cindymg

Love your avatar by the way!

I have been dieting since I was in high school -- which means I have been dieting for more than 40 years. I have been in every program, bought HUNDREDS of diet books, taken every dangerous diet drug. And after all that time, programs, drugs, books, and therapy, I weighed 80 lbs more than when I started. I calculated recently that conservatively I've lost and regained about 50 lbs per year. That means in 40 years I lost and regained 2,000 lbs! Oh yeah, and gave myself a nasty case of out of control diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. I was facing the very real probability of diabetic neuropathy, and a future of amputations and misery. That's all changed now. I have my life back! Down 52 lbs so far, co morbidities resolved, and I feel fabulous! Best thing I ever did for myself!

Sounds like the PA needs some education! 800 calories at 6 months? Yeah, I don't think so. I've been on 1,000-1,200 calories, 80-100 grams of Protein since like week 5. I am 3.5 months out now and down 52 lbs. I am still losing 2-4 lbs a week, and I feel fabulous! At 5'11" and built like a linebacker, I wouldn't WANT to survive on less. Don't let one uninformed opinion ruin your plan. As long as you are still losing, and feel good, do what's best for you. It's your body after all.

No regrets here, except that I didn't do this surgery sooner. 3.5 months post op, 52 lbs down, no complications, no pain, and co-morbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease) all under control. Maybe the difference is that I did this to save my life -- and my feet (I was heading toward diabetic neuropathy, and future foot problems). That I feel and look better than I have in years is such a bonus. And, oh darn, going to need a whole new wardrobe! As far as food addiction, I'll always have that. For me, food was the weapon I used to beat myself up. Maybe I am just still in the "honeymoon" period, but I'm dealing with it okay. Turning my food addiction into exercise addiction, isn't a bad thing. I also read a lot of books by other WLS patients and incorporate their suggestions into my life. If that stops working, I'll reach out for professional help. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I'm down to a 12 in pants, and very tall with no hips or butt. I'm an apple. I tried on a pair by accident the other day and while I COULD wear them, I won't. I've lost so much in my thighs, that they are all jiggly now when I walk. Not a good look for me. I'll stick with straight leg jeans. By the way, I like Not Your Daughter's Jeans for tummy control.

Step away from the scale! Seriously, you'll make yourself nuts. Read this thread: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/91424-this-is-a-public-service-announcement-concerning-stalls-plateaus/

Learn to eat like a thin person. Take a bite, put your fork/spoon down, have a conversation. Pick up your fork/spoon, take a bite, put down said fork/spoon, have a conversation. You get the idea. My point is, don't focus on the food. Focus on the people you are with. Pretty soon, you will be full, or bored with the food and you will know you have had enough. And, give yourself 30 minutes on either side before you drink. Tough to do in a social situation, but you can do it.

I'm 8 months from turning 60 (gulp, I said it), and I had my sleeve so I could see 60. With out of control diabetes, high blood pressure, worsening coronary artery disease, and the start of diabetic neuropathy, the sleeve offered me a way off the downward path I was on. For me the sleeve wasn't so much about my appearance -- it was about saving my life. Oh, and having a life that wasn't filled with medications, side effects, and amputations. Fitting into smaller clothes, and feeling good about my appearance for the first time in many years, is a bonus. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Have you measured yourself? Sometimes we lose inches, but not scale weight. Every time I think I am not losing weight, I just go try on my clothes. When I see jeans that I bought just a month ago (I am 3 months post op) that are now baggy on me, I know things are going in the right direction. That said, if you are following your surgeon's instructions, then you are doing the right things and the weight will come off. You could do yourself a favor and not obsess over the scale. In fact, you could get rid of it, and resolve to weigh only at your doctor's office. That's what I do. In 3 months, I am down 52 lbs and have never had a "stall." There may have been days, even weeks where I didn't lose scale weight, but overall I've lost 4 lbs a week, and that's pretty darn good in my book!

Did you also see that Abercrombie is struggling financially? Somebody is on their way out. Can't insult half the country with no payback.

You know the saying about colds, right? You can take a whole bunch of cold medicines and it will go away in 7 days, Or you can ignore it and it will be gone in a week. That said, a cold is a virus. Nothing will cure it. You can only treat the symptoms. If you have a stuffy head, take a decongestant; if you have aches, take Tylenol (Tylenol Cold is liquid Tylenol). If it goes on longer than a week, seek medical attention. I always end up with a sinus infection or bronchitis after a cold, so then I need antibiotics. Also, cutting back on dairy will keep the mucous down ( I know, hard for a sleever to do). And take your Vitamins. I find that since I started taking lots of vitamins, I hardly ever get a cold anymore. Feel better.

Protein and fluids , that's the ticket. But I was really exhausted too until I was able to start on soft foods at 3 weeks. Then, I was able to walk more and the exhaustion moved away. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Get some GasX strips. They helped me. And walk, walk, walk. That helps work the gas out.

Try some warm broth with salt. No protein, but it will help with the nausea. Or if you want soup with protein, Unjury makes a chicken soup flavor with protein. Good for post op too.

Don't know about the eye area, but butt and thighs sounds like sciatica to me. That's the feeling I get when my sciatica is acting up. A few visits to the chiropractor ought to fix it.

Dr Rami Lutfi at St Joseph Hospital was my surgeon. One of the best in the city. They could get you on much sooner. I love my program and love my sleeve!

Egg yolks get a bad, unjustified rap. They contain lethicin. It help keep cholesterol from adhering to the walls of your arteries.

Sleeved 5/15/13. Down 47 lbs. Happy me!

I made it about 2 weeks on crushing meds. Then i started cutting the larger pills. Fortunately, I have eliminated or reduced several meds so that makes it easier. I still can't swallow big pills at 3 months out. I have switched all of my vitamins to chewables or capsules.

I felt great after my surgery -- could have been the drugs they gave me in the hospital. I was a little sore and had to hold onto my tummy when I laughed or coughed. Only in one night, and was anxious to go home. No pain at home. I didn't even take the pain meds. No nausea, no vomiting. I will confess that I was really tired for the first 2-3 weeks, but no problems other than that. I am 3 months post op, down 52 lbs, diabetes and high blood pressure meds down to 1/4 of what I used to take. And I feel fabulous! Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Have you tried Magnesium before bed? Look for a capsule as the pills are huge and hard to swallow. Also Hyland makes a homeopathic remedy for RLS and leg cramps. It's about $6.00 and available at Walmart or Whole Foods. Good luck to you!

I always lose weight in my face first. In fact, the last few years when I lost weight I was always so shocked at how old and saggy my face and neck became, I swear that's why I gained the weight back. So it's face, then boobs, then legs/hips, then back. The stomach never goes anywhere. Maybe this time it will go too.