cinward2001

I couldn't help smiling while catching up on this thread. I had surgery on May 14th, so I'm 2 months post-op today. I've lost 10-12 lbs. So it kind of tickles me when I read things like "only 50 lbs" or "only 5 lbs/week". But I'm happy! I converted to a sleeve because the last chunk of weight I'd regained with the band were making me miserable. Clothes miserably tight, I was starting to consider needing new clothes, a larger uniform, getting too heavy for my horse, etc...all things that I could NOT let happen. So the ~10 lbs that I've lost have been a VERY big deal to me. As I've told my hubby, I could easily spend the rest of my life at this size...I don't "need" to be a size 8 to be happy. In fact, if the last 7 yrs have taught me anything, it's to take the emphasis OFF my size and just live my life. To be honest, too, though, I haven't been "working" the sleeve...as in, I don't track my calories, Protein, or water...I haven't even started consistently exercising, beyond riding my horse and becoming more active in general as I've started feeling better. I KNOW I'd lose more weight and lose it more quickly if I did, but I don't intend to track calories the rest of my life, so just kind of seeing what happens if I don't. I know it helps that I didn't need to lose a lot to get back to "comfortable." I'd still like to lose 20 lbs...get back to my original goal weight that I reached with the band. But if I don't? I'm ok. Oh, and just had a check-up with my doctor...all my labs came back normal, so all is good there, too!

I'm 6 weeks out and still haven't lost anything beyond the first 2 weeks. I'm also having a lot of trouble with retaining fluid in my lower legs. I've never had my legs swell up like this before (to the point where the skin is actually painful), so I'm hoping it's not anything surgery related. I see my primary care physician on Monday so will be talking to her about it.

oatmeal is on my list of approved foods (3 weeks post-op) and the weight control stuff is even recommended (because of the extra Protein vs regular oatmeal). So I decided to try some. Took about 3 bites and that was it. Anyone ever had a "stitch" in the side from running? You know, what feels like a mild cramp under your ribs? Nothing big or worrisome, but enough that I knew I didn't want any more oatmeal! LOL And since having that oatmeal around noon, I haven't been the least bit hungry. I know I need to eat (or at least drink) more, but gosh...that couple of bites of oatmeal told me who was boss real quick!

1 month, 4 days post-op...down 10 lbs. LOL Seriously! That's it! Congrats to all you speedy losers though!

Tigerbelle, I did have a NUT consultation. But I'm also self-pay via Mexico. I can email the nutritionist at any time, but can't actually go see her. I'm just not sure what I'd say to her...hey, I feel fine, don't have any problems with food or Water, just wish I were losing! She's going to tell me stuff I already know...aim for 1-2 lbs/week, track the calories/protein, drink 8 glasses of water/day, etc... Health-wise, I feel fine! That's kind of scary, too...LOL, as in, I don't feel like I've had the sleeve done at all....maybe I dreamed it? Laura, yes, I'm a revision patient. I need to lose 25 lbs to get back to my original goal...but ideally, would like to go 10-15 past that. So not a whole lot to lose. I do think that my band habits help...I already tend to chew food well, eat slowly, etc. I'm hoping that I'll start feeling more positive now that I'm back home. It's a lot easier to track calories and plan food.

I probably shouldn't post this. I'm tired and really discouraged right now so should just head to bed, but I know people here will understand. I just really need some cyber hugs right now. I'm a bit more than a month post-op. Dr's instructions were to start "testing" foods to see what was tolerable at this point. So far, I can barely tell that I have a sleeve. I spent the last week out of town training our horses. Long days in the saddle, being very physical. Our horses are usually pasture kept and when they're in a stall all week instead...well, it's a lot of stall cleaning, hauling Water and feed, etc. When we weren't in the saddle, we were "ground crew"...so all in all, a long, exhausting week. food was kind of "sketchy" because of the situation. Breakfast was usually the Protein portion of a biscuit thingy (as in, egg and ham or cheese, throw away the biscuit). lunch was something like fish tacos, but just the fish and lettuce, or some tuna salad and a couple of crackers. One night, at dinner, I had 3 chicken wings. I'm ok with those smaller portions until late evening and then I'm really hungry. And evenings are the hardest time for me. Also, I didn't find *anything* that bothered me. One night we went to a decent restaurant and I had a salad, tilapia, and spinach. Quantity wise, I feel like I'm eating huge amounts compared to others here. I can guzzle water (and with temps being in the high 90s one day, I was definitely chugging the water!) I had hoped/thought that the scales would go down this week. Instead, I've gained. One month post-op and I've lost a grand total of 8 lbs. *sigh*

Not everyone has to do a liquid diet. My surgeon based his requirements on the patient BMI. I only did liquids for 1 day. He also did the band removal and sleeve conversion in one operation. So...in a nutshell...you need to find out what recommendations/requirements your surgeon has.

I was told by my surgeon that IF you were successful with the band, the sleeve will work for you, too. But if you tend to want to eat a lot of sweets and things that were NOT stopped by the band, then maybe bypass would be better (for the dumping and the fact that you won't absorb everything you eat). I chose the sleeve because I did get to my goal weight with the sleeve. Plus, I'd like to minimize changes to my "innards" as much as possible. I'm already minus a gall bladder, appendix, and now part of my stomach! LOL!

I know, it's just a bit difficult hearing higher numbers from other people. I know it's "relative"...those people might need to lose a lot more than me. And I really am ok with losing it slowly as long as I DO lose it...

Well, I've been stuck at the same weight now since May 28th or so. Even then, I think I'd lost maybe 2 lbs or so since coming home after surgery. So I'm almost 4 weeks post-op, down ~12 lbs. I'll still take it...never lost 12 lbs in a month before, but am REALLY trying hard to not worry. I seem to go back and forth a lot...really hungry one day, then the next, having trouble (not physical trouble, just not wanting anything) eating much at all. The thing that's keeping me going is that my pants are all comfortable now.

I think saying "you can't fix stupid" is a bit drastic. I understand the sentiment, but for some people, having WLS actually SHOWS them where their problems are. As in, all the psych evals, orientations, and doc visits TALK about what life is like after the sleeve, but TALKING and DOING are two different things. Perhaps, pre-sleeve, some people really DO think that giving up soda, or cutting back on portions, etc, won't be a problem...and then, they find out what they're wanting to eat is way more emotional than physical. When I frequented band support boards, there'd always be those few who would intentionally NOT go get fills. They found that they didn't like not being able to eat their favorite foods in the quantity they wanted. Or they'd find the "sliders," just like sleevers can do. So I honestly don't think it's being "stupid"...I think there can be a real difficulty in give up certain comfort foods and coping mechanisms.

I noticed today that a pair of my jeans are getting uncomfortably loose. I hadn't worn them in a few days, so the difference today was pretty noticeable. The scales say the same LOL, but the clothing is telling me something different.

Heatwhip, I don't have any words of wisdom for you, just know you're NOT alone! scales went up 2 lbs over the weekend and are staying there right now. I'm doing my damndest to ignore it and just tell myself that the sleeve has worked for hundreds (thousands?) of people...it'll work for me/us, too! If nothing else, I look at the averages. I'm 3 weeks post-op...even with the weight gain, I've lost ~12 lbs...so that's 4 lbs/week. That's still really, REALLY good for me. You've lost 14 lbs in TWO weeks...or even if it's now 10 lbs, that's FIVE lbs per week. Prior to the sleeve, I bet you'd have been thrilled with that! So chin up, girl! Just keep doing what you're supposed to be doing, give it time, and you'll be thinner before you know it!

Wow, sensitive much? Obviously, my idea of rude and your idea of rude are totally different things. Now, if I'd directed this toward anyone in particular, it would be rude, but I didn't. Plus, I IMMEDIATELY pointed out that I'm just frustrated with myself. Personally, I think your response is rather...um...silly. Last time I checked, it'd be really, REALLY hard to shoot someone on an internet forum. I guess I could shoot my computer...now THAT would be really counter productive. LOL

Clear for 4 days post-op, then full liquids (like drinkable yogurt) for 3 days. Then puree for 1 week, soft foods for 2 weeks. So only a month of modified eating...at the end of 4 weeks, I can start "testing" solid foods. And according to their definitions, pureed was anything I wanted to blend, and soft is anything I can cut with a fork.

It does get better! How long it takes is very individual. And some people never see themselves as being as big as they are, so losing weight just means their body starts to match the image in their head. For others, it's the opposite...we lose weight and our body image says we're still big when we're not. When I was banded in 2006, I went from a 26 to a 12. It definitely felt weird and in some ways, I felt too small...even though I really wasn't. Sometime in the last few years, the 12-14 became "normal" for me and now I think I could happily lose more weight...get to a size 6 or 8. As with any other major change, it just takes time.

I think I'm going to shoot some people. Nah, just frustrated with myself! scales were down about 14 lbs, but hadn't moved in almost a week, so this past weekend, I started walking/running on the treadmill again. Well, that wasn't entirely due to the scales not moving but because I was in a horrible mood and trying to use exercise to improve it. So I step on the scales Monday morning they've gone back UP 2 lbs. So I've lost 12 lbs in 3 weeks. On the one hand, I'm thrilled to have lost 12 lbs! But on the other, when I hear people saying they've "only" lost 20+ pounds...well, it's a bit frustrating. There's also the bit of worry that the sleeve isn't going to result in long-term weight loss for me. I'm eating soft foods (heading toward solids) and I rarely feel satisfied or full...just hungry and worried. At this point, I'm telling myself that it is what it is (and yes, I'm in the 3 week post-op phase) and I just have to do the best I can. Since I had the band before this, maybe it won't work quite as well as it has with other people

I think obesity is due to 2 things... 1) eating more calories than you need, and 2) underestimating how many calories you eat. Granted, if you're weighing/measuring every single thing that goes in your mouth, you might know exactly how many calories you're eating per day. But if you're not losing weight while doing that, then it's pretty simple...you're eating MORE calories than you need. The really HARD part for most people is keeping calories low enough day to day to consistently lose. My husband can cut out a bowl of cereal in the evenings and lose weight. Me? There isn't a bowl of cereal to cut out...I have to drop to 800 cal/day...and doing that consistently without a WLS to help is just too difficult. As for the original post...what's the difference between a lecture and someone giving their opinion or advice? With the written word, tone and inflection is difficult to determine. I think if you feel lectured more often than not, you need to evaluate your own emotions that you're "bringing" to the thread.

Toy27, sometimes, you have to listen to what YOUR body is telling you. Doctors recommend all sorts of things to keep their patients healthy, but sometimes, those can be the wrong things. For example, for a while, I was severely anemic. Went to my doctor, she did lab work, told me I had Rocky Mtn Spotted Tick Fever and that I needed to take Iron. I told her I didn't have RMSTF despite what the lab results said (false positives happen), she wanted me on antibiotics anyway (and the iron). So I spent 3 weeks throwing up from the antibiotics and the iron...I KNEW that would happen...I'm not a good pill taker and iron has always made my stomach hurt. So add in the antibiotics and it just got really bad. I called her office, said "No more" and was a happy camper. No symptoms of RMSTF, eventually had an ablation to deal with the anemia (very heavy menstrual periods and had nothing to do with lack of iron). In other works, I knew what *I* needed more than the doctor did. My sleeve doctor said no Vitamins for 3 months. That since we DO digest/absorb what we eat (our small intestines are still intact), vitamins weren't really necessary. So why do so many doctors prescribe them? Just to be on the safe side. Remember, too, that vitamins are usually artificial or processed "vitamins" with fillers, colors, etc. If you're having trouble taking them, maybe *don't* take them? If they're making it more difficult for you to eat real food, then ditch the vitamins and focus on eating healthily. There are other ways to compromise, too, in order to be mentally healthy. For example, I hate tracking everything I eat. It puts too much of my focus on food and weight...and I'm happier if I just go about my daily routine. And being happier usually means eating less (because I'm not turning to food for stress relief/comfort). So just make it simple guidelines...protein FIRST, then your good carbs next, then, IF you're still hungry, a small amount of "bad" carbs (when you can have them) such as dessert and bread. All that to say...don't feel boxed in by what your doctor is telling you to do. If it's making you miserable, get a 2nd opinion, discuss it with your doctor or NUT (you might be surprised at how flexible they are), etc.

Why not have a "virgin" drink? Then, you're still being sociable with your friends, no one will question that you're not drinking because you have a drink in front of you. Unless, of course, the purpose of the drink is to get buzzed or drunk, but then, you're not really drinking for the social aspect but to get drunk. So my advice...really THINK about why you're wanting to drink. It's empty calories, it can be hazardous to your healthy, etc. If it really is to be sociable, you can do that without the alcohol.

Maybe you're just not ready for soft foods? Go back to puree for a day or two. And it might also be that the 12 hours of foamies yesterday has irritated your stomach so you'll need to be EXTRA careful for a day or two. I know you're probably eager to progress in what you eat, but right now is the time to listen to what your body is telling you... When you do eat a bite of soft food, make sure it's only about the size of a pea and STILL chew it very well. Swallow, wait a minute, pay attention to how that feels, then get another pea-size bite, chew well, etc.

Drop the "only" from that statement, Ramirelek! You've lost 12.4 lbs in 3 weeks, so that's 4 lbs PER week! Think about that...if you kept up that rate of loss, you'd lose 200 lbs in a year. You're doing great!

I think the healthier attitude is that there aren't any BAD foods. It's all about moderation, making good choices the majority of the time, etc. And sometimes, after surgery, you find that your tastes have changed...so if you (and I mean this in the "general" you, not to anyone in particular!) don't try something (when you're allowed, of course), then you could be spending a lot of mental energy thinking you want something...when you really don't. For example, when I ate the pizza toppings, I tried one bite of crust. Well, when chewed to mush, that crust tasted awful. So instead of wishing/wanting to eat the whole slice, I was perfectly content with the toppings. And since I ate the toppings, thought they were good, but not "oh my gosh, I want PIZZA!" type good, I'm fine NOT eating them again for quite a while. Moderation. It's all about knowing yourself. If the strictness is what you need to stay on course, then be strict. If moderation is best for you in the long run, then make conscious, honest decisions about what you're going to eat. As for the chewing and spitting it out...nope, not for me. I had LapBand surgery, and now VSG, to be as normal as possible. I honestly don't feel that chewing up food and spitting it out (unless it tastes horrible! LOL) is "normal." But then, neither is living on liquids for 2 weeks, but why do 2 abnormal things if you can stay with just 1?

I've had pizza toppings! I'm in the soft food stage, which is "anything I can cut with a fork." So dinner one night was pizza toppings. I tried a bite of crust, but when you chew it a long time, it tastes pretty nasty. LOL I didn't have any issues with eating the toppings, but it wasn't that big of a deal either...now that I have, I don't think I'll want them again for a while...

Yes, I think diet guidelines are all over the place, from doctor to doctor and even within the same practice! For me, full liquids essentially meant purees cause she said I could blend anything I wanted. Then, for soft foods, anything I could cut with a fork. That's almost anything that's cooked well enough! Maybe not a steak, but lots of other stuff. Good to hear the liver is ok!