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You shouldn't get dehydrated if you sip all day. Always have a cup of water with you. I took one with me everywhere I went for the first several weeks. My period hasn't been affected at all. PMS makes me feel unenergetic, but nothing too bad. My surgeon had me take a multivitamin for the first month or so, then I started on the calcium, iron and B12. Good luck to you!

You may experience hunger, but stick to your surgeon's rules. I had 3 meals a day with protein shakes in between. That kept the hunger under control. Your stomach will be noisy. My surgery was a year ago, and my stomach still makes noise. I do feel hunger and cravings, but with such a small stomach, it's easy to satisfy the hunger. Just take my advice, stay away from junk as long as possible. You will get to a point where you are able to eat anything you want, in small amounts. Try hard to make good choices, because it's too easy to fall into bad habits.

I'm almost at a year after surgery, and I find myself wanting to eat junk a lot. I crave salty snacks, sometimes sweet. I try to keep healthier choices around, but sometimes I feel like eating and eating. I haven't lost weight in several months, and I have a hard time getting motivated to exercise. Any tips on how to overcome some bad habits? I know I'm not the only one struggling, so maybe someone has advice that will help those of us who are going through weak times. I've always said that I will make the most of my surgery, and follow the rules. I don't know what's wrong with me, that I keep falling off track.

To finediva: I haven't updated my info lately. I lost 50 pounds in about 7-8 months, and none since. I still have 30 to go to get to my goal weight. I need to find some resolve and stick to the plan of protein with fruit/veggie at meals, and very few snacks. My surgeon says zero snacks but I just can't do that. I definitely need to stay out of the snacks. We usually have stuff in the house for our teenage daughter; but we've always kept sweets out for the most part, which is good because I have a major sweet tooth. I think part of my lack of motivation is that, even though I've lost a lot of weight, I still look at myself and see the same body as before. I can't adjust the body image in my mind for some reason.

The sleeve will definitely let you know what it doesn't like. Another thing I've learned is: when feeling full, stop! Even one more bite makes me feel very uncomfortable.

I thought with less weight I'd feel sexier and my sex drive would increase, but it hasn't at all. I feel bad for my hubby because he's loving the changes in my body (although he loved it even when it was bigger), but I just don't feel it yet.

I know what you mean about thinking about the things you'll have to give up. However, after a few months you truly learn what and how much you can eat. I love McDonalds fries, but since my surgery 8 months ago, I've only had a few of them once or twice. I've had the small cheeseburger, and it makes me feel very full, so I don't want the fries afterward. With your sleeve, you can't eat much, so that's a good thing. I still eat the foods I love, just in much smaller amounts. Good luck to you during the process. You'll be glad you did it once you get down the road a ways.

Hang in there. You're right, nausea is a terrible thing. But once you get past the first few months, everything gets better. You'll be used to the lifestyle changes, and you'll lose enough weight to make you feel like it was worth it. Good luck, hope you feel better!

The weird dry mouth will go away once you start eating more solid food, with more texture. As far as coffee, I avoided it for two weeks, then I started drinking it with a limit of 2 cups per day. I drink more than that now, but luckily I don't have ill effects from it, such as acid reflux. We are supposed to avoid it, as far as I know, due to it being a diuretic and because of the acid production, so take it slow to see how it affects you.

I had the sleeve done 5 months ago, and I have lost 40 pounds. We don't all have huge losses. I know it seems that everyone who has the sleeve loses a lot in a short time, but that's not the case. I've been steadily losing, although it's been slow. Sure, I'd like for it to go faster, but I'm trying to be patient. Don't be depressed, if the slow loss is what's making you feel that way. Just keep doing what you're doing, and it will happen. Make sure you get plenty of protein and water. Too little of either will make you feel tired, and that can add to the down feeling. Hang in there!

Hopefully the process will go smoothly. Like you said, it is a major thing. I had a few times when I felt scared to take such a drastic measure. But I'm 5 months post-surgery now, and I'm glad I did something that will help me finally have success with weight loss. There have been some times when I thought I might regret it, but those feelings have long since passed. The advice I give you is, before and after surgery, be patient. As long as it seems to take to get to your surgery date, that is really a short time when you compare to the lifelong change that will happen in your life. Good luck to you!

Oops, I see now I'm answering in the "guys' room".in the future I'll see what group started the thread!

I haven't yet. I'm waiting on insurance approval, so hopefully just a few more weeks.Don't let the thought of eating less discourage you. I'm actually relieved now that I can eat less. Helps me feel a lot more control over what I do eat. You'll figure out fairly quickly what makes you feel full, as well as which foods make you feel terrible. Once you do that, it's pretty smooth sailing.

When did you have surgery? I was freaked out for several months after surgery about not being able to eat much, especially when we would go out to eat. I did finally get used to it, though, and now it doesn't bother me anymore.

Awesome, what a difference! Good for you! ????

I lose about a pound/week, so that helps me stay off. I know that, day-to-day, there most likely won't be a change. Don't get me wrong, I rarely skip more than one day, so when i stay off the scale, it's not for long! I record my weight every Monday, so I can see the numbers going down that way.

Don't be discouraged! It's true, we are the same mentally, but I remind myself that I am much more easily satisfied when I eat, and I have to keep reminding myself. It's taken a while, but I'm finally adjusting. Knowing that does help me eat better, although I still indulge sometimes. I just feel more in control. It's a long process. I had my surgery 5 months ago; I've lost 45 pounds, and my surgeon actually thinks that's too much! I'm liking the fact that I can wear smaller clothes, and I don't hate pictures of myself anymore.

This will hopefully help those who think they are stalling after just days or a few weeks. You can't possibly stop losing weight in the early stages especially, due to the tiny amount of food.

I agree, you can't understand it til you live it. It took about 3 months for me to adjust to the new way of eating as far as amount. I don't know how it would compare to being banded.

Wow, you look great! Congrats on your success!

That picture looks familiar to me! Every other day when I wash my hair for 2 months now! Can't wait til it stops.

Same here, I feel hungry, but only when it's been a long time since I ate. My surgeon said I would likely not feel hunger anymore, but I do. It's easily satisfied, so that's good- keeps me from eating what I shouldn't.

It's not the easy way out. We make some big sacrifices in giving up a lot of things we really love. It's tough sometimes to make the right choices in food. Having a little pouch does make it easier as far as no more overeating, but junk food still calls my name. This process takes some willpower, but having the pouch as a tool makes it possible to succeed. It seems the sleeve is just misunderstood.

I agree with everyone, very cute! Go for it!

Crossing the legs is a good one! I find myself doing it all the time now that I can! Those NSV's are great!