raerae39

Moderation is key.

Down 40 pounds! Sleeved on August 28th! Eat pretty much what I want, rarely eat sweets, junk food or fast food. I eat protein first and work hard to take in what I need. Walk 3 or 4 times a week for 30 minutes, about to start some weights. Love my sleeve!!

Jeesiegurl, sounds like you are doing well. It is all about small portions and eating more frequently. Keep up the good work! Some days I eat more than others and sometimes I am hungry every 2 or 3 hours. I have lost 31 since 8/28/12, but 10pounds from 5 day preop diet.

To dez1975, I was struggling with fatigue in early afternoon. Caffeine didn't even help much, so I added a bit of carbs and am doing much better. My surgery was 8/28/12 and I have lost 31 pounds. Now that I eat so little, I have to have some carbs or I feel so weak and fatigued.

Your best bet is a gladiator smoothie from smoothie king. You pick two fruits and vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate protein powder. They are tasty and have 45 grams of protein and low carbs and under 200 calories!

Sleeved on 8/28/12. No post op problems except, I cannot eat applesauce. It makes me want to vomit and I have not vomited, YAY! I can do soups, Greek yogurt, eggs, cheese, tender chicken, ground turkey/beef, cooked greens, string beans, boiled shrimp, fish, softer wheat crackers, low carb wraps with refried beans and cheese, cottage cheese. Some days I want a bit of food and other days I don't want much of anything. I go with a Gladiator smoothie From smoothie king or make one at home. They have 45 grams of protein! Push to get the water in and I walk 30 minutes 3 or 4 days a week. I chew my food like crazy,but eat very little and I am so full, amazing to say the least! I have lost 29 pounds total, 10 from 5 day preop diet. I think bread will never appeal to me or be on my food list. Steak and salad will be later on for sure. I can eat more shrimp than chicken and eggs really fill me up fast, I can eat about one egg.

Best thing I ever did getting "sleeved". I am no longer a prisoner to food because I am in complete control. Also, I eat pretty much what I want, just way less than before and work hard on getting in protein. I do stay away from bread, but I am just a month out. So, I am on soft cooked veggies, chicken, eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt, etc. I have lost 30 pounds in a month and for the life of me do not know what took me so long to get sleeved! Surgery was easy, very little pain and nausea. My recovery was about two weeks. Anybody thinking about doing this, it will be one of the best things you ever did for yourself. The cravings for junk food have vanished and on occasion I have a few little pieces of chocolate, but it is a few, not the whole bag!

Protein intake should be around 70 grams per day to help with hair loss and extra biotin in addition to multivitamin. Eating 70 isn't gonna happen, so make smoothies with protein powder or do shakes. Good luck, but I hear hair loss is temporary and grows back.

Popcorn is great after the sleeve. Of course, you can't hold the amount that you could before your sleeve, but it is one of my favorite treats. Maybe once a week or every other week. Diet soda makes me belch like crazy and takes me a few hours to finish one. I recommend pouring it in a cup and sprite or 7up seems to make me belch a little less. Honestly, I prefer iced tea, coffee or mio water or plain water now to soda. I do not see anything wrong with a diet soda on occasion. Remember this is about a lifestyle change and moderation is key, not giving up everything. To me that puts you in that diet mindset that didn't work before, because the more you go without something, then the more you crave or want it.

Too funny to imloosing big! That was a great story, you look amazing!

Had my sleeve on August 28th. I lost 10 pounds from my five day liquid diet. As of today I have lost a total of 27 pounds. I am very happy so far. My diet is soft foods, but have no problems with tender chicken, cheese, beans, Greek yogurt, shrimp, eggs. Glad I got "sleeved"! Good luck everyone.

Jessica, I understand the yoyo, because I have done that several times in the last 12 years. Had my sleeve on 8/28/12, and it was the very best thing I could have one for my weight issue. I am also 5'7" but my weight was 275 to 280 and I was at my max and couldn't take any more diets. My co morbitities were hypertension and almost predabetic, so I started my process in January and jumped thru my insurance companies "hoops" and have not looked back. I have lost 28 pounds and no longer feel a prisoner to food. My sleeve holds 4 to 6 ounces, so I am kept in check. Drink my water and still have my coffee everyday, but no crazy out of control carb cravings. I work hard on getting in protein and have found fruit smoothies with Protein powder have helped me. Also, I walk 20 to 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week. My surgery was pretty easy with very little pain and nausea. I bounced back fast a returned to work in 2.5 weeks, but no lifting over 10 pounds for 8 weeks post op. My diet is soft food and I am doing well with it. I wish I would have done the surgery sooner, but am so glad I went through with getting sleeved. Good luck and God bless you with whatever you decide.

To all of you upcoming sleevers, you will be so happy you did this! I love my sleeve because it keeps me in check, I hold four to six ounces at a time and I am not hungry all the time! Also no more food guilt. My sleeve was done on August 28th and have lost 28 pounds since August 23, when I started my preop diet. I am on a soft diet and have only had one food intolerance to applesauce. Very little nausea and pain. Honestly, I think my csection four years ago was worse. The afternoon after surgery I was walking around with my Iv pole. One thing about abdominal surgery, get up and start moving as soon as possible, because it gets gas moving out and helps with soreness, stiffness, pneumonia, and blood clots. The first week swallowing liquids is a little strange and you feel a lot of restriction, but it gets way better everyday. Remember sip very slow and drink all the time because dehydration is a real issue. I ate lots of sugar free eddys fruit bars, because they went down very easy. I still enjoy a big cup of coffee everyday with Splenda and creamer, but I drink lots of water and sometimes use mio in my water. Iced tea is also good. You are going too be amazed how full you feel on such small amounts. Finally, I am not a prisoner to plates of food! Make sure you have some gasx strips or chewables, because they are a must have almost daily. The gas is intense but gets better after a couple of weeks, but I belch now more than ever,lol. You will probably be really nervous on surgery day, but you will be so happy it is over when you wake up. The relief I felt was like a ton of bricks were lifted off my shoulder. Now my focus is walking 20 to 30 minutes four or five days a week and getting in my protein. I really like the Gladiator powder from smoothie king because it has 45 grams per two scoops and fruit smoothies taste awesome with it. It is a push everyday to get 70 grams in, but I don't want hair or muscle loss, just fat. I hope my post helps, because so many people on this site helped me out with my surgery pre and post op questions. Good luck to all of you and my God be with all of you on this amazing journey!

No the gladiator is flavored vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate. I like the vanilla and strawberry. unjury makes a nonflavored protein but not sure how it tastes.

The gladiator comes in vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. The vanilla and strawberry are pretty good, not sure about chocolate. Did not see unflavored in the gladiator. I think unjury makes unflavored.

Fruit smoothies with gladiator protein powder from smoothie king help me get my protein in. I make them at home or you can buy them at smoothie king. Two scoops has 45 grams of protein! One smoothie can contain this. Also, sugar free Popsicles, like eddys fruit bars help get your liquids in. This is a learning curve and I am still learning myself. I was sleeved on August 28th. Now I am tolerating soft foods like canned chicken breast smushed up into chicken salad and Greek yogurt. Also, eggs, cheese, and refried beans are going down smooth. Applesauce is the only thing that I can't handle and I am burned out on Muscle milk and Atkins shakes. Good luck sleevers, the protein and water thing is a challenge every day!

Yea, I took a sports bra to wear home. The only nausea I had was when I was first waking up from surgery and my awesome nurse had phenegran going into my IV immediately. It was not bad nausea, just a tinge. All my nurses were wonderful!

Try Smoothie Kings Gladiator protein. It has 45 grams of protein per two scoops and it mixes well and tastes pretty good. I make myself a smoothie with it. Fresh fruit, low sugar yogurt, protein powder and ice in the blender. Very tasty, much better than protein shakes. Also, you can buy yourself a Gladiator smoothie at your local smoothie king shop. Protein shakes are not my favorite either, but Atkins and muscle milk are two that I sometimes drink. Work hard to get my 70 grams in everyday.

You will have an IV while you are there, so plan to enjoy rocking a hospital gown. Take two or three pairs of pannies, maybe a robe, and a comfy outfit to wear home. I took basic toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste, deo., lotion, Chapstick, shampoo and conditioner and a brush. If your hair is long, then a ponytail holder. Take books or a tablet, most hospitals have wifi, cell phone and don't forget chargers. Also, some slip on shoes are great and some socks. Good luck! I was sleeved on August 28th and have lost a total of 22 pounds, 10 from five day preop. I am so happy I did the sleeve! ZERO regrets other than should have done it sooner! I only spent two nights in the hospital and was up walking the afternoon of surgery.

I am really groggy for three or four hours afterwards. It takes me up to a week to get out of the "fog".

No mirena. The copper t is the one my obgyn recommended.

Had my sleeve on August 28th. Surgery took an hour and a half. The surgeon was pleased that I had followed my five day preop. Diet. He said the surgery went perfect and he repaired a small hiatal hernia. I was up walking that evening with a morphine pain pump. Very easy surgery and recovery. Some discomfort on my left side, but to be expected. I spent two nights in the hospital and tolerated liquids fine. Moved from clear to full and came home. See Doc this Friday to have staples removed and advance to puréed diet. Taking Prilosec and gas x chewables for stomach. The gas is insane but getting much better and I feel awesome! Down 21 pounds since pre op. diet. Make sure and stay hydrated because you have to do a lot of sipping. I have no regrets, other than why didn't I do this sooner! I have been obese for ten years and yo yo dieted constantly. I feel I am in control of food, it no longer controls me! So awesome not to feel hungry all the time. Good luck to all of you on upcoming surgeries.

Do not give up. They may need proof that you have been obese for the last three or four years. Speak with your bariatric surgeon's office and see what their take is on it and maybe they can help. Are you pre diabetic? Hemoglobin A1C of 5.7 and up? That can help your cause, if so. Good luck to you.