Indigo1991

Don't know who said u won't ever eat a me again cos u will! First few weeks r the worst, life changes and u have a lot to cope with from liquids, mushies, getting Water in etc alongside recovering from major surgery. But u have done a good thing for ur health and body. Give it time, life will feel better. I am 3 months out and I go out to eat socially without giving it a thought. I order starter sizes of meals or main courses and eat what I need. I eat meals, just slightly smaller than before... And do u know what? Noone comments any more when I leave food via I am now at a size where the amount I eat is beginning to match how I look :-)))) So know how u feel, been there - but it gets soooo much better, so hang in x

For the first time in 23 years, I am no longer described as any version of "obese", having just snuck into the BMI range for "overweight".... in 12 weeks. Yay! I can't begin to explain what the sleeve has done for me, my health and my life. It hasn't been easy and I know I have still a long way to go, not just with weight but the issues that got me to where I was. But this has been a life changing 3 months and I am so grateful I have gone through it. Future looks bright.... :-))))

Canary Diamond, hi sleeve sister!!! Tips? The first few weeks are the worst but I got through it by following what my nut asked me to do I terms of what I was eating and quantity as well as sip, sip, sipping the Water. Boring but I think it has helped me. Have patience. Don't know about you but it took me years to get to this weight, it ain't all going to drop off in a few weeks... There will be stalls when you don't lose weight but have faith. If you stick to taking care of business, the weight loss will start again. Sometimes the scales don't move, but you will be losing inches. I only weigh once a week, never more frequently cos your weight can fluctuate from day to day and I don't want to be under pressure.... Keep moving. That's easier as you lose weight but moving helps with everything from constipation to weight loss. You don't need to do anything fancy, walking is cheap and convenient. Talking of constipation... Don't let it get a grip. Talk to your doc before it becomes a problem - it only happens to me when my water intake drops.... Finally, the sleeve is the start of the process. I was determined from day 1 to integrate it into my life so I still go to bars (where I drink water and occasionally a fruit juice), I eat out ( still doing Protein first and eating small portions), go to cinema (just don't eat the popcorn, lol) and I enjoy my time with friends and family. For me, food is now in it's place... I eat to live, not live to eat. I can still have fun and I do cos life is great!!!! If people comment on how little I eat, I smile and say I just have a small appetite. But as I shrink, people have stopped making any comment at all as my appetite and body are getting more in synch. Be kind to yourself, no beating yourself up over the odd piece of cookie that finds it way into your mouth (not now of course, in the months ahead!) Best advice I can give you - and it is my mantra - is that when you are down or feeling beaten, remember - this too will pass. Good luck to you, PM me any time if you need a chat :-))))) Jacqui

Enjoy the concert, put your fears aside and just think - you will never never be this weight again.... Life is on the up from tomorrow :-) This surgery is not easy and there will be bumps in the road but life will get better and better! That's been my experience, even with the inevitable and downs. So for tonight, have fun - and good luck with pre-op diet!!!!

Makemyownluck, the most important thing u said is "I want to like this guy for who he is, not the idea of what I think he could be". Not rushing at this is exactly right - getting to know him and deciding if he's worthy of ur trust is so important. It is easy to give ourselves away, not just physically but emotionally, especially when we don't feel good about ourselves. i know that's how i have behaved in the past when I didnt feel good about me. But in saying what u did, I think u show the power of the changes that have happened in ur life since ur sleeve. I know that my confidence is returning and I hadn't even appreciated how low it had got! But I know I won't be giving myself away any more, a potential partner will have to earn my trust and all that goes with it ???? U have got things the right way round - tell him when it feels right anout the sleeve but only once u are sure about him. Will PM post date, has been a very long time since I had dates to gossip about lol.... ????

Wow! That's quite a story... Congratulations, I hope life gets better and better for you - you have inspired me :-))))

Jeanie, I am 51 (52 in Aug) and was terrified of what would happen to my face as it was the only bit of my body I liked. Two thirds of the way through my weight loss (sleeved at the end of April), both my face and body are doing fine :-)))) Met a friend for coffee last week, hadn't seen her for a couple of months, and we sat outside on the terrace of the coffee shop, sunglasses on. She was blown away by my size and was really complementary. When we went Inside to pay the bill, I took off my large sunglasses and she gasped. Then she whispered "did you have your face done while you were in there" !!! She genuinely thought my face looked so good that I must have had cosmetic surgery. If I was worrying about it before, I ain't worrying now, lol! Hope that reassures you, good luck.

You just made an older woman very happy!!! Seriously, impressive and know that look takes very hard work. Congratulations! Just restarting wih my trainer and looking to get toned and firm up. Feeling inspired...

K, some people lose NOTHING in 4 weeks or longer but they do start losing. Others put on weight but they go on to lose it. Lots of good advice in the posts from people who have been where u r. Most important thing is stick with it, get ur head where it needs to be and realise u have done something great for u and ur health. Sound like a broken record but this too shall pass and in a few weeks time this will just be a memory. Chin up, look to a healthier future but dont give up yet...

Cindy, I use a small plate and cut my food into very small pieces and, as my nut told me to do, I chew, chew a bit longer and when I don't think I can chew any more - I chew again!!! My nut says that chewing food well helps the stomach in the first few months ( and beyond) to digest the food. But, as important, u will get more if ur Protein in without discomfort. Works for me :-) Good luck!

Thanks for all the positive comments. It's good too to hear how well people are doing. Site has been great for inspiration and encouragement, thanks for speaking up! Now for the last 24 lbs

Thanks both. Ha ha, yes, never thought of being overweight as an achievement! But I will take it....

Please, please hang in there. You are doing the right things, if you want to exercise more - walk. But you are experiencing what has happened to most of us, you are in a stall. This is when your body stops everything to sort itself out and the scales usually stand still. Most commonly happens around 3 weeks out and can last for days and weeks. Your body has been through a trauma and is now functioning in new circumstances so it's not surprising that it is taking a time out. But nothing you are doing will be wasted, you will see a weight loss, just have faith, stick to what you are doing and stay calm. It is working, just hang in there and don't give up. Probably not the last time this will happen either - I am 12 weeks out have lost nothing in last two weeks but I keep going doing the right things and I know my weight will drop again. Thinking about you, good luck and let us know what happens... X

You are not alone, we have all been where you are. There's a phrase you will see repeatedly on this site that you should bear in mind - this too will pass. You will get thru this, purée and soft foods and all of this will just be a memory. Good luck!

Bod not bid ha ha!!!!

Makemyownluck, have a fantastic time on your date. Enjoy it and savour every moment, great feeling when a new relationship may be starting - then report back here with ALL the details, lol! I am off on a second date at the weekend and we are doing lunch. So I may have to say something cos at 3 months out he's going to notice my small portion. But I will take it as it comes, just looking forward to seeing this lovely man. After 30 years plus with ex, this really is all new along with new bid, lol! Good luck!

Anniemay, I am in the UK, there are a few things post-op that differ here from the US... but that's what I was told.

Ok, give us some clues - when were you sleeved, what are your weight stats?

When you get the hang of sipping - proper small sips - the gas, burping and pain subsides....

No driving is because of the risk of an accident and the airbags going off into your stomach before it and ur incisions have healed enough to withstand that trauma. You may be a safe driver but you can't guarantee what others do. Good luck with the boredom, lol!

Shawna, how quickly do you eat? How small are your bites? How much do you chew? These are all factors that dictate how much food you can take in a meal. Take it slowly, cut your food into tiny bits and chew well - and when you think you are done chewing, chew a bit more! When I started doing that, I was able to get a decent size portion in and stay satisfied for a few hours. Stick with it, you know what you need to do, remember Protein is the priority so get that in first and if you have room for anything else, eat that. Good luck!

AsImlooznit speaks the truth... The hair loss is a side effect of surgery not lack of protein, biotin etc. If it is going to happen, it will. As it starts to re grow, that's when biotin etc might help and Nioxin and similar will certainly make ur hair look thicker. But if its going to happen, it will. But as with everything else sleeve, this too will pass!!

U r right, every doc has their "personal preferences" so it can seem odd that some of us can eat things earlier than others. But he or she also knows our personal medical histories so if ur doc says six months, that's when u should start trying red meat irrespective of what others are doing. Would it be bad if u ate it earlier - who knows? But why go against ur doc?

Big hug.... Just think that these are 30lbs that you will never have to lose again! Nothing worth having comes easy, that seems especially true of this surgery lol. Hopefully the posts will show u that u r not alone, we are all in this together. Stay strong :-)