NJSleeveboy

Ok. Rules are SOMETIMES meant to be broken. So, Here's the deal. I am 2 weeks post op today. I am one of those who had zero issues and had a smooth ride from recovery room to date!! This post is not intended to mean I am sure I will have a long term good go at this! It also doesn't address the future, but really ONLY the many threads that I have read regarding the preo op and post op liquid diets and the Pre and post few weeks Do's and Dont's! I have read almost every post on here before and after surgery, lol. Here is the point that I will explain. Your/Our obsession over following diet rules is what got us here in the first place.. isn't it?? I mean, it's great to have black and white rules.. Do's and Don's. can and cant's.. That's why we were ALL great on Atkins (remember the carb counting obsession), and South Beach (remember how carefully we chose the meals), weight watchers, low cal, grapefruit, slimfast , yada yada yada......RIGHT? Sure, it worked. THEN WE WENT OFF THE WAGON and got sick of the rules and restrictions and put weight back on (and then some).... That's because it was a DIET.. Why do so many of you do that on here? I'm not judging, but trying to help! Yes, it's easier for me, since I have had no issues. I come from a strong medical family (i had bio as a minor,4 docs and 2 nurses in immed family) and I always love to understand WHY the rules are in place. If something doesn't make sense, I want to know why and not just follow a rule because it was put out there. My surgeon told me that "rules" are on here for the lower end of reaction spectrum. meaning, many need not follow them, but since 30%, for ex, will have issues with some things, they want to make a general rule...... As EVERYONE says on here, as well as EVERY doc, ALL OF US ARE DIFFERENT! We heal differently, We tolerate pain differently, foods differently, weight loss differently, etc..... EVERY SINGLE ONE So, the rules need not be applied to the T! Now, as a caveat and from feedback so far on this post, this is not an excuse to eat junk NOR stay on bad habits. I don't mean to enable anyone. here is what BUTTERTHEBEAN wrote: "The only reason I say "enabling" is because I think there are some people waiting in the wings to hear someone tell them it's okay to eat whatever they want. They haven't tackled their food addictions and they are hoping for "permission" to go back to their old ways. I know there are some that can learn to eat "all things in moderation." I have no problem with that. For me, I chose to embrace my inner health nut. It's not fear or weakness or lack of self control...it's the desire to live a long, healthy and active life. I'm not depriving myself, or sacrifing. The things I'm doing and the life I'm leading now feel way better than eating pizza and cupcakes ever did (even in moderation). By that I mean that food did not give me pleasure (never did, I just thought it did), so I no longer look to food to satisfy my needs, except nutritionally." Ok... Back to the post. Specifically, here is what I have had debunked by my brother (Anesthesiologist for bariatric), My mom (nurse and nutritionist), my bro's good friend and bariatric surgeon, and my surgeon.......... * Yes, the liquid PRE OP diet is not to be messed with. It sucked, but we need the liver to be soft and looking like liver in a supermarket. That will happen in most cases with one week.. Many docs do one week only and many do 2 weeks..... So, if you have a 2 week doc, don't worry if you cheat a little and wants some low calorie food.. It's OK!! have the Soup... etc. I didn't cheat as mine was only a week and I did not want to have a lifetime of liver issues if it was frail and broke a bit/injured while being moved for my surgery.... * Most docs on here POST OP put you on liquids for 2 weeks.. Why?? NOTHING medical. Really? Many docs, including mine, put me on Clear Liquids only day 1 in the hospital and then put me instantly on pureed foods (tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, greek yogurts, ricotta cheese, etc).. Yes. DAY 2! He does this for EVERY patient.. He has had NO MORE COMPLICATIONS than anyone else ever.... It is NOT true that eating this will cause a leak.. It can't get caught in you stitches, lol, as they are on the outside and you can't see them even in your stomach.. The ONLY risk is a)that you eat way too much and thus can cause leaks, so don't do that. and that is WAY too much. Meaning you go out of your way to test the limits. As any surgeon will tell you, stretching the stomach to break the staples is no easy task.... easy enough to follow that rule .. and the risk is that you get nauseated.. Ok.. we are all different. Some take 90 minutes the first time they eat to get down 4 oz of chicken salad.. I didn't . I got it down in 15 min and could have done it in 5..... But the point is, listen to your body. start slowly and if you tolerate it, then screw the rules..... What does this mean? It means so what if you doc put you on 2 week post liquid. That is soo hard.. so, do it mostly, but don't obsess about cheating. have a friggin plate of tuna salad.. It will taste yummy.. Add some great yogurt. If you can handle it, you are good to go! I did.. They also want you on this liquid to max your weight loss for motivation up front? do you really need that?? I don't care if it takes me 1 more week than you to hit the same goal? Frankly, I decided to keep my calories around 800ish anyway for my first 2 weeks. It was a little hard, but nothing like your liquid nightmare and i lost as much weight... I'm now on 1200 cal full diet plan (less hard carbs and hard veggies) as of last night. I've heard people say they are craving one Dorito chip.. Then the advice replies were "lick the cheese off" or "take a bit and spit it out...." LOL. Really? This is your diet/lifestyle for the rest of your life. HAVE A CHIP.. See if you get a lot of gas.. Chew it well.. If not problem, then enjoy the one chip. You got here because you at a half bag . One or three chips won't kill you! You need to find a way to eat what you will do.. The docs want you to build your healthy habits now. *The first year is where you get your max weight loss- Ok. For sure,, so, as noted, build your healthy habits now.. but make it last. So, if I want a Dorito chip. I have one or two.. On my pureed phase, my kids had pretzels at a game. I took 2 small ones....I had a qtr of his hotdog meat.. The point is, if we can seriously lower the number of calories we eat (which, for me, they figured i was eating between 3500-4000 per day and needed to be at 2400 or so.. Now, with 1200, which believe me, with the sleeve is a mini feast, I will be eating half the amount and will lose a lot of weight. So, yes, build good eating habits and i'm working on good food choices that I can live with! Can I eat white bread. Damn right?should I// nO?? it's a waste of calories and spikes your sugar and appetite. But, I sure will if i want a hamburger or great sandwich. A month ago i would have had 2 cheeseburgers and 2 hotdogs at a bbq. .So, guess what, i'll lose weight. Can't make it a daily thing.. But, again, stop obsessing.. *Eating and drinking slowly eating- well, you don't HAVE to eat slowly, but as we have been told our whole lives, eat slowly so that when you are really full, you know it! Also, you need to see what your bod can tolerate and if you eat too quickly, you may not have realized you were about to puke. If you can tolerate it, you can eat and drink quicker than others, but not a good idea for reasons mentioned. so work on it, but don't obsess.. At the hospital, they told me I had to drink in in little tiny medical cups a few cc evry 20 min. I laughed, as Water went down easily in recovery even. ALL NURSES TOLD ME NO. When I saw my doc, i asked why I can't just drink as I can tolerate it at home and get my 64 oz is. HE said dont' chug, but do whatever you can do without discomfort. So, 8 oz bottle of water went down in 5 minutes... etc.... *Chewing your food- ALL true... We have that banana sized stomach.. So, the doughy breads, and stringy veggies and large pieces of non chewed enough food INDEED often get stuck! Not stuck like a lap band, but rather, they move toward the pyloric valve and are too big to pass through it, since there isn't as much acid, etc in your stomach and, well, the route to the valve is now MUCH shorter.. So, it sits in front of it and as soon as the next item goes there, it waits in line. your body puts out gas and then knows there is a problem, so will signal you to vomit it up. not fun... So, chew! All true! Also makes us take longer to eat and thus enjoy the tastes more than ever and have the full signal sent to our brain while we are still eating or pretty close to that! *Caffein is bad... Ok. Google whether it's an appetite suppressant or stimulant.. It's hysterical.. You'll get equal replies from GREAT sources that say the opposite. I WANT my one cup a day. I'm not an addict. I asked. I am now sipping on my first REAL one. It is indeed a diuretic for some. So, drink a half cup more water than a day! If you feel it makes you hungry after you have it and you don't want to hold back, then stop the coffee.. It doesn't for me. It does for some... But what will you be doing in a year from now??/ There is NO medical reason why you can't have caffein after a few weeks *ALCOHOL is a no no for 2 months. NONSENSE.. Again, just there so we don't put empty calories. BUT what if I WANT one drink or two on a date tonight?? I am told, go for it, but just know you will have ingested 400 wasted calories. Ok. I get it, but I WILL drink in my life, although never drank a ton and that was not the cause of most of my weight.. Watch the calories and don't do it twice most weeks.. Or if you will, then cut back a bit on your Snacks, etc. Anyway, looking forward to a martini with my date tomorrow at dinner.. Oh, most people on here for a while, will tell you since there is less food to bind with alcohol, it goes into your intestines/blood stream much quicker and you get a nice buzz faster with less! way cool! * Most other rules and comments on here are just not universal and again, if you feel the NEED to cheat, then well, cheat! How can it be cheating if this will be your new life! WOrk hard at right food choices and don't make this soooo hard. The harder you make it, the more YOU WILL revolt and end up going off the wagon like the good old days... Since I have had no pain, etc and pretty much eat what I wanted (and cheated on my puree period even), I feel this is just toooo easy. I hear so many of you struggling (not because you have pain, but because you want to break a rul) and so many of you "supporting them" to stay strong, that I just wanted to add this post! Also, again, much of the medical advice that our well meaning friends on here provide, just isn't true. Sorry, but it isnt. I hope this helps some of you enjoy your Pre and Post diets much more than you may be now! Best, my friends!

Bear in mind, that as ur stomach heals, you'll be able to eat A LOT more. A LOT!! So, the key, as you mentioned, is the healthy choices. Not nuts, but healthy and just hold back on portions and wait to see if hungry later. Much easier to do than without the sleeve and doesn't work on normal diet. I eat great and eat a lot more than 2 years ago. I try to keep calories to 1800. Some days 2000+, but the reality was on bad days in my old life I was at 3-4,000 calories and , frankly 1800 a day or more with workout will keep me at 180 lbs.. Enjoy!!

Just checking in. It's been 2 years since my gastric sleeve! My before and after pix are loaded as of today vs 2 years ago. I completely forgot what I was and had become. It has been an amazing journey! I almost went for the lap band and THANK GOODNESS someone talked me out of it! The sleeve has been a dream come true!!!!! I started as a 5'11 male (still 5'11 lol), 260 lbs. I am now 179/180 and lightest I have been since a shorter child. I have exceeded all expectations. My medical goal was 200 and i beat that by 20 lbs. I won't lie. It was easy in the beginning and then I started working out. Without the extra work, I was stable at 200 or so. Not too shabby. I work out 5 days a week now via running and pushups and that has kept me around 180. I'm sure I would be around 200 without it.. That said, I did have a bad 6 month 18 months ago when I had reached by goal weight of 198 (200 was goal) and then got back up to 215. I was drinking a little each day and then the munchies. I decided i wouldn't do all of this work just to go back, so limited my drinks to my dates and nights out (and I drink plenty). I drink when I eat, although not suggesting anyone else do that until you know what you can do).. The workouts have been key and thus, I give myself a lot of credit for the discipline and hard work. I also recognize that I would not have come close to doing this but for the magic sleeve. sleep apnea-GONE Diabets-Gone resting heart rate of almost 100 then down to 60 Cholesterol borderline high to low blood pressure to borderline high to low end of normal Before 265 lbs. 42 inch waist After 180 lbs 34 inch waist height 5'11 Anyone new out there, enjoy the ride and work hard!! Life changes completely!

I had zero food hardships. Def takes a while in the beginning for stomach to heal, but I had no intolerance to any of my fave food, or anything for that matter. I had the stalls you read about, but overall, it's quite the journey, and I recall being in your shoes, looking at folks a few years out and just hoping.. So, time flies! Good luck, my friend! Enjoy the ride!

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

@LindafromFlorida Wow, so you both did this together?? Not to shabby urself!!! Yes, that's an amazing move.. 220 on his frame is great shape and other than the sodium (but my new very low blood pressure allows me to eat it now), Jerky is an awesome snack or meal replacement!!!!!!!

@katybradley I don't think u've updated ur profile. So you are already below your target and just want to lose even more? Can you clarify? that is AMAZING! For me, I stalled at 200 lbs, but was my goal, but decided I missed the exciting weekly weigh ins.. So, no choices, other than increase workouts or eat less. I did both after a cruise early in the year.. and like magic, the weight came off and another 20 lbs. WE now now stalls happen all the time, so I don't care, as long as I know I'm doing the right things, good old MR scale will end up doing right by you. Also, it's how the close fit if u are working out! I lost nothing my first months of heavy working out, but i was getting so fit and more muscular and my sizes were shrinking so all good. Regardless, 151 lbs is absurdly amazing and was only a dream for you 2 years ago. keep that in perspective :-)

@*Lexie* lol. it kind of is, but truly mostly an inspiration and I agree with the dissenters also early on. Everyone needs to know themselves. I was certain that licking a dorrito for me was insane and I could have 6. I KNEW i would do what it took and wanted to be able to do this forever. I had fans and dissenters and all had good points. Those who feel I do and can gain from it and know you will hit your goal, then bravo. Those who want an easy out and not follow the rules because I wrote this, will regret it. We're all different. As an aside, going from XXL to Medium shirts remains surreal!

I decided early on that the 1200+ per day wasn't going to work with me and that i wasn't interested in a quick loss that wasn't sustainable. So, that if I was in it and committed for the long run, i was happy to slow down the pace. My nut agreed, although explained that it's best to lose as much as you can because your body does adapt.. But, I wouldn't change a thing. I ear super healthily. watch my Protein. limit just plain bread and opt for other things. Rarely eat Pasta or the foods that just make you hungry 2 hours later. That said, I eat pizza (a slice or two for a meal), a great sandwich now and then and plenty of cottage cheese and greek yogurt and beef Jerky.. chicken, etc. The early instructions helped break the carb habit, although I don't watch my carbs other than being smart. I am now going to be going on year 3 and really feel like i can keep this up for the rest of my life. I just make smarter choices and never ever neglect anything i want. I'll have a full sushi roll with white rice even but then mix in sashimi.. I'll avoid the fried chinese items, but will add a piece or two to my chicken and broccoli. I eat baked chips, but eat some when I crave. I no longer track my calories in an app, but do keep them in my head. If i drink 600 calories in alcohol, i make sure , other than the planned munchies, that I eat mostly protein or less calories that day (or take a long walk after my workout).. I absolutely get full MUCH faster still and that's the key. It's just an amazing tool and so many of the veterans used that word and now I get it.. Nothing comes easy, but this def makes it way easier and cannot be happier.

Just a follow up, as I was challenged to post my results when I wasn't a newbie anymore. All rocking!!!!

Happy anniversary everyone!!!!! WOW. I am on a high knowing this was 2 years ago!

I think the fighting stopped 6 months ago :-)

I would personally HATE all or nothing, but I am now getting how some need it. NOT I!!! FOR SURE! I was just at a big party in South Beach , Miami. I didn't use the calorie count for the weekend as it was WAY too hard! it was a super high end party!!! So, I was good, and made the best choices I could, but also enjoyed myself. .I had 6 pieces of sushi with rice and not the normal 18, lol.. I passed on most absurd choices, but had the great steak slices and a delicious Fried Oyster slider.. I would have had 3 or 4 in my old days. I lived it up with ONE! I did salads with low fat dressing at the pool and avoided more drinks during the day.. My point is, I didn't gain a pound and SOOO was not black or white! I enjoyed tasting most of the great items and even the Desserts and this is working just great!

I think this is true, but since I posted originally here, I must add that I think it's a lot like ethics. If you THINK something is unethical, then IT IS!!!! If you THINK you need to follow 100% of the rules, then YOU DO!! I knew I could have discipline with logic, but I sure get that many should indeed not vary!! I was never one of those. To each their own, for sure!!!

@butter, u may have been lol. All good points :-)

Starting In december i would work out around 5 days a week. 30 min of cardio or 3 mile run and light weights...also would add a 2-3 mile walk a few times a week. I did that religiously until I got runners knee and have done nothing but a few walks a week for the past month. Ironcially, that's when I dropped my last 10 pls and of course, one can't lose 10 pls of muscle from not running in only a few weeks. Again, the body does like things to confuse it, I think. Yes, there was much controversy many months back

I am on month 7 tomorrow!!! I had a dreaded and crazy ass stall at 210 lbs (started at 260, with goal of 200), for almost 10 weeks. I eat more than many on here and work out a ton.... so, thought i was done.. However, out of the blue, 10 pounds just melted away over the past few weeks and I am right at my medical goal weight. The body is an amazing thing. It does have a set point and I believe if you keep letting it know that you aren't giving up, it will readjust and accept the "new you" a little bit at a time. Rock on!

Well, here I am, the OP, and I am now at the 7 month mark. I have hit my medical goal loss, even though I had a dreadful 2.5 month stall. Then, amazingly, just dropped 10 lbs being even less vigilant. I will say that I absolutely stand by my original post and it has worked great for ME! I emphasize me, as I also understand where the contrarians were coming from! MANY folk on here, got here in the first place due to a food addiction and crazy unhealthy habits. I was never that bad. Just became fat and lazy.. I knew with the surgery tool that I could adopt a new lifestyle (and at 7 months, I still have years left to prove if that is true, I know).... My NUT was right in that it, of course, gets much harder over time for you to both mentally stay on any diet and also harder for your body to keep losing that weight..... So, my not being on liquid for any period of time but for the pre-diet and then eating mostly anything in small portions but smart choices after 1 week has worked. I still make great choices and cheat when I feel like it. I just track my calories and try to make up for it with some more activity or less food the next choice or day.. I have eaten far more calories than most... THe last 2 months, I am 1700-2000 day and still lost that last 10 pounds. Again, be careful. No yourself and obsession can never be good, regardless, IMO

My answer: 52%. Surgery date Sep 18, 2012" How about you? As I recently posted in another thread, we can't all compare pounds lost. These are not apples to apples. Per my doc, the best (still not ideal, since all people are different, of course), is to compare the percentage of EXCESS weight that you have lost! That would be where you are today vs your ideal weight from those crazy charts.. For example, as a 5'11" Male, at 260 pounds the day of surgery, i was 100 pounds over my "ideal" weight of 160 lbs (lol at that being ideal for anyone).... So, i was overweight by 100 lbs from surgery to ideal.. That puts me down 52 lbs out of 100 in an ideal world, or down 52%.. I did start at around 265, so consider myself down closer to 60%, but you get the gist. So, my answer is "52%. Surgery date Sep 18, 2012".. You?

Howdy, DianaE Great stuff! Again, u are confusing goal and excess weight.. Ur ideal at your height is 150 lbs. Thus, your excess weight was 158 lbs. You have lost almost 47% of your excess weight.. Your doc, by giving you a goal of 170, meant they wanted you to lose 138 pounds or thus 87% of excess weight

@Amazon, u have done a great job!! NOTE, though, that you have lost 101% of your goal pounds! NOT of your excess. You lost 83.5% of your excess. Great job! Per your profile, you are a 5'10 woman, thus IDEAL weight per most calculators puts it at 150 lbs. You started at 320 pounds, meaning, you started with excess weight of 170 lbs. If you are at 178 lbs now (WOW again), you are thus down a total of 148 lbs... The doc put you at a loss 140 lbs and u beat that!! So, doc set your goal of 140/170 or 82% goal and your actual do date is 83.5%.. 5 feet, 10 inches Surgery Status Post Surgery Starting Weight 320 lbs First Dr. Visit n/a Current Weight 178 lbs Surgery Date Sep, 10 2012 Goal Weight 180 lbs Hospital Stay 2 Days Weight Lost 142 lbs