CowgirlJane

So, I look at it a little differently... what can you do to preserve that feeling of good restriction/low hunger the longest? To me, it is just following the rules. Don't graze. Eat to the point of lack of hunger, not to the point of being full. Seperate liquids from meals by AT LEAST 30 minutes. Eat Proteins first. Avoid "slider" type foods for the most part - dense Protein makes you feel satiated faster and for longer then a cookie does. Eat SLOW! It gives you a chance to realize you are no longer hungery before you have eaten too much.

I lost weight slower in month 3 then I did month 4 and 5. I think the difference was I feeling better and could amp up the activity. I think I was also better about listening to myself and eating smaller portions. Don't feel like it is too late!

I was thinking about this topic - we all hear the stories of the person who lives on milkshakes or whatever - extreme examples. However, it doesn't take much to stop losing/regain. I think that just returning to grazing/mild overeating will create the same problem over time and the person doing it probably feels like they are not overeating (compared to everyone around them anyway!) Statistically, people have a partial regain after losing their initial weight - that is why the % of EWL stats go down after a few years out. Still a lot better off though.

I was cleared at 6 weeks for all activities, but I would not have had the energy to do that 2 months post op. Of course, I started with a high BMI too. In those early months post op, I definately struggled with getting enough Water in.

I am attempting to add my before picture and something pretty recent. That is my "riding outfit" in my photo from a few weeks ago. I am not actually as lumpy in the midsection as it looks, that is the mostly the clothes! My inner thighs are horrible, but it is a small thing compared to my overall LOVE of my new body! What i notice the most is my face. You can actually see my features instead of that moon faced look that the really obese get. I feel so much more "normal" now.

That sounds like the same progress I made - I think losing 21 in 3 weeks is excellent start. It is very normal to have stalls, I certainly did, at that 2-3 week post op mark.. I have kept up pretty good steady losses, month after month... it really adds up. I think the key is to keep pushing when the weight loss slows down - increase exercise intensity, change up the food etc.

Concerning, considering most of us are told to take high quality Calcium supplements (calcium citrate) http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/calcium-supplement-linked-higher-heart-attack-risk

i saw a bariatric doc (not the surgeon) who said that she has a patient or two that have not lost very well with the sleeve. The common factor is grazing/snacking all day - basically using food as entertainment or comfort or whatever. Especially for women, you don't need a zillion calories to regain, you don't need to binge or eat big quantities at a sitting.... even just overeating a bit, on a regular basis, or eating junk on a regular basis can cause regain. I went to a support group once and I was a little surprised by the number of people who weren't losing well after the frist 50-80 pounds even though they had quite a bit left to lose, but they were definately dipping into the high calorie/junky slider foods. It can happen to any of us, I am not judging, just saying what I have observed. I am not radical about it, I do have something sweet every once in a long while, I am just keeping it out of my daily routine. If you read the forums you will see that some people are disappointed in their results. I think sometimes it is expectations too. My goal is to get under 160#, but, even if i don't make that, being in the 200 range beats the crap out of the 300# range and I consider it a huge success ALREADY. Not everyone views it that way and are sorely disappointed even after substantial weight loss.

Woo hoo!! Congrats - great job!

I was really hungry between the two surgeries. I went on a low carb/high protein diet, though I didn't really restrict quantities of certain foods just to keep from gaining a bunch of weight. I am glad I did it separately, but it was really hard being hungry all the time. I didn't realize that my failed band with no fluid in it was helping to reduce hunger until it was gone!

In my case, i did it as two separate surgeries, but there are advantages to having a single surgery. I am glad I did what I did as it confirmed my decision to get the sleeve - but - I was so hungry in those months between. My insurance approved it either way, and I was an "revision" either way - whether seperate surgeries or the same.

I know the feeling, I have been a frequent business traveler over the last 10 years. One time i was crammed into a tiny seat next to a very tall (6'6") and large (broad shouldered build and overweight) Swiss man. We were both big people so, we had to laugh about it and he was very friendly and socialable so we made the best of it, but wow was that an uncomfortable and long flight for both of us. I also say... don't carry the humiliation, guilt and shame you feel. It is a heavy load and you don't need that! I personally think guilt and shame are unnecessary burdens, on top of everything else an obese person is dealing with!

I was going to buy one for home but I am super picky...lol. None of the ones in my price range felt quite right to be. There are differences in stride length, how smooth they work etc - you have to find one that feels good for your body. The ones at the ymca - I usually use for 30 minutes but the other day I worked out for 70 minutes because i was interesting in the TV show! I was definately lower intensity the last half, but it was still a great endurance type workout! I love elliptical training!

This is why many docs recommend high quality calcium citrate, the body absorbs better then calcuim carbonate.

It is totally unrealistic to expect the really big losses to continue week after week. This is my loss by calendar month, weighing every monday. Month 1 is two weeks of preop diet where I lost 8, and the two weeks post op where I lost 20. Dec 28.4 Jan 12.8 Feb 12.4 Mar 9.4 Apr 13.2 May 10.8

I am not sure I agree with the basic premise... most of us transitioned to "food" in 4-6 weeks post op. I don't doubt there are a few programs that are focused on shakes for an extended period of time, but I really don't think it is typical. Now, my NUT does have us use shakes are bars because it is so hard to get the Protein in, but it is still a real food based program. I also disagree with the premise that you lose more weight faster by having just shakes for so long. I have done liquid diets and besides the going insane factor, after awhile the weight loss slows down. I lost weight faster post sleeve, on real food then I did on my medially supervised fast that nearly drove me over the edge those years ago. I also found that as soon as I started eating again after the liquid diet i regained fast!

The heck with guilt! Negativity is not a helpful tool for your success, it just drags you down and makes you feel bad. You know, we do all have a personal responsibility for the choices we make, HOWEVER, when you are morbidly obese there are metabolic issues at work here. They drive you to EAT and to hang onto the weight no matter how strong your willpower. No matter how you got to this weight, your odds of losing and keeping off large amounts of weight are really small - like 5% or less - without the surgery. It is a tool, don't feel guilty, feel THANKFUL that it is available for us. I for one feel truly blessed to have this opportunity. And don't for one minute think that it is "the easy way out". There isn't anything easy about it, and frankly it takes work and some sacrifices, but I view it as "the only way out." I have gushed on about this many times on this forum, but I can't even begin to express how joyful, thankful and excited I am to regaining the body and health that I deserve to have. All the surgical scars, loose skin and Protein drinks are nothing compared to the joy I feel when I can gallop my horse again, or go for a 3 hour hike with my 20 year old son or just fit comfortably in an airplane seat. This is living the dream! Tell me now, which lady looks more comfortable and enjoying her life??? After 85+ pounds lost:

Diet sodas have nothing to do with liver shrinking, BUT you will be a sad sad person if you don't get weaned off caffiene before your surgery! I didn't do that on my band removal surgery and had a couple days of feeling horrible. I DID do it before I was sleeved - I am a coffee, not soda junkie - and slowly weaned off over a month. It can feel horrible to be going through withdrawls immediately post surgery.

good post, life does change. However, no matter if my butt finds the saddle too hard, I am still riding my horses!!!! In fact, I am getting much more into riding as I am getting lighter and trimmer.

I was the queen of terror as it relates to surgery - but came through with flying colors! The worst part was I was very sore where the port was. No, the worst part is I got super, stupid, even worse then before hungry all the time after the band was out. That pushed me over the edge to get that sleeve though! My prayers will be with you - but I know you will come through with flying colors!

I don't really know, I just know that although they removed the really stretchy part of the stomach, it is possible. I suspect that much of the regain is from people grazing, eating too often, eating the wrong foods, not being active, not following the sleever rules - not just from too much at one sitting. My doctor did say that you can stretch it enough to lose that feeling of good restriction pretty easily. I think you can also potentially cause esophagal dialation if you get over full too regularly. Sounds weird, but the smaller I make my portions, the less hunger, the less acid I feel. Yesterday I splurged a little and I don't feel as well today so I am back on track with tiny portions! I am sure you are aware, but those first weeks are so critical to avoid being over full while you are still healing to reduce risk of complications.

I am so terribly sorry. I lost my baby sister 5 years ago, the recovery from that... well... it is slow. You have my prayers.

I am coming up on 6 months out and I sometimes have half or quarter of a sandwich (one slice of bread or less). I only eat an organic whole grain bread so it is not empty calories - I love Dave's Killer bread. It is true that it shouldn't be a staple since it doesn't have enough protein, but I don't see it as bad for you, just wait until you are far enough along to handle it, keep the portions small and and have it only occasionally.

Once all my food restrictions were lifted, i could have popcorn. It has given me no problems. I love the 100 calorie snack packs of kettle corn. It isn't very nutritious, so you do need to not let it replace healthy food - but i see no reason it can't be the occasional treat.

Just a warning, I had just two symptoms - the main one being really tired some days, but not all days. I also snored some, but not enough to bother hubby. That's it, none of the others. I was diagnosed with SEVERE sleep apnea,so even if you have fewer then 4 of the below, don't completely rule it out. Of course, hubby sleeps like the dead so he may not have noticed some of the symptoms.