Babbs

I quit a couple months before my surgery using the vapor cigarettes. I vaped and slowly cut my nicotine down until I was down to no nicotine in the vape at all. Then one day, I didn't even think about vaping. That's when I knew I had it licked! That being said, I had my head taken off about a year ago over this same issue on this very site. I had asked the same question. I know my husband continued to smoke up to his surgery and beyond and had no issues. I know the doctors would prefer you don't because of the healing factor. I was trying to justify continuing smoking, and I realize that now. But after some deep thought and reflection, I thought if I'm having the surgery to be healthier and live longer, why would I continue smoking?? That's when I decided to quit. Now I'm celebrating almost 1 year smoke free. I'm now training for a 5K. I know I could NEVER have run 3.1 miles if I was still a smoker (let alone 3 feet!) I honestly think I'm more proud of quitting smoking than having the surgery. I know it's damn hard to quit and stay quit. I know it's hard to quit. I smoked for 22 years. But really it's kind of counter productive to continue when ultimately the goal is to become healthier, eh?

Well, I called that. You are starting out a MUCH lower weight than so many others! So 18lbs in a month is beyond amazing!!

@@Kacherry 18 pounds in a month is good! Are you starting at a lower BMI? I say "lower" because I notice people who start with a 40 or less tend to as a rule not lose as much as quickly. Just the way the cookie crumbles (Mmmmm cookies) Are you making sure you're getting your Protein and Water? I know it's hard that soon out, but it helps with weight loss. Like I said, you're doing fantastic though. The weight didn't just magically appear overnight on you I'm almost willing to bet. It's not going to be gone overnight, either. Patience, Grasshopper. Follow your plan, and it will come off at your body's own pace. I mean, look at me. I've lost 69 (68 some days) in 9 months. I'm 16 pounds til goal. Do you consider me a failure because the weight didn't come off immediately?

@@wannaBthinsoon Yup. They are current. I may not hit goal by my year, but I'll get there! Thanks! Hi. Any idea why I can't see stats? Can I not see them if I am using the mobile version? Nope. What a pain, hu?

Yup. Totally. Boy, was I in for a surprise. My husband had RNY almost 9 years ago. Back then, they didn't really give them many "rules" to follow. Or they did, and he just didn't follow them. Although he got more active, he never exercised formally, ate whatever he wanted (yes, that includes sweets and carbs..he didn't really dump ever) and in almost a year, had lost 130lbs. He went from 300 pounds the day of surgery to 170 lbs in less than a year. He has maintained most of it aside from an initial 20lb gain (he looked healthier after that) and then another 30lb gain after quitting smoking. He has since lost the 30, but has learned now that it's a slippery slope, and he cannot eat whatever he wants anymore without gaining. His pouch has stretched considerably. Fast forward 8 years. I decided to have WLS. But I had also decided to have the sleeve, not the bypass. I really thought I would be able to do the same things and lose the weight. Thanks to my NUT and this site, I learned that was absolutely false. And on top of it, Karma kicked me in the ass with slower than average weight loss. I work my butt off. I adhere to my plan 98% of the time, and I have turned into a gym rat. Has it been frustrating at times? HELL YES. But I am happy I've learned to love exercise and have learned so much more about proper nutrition. If it had just fallen off of me with little effort like it had my husband, I would have never cemented the habits I have today. I feel I at least I have a fighting chance of maintenance when I finally hit my goal. And hubby has learned good habits from me

The only people who say that are the people who haven't experienced it or done any kind of research about it. It was my decision and mine alone. I only took advice and consideration from other weight loss surgery patients. My husband was one of them. I look at it this way. When I would tell people, some (especially those who haven't had the surgery) would have to throw in their two cents. Fine no problem. But I take it with a grain of salt. If I was thinking of becoming a race car driver, why would I listen to anyone who hasn't driven a race car? You've done great in your weight loss thus far! Keep up the great work! And yes, it's NOT EASY!

I'll be 9 months as of the 22nd We've lost about the same amount of weight post surgery, too! Yes, I have to work my ass off just to lose a pound a week at this point. I struggled, HARD, from 6 months on trying to find the happy medium of calories and weight loss. Stalls, very slow weight loss (a couple months I lost only 2 pounds the whole month!) have been the bane of my existence. I am training to do a 5K, so I am currently running over 2.5 miles every other day. I have really had to up my calories and (GULP) carbs to keep losing weight and not stall and bounce around 2 pounds for weeks. Some days I have to eat all day long. It's friggin crazy. Of course, everything I'm eating is all nutritious. I will eat an occasional treat. I have managed to tighten things up a little by some strength training. My stomach is a different story. My insurance covers Panni, so I will look into that once I hit goal and maintain for a while. Luckily, most of the hair loss has subsided. It was alarming for a while! I have super thick hair, so really the only people who noticed were me and my hairdresser. When she would foil my hair and then wash and comb, there would be WADS of blond hair coming out in clumps. You've done amazing! And I, like you, am happy I took the step and had the surgery. I have learned so much about myself, good and bad. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world! Good luck to you as you continue towards your goal!

I have learned that this is a thing now. I may have to take it up I am the same way. If I can justify it (IE it's still within my daily calorie allowance) I'm okay. But if not, I think I've completely blown it and the negative self talk begins. The one thing that sticks in my mind is something a wonderful WW's leader I had years ago had said: "If you're unloading the dishwasher and you drop and break a plate, you don't go ahead and break the rest of them, do you? It's the same with going off plan. Just because you went off for a bit, does't mean you can't immediately just get right back on like nothing happened. MOVE ON."

@@JamieLogical Yay! So excited for you! Take pics and let us know how it goes! You're braver than I am I have a WLS friend from Boise (Jenn1) who keeps trying to get me to bite the bullet and just schedule one to run. I'm being a chicken, lol. I keep telling her I want to get to goal and improve me speed. We will see! Good Luck!

I'm so sorry about your husband. Are you currently in any kind of grief therapy? I really think you would benefit from it. I think dealing with emotions from the loss if your husband first would help the weight loss part if it to fall into place. It's hard to do what you need to do when you're still struggling with all those emotions you must be feeling on a daily basis. Hang in there! He would want you to be happy and healthy

I ran 2.85 miles today! I'm hoping by next week to do the full 3.1. Then I wil start working on my speed. I ran the 2.85 in 36 minutes. Sloooow. But I'm proud

I lost over 2 pounds in Maui 3 weeks ago. Just walked a lot, and made sure I was eating the way I normally eat 90% of the time. If I knew I was going to indulge in some carbs or sweets or a Mai Tai or two (), I would just eat a little less dinner or lunch. Still had my daily Protein shake for Breakfast (we had a full kitchen in the condo) and brought Snacks like Jerky and nuts in case I wanted to munch. Easy peasy! You can do it! Oh, and keep that Water flowing!

Aaaaand I'm out.

At least you drink yours black I have to have some kind of cream and sugar in mine.

Couldn't live without it!

Welcome! I too can't speak to being a caregiver, but I commend you. Congratulations on your decision to have surgery! And yes, you owe it to your daughter to be around for her as long as you possibly can! There will be good days and bad, but I guarantee in the end you will never regret your decision! Keep us posted!

WOW is right! You look incredible!

That's okay! We've all obsessed about it. I suggest you take the time pre op to cram as much information about the surgery as you possibly can by reading articles, this forum, anything you can get your hands on! That way you can be as prepared as you possibly can for the new changes that will be coming your way. A great book I would suggest (Besides Alex Brecher's Big Book of Gastric Sleeve of course!) is The Emotional First Aid Kit by Cynthia Alexander. It's all about the emotional aspects of having the surgery that, quite frankly, took me by surprise. After all, they only do surgery on your stomach, not your brain.

Honestly, shrimp was the first protein that went down the best for me. It sat really well in my sleeve with no problems.. I can totally understand the beef....I still have a hard time with it and I'm 9 months out.

Full caffinated coffee with that horrible but delicious french vanilla coffee creamer. 2 cups a day. I just don't want to give it up.

Yup. So normal it has a name. The Dreaded Three Week Stall. And you are right at 3 weeks. Many, many threads about it in this forum if you want to read up about why it happens. Just keep doing what you're doing, and it will pass. Good job on your weight loss so far!

How about eating some real food? Lean protein (fish,chicken,lean ground beef) and steamed veggies? Maybe eggs for Breakfast and lean meat and veggies the rest of the day? Just make sure the veggies are steamed well to be soft enough for your tummy. You're not eating properly. Do you have a nutritionist you can consult with to help you make better choices? I really think eating real food besides bars and chicken nuggets may help with the weight loss. Besides just being more nutritious for you. As you are learning,surgery isn't a magic solution to losing weight. You've got to do the work, also. And by work I mean spending some time learning about proper nutrition to maximize your weight loss and stay as healthy as possible with the little amount of food you get.

Yup. I think that's a good way to describe it. As soon as you feel that "tightness" STOP. Anymore than that and it gets downright painful!

@@DreamingAzure And I'm going to add one more thing. You made a point to say you've been researching WLS and been a part of WLS groups for 20 years, so you're not "the new kid on the block". This statement reminds me of people who think they know how hard it is to raise kids because they babysit. You know NOTHING of what it's like to go through this journey yet. I would suggest until you do, try to keep an open mind and keep your judgmental opinions to yourself.