IcanMakeit

Current weight: 119. Please revise my goal to 117. I chose 118 because I thought my body was basically finished releasing fat. Apparently not.

It seems that you have already reached a sound decision. Since you are not morbidly obese, it is definitely a good idea to continue with the 6-month program and re-evaluate after that. I'm guessing that you are going to be successful whatever you decide. Good luck.

My cholesterol also jumped since the surgery and massive weight loss. I hesitate to blame the high Protein diet because I was on a high protein diet when my cholesterol was going down. Also, the newest research about cholesterol is telling us that it is much more complex than first believed. Long term studies have called into question the "lowest is best philosophy". While my doctor is still worried about my turnaround and put me back on a statin, I'm not overly concerned. I'm following his orders just to hedge my bet, not because I think my raised levels are really high enough for concern.

I was 60 when I had my surgery. There are a lot of people on this board who are over 45. I think we're actually in the majority. You're in good company.

@@amponder, you are not alone. I remember how much Star Trek meant to me back then, and to me, Spock was the main character. I was never a Kirk girl. (I don't think there were any Kirk girls at my school.) Leonard Nimoy at first wanted to outgrow the Spock character and leave him behind, but he later came to understand how positive an influence Spock was on American culture. I don't think any other actor could have brought Spock to life as he did. He has left a legacy that many will appreciate for years to come.

I don't want to offend anyone but I have read that marijuana helps with nausea. It supposedly works better than drugs derived from it. Does your state allow it for medical reasons?

Welcome to the other side. You're in for a roller coaster of emotions and adjustments, but it is definitely worth it. Good luck with your recovery.

Honey has a glycemic index of 58. Lower than table sugar, but not low. I love it, but I avoid it. I guess I'm so wary because I have been managing my diabetes successfully for 15 years this way. Now that I have been sleeved. It's possible that I don't have to be so careful, but I'm afraid to test it. I love being diabetes-free.

Except for special holidays, simple sugars (other than lactose naturally occurring in yogurt) are not in my diet, no matter what form they come in. For me, they mean unstable blood sugar and weight gain. I really wish I was one of the people who found that sweets were too sweet after surgery, but I still like them. I'm currently using Splenda or stevia in my coffee, depending on what's available. Perhaps some day I'll be strong enough to eliminate artificial sweeteners, but for now, they are a pleasure I don't want to give up.

Good for you that you decided to take control of your health while you're still young. You are definitely more likely to have enough skin elasticity to avoid the hanging skin problem, especially if you follow @@Djmohr's advice. Not only that, you may prevent a bunch of health troubles that could really degrade your quality of life. Your body image issues will not magically disappear with your weight loss, no matter how beautiful everyone else thinks you are. To work through that, counseling is very helpful.

@@Tammylb : Congratulations on your accomplishment. I know you must be feeling pretty good right now. You deserve to celebrate. Do you have anything planned?

I agree with @Babbs. Your experience is unusual and worrisome. Please check in with your surgeon. Also, you are correct, the coping mechanism that you are using (eating slider foods) is setting you up for problems in the future. One alternative to slider foods that you probably might be able to tolerate is Greek yogurt fortified with Protein powder. I ate a lot of this early out and it kept my protein numbers respectable and it kept me from feeling hungry all the time. I also ate protein pudding (MHP Power Pak). The taste wasn't so great, but it went down pretty well. I sometimes added sugar-free flavoring to the vanilla, since I found it bland. Check out the blog called "The World According to Eggface". She has a bunch of recipes for the different stages. You should concentrate on the pureed stage. I know it's frustrating to still be eating mushy food this far out, but until your doctor figures out what's wrong, you need healthy sustenance. Good luck.

1. For almost everyone, the weight loss starts off slowly because the body is still adjusting after the surgery. I can remember being very disappointed because I lost weight slower post-surgery than I did pre-surgery. Try to relax. Your body will catch up to all the changes soon and then you'll see more dramatic results. 2. Ten pounds is still 10 pounds. Celebrate every pound lost instead of focusing on the pounds you want to lose. It makes the discomforts and disappointments much less bothersome if you keep a good attitude. You are on your way. Stay the course.

@@Kathy812, I only exercise recreationally and occasionally: Bike rides, long walks, etc. I promised myself that I would start yoga this year, but I haven't started yet. I guess I'm waiting for someone to kick my butt and make me do it.

I think your reservations about the sleeve are valid. Doctors say there are no guarantees because there aren't. It's possible, maybe even probable that none of the negative outcomes of the sleeve will happen to you, but with your medical history, I don't blame you for being hesitant. If I were in your situation, I might stick with non-surgical weight loss methods. I had great (but not long term) success with the Atkins diet. Perhaps with all that you have learned about nutrition and serving size control while your band was working, you can be one of the rare people who can maintain weight loss long term without surgical intervention. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best.

You are in a tough spot. In your situation, there doesn't seem to be a risk free course. If you do nothing but remove the band, you risk gaining more weight and developing additional weight related illnesses. If you have the gastric sleeve, your acid reflux could get worse. I don't think it's common to develop long term food intolerances with the sleeve, but I suppose they do happen. And with your arthritis, you don't want to do anything that interfered with your ability to seek pain relief. Pain is debilitating. I think you need a long talk with both your PCP and your surgeon. Although I was told to never take them, I have heard of people who continue to take NSAIDS after having the sleeve.

You are an inspiration. I want to be as fit as you are.

Check your insurance company's website. They probably have information regarding coverage available online. If not, just call. I don't know whether losing weight on the pre-op diet can disqualify you for surgery. It shouldn't work that way since that's a catch-22, but with some insurance companies, who knows? Once again, that information will be available, either online or through a phone call. It surprises me that you have severe acid reflux and are getting a VSG. I thought that people who already have acid reflux are usually advised to get the gastric bypass instead. Maybe I have that wrong, but you should discuss this at your appointment.

I googled your problem and found: "Nausea and vomiting is reported in a small percentage of Gastric Sleeve patients." I think you should call your doctor and discuss this. It's probably nothing serious, but you should let him confirm that. Feel better soon.

@@mandyboo, I'm sorry you are so miserable right now, but on the bright side, having your period now means that you won't be starting your period right after surgery. That would have just added to your discomfort. Maybe the fates are on your side after all. Friday will be here before you know it. Just keep looking forward to your new, healthier body.

In the first few weeks after surgery, I found that my emotions were heightened and my patience was reduced. I think you may be going through the same thing. Your husband did not have WLS and cannot be expected to adhere to your diet. It is nice when he remembers your feelings and keeps his food to himself, but living together, that's not always realistic. When it drives you up the wall, take a walk or engage in some other activity that will distract you. The good news is that your current discomfort and irritability will subside as you progress through the stages. Hang in there.

If you are working at staying on program, your sleeve will work for you, but your body is not a machine. It needs to do what it needs to do and will take the time it needs to do it. I know it's hard, but try to give yourself a break and focus on improving your health rather than just losing pounds. That way you will have rewards you can count on, rather than wait for the fickle scale to tell you you done good. (This is what I'm telling you to do, not what I did. LOL. I stressed and complained for the first month, just like most of us did.)

Starting weight: 120 Easter Challenge goal weight: 118 My current weight is great, but I am trying to give myself a little bounce room as I enter maintenance. And when I make this goal, I'll feel empowered to control my weight over the long term.

@@nprcowboy, I really hope that you have turned a corner and will begin to heal. Know that prayers and positive thoughts will continue to be sent to you by your internet friends.

Thanks for sharing your fabulous success. You were cute before the weight loss, but you are gorgeous after.