Jen35

I'm going on 3 months out and it gets better:) I had the same feeling. I would take a drink and I would feel a "glug" of air come back up. My surgeon said it is normal. There is so little room in your tummy that the air comes back up. But each day, week gets better. Keep drinking, your tummy will get used to it. I can now drink water pretty fast (that's the only liquid I can drink fast). Experiment with the liquids you drink. For example, some don't tolerate water well or don't tolerate it cold. So they try crystal light, powerade zero, etc. I loved those things before surgery, but after I hated them. Only water for me - and I like it ice cold!

I'm of the school of thought "everything in moderation" as long as it doesn't hurt you or you are too early to try it. Others on here will slam me for that, but this works for me. Some completely give up certain foods and that is their choice. If I am unable to enjoy something in moderation, then I will avoid it. So I think after you are healed, it would be something you could try. Of course, not every day and not a ton because it is sugar and empty calories. I'm going on 3 months out and I've had some sips of Coke. One sip here and there, I'm fine. But more than that and the bubbles don't feel great. Personally, if I tell myself I'm never going to have a coke again, that is all I will obsess about until I have a coke. If I allow myself the flexibility to enjoy things in moderation, I have a much healthier mindset about it.

I know the feeling:) Down 50 pounds and shopping is a completely different experience. I was so limited before and nothing ever really looked good on me. Now I can find clothes in the clearance sections, Sam's, etc. I was really amazed when I found a Limited top that fit in an XL at the thrift store. Love the thrift store for finding inexpensive, low-cost clothes while I'm still losing . I'm hoping to be down another size by our vacation to the beach in September. I'm actually looking foward to it this year - bonus: my thighs don't rub together anymore!

Thank you for posting this. I know I'm only 10 weeks post op and I don't have all the answers, but I do know myself. I've been seeing a therapist for quite a while now in order to get to know me better . I am a food addict - it really doesn't matter what the food was, I loved the taste, the comfort, the feeling I would get from overeating. I have never successfully dieted because if any food is off limits, that made me obsess about it more until I ate it and ate it .... Overeating was my issue. I had the sleeve to break that cycle and help my addiction. Now, I can't overeat to get my "high". Every food gives me restriction (some more than others) but I haven't found any food that slides right through my sleeve, including Water. Now, I don't really have any food that is "off limits" or "bad". If I want a taste of pizza (or ice cream or whatever) , I have a TASTE (a small bite or two) and that is enough for me. I know some on this forum will yell at me for eating this way but for me, this works. My therapist agrees with this because I've always had the mentality that this food is good and this food is bad. And if I eat this bad food, then I'm bad - which just makes me want to say screw the diet and the cycle continues. Post sleeve, I don't obsess or crave what I can't have because I know that I CAN have it, just limited amounts, if I choose to eat it. But now it's my choice to eat this food in moderation or that food in moderation. I'm in control and I'm satisfied now with a taste. And I don't "evilize" any particular food. Others may find that completely elimating certain foods is best for them - I am not going to judge them or tell them that is wrong. And I'm not saying that my way is going to work for everyone else. It works for me right now. Down the line, I may adjust what my food plan based on my journey at that time. But in 11 weeks (1 wk pre-op, 10 weeks post-op) I've lost about 50 pounds and have been successful so far. I really don't need others on this forum telling me how "bad" I am for doing what is best for ME. That's what got me to 244 lbs in the first place - feeling like I'm bad because I ate this or that, or because I'm fat, because I don't deserve to he happy, healthy, etc. Labeling people, judging them, how is that really helping?

I was watching cooking shows in the hospital right after surgery. I wanted to eat so bad!

In the first several weeks, YES I was constantly thinking about food. What I wanted, couldn't have, what I could eat (which was so limited). Now at 10 weeks, I can eat just about anything and I'm not obsessing about food at all. I think it's the "can't have so I want" mentality - I have that really bad! So I don't really have any food that is "off limits" or "bad". If I want a taste of pizza (or ice cream or whatever) , I have a TASTE (a small bite or two) and that is enough for me. I know some on this forum will yell at me for that but this is my journey and I'm doing what is best for me. My therapist agrees with this because I have the diet mentality that this food is good and this food is bad. And if I eat this bad food, then I'm bad - which just makes me want to say screw the diet and the cycle continues. I don't obsess or crave what I can't have because I know that I CAN have it, just limited amounts, if I choose to eat it. I'm in control and I'm satisfied now with a taste, were before I would keep eating. But there are things that I just don't like anymore, fries for instance. Don't like them, hurts my tummy. I don't go to fast food anymore unless it's Wendy's for a salad or chilli.

That's really not bad especially if you are only eating 1/2 at a time - that's 380 per serving

pre op I tried the breakfast bowls and I really liked them. I haven't bought them yet post op because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a whole one, but I like the idea of splitting them for 2 meals. I need to get some. Sometimes I just don't want to cook - especially for just me (kind of a waste of time). These would come in handy then.

I'm down almost 50 lbs. and I can tell in the way I'm treated. The other day I went to Walmart and I swear 10 people talked to me. Employees, shoppers - I was baffled. My therapist thinks part of it is that I'm more confident and this makes me more approachable. I've been married 16 years and have been heavy that whole time (over 200lbs for the last 7 years of it) so I'm not used to male attention. I don't remember what it was like to be hit on. This weekend at a bar, I'm walking back from the restroom and this guy is dancing. I'm walking past and he starts backing up on me trying to get me to dance with him (in a way I would never dance in public). I had no idea what to do! It was even worse because no one else was dancing - everyone can see this. I laughed it off and went back to our table. Not that he was exactly hitting on me, but it was male attention in that way. I didn't expect that and I guess I need to be more prepared for it now. I've just been invisible for so long, it's weird to be getting attention. I don't really like it - part of why I ate was to be invisible to the opposite sex so now I have to deal with my issues in other ways. Therapy is a must for me!

I can dring water pretty quickly. I can drink 16 oz in about 5 minutes or so (on an empty or semi empty stomach). I take sips of water when I'm eating but there's no room for water if I'm full or want to eat a decent amount of food.

Eggs keep me full for a long time. I really seem to like eggs after the sleeve. Chicken works well too, but I've found that eggs settle better for me than meats. I'm only 10 weeks out so maybe that will change.

My surgeon actually told me not to expect to feel the same feeling of full as before. He said I will feel it more in my chest and to stop eating at that point (or before). I didn't have this feeling a lot in the beginning but now that I am 2 1/2 months out and eating regular foods, I feel it much more often. I think because I am eating too fast. Once or twice I've eating just a bit too much (again probably eating too fast to realize I need to stop) and I have been miserable. It just felt like the food was up to my throat. I'm fine if I eat slowly, chew well and listen to my sleeve:)

Many insurance companies require a 3 or 6 month supervised "diet" prior to surgery. I say "diet" because I saw my surgeon and nutritionist each month and it wasn't a true diet to lose weight. It was more to learn the tools I needed to be successful after surgery (eat slowly, chew well, focus on nutrition and mindful eating habits, etc.). But every surgeon is different - some want to see weight loss before surgery. My surgeon was like - well dieting didn't work for you before, that's why you're here. So why put you on another diet. It sounds like what you have been doing may count toward your insurance requirement. They are usually pretty strict in how they want the documentation and notes from the doctor. You may want to call your insurance to find out specifically what they need and then meet with your NP to discuss what you have vs. what you need. Still be prepared to jump through hoops, and then you will be pleasantly surprised if you don't have to!

You will be amazed at how much you like shopping when you can find stuff in your size that looks good on you. I was in a size 22 prior to surgery and nothing looked good on me. Hated shopping. Now I'm in a 16 - 18 depending on the clothes and I'm really having fun:) It's a much different experience!

Beautiful - congrats:)

Congrats - you look amazing! Even better, you are feeling great and healthy. Great job! I hope to be as successful as you.

I felt the same way - I was terrified! But now I am 9 weeks post op and love it:) No regrets. It was very hard for me for the first 4 weeks or so, but that was attributed to healing, getting tired of the liquids/purees and I had gallbladder surgery at 3 weeks post op. I got through it and now I'm on the other side. I started my pre-op on 5/15 at 244 lbs., surgery was 5/22 and I am now at 196! 48 pounds gone and I feel so much better!

Ha:) I wore a skirt to church that I knew was too big. When I got home, as soon as I stepped out of the car, it fell to my ankles. Thank goodness that didn't happen at church! I learned my lesson - that skirt went in the donate pile:)

It really depends on the person. I'm at 9 weeks and so far I haven't been tracking (except at the beginning when I was trying to make sure I was getting enough calories). I tend to obsess over food and I'm afraid tracking will make me obsess about everything I eat. So far I'm losing well (47 pounds since May 15), but in the future I will probably need to start tracking. Probably as I can eat more or if my weight loss slows down a lot.

I think it's normal to go through this phase. I hated the first week or two, but each week got better. I'm at 9 weeks now and feel pretty normal. I can eat just about anything (but only a little bit). I go out to eat and I enjoy food. Give it time - it will get better. And YES make sure you stay hydrated. Right now focus on water even if you have to choose that over food.

I had about 2 oz of wine at 6 weeks and was fine. Had about 4 oz. wine again recently at 8 weeks and got a bit of a buzz from it. The other day I went out and had about 1/2 of a long island iced tea and I felt more of a buzz, but I'm really not noticing this huge affect I was expecting.

I definitely would report her. Stuff like this makes me so mad!!! Prejudice against the overweight is so common and people need to be held accountable. They think it's okay so say something so offensive to us but would they say something equally offensive/hurtful to someone about their race, disability, etc.? (I guess some would) Most would think twice. I would have told her "You know, I will lose weight, but I feel sorry for you because there is no surgery in the world to make you less of a b**ch!"

I was sleeved May 22nd and I'm down 47 pounds (including my 1 week pre-op). I started at 244 pouns and I'm now at 197! It doesn't seem real that I'm under 200 - it's been a LONG time since I was here:)

I think I had a bit of this naturally too. I've always had IBS issues before surgery, but now it seems that this has be magnified by 50! I also think some of mine problems are because my gallbladder was removed.

The total lost includes my 1 week pre-op diet. As far as food - I followed my post op diet plan which was Clear liquids for a week, full liquids for a week, puree/soft foods for 2 weeks and then I reintroduced foods as tolerated. Now I can eat just about anything (within reason). I don't track my food and I go by the "everything in moderation" philosophy. I see a therapist every week and she agrees with this. Dieting and the whole idea of certain foods being "bad" (therefore, I am bad if I eat them) is what got me to this point in the first place. So I am trying to have a healthy mindset. If my family is eating pizza, I will have a couple bites and I'm satisfied. Instead of eating none and obsessing about wanting pizza - then eating eveything in site because I really want the pizza! A typical day for me might be an egg and 1/2 piece of toast for Breakfast, a 2 ounces of chicken salad with a couple crackers for lunch and 2 ounces of fish with steamed veggies for dinner. If I need a snack, I eat a Protein bar or shake, a popcicle, or fruit. I also haven't really incorporated exercise yet - other then some stretching. My arms and legs are not very toned and I have some loose skin in some areas. So I plan to start toning exercises this week and work up to cardio. The weight loss has slowed down so maybe this will jump start it again. This has worked for me so far but everyone is different. I know many after surgery completely avoid most carbs. As I get further out, I may start tracking my food, limiting carbs or whatever works at that point.