bikrchk

I told everyone. For me and for them. For me, because I'm not ashamed in the slightest for taking control of my health and having others know, (even those who may disagree with my decision) helps me. The ones that are on my side are my cheerleaders and there's no better motivation for me than to prove a hater wrong! For them, because being open reduces the stigma of obesity and helps me mentor others who may be struggling. For them because, yes, this was\is WORK, but reality is that I have a tool others who are struggling with weight don't have and if they are comparing my progress with theirs, it's just not a fair comparison.

My doc told me at my 6 month appointment that he was happy with my loss and if I didn't lose another pound he was fine with it. I was around 162 (still technically overweight) then and had lost about 75 pounds. From his perspective, my co-morbidities were gone and I was "cured", I guess. I continued down to my goal of 140-145, (right in the middle of the "healthy" zone where I've maintained for over a year. Once you're healthy, your goal is YOUR GOAL. Set it where you're comfortable.

Wow. I had the exact opposite experience. I found pre-op so hard as I always had physical hunger and no "off switch". Post op, the first month kind of sucked, but after that, smooth sailing. By 4-5 months out I could eat pretty much what I liked again, just in VERY small quantities. And by then I was exercising, had lost more than half of my weight and was off all the meds that were making me sicker so I felt great. Do I WANT to eat more sometimes? Sure! Not that often any more. I am SO GRATEFUL I can't overeat anymore. Restriction has been the best gift of freedom EVER!

Not really. I like all the same things I've always liked, just in MUCH smaller quantities. I LOVE a burger now. For home, I get gormet sliders form the meat counter with slider buns and put my favorite toppings on. ONE taps me out but it satisfies my want for a burger. If I'm out, I get a kiddie burger and eat it open faced or do 1/2 or 1/4 of an adult burger.

I was warned that it happens to some. I was also told that I might never tolerate bread or Pasta again and a million other possibilities that were absolute non-issues for me. As long as I don't over eat I have no issues with any particular food. Now, back to dumping... It's not that common with sleevers, but it DOES happen to me if I make a series of really stupid decisions relating to sugar intake. One bakery size cookie, (even a big one) is fine. Several over the course of the day, and I'm gonna pay the price and dump it. It's not a lesson I'll soon forget or behavior I'll soon repeat for sure!

Breakfast: 1 egg with a slice of cheese - 10g At the office: Protein "latte" (coffee with vanilla protein powder) - 20g Mid morning _ Mozarella stick - 6 Lunch: Panera Bread - strawberry Poppy Seed chicken salad - Half Size, 8.75 oz - 15g After lunch - PowerCrunch protein cookie - 13 dinner - Chicken thigh - 19 The above adds up to 83g of protein and 840 calories. I usually eat more these days up to 1300 calories. I might add part of the bread\butter that comes with the salad or a spoon full of veggies or potatoes with the chicken for dinner as I'm in maintenance and exercise regularly, but the above is a typical "base menu" for me even today. Successfully maintaining about a 90 pound loss for over 1 year.

Avocados - In your shake will make it creamy and you won't really taste it Peanut Butter Full fat cheese and dairy Add Snacks Quest Protein bars have 200 calories apiece and low sugar 1/2 a Quest as a snack before, the other 1/2 after. Eventually you will be able to eat a bit more and it won't be a problem but especially if you are exercising hard, work to get your calories as high as your weight loss will bear. For me that was about 1000-1200 per day. Your long term metabolism will be in better shape for it and you'll have more energy. That's just what worked for me. What does your doc say?

After the first 6 months there really wasn't anything I couldn't tolerate. Rice was probably the last hold out. but I'm fine with it now. After the first couple of months I ate bread in small quantities, Pasta, desert, whatever I wanted really, just only a little bit. I do tend to stick to the separate food and liquid rules. I'm just more comfortable when I do. For me hunger returned at about 5 months, but the pull was not the same. Many mistake acid for hunger early on. I took 40mg of omeprazole 2x day from the beginning and never had that problem. I still like (and eat) everything I liked before. I just can't binge anymore. Today, my lifestyle is different, but maintenance is very doable. I start my day with a 45 minute bike ride, some strength training and Protein latte. The rest of the day I eat what I like in small quantities, typically protein first. I have a drink with my friends a couple times per week. I record weight weekly and if my weight creeps up I log food and give up most treats\alcohol until it comes back down. I live withing the same 5 pound zone most of the time. This feels very "normal" now. I don't know anything about sleeve inversion. Did fine with my standard sleeve with hernia repair. It'll be 2 years in October. Feeling great!

Yes, this is a drastic and permanent treatment. But for the first time ever, I don't feel like I'm on a "diet". That word brings up thoughts in me of what I can't have and honestly, I feel like I can have it all now, I just can't over eat any more. If I do there are consequences, (puking or dumping) and I'm not likely to repeat that behavior anytime soon which was my cycle before. When I fell off the wagon, I'd fall long and hard. I'll be 2 year out in October maintaining a 90ish pound loss for over a year, (longest ever). I exercise 5x per week first thing (stationary bike and some light strength training at home, not a gym rat by any means). I worry about regaining every day, but it doesn't control my life and neither does food anymore. If I gain a few pounds, I give up empty calories like treats and alcohol, eat a little smarter and bump up my exercise a bit till it comes off. I can MANAGE my weight now for the first time in my life. As far as a new metabolic setpoint, I kind of believe that, which is why I started exercising and building muscle and why I ate as many calories as my weight loss could bear, (about 1200 per day), because I wanted to land in a manageable place for long term maintenance. So far, so good. Good luck in your decision!

It wasn't that bad, really! Head over to theworldaccordingtoeggface for ideas, but I ate a lot of whizzed bean Soups, eggs, ricotta bake (like noodleless lasagna) and a mexican pile up thing I created with a polenta crust, whizzed taco meat, cheese guac and sour cream.

I've been eating a PowerCrunch pretty much every day through my weight loss cycle and now more than a year in successful maintenance. It has not been a problem. It is my go-to "cookie" and helps me keep from making a waayyyy worse choice! Nothing wrong with incorporating it as a high protein treat as long as you're meeting your macros and weight loss goals! But then I've been successful counting nothing but protein (85+g per day) and staying loosely around 1200 calories.

Started at about 4 months, but I didn't really notice, (I have a lot per square inch but it's kind of fine). When I noticed was at about 1 year when I noticed it coming back in and all the pieces started sticking up and falling out of the ponytail. I took Biotin from the first few months before surgery and still take it 2x per day. I don't think it helps you keep from losing hair, but it does seem to make a difference in hair\nail regrowth speed and strength. This too, shall pass.

After insurance approval, about 2-3 weeks before surgery.

Everyone's recovery is different. My advice... plan for the worst and hope for the best. If you can get flexibility to return early if you feel great that is the best. Personally, I spent 24 hours in the hospital took no narcotic pain meds and was back at work several days early the next week and was fine. Others struggle a bit with hydration food and energy in general. YMMV.

I found it to be EXACTLY like a job. First dates are interviews. Nothing more. I worked it for approximately 9 months like a job, (sometimes 2 meets per day) before I found one I wanted to spend more time with. I can count on one hand the number of second dates I had in that time and most of those did not turn into a third. Most of the time that was my choice, but occasionally it was theirs. Then, finally found someone fun, cleverly disguised as a responsible adult to long term date. It's been going on now for about 10 months now, exclusive but casual, (no talk of moving in or anything like that) which is good with me. My advice, whatever your relationship goals, when you are in the "interview" stage, "date like a man"... and by that I mean volume. Meet as many people as you can. try to have fun doing it. Try not to take anything personally at least until you find one you want to hang out with more than a couple times. You have to go through a lot of duds (or ones you just don't fit with) before you find a stud (who you DO fit with)!

After the first year, I found there really wasn't anything I could no longer tolerate. I'll be 2 years in October, in maintenance for well over 1 year and eat what many would consider "really badly" some of the time. By that, I mean, pizza, beer, dingdongs, (not all at once)! What I've learned to do is moderate and not over eat most of the time. I exercise regularly, cardo and a bit of strength training. It helps me do the things I want to do on a daily basis, (like ride an 850 pound motorcycle) and keeps my metabolism in gear. If the weight creeps up, I adjust till it's off. I still do at least one Protein supplement per day, sometimes 2 and put protein first most of the time. Occasionally I do something stupid, (over eat or eat WAY too much sugar) and my sleeve rebels, but that's kind of what I paid for when I let them cut out 90% of my stomach, huh? It's what gets me back on track if I'm headed too far off. It's a balancing act. Definitely.

Different techniques work for different people! Personally, I eat pizza, bread, etc, drink beer occasionally and GASP... enjoy desert! I've been in goal range (size 4) for well over a year. I lost during my first year eating pretty much what I like in small quantities, Protein first. They key is you have to change your behavior enough to have a lasting impact. My old behavior was to knock out half a pizza and a bottle of wine and finish the pizza for my next meal. Today its 1 piece of pizza and a glass of wine and it takes me a loooong time to get it all down! I typically won't repeat that meal anytime soon after. Sometimes I still make a mistake that makes me sick. I use those times as educational experiences and times to re-focus on control. That's kind of what I paid for when I let them cut out 90% of my stomach, eh? I exercise regularly now and miss it if I can't for a while. (Who knew?) If my weight creeps up, (its never gone more than 5 pounds out of range) I make adjustments until it comes back down. I didn't go thru all of this to be on a diet 24x7 and have guilt all the time. For the first time in my life, I feel like I actually have control and a fighting chance at maintaining my health. Not perfect, but it's a GOOD life I enjoy now!

Depends on HOW carbonated it is. If its highly carbonated I just can't, but I have ventured back into Diet Coke as a mixer for Captain Morgan when I choose to indulge in an adult libation. Poured in a glass over ice as a mixer the bubbles pretty much go away for me. Its one of the few calorie free and widely available mix options I can get my mits on when out with friends. I do not drink soda "just because" anymore, (and I drank it like Water, at least 6 a day, pre-op).

Yup. And as an added bonus, it slides you over to one buttcheek where you get a little better padding than you would on your ever bonier sit bones!

I count from my consult weight, (235). I lost like 13 preop over the next six weeks before surgery. It ALL counts!

I think it up to you. I've maintained a 90 ish pound loss for over a year now. I admit, it may be quicker for those of us who have 100 pounds or less to lose as we can get often achieve goal during the first year (honeymoon) period when weight comes off relatively "easy" but there are many here who've achieved 100% goal having lost much, much more. It just depends on you and how you change your relationship with food and exercise.

I used my surgeon while he was around, but he and the nurse coord left my program when I was about 10 months post op. Support meetings dried up, no one there knew me anymore, I was in maintenance with no complications and I didn't see a reason to be seen by a specialist for blood work at 1 year intervals when I'd get the same at my yearly physical with my PCP, so that's how I've chosen to handle follow up today. I just make sure my PCP runs the same panel of labs that was done at my 6 month with the surgeon. If there comes a day I need a specialist, I suppose I'll find one.

I purchased a quality stationary bike a couple of months post op and have used it religiously 5 x per week thru my loss and now in maintenance. It's a good habit now that I miss if I can't for more than a few days.

So awesome that these moments are still happening for us several years out! Every so often I have one of my own where I'm reminded that I'm not "invisible" anymore. OWN your "hotness"!

I've been maintaining a 90ish pound loss for over a year now and most days I feel pretty good. Waaaaaayyy less self conscious most of the time. Then I put on shorts and it all goes out the window. Bought some new Miss Me shorts (size 27, which is like a 4\6 so there is NO REASON! I'm doing it anyway for the first time in at least 10 years but gads I feel horrible in shorts! I figure, fake it till you make it!