bikrchk

Once I started exercising I set my calories as high as I could and still lose slowly. 8ish pounds per month was about my average. My biggest concern was long term, setting my metabolism in a place that would enable me to maintain this weight loss for a life time. I ate between 1000-1200 calories per day during my loss phase and did not eat back the exercise calories. My maintenance calories are closer to 1700 and I do try and eat most of them back. My typical loss menu... 1 egg with a slice of cheese 6am Scoop of whey in my coffee 7:30am A couple of handfuls of snack mix containing Protein or a cheese stick or some nuts 9:30am Chipolte carnitas taco 11:30 am (about 211 cal, 13g protein) 1/2-1 Protein Bar 2pm 1/2 cup of chili for dinner 100 cal bag of popcorn if I wanted a snack later I'd try and alternate my calories between 1000ish and 1200 day to day so I'd not get stuck in a rut. With the 2 protein supplements I pretty much always get 70-80g of protein per day. I did lose slow and steady most weeks, (there were a few stalls, my worst being at 3 weeks out). Today in maintenance, I eat a lot of the same stuff, just a few bites more or with a handful of cheese, or add a skinny cow ice cream bar at the end of the day, or a glass of wine or 2 at a party. It's enough to slightly bump my calories so I can maintain.

I was told my doc does a 90% sleeve.

I struggle with being "too strong" and "too independent" as well. I was out with my girlfriends discussing this when I first started dating again and here's what they said after reading my online profile... "I wanna BE you, but you'll scare the hell out of men"! Seriously? Then they went on to explain that in a relationship, the other person needs to feel like they have something to offer you. THAT part made sense to me. The me I was putting out there was SO "together" that guys were intimidated or didn't feel they had anything to offer me, so I toned it down a bit. Still "me", just take pains now to be a bit more vulnerable. I had to learn to let down some of those defenses. Been kicked in the stomach a couple times, but it helped a lot in my dating life!

I SO AGREE! You never know who needs to see the example you've become! I told my friends, family and work peeps up front and I'm honest with anyone who asks. I've had very little negative energy. Maybe it's because if they're not on my side in this battle for my health I don't give a rats ass what they think, maybe it's cause I believe most of the time, you get back what you put out there. In any case, being honest has given me the opportunity to help and educate others as well as be a mentor which helps hold me accountable!

I think he said he uses a 36, but as I understand it, the doc's technique can affect pouch size as much as the bougie size. My doc does a smaller sleeve in general, 85%-90% so technique may explain that. Doesn't seem possible that I'm living quite contentedly with 90% of my stomach gone, but I am!

I eat about 5 times per day. I try NOT to graze put do planned Protein Snacks in between meals, usually a Quest bar or power crunch bar, sometimes a 100 cal bag of popcorn after dinner.

Exercise, hydration and get the protein down is the best advice I can give! Also, don't be afraid to EAT! Particularly if you commit to an exercise program your body needs calories (in a balance of protein, fat and carbs). I set my MFP so I get 70+g of protein per day. That's 25% protein, 45% carbs and 30% fat, though I try to exceed in favor of protein whenever possible. While losing I hung between 1000-1200 calories per day. I did not lost "fast" but that was intentional. I wanted to land my maintenance calories in the most manageable (read highest) place possible for long term success.

Yes! Divorced 4 years and never really that interested during my marriage, which may say something about the marriage its self. I thought I was "broken" in that area, but apparently NOT! New BF is LOVIN it tho!

No kids for me, but after almost 100 pounds lost... Yeah. No one needs to see the puddle of skin that is my middle! Skinny jeans and tight tops... THAT is another story! :-)

I had to do that too. My insurance requirement is 35 BMI with co-morbidities. Problem was, I started out with a BMI of about 36.5 so if I'd gone below 35, I'd have not qualified for surgery, (still having almost 100 pounds to lose and all the health issues remaining). My doc had changed up some of my meds as things were getting worse, my cholesterol and BP) and I ended up GAINING 10 pounds in the process. Once I had my surgical consultation after all the hoops had been jumped thru, I got immediately serious and dropped the 10 plus 3 before my pre-op appointment 3 weeks later knowing I needed to shrink my liver and my surgeon would reject me if I didn't drop the required 10. All insurance is different. I've heard some say if they have a very successful loss in the 6 months they'll reject for that. I've also heard if they lose nothing or gain they'll reject based on "no effort given". Mine, thank God, didn't seem to care either way. It was just a hoop to jump through in their hope I'd give up. So far anyway, my failure in the 6 month diet has not been a predictor of success. Health problems GONE! I reached my goal range in 9 months and have been successfully maintaining for the last 5.

I tend to not answer specifically anymore. I've been in my goal range (BMI of about 23) for 5 months now. 1 month ago I decided to go ahead and take off another 10 pounds, which will put me at 135, or 21.8 BMI, (still right in the middle of the healthy zone). The comments are starting up again, (just got one today), as I've dropped 5 of those last 10 pounds. You know what? No one needs to know what I weigh today, any more than they needed to know when I was 235 pounds! I usually say, "Thank you, I've never felt better in my life and my Dr. is pleased with my progress!" It's kinda funny... WE have body dismorphia and feel bigger than we are. I think our friends and acquaintances have it too, in the OTHER direction. They've seen us big for so long, they can no more see what "healthy" looks like than we can.

That's about the time I names my sleeve "shock collar". It's all good as long as you stay within the limits, but it will let you know in a very uncomfortable way when you've crossed the line. Use this as a learning experience and try to be smarter next time! (I was a "slow learner" too!) But this tool WORKS when we let it!

I didn't know what to do either. I decided not to short change myself and set a BMI goal to land me smack in the middle of "healthy" (135 pounds at 5'6") so I'd have a bit of wiggle room since they say many folks will stabilize 10 pounds higher than their lowest post op weight. I got to 145, was wearing a solid size 4 and decided to stop. Maintained for 4 months and then decided to go for the last 10 as I still have a little "spare tire" around my middle. Kinda letting it happen slowly. 5 more to go. If I get there, I get there. At this point, I'm healthy, it's all about "vanity pounds" now. I consider it a downward extension of my goal range. Plus, I don't want to have to replace my expensive jeans! LOL.

I was sleeved 4 years after my divorce from a 15 year marriage and didn't date at all in those 4 years. Jumped back in the pool after about 40 pounds was off, (1/2 way to goal) and have been at goal for about 5 months now. The last 9 months have been... interesting! For a while there, I'd have 4-5 dates per week, all first dates. I was determined I wasn't gonna miss A THING! I even found one who's had the sleeve a year before me which was kind of exciting, but there was no "spark" :-(. After a while, it gets disappointing and exhausting to keep doing that. In those 9 months, I'd only found one who I REALLY wanted to date and he turned out to be a player, (broke me a little for a while), but I was determined to get back out there! Recently found what I like to call "a little bit 'o normal"... Nice man, good career, kinda hot, age appropriate, rides a motorcycle, (non- bikers are deal breaker for me) and he makes me feel beautiful in spite of my "loose fit skin". Trying not to get too excited too soon, but life is good right now!

It gets better. I've learned that I'm way more comfortable if I consciously "under-eat my sleeve" at meals even after 13 months. It means I eat more frequently and that often my snacks have more calories than my meals. My fav protein bar is 210 calories and I never get that for breakfast with my 1 egg and sometimes not for lunch either. I figure its better for me that over eating and feels a heck of a lot better! It was several months before I learned to enjoy food after surgery, but now things are great! I get to eat what I like prepared how I like it, I just don't get very much so I like to make it count!

It doesn't usually affect me one way or the other. I try to take everything as a compliment. It still surprises me to hear it though.

I had "silent" reflux inappropriately treated as asthma for 10 years pre-op. When they did my EGD they found the evidence and a contributing hiatial hernia. We had the same discussion, but my doc felt that with the hernial repair and a PPI, I was still a good sleeve candidate. Post op, things were worse for the first month. Even with 40 Omeparzole 2x day, I had to put lifts under the head of my bed to get any rest at night. Good news for me was, after that, once the swelling went down and I lost the weight, still taking the Omeparzole 2x day, I'm symptom free. One day I hope to cut back to just the nighttime dose. I may try it soon.

Those are the primary reasons I chose the sleeve over they bypass. I've never been sorry, but I'd be concerned that the doc who is about to cut on me is less comfortable with that option.

You've lost more than I have, we weigh about the same and I also have a horrible roll in my middle, (size 4 pants\jeans). I don't see it as much under clothes, but damn! It looks awful! I exercise 5x per week with core toning and it's not going anywhere! I've been in maintenance for 5 months, but have decided to lop off another few pounds in the hope of getting it to go down some. I never thought I'd do plastics as I always carried my weight all over, I don't have a pannus, but I'm re-thinking the tummy tuck now. Between that roll and the puddle of skin above it... Ewww.

There are pluses and minuses to each procedure. You need to discuss them in light of YOUR particular health conditions with your medical team. They may have strong feelings one way or the other, or they may not. For example, I was lead to make my own decision (eventually choose the sleeve) while a friend with different issues and more weight to lose was told the bypass was the safest procedure for him by the same team.

Perfectly normal. $h1t just got real. This process will be a roller coaster of Up, Down and "Meh" in between. Think about all the things you'll be able to do when you're healthy. It is soooo worth it!

I wake up and exercise for 1 hour. follow that with 1 egg and a slice of american cheese when I get to work about 7, a scoop of whey in my coffee about 9, either a handful of rice crackers, peanuts and sesamie sitx or some of a small apple with peanut butter lunch around 1115 is 1/2 a grilled cheese on P28 protein bread (14g) or whatever leftovers are in the fridge. Today it's pork roast, about 3-4 oz. Dinner will prolly be the last of the pork roast. IF I get hungry for bread, and I have room, I'll go for a frozen biscuit or crusty frozen dinner roll cause I can get just 1 "fresh". I don't really restrict carbs in maintenance though I do choose protein first most of the time. Sometimes I'll add a veggie to dinner if I have room. I'll have calories left at the end of today if I do the above and may go for a skinny cow ice cream bar or 100 mini bag of lite popcorn after dinner. I was shooting for 1000-1200 calories (75+g of protein) while losing and 1300 (still 75+g of protein) plus whatever I earn from exercise in maintenance.

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ has a ton of recipes for all stages. I ate a lot of egg salad, pureed chili and a little thing I made up that tastes like a tostada... slice of pre-made polenta (available by the eggs) tablespoon of well whizzed taco meat pinch of cheese (nuke it) and top with dab of Greek yogurt dab of guac

I was prescribed full liquids for 2 weeks, which for me was mostly protein shakes and yogurt, (never cared for broth or creamed soup). After that point my doc just wanted to know, "are you advancing your diet"? He didn't want me drinking all my food. Even today at 13 months out, I do 2 protein supplements most days, a scoop of whey in my coffee and a bar in the afternoon.

I stocked up on chewables and used them for what I could for the first 4 months, taking small pills as needed or cutting larger ones in 1/2, but you need to discuss with your team as some meds you should not cut or crush or get something stuck too soon. Even today, I take a handful of supplements at a time but I search out the "petite" versions of a multivitamin capsule and "pearl" fishoil.