Roo101769

I cannot agree any more with previous posts about not comparing. I fell into that trap and I became depressed for quite a while due to it. I have a friend who was sleeved almost two months after I was, yet this friend has lost a LOT more than I have!! But what I didn't take into account was 1) he is a tall male who weighed over 400lbs to start. 2) I lost 33 lbs prior to surgery on my own diet. My friend did nothing to curb his eating or try to lose weight before he started his 10 day pre op diet. 3) I am me and he is he, and you are you. We all have entirely different bodies and those bodies will all do entirely different things. Once I finally got my head screwed on right about this whole thing I started feeling much better. Sure, I have lost about 85lbs since I started my journey last August, while my friend has lost around 110lbs since he started in December. But the key fact is I HAVE LOST 85 POUNDS!!! This is my journey, my body, my life. I stopped being jealous and resentful of his success and realized I am happy with mine. I am also happy he is doing as well as he is, because it has improved his life. Just do your plan and be true to yourself, because in the end that is all that counts...And btw- CONGRATS on the great job you have already done!

I totally get the idea. I bought two pair of size 20 "skinny" jeans off of a friend. I thought " I will just put them back until they fit". No way those little things would fit me. Well one pair fits nicely and the other is slightly BIG! Ok, I realize a size 20 is not small...but when you come from a size 28 it is. ( esp. since I haven' t hit 18/20 in about 15+ years!) It is crazy. I still gravitate towards the larger sizes forgetting that I don't need them anymore. That is so awesome for you RJ, you are now his "little woman"!!! LOL

So good to see you again GG, and RJ chiming in makes it complete! You guys were my inspiration early out. I listened to your advice and I always was interested in your opinions on topics. GG, you look AWESOME! I know how hard it is to go back and look at where you were. Next month is the 1 year anniversary of my nephew and his wife. The picture we took together on that day is my "before" picture. I tried so hard to look pretty, and that day I thought I pulled it off. Then the photos came back and I saw the reality. I had been in the hospital for 6 days just 4 days prior to the wedding. I had a second DVT & PE and was feeling shakey that I had survived it yet again. I was lucky to be here and was happy to make it to the wedding. I weighed 310lbs that day, and got up to 316lbs before I said ENOUGH!!! I am no where near goal yet, but I am closer than I have been in years. Today I sit in the low 230s ( a couple lbs higher today than ticker thanks to "that time of month") and I feel really good. Is my body perfect? Heck no. I still have issues with low back pain. ( I REALLY need to work my core more) But my knees that used to keep me from doing everything no longer hurt. I still deal with vascular pain in my right leg from the DVTs, but that is going to be a part of life. Overall I feel much better. And I enjoy fitting into things. Size 18/20 clothes ( started in 28w) Fitting into lawn chairs, and not the plus sized ones. I sat in a kiddie chair at my daughter's school and didn't even think twice that it might break! I wish I were flying for vacation this year just to be able to fit in the sit more comfortably and NOT use a seatbelt extender!! ( but we are driving instead) And I am looking forward to a vacation full of adventure, actually DOING things and not just sitting on my duff. Sure, I still have a long way to go to be where I want to be. But do not short change how far we have all come...You may have started in a place that makes you feel bad, but honey look at you now!!!!!

I still use Caltrate chews. My issue is everything have looked at adds Vitamin K. As a life long warfarin user ( due to blood clots) I have to be very careful using too much of it. ( it interferes with the effectiveness of the warfarin) I have only found the Caltrate chews to not add vitamin K. I have also had the same issue when buying my bariatric Vitamins.

I did not fly for surgery but I am a high clot risk. ( I have had two DVTs and PEs.) I am on blood thinners for life because of this. For surgery I had to discontinue my oral warfarin 5 days prior as it stays in the blood system a while. I injected a generic of Lovenox (WAYYY cheaper!) for 5 days prior to and four days post op. I resumed my oral warfarin the day after surgery. I got up and walked as I could, and they kept the things on my legs in the hospital when in bed. ( Forget their actual name..They inflate / deflate to increase circulation) I wear a compression stocking on my right leg all the time due to vascular damage from the DVTs, but it is a high compression weight. ( I think 30) I can say I had not clotting issues whatsoever during my surgery and recovery. My biggest issue was one of my 5 incisions would not close. They stitched it in the OR, but the subcutaneous tissue was "mush" ( doctors words!) due to blood thinners so it didn't hold closed well. It drained heavily for a day or so until they finally used medical glue to close it. After that, no issues. Any flight, especially long ones, can create clots. As an earlier poster said be sure to walk or at least stand up when you can. If seated pump your feet up and down and move around to keep the circulation flowing. Good luck and wishing much success to you!!!

I'm with Buffle...No foods have made me physically ill, unless I have ate too much/too fast. But there is plenty I don't like! LOL

I am 6 mos out and I can tell you a few things concerning the fears of early post oppers...First, it is totally normal to feel major restriction at first. I was unable to take anything but a couple sips of water/ juice when I was released from the hospital 3 days post op. A friend of mine who had the same surgery at a different hospital was given pudding to eat the day after! ( I cannot fathom that myself) The first week post op I barely got my Protein shakes in and I noticed I could barely tolerate Water. ( oddly enough I still have issues with plain H2O) I felt discomfort and the odd internal "hanging" feeling for about a week. I went back to work 9 days post op out of necessity. I was completely drained by the end of the day, barely able to walk. BUT walk I did as it was Halloween and I had to take my 5 year old Trick or Treating. I made it, but barely. I did have to pass on a hayride she wanted to take, I didn't think my body could handle the jarring around. At about two 1/2 weeks I noticed I felt a lot better. It was a slow road to be sure. At about 3 weeks out I started having hunger. Yes, real hunger and not the head kind. But, a small amount could fill me up quickly. I went on doctor's plan until released to full foods. It did seem he moved me through the stages a little fast, but I did well and he is the doctor. At about two months out I tried my first slider food. I honestly don't remember what it was but I do remember being shocked how easily I could eat it. And it has been a huge regret that I opened that door back up because it has been pretty damn impossible to close again. I do eat plan about 80 % of the time. I try to lead with Proteins every meal. But...I am human and I am not perfect. Each day you live your life with the sleeve you have to still make the mental decision to eat right. You will have restriction, but it does ease with time. As you heal and your body adjusts it is less and less about restriction and more about choice. Don't panic when you can eat more, just be sure you have the right foods to eat. Another HUGE issue I have dealt with is trying to not compare myself to anyone. Each and every one of us is different and will go through this differently. As long as you do what you are supposed to ( as instructed by your surgeon and NUT) you will succeed. How much you lose is up to a higher power to decide. But you will do your best if you give it your best. There are times I actually forget I have the sleeve. I am still living my life. I still have a daughter to raise, a job to do, bills to pay etc. Early on the sleeve is what you revolve your life around, but eventually it just becomes another facet in your life. The key is to LIVE that life now. Weight loss and the associated health benefits enable us to live as we haven't been. We can be active. We can go places and do things that we once were hindered my our bodies from doing. Enjoy that. There will be things you won't like about the sleeve, but try to focus on the things you DO like. Overall I am so happy I decided to have the surgery. I am still taking one day at a time, but they are good days. For those of you early out, hang in there and know it does get better. And for those who may be dealing with stalls or something discouraging...Just remember how it was before you lost ANY weight. It ain't easy, but you are worth it!!!

I have been using lite or reduced fat or sugar free for so many years I have continued doing so. Now, for mayo ( and now Miracle Whip) they have a reduced fat version made with olive oil that I love. It is as good (to me) as it's full fat cousin and a MILLION times better than it's fat free cousin. I have drank skim milk for years and will continue to do so only because I don't like the other kinds. I do use "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray now in lieu of margarine or butter for the most part. ( what little I use) And I go for sugar free on other items only because they taste ok to me anyway. I have used sweeteners for years in my coffee and tea, so I see no reason to change that. I do a lot of the right things over all, but I also do sometimes pick choices I probably should not. It's the whole "everything in moderation" idea....

I lost 33lbs on my own before I began my pre op diet and had surgery. Not many people noticed. I think it was when I got around 50lbs down that folks really started to take notice and comment a lot. I am now down about 84lbs and it I the craziest thing, no one believes I still have as much to go as I do!!! I don't like to give numbers to them, not yet. ( On here is different, I feel less judgment.) But when I say I am not quite halfway to goal people are always shocked. I guess even they cannot imagine me at a truly healthy weight. I do know that I carry my weight in a way that is a bit deceiving, I have been told this a lot. ( I guess that is a good thing?) Right now I weigh 232lbs and my goal is 140lbs. If folks think I look good now, I can't imagine what they might think once I hit "onederland" and lower. I will probably be told I am TOO skinny!!! What a laugh!

I will be 100 % honest about this, I slip - a lot. I will say I eat per plan about 80 % of the time, but that really isn't very good. Yes, compared to the old me it is awesome. But for a person who had major surgery to finally get ahold of herself and put her weight into check, it is a personal disappointment. Each day I get up and say " today is a new day, I will do better". If I go to bed that night and feel good about what I have consumed then it is a victory. I have had zero issues with my sleeve. I tolerate everything. My only problems have come when I have consumed too much. ( I have a bad habit of eating too fast, therefore over eating) Besides that no food has actually bothered my new stomach. I was very good for the first few months avoiding things I shouldn't have. ( carbs, sugars etc) But then I tried one, and that was all it took. The battle has been back on since to stay away from these things. Some days I am winning the battle and some days I am beat up by it. I have managed to continue to lose weight ( although slowly) even with this behavior, which is probably bad because it sort of makes me feel what I am doing isn't that bad. To date I have lost 84lbs, 51lbs since surgery 10/21. Had I stuck to plan better I am sure I would be further down than that. But it is what it is. I am not giving up. I will continue to do what I can to battle my demons and win the war on fat. I refuse to be a failure in this. ( I have already won some freedom with my slowly shrinking body. I am in less pain and much more mobile than I was before the loss.) This is for life. I want to live that life. I will continue to try to do my best, but I also need to try not to beat myself up so much when I don't. Depression can be even more dangerous if you are any kind of food addict. So just know you aren't alone. We all struggle. But try to focus on the positive and do all you can for success.

I have posted this before, but it is always a topic I will respond to. I am about 75% bald at this point, and I wear a wig. I had my surgery on 10/21 and began wearing the wig over the Thanksgiving holiday. My situation is a bit complex, and I have no idea if it will ever reverse. I had a full head of hair as a child and teen. Then around my mid twenties it thinned considerably. I was eventually diagnosed with PCOS. ( I have lots of other issues from it too) At age 39 I had a baby and while pregnant with her my hair was as full as ever. But once my hormones adjusted after her birth, it was worse than it had been previously. I started using Toppik hair fibers at that time and was satisfied with the coverage for a few years. I suffered from not one but two DVTs(blood clots) and PEs.( pulmonary embolisms) While I am lucky to be alive, I was eventually put on blood thinners for the rest of my life. That continued to thin my hair more than it already was. When I decided to have WLS I knew the odds were great that I would lose enough hair that I would have to cover with a wig, so I started shopping around late last summer. My suspicions were correct and I did become a "hair hat" wearer. Since November my hair has thinned even more. I look like a very sick person without my wig on. I am not happy about it, but it is part of the deal for me. I accepted it was possible and I have made amends with it over the months. I may or may not regrow some of my hair once the post op "big fall" is over. I would love to have a head full of hair again, but that may never be. I am ok with it because I am thinner now than I have been in almost 20 years. My aches and pains that limited me are gone. I pray I have decreased my chances of having another blood clot. I have more energy for my daughter. And getting ready is so much faster when your hair is ready to go! I am not sure you will find the answers you need to help with your hair loss, but I do want you to know there are options. And you are certainly not alone.   [aredmedia=gallery:images:4091]haredmedia=gallery:images:4091 haredmedia=gallery:images:4091] 

The question is less "can I" and more "do I want to" I believe.. What are your motivations to getting the surgery? Will your life (health) be drastically impacted by the surgery? ( obvious answer- yes) Being a "foodie" or food lover or soon to be former fat chick I can say that it is a major decision to make. But....just because you have this surgery does not mean you stop living and does not have to mean you stop enjoying food. I think people who have the most success find ways to create dishes they can enjoy that also fits into your new lifestyle. I was never a big seafood lover before (ie: NEVER ate it if it wasn't a Filet O' Fish) but now I really enjoy blackened tilapia. You can create and enjoy with flavors as long as you are smart about the choices you make. The love of fried foods will have to go.. but you can learn to love the grill! Experiment with things you like. Take a dish that you absolutely enjoy and try to reimagine it as something you can have post surgery. sauces aren't no- nos, you just have to cut sugar and fat. So figure out ways to create the taste without adding things you know you shouldn't have. Go to a bookstore and look for cookbooks for after, I have two at home myself. Or go online. If you go into this process with a negative "I don't think I can" attitude you are setting yourself up for failure. But if you take this as a challenge, break out your creative side, then you can absolutely do it. Personally I believe what small sacrifices I have made are more than worth the results!

To the original post...I have researched and tried only two Protein bars- Quest and Pure Protein. For the most part the bars you find readily available at grocery stores or Walmart are the "over glorified candy bar" types. Too much sugar / calories/ carbs etc for what protein benefit they have. I just tried the Pure Protein last night for a change. I did not care for it. The bar I had had an off flavor and was coated in the faux chocolate coating...I did not care for it. I am a Quest bar girl. I see some folks categorize Quest as junk and so on. I personally find them to be a satisfying Meal Replacement. Today I had Coconut Cashew. Here is the nutritional info directly from the package: 170 calories for 1 serving. ( 1bar = 1 serving) Total fat = 6g. (saturated fat 1.5g, Trans fat 0) Cholesterol 5mg. Sodium 250mg. Potassium 90mg. Total Carbs 25g ( Dietary fiber 17g, Sugars 1g, Erythritol 4g) Protein 20g ... The Quest bars are filling. Early on I could barely finish a whole bar, but now I can. I am satisfied ( ie: full) for several hours after eating. I am getting good nutrition, especially protein, in a single bar. I typically eat one a day for breakfast. ( hardest meal of day for me to eat) They also have fiber that helps things keep "moving along", which is important after WLS. I have tried every flavor and there are only a couple I do not care for. They are the consistency of a Tootsie Roll more or less so it takes a while to chew them. ( which is great after all the liquid) I purchase mine at GNC. I buy them singularly, not by the box. ( I like to switch up flavors daily) They are sold buy 3 get 1 free so that makes them more cost effective than anything I have found online. Bottom line is it is up to personal taste. I suggest you take some time and do your own research. Pick what you find to be the most nutritionally sound and give it a try, the rest will be up to your own personal taste.

For a while now I have been dealing with the fact I am what might be considered a "slow loser". I had my surgery on 10/21 and have lost 51lbs post operatively, 84lbs over all. I try my best not to compare myself to others, but it sure is rough when one of my besties was sleeved 12/17 and has lost over 100lbs to date! ( starting from his 12/7 preop diet ) Ok, he is a big guy and men lose faster than women...blah blah blah. All I see is I am two months ahead of him yet many pounds behind him. For a while this really bothered me. In fact, it would probably be a lie to say I don't still have a tinge of jealousy. But then I think "I weigh 232 lbs today" I haven't weighed 232lbs since I was in my mid twenties. I am just a few pounds from 220s. And just 33 lbs from "onederland". I have not weighed under 200lbs since before I was married in 1995. And here is the kicker, while I do still have to lose that 33lbs I am still losing weight. I will be the very first to confess I have not been the "perfect" sleeve patient. Had I logged every bite taken, measured every bit of food and then went to the gym and worked those calories off then I too would be further down than I am. But this is my life, I am living it. I do try hard to make wise choices. I always try to get my Protein first. I do contemplate what I will be eating. But every now and then I slip and eat something I shouldn't. And instead of logging hours at the gym I have spent more time doing things with my 5 year old. My friend who has lost all the weight has been to the gym 24 of the last 30 days. He gets up in the wee hours of the morning and goes. He has a personal trainer. I have a 5 year old. We don't have the same lives, so it is unrealistic of me to think we would have the same weight loss. The thing is, I am losing. Maybe it is slow, maybe it isn't. While I have definite problem areas that may be improved with exercise, he works out constantly and still has problem areas. At the end of the day I am successful in my journey and so is he. We have approached it entirely different, but we are both losing. When he started he was over 400lbs. When I started I was over 300lbs. Neither of us are where we started, and neither of us are finished. So slow weight loss is better than no weight loss. I know there are things I can do to amp up the burn once I get to the point where living my life with the sleeve isn't enough to lose. That is sort of refreshing actually. Because I don't know if my friend has anywhere he can go once his loss slows down or stops. I just wish him well and hope he gets to his ideal....I just wish I get to mine first!!!

I have had wine. Not very often and I can feel one glass. I do not like red, even though it is a bit "healthier". I prefer a Reisling, not quite as sweet.

Not sure if going by BMI would make me feel better..I started at 55.97 and I am currently 41.09. He started at 50.12 and is currently at 37.24. I have lost slightly more than he has in BMI but.... He is now class 2 morbid obesity and I am still class 3. Ugh!!! Oh well, slow is better than no!

Too funny...The little muscle boy working at GNC asked me if PB&J was my favorite ( I had three in my selection) and it is! He said they were his favorite too. It is crazy just how much they do taste like the old PB&J sandwiches!!!

Try Quest bars if you haven't. I love them, I'm probably addicted. As stated above I too use as a meal replacement. ( usually Breakfast as that is the hardest meal for me to get in daily) They do have lots of flavors. I have tried all and only a couple I really don't care for. I purchase mine at GNC where they are priced buy 3 get 1 free. Comes out cheaper than anything I have found online, plus I can mix and match what flavors I want!

I absolutely LOVE Quest bars and eat one every day if possible. ( usually for Breakfast ) I ran out last week and was lost. I restocked at my local GNC store on Saturday ( had a lovely chat with the little muscle head kid who works there- they are getting to know me!) and I feel back in balance now. They are great for a Meal Replacement. I use for breakfast as that is the hardest meal of the day to get in. When I first started eating them I too had trouble finishing a full bar. But as I go further along I can easily finish it, but I feel satisfied and stay that way for quite a while.

I cannot wait to reach "onederland". I still have 33 more pounds to go. That may seem like a lot but considering I started my journey weighing 316lbs it is such a small distance. Each day I lose weight and feel healthier is a day I am happy I found the sleeve! It hasn't always been easy, but is definitely always worth it!!! Congratulations!!!

I personally have not had this issue, but a close friend of mine who was sleeved 12/7 has had a similar issue. He will eat something, but can only eat it once. After he has had it he suddenly develops a type of aversion to it. It does not occur with each and every food source he has tried, otherwise he would run out of options and starve in short order! But he does struggle with figuring out ways to prepare his Proteins once he gets to this point. You just have to keep trying. It may be hard, but try to figure new and creative ways to prepare your proteins, and perhaps you will rediscover a fondness for them! Good luck!!!

I just want to say hello, and congratulations for being such a loving and devoted mom. A lot of fellow sleevers face family members who are less than supportive. It is absolutely refreshing for someone to be so supportive and understanding. Your daughter is a lucky girl!! I wish you BOTH well in this journey!

I think it is a natural reaction by loved ones to worry. It would be truly sad if they did not care...But that being said there is one thing I wish everyone knew pre op and that is LIFE GOES ON. I am not saying that complications cannot happen. As with any surgery ( esp. MAJOR surgery) things can happen. But for the vast majority of sleeve patients once you heal life continues. Yes, we do have to be more aware of our bodies. But isn't that the point? We still eat. We still sleep. We still use the bathroom. We still love and we still live. The sleeve may or may not effect every aspect of these things, but life continues. I know going in I was very sure my whole entire life would change once I had the surgery. Many aspects have changed. (99% for the better) But bottom line is we will live with this for the rest of our lives. The key is learning to "live". I am five months out and I now know this is my life. It is better now since I don't have as much excess weight to contend with. ( still have a way to go to goal) I still have the same job, same house, same bills, same family. I just no longer have the same body. It is important that everyone realizes life goes on.....