LadyIvy

I have seen multiple people on this forum say that because we don't have a pouch we are not prone to our stomach stretching. I have also seen others that say that the stretchy part of the stomach has mostly been removed. Did your docs tell you this? What did they say regarding this? Does anyone have any respectable links explaining this? Thanks again all!

Anyone else out there that got their sleeve done at Darnall on Fort Hood? I know we have a big support group there and lots of sleevers in the group. It would be wonderful to find more of you on here too

Yet another reason Omega-3's are awesome for you! http://news.yahoo.com/sugar-dumb-us-scientists-warn-190918006.html

Turkey Chili Minutes to Prepare: 20 Minutes to Cook: 360 Number of Servings: 10 Tips Change amounts of to taste. Cayenne and white pepper add the sting at the back of your throat. Some sleevers may want to lower amounts due to the fact that we cannot drink with our food. If you still find too spicy at end of recipe, make a note for the next round (this stuff is so easy you will make it a lot) and add a little sour cream. This really calms it down. Ingredients *Turkey, Ground turkey, 93% lean, 2 lbs Beans, pinto, 1 can Beans, red kidney, 1 can Hunts Sauce for Chili, 1 cup 1 1/4 tablespoon Cumin 1 tablespoon Black Pepper 1/4 tablespoon White Pepper 1/2 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper 1/2 tablespoon Paprika Directions Brown Turkey meat. While browning, add all beans and spices to. Finish browning meat and add to spiced beans in crockpot. Let simmer on low for 5-6 hours. Serving Size: 10 1 cup servings Number of Servings: 10 Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LADYIVY79. This seems like a lot of calories, but most of us can't eat a full cup. A half a cup sits well and is usually all I can handle at 8 weeks out. Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 10 Amount Per Serving Calories: 256.1 Total Fat: 7.6 g Cholesterol: 72.0 mg Sodium: 496.8 mg Total Carbs: 21.0 g Dietary Fiber: 7.8 g Protein: 26.0 g

Well, 6 months out from my surgery and I am finally at the 60 lb point. In the first month the weight fell off. Then through a combo of a month long cross country trip, sick family, moving and starting grad school it slowed. Cortizol has always had great effect on my weight loss. I eat a high Protein diet with no simple carbs (okay well very rarely), haven't had a soda in over 6 months or a cigarette in a year. I am at the point where I can eat a little more, but that actually jump started my weight loss again. As frustrating as it has been watching some of my cohorts so far ahead of me, I just keep going. Here is the deal: my health has improved significantly, and even though it is slow, it is weight loss not gain. Its going to be difficult for me to gain the weight back unless I snack all day. Thats probably not going to happen because drinking and eating is still a no go. I like my fluids A LOT so I have to concentrate and trade one out for the other. Then today, just before my 33rd birthday it happened: ONEDERLAND!!! For those of you thinking about, or just got surgery, this is far from a magic cure. Some of us lose slower than others and we all have different things life requires of us. Either way, this surgery takes hard work and dedication, it will change your life forever and sometimes it makes you angry but overall; for me, it is the best decision I ever made for myself. I never make myself a priority and I did it for this. It makes my life different every single day, I can't go back and I would do it just like I have, all over again.

I think I am going to have to choose which topics I read more carefully. I am a little frustrated so please forgive me when I say this, but seriously people! Almost every day there is another post that goes something like this: OMG! I have only lost 50 lbs in 45 days and now its stopped! Am I broken? Am I ever going to lose anymore weight? Why do people ask this question? They are losing more than a pound a day and their body needs time to adjust before continuing with weight loss. Don't get me wrong, I am not completely happy with my 28 lbs, but I am happy with many of my NSV's, including not having a ton of extra skin to contend with. I'm just saying, come on!, you have to know your body has practically performed a miracle for you and just needs a rest. I believe that EVERYONE here is smart enough to know this. Saying I'm frustrated because I am in a stall is one thing. After major surgery it is frustrating to have to wait. I just can't believe that people think that if they continue eating between 600-900 calories a day that they are never going to lose another pound even if it takes a while.

Can anyone tell me how to delete an account from this website? The support here is less than the general population and I see no benefit to continuing. I have been participating for a year and find that with a few exceptions, this forum is very one sided. If certain expectations are not met than a person can just screw off. I am tired of wasting my valuable time with a forum that is supposedly a support group for WLS. This comment isn't for everyone. There are a few of you on here that are amazing people and I don't want you to take this personally. So many people are on here for very selfish reasons and I am too busy to deal with it. Please tell me how to proceed with this. This site has become nothing but a detriment to my success. In case this isn't deleted. Just remember, what you feel is success, what makes you healthier and makes you feel good is all that matters. Too many people here rely on numbers. While I am happy I made Onederland, if I don't lose another pound, I will never take back what I did. For a WL forum people are so wrapped up in this many pounds this, and this many pounds that. It is about your health, it is about how you feel about yourself. You may hate yourself today, but if you are here for any other reason than improved health, you don't need a surgeon, you need a psychologist who can help you be okay with you. We all have value, we are all needed. If you don't feel that way because of weight, surgery won't help. I can't deal anymore with so many people that just don't see this. I wish the best of luck to everyone and would like to reiterate. YOU ARE NOT A NUMBER! You can be whoever you choose to be....

I have been on because I wasn't sure how to find Alex. I don't like the negativity here. People should be able to say how they feel and not be ridiculed. Support means good and bad. Again, not all of you, but most people here only want the positive. I have been on this site for a year and I see it over and over. That is not support. I don't need negativity from you people because I have a feeling that you don't support. Let me make this simple. I wasted my time reading so many of your whiny posts here that I am sick of it. So many good people with good hearts that are being drowned out by judgmental self centered people. I have never been part of an online forum before. I joined this place in the past year, and I will never be part of a forum like this again. So many of you hide behind your keyboard everyday treating people like garbage because you are anonymous. Anonymity makes people act online like people they aren't. I really, truly am happy for those of you that need this site. It has its place and I really needed it for a while when I was scared and confused and needed some help from some veterans. However, you can only deal with oppression for so long before you grow sick of it. Just like you all say, if you don't like something you read, don't comment, or don't read it. My mind is blown how you all take my response as if I affronted you personally. This site no longer works for me. I came back on to contact a few people that I have talked to for a year and ask how to get the account deleted. While I was here, yes I was proud to announce my entry into onederland. I didn't say a weight, its not important, but it was when I got in that range that my back quit hurting and my BP got back to normal. That makes me happy all by itself. Yes, I have been back on a couple of times because I am waiting for responses. It doesn't really matter if I explain myself to you nameless faceless people who have nothing better to do than judge someones opinion that you don't even know. For those of you that take this less personally. Please keep your heads up. I really want the best for everyone here even if they don't agree with what I say. If you want to see my optimism as climbing on my high horse fine. That is your prerogative.I look at things differently, want to support people and don't necessarily have the popular opinion, diversity in bodies and minds is very important and is what makes this country what it is. If you don't like it, don't read it. Thank you to those that are supportive and want to really learn and help people. PLEASE PLEASE I beg you to remember, you are more than a number. To those of you who take things personally and are judgmental, you can all screw off, my life, and frankly everyone elses, will be better without you. Thanks for the good times. No need to comment unless it makes you happy. I won't even read this post any further and will be waiting to hear from Alex. End.

Sorry, I don't see what you are talking about. I choose not to define myself by a number. While that may work for others it isn't the motivator that I need in my life. I don't begrudge that who need it, but I know what works for me and unfortunately this site doesn't provide it. That doesn't mean this is a bad site, and I just don't see why it not working for me would make me a bitter person. Either way, thank you everyone. I may be on here another day or two while I wait for Alex to respond. I like to see most of the positivity that so often emanates from this site. I just can't continue with a numbers game. I feel great and will continue to lose weight. I love my new life and part of it for me is no longer comparing myself to others through numbers. BTW, to the one that mentioned using her real name, if you do, you can be googled and found on this forum so I wouldn't do that if its a secret. Have a wonderful day all!

Great advice. I will do that. tyvm and best of luck in all you do!

I don't think you meant me? That is exactly what I was saying.

I feel that it is all that matters once people know you had surgery. I just posted that I hit onederland. I have been on this site for about a year now. I feel like I didn't lose it fast enough to get a congratulations for hitting onederland. Out of 160 people that looked, two bothered to comment. I worked my butt off. So what, it is coming off a little slower. Anyway, this isn't about me, the point I am trying to make is that It isn't just with people you personally know. It is going to happen everywhere. As soon as people find out you have surgery, they look disappointed that you haven't whittled away to nothing by the end of a couple of months. Just keep in mind, we all lose differently, it may fall off quickly at first and then hit a stall for weeks. It may be steady, it may go really quickly. You just don't know what your body will do until it does it. Its a journey and the only feedback you need is from how you feel about yourself. Don't depend on ANYONE to validate your success. Congrats on making a life changing decision for your health.

I feel that it is all that matters around here. I just posted that I hit onederland. I have been on this site for about a year now. I feel like I didn't lose it fast enough to get a congratulations for hitting onederland. Out of 160 people that looked, two bothered to comment. I worked my butt off. So what, it is coming off a little slower. Anyway, this isn't about me, the point I am trying to make is that It isn't just with people you personally know. It is going to happen everywhere. As soon as people find out you have surgery, they look disappointed that you haven't whittled away to nothing by the end of a couple of months. Just keep in mind, we all lose differently, it may fall off quickly at first and then hit a stall for weeks. It may be steady, it may go really quickly. You just don't know what your body will do until it does it. Its a journey and the only feedback you need is from how you feel about yourself. Don't depend on ANYONE to validate your success. Congrats on making a life changing decision for your health.

wow. so glad I shared..... Thank you to the two who commented. I hope everything goes great for you.

If it makes you feel better, I have a lot less extra skin than my cohorts who had faster weight loss. Also, I am still ahead of a healthy weight loss by 10 lbs. They say that losing at a healthy weight makes you much more likely to keep it off. Also, I haven't had nearly as much hair loss. Hang in there. Its happening the way it is supposed to.

Your body will make some really strange and embarrasing sounds after surgery. There is nothing to be done about it. However, I carry gas X strips with me everywhere now.

I have to tell you, every day I don't lose another lb I am glad I had this surgery. It reminds me how VERY strange my body is with weight loss. I usually average about 800 calories a day, plus my workout and I usually just net over 400 calories (If I don't include my BMR). I will go a couple weeks and not lose a single lb. Or I will lose 7 lbs in a week. My body loathes to let go of the bad stuff, even as I build up the muscle layer underneath it. I am a slow loser, its okay. Do I have days where I get a little ticked? Yeah. I am working like crazy and watch others losing at twice the rate. Again, is that okay? Definitely, because I see lots of benefits to losing a bit slower too. Less extra skin, less hair loss, faster cognitive recovery, less tired (although some days I am not sure about this last one). I measure myself every couple of weeks and am steadily losing. No, it is not immediate, and I know I am doing everything exactly as I am told to. I look at my choices every day. The way my family and I live life now is unreal some days. I offered my husband the chance to get a cheeseburger and he said "No thanks, I don't feel like being sick for the next two days". Everyone is not only physically healthier, but our family budget is healthier too! Instead of taking my son out to dinner for his birthday, I used the money for him to do Chemistry Camp for an entire week (kid loves sushi and it is pricey). When we do go out, I either order an appetizer or my husband has lunch for work the next day. We actually walked out of a restaurant last week because they couldn't not fry something and the only veggies they had was corn or fried. In short, I know watching other people lose 18 lbs a week is frustrating when you struggle for that healthy 1 or 2. I don't know about you all, but even though it is slow going, one of my biggest motivators is knowing that once a number is gone, I am never going to see it again. Not in a million years would I trade my sleeve. I get frustrated I can't eat as much as I want sometimes (I miss my big salads). I get frustrated when the scale wants to move slowly (or not at all). However, the quality of life that my family and I now have is wonderful! I get time taking walks or bike riding with my son every day. My husband is making people jealous with the wonderfully yummy food he takes to work every day and yet managed to lose 40 lbs. Keep up the great work and don't give up.

Just noticed that the thirties forum isn't used very often. I would love to get to know more people here. I am a 31 year old female that is preparing for surgery. I don't have a date yet, but just finished my last step so it should be soon. I have a 7 year old son and am concerned as to how he is going to react to the surgery. Do any of you have young children? How did they handle it?

Great low cal dinner with good Protein. Minutes to Prepare: 15 Minutes to Cook: 35 Number of Servings: 12 Tips Can add chicken. Add a diced, cooked chicken breast or two and calculate added protein. Ingredients Rice: • 1 cup jasmine rice or aromatic basmati • 2 cups Water • 1/2 teaspoon salt Shrimp: • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, shells reserved • Vegetable oil • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped • 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste • 1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk • 2 kaffir lime leaves • 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce • 2 teaspoons brown sugar • 1 lime, zested and juiced • 4 shiitake mushrooms, julienned • 1 green pepper (bell) • 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, cut into 1/2-inch dice, for garnish • Cilantro leaves, for garnish (optional) Directions Directions For the rice: Combine the rice, water, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring the water to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes. For the shrimp: Place the shrimp shells in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Let the shells steep in the water. Coat a large, straight-sided saute pan with vegetable oil. Bring the pan to medium-high heat. Add the garlic and paste. Quickly add the coconut milk and stir to combine. Toss in the lime leaves. Add the fish sauce, brown sugar, lime zest, and juice. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Strain the shrimp shell water through a strainer into a bowl. Measure out 1 cup and add it to the pan. Cook until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream. Add the shrimp and mushrooms and cook until the shrimp turn pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Fluff the with a fork. Spoon the rice into a bowl and spoon the shrimp mixture over top. Top with green pepper, diced pineapple, and cilantro leaves. Serving Size: Makes around 12, half cup servings Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 12 Amount Per Serving Calories: 87.0 Total Fat: 2.8 g Cholesterol: 55.3 mg Sodium: 281.1 mg Total Carbs: 9.1 g Dietary Fiber: 0.6 g Protein: 7.2 g

I really really love the special K multigrain crackers. They manage to be salty and sweet at the same time. I put a tiny bit of Peanut Butter on them so that I get in some Protein too. 27 of them is something like 110 calories and yum.

I carried Nature Valley Peanut and Dark chocolate Protein Bars and hard boiled eggs. I also cut up chicken into nugget sized bites and baked them and threw those in the cooler as well. Of course, by this point I had just been cleared to eat whatever I wanted and we were camping for a week on the beach. Either way, its hard on the beach because it is hot and you need to drink, drink, drink and that is going to conflict with eating times. A couple of the days, I settled for eating less than I should made sure I drank Protein Shakes during the day and kept my fluids up.

Call the general surgery clinic at your local military hospital and speak with the head surgical nurse. If that is a dead end, try the nutritionist at the hospital.

Do we have an April Sleevers FB page?

I'm right there with you. Very pleased that I am figuring out how it all works without having to obsess all the time now

At two months out, I can have whatever I want. In fact, tonight I made steak for fathers day and ate about 3 oz of it. Its the first red meat I have had since surgery. No problems here.