gmanbat

My best to you and my prayers. Sorry you are going though this, hopefully it turns around for you soon. In the mean time, keep up that indomitable spirit!

Down 4 sizes IS awesome! You've done well. Over 6 pounds a month is a nice steady loss, especially considering you are losing inches. If your eating/vitamins, exercise, and water drinking are in place you are on your way. Check your thyroid but don't worry.

Liked it! Men do this crap, too. If I worked for a boss that talked to me like I USED TO talk to me I would walk off the job ....hopefully before I busted his jaw.

Remember Newton's Third Law of Internet: For every position there is an equal and opposite opposing position. Only in this case it is not even close to being equal.

One of her "angry" commenters mentioned some kind of Whica health drink. Apparently she brought such a thing up previously? Maybe she pushes something. I would investigate further but I am still on the Jimmy Hoffa case.

All of the preceding advice is good, this is not. You: "A knuckle sandwich, saved one for you"

Wow! Disturbing! Makes me want to seek out 10 year plus WLS patients. She talks mainly about gastric bypass, which my wife had. Double checking nutrition wouldn't hurt.

Not a newby, but I know your troubles. I lovingly call my un-sleeved loved ones, "stretch-bellies". I am from Zephyrhills, Fl.

When I was first sleeved I was appaled by the quantity of food my loved ones were putting away. It actually made me ill. I got over it pretty quickly. I have only compassion for obese people. I don't have the urge to force my operation on them but if they ask I will talk about it. The greatest challenge in life is loving people where they are at...and the most rewarding.

I have learned that the most powerful response is absolute silence. When people ask you a rude and stupid question look them right in the eye with a blank expression and say nothing. They will get uncomfortable, maybe ask again, maintain eye contact and say nothing. Let them banter to themselves. The last thing they will remember is what came out of their own mouth. They will either get mad or walk away but they will think about what they said. But...you are in charge, they are not controlling you...control is what they were after to begin with. They lose, you win. Love yourself, maintain your dignity. Your words are valuable, they represent you, don't feed them to pigs. Don't join their Stupid Club.

I have learned a lot in my 64 years. The main thing I've learned is that I have a lot more to learn. The next thing I've learned is that I am not obligated to teach others what I know. Rude questions, innocent questions...no matter...still my choice. I don't have to tell anyone anything unless they are my wife with an Iron skillet raised over her head.

Good for you! Fight for yourself, you are worth it!

Queen City Gal, It s understandable that you would have reservations given your history. i believe that there have been others on this forum with serious metabolic issues that have succeeded. I suggest you post a topic asking for feedback from anyone with that history. All my best to you!

I'd go with the strips. I still avoid pills when I can at nearly 2 years out. Probably don't need to, just got used to it. The hospital will most likely have something for gas.

I would like to see a section to the forums for people who have failed to lose weight any differently after the sleeve than before. Outside of impatient folks that expect too much too soon there would be few legitimate cases I dare say. I have been on this forum for over a year and a half and cannot cite one person that said the sleeve made no difference after a year of following directions. There are, however, many, many that have claimed a big difference, including myself. I don't know if it's the forced consistency, the ghrelin reduction, or other factors but that is the case. But that is an anecdotal argument. You should bring these concerns before your doctor and do research on the difference sleeving makes. If you have no faith in it perhaps reconsidering would be in order.

I think all of us had these thoughts go through our heads. The sleeve is a powerful and drastic tool. In my mind failure is quite unlikely with the sleeve, it is more of a remote possibility. To fail at the sleeve you have to be determined to resist reasonable instructions and defeat yourself. You still need will power but you have a great tool. I have been introduced to the air pressure power hammer. Before, with a regular hammer....pound ,pound, pound, pound, bent nail...pull it out..start again. With a power hammer....Bam...nail in. Good tools are important but a power hammer can mess you up good if you don't use it right.

Good posts. I am coming up on 2 years out in January. My sleeve is still restrictive....BUT....I can defeat it by ignoring the signals. When I started smoking many years ago I coughed and gagged but kept on going. I didn't listen to my body. The only "smoking" I do now is on the guitar. The sleeve doesn't scream, it just informs ...if you are listening.....paying attention to the feelings it generates. Being distracted by talking, TV watching, etc. can divert your attention from the warnings and you'll drive right through. Take eating seriously...pay attention to it closely...you will hear the sleeve say "enough".

Hi Nikkibeal, and WELCOME! Most of us here imagine coming into such a drastic diet change that the weight would drop off according to our light eating. Alas, it ain't neccesarily so. The speed of weight decline is decided by many factors such as beginning weight, metabolism, Water consumption, activity, following guidelines, and.....the mystery factors. Mystery factors? Those are the "unknown to science or anybody" reasons that the body holds on to fat until it's darn good and ready to let it go. I can comfort you in this though, if you follow guidelines it WILL come off. Don't let the scale bully you, it is doomed to drop. I suggest you use the scale like I did on my descent, as a curiosity. I witnessed how my body decided to get it off, saw the scale go down, up, and stay the same many times. I kept in mind that it will come off eventually, it was my destiny, it is yours, too.

At the beginning of my body change the sleeve and attending concerns enveloped the majority of my attention. The struggle to get it going, establishing guide lines, noting progress, mourning slow downs, and in the end, rejoicing exceedingly about my new body. Now, coming up on my second year, my attention is being diverted by life itself. I am maintaining near my low weight and activity is at athletic level as I promised myself at the beginning. I had an empty feeling period when I asked myself the question, "Now what?" This new body is just a part of who I am. It is no longer a hindrance, it now best serves me by not drawing attention to itself. It has become a vehicle to take my mind and soul to destinations and tasks. I have energy to express my heart and my body no longer blocks my reaching out. I no longer have my body to use as an excuse for inactivity and introversion. I no longer hide behind shame. Now is the time to explore the other parts of myself and my relationship with those around me and the world in general. I have made a friend of myself and in so doing have deemed what love I have to offer as worthy to be shared. I have discovered that giving love is the quickest path to getting it. I have a default eating, drinking, and exercise policy. I may step out for a bit but return to default quickly. I don't kick my butt for it, I am my friend now. If I don't have fun being me I won't be any fun to be around. My grown daughter called me contagious the other day. It was one of the best things my ears have ever heard.

I love being shocked in a good way. Trying on suit coats, going for what size I considered reasonable...no, lower....no, still lower...no way, that's it!? I am smaller...I HAVE LOST IT! Congratulations!

You know, being slim, attractive, and healthy isn't everything...there's also....well I guess that's a pretty good start on everything. Congratulations! Ya got spunk, gal!

Oh admit it. You love us Every durned one of ya.

Yer OK, 5.0. You didn't anticipate "loose" women.

First pic 2008, 5 years ago: Second pic, 2 weeks ago: We lost 245 pounds between us. Do we look older? Depends on your point of view. Our wrinkles were being propped up by death dealing fat cells. Do we act older? Absolutely not. We took 30-40 years off of the way we act. Wouldn't go back because of a turkey neck. Let it flap in the breeze, it's a flag of freedom.

Welcome! Density, moisture content, and acidity seem to be the main factors in acceptance by the sleevemaster below. Slower eating, avoiding drinking, and proper chewing enter into the equation as well. In time, you will differentiate at a glance a good food situation from a trip to the Land of Ouch.