VSGAnn2014

LOL @@Miss Mac .

About beer and carbonation ... I have never been a frequent or big beer drinker. But I had my first beer post-op about a month ago. I was pleasantly surprised that I had no difficulty drinking it or any bad digestive after-effects. I can't say the same for diet sodas, which dramatically increase my GERD. BTW, I'm 17+ months post-op.

OK, somehow this thread is getting even better.

Come on down!

Heck, no, I didn't talk about it with friends, family or work colleagues. Hubby, of course, has been 100% supportive. But that's all I needed.

At 4 months I was eating 800 cals. And correction! At 6 months I was eating 1000 cals. At 8 months I was up to 1200. Sorry for confusing you!

At 6 months post op I was eating 1200 calories a day. At 17+ months post op I'm averaging 1800 a day.

I'm a veteran backpacker. I think the idea that backpackers "cram calories" to backpack is not true. I've been on the trail for as long as 30 days at a time (have done that twice) and did fine while eating 3 meals a day and eating some trail mix and drinking Gatorade during the day. You should be fine post WLS. If you're just going out for a week or two, it's even less of a problem. After all, WLS never stopped anyone from grazing. P.S. You're also in for a big surprise if you think you'll forever after be able to eat only a few tablespoons at a time.

I think it's as simple as getting their buttons pushed. I recently got my buttons pushed when someone posted something that sounded like she thought *everyone* in the Deep South was obese. Yeah, she was wrong, but it pushed a button I have about misperceptions about Southerners. Later I had to laugh at myself for being so knee-jerky. But people just have sore spots and are too sensitive in those areas. It takes maturity and self awareness to (as hubby says) "listen louder."

Early on things don't work as they once did. By 6 months out, things will become much more normal again. In the meantime, take benefiber or whatever else works. Drink LOTS of water. Be patient.

And when you discuss your personal business in the workplace you invite idiots to comment on your business.

What Lipstick said.

You are arguing via text in adjacent rooms? How old are you two?

Here in Missouri we've had snow and ice for several days, and Snowpocalypse is now moving toward the East Coast. You're welcome!

Hotel and rental car. Yeah ....

LOL!

Disagree. I think integrity is involved. So are commitment, self respect, self care and discipline. We weren't all dealt the best cards, but we also were complicit by our actions and lack of actions in creating our obesity. A lot of things were factors.

Yup, all those questions sound familiar. Tell the truth. You'll likely also have one or two meetings with a psychologist. Explain your background. If you think you need ongoing help, please ask for it. I've been seeing a shrink since before surgery. And I'm not even crazy. I truly wanted to stack the deck in my favor regarding this journey. Best to you.

I had no complications (yea!), but I was aware of the big difference post-op for maybe 3 months. Then I guess it had healed enough and I had relaxed enough that the new normal set in. Today, 17 months post-op, I still have very noticeable restriction, so it's not like the old days. But I do like everything about the smaller stomach, especially feeling satisfied and sometimes quite full. There's a fine line, however, between satisfied and too much. We all figure that out one way or another. FTR I have never thrown up post-op. I hardly ever threw up pre-op either.

No probs here, but glad to see the topic raised. I'm 70, have all my teeth except wisdom ones, brush twice a day, have 2 cleanings a year, take all my supplements and meds, and my first annual blood panel came back perfect. Am 1.5 years post-op. Non-compliance and poor self-care are surely the greatest causes of WLS-related problems. And that includes assuming all is going well without continuing one's post-op follow-ups.

This piece (available at JCPenney) has worked well for me. I have it in both nude and black (size medium), but need to replace them both in a small size. http://www.jcpenney.com/maidenform-shape-wear-your-own-bra-singlet-2556/prod.jump?ppId=16f44d6&rrplacementtype=category_page.rvi1_json Like others above have said, some of this shapewear still works well at neighboring sizes (as you lose weight). But at some point you just gotta embrace being a small.

Awesome thread, @@AdecadeLater ... just now found it. Thank you so much for posting here. I hope you stick around and offer your observations. As far as I know, you're the longest tenured sleever here. Thanks again.

I have a sister-in-law who does things like that. It's not even personal. She literally has no filter. Nobody pays any attention to her. You need to ignore that person. Don't let her jack you up. She's just a hot mess.

Here's another, perhaps more useful, definition of "judgmental" as that word is used on Internet forums: doesn't agree with me about something I have a strong opinion about. Happens to a lot of us.

So sweet! Congratulation to you. You have done amazingly well. Since you're 3 years out, I'd love to hear what your daily / weekly / monthly routines are like. And how "easy" (or not) you find living the sleeved life. FYI, I'm almost a year and a half post-op and maintaining well at the moment.