vincereautmori

I'm going to say I totally get Penny, in fact I'd suggest she's the epitome of why we consider surgery and why surgery is only a tool. Weight problems are real complex, it's not just will power, it's not just a sedentary life, it's not just mood, it can be used to manipulate and control and Penny has mastered it. For most of us, the journey begins with facing our weaknesses and fears, then we make a decision to change which can be to diet and exercise or something more drastic. Penny isn't honest with herself, I know that for a fact because I've been there, too many years thinking I don't have a serious weight problem, or that I could do more about it or how to get help. Penny has control over her family, why would she risk losing that control? So, she doesn't think she has a big weight problem and she has control. No reason to change. Why did she bother with surgery? It eleiminates the last excuse to regain her health, she can claim she got the surgery and no one helped and it didn't work. In her mind the surgery was the magic pill. As a spectator its frustrating to watch, but it should also reinforce the power of the forces that drive our obesity. IMHO

I remember at about 3 months I went out for dinner for the first time since surgery, I ate the way I did before, started with a wine, then some salad, then the main course. I didn't expect to eat as much, but after a good portion of Protein and a few bites of veggies, I felt sick and we had to leave. That's when I realized how different dining out is going to be from now on. I think its a combination of too much food and eating too fast. Too much bread doesn't seem to work either, so I tend to get wraps and then I can only comfortably eat half. I also asked for advice from forum friends, and the advice that has worked for me is to find the restaurant's menu online and plan ahead what I want to eat, usually ala carte, small portions, and I always take some home.

Well, Dr. Huizenga's motivations to critisize WLS may lie in his investment and celebrity on Biggest Loser. Biggest Loser is a brand, and right now it's a lucrative brand to be associated with and Dr. Huizenga is profiting from it, even to the extent of opening his own resort style fat ranch, which I'm certain is aimed at a particular wealthy demographic. His views are very single dimensional and ignores the many complexities of mental and physical reasons for weight loss. He has been quoted as citing a study comprised of just 35 subjects, hardly a statistically accurate sampling, for many of his conclusions. Although we might expect him, as an MD, to proffesionally consider other medically accepted options, he chooses to select publications that support his business. I believe Dr Oz has been critisized for questionable claims, seems to be a Hollywood weakness. In the end, Dr Huizenga can make all the claims he likes, it's a free country, but results speak louder than words. In actuality, he has not found the "magic pill", I therefore suspect his program, or Biggest Loser, is not likely to produce results unlike many studies with thousands of data points, which say diet and exercise has a low statistical success rate vs. WLS. As far as the damage he might do to discourage obese viewers of the show from WLS, I don't think he has the credibility as a TV personality verses a patient having a serious conversation wth their primary doctor or their surgeon.

Don't forget what a big change you've just bargained for, a very large section of stomach is gone, it changes how you need to eat. You, and even 6 months out me, are relearning something that was natural for us for our lives up until now. You need to learn the signals from the sleeve, and care and feeding. For me, eating too fast, it doesn't like it, things like sandwiches (the bread) it doesn't like it, but we're getting to know one another and we're working together and I'm getting healthier. It's still early, its going to take a while for swelling to go down and to acclamate to this new lifestyle. Take your time and be patient, you and your sleeve are going to be together for a long time. Good luck!

He's just worried about someone he holds dear now that the moment is near, you're his little girl, right? I'm pretty sure you've done all the research and you know the skill of your surgeon, you know the risks of surgery and you also know the risks of doing nothing. He just needs a little reassurance that you know what you're doing and there's a small chance you could have a problem, but there's a very likely chance you'll have serious health problems if you back out. Good Luck.

Complications suck! But it sounds like your surgical team is on top of it, hopefully once you can start getting fluids and nutrients down, things will start smoothing out. Just keep this in mind when someone says something to you about WLS being the easy way out. Hang in there, and keep the faith.

I know there's supposed to be a man code, but that's pretty shallow. So, here's my suggestion, in about a year or so when you're knock out dead gorgeous, give this guy one more date, so that he knows what he missed out on. Oh and BTW- you won't be able to eat much, so be sure you choose a REALLY expensive nouveau restaurant, you know the kind, extremely tiny portions (more than enough for you) and big pricetags. He'll go home hungry, broke, and lonely.

Are you being too narrow in your thinking? You bet you are, it's called FOCUS! You can't do anything about how others react to your decision, you can only control what you do. If you can't deal with going out and asserting yourself, don't go there, stay focused on YOUR journey. This time will pass, a year from now things will be different, so will your wife support you between here and there? Only the both of you can answer that. For me, I passed an a few functions both before and right after surgery so my wife went alone, and now I can go out and have whatever I want to. The difference? Before I might start with bread, a salad, a beer or two, then the main course, maybe another beer. Now, I can only handle about a cup of food total or I get real uncomfortable, so I skip the bread and Pasta, no more beer to fill me up, lean Protein like chicken or fish, I try to leave some room for some veggies, by then I'm usually too full for anything else. But the important difference is, I don't miss the quantity of food and enjoy the flavors, the company and the moment. So hang in there, you're doing the right thing. Good Luck.

I like your attitude, instead of wallowing in sorrow for your run of bad luck you're deciding to be proactive and do something about it. YOU will do fine, and you WILL feel better, I have no doubts. You go girl!!!

I've got a question for the vets, did you find it was tougher to stay on plan or lose weight in the winter? I'm thinking I'm fighting evolution. I was losing pretty steady and the only stall I've hit was at three weeks, none since so it might just be a stall. With poor weather I can't get out for walks as often and I'm not very dedicated to exercise. What do you think, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I'm about 5 months out and the experience and results have been fantastic, no more CPAP, no more meds, walking without pain, and I don't need to shop in the big mans section anymore. Life is good and getting better. But me and my sleeve are still getting used to one another, I usually feel some restriction and stop, but if I eat too fast or go over the line.......ooooowwwwwwww. I get really really uncomfortable and regret the hell out it for at least a half hour. As awful as I feel, I hope that feeling is permanent because I WILL get it sooner or later and I appreciate and cherish this new friend (tough love I guess). Has anyone else experienced that feeling? Does it last?

I've been having an occasional glass of wine since about 2 months post op, I've had no issues, still haven't tried beer yet. Take it slow and easy as you re-introduce foods and drinks.

OMG!

Suspence is killing me!

Pretty much like any addict coming off their favorite vice, whatever was driving us to over eat isn't letting go without putting up a fight. It didn't hit me until after surgery, but before, if I didn't eat in like 4 or 5 hours I started to get moody and I'd get headaches. No more. Good Luck!

YESSSS!! I was thinking the same thing, surgery helps but the rest is up to us.

Ditto, three week stall, it's your body adjusting to all the changes. Mine lasted 2 weeks, but haven't hit any since.

Although some family said they were seeing a difference at 20- 30 lbs it was about 50 lbs when I looked in the mirror and started to see the difference. Another motivating difference is watching how clothes fit as I move to smaller sizes. At my peak I was wearing 3XL shirts and even they were getting tight, they were big in the shouders but I needed that size to get it around my belly. Now I'm in XL and everything looks so much more proportional.

What were you expecting to lose? This isn't a contest, your body is desparately making adjustments, do what you're supposed to and take the journey, you will reach your goals.

I agree with everyone, shop at thrift and Goodwill stores because you won't be in that size very long. What feels good is seeing clothes fit better and better instead of buying stuff that fits around our widest dimension.

The reason for pre-op is to de-fat your liver and reduce the chances of complications from surgery. Some surgeons just want you on a liquid diet some a low fat diet, it will depend on your surgeon.

Look, food can't replace real freinds and lovers, you just want it that much and that's an addiction. Just like an alcoholic or drug user the addiction drives you and controls you and all you know is you need it. Fear of failing or succeeding? Probably more likely afraid to take the first step on the journey you know you need to make, and that you can't come back once you make that decision. I had a lot of the same fears, but now I'm about 5 months out and I couldn't be happier. Now I control my relationship with food and not the other way around. I still enjoy many of the foods I love, but I can't abuse them, my sleeve won't let me. I'm still in the early part of my journey, what I didn't realize until I got here, is that the path behind me is darker than the path ahead. Good Luck to you.

So, what's the nutritional value of candy? Are you getting the recommended amount of Protein? Are you getting in 48-60 oz Water? Are you feeling restriction? Those are the basics. Maybe track your meals on Sparkpeople or My Fitness Pal, both let you plug in what you've eaten and calculates for calories, Proteins, carbs, fats. If you're not feeling restriction or getting a full signal, talk to your surgical team. Good Luck!

FYI- Anthony Weiner was a NY representative who resigned from a sex scandal, so I know he wasn't promoting vegetables. LOL

Be sure you're getting enough water, those are similar symptoms for dehydration. Be sure to get in enough Protein, that's your nutrition for now, the other foods will follow. You are also only 3 weeks out, its going to take time for your new stomach to heal, this is a learning curve and your tolerance for foods is going to change for a while. Be patient, its a lifetime journey.