Kennedy310

For me, I would have to say that I find myself more open to dating post-surgery. I have always been a bit guarded. And although I have always worked on having good self-confidence in social & work situations, I definitely appreciate the additional boost of positivity that surgery has provided. Feeling better physically has definitely allowed me to feel better mentally.

WillInAtlanta, I just want to make an observation that your first 2 paragraphs in the orginal post are full of wonderful joyous things, and then we get to this little issue in paragraph 3. I am not trying to belittle the discomfort you feel about the current state of your physical body. It is very real & I have been there myself & still fight it regularly. But I just read the other stuff and thought, "wow, that's great that he's found someone & they're both into each other. so, why let the issue get in the way of your joy!" I know it isn't always easy to accept our bodies at every size, but the truth is we will never be perfect. No one is. And if someone else (like your man) can love us at any size., then I feel like we deserve to show ourselves that same love. You deserve to be happy! Ain't no muffin top gonna stop you!

Congratulations! And don't worry about the scale too much this early in the game. It doesn't always show a weight loss that soon. Besides, you should Celebrate regardless because you are on an awesome journey to better health now!!

I just recently had my 3 month follow-up visit with my surgeon. It wasn't always the easiest over these past few months, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I am now down over 90 lbs. I am pretty amazed by the results thus far. I figured I would share some photos for the first time -- after many years of never wanting to share any full body photos at all. I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but so far I am really pleased with how well the gastric sleeve has helped me transform my life.

Thank you, Will! I appreciate the kind words. And I'm happy to be inspiring folks on here since I have been very inspired by others as well. Keeps us all motivated & on track for sure. Congrats to you & Good luck on your journey!

Thanks for sharing such an honest post. Good luck as you move forward!

You are not alone! I am also 4 months out & I was kinda bummed out at first when my taste for sweeter things started to return. A couple of things that have worked for me. First, I continue to train myself that there are no "bad" foods. food is fuel and it should be enjoyed. If I really, really want something i don't deny myself because that just triggers my old habits. Second, I remind myself that I only have a little space in this new stomach. So, my new question is, "Do I truly want this? Or would I rather hold off and enjoy something really well made with natural ingredients?" 9 out of 10 times I decide against the old over-processed sweets I used to binge on. They just don't taste as good to me anymore. I'd rather have a delicious homemade cookie instead. Lastly, when I do choose to enjoy a sweet treat, I try not to beat myself up over it because that starts a vicious cycle for me as well. I have reconciled with idea that for me (and most of us who turned to surgery as a tool) this is something I will constantly have to manage & balance in my life. But I also Celebrate how much easier it is to manage food now that Ive had the surgery.

I am 4 months out from surgery & I can pretty much eat any fruit or vegetable at this point. I had to integrate things in over time though. The new digestive system definitely takes time to acclimate to new foods. I have had foods that didn't agree in the first month or two. Then, I slowly integrated them in a month or 2 later. So far, so good.

An excellent perspective!

Ha! I like the way you think. Tat can be the grand finale!

Thanks for sharing your experiences so far. It's great to hear how other people are navigating their journey. I am at the 4 month mark today. I'm realizing that my hunger is starting to return. But it's great to hear that you are seeing success with a 1200 calorie intake. My nutritionist suggested that I eventually build up to a healthy caloric intake like that as I started to get hungry for it. She said that it would help make maintenance of the weight loss easier in the future because if I train my body to have too low of a daily caloric intake, then I will have to exercise like crazy to maintain my healthy weight. Congratulations on your success & thanks again for sharing!

I only took a week off, but I was really tired in my second week when I went back to work (not strenuous work either). I would suggest taking 2 weeks off if possible.

Keep up the good work! I had a rough time with some foods/drinks in my first 2 months. If I started noticing the my new digestive system didn't like a certain food, I'd take it out of the mix for a couple weeks and re-introduce it when I felt ready. In most cases, the wait paid off & I was able to enjoy the food.

You are doing great! When I get overwhelmed by the weight I still have to lose, I shift my focus to how I'm feeling physically. I focus on the positives of being able to move more freely, walking further or faster without losing my breath the way I used to just 15 weeks ago. Little successes like that. Be sure to remind yourself of all the things you're doing right! And don't be nervous about seeking out a good therapist. Therapy can be a really wonderful experience.

Awesome. Good luck with the testing and getting the surgery date set. I had ridiculous insurance/surgery coordinator issues that made it an ordeal. I remember what a great relief it was to finally have it all set up. And yes, I think at 6 weeks I could imagine a cruise. The 6 week mark was when my doctor's strict post-op diet ended. That's probably the earliest I could imagine it because that's the point where I was just starting to integrate some new foods into my diet. My advice would be to try and stay with foods you know your new digestive system can tolerate based on what you will have eaten before you're on the cruise. Maybe save any really new foods for when you're safe on land again.

Congratulations on your hard work & progress! And congrats on the upcoming wedding too!!

Hey Geminitraveler. Congratulations on your decision! It is life-changing for sure. I am a little over three months post-surgery (Gastric sleeve on 3/29/13). I am in the NYC area & am happy to share my experiences thus far & lend any support!

Congrats! You're looking great, man!!

Congrats! It really does get better with each day.

Welcome!