CAsleeve

One thing I highly recommend...after surgery when you have to cough, if you have to cough, hold a pillow to and into your tummy. It helps tremendously! A heating pad was soooo very wonderful for me. The one thing I recommend...a POSITIVE attitude! Makes a world of difference. Some people don't have pain, but...most do and just expect it. Check out my blog if you want to read about my experiences. YEAH! Very happy for you. Your life is going to change...make it a positive, healthy life change. It is up to you. Congratulations and I can't wait to read your future posts. One Love.

Hello neighbor..well, in the Bay Area any way! Not sure what the elbow and ear issues you are experiencing are - which seem rather strange, but...congrats on your smooth sailing as far as the sleeve is going. Yeah! Best of luck with the healing of your maddening issues. :-) One Love.

When you have those chocolate/sugar cravings, it's not wrong to satisfy that craving. How about having a piece not a whole hunking bar, but a piece of dark chocolate? Or, maybe a couple carob chocolate chips? You didn't get to where you were before vsg by just eating a little piece of chocolate, you got there by eating ALL and more of the chocolate. Oh, and when I say 'you'...I mean 'me'. One thing the sleeve is great for...you can have a piece, but you simply physically can't have it ALL, which is a very good thing. Additionally, it is likely if you did eat a whole candy bar, you would probably get sick and wouldn't do it again. One Love.

I want to second what Supersweetums said! Your fault?!? What a bunch of crap! He had an affair and he is lying to you! And, he will do it again. Your surgery didn't create his disrespect nor disregard for you. No one deserves to live with or be with a cheating, disrespectful, selfish idiot. And he had the affair with a co-worker = scum bag. Honestly, take a full assessment of the reality. You likely had issues way before your surgery. He cheated on you - doesn't matter if they had sex or not - he cheated on you and showed you a total lack of respect, flat out. Can you both work it out and create a healthy, loving, respectful, honest, trusting relationship? It is possible. Anything is possible. Will he do it again, it is definitely possible. Love conquers all. If there is enough love between you and you can forgive that is up to you. Do what you want. He certainly is doing what he wants without regard to you. I dunno...I personally wouldn't put up with a cheating man...unless that is the arrangements you have between the two of you. Don't stay together because you have a child together. He had an affair and didn't consider how that would affect your child. Do what you need to do! I wish you the best and peace at whatever decision you make. I do recommend asking for help and support in your family and group of friends. AND, talk about it. There is strength in asking for help and support. One Love.

My doc said not for one year! However, I had alcohol, about 3 months out. I have a cocktail every once in a while now, maybe two twice a month. I was never a big alcohol drinker...well, I worked at a winery for 12 years and I definitely consumed my share and more over those years which was 15 or more years ago. Beer, absolutely fills me up with just a half of beer now. I might have one or two glasses of wine and/or cocktails on a weekend night (but I don't do ones with sweet fillers), just a martini or fresh margarita and I'm feel super happy! I say use your own judgement. You might be able to have a cocktail or two or...your sleeve just might not tolerate it. Keep in mind...alcohol is still high calories, high sugar, and for me at least it seems to hit me much stronger than before being sleeved. One Love.

Try some soups with protein powder in them, or not, but soups were my saving grace. Check out my blog as I talk about the soups I did. I was also tired of the sweet stuff as I prefer savory. Miso soup is also good. Just remember, it is not forever, you will get to chew! Additionally, you might not feel so good if you ate something so soon. It is a hard lesson learned, but you will come across that and your journey continues. You can do it and with style! One Love.

I haven't read the other responses, but....here is mine. I'd like to commend you on your honestly. My response back to you is also honest so don't be offended with what I say. I say it with complete love and respect and a little kick in the pants! I had a hard time with Vitamins also. Find what works for you. I found adult gummy multi-vitamins at Target. They are like eating a gummy bear. I couldn't keep any other vitamins down, but these I can and kinda enjoy them. It will get better. First of all, the power of positive thinking is POWERFUL! I mean really think and approach everything in a positive manner. Meditate, do some deep breathing. Find your inner strength. It is there! Everyone has it, you just have to bring it out and nurture it. Mix chocolate Protein powder with some chocolate soy milk or regular chocolate milk and add some banana or instant coffee or Peanut Butter. Put it in a blender and make a smoothy. What?, you don't like milk shakes or smoothies? If it takes making a shake or smoothy to get your protein in, DO IT! Or mix vanilla Protein Powder with strawberries, bananas, chocolate, peanut butter, mangos, pineapple, whatever works for you. No excuses! You made the decision to get the surgery, then make the best of it, 'cause there is no going back! Your body will change, your tolerance and taste will change, evolve with your new stomach. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have the power. So what if your family is eating and continues to eat after you are done...so freaking what!? ENJOY YOUR FAMILY/FRIENDS - you don't have to enjoy your family while feeding your face. Socialize and talk during this time rather than eating. Get out and take a walk. Life doesn't have to evolve around food. If you choose to be unhappy because you can't gorge yourself anymore...that is your choice. You had the surgery because you could not control your weight and continue on the path you were on. Well you now have the tool - the sleeve - to take control of your weight and your life. Don't let it be yet another excuse to bring you down. Eat food that is clean - don't eat sugar or white flour or processed foods. Eat a clean healthy plant based diet! It will make you feel awesome and it will give you strength. Processed food, sugar and white flour are things the body does not need at all. Watch these movies: Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Forks Over Knives. You will learn something! Snap out of it. Be happy! Make yourself be happy. If you can't be happy and you are clinically depressed GET HELP! Contact your doctor, see a clinician, see a psychiatrist/psycologist, get help for the depression. Whatever it is you need, search it out. Asking for help is a sign of intelligence and strength and is commendable. Get off your butt and exercise...get the endorphins pumping. FIND SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU JOYFUL - it becomes contagious. Pray Meditate Do Yoga Volunteer and help out others in need. Give of yourself. There are sooooo many options and good things you can do to contribute and help others. It will help you to feel good about yourself. Do something proactive and positive. One Love.

It would be nice if a link could be provided to Lissa's page or her member spotlight. You mention it, but I can't find it anywhere! Please provide a link, I'd love to read the spotlight. Thanks.

Well, I can say it is the BEST course of action, for me, EVER! This is also a great site for support. Everyone has challenges and we've all likely experienced them all at one time or another before surgery and after. Check out my blog and let me know if you have any questions. I would not change a thing!

Look at you sexy girl in your bikini! Terrific job! You look fantastic. Congrats!

I do exercise videos at home a lot. I love all the Jillian Michaels workout videos. The TurboJam videos by Chalene Johnson are all very good. I have a couple kettle bell videos that are really good. I highly suggest doing kettle bell work outs = great all over workout! All the Karen Voight workout videos are great. Any of the Barre Method videos are good. Lot's of great workouts on video out there. Let me know if you have any particular questions.

I have to say, you didn't look much overweight at all in the red undies photos. Yes, how can you help but look?!? But, you look terrific in the updated photo. Great job! I've been hitting the gym 6-7 days a week also. Makes a terrific difference. I need to post my photos. The before photo though is super hard to look out. YOU are doing...and posting it all out there for all eyes to see! Good for you!!!! One Love.

All I can say...go back to the basics. Get your Protein in first. Eat only 4-6 oz of food at a time (protein first, then veg, then fruit) at a time and 5-7 times a day and each time, walk away from food and do something else after eating the food. AND - EXERCISE, exercise, exercise...get away from food. Take a little stroll when you want to eat something. If you can't get out and go for a long walk, just walk. Do circles around outside of your house, your apartment complex, your neighborhood, your office, etc. MOVE!!!!!! Also, do some weight bearing exercise - you don't need weights use your own body weight. Put your mind set as if you just had your surgery and you are all excited to be losing weight. Take pictures of yourself....I know I can't barely stand to look at my photos before my vsg surgery. YOU have the power and only you can control you and only you can control your choices. We, this entire community, are behind you and I'm certain you could contact any of us for reassurance and empowerment. One Love.

Man time flies by so fast. I am very happy with where I am at with my weightloss so far. I was down a total of 60lbs at my 4 month post-op appt. My doc is VERY happy with me. The loss has slowed down quite a bit. I need to get back to basics and make sure I get protein in first. I also need to keep doing 5-6 tiny meals a day rather than 2-3 not as tiny. I know it makes a difference. I've been out of my Premier protein shakes and I need to get some more. They help me tremendously. I've overdone it by eating a bit too much sometimes and I definitely pay for it - with the feeling of over fullness, belching and throwing up. It is not intentional, but it does happen once in a while. I'm working out 5-7 days a week and rather intensely - spinning classes, circuit training, yoga, hiking, etc... I actually like to work out. Great so far! I hope to get off another 20lbs in the next month..or month and a half...then the next 20.... I got a copy of the 'before' photo taken in my docs office....YIKES! I am so glad I got sleeved!!!! I will post before and current photos soon. One Love.

Well, I bet you won't do that again! Hopefully you got it out of your system. Crap that goes in...makes you feel like crap...and your body, with your sleeve, will remind you of that. You've proven to yourself that that crap doesn't make you feel better nor relieve any stress. Next time, go for a walk, a jog, or go somewhere and scream your lungs out. You might get a sore throat, but....you won't have to wash your car and you will have saved a little $ rather than spend it on junk that made you feel like junk anyway. Or, go shopping and buy a new top or something. Or, sit by yourself, breath, and meditate and bring in light and guide your mind to good thoughts. One Love.

OK, snap out of it!!! Marijuana is medicine. Think of it that way. I'm all for herb, but only if you are in the right space and use it in a positive way. It doesn't sound as if you are. Just stop. Breathe, go for a walk, meditate, bring positive thought in to you being and the space around you. Don't let your husband enable any sort of negativity. Only YOU have the power to change YOU. Only you have the power to change your body. You made the positive decision to get sleeved and change your life for the better. Make it happen in every respect. I recommend the following three movies to everyone to get a better perspective on nutrition and diet - you, no one, needs processed foods and the crap that contributes to depression and malaise. Watch these three movies if you need a grasp on good nutrition: "Forks Over Knives", "The Weight of the Nation", and "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" Watch these movies. You can find them on Netflix, iTunes, etc.. Only use herb if you are in a good space - dang, so you can enjoy it. Herb is a positive...don't let it be anything other. If it is, just stop it! More than anything....cut out the crap. That is what it is CRAP! Don't counter all the good you are doing by putting crap in your body. One Love.

I hear you sister! I can empathize. Your sleeve date does seem a long way away. I know I was also so very anxious and wanted to have my surgery sooner than later and once approved, the date couldn't come soon enough. I think when I was first approved a surgery date was set out a few months but then there was a cancellation and I got in sooner. So..., you might want to get on the list for cancellations and maybe get a date sooner.? If that doesn't happen, you have time to prepare. Try to change your eating to all healthy and vital nutrition now for you and your family. I highly recommend three movies to watch that are super motivating and will help to get the message that the processed food and junk we all used to eat (hopefully 'used to eat' is the key and that stuff is in the past since being sleeved and more aware of good nutrition) is just NOT necessary for life and good health. They are - "Forks Over Knives", "The Weight of the Nation", and "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". I highly recommend watching these movies. It will change something for the positive and better nutrition you and what you are feeding your family - and what you shouldn't be feeding your family. I recommend watching these...you know, in your free time when you are not chasing around your four kids! Yikes! Time to concentrate on YOU! And, I recommend exercise every day as the stronger you are the easier your recovery will be and you will be one step ahead! Meditation and visualization is also something to start practicing. It will all help in the long run. Make this time as positive for YOU as you can. Best of luck to you. One Love.

AND you will get there!!! Your list is very similar to mine and most everyone else on this site. I did my first flight a week ago since being sleeved and - OMG - the flight was actually comfortable and in economy seating!!! I fit in the seat just fine with room to spare. I could even bend over and tie my shoes and get items out of my bag that was under the seat, with the seat belt buckled and didn't have to strain at all! AND, I didn't get any sort of look like I used to when boarding the flight and sitting next to someone while spilling out of my seat and into my neighbor's seat. It was so awesome. Flying comfortablely = check! Improved love life = check! Shopping at a normal size clothing store - no more plus size clothing! = check! Increased energy = check! and on and on and I'm only even half way to goal. All good things still to come. One Love. It really does happen! Thank you sleeve.

Love it! Great place to gather with everyone as we are all in the same boat just beginning the journey, in the midst of the journey or maintaining and can relate to the journey - the journey being sisters and brothers of the sleeved! I come here to get inspired, hopefully inspire others and a boost of motivation when I need it. One Love.

Look at you!! Fantastic. I was sleeved on 1/17 and now down 54lbs. This is incentive to post photos of myself to show progress. Keep up the good works and I will too! One Love.

Well, I've also been very athletic and worked out 4-5 days a week prior to being sleeved. I've now lost 54lbs (well, 61lbs including pre-op weight loss) and I have definitely noticed sagging skin! This is why I now workout 6-7 days a week and mix it up with spinning, boot camp type classes, barre method classes, yoga, and walking/hiking, and soon I plan to start jogging again. I've also noticed stretch marks (I think they show more as you loose weight). Anyway, I'm just hoping everything tightens up with persistence and doing something everyday. I'm going to loose ~60 more lbs and I'd rather have stretch marks and some loose skin than not loose the weight. Have to say, I feel great!!! I need to post some pics some time soon. One Love.

Well, I am one week shy of my 3 month post-op date. Everything is GREAT! I am so loving life. I love my sleeved stomach. I've lost 45 lbs, well actually a bit more, so far - which I think is absolutely terrific. I can now look down without leaning forward and can see my toes and...my pubic area (it has been several years since I've been able to do that). I have 6 garbage bags full of fat clothes to give to a charity. I don't have many clothes left that fit and don't look like I'm still wearing fat clothes. I'm only buying an item here and there to stretch my now sparse wardrobe. Someone called me skinny today!!!!! WHAT!?! I'll take that, even though I am still over 200lbs. Can't wait to get under 200lbs. I'm eating anything I want - a bite here and there. I'm certain I need to get more protein in though. I've backed off on the protein shakes lately, but need to add those back in. I'm eating a 90-95% plant based vegan diet and the other 5-10% is a vegetarian diet. The part that is not vegan is dairy - milk for my coffee, a little bit of cheese, and there is often butter or dairy or eggs in a few other items I consume, like in certain breads. I've been working out 6 days a week - yoga, kettlebell class, ellipitcal, hiking, spinning classes, boot camp classes, etc. I feel freaking fantastic! I also feel like I don't take up as much space. Love that feeling. Life is GOOD! If you are wondering if getting sleeved is right for you....DO IT!!! It will change your life for a fitter, thinner tomorrow. Yes, you still have to work at nourishing your body with healthy food choices, but the sleeve is a terrific tool to help with that. Your food life will never be the same. The sleeve allows you to live your life around other important things other than around food and all the pressures and cravings a morbidly obese person deals with minute by minute. I know, I've been there and been there in a LARGE way. One Love.

Oh, yes, seaweed snacks are great also. Asian markets have them as does Trader Joes!

I also LOVE SALT! I have salt cravings and I love all kinds of salt - except for table salt! Have you ever tried a smoked salt...yummo! I keep some himalayan pink salt crystals at work. If I need salt fix, I will dab my finger in a little bit of salt every once in a while. Probably not the best thing, but...it works and I'm satifying my salt craving without adding any more calories. Another yummy thing is to have some edamame (soy beans - protein) with some good quality salt. Don't ever use regular table iodized salt = ick! After you use good salt that table stuff just tastes like sulphur. That is my salty two cents.

You don't have to tell anyone anything! Read my blog as I talk about this and why I didn't tell anyone. Still today (sleeved on 1/17/12) the only people I have told is my sister, husband and two friends that live in other states. It's your business. If you want people to know tell them, if not, don't. Make the right decision for yourself.