MamaBear

Ok folks, we all come on these boards to share, help, get support, and generally interact in a world where we know most people totally get where we are coming from right? So I would like to propose we do a thread that inspires newbies and reminds us all why we are doing this. Can you share your best post-surgical experience? I will start with one of my favourite most memorable ones: It was the second Summer after my surgery. The previous Summer I had lost most of the weight and I was at a size 14. The second summer I pulled out the big box of Summer clothing and began to unpack it. I remember getting ready to try on the clothing and had that familiar feeling of dread. Every Summer of my life, the clothes were tight and usually had to be replaced. Every Summer of the past I realized I had failed again to do anything but get fatter. So I was in a state of anxiety when I pulled on the first pair of shorts. They were too big. When I double checked that yes in fact they were baggy, I sat on my bed and wept. I cried with relief, disbelief and joy. Biggest moment ever in my journey. How about you?

Ladies... two rules - 1. mix WAY more Water in the Protein powder than it says to - 1 scoop 20oz water 2. use crystal lite unjury is gross - really gross... try fruity ones.

Post surgery drama. Disregard and move on... it gets better and the weigh MELTS off. Stay off the scale for a few days and drink your Water and eat right - you will amaze yourself.

There is a new normal coming your way, but the road doesn't have a fully customized map... you kind of have to make your way. I had soooo many Proteins and foods in the house because from hour to hour I didn' t know what I could enjoy or what made me feel gross. The hardest was the time between surgery and actually being allowed to chew food again. I still can't look at greek yogurt with Protein powder.

Even 4 years out when I have a backslide, and when I find my inner strength, I can trust my sleeve. I could have written your post - but I compare it to smoking... you have to get the drug out of your system. Go hard on your protein/water/healthy food only for 4 days and the cravings leave as the crap is out of your system. If I crave carbs at night, I have a cup of tea and my sleeve is so happy for the warm comforting hug on the inside, the cravings go.

Hey Sleevemaster - you are so right!!! I don't think that pre-surgery I could have IMAGINED that I would look at a particular kind of goody and think "Hmmm. that doesn't actually taste good enough for me to invest" Seriously newbies - listen up - you will be able to foster appreciation for high quality flavours. Seriously, I couldn't eat a donut now for any reason. If I am going to have a treat I am careful not to eat things that don't make me feel like "hammered poo" ( my new favourite saying now).

WARNING: Beware evil nitrates folks!! lunch meats are full of processed garbage salt and nitrates. Your body needs super efficient and hight quality food now - you don't have the room for extras so select your food carefully.

We truly become somebody new - even more on the inside than the outside. I love your story.

You know it is ironic really, the most successful sleevers are the ones who are DILIGENT in their food planning. I have become a really good planner, because it is NOT planning that allows our evil little overeater brain to speak. Having a set plan for your food, and the right things in the house will be a huge factor in your success. So go ahead and think about what you are going to have for dinner, shop for fresh healthy ingredients and cook like you are a chef!

Hi Emily, Welcome to the boards. This is the place where you will get help with your journey. This is where it is ok to talk about about every last bit of your health, surgery, worries, emotional state and your successes. I think I can safely say that all of us have emotional issues around food. I know I do. This surgery doesn't fix your head. It gives you a tool, and it gives you hope where sometimes you have none. What you do with it is in your power. Don't have the surgery without doing the mental work around what got you fat in the first place. And read read read.... there isn't a question you can have that hasn't been asked before. The answers that can work for you are on these pages. Good luck.

Not at Walmart. GNC doesn't carry them either. Look on line for a dealer near you.

The trick to the fruit ones is getting the "recipe" right. I don't drink premixed shakes because they are expensive and not the greatest tasting. Try nectar or ISO whey BReezer in the following: 20 oz of Water and ice in a shaker bottle A scoop of Protein (I love the peach ones) 1 pkt of a matching crystal lite flavour. shake and drink. I have had one of those every morning for 4 years.

This isn't a moment in particular, but it is happiness I like to share anyway. I have always had HUGE feet - size 12 and had trouble finding shoes. On top of that I was so obese that my feet hurt all the time. So I spent a lot of time in mens shoes with arch support... talk about a buzz kill that makes you feel dowdy! Now I have a RIDICULOUS number of high heeled shoes. I go on 4 inch wedges just to grocery shop. I wear very slutty shoes with a conservative business suit just because I can. I order them on line from Nordstrom and I don't care if it is excessive... I deserve at least one vice. My husband built me a "shoe church" of shelves in my closet so I can pick which lovely pair of sweeties I will wear to WOW the world. You know the body part will never be perfect after two kids and a huge weight loss, but the shoes make a bg difference in how I feel.

Don't worry hon, you would know if things weren't going well. Some of us get these perfect surgical experiences with zero pain and no complications... that is more the norm, so enjoy it!

I was apparently the first person ever to be released the same day. (My one claim to fame in this world) I had a flawless experience. In at 7am for the surgery - woke up sometime later with the bed spins, they gave me some meds and I was up again and back at my hotel by 3pm that day. The next morning I came back for a quick top up of my fluids in an IV and we drove the three hours home by lunchtime. I never even needed so much as a Tylenol from when I got home. Seriously - I can't imagine an easier thing. I had no complications, and it was faster recovery than my gall bladder 8 years ago. I went back to work after two weeks, but could easily have done it in one because I have a desk job. The only thing was that I needed a nap every afternoon for about 3 months... so that was hard - so tired. I wish my experience on everybody, but I know it isn't always like that for everybody.

Hi Suzie! I am new to this particular board but am a 4 year Veteran and came back because I needed a boost of support to keep the regain under control... You are about to do the best thing you have ever done for yourself. Don't let anybody, not even yourself tell you differently. You are worth this. Here are the top 5 things you need to know: 1. You won't die on the table - the Doctor has as much interest in keeping his malpractice insurance rates down as you do to live 2. Yes you will eat differently the rest of your life - deal with it. I promise it will be normal in 6 months. 3. Whatever made you overeat isn't "cured" with surgery - emotional work continues 4. You will have the best wild ride ever for the first year - focus on the good parts of that 5. Your boobs will deflate. Sorry girlfriend, it is just the reality. The upside is you will be buying AWESOME new undergear that will left the girls back to where they belong. Hang tough and stick around...

I love the nectar Brand shakes, but their availability in my area is hit and miss, so my go to Protein is Isowhey Breezer http://www.befit.ca/isobreezer.html

Hey Shelley, Congratulations on pushing through the Protein Yuck of pre-surgery. I thought it might be useful to post a few tips for you from my experience if you are interested. 1. It is almost a given that your tastes will change quite dramatically in the first weeks and months after surgery. Don't load up on the powder you like now because you may hate it after. 2. Milk may work at the moment, but you may not find it that useful in shakes after. It may cause you to feel yucky, and if you are trying to get in your daily recommended volume of liquid, Water based shakes may be more palatable for you. 3. Bananas are carb bombs - not all fruit is good. 4. Try this recipe: 20 oz of water with ice in a shaker bottle, add a scoop of Breezer or nectar brand peach flavoured shake and a matching peach crystal lite packet. See how that works for you. I have had one of those or something similar every morning for over 4 years. Never could do milk, or the chocolate/vanilla rich chaulky shakes, they caused nausea - so experimenting with flavours is the best way to find what you can stick to. WIshing you the best from deep on the other side!

Keep calm and carry on. Make a deal with yourself - no scale for 4 days. Stalls are nothing.... just dust in the wind Chell it is the long haul that matters. Just remember poo weight is huge in this stage. It will be a while before you can count on your digestive system again. I remember having stalls that resolved themselves with stool softener.

You know what I love about ONEderland? I have lived in it since sometime in 2008 and it has created a psychological barrier for me. Maybe I am the only one (but I doubt that) who has found a way to justify higher and higher numbers on the scale all my life. Now, with this surgery, I have a hard stop on the horizon. I am currently back up 15 pounds from my ideal happy weight (I no longer talk about "goal" because I was a clueless wreck when I picked some random number which had no reflection on my health and looks by the way). So I know that I need to shed that 15, but I also know that if FOR ANY REASON I crest upwards toward that back door of ONEderland, I need to really give my head a shake. Love your entry to ONEderland, own it, Celebrate it like I do. I take it pretty seriously too, I travelled here on a one way ticket baby and that is where I plan to stay.

Here it is: http://www.verticals...103#entry337103 And thanks... I like to be the voice of common sense and sometimes a bit of tough love.

I was out shopping the next week for short stints. I had no complications though. My longer term recovery was pretty slow in one way. My Doctor said that still being as exhausted as I was (like napping every day) at the three month mark was unusually long. I just couldn't stay awake past 8:30 even if I had a nap in the afternoon. It was brutal. My bloodwork was great, and the weight was FALLING off but I was so tired. It is different for everybody.

I would have this surgery once a year if I had to.

Oh and for those of you worried about croaking on the table.... Think of it this way... the reason your Doctor has agreed to do your surgery is because you aren't a high risk to die because his insurance premiums would go through the roof. You have to trust that your pilot wants to land your plane as badly as you want it to land safely. Your Doctor has a lot of skin in the game. I have been around LOTS of Bariatric patients (used to do help groups and seminars) and the only person who ever died was a 38 year old guy 575 pounds who drank a HUGE bottle of coke and a 26 of rum with it every day and lied about it. He died. If he hadn't lied, the surgeon would never have done the procedure on somebody like that. IF you aren't that big, or that dumb you will be fine. SIgned, your on line Mom.

Focus on my words: 1. You will be fine 2. You will no longer be a fat chick 3. The new way of eating will become like you have always done it that way withing 6 months Questions?