Babbs

Funny you say that. I had a harder time quitting the diet soda pre op than I did quitting smoking pre op! At 2 months post op today, I don't miss it at all anymore You can do it!!

WOW! Hubba hubba Cute outfit, too!

I decided during my full liquid phase (which lasted 5 weeks for me, but that's another story) I figured if I was going to live on soups, I was going to splurge and get GOOD soups. None of that canned stuff for me. Whole Food deli soups or homemade! That really helped with the boredom for me of the full liquid phase. And like someone above had said, don't worry about calories in the first couple weeks after surgery. Hydration is MUCH more important. You don't hear about people going into the hospital malnourished in the first few weeks after surgery, but you do hear about them going in for dehydration. Get as much liquids as you can possibly stomach and you will do just fine

I think what this whole conversation proves is although we are all going through similar procedures with WLS, our experiences with it are all different. Not right or wrong, not black and white. We all ultimately just want the same result, and how each if us choose to get there is our own preferences. Ain't life grand??

I could play devil's advocate and say WLS is also part of what makes me, well... me. Along with many, many other things I have done and experienced in my 47 years of life that make me the person I am today. My struggle with my weight has been a part of my whole life and I'm sure, hell I KNOW, it has shaped me in ways both positive and negative. It has for all of us. If not, why would any of us do something so drastic as to get surgically altered to lose weight? No, this surgery does not define me or who I am, but it's part of this wild and crazy journey I call my life, and I don't mind letting people know that this is part (one of many) of who I am.

I am early in the journey (almost 2 months) but I would say: "Contrary to popular belief, this is not going to be easy. The weight will not always just fall off. You will still have to work at it. Your emotions will get the best of you many times when you stall or even gain, but realize this is not a sprint, it's a marathon".

With the exception of fiber, all carbohydrates turn into glucose eventually. When glucose disperses into your blood, your pancreas automatically excretes the hormone insulin -- unless you’re diabetic and have to inject it yourself. Insulin helps glucose get turned into glycogen, but you only have room to store so much. Once your glycogen stores are full, the extra converted carbs get stored as fat, making you gain weight over time.

You are also in the prime period for a stall soon, So don't be surprised or discouraged when it happens. Just keep doing what you're doing and it will pass

I had developed high blood pressure the first time in my life about a year ago and it was so severe I was put on medication. That was the determining factor to have weight loss surgery for me. I was taken off my blood pressure medication just 4 weeks after my surgery because I'd lost enough to where I didn't need not anymore Yours will resolve itself soon after your surgery too. One of the many, many benefits of WLS! Good Luck and good health!

@Beni-- Lighten up, Francis. Kindle is as entitled to her opinion as you are yours. I agree with Kindle. I see it as an opportunity to educate and maybe inspire people about WLS, and I have. I have lots of friends on Facebook who love hearing about my updates since the surgery. I have even had a couple who have asked how to begin the process. If I can inspire just ONE person to change their lives for the better by babbling about my experience with WLS, then me being open and honest about it was all worth it. Some people are very private people, and that's okay. But I feel some have much more egregious reasons for not telling. They are afraid of what people with "think". They are ashamed. They are afraid they will fail. This last one keeps me motivated, personally. I'll be DAMNED if I tell everyone about this surgery, and not use it as an opportunity to show people what a wonderful, life changing surgery this can be! I also respect other people's right to not tell. To each his own.

Hi! I guess it all depends on who you ask about the pain after surgery. I was in a little pain on the right side where the pulled most if my stomach out when I woke up, but honestly nothing I couldn't handle. They hook you up to some really good drugs very quickly so the pain is short lived I also was pretty nauseous too, but that was gone in a couple hours. You are pretty out of it your first day. I was only on clear liquids in the hospital, then full after. And YES, I was hungry on full liquids. More "head hunger" than anything else, but it was hard ( not gonna lie) but that subsides especially when you start real food. It will all depend on your doctor and insurance whether you're going to be required to lose weight pre op. I had to go through 3 months supervised diet program with the doctor and only lost 5...that apparently was okay with my insurance Good Luck to you!

Awesome job! I'm almost 2 months out and you're way ahead of me! But I'm down 30 so not too shabby Here's to continued weight loss for both of us!

@RJ'S/beginning There are a few of you on this forum that I "stalk" and love reading about your inspirational journeys. You are one of them. I always found your success and your great attitude through your many struggles inspirational, and honestly, it keeps me going. I have literally thought at times "Look at what RJ has gone through. If she can do it, so can I!" Aside from everything else you should be proud of, I just want you to know you are a huge inspiration to me and many others on this forum. As always, you WILL get through this! Hang in there!

Personally? I now wish I would have gone with the bypass instead of the sleeve. I am having problems with GERD (which the doctor didn't bother to tell me got worse with the sleeve) and I find my weight loss is not as quick and as easy as I thought it would be with the sleeve. My husband had a Bypass 8 years ago, and he lost the weight almost effortless and has kept most of it off for 8 years. I do like the fact that there is less malabsorbtion and "dumping" with the sleeve. Like I said, that's my personal opinion. It's a very personal decision and up to you to get the facts and weigh the pros and cons Good Luck and good health!

@@MDB9/16/14 The World According to Eggface has amazing recipes for all phases, including pureed! The ricotta bake is to die for! You will feel like you are eating "normal" food You hang in there sweetie, and keep us all posted on your progress! Welcome to the losers bench!

Atta girl!

Good advice here. I mean really, you HONESTLY think with the amount you can eat right now it's possible for you to gain weight? Because it's NOT. You are in the dreaded 3 week stall that 99% of us go through, and your body is just adjusting. I stalled and gained too, and guess what? It ended and now I'm back to losing. I also know it wont be my last, and because of that, I only weigh once a week or so now. Stop driving yourself crazy and put the scale away and stick with the program. It will work, I promise

I complained about not getting full the first week of surgery in this very forum. I almost felt like the doc didn't do the surgery because I felt NO RESTRICTION at all and was hungry! You're probably having head hunger, I had it bad and it sucked. When your having nothing but liquids YOU'RE HUNGRY! Keep getting your fluids in, take your antacids if they were prescribed to you, and you'll get through it! Once you start pureeds, the hunger will subside

Have you had surgery yet? Are you on full liquids? You are not really going to feel "full" until you start eating more solid foods. Then it's pretty unmistakable I get this tightening in my esophagus, but I try not to get that far. I measure most everything in a 4 oz ramekin and stop when I'm done. Trust me, the full feeling post surgery isn't near as pleasant as it was pre surgery

Your stats are very similar to mine, and I got that comment A LOT from of all people, so called health care professionals. I mean really?? Are they oblivious to the dangers of being overweight? It always floored me!

It gets better. I promise. You will start feeling more and more normal as the weeks go by, and one day you will wake up and say "Hey! I actually feel like myself today!" The first month can down right SUCK. Hang in there

I said it here before and I'll say it again... When my hubby who had RNY 8 years ago complained to his doc at close to his goal weight about people telling him "You're too skinny" and "You're not planning on losing anymore weight, are you??" His surgeon said this:"There are so many overweight people these days, nobody truly knows what "normal" weight looks like anymore.Just ignore them".

TOTALLY understand. My mom used to drive me CRAZY And rant away. I'm just saying some day you will look back and laugh about how they used to drive us crazy!

I lost my mom in 2011. Take it in stride. Believe it or not, you will miss her when she's gone, and laugh about the drama. I know I do.

Sounds to me like he's another obese person trying to scare people about the "dangers" of WLS. Yawn. These people use scare tactics and not real statistics to (for some reason) discourage people from WLS. I've seen it a million times. While all of us are getting healthy and changing our lives for the better, those people will remain on the weight loss roller coaster for the rest of their lives. They also don't understand that this isn't a "quick fix" and we still have to work to get the weight off, we just have a surgical tool to help. Pay them no mind, and continue your path to a happy, healthier you!