jessiquoi

HW 285 SW 266 CW 221 I'm having a great time with my sleeve! Every time I feel a little less than successful, or start to worry about whether I will really lose all the weight I want to, I look at what I'm eating and how much activity I'm getting. Refocusing on the basics works every time, and each time the tweaking needed to bring me back to full compliance is less and less. I'm really learning new habits and breaking old ones! I still have cravings, but not as often. When I give in to them, I don't enjoy the food as much. I am using less than half the insulin I used to pre-surgery (I'm a Type 1 diabetic). I'm off of 2 of 3 blood pressure medications, and my follow-up blood work showed my cholesterol to be outstanding, so I'm going to be talking with my doctor about stopping that med as well. Before surgery, I would be exhausted, out of breath and in pain walking from my car to my office. Now I walk unlimited and I feel twenty years younger (I'm 57)! Each of us has our own journey. Don't compare yourself with anyone else to determine your success! It took me over a year to decide to go through with the surgery, and I don't regret a day spent in researching and mulling over ethat decision. Give yourself whatever you need, because you deserve it. I wish you all a quick approval, a safe surgery, a speedy recovery, and a long and healthy life.

The only way you can fail is to stop trying. You haven't stopped, you're here looking for help, so congratulations! You know exactly what to do, because you've listed all the behaviors you need to get rid of. Listen to all the other advice given here. Take it slow, make one change back at a time, and congratulate yourself on coming here for help before you gained it all back! You can do this. You've already proved yourself. Positive thinking is one of the most important tools we can have to help us in our journey. Make your attitude one that you are proud to share with the world! And keep posting here, as much as you need to, for support.

I have panic attacks, but they are controlled by medication. I've been sleeved 5 months, and the only time I've had an attack is when I don't take my meds. They seem totally unaffected by my sleeve. The only difference is that eating used to be an alternate drug for quenching the anxiety (if for whatever reason I hadn't been taking my meds). That's gone now. I try to always remember my medication for this reason.

Good response, @JaimeLogical. @@teffytmg I have been sleeved for a little over 5 months now. So far I've lost 45 lbs. I find it relatively easy to stay on plan. I definitely have restriction. I belong to a FB group of over 400 people who all had their sleeve surgery in the same month. There's not one person who regrets their decision. We're all losing at pretty much the same rate (percentage-wise, based on our starting weight). Out of the group, there were 3, I think, who had complications, and they have all been resolved at this point. I would recommend the sleeve to anyone who is serious about bariatric surgery.

...and for whatever reason, I went a little nuts afterwards. I don't know if it all just seems more real when you're watching a person tell their story compared to just reading it, or if I was just due for a little crazy time . Every now and then something makes me think about what I am planning on having done to my body, and I freak a little. I am standing with my decision to have the surgery. I know why I need the surgery. I've been trying to lose weight unsuccessfully for 25 yrs (I'm 56), and I'm chock filled with comorbidities, plus I just can't move. The only fun I ever have now has to be either sitting (backgammon, movies, etc) or laying down (not gonna give examples here lol). I want my full life back. But man, I never imagined myself here. I always thought eventually I'd be able to get it off myself... when I got married, when I got pregnant, when I got the new job, when I got divorced, when I turned 30 40 50... Anyway, I freaked and ate more than was on my plan, although I was able to stop it sooner than usual, and ended up going to bed depressed in the middle of a beautiful Sunday afternoon. All better now! And still looking forward to an early Fall surgery date. Thanks for listening!

Hi, everyone. I haven't posted for a while, and I'm happy to say that's because I'm out there living like I couldn't do 55 lbs ago! Getting sleeved was the best decision I could have made for myself, and I'm so grateful to the outcome. HW 285 SW 266 CW 229.8 1 Month Post Op: 248 (down 18 lbs) 2 Month Post Op: 241 (down 7 lbs) 3 Month Post Op: 230 (down 11 lbs) I owe so much to the people on this site who took the time to answer questions and share their experiences. I will try to do the same and spend some time each day here.

So far, I only heard one person chime in about it growing back, and that was after two years! I'm in the same place as Elode and I'd love to hear from more people about when the loss stopped and actually reversed back to normal. Anybody?

I also just said that I was having surgery. Funnily, everyone assumed I was having back surgery because of the pain I was in with all the extra weight, and someone else in the office just had back surgery. You have every right to your privacy. Be open to the fact that you may change your mind about who you tell what as you go forward. Now that I'm three months post-op, I'm starting to tell a few people in the office who comment on my weight loss and my much improved health and mobility. I think it's because deep inside I was worried about what they would think, that I was taking "the easy way out" even though I knew it was anything but that. I just didn't feel like having to explain myself when it was taking all my focus to stay on my 3 month pre-op diet. Now that I'm down 55 lbs from my highest weight (six months ago), my confidence has soared and my old, younger attitude of "who gives a crap what anyone thinks" has returned. Do whatever makes you the most comfortable.

From left to right: 3 months pre-op, at my highest weight; 1 month post-op; 2 month post-op

There may be people who will yell at this advice, but when I had a shake that I didn't like and I still had a tub of it left, I added some banana to the blender. It made SUCH a difference. Yes, you're not supposed to have it right away, but it made the difference some days between me getting my Protein in and not. 2 months out now and I don't use shakes any more.

Good for you! I had one false start myself. It's great that you found this site, it's awesome. Welcome!

every morning, after pooping, after my shower, before i get dressed. i need the feedback to keep me on track.

you are doing great! just keep on doing what you are doing. if you're "stuck", you can try to mix things up a bit... try a different workout, eat a little more one day and a little less the other, drink more Water... but there's nothing wrong with the rate you are losing at.

Thank you! I lost more inches than pounds this month, and it's definitely showing in my clothes.

I have mixed plain greek nonfat yogurt with just about everything. SF hot chocolate, Protein powders, SF puddings. It'll be fine. Just add a little at a time so you don't overdo it.

Sleeved 11/18/14

HW 285, SW 266, CW 252. 5'5", 57 yo. Grateful and proud. I love my sleeve! I'm learning every day, and slowly but surely building a new relationship with food. Accent on the slowly for me, and that's fine.

i'll take the maid and stop there! lol

Success is getting up one more time than you fall down. Using that definition, you are the EPITOME of success. NOTHING keeps you down! And as far as not belonging here, that is just to ridiculous to address. We help you, you help us, we all help each other just by being heard. For goodness sake! Isn't it awful the way some people say things that strike us to the core? There are others who can say anything and not affect us, but we give some people power to affect our feelings. This is normal, and unfortunate. However, the people we give this power to don't always deserve it. Either they don't know what they're talking about, or they don't have the sense to couch their words in a way that will be received well. I read every one of your posts in the year leading up to my having surgery. Knowing what you went/are going through helped me tremendously to make an educated and informed decision. If for no other reason than that, you belong. Geez! *hugs*

When I went for my second of three pre-op weigh-ins, I felt very upset because I didn't lose anything and the NUT made me feel like I was in danger of not having my surgery. I lost plenty the first month, and plenty the third month, but the second month for whatever reason, my body held on to the weight. I became very anxious about not being able to have the surgery, and that led to overeating. I finally told the program coordinator at the monthly support meeting, and she assured me that I was doing fine. The next meeting I had with the NUT, I was assertively and calmly not taking any negative feelings. They work for you. Not the other way around. And we're not machines, we're all different. To the OP: I think you're doing marvelous!!! Keep up the good work!

it is a great group

keeping you in my thoughts daily. keep up the fight. i hope your wife heals quickly and can help you by becoming your advocate.

I'm thankful every day that I finally made the decision to have this surgery. I am down 13 lbs since being sleeved on 11/18/14, and if I only enjoyed the benefits I feel right now, I would be happy! I can walk, dance, and stand for extended periods. I'm doing dishes and cleaning the house, which I haven't been able to do in two years. (Don't worry, I've had a housekeeper part time helping. I haven't been living in filth lol, but I've let her go now and see the housekeeping as part of my fitness regimen. My least favorite part, I may add.) I've been out to eat, and ordered in twice as well, and I'm thrilled with the number of meals I get out of one dish ordered from a restaurant. I can eat anything so far, no problems with any food. Four times I've overeaten or eaten too fast and paid the price of pain and nausea. The lesson is slowly being drummed into my thick skull and the bad habits, the addiction to food and its numbing qualities are getting tamed more and more each day. I took one week off from work, and have been working at home for the last two weeks. This will be my final week at home, and I am actually looking forward to going back to the office. We have three holiday parties next week, and I'm simultaneously pissed that I have to pay for each of them considering the small amount of food I'll be eating, looking forward to eating tiny samplings, and worried that I haven't anything small enough and nice enough to wear. Next week, on my one monthiversary, I will post pix. HW: 285 SW: 266 CW: 253

Hang in there, friend. You are home and taking in what you can. It will get better, and we are here to listen and encourage you. Sending positive vibes re:your wife.

Today I went out to lunch with my daughter and for the first time in years, I sat in a booth. I fit!!! HW 285 SW 266 CW 254 sleeved 11/18