DianaE

Well for the most part you answered why you should do it - I'm tired of being tired, being the fat lady in the group, losing and regaining, and watching my weight issues get worse over time. I don't want to waddle my way through the rest of my life. I was to feel good and look good and avoid diabetes and other issues. Here is how I feel it has helped me ( I am 11 mos out) - I no longer have the stomach size that is capable of eating lbs of food at a time.. Prior to the surgery i failed at weight loss because I had no self control. My tummy would scream at me and I would respond by shoving tons of food in to it. It was torture trying to diet and fight the signals that my tummy and head were always sending.. Now, when I get the signals, it is much easier to maintain control.. It doesnt take much to silence the screams. The main thing I must do is ensure my choices are good.. You can still shove all the slider foods down and slow your progess and even gain.. There is no magic pill but this has helped me tremondousl.. I dont regret my decision. I am 56 and just wish I had done it years ago.. The only thing that is happening now after approx 100 lbs of loss is I am dealing with excess skin.. But even that is worth it.. I feel better than I have in years.. And yes, I did get type 2 diabetes in the 80's.. I was about to have to go insulin per the Dr.. I am now down to one med where I was on 4 for Diabetes.. That in itself has made it worth it for me.. I understand your doubts but you have to be realistic with yourself.. If you truly think you can acomplish what you need to with diet and exercise, then dont do surgery.. I am thinking you are at this crossroads for the same reason we all were,, We were not succesful with diet and exercise. Good luck!

surgery date 10/16/12 surgery weight 293 curr weight 203 height 5'10" hoping for another 30 lbs

about this 15 years ago... just wish I had done this sooner.

main thing is to track everything you consume.. If you are consuming correctly and still stalling you are probably losing inches. I think 24 pounds in 5 weeks is good too.. this is a journey.. I am in month 10 and have lost total 102 (87 since surgery) I have slowed to a crawl and still need another 30 lbs.. But I am accepting the slowness. As long as I am not gaining I am happy!! Good Luck in your weight journey

I went to a new hairdresser the other day and she asked me if I had always lost this much hair.. I am at 10 mo.s post op.. hope it stops soon.. But i will go buy a wig if Ihave to, I want to keep losing weight ....

CONGRATS ! YOU LOOK GREAT!

Maybe it was in the air I was more depressed yesterday than I have been in awhile.. I am 7 months post op and experiencing my 1st true stall.. Plus I have lost about 95lbs and I am 56 so my skin is just doing much for me right now.. Dont get wrong, I am HAPPY that I have lost weight and I plan on losing another 30 at least but the skin thing is weighing heavy on my mind.. I cant decide if I will just stay covered for the rest of my life or invest in surgery.. Not sure surgery would be worth it at my age.. Anyways, sorry I went down my own rat hole.. You hang in there..

went back to work 6 days after surgery.. desk job.. I had no issues either.. Everyone IS different so if you are covered by ins then let the DR guide, if you are prepay then your body and pocketbook will have to guide you

My brother did the sleeve before I did.. (he is reason I did it).. He had some emotional issues the 1st few months.. A little depression at not being able to when he wanted to.. He overcame those and it no longer bthers him.. He is 1.5 years post op and looks and feels great.. He has NO regrets.. I am about 9 mos post op and recall a little mental anguish at not being able to eat .. Now I am so glad I cant.. I feel normal and I am happy I no longer have to eat so much food to feel satisfied.. You will get there too! Patience

super congrats! You look awesome!

This is something you should be working with your Dr. on.,. It depends on your glucose levels if you can get off. I was type 2 and on 4 meds.. I have now dropped down to one - Metformin.. I have lost 90+ lbs and have another 40-50 lbs to go.. I hope to be able to get off all diabetes meds when I am done losing but will have to wait and see.. Bottom line, is if glucose is not high, you should be able to get off the med.. A Dr is more qualified to diagnose your med needs in my opinion.

I think your hunger is bothering you becuase you are still in the soft stage.. The soft foods just do not hang in there long enough for most of us.. When you proceed to real foods, you will feel the restriction and fullness again. Also, make sure you are drinking plenty.. Not drinking enough can make us feel hungry. The other thing that makes us think we are hungry is indigestion.. Most of us are on inhibitors to help with indigestion, heartburn and other related symptons. You are doing great and it is early..

hunger is also associated with dehydration.. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, possibly start taking something for indegestion and keep in mind this will more than likely go away once you start on a reg food diet.. Soft food doesnt cause the restriction that protein servings of chicken, beef, pork etc

i am 7 months out and it still happens.. It gurgles and rumble and growls but not consistently.. The only time it bothers me is when I am in a meeting and it starts up.. It has no problem making it self heard HAHAHA! I either ignore it or if appropriate try to say something funny.. Everyone at works knows I had surgery so I have prewarned them as well.. It is what it is and I am just so glad I am losing weight..

i think that is the depression talking. Things will get normal eventually. The issue is our preception of normal.. Normal is not nor should it have ever been eating 3000-5000 calories a day. Eating large amounts at one time. It took years to stretch our tummys and screw up our minds like that. It will take time to fix our minds.. The tummy was fixed with the surgery. I am 55 and tried for so long to lose weight. I could not win due to the stomach constantly calling me to put stuff in it. The surgery is a tool and I am so gald I did it. I have a chance to be normal, with time.. Hang in there.. Get some counseling.. You are young and there will come a day you will be looking back with no regrets.

soooooooo happy for you! It is just gonna get better and better!

That sounds about right.. I am 6 mo's post op and eating more like a cup now.. Depends on what I am eating of course.. Dense proteins are still around 2 - 3ozs max but other things are more like 6-8 ozs.

Make sure you are do not drink too close to the time you eat. Chew and eat slowly.. Do not drink again for 30 -45 mins.. I am 6 months post op and I have thrown up 3 times.. Twice from drinking too much water too soon after eating and once i think from eating too fast..

I am excited about this whole process. I did this because I was unable to do it any other way.. I had been trying for 25 years.. I am 55 and thought it was now or never.. Keep motivated and realise where you have been and where you are going! Good Luck Date of Surgery : oct 16,2012 Height : 5 feet 10 inches Starting Weight : 308 lbs Weight on day of surgery : 293 lbs Current Weight : 226 lbs Weight Lost since beginning : 82 lbs Weight Lost After Surgery : 67 lbs

I have read several articles that state thirst can be confused for hunger. Here is one from Livestrong site: The Stomach The stomach also sends off its fair share of clues to let you know that it's hungry. It might grumble, gurgle, growl, twist and turn. It is true that when you hear your stomach make noises like this, it is letting you know that it's hungry. However, your stomach also makes noises like this while it's digesting food too. For your stomach to digest, it releases digestive fluids, and your stomach muscles contract, which also makes the same grumbling and growling sounds. Hunger and Thirst If you have ever eaten everything in sight, yet didn't feel satisfied afterward, you might have experienced receiving mixed brain signals. The hypothalamus controls both hunger and thirst, so it sends the same signal whether you are hungry or thirsty. To understand which signal your brain is sending, you must learn to understand your body better. Pay close attention to the last time you had a meal compared with the last time you had something to drink. It might be that empty feeling in your stomach only needs some Water for satiety. How to Know the Difference Try not to depend on the noises and feelings your stomach always makes. The next time you feel hunger pangs, drink an 8 oz. glass of water. It might take up to 15 minutes for your hypothalamus to send a signal letting your nervous system know that the body was merely thirsty and that the thirst has been satisfied. If after that time, you still feel hungry, then eat. When you try this method every time you think your stomach feels empty, you will be able to better determine the difference between being hungry and being thirsty. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/441564-difference-between-being-hungry-and-thirsty/#ixzz2Q5W0LxjP

So yes, you need lots of little bowls. Everytime I open something, I pull my out serving then put the rest in serviing size bowls and throw it in the freezer.. Really helps cause you always have something to eat in the freezer.. The things in the packages like cream of wheat and oatmeal, I would only do 1/3 to 1/2 of the package at one time. Would just fold over the top and put a paper clip or something like that on it until I was ready to eat it again. This is all actually a good thing. Your gorcery bill will eventually be smaller. I am 6 months out and still eat off my daughters plate when we go out..

it wont fail! As long as you consume the propoer nutrition and exercise if possible. The stalls are expected.. I suggest you weigh no more than once a week.. Our bodies fluctuate with water weight too often and will drive you insane. I have weighed once a week on the same day since surgery and have always experienced a loss even if it is 1 lb.. The ont time i weighed in the middle of week it showed a 1.5 weight gain. I jumped off the scale so quick it was like I was standing on fire LOL.. but when I weighed again on my normal day, it was 1 lb loss.. whew..