PGee

I know this is a few years old, but ran into this in a google search -- thank you for posting.......I have a protein each day, and needs some variety.

Recently we were on vacation, and while walking in a quaint shopping district, I notice a woman's reflection out of the corner of my eye......I did a double take when I realized.......that's MY reflection. My poor husband....I stop and ask "do I really look like that?" He puts his arm around my shoulder, smiles, and kisses the top of my head I'm wearing 12's and 14's, loving it and being able to easily find clothes I like that fit, love being able to move easier, in less pain......I even wore a bathing suit and swam in public while on vacation LOL Even with my bat wings and flabby thighs.......it's all good.............BUT....... Somehow I'm still trying to shake that larger image of myself that is tatoo'd on my brain -- like everything else, I'm a work in progress, I guess....

HELLO right back at ya! Congratulations.....and what a positive note......I was a few months shy of my 50th birthday when i had the sleeve.....that was 10 months ago, I'm 90 pounds lighter, and feeling fabulous........I only wish I had done this years ago........I had thought about WLS for a number of years, but wasn't comfortable with gastric bypass or lap band, however, when I saw a friend I hadn't seen in years who looked fabulous....a sleeve success story....and told me what she had done, I started researching the surgery and approval process right away....so glad I did....Wishing you all the best!

On a similar path....Surgery 8/6 and down 80 pounds....we are on a 2 week vacation -- a very active vacation; hoping that the scales will stay or go down when I get back home........not happy I can't weigh myself LOL Can I just say this is the best vacation I've had in years? Can do so many things -- we were on a horseback trail in the mountains, and was asked "are you feeling adventurous?" HELL YEAH! And we went on an amazing trail -- haven't been on a horse in 32 years..................have done so many things I thought I never could......nice to be able to jump into things and not worry "can I do it" or "will I fit" yada yada........ Be healthy and happy everyone!

My doctor's expectation is that I have a Protein supplement (drink) every day for the rest of my life -- which I have no problem---found some very yummie Protein Drink ideas.....plus I'm not a picky eater LOL.........but was wondering if others' doctors have the same requirements...... I've been going to a support group that's closer to my home than my surgeon's support group. This practice is just starting to do VSG (I'm like the resident sleever in the group LOL).......this particular practice/doctor wants their patients to get protein strictly from real food sources (as opposed to a protein drink). So it can be an odd situation during our support group since our surgeons have different expectations. When I tell people I have a protein drink every day, they are a little surprised because I'm 8 months out. So, I'm wondering, fellow sleevers, what is your doctor's point of view about protein sources for the long haul once you are on full foods. Thanks!

Thanks everyone! Glad to hear others were recommended the 1 Protein supplement a day as well.

I am 8 months out......my husband and one sibling know......have not told my parents or other family members.......I don't regret that decision, but it isn't always easy.

Madam R. said it all best, especially "you're not alone".....I'm much further out and still deal with my demons.......the surgery doesn't fix what's going on in our heads (at least mine didn't LOL) Good for you for being proactive about it!

Such good advice! I'm 8 months out and a whole egg would be a struggle (but I know someone who could eat a whole egg much sooner than I could) I hit the 80 pound mark and the "little bit of this is OK".....it isn't......back to the basics. Thank you for this!

once a day...first thing in the morning...I'm afraid my family has done this our entire lives, even @ our heaviest & @ our skinniest.

Valann, Welcome! Everyone has their own likes/dislikes......I'm a huge fan of unjury and premier protein ready to drink pouches.....they are not thick like a shake, but rather like chocolate milk---I can't get down thick shakes but I also mix it up a bit......for now I'm making a spiced pumpkin latte using the vanilla premier Protein drink as my base.....there are a lot of recipes on here and online in general...

I had my sleeve just before my 50th birthday..............and my life has never been the same (In very good ways)....no regrets.

At 49, I was having a lot of health issues due to my weight, and looking down the road I could see the quality of life was going to be grim if I didn't get this under control.....being with my hubby for 30+ years, this is not something he signed on for oh so many years ago............but he loves me. I didn't want the Gastric Bypass because of the mal absorption issue combined with a mineral deficiency my family has. I didn't want the band as I had heard of slippages and other problems. Met someone who had the sleeve, and I started researching.......and here I am a very happy sleeved girl.

I'm 7 months out, and don't feel it at all....initially I did, but I can't remember how long it lasted......I'm thinking at 3 weeks old, your sleeve may still be healing from the surgery...but if it is a problem, ask your surgeon about it.

Super quick question for my fellow sleevers..........For breakfast I ate an entire container of yogurt (I was doing a bad thing, eating at my desk while I was working, so it was probably over a 20 minute period).......it seems like a lot at one setting (5 oz)........is that anyone's normal now, or is that a lot? I didn't feel full nor feel the restriction (I'm loving my sleeve....but miss the 2 or 3 month mark where you could only eat a bite or two LOL) I had a little freak out this morning when I got on the scales, and it looked like I had gained 10 pounds........then I put my glasses on and everything is good except my eyesight LOL .....PHEW!

Dr. Craig Floch is my doctor.....Can't say enough good things about him and his practice....their follow up care is the best. Wishing you both the same, wonderful experience I had from preop to postop.....good luck. .....however, Dr. Fridman was the doctor who saw me in recovery right after surgery and liked him too

I'm down 80 pounds, and wearing a size 14. At size 22/24, I heard the comments "moo"........and other hurtful things as many of us have.......and quietly I put it up with it.....shame on me..... I heard someone at my office talk about a larger woman in an ugly tone while at a party----I gave the person a disgusted look and walked away, and this morning I heard men talk about a coworker........and it really ticks me off.....after the comment, the gentleman said "I guess I shouldn't go there"......and I told him "no you shouldn't have, that's just hateful" .......and walked away before I said something I would later regret........a few hours later our paths crossed, and he made a comment "well, you're looking thin and trim, are you losing weight?" I shook my head and walked away.......still ticked off at what he had said about my coworker.......one of these days I'm going to blow my stack........I just don't understand where they get off making such rude comments about people. AND, these are not young kids......we're talking 60's and 70 year olds...... I wasn't always a large person.....I used to be a size 6 until I hit 30.....and my friends came in all sizes.......I never would have said anything hurtful about someone's size.......we are so much more than our outside appearance..... And I'm sure they said things behind my back.......they're probably still talking, but now commenting how b*tchy I've become LOL I have no patience..... Anyone have good suggestions to counteract negative comments?

Laura, so sorry.....been there, not fun.......

Laura, this is a topic that's not addressed nearly enough preop or early out post op (IMHO) I was in the ER due to a fecal impaction.....thought I had done everything I could to prevent constipation......at the ER suppositories didn't work.....had to have an enema.......even then it was so difficult and painful to pass........ To keep constipation at bay, they have recommended Colace and Myralax together.....I take them at night and it does the trick.......I am told I can take it every day for the rest of my life......you may want to ask your doctor about this.....hope it helps.

Hands down, this is the best decision I have ever made for myself......don't regret one minute of it......the first few weeks are challenging.............but don't get discouraged............I am wearing a size 14.....well below 200 pounds (which I never thought I'd ever see again).............and life is good..............no..........life is great.........I am so much more active now, all my health problems have been fixed.......I love how I look in clothing......hubby is so happy to have his old wife back....and my journey has just begun......just know each phase of the plan is just a few short weeks of your life, and you can do it......wishing you all the best!

On a side note, I generally use Water to mix my Protein drinks to save on calories/carbs. If I want it creamier or need extra protein, I mix in 1/3 cup fat free powdered milk (I never have milk in the house...it goes bad before I can use it up, so I always have powdered milk) Some folks have added yogurt to their Protein Drinks to get rid of the whey taste (I have yet to try it)

I'm still a fan of premier RTD (ready to drink) chocolate or vanilla........you can do this with powders, too......I put them in a Blender Bottle with perhaps 3/4 teaspoon of instant coffee (nestle Mountain Blend is really good) and ice..... I've also done 1/2 vanilla (or chocolate) Protein powder and 1/2 chike coffee flavor Protein Powder with ice and Water, yum. For a "cheat", I use unjury chocolate splender powder with hot tap water (about 130 degrees) for hot chocolate I am a big fan of PB2 (Peanut Butter or chocolate flavor)........torani and davinci syrups This is something I liked.....worth the little added effort.....I think you can use any brand of protein as long as it's not a thick shake....Note: the 1/2 a scoop of unjury has about 10g of protein (not every brand's scoop is the same size....some are big, some are small) UNJURY pumpkin Spice Latte 1/2 scoop UNJURY Vanilla 1/2 scoop UNJURY Unflavored 1/4 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice) 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice sugar free Syrup (brand suggestions: Da Vinci, Torani) 1/4 cup (2 oz) Skim Milk, Lactose Free Milk, Soy Milk, or Almond Milk 3/4 cup coffee (Regular or Decaf, made to your liking)  Make coffee using a coffee maker or mixing instant coffee. Add milk. Measure temperature (must be below 140 degrees)  Add UNJURY, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and Pumpkin Pie Spice Syrup. Mix until combined Variations:  For a sweeter latte, use one full scoop of Vanilla UNJURY instead of Unflavored .  To decrease sweetness, use one full scoop of Unflavored UNJURY instead of Vanilla.  For stronger coffee flavor, add extra instant coffee mix  For a fun treat, top with 1 tablespoon of fat-free cool- whip and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice. Serve with a cinnamon stick

Please, please don't ever compare your weight loss to anyone elses.......I consider myself a slow loser, and felt the same as you did when I heard of those big numbers others were getting........but we all lose weight at different rates......I weigh myself daily (which is not recommended, but I've done it all my life, even when I weighed 260) and when my weightloss stopped for 6 weeks, I let my clothes be my guide -- I had lost 2 sizes during that time........ Like everyone said, you are doing fantastic......keep up the good work!

Nice Job! Our Goals are similar, and surgery was just 2 days apart.....I'm not quite 5'2, and my dr's goal is 127....I've lost 80 so far.....wieght loss stalled from December to mid January.....but I went down 2 sizes during that time....have gotten back on schedule and losing again. I used to weigh 110-112 in my teens/early 20's, so I'm not sure how I feel about 127 as a goal.....but compared to where I was, I'm feeling damn good---

Dee, welcome to the 50's! I was 3 months shy of 50 when I had the sleeve in August.......there were some tough days those first few weeks.......but I would do it again in a heart beat.......good luck! Hi 50's!! I am having revision surgery from LapBand. To Sleeve & I am so sad that I need this second surgery I was doing so good with the band until I started having horrible reflux & pain. I was worried then @ 50, now I am having thoughts of being too old to take this risk again 4 years later. Really scared here Dee