will swim, have a mud bath, a 1 hour massage, a pedicure and a facial. Then some new clothes and underthings. For my 4WD I am getting new off-road tires and a winch bumper. For my house a mission solid oak coffee table. I might also go to Hawaii in late November. Not sure yet. This summer I'm going to a waterslide park and to Knotts berry Farm. I already did Disney. Next May I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Supai (12 mile walk each way in and out of a deep canyon).

I know you didn't ask me, but adding my 2 cents: I got off mine, but did not have another study. My husband says I don't snore, let alone gasp for air every two minutes. I'm not tired either. I never could acclimate to the BIPAP so it's a good thing that I don't have the apnea anymore. I got the pulmunologist to sign off on it. She fought a bit and said: "How do YOU know you don't have sleep apnea?"

You ROCK!!!!! My six month appointment will be on July 16th. I hope to be at 80 pound lost, but who knows? I'm still a-ways away from goal yet - Neck and neck with Hadouni pretty much (yeah, I know, It's not a race blah, blah, blah ) Congratulations!!! You give us all a little boost. The sleeve works!

I had bruising and some subcutaneous blood that kept leaking out of the incision above the navel. Otherwise except for a slightly tender tummy, I was fine. I got three weeks off and my husband happened to be off too so we went to museums and flea markets and zoos (we have a large cat preserve full of jaguars, tigers, servals and such). I was on Clear liquids and drinking the clear Isopure fruit stuff for weeks 1 & 2. Then I was on full liquids for 2 more weeks. I lost a lot in the first month. My blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol were normal by week 2. After my two week appointment I was on the back of a horse. Easy breezy! Walk, walk, walk! Sip, sip, sip!

At first I didn't want to tell anyone. Now I tell whomever asks. I don't care one way or another. Strangers like waitresses wondering why you didn't eat do not get an explanation other than, "I'm full." I didn't really tell co-workers either. Not many of them. If we go out, I eat what I want and box the rest. No explanation needed.

It's going to stretch some no matter what you do. Stuffing it constantly is probably not a good idea as it weakens the esophageal sphincter. This is probably what many of us have done already to our old stomachs. This lets acid and food up the esophagus and causes the reflux. Always continue to measure your food. As for carbonation -- well that's what a burp is for :-)

Here is a study that agrees with a another study I can't find. "The early postoperative gastric volume was 108 +/- 25 ml (80-120 ml) and 116.2 +/- 78.24 assessed with barium sulfate and CAT scan, respectively. The gastric capacity at the late control increased to 250 +/- 85 and 254 +/- 56.8 assessed with the same techniques. However, patients remained stable with a BMI close to 25 without regain of weight at least at the time of observation." So in other words it went from about 4 oz to 8 oz. Big fat hairy deal right? Some will call this significant, but even at 50% you still are left with 1 cup or 8 fl. oz. or so. Just don't overeat or eat around your sleeve (slider foods, alcohol, drink with meals, etc.) get your eating habits under control during the first year and make sure you are eating healthy. Oops, forgot the link: http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/19533260 Here is another interesting study. I can believe that dilation would not lead to weight regain because there is still plenty of restriction http://www.weightlos...astrectomy.html

Stalker! get thee gone! Pepperoni chips and cottage cheese! Want!

I can see how that would miff anyone that really wants this. Just consider: There are plenty of people out there who really are not good matches for this type of surgery. I see them in my doctor's support groups. People halfway or all the way to goal who have gained the weight back. The sleeve is great, but it still takes a gargantuan level of self control to not eat around the sleeve. I still want macaroni and cheese and bread and Pasta, but like an alcoholic I can't take the one sip or bite sometimes. Most of the time I am in control, but I have binged once or twice after surgery and it scared me. You can't eat as much, but there are foods called sliders that go right through. Alcohol goes right through and is loaded with calories. I DO get hungry especially when I hike, but I have noticed that I eat less, because I'm doing something. I have learned that I eat more when I'm reading or just sitting around. I wasn't hungry for the first couple of months, but it does come back in varying degrees. We want everyone to succeed.

Cheeses, nuts, seeds, sliced meats, shrimp with cocktail sauce (mixed with Greek yogurt for a dip), Just keep some wetones or wipes at your desk so you don't muss up the keyboard :-)

Understood. I know I could be better at this. I still advise people to follow their surgeon's orders and I believe in that pre-op diet. I think I owe my success so far by keeping to liquids for so long. It's so worth it.

I wanted to get my first tattoo, but the artist said that I should wait until I lost all my weight. Mine design uses straight lines and it would be especially distorted by weight loss. I'm 47 and have to lose about 60% of my total weight so I already have interesting skin. I'm going to wait.

Oh hell. I did it again. It's a free country. Listen or don't. You don't have to like what anyone says. I would heap all kinds of advice if a person would just say, "How do I make good shakes?" or "Are there any tricks I can use to feel full so i can get through this pre-op diet?" or "Why pre-op diets?" or "How did you get through your pre-op diet." A post that says "My doctor put me on a diet and I'm not going to follow it. What will happen?" just flummoxes me even if it wasn't meant that way. I'm just saying MY surgeon is extremely strict. He's good, but put a lot of value on what the patient puts in. I think I was expect to lose about 20 pounds in the pre-op. Mine was nothing but full liquids. He was dead serious. I also had 2 weeks of clear, 2 weeks full and 2 weeks puree after the surgery. I had no painkillers. One day home and I was cleaning the house and going to livestock auctions and flea markets. 2 weeks out I was hiking and horseback riding. Long painful recovery or short recovery? but maybe I should just be supportive and to heck with reality.

Oh GAWD! I saw that. I love bacon and that there is a desecration! I can't do chocolate or maple bacon either. I do get the sweet/savory thing, but I can't do this. What would you use it for? Bleech! They have coconut and pumpkin syrup. What I REALLY want is pineapple and I don't think they make it. Pina colada Protein shake. Hmmmmm. I have learned that fresh pinapple does not do well blended and the juice is way too sugary.

These are great ideas. I have Torani SF in lemon, orange, raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, almond roca and a half dozen others. I also use 2% milk and sometime 6 oz of coffee mixed with 2 oz of milk. I also use powder SF Jello pudding and Gelatin as flavorings. Ever had a pistachio or chocolate mint shake? they can be so good. During my pre-op I interspersed those with broth or used the packaged egg drop Soup that is only 30 calories for a 1 cup serving and 35 for half the egg. The whole package makes 2 cups and uses on egg. In between those, get all your water (or iced tea or crystal light, etc.) down. Just drink all the time and you might not feel so hungry. P.S. Don't make those shakes with water.

BTW, I still smoke one or two cigarettes a day. Stupid ass right? I stopped before and after the surgery for healing sake, but I simply enjoy that ONE DAMNED vice I have left. I'm a fitness, health food nut that smokes. Yes, you have to nix the butts. Here's hoping that the cigarettes stay out of your life for good. Like Marisa, I think you are strong because you are taking all this head on, You seem determined.

He we go. Cheating a bit is fine. Not following the diet at all is not a good way to start. I went back and edited my post so it wouldn't be so harsh, but I am of the suck it up and do what you have to do mentality. For years I never bothered do do anything about my weight and I did irreparable damage to myself. I lied to myself. I ruined myself. I'm just cautioning people not to lie to themselves. not following the surgeons orders in not okay. Most will not do the surgery when there is no progress. It didn't sound like a struggle. It sounded like dropping the pre-op. "If I eat during these two weeks, will I still be able to have the surgery?" But then if by eating through the two weeks means just cheating a bit, then I stand corrected.

If your doctor put you on the diet, you should follow it. Mine was Protein shakes and nothing else. Now I don't eat anything like I did before. Things simply have to change and the surgery is not magic. It is a tool. Yes the pre-op was harder, but it puts you in the right frame of mind. It more than shrinking your liver. It's getting you in tune for what lies ahead. I little tiny cheat is fine. We all do it, but dropping the whole diet is a no go IMO. My surgeon would not have done the surgery. This is not judgment. I come from the suck it up and do it philosophy. It's what I should have done before I got so obese, but I simply refused to put my mind to it. I could kick myself for not doing what I was supposed to. I'm fine now, but I wasted 10 years of my life and have done irreversible damage to myself. Starting out right just ensures that you will finish a winner.

I couldn't have said it better!

I had no drain, but I bled a lot from that main incision. It broke open a few hours after I got home. I just had a lot of subcutaneous blood that needed to go somewhere. I had twisted trying to put away a casserole dish in the bottom cabinet. I wore a butterfly bandage (holds the wound together and gauze) for two weeks. If I didn't I would be walking around with Fluid and blood on my shirt. Cleaned it with iodine. Yellow/green is infection. The wound should not close up with that infection still in there. See your surgeon.

Excellent article!

You said that way better than I could have. Maybe it's because I'm older or something else, but I don't really give a damn what people think. I probably would have flipped her off in the mirror with a smile, but that's me. Okay, since she was staff I would have asked her if she had a question or a tip. My mother used to be all consumed by what people thought of her and ... oh brother! Don't let what people say here dissuade you from doing what you need to do either. We are strangers. All this said, I think the idea of a skinny prohibited gym is a bad idea. I want to learn from people who are getting it right and it is discriminatory. There is no US and THEM. There is only us. I don't go to gyms because I find them tedious and boring. I like to hike and bike and swim. I also lift hand weights (from 4 to 25 pounds) in front of the T.V. They don't get my money when I can get fit for free.

Every morning in the buff. I even take my necklace off. Oh man, I just got a mental image of that. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! You are right about the exercising. My pants that were snug at the same weight I can take off without unbuttoning them.

Will life always require a pill box of Vitamins? At 5 months I take 1 chewable multi with Iron, 1 calcium chew and 1500 mcg of B-12 a day. I think I will probably stick with this, but I don't care. These are my candy substitutes. My multi tastes like a Sweet-Tart and my calcium chews are lemon, raspberry, chocolate and caramel. Will I ever be able to take the refreshing gulp of Water? I can chug pretty good, but the capacity isn't there. Just wait a few minutes between chugs. It empties out pretty fast I think. Will energy always be low (B12) My energy was always good. From what I hear it gets better, but like PDXman says, we will always have to take that. It gets to be habit like brushing your teeth. Will I ever be able to get strength back again with such low intake of essential nutrients? I do some pretty intense workouts, You will eat more as time goes on and it's easy to pack in more nutrients within the space you have. I lost a good amount of muscle in the first few months. I'm just now rebuilding it. It has slowed the weight loss, but I have lost inches, look better and feel better. Can I ever do a tough mudder without a supply of protien bars ? I was just on a long hike this past weekend and I learned that I need a lot more energy to keep going that my normal daily diet gives me. I took a half a Peanut Butter sandwich, an orange, fig newtons and a tiny bit of dried fruit and peanuts and some cheese. I didn't eat it all, but a had a bit of each. 10 mile obstacle course? Really? I'm not sure you could get through it without a nosh. Can you run and eat? Here's mine: Will I ever be able to go out and eat with family and friends or simply go to someone's house for dinner without having to special order? Wherever you go there will probably be some form of Protein. I have done a lot of eating around bread and noodles, but it's easy. Usually there will be chicken, steak or sausage and I eat that with a bit of green salad or vegetables. Going out is easy too. Share meals, get senior meals, order appetizers, get regular meals and take leftovers home. Just skip the bread, Pasta, rice, potato, etc. or have just a little. Get the mixed vegetable side instead of the potato or rice or mac and cheese. Get a baked sweet potato (many places offer that now). Ask the water to leave sauces off or ask for them on the side if possible. I got this seared ahi the other day and saved 300 calories because I asked for soy sauce on the side rather than the sugary sauce they were going to dump on it.

I eat between 750 and 800 calories a day. I'm in a stall and am pretty obsessed with hiking these days. I am a little over 5 months out and down 71 pounds.