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I also went through additional counseling sessions to deal with my decision to have surgery. I had to come to grips with my feelings of failure. I tried and succeeded on losing weight numerous times during my life, but was always unsuccessful in keeping it off. I have lost 60-80lbs several times but ultimately gained the amount I lost plus more. What you're going through is completely normal. It is a hard decision to lose a large part of a major organ as the only way to lose weight. It seems so unfair that some people can eat a side of beef and still lose weight or struggle to maintain it. My wife and son can eat anything they want and never gain more than 5 lbs, but those are not the genetics I was given. My father was overweight had high blood pressure and died young from pancreatic cancer. My mother is overweight and is dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and is insulin dependent. I have dodged those diseases so far and I did this so I can stay healthy. I am happy you had the courage to post how you felt and you joined this forum. Overall, you will receive good advice, concern, and in some case tough love as needed. I wish you well as you come to grips with your decision, and encourage you to speak to a therapist, or a close confidant to help you through this journey. I know I would have had a tough time had it not been for my immediate family,

Thank you and best wishes to you. I work for a fortune 40 insurance company so coverage was not an issue. Aetna was just being a jerk about. My company guideline deemed a bmi of 40 sufficient enough will no other comorbities.

I can not see any changes at this point. Maybe once I hit the 80+ mark, I'll be more critical of my looks.

I went through a period of lashing out at my family for a couple of weeks. My wife and I rarely have a disagreement but we had a few during that time.

Don't get discouraged, we have all been there. I hit a three week stall and then it broke. I have been losing 4-6 pounds a week since then.

Congrats. I hope to join that club someday in the near future.

Anytime. Always happy to provide experience and guidance.

I was denied twice because I had no other illnesses. I do not have high blood pressure, diabetes, or sleep apnea, so I was deemed too healthy. This even though I have been up and down my entire adult life and had a bmi of 49. I ultimately hired a healthcare advocate who helped me fight them and finally got approved.

Congrats. I fought with Aetna for 18 months before hiring a healthcare advocate and threatening to sue and to go to the media before I was approved.

I have gerd which has overall been better since being sleeved. However, once in awhile I still get an attack. I am on omeprazole 40mg daily to control it.

Welcome. You will find that you will get a lot of helpful advice, concern, and sometime tough love from the people on this site. I am a few days past 8 weeks post-op, but fought with my insurance company for 18 months because I had no comorbities and was "too healthy with a bmi of 49". It is a long and not always an easy journey but well worth it. Good luck to you on your journey.

I don't understand why some new people are so sensitive. I am only 8 weeks out, so I am no veteran. However, it appears that not all doctors set their patients up for success. Having a real meal at such an early stage can't be healthy. When a person is that new, the stomach, staples, stitches are still healing. Adding excess textured food and stomach acid can't be a good thing. I would hope/suggest people take most comments for what it is meant to be, which is concern not criticism.

Each surgeon is a little different. My dr required me to be on full liquids for my first two weeks pre-op. I won't lie to you doing that many sweet protein shakes, but mixing it up with protein enhanced soups help the time go by. My wife also took full soup, puréed and strained them for me which made it easy to stick to the post-op diet. I know what others on others threads said about not being able to stick to their respective diets, but try your best not to cheat. It will help with your self-control. I did not cheat and made my 8 weeks ago on Friday and was 50lbs down. I did 2 protein shakes a day and then had a sensible meal for the two weeks leading up to my surgery date, which helped me lose 12lbs. Always remember it wad the unhealthy foods in large quantities which got us to where we are today. I wish you well on your journey.

I am not going to continue the debate about rules. Other than to say, I was sleeved on 2/19, I followed the rules and I am now 50 lbs lighter. That worked for me, but to each their own.

Had my 8 week follow up today and I am down 50lbs. Would have been more if my physical limitations did not limit my activity. Overall, I am pretty happy with the number.

I agree let her pick out her favorites and get rid of the rest, Remember happy wife, happy life.

I followed every rule pre and post-op and can't understand why people are/were so indisciplined that for a few weeks they couldn't be compliant. Isn't a lack of self control the reason we had surgery in the first place. Hey, if someone wants to cheat that is on them. I chose not. I did not have surgery to see the disappointed look on the faces of my family because for a few months I couldn't control myself and ate the same things that made me morbidly obese. I need to have healthy eating and a lifestyle become a habit before I sabotage myself. Will I have a little something unhealthy in the future maybe or maybe not. The sleeve as I have heard continuously is a tool to help us get on track, not something to be ignored and pushed to the side as we decide. For all of those with no self control, think of it this way. Would you break and arm again after it has healed because you couldn't control yourself? I will not deprive myself of going our socially with friends or family, but I will make smart choices each time. I have cooked things my family wanted like fried chicken and pork chops. I have made cookies with my family after being sleeved. However, not once did I even take a bite. I have helped my wife in the bakery she owns, but did not sample like I did in the past. Remember significant weight gain can be in the future of all who don't practice sound judgement and self control.

Other examples of sliders are ice cream and milk shakes. These are foods that won't necessarily fill you up, but will cease weight loss and can actually make you gain.

SpaceDust- I think we should respectfully agree to disagree on certain points. As I said everyone has the right to their respective opinion and that was mine.

I did not have this surgery so I could eat the high calories unhealthy foods I had pre-op. I have tried a couple bites of bread once and may again but it will be way down the road. I have not had soda or any sweets that were not sugar free. After enduring weeks of sickly sweet protein shakes, I do not miss dessert. I have made fried chicken, pork chops and chicken parmigiana for my family and have not taken a bite. For me every bite I take must have a purpose. If it it doesn't help me reach my protein or nutritional goals, I don't eat it. I will now deprive myself in the future but for now I am content. When will I resume eating like I did pre-op? The answer to that question is never.

I'll say this over and over again. I think everyone in process to have WLS should be required to undergo at least 5-10 sessions with a licensed psychotherapist to work out their addiction or dare I say obsession with food. My regrets were that I waited so long and cheated my wife and family of a healthy husband and father. I do no regret that I can not go to an all you can eat buffet. I do not have to have a side of beef or half a hog to be social and accepted by my friends and family. I come from a southern family and my wife's family is from the Caribbean and I can socialize without having fourths and fifths to show enjoyment of the meal. I came to terms with my food issues through talk therapy. I hope others would try this to come to grip with how food has controlled our lives.

I made a 12oz protein shake in the morning with two scoops of protein and drank 3oz for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also did a lot of strained cream soups with unflavored protein added when I couldn't stand the sweet shakes.

Congrats and best of luck to you on your journey. I had to lose 10lbs prior to my surgery but lost 16lbs by drinking shakes twice a day and having a small dinner.