Queen of Crop

HI Lainie.....two quick answers as I am expecting company to arrive. I cannot help you with the Protein because I live in Europe and the choices here are much different than you have in the US. But from what I can tell, most people on the forum love unjury. (I have not tried it). As far as exercise....I didn't exercise much the first 6 months after surgery because I was tired a lot, but then as I healed I began to move more. (Was unable to before because of bad knees and hip and feet). Today, I walk over 5 miles a day with my headphones on.....love it. I live in Amsterdam so we walk or ride bikes everywhere. I could not have done this without the surgery. So you will get there.....little steps and before you know it, the walker will be history! You are about to embark on a very exciting journey...and I wish you the best! There are many people here that post lots of good information. My story is inspirational, but I was not the best by far at following the rules! So I'm not a good one to ask about those things!

We have all been where you two are (except for the awful leukemia, so sorry). But the denial, wishing we had done this years before, anticipation, being scared.....but the vast majority have no regrets! I was 57 when I was sleeved and it changed my life.....you two have much to look forward to. If you are interested....read my blog; I kept it faithfully every week for the first year, it might give you an idea of what to expext and inspire you! This October will be my 3rd anniversary and I am still at goal.....(ok, just a few lbs over what I would like to be!). Best of luck to both of you.

Just curious.....how far out is your friend? I am almost 3 years out, reached goal, but have gained 5 lbs.....having a hard time losing it...but the honest truth is I'm not trying super hard as we have a lot of company. But I do know if I don't watch it, I will gain more. Pick a number that you will refuse to NOT go past and be diligent when you hit that number....if you wait until you are 5 or 10 pounds past that number, you will get very discouraged. I did like the bird analogy.....and she's right. Last night I dreamed there was a dead man in my bath tub....the likely hood of that happening is pretty small!

For some inspiration, read my blog (a bit old now since I am almost 3 years out). Had my sleeve done a few days after my 57th BD; never regretted it for a moment....was so excited as they wheeled me into surgery! Your life will change!!!! For the better....this is a moment for you and you new life will be so fabulous. Good luck and keep us posted. My blog link is below...I wrote it every Sunday during my first year....hopefully it will be encouraging to you.

Thanks LDallas....I appreciate the note very much and I do need to spend more time here. I really need to lose 10 lbs to feel comfortable and it's so discouraging....even though I know I'm not perfect, I don't eat that much and I walk an average of 12K steps a day (I have a FitBit) and I live in Amsterdam so I am on my bike all the time. So a bit nervous at the moment about it all and need to come up with a strategy that works for me. My other issue is that we have constant company....but thank you again for encouraging me to come back here!

It's normal to experience lots of fears and doubts along the way. And yes, although this is irreversible, it isn't a free ride. I am back here on the forum because at 2.5 years out, and losing 85 lbs, reaching goal, I found I have gained almost 10 lbs back. I can eat and drink anything at this point, but I still eat small quanities. I also exercise a lot but have still gained. I saw a photo of a friend of mine who had gastric bypass many years ago, and she is heavy again...whoa! That was an eye opener for me. So enjoy your first year now where your resriction is keeping you in check and you are losing continually; but develop those healthy habits of eating right and exercising now, because you will need them later on. But you are right also, that this is not just another diet; this works and is the best thing I ever did! Losing 10 lbs is very doable.....and I will! But when I was 80+ lbs overweight, it seemed impossible. Good luck and keep us posted!

Good luck!!!

Thanks for sharing! Very inspirational! I was 223 at my highest, sleeved Oct 2011, got to 134 but now am up to 142....so I need to see stuff like this to remind me to stop gaining!

Welcome to the VETS forum.....we are actually the pioneers in a way, because the sleeve is not that old. (Oh how I wish it had been available when I was in my 30's or 40's.....I was 57 when I had mine done in 2011! I was looking into the lap band when the surgeon said, no, no lap band! You need the sleeve....and I said, the what? Never wanted Gastric Bypass so this was so perfect....the last few years have been like a dream....like you said, Living Free! But we do have to work at staying here (and I am trying so hard to lose 5-10 lbs....my lowest weight was 133 and I am now around 142.....so coming here is very important to keep us motivated and healthy! I posted a lot in my first year when I was writing my weekly blog (which was so cathartic for me). Now I pop in now and then and am grateful to know it's here. It's a bit of a safety net.

I do love San Francisco, but with all due respect, if I never go back to San Jose again, that would be fine with me. For us, living in Europe and particularly in Amsterdam is a dream, we don't have (or need) a car, we walk or bike or tram everywhere and the cultural charm of this city is beyond amazing. But I will admit, the Bay Area does have great weather! Congratulations on keeping your weight in check. You have inspired me.

@ Game of Sleeves....I am also struggling with a 8 lb weight gain....I reached my goal weight of 135 after one year of being sleeved but now bounce between 139-142 even though I am very active. Am trying the 5:2 diet and hopefully that will work. I also have a FitBit which I am obsessed with and am usually always over 10K a day in my steps. Plus I live in Amsterdam so we walk or bike everywhere. Still, can't seem to get it off. Portions are very good but I do snack on things I shouldn't. I can eat anything but rice. @Lynda.....wow. You and I are so similar! I used to live in San Jose (like you), I started at 223, goal 135 (like you), and was also sleeved in 2011. And although you don't say your age, I am also retired and our birthdays are one day apart! Interesting. So stay tuned.....this week I am recommitting myself. I cannot and will not gain this weight back. My life has been too wonderful since I lost 83lbs.

I never notice a difference after my B12 shot (and I just had my blood work done yesterday and my B12 is high for some reason). I am 2.5 years post op and I was exhausted for the first 6 months after surgery, especially right after I ate. I would have to go lay down. I don't know how people who have to work or take care of little kids do this. So I think what you are experiencing is normal. I finally started getting some energy around the 6 month mark. (I actually started traveling about a month after my surgery!) So I think you are not unusual! Good luck on the weight loss; I hit my goal at exactly one year but have now gained about 3 kilo that I am trying to get off. I am now at 139 and loving life at age 60!

Good thread! And great timing...I went for my monthly B12 shot last week and my Dr. said, let's check it first....since last time I checked it, it was high. Thinking I had my blood work done just after my shot. Turns out my B12 levels were over 1200 (normal is 138-652). My last shot was 6 weeks ago. So now he is only going to give it to me every 2 months (1000 mg) which is fine with me. But I wonder why my B12 would be high? Does anyone else experience this?

I might suggest a Fitbit (fitbit.com) It is an electronic pedometer but it's also part of social media so you have Fitbit friends. It uploads automatically to your computer every time you are in front of it so you can see how you are doing all the time, and compares it to your Fitbit friends. (I would be happy to be anyone's Fitbit friend). I have about 9 friends on it and I usually fall into #3 or 4 (but I am 60 years old and the ones ahead of me are in their 20's and 30's). But it truly motivates me every day to reach my weekly goal of 70,000 steps. It's just another tool, but a very fun one!

You may also want to try the 5:2 diet....I always feel restriction on the day after I have eaten a low calorie day. Just Google 5:2 diet and it will tell you all about it, but basically, 2 days a week you eat 500 calories for the day. It's really not that hard because it's just 2 days a week and they are not consecutive. Good luck....and don't beat yourself up too much. You came here for support and that's a great start!

Try the 5:2 diet I always feel much better restriction on the day after I have eaten a light day. And only 2 days of restricted eating is pretty doable. I also have a Fitbit and it's very motivating to me to get me to move. So you may want to think about that. All is not lost and good for you for coming back here! I needed to hear this too because I have gained about 7 lbs back and it is hard to get it off again. But we will!

Wonderful post; good information. Thanks for sharing. Sorry to ask such a stupid question. But what do you mean by a revision? Lap band to sleeve? Thanks for taking the time to share!

The one and only regret is that this was not available when I was younger....but it added YEARS and much happiness to my life....sleeved at 58, I am now 60 and feel 40. Queen of Crop

Thank you for your honesty; you are the first one I have ever read that has regretted this decision, but of course it is a very personal one and no one can tell you how to feel. But I will echo what the others said; hair....it will grow back! I am 2.5 years out and life is much different for me now than it was at one year out. Although I love being thin at last and healthier and more mobility and all the positive things, the first 18 months was a bit surreal; I didn't think I would ever enjoy eating again and my brain was trying to catch up with the way I looked. But it has all balanced out now; it's a huge change and it takes time. The main thing is that you will not have to deal with all the co-morbidities you would have to deal with at 300+ lbs. Your name is luckysmomma, so I am assuming you are a mother; for your child's sake, you have made a healthy decision to be around and healthy a lot longer because of the weight loss. Good luck to you and check in again in 6 months....I'll bet your head of hair will be back and you will be feeling much better!

Good thread....I would like to add another thought about 'rules.' My goal was to eat, think, be like a normal thin person. Thin people don't follow rules, but they do watch what they eat, they keep their wait in check, and they do what works for them....cut back on (fill-in-the-blank-on whatever your problem area is) and most exercise regularly. I believe I have gotten there...I have 6 lbs to lose to be where I am comfortable but I am not going crazy about it. I envy kylifalcon with the high metabolism because I don't think I have any! (Which is why I am SO grateful for my sleeve....would never have lost any weight otherwise). I have lost 2lbs in 2 months doing the 5:2; no award winning losses but it's doable for me and by summer I should be at my goal weight...no big stresses and no big rules.

I've never been a big rule follower but I'm sensible and know when i am eating well and not eating well and exercise is a must. Your cousin is still in the honeymoon phase of his sleeve and he sadly thinks he can eat like this and not gain weight. My weight stayed off for 2+ years. Now I am in my third year and it's a completely different story. I must watch what I eat and exercise; which is fine! No one should have a 'magic button' approach. I don't think you have to follow rules exactly, but you cannot eat what he is eating and keep your weight off. I read here about a lot of people who are clean from sugar and carbs; I admire them greatly. I have chosen not to do that; I have a cookie every day with coffee in the afternoon. And I have a glass of wine every night. (Well, 5 days out of 7, because I have adopted the 5:2 into my life). It's my treat and I love it. The difference is, I don't eat the whole bag of Cookies. I weigh myself every day and I average over 12,000 steps on my Fitbit every day. And even though I don't follow the rules, lunch is always a salad and dinner is always Protein and vegetables. How much? I don't know, but I look at the scale and I have my blood work done every year. Good luck to your cousin!

I was sleeved Oct 2011, lost 80 lbs and am currently 143, want to lose only 10 lbs and have been on the 5:2 for about 6 weeks. I'm committed too! Do eithr of you have a FitBit?

NO! NO! NO! NO YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD!!!! I had just turned 58 when I had my surgery 2+ years ago......and it has CHANGED MY LIFE and I feel 20 years younger. Take a look at my blog if you want to see what changes can happen in a 58 year old....I am now 60 and loving life!!! (I always loved life, I just love it more now). You will not regret it. If you need some inspiration or validation, just take a quick look at my ABOUT me page here: www.queenofcrop.com/about I could list hundreds of reasons you should do this and at the top is how much healthier you will feel as you get older. (Not to mention how much fun you will have!!!) Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for your reply queen. I've tried 5:2 but since I'm a type one diabetic, I couldn't do it because my BS always dropped on fast days and I ended up being sick each time. I do have a fitbit, thanx for the tip. Hi again....if you want to be a FitBit friend (if you work in a restaurant you will probably beat the pants off of me) anyway, send me an email at sharene@klein.org

I am 2 + years out and recently gained 10 lbs (since last fall). So I am now working very hard to get them off (and it's much harder to lose it now!). But I have two recommendations....first, consider getting a FitBit....it's a high tech pedometer and for me it's very motivational because I see how I move compared to a few other people I know....and I am always in 4th place out of 6....but I don't slack off anymore because it holds me accountable and I like seeing my progress there. Second, is try the 5:2 diet. It isn't fast but it is very manageable for the rest of your life. Good luck!