bikrchk

Give it time. It took me at least 6 months before I really could eat bread or potatoes comfortably and then only a couple spoonfulls. For rice it took longer. As for gluten free, I don't know... I've kind of become a fan of GF rice crackers (Mary's gone crackers brand), they are very full of seeds so don't try them until you're ready, but seems like I do better with rice flour than wheat flour, probably because it doesn't swell up in my stomach as bad. Don't get me wrong, I eat carbs AND wheat, even rice if it's in sushi, but tend to avoid things that puff up even today. Just not a lot of real estate down there and I have to preserve the space!

NutriBullet and a digital kitchen scale. Still use the scale often, the bullet, not so much after the puree phase, (unless I'm making hummus) :-)

Random minivan mom referring to my motorcycle... "We'll you're a lil bitty thing! How do you hold that thing up"? LOL

What @ VSGAnn2014 said! Having rejoined the dating pool in a new body in my late 40's after being obese my entire life, I can say the attention is both empowering and frightening. If you think you're headed into a bad space, you probably are. Get some help. Best of luck!

So pre-op, the chorus was, "but you're not heavy enough for bariatric surgery", my response was always the same... Thank you! I'm very lucky to carry it "well", but my Dr's and the insurance company would disagree with you. They believe my health will be improved by achieving a normal BMI and a 90-100 pound weight loss. Turns out they were right! No more meds other than a PPI and I almost never have to go the the doctor anymore. I had been going about every 2-3 months for the treatment of asthma, high bp, high cholesterol and generally feeling like crap. Today when I tell someone I've had WLS that didn't know me before, I typically get, "I can't believe YOU were ever fat". I guess I'll take that as a compliment. Still so strange to hear even at almost 2 years out.

I think it depends on the patient and the surgeon. I was sleeved with GERD, but it had only been correctly diagnosed at my pre-op EGD. I'd been treated for asthma for YEARS as mine produced chronic coughing rather than heartburn. They found a hernia in that EGD and the doc was pretty confident that with the hernia repair, weight loss and medication, I'd be fine, but did warn me if I still suffered, the only "fix" was revision to bypass. It got worse for about a month, (uncontrollable coughing right after stomach surgery is NOT a good time), but then GREATLY improved as I healed and lost weight. I have been fine taking 40mg of Omeprazole 2x day and probably will for life. A small price to pay to regain my health!

When I decided to stop losing, I was still food journaling everything on MFP so I calculated my BMR using the tools form that site and added a few hundred calories until I stopped losing. Did that for about another 6 months and finally (and purposefully) let go of the journaling in favor of a more natural lifestyle. For me, the habits are are there... exercise 5x per week, small, high protein meals, etc. I eat what I'll call "righteously" 85%-90% of the time, stay active and have maintained within 5 pounds for the last year and 1/2. If I creep up, I adjust out some of the junk, (alcohol and treats) until I'm back in the zone. Typically takes less than a week.

From about 6 months post op... anything I want in small quantities! I try to stick to high Protein when I can get quality. One taco is always a fav, a chicken finger or Jr burger with half the bun, typically avoiding fries and such. There just isn't room for potato stuffs. LOVE sushi... 1/2 a roll and maybe some sashimi. When I'm out, which isn't THAT often, I enjoy what I want, I just never over eat. My choices when I'm home tend to be lean meat or soups\stews, sometimes cottage cheese and crackers or a salad loaded with grilled chicken. While I was losing, I food journaled so I'd learn how to get my macros without going over, 2 years later, it's a bit more natural. For me, it's about balance.

I used to hate it too. Post op, I purchase a good quality exercise bike and located it in front of my big screen. 5x per week I get up an hour before I have to and enjoy a show, (dvrd or netflix) while spending 45 minutes on hill intervals. Sometimes I get so into a show, that alone motivates me to get up so I can find out what happens next! Once I got fit, I began to enjoy the process more and most def the feeling and the metabolism boost after! That's what worked for this former couch potato anyway. Good luck!

Mine was right around 36 and I got the same comments... early on. Now, healthy and off the large cocktail of meds for asthma, high blood pressure, cholesterol and anxiety, the health benefits are obvious even to the folks who "didn't think I was heavy enough". Today, I can work a full day in my yard and still have enough energy to take in a concert that evening. I exercise regularly and like the way I feel when I do. I eat what I like in small quantities and monitor my weight weekly. My quality of life is vastly improved. I don't worry about telling people, in fact, I tend to be very honest as I believe it helps educate and reduce the stigma. If they're not on my side in this battle to reclaim my health the opinions of others don't matter much to me!

Yes. Only I didn't know that's what it was until my EGD as I didn't have typical heartburn symptoms, but a chronic nighttime cough that had been incorrectly diagnosed and treated (unsuccessfully) as asthma. They found GERD evidence and a hernia in my EGD and put me on Omeprazole immediately which helped. Then I had surgery, it got worse for about 30 days before it got better, but I'm mostly symptom free at this point, (goal for the last year and 1/2) as long as I take the Omeprazole 2x day. I think it depends on the patient. I was warned that the sleeve is a reflux inducing surgery, but the doc was confident that with hernia repair, weight loss and medication I'd do okay.

On the menu at the bar on bike nite, "Tacos, $1.50 each". Me "Perfect, I'll have one taco"! Waitress: "Oh we only sell them in three's. One is too much trouble for the kitchen when it's busy". What the actual eff? LOL I did end up talking them into selling me ONE but I don't even bother with food there anymore.

I was told some don't tolerate that stuff and was prepared to give it up for good, but that didn't happen to me. If was 6 months before I tolerated rice well, (still not a fav) but I do all of those things in moderation now without issues. I try to concentrate on Protein first most of the time, so there's not room for much else, but occasionally, I'll go for a lil hunk of french bread with my Soup or salad or 1/2 a sandwich.

Divorced 6 5 years ago, sleeved 3 years later. 2 fur kids, other than that, I live alone. Personally, I think it's easier. No one to cook for but me, no one influencing my health decisions and food choices but me, my success or failure is totally, ON ME, (like it is for anyone, but I really have little outside influence, I guess). I have a very small handful of supportive friends and family. Was it lonely, eh, maybe, but to tell the truth, unless they've walked in our shoes and had most of their stomach removed to get healthy, others can't possibly "get it" anyway. I had a great local support group from the hospital's program where I made friends that "get it" which helped A LOT. Best of luck to you!

About 4 months. Used to favor red wine but it sometimes gives me reflux now so I'll go for white more often now. Watch the empty calories. They can derail your weight loss fast. I simply logged everything for the first year while I was losing and worked it in as an occasional treat. These days, I'll go for a skinny margarita, vodka\light cranberry or Captain and (flattened a bit as the bubbles make me uncomfortable). If I gain a bit, it's the first thing to go.

Surgery with hernia repair on a Monday, went home Tuesday, never took the Oxy. Makes my tummy hurt on a good day and this was not a good day for the tummy. I did fine with Tylenol Jr. Back to work the next week. Everyone is different.

I didn't start exercising for several months by which time I'd lost probably half of my total 90 pounds. I looked really weird in the beginning. Face saggy, hollow eyes, thinning hair, etc. Not HORRIBLE, but I felt like I LOOKED sick, like many of us do when we don't recognize our reflection. I purchased a good stationary bike and started using it 5 x per week for 45-60 minutes. My legs tones up. I added some push ups and crunches and my arms and shoulders squared up. My energy level went through the roof! The bags under my eyes shrunk. It takes a while for your body to fall into place after you hit maintenance, (like a year for me). I feel like I look normal in a mirror now, but in pictures... Still don't recognize that girl. My mom says the same. I just look different now. Not bad, just different.

I live alone. My mom came and stayed for 3 days. It was good to have someone to observe me for medical issues for the first 24 hours, (I was only in the hospital overnight), but I really didn't "need" a thing. I had plenty energy to whiz up a protein shake or nuke a few tablespoons of soup, let the dogs out and walk around the block! Kicked her out by day 3. Let a friend come by on day 6 to help carry the laundry basket and change the bed, but really those things could have waited. Everyone just wanted to help! Was driving by day 5 and back at work the middle of the next week. Never needed narcotics at home. Nausea patch took care of nausea. Never took a heparin shot. They said I was already active enough to skip it. All that said, your mileage may vary. Some folks have issues getting fluids in and are tired so they don't want to move a lot which are about the most important things you can do for yourself in the first 5 days. You never know how you'll react. Good luck!

Oh dang! You're still healing! Skip the booze ate least until you're healed and your diet is fully advanced!

The attention... Can feel ... odd, at first. It's easier, (I have confidence like never before). As far as what to eat when out, the last BF actually likes to split meals, which was nice. I told him about my surgery on date 2 or 3 I think. Current BF is naturally slim and has a large appetite of his own so I tend to order an appie to keep it smallish. Told him on date #1, which I NEVER do! (he was curious about the small portion size and we were chatting about workout habits and just seemed okay). It was fine! I actually met one guy on line who was complaining about his "thermostat being broke" (always cold) and it turned out he'd been sleeved the year before me! We didn't click, but that was kinda cool!

I also had a touch of reflux preop. It was not properly diagnosed and thus not properly medicated\treated and was responding well to the PPI so the advice I was give was, "we think you'll be fine with the sleeve, but if the reflux returns and is not responsive to meds, R+Y will be your only option for a fix". I went ahead with the sleeve knowing this but would have jumped on the R+Y bandwagon in a heartbeat if it was the only available option! Both are good procedures. They have DIFFERENT risks, probably not significantly less risk one over the other, just DIFFERENT. R+Y has been around a lot longer and is well known and understood as far as long term results. That should help some with the fear. I have a friend who wanted the sleeve, but ended up R+Y because of his size, (he had A LOT to lose and the doc said he wouldn't do another procedure for him) and has done fabulously! The reflux... I do still have a symptom now and then. Mostly if I eat a bite too much. It's manageable with a PPI 2xday. Still the best decision of my life! Hopefully YOU will say goodbye to reflux forever with R+Y. Good luck!

Other people's opinions are none of our business! Seriously! If this is something you're decided to do, made an educated decision, hopefully with your doctor, etc., and you are a grown adult, it's really none of their business! I'm with @Miss Mac! If you don't want their interference, don't tell them until it's done. Telling them after is optional. This is your decision for your good health. Do what you think is best for YOU!

I was prepared to give it all up (pizza, nachos, alcohol, etc) when I let them cut out 90% of my stomach, but I was pleased when it turned out I didn't have to! When I decided to indulge, I counted it in my daily totals, making sure not to sacrifice my end nutrition goal for alcohol (I was still logging everything for about the first year, until I reached and maintained goal for a few months). Bloody Mary's are not bad, but are filling! Sugar free Margaritas are a good alternative. Vodka and light cranberry juice is nice. I do occasionally do beer, typically Guinness which is very lightly carbonated. I can't finish one before it gets hot as the even the light bubbles fill me up. I have also been known to enjoy a Captain and Diet Coke after I shake most of the carbonation out of the Diet Coke. These days, (I'll be 2 years in October), I tend not to log unless my weight creeps outside my maintenance zone, (which is rare), but if it does, alcohol and other treats are the first ting to go and I do log until I'm back where I belong.

Just returned from bike week in Sturgis, (my first). It was amazing and exhausting and there's NO way I could have done it physically carrying an extra 90ish pounds! Ate what I wanted in small quantities, didn't work out for a week and a half and didn't gain an ounce! It's been almost 2 years and I still hardly recognize myself in the pictures! Life. Is. Good!

I miss nothing. I eat what I like in small quantities and am able to maintain my weight loss now. Best gift EVER!