thebionicbroad

Normal-weight people fluctuate, too. During the weight-loss phase, weigh once a week. During the maintenance phase, weigh daily. Don't get the two reversed.

It's a constant battle because our "trigger" foods light up parts of the brain, much like cocaine. For many of us, certain foods are addicting. The more you eat of them, the less they satisfy. So we eat more and more of them to give us the same pleasure. Terrible cycle.

Please don't get a lap-band. Please, please, please no. I'm down on my knees begging. I could go into a gazillion reasons why the band is never a good idea, and if you'd like to message me, I will. For now, please do your research. I had one for five years before my revision to the sleeve. Please don't get the band.

Cupping? I didn't know that there was a name for it. Many moons ago, when I was trying to get my weight down to join the military, I went one full year with zero carb. I can remember making, chewing, and spitting out an entire batch of chocolate chip cookies. I haven't done this with the sleeve, though. There's nothing that I really crave or miss. Sweets don't even look good anymore, since there's zero nutritional value in them. After having a malfunctioning crap-band for five years, I'm having too much fun eating things that would never go through the band. Splenda, fruit, and Atkins bars keep me happy.

Shorty, congratulations! What a glorious ride the sleeve is. Looking forward to hearing from you.

I bounce like Tigger. Yesterday, 171.8. This morning 173. With no changes, cheats, etc. Every time I go below 172, I bounce. But every time I get back below 172, it's a bit lower. I just see it as the body fighting for all it's worth to keep my weight stable. And, no matter what charts say, I must be getting close to a normal weight for me. I'm giving myself until next December to get to goal, which is the 155 - 160 range. I hope I can get that low.

:)Have fun!

CALL!!!

Beer is liquid carb, pure and simple. But it's not just the carb count, it's the alcohol itself. Alcohol is the only carb metabolized as a fat. It screws up your liver. Alcohol and sugar follow the same pathway through the body.

Interesting question. The metabolic needs of the body are so much higher than what we can eat post-op that the body has no choice but to burn body fat. My surgeon told me that the body is indiscriminate about what it burns after surgery. I lost a lot of muscle along with that fat, but things settled down, as my surgeon told me, and if I keep up my protein and weight-lifting, what I'm losing is fat. I'm 5 months post-op and I haven't stalled. I have "bounced," as my body is trying to maintain weight, but if I keep on doing what I'm supposed to, I keep losing, even if it's only a 1/10 of a pound a day.

Lizzy, part of what you're feeling right now is hormonal. Estrogen gets soaked up by the fat cells in obese women (hence the stereotype with facial hair and a deeper voice). When we have the sleeve, and are burning fat, waves of that estrogen are released into the blood stream. It will subside. I felt like a failure after two C-sections, wondering why I couldn't do it the "natural" way. Well, both of my boys would have died, that's why. Obesity is way too complex to be reduced to "calories in, calories out." You are doing it on your own...you opted for a medical procedure to fix a medical problem, just like a C-section.

That cough could be reflux. Try cutting back on the size of your meal, and see if that helps. If it does, you might want to eat smaller meals, more often.

I don't know what this is, but I just prayed for you. I don't have to know, since the Lord does. God bless.

I sit all day, too, and I've noticed the same thing. Part of it might be weight redistribution, part of it might be just me sitting too much on my arse. Anyway, I'd go to a reputable chiropractor for some stretching exercises. My favorite is to sit on the floor cross-legged, and lean forward.

Nancy, a few things have made me very nauseous, but I haven't vomited, not even once. I don't think that it's inevitable.

I'm almost 5 months out, and tried it two days in a row. Got sick both times, even though I can eat any other veg. I don't care if I ever look lettuce salad in the face again.

Dooter, that man is a KEEPER!!!!!!

I've been asked if I have cancer, *sigh*

​Congratulations, Victoria! You're going to be amazed at the changes and the new you. Make sure you keep us apprised of your journey. I've already prayed for you.

:)You are doing great! Congratulations! I thank the Lord daily that I am now overweight, and not obese.

I slept after my 3 pm surgery. In fact, it's all a blur. It took about 4 hours for the procedure, because it included removal of a Crap-band. I woke up in Recovery just long enough to say, "I'm nauseous," then I went back to sleep. The next day, they got me up to walk. I'm a KS girl, too! I still say that I'm from Overland Park. Good luck! You'll love your sleeve.

Susie, I had my Band for 5 years, and was so sick all the time that I was living on cheese. I gained all my weight back plus some. I was also depressed, wouldn't go out, and refused to attend social events, especially with people who hadn't seen me for awhile. I started out every morning calling myself brutal names when I looked in the mirror. Because of the complications, I had the Band out in December and a revision to sleeve. I am 55, and now weigh the lowest I have weighed since I was 20. I did go through a type of grieving process for food, I will admit. But I'm taking joy in the fact that I can eat tasty, healthy foods that I never could with the Band: White-meat chicken, cooked veg, cooked egg, etc. And my tastes have changed. So much of what I used to eat just looks NASTY now. With such a small stomach, I want what I put into it to give me the most nutritional bang for my buck. Crap food ain't it. I have had no leaks or other complications. I haven't vomited once. I have followed the doctor's orders to the letter. I don't have to shop in the plus size area. I fit into stadium seats. I can march into a regular store and buy clothes off the rack. My thighs don't rub together. I'd rather have all these things than a table full of crap food. You have to decide what's best for you, and I urge you to do your research. I would do this all over again without one shred of hesitation. God bless you.

Thickiest, I check in with Dr. P every three months, as he is tracking me post-op. Kaiser is data-collecting, I guess. Congratulations!

Apricot, I want you to imagine your liver, which overlaps the top of your stomach. During the surgery, the surgeon has to use a liver retractor to hold the liver out of the way so that he or she can cut out the stomach. Now imagine the liver of an obese person, who has gained 10 - 20 pounds more before surgery, which makes the liver even fattier. The surgeon has to use a paddle to hold the liver aside, at the same time that he or she is trying to cut out 85% of your stomach. Do you REALLY want that? He or she is trying to staple the incision line so that you don't have leaks. Wouldn't it be better to make handling the liver easier so that he or she could put the majority of focus on doing the surgery correctly? Every pound you gain pre-op makes his or her job more difficult. Having a food-for-all pre-op isn't exactly the best idea, IMHO.

Wonderful post. You are a gifted writer. I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!