HoosierGirl

Here is all I will say...over the 11.5 months it took me to lose 95 lbs there were months I lost nothing. Like 6 weeks where I followed the diet and was dedicated to exercise and lost nothing or even gained. The reality is that on average I lost a little over 8 lbs per month. When I think of it that way, it is sort of depressing. Others lose 100 lbs in 6 months or 25 in a month. But I never did. Don't' get sucked into that mental trap. Don't think about where you are, just keep your head down and stay on your diet. Get some exercise. The number on the scale today is not a measure of your success so far. Don't let the scale get you off your game or get into your head. What I finally came to understand is that this is MY journey. Being consistent got me to 141. It doesn't matter what you lose in a week or what someone else lost. This will work for you as long as you MAKE SURE it works for you. If you follow the diet and exercise plan, you will lose weight. Your daily choices will string together weeks and months of success. And that is what it takes. This is a marathon, not a sprint. And the piece of advice I will give you when you are stuck and still a few pounds from goal....try the 5:2 diet. You've got this. Kudos to you for sticking with it even when you cannot measure the results on the scale yet. Remember this is a faith walk some days. You have to believe even in the absence of evidence. This will work and you are making it work!!! Whew! That was my best pep talk!

When researching, the idea of the plication was appealing. I ultimately chose the sleeve for the following reasons: 1. The sleeve is permanent. I didn't want something temporary that could cause issues in the future. Also didn't want to have to have to self pay for a revision surgery if needed it in the future. After all my research on weight loss surgery, I didn't want to have multiple surgeries in case the temporary first surgery failed. 2. By removing the part of the stomach where the hunger hormone is produced, I was hoping to reduce my crazy appetite. 3. The plication is a newer procedure and I wanted to have something with a little more of a track record. Plus, this isn't a common surgery in the US. So if there was a complication that needed urgent attention, I wasn't sure help would be readily available. Good luck in your research. Being an educated patient will pay you big dividends!

So on the protein and liquids...I got all my liquids and protein in from day one. I was determined to follow all the rules so I could have the best outcome possible. Isopure helped me get all my protein along with Unjury broth. Gatorade G2 was tasty. I bought all my proteins and liquids weekly and packed them daily. Make sure you get that protein to help preserve your muscle mass. And maybe help with hair loss.

Totally related to excited nervousness! Really looking forward to hearing about your surgery AND seeing the pictures...good luck!

After day two, it does get easier. I had to make meal by meal decisions to stay on the diet....After awhile, I finally decided "I am going to kick the crap" out of the pre-op diet! You can do anything for two weeks...just keep on doing your thing. All that weight you lose now counts! You are on your way!

Congrats!!! Who is your doc?

Covatila...I would try to swing by a Walmart to get some microwaveable cream soups, shakes that are premixed and drinkable yogurt. You will have less worry and be "set" with your food. Then while at restaurants you could sip iced tea or water. Would be rough trying to vacation on full liquids! Good luck

You mentioned something I forgot about...nighttime acid. There were several times early on that I would wake up literally choking on stomach acid. I would say months 2-5? Happened maybe 6-8 times. But, it did go away. In hind sight, I believe there is a likelihood the pre op diet, followed by liquid diet and a restricted diet may have also contributed to acid. At least changes to gut bacteria that might influence acid production? Indigo - hate to hear you are struggling with this. Your idea of increasing meds is good. And I hope it helps! This whole sleeve does change and improve over time. (Since we all went to MX I have also wondered if things like nausea are checked on during follow ups with Bariatric docs for those who had surgery locally? Don't know.)

I got up the day of surgery showered, deodorized and laid on that makeup! No stinky woman with a pasty face showing up to meet Dr Ortiz! No sir-ee!! Haha!! You should be fine doing your normal routine.

I too had food intolerance for 6-8 months after. Plus, I was hungry sometimes - like crazy hungry. The hunger was helped by acid reducers. The hunger Is better now, but not gone. For most of my first year, my diet was exclusively tuna, veggie burgers, eggs, chicken breast and green beans. At about 8 months, I was able to add in other foods, but still get sick after eating any type of potato. It's bizarre. Wonder why they won't prescribe anti nausea meds? I was taking over the counter omprezole twice daily and it got me over the hump. All I can say is that the hunger/nausea does change and improve over time.

You are doing great!!! I was unbelievably tired for about 10 days. Sounds like your soreness might be the drain or leftover gas? Maybe swelling? Good job on getting your walking in!! You are doing all the right things to make you successful. Just go with the program and the weight will slide off. The drinking will come. Don't want to get dehydrated! Keep going - you are doing great!

Way to go betrdaz! Love hearing stories like this. This surgery/weightloss gives back more than health and well fitting clothes. Not sure how to quantify the mental emotional changes as confidence increases. It's like the physical weight weighed down my whole life? Cannot really explain it but really connect with where you are coming from. Hope your trip is awesome and you are gonna LOVE onederland...

Congratulations!!!!

How are you doing today? Welcome to the sleeved side! Post an up date when you can...

Good luck to both of you! Really looking forward to hearing about your plastics experience. Safe surgery to you and your friend!

Ellie - wow! Good for you scheduling your surgery! The weeks before surgery are the craziest time of all...so many unknowns and worries about the diet, travel...so I completely relate to where you are at! You are giving yourself and your family the best gift. Today, I weighed 141. It's incredible how great I feel and I know you will too. Feel free to ask questions as you count down the days.

I got a quote from them and would be really interested to follow your progress. I will need tummy and breast work this year.

Last February 4, I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Like many, I had tried and failed every diet I ever went on. My weight was at an all time high and my health was being affected. Despite the protests of many that I “wasn’t fat enough” or “should try to lose weight the old fashioned way”, I chose to self-pay and have weight loss surgery. I’ve surpassed even my wildest goal. “Top 10” list of what I learned: 1) Weight loss surgery is no silver bullet. I thought I would lose weight quickly. I thought I wouldn’t be hungry along the way. I thought I could eat smaller portions of the same old food. Nope, nope and nope. The weight came off slowly and inconsistently…and sometimes it was frustrating. There were days that I WAS hungry! Dang it! Plus, some of my old favorites just didn’t sit well after the sleeve. If weight loss surgery is the “easy way out”, it sure as hell didn’t feel easy. 2) Be prepared to embarrass yourself. You cannot trust a fart. Yup, I said it. Underwear will fall down. And your old fat parts may end up looking like a shriveled prunes. Sexy. I’m tellin’ ya! 3) Just follow the diet dummy. They are doctors for a reason. They know what it takes for you to be successful. Just listen to them. When you try to do your own thing, you don’t get the “average” results. If you do what the doctors say, you get great results. Eat your Protein and veggies. Carbs aren’t your friend while you are losing weight. 4) You CAN hit your goal….how bad do you want it? Are you willing to stick with it through a 7-week stall? Are you willing to stay on the diet? Are you getting your Water and protein every day? Are you tracking your food? If you are willing to do the work, you will get the result. 5) Exercise is your friend. I firmly believe this helped me end up looking slim and fit vs. skinny and saggy. 6) Weigh yourself every day. My thought goes something like this….you avoid the scale when your fat because you don’t want to deal with the number. So, if you want a different result, you need to see your number every day. Lots of different opinions about this. But how else can you keep 20 lbs from sneaking back on? Weighing daily has been key to my success. 7) Track your food. MyFitnessPal is a wonderful FREE tool to track what you are eating. Again, I didn’t track when I was fat. This is a new habit to help me stay on track. 8) Start saving now for plastic surgery. Seriously. (See prune comment in #2) 9) Your spouse will rediscover your sexiness – own it baby. 10) How do you lose the last 10 lbs? All I will say is 5:2 diet. Research THAT!

While I didn't do Enspira shakes, I did two shakes a day and the chicken/fish with veggies for dinner. I didn't vary at all from the program because I was determined to meet the requirements for surgery. I lost 12 lbs in two weeks. Was I hungry? Yes. It was a meal by meal decision to stick to the plan. There was a gal on my surgery day at OCC to have the poi cation. She hadn't lost the recommended sight and she was ultimately allowed to have surgery, but almost didn't! Scared me! Lol

Yes! Play the pre-op diet game! You are making this work and will definitely hit your pre-op weight loss goal. Way to go...cannot wait to watch you kick butt with your sleeve!

I highly recommend the 5:2 Diet to get the last of the weight off or break thru a stall. Helped me get restriction too. Let me know how it goes!

I had to adjust carbs several times. If I was in a stall, I would check my carb intake on MyFitnessPal and try to cut it down under 50 if it was too high. It seemed that natural carbs caused me fewer issues than processed carbs. Good luck!

Lila - congrats on taking charge of your weight! You will do fine alone. There are many that go solo. I was at OCC last Feb 4 and have lost 92 lbs...my stats are sort of close to yours - 5'8" with a starting weight of 237. The staff at the OCC are top notch. I had a friend with me the day of surgery only. After she left, I recovered by myself and traveled home alone. The only suggestion I have is that you may still be pretty tired when you return to work since your will have surgery, little caloric intake and travel. Good luck and be sure to let us know how it goes!

Wow...I am not an emotional person but am a little misty-eyed right now! That is fantastic the blog was helpful! Thank you for your kind words! Yes - totally agree about the long wait times...should not have happened. Very glad you are feeling well and had a positive surgery outcome. Keep drinking and get that protein! The weight will steadily fall off....cannot wait to follow your progress!

Oh good! Glad she is doing well.