meeganlee

Congratulations on your success! Very inspiring!

I have hypothyroidism and had the surgery on 12/17. I'm sleeping more than usual, and taking naps. It feels great to be able to do this. I think that your body heals best when you sleep, and that in the first few weeks, that is to be expected. I am hoping long term with weigh loss will come more energy. But, for now, I'm really enjoying the extra sleep. I wouldn't want it to continue, though. : ) Best of luck!

I was also sleeved on 12/17. I really hope you can do your best to ask for help. Do you have friends with kids? I'm sure everyone would be up for doing extra play dates with your 4 year old. That is the one you should be careful of lifting. Cuddling is a good substitute for picking them up at that age. If you have people around who can give you extra help, I'm sure they would really like to. If you aren't comfortable telling people about your surgery, maybe you could say you had abdominal surgery, and not be specific. In the community where I live there have been many things that have happened over time (a mother with surgery, a boy with leukemia, etc) and it always makes the community feel better when they can be of help. I think many of us feel like we chose the surgery, so we shouldn't ask for help, but I think that is a mistake. We all had major surgery, and especially if your husband is serving, you need and deserve support. I don't know what your situation is, but I'm just wondering if you have actually asked anyone in your community if they can help out. I had a friend ask what I needed, and the first week, I asked her to be my shopping buddy. We had a great time shopping together, and she lifted the bags into and out of the car when I got home. I'll be there are people who could help you with those kinds of things, and that they would love to help. Please reach out. Trying to do it all alone is a recipe for a difficult recovery. Take good care.

I don't have hunger, exactly, but I'm more tempted to eat things than I thought I would be. I think the water is a big part of it. When I am good on the water, it helps. I'm also journaling on myfitnesspal.com, which is a big help. If I have to log it in, I'm better. I see my dr. on Monday, and plan to start riding my bike again after that. I'm hoping that 1/3 surgery, 1/3 diet, 1/3 working out model is correct, and that the extra physical activity will keep me on steady weight loss. I know it will be slower for me than most of you, because I started with a low BMI. I'm really feeling like this is a second chance. To really start over and eat the way I would like to for the rest of my life. I want to take this seriously, and respect the surgery we all just did. It is such a gift. But, it is challenging. I know we will all benefit from this experience. Wishing us all good luck!

I hope we all start to realize that we don't need to apologize for taking making this very important decision. I'm not criticizing. I'm hearing myself in all of these posts. I pretend not to feel the need to explain why I am taking control of my health, but I do feel that need, and I wish I didn't. I did hit the 35 BMI and I do have a co-morbidity of sleep apnea, but being significantly over weight for my entire adult life should be enough. As low BMI patients do self-pay and have great success, I'm hoping they will lower the bar on who can qualify through insurance. Best of luck to us all!

Hi everyone, I was down 8 pounds at a week, and 9 now. I'm a low BMI patient, so I'm going to lose slower. I'm very happy with my progress. Feeling good. I'm honestly surprised there wasn't a more difficult recovery. I'm still sleeping in a bit, or taking a nap, which is luxurious! I love having two weeks off for the surgery! I'm feeling ready to have some different food options. Looking forward to that on Monday. Glad everyone is doing well!

What a wonderful message! Thank you! Congratulations on your success!

Try taking just tiny sips, and have Water near you at all times. Drinking water and getting Protein in will help with everything you are talking about. Take it slow. You can do this!

I'm new to the game, but every post seems to say Protein and Water are the keys. Stick to the plan, and it will happen. People do stall, and sometimes early, and low bmi people tend to lose slower. If you are tracking what you eat and getting the protein and water, I'll bet it will pick up. We are all in this for the long haul... Best of luck!

Thanks! good suggestions! I just went on the food diary site. Much easier than paper.

Hi Steve, What a thoughtful and helpful post! I love this site for this very reason! I appreciate your guidance very much. I'm really feeling like establishing the eating pattern now, without hunger, is the ideal way to do it. I was told to do three meals, and no Snacks, which is what I am doing, but the logic of what you are saying of eating protein every 2-3 hours in small amounts makes a lot of sense. Hunger creates triggers, and nobody wants those. I'm also really focusing on just eating when I eat, which I hope to keep doing. It was very easy to eat mindlessly before, and I want to avoid going back to that. I'm also logging everything I eat and drink. Another habit that I think will be essential to long-term success. I feel like I bought a winning lottery ticket with this surgery, and I want to be so wise in my choices. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated!

I was sleeved on 12/17, and I'm doing very well and healing up. I'm nervous I'm not getting enough calories in. I'm eating greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and sometimes soup, all in 1/4 cup portions at breakfast and lunch, and having a 35 g protein drink at dinner. I don't think I have hit 500 calories yet on any day. I'm eating slowly, and certainly not hungry. The first six months are the best chance at losing weight, and I want to take advantage of this time. I just want to make sure I have enough energy and don't lose my hair! I ate an additional 1/4 cup of cottage cheese last night, that got me to 440 calories for the day. Thanks for your input.

I know we are all trying to support each other. I guess I was just putting a note of caution in my last message. Thank you all!

I am one of those low BMI people, 35, with my co-morbidity (hate that word) is sleep apnea, which has its own health risks in addition to obesity, and my waist measurement is 38", which also puts me at higher risk for many health conditions. I'm less than 5'2", and though I was under 200 pounds when I got surgery on Monday, I was recently very close to 200 lbs. Weight is irrelevant if you don't consider height as well. I have been obese for much of my adult life and I know that my health will greatly improve with this procedure. I have a feeling that as people with low BMIs have the surgery, and significant reduction in many health challenges, the insurance qualification may lower. In fact, it used to be 40 BMI, and is now 35 with a co-morbidity, which is why I and many of us have qualified for the surgery. Generally, I am actually an active person who ate well, but certainly too much. I don’t eat red meat, and haven’t for decades, I don’t drink alcohol, take drugs or smoke. I work at a standing desk with a treadmill that I walk on part of the time, and I ride a seven mile bike ride around three times a week. I drink only Water. I haven’t had sugar of any kind since April 5 of 2011 (no sugar, agave, maple syrup, honey or fake sugars). Over the years, I’ve done tons of diets, including two medically supervised fasts twenty years apart. The only time in my life where I was able to keep myself at a great BMI was when I was on Phen Fen for two years. The reason I was so successful is it was the only time in my life that I have ever FELT when I was full. The feeling of when I am full has evaded me except for this time period, and it has been the great challenge of my life. On Phen Fen, I felt full with much less food, and was able to stop without emotional eating for years. However, that medication was discontinued. Now, having done the sleeve, I don't feel hungry, and I do feel full. I realize this is less than a week out, and that I likely have 6-18 months to make these changes permanent, or I might as well have not done the surgery, but I'm feeling hopeful for the first time in my 49 years that I might be able to achieve and maintain an healthy weight. I hope we are careful not to judge each other, and to offer support. This is such a scary thing to do, but I am grateful to have had the opportunity to do it, and for the support of this group.

] You are very close to my numbers, and I am hoping to have your level of success! Congratulations!

Thanks! I'll get in touch.

I'm with you all in total agreement. I'm honestly feeling very free not to be participating in overeating over the holidays. It is very liberating and making me feel like the change can be permanent. Imagine how much better we will all feel by next holiday season! How much stronger in our resolve from the success of the last 12 months.

Lots of low BMI pals out there! I just had surgery on Monday. Feeling very lucky.

Lots of similar numbers to mine! I'm 5'1 3/4" 192 SW, 180.1 day of surgery, Monday, 12/17 and 173.8 today, 12/21. On my way! Thanks for the posts!

I went through S. SF Kaiser. I think all N. Cal Kaiser will take your highest recorded weight (with Kaiser) in the last year. BMI if 35 + co-morbidity, or BMI of 40 to qualify. I don't think they have the options classes. They have orientation, pre op, many tests, psych eval, meeting with surgeon, nutritionist, etc, pre op class. I think the shortest time is 2-3 months, and it could take longer. I had sleep apnea, but had to be on the machine for 2 months before they would do the surgery. I really liked S. SF Kaiser. I barely qualified, but I'm very glad I did. Just had the surgery on Monday. Good luck to everyone.

You are inspirational! I started at 192 35 BMI, surgery 12/17 at 180.1, today, 12/21 173.8. On the way!

I had surgery on Monday, and now I'm finding threads with other low bmi patients! I was 192 to start, 180.1 on Monday, 12/17, and now 173.8. On the way!

I was 34 BMI with moderate to severe sleep apnea. I had to gain 3.3 pounds to qualify for surgery. I had the surgery on 12/17, and am very surprised that I don't feel worse. I'm really looking forward to using this window of time (6 months to 18 months) to set the habits I can keep for a lifetime. This is the biggest tool I have ever used, and, so far, it feels like it is working great for me. Best of luck to you all!

I was sleeved 12/17. SW 192, Day of surgery 180.1, today, 12/21, 173.8. Getting started!

I barely qualified through insurance, BMI 35 and sleep apnea. I had surgery on Monday, and am feeling pretty good. Much better than I expected. I understand the confusion of people wondering why we would want to do the surgery, but most of us have tried many serious attempts at weight loss, and this is an awesome tool to use in this journey. I'm hoping it will be the tool that finally makes this possible for me. I've head many people say in support groups that it doesn't make it easy, but it does make it possible. That is all I am asking for. Don't stress other people's opinions. I is our health and our bodies.