JustJaime5

I was starving. For the first 2 months after surgery. Yes I was on omeprezole. No it was not head hunger. I was so upset bc that was one of the things I was looking forward to after surgery. No more hunger. Some people say they are never hungry. That was never me. It was this awful hunger that I could hardly stand..... And then it stopped. Once I started eating foods and balancing my calories through the day. It did go away. So don't give up. Keep sticking with the plan your doc has and you will get through it. It's normal.

@tssmith. I am in Essex county as well

Hi all I actually just asked the same question in another post. I was hoping some more veterans would tell their stories of what it's like after the yr to yr and 1/2 mark. I'm losing but it's slow. My surgery was 12/9. Sw: 318.8 cw: 253 I'm 5'5" so I have just over 100 more to lose. I've also been measuring and I've lost 13.5 inches (at last check, I'm due for another) from my waist. Almost 8 in from my hips. So I'm seeing movement but it's very slow. I don't mind working my butt off until I get to goal weight, I just want to know what happens when you hit that timeframe. It concerns me bc any slower weight loss and it will come to a halt.

Ok. So my current weight loss is steady but VERY slow. I'm almost 6 months out and down just over 60 lbs. I have lost 13.5 inches from my waist and more all over but I'm definitely not losing it like some folks who say the weight "just falls off". I am spinning and elipticaling for literally every ounce. I know they say you have a year to year and a half to lose the weight. At this pace I won't be at my goal weight in that time frame. And I say mine bc my doctor never really set a goal weight. Just that I should lose between 1-2 lbs a week. So between my 3 month and 6 month visit I am on track. But I'm starting to panic bc while its slow but consistent now I feel like I have this year 1.5 year deadline looming. For all the veterans out there, have you continued to lose (if you needed/ wanted to) after that 1 to 1.5 year mark post surgery? Anyone else know how hard and fast that "rule" is?

Thanks everyone. Sorry I forgot my stats in the original post. Surgery was 12/9/14 Day of surg I was 318.8 Current weight 255.5 My doctor actually never set a goal weight with me. The PA briefly discussed 145 but The possibility of me getting as low as 130. I'm 5'5" so I don't see how that's possible. I'm already 6 months out and 63 lbs down. My dr has me on a pace of 12-24 lbs every 3 months which is 1-2lbs a week. At that rate I will not make even a "goal" of 150 in a year + I'm okay with this process taking as long as it takes, as long as it continues to go in the right direction. Like I said my main concern was the fact that all the literature and my doctor had said that all the weight needed to be lost within a year to year and a half from the surgery and at this rate I won't make that cut off. Basically what I've heard is that your body figures out what's going on and losing weight after that point becomes impossible? Difficult? Stops? I'm not sure. That's why I wrote this post to the veterans who had weight to lose after that year mark and seeing how successful they were.

Hi jimmy... I can't really speak to the hospital be I didn't go there. I think they stay overnight one or more nights. My surgery was done at the florham park surg center on 12/9/14. I love love love dr Abkin!!!

Lol. I've found its the perfect thing to break a stall. For some reason the next morning I always drop a pound or two so I'm going with a yes in the "is it exercise" column!

I'm only 3 months out and can tell you to be patient. I literally wrote the same things and was worried like you that I was "failing". I hit a 21 day stall and to say I panicked is an understatement. I am currently just shy of 50 lbs. it will come off. Trust me. Maybe not as fast as you would like but it will come off. I just keep plugging away. Getting to the gym and tracking my food daily. I can tell you I am in jeans that I haven't worn in 4 years and have lost over 7 inches from my hips and waist each. I try to remember those things are just as important as the scale. We have all been where you are and a lot of us felt / feel the same way so know that what you are feeling is normal. I hope just knowing that makes you feel a little better. Stick with it! You are doing great.

Hi rhondara. I was sleeved this December so I'm still pretty new but I was like you..I was starving. Like there was a hole in my stomach and no it was not head hunger. I unfortunately was not one of those people who is never hungry. It did get better once I got on solid foods. And def take the omeprezole

Hello December sleevers. I had my surgery on 12/9 I'm approaching my 3 mo visit w my dr and I'm afraid he's not going to be happy w my weight loss so far. It's going sooooo slow. Lots of stalls. I'm down 41.4lbs. I lost 30 the first month out then 11.4 in 2 months? Does that seem right to everyone? He didn't give me a goal but he said 30 lbs was just about what he would consider average % for my starting weight in the first month. The second month I had to minimize activity bc one of the incisions needed to be re cut and left open to heal on its own. I had like a 3 week stall during that time. I'm just getting past the walking / treadmill stage at the gym and have kicked it up a notch to spinning and toning classes. I'm eating between 700-1000 calories but I have had a day or two at 1200 calories. And I'm hungry! I am full really fast but I'm hungry every 2 hours. I was told not to count calories just to count Protein but I see how little some folks are eating and I look at my slow weight loss and I'm thinking that's why, but the funny thing is the days I've had the 1200 calories, I've dropped weight the next day or so. So while I feel like that means I may not be getting enough calories, I'm afraid to eat more. I track on myFitnessPal, according to their calories (even assuming I didn't have the surgery) I should be losing 2 lbs a week. I think my calorie allotment is just over 1400 cal to lose 2 lbs a week. I realize that's for "non surgicals" but wouldn't it stand to reason that I should lose a min of 2 lbs a week if I eat less than that? The scale is not my friend. I know I need to stay off but it's so hard. I have lost 6.5 inches from my waist and the same from my hips. So I'm seeing progress just not on the scale and that's all my doc goes by. Did anyone's doc give them a scale or set expectations for the 3 month visit?

@ronab. I have the same issue. Ever since the surgery I have been starving. Since I started eating solid foods I now go from being full so fast to starving. The nutritionist said at the support meeting if you're hungry after two hours you're not eating enough and if you're not hungry after 4 hours you're eating too much. I just can't get in anymore food when I do eat but I'm hungry...like really hungry... every two hours!!! I was looking forward to that reported feeling of never being hungry

Lee I was one of the "unlucky" few who was starving after surgery. I was sleeved on 12/9 so this is all new to me as well. I didn't cheat after surgery but had this love/ hate relationship with the food network . I had cravings for foods I never even thought I liked before the surgery. Once I got on solid foods it got a lot better. Good luck and hang in there. Try not to cheat, not because of the calories but be kind to your new tummy and allow it the time it needs to heal. That food will be there later. Good luck!!

@lisa. And @penguino ... Know the feeling. I was sleeved 12/9 and was fine first 5 weeks then hit a 21 day stall. It freaked me out. But it looks like scale is moving again this week. .....whew!!!!

@@joleno i had mine done outpatient in a surgery center. I had to be there around 830, surgery around 1030, was in recovery until 4 ish. During that time they make sure you can pee, drink x amount of water and can walk around. Then I was discharged home same day.

So December sleevers.... What's your daily calorie count? Mine is varied 500-mid 700's. Is that too much? Too little? I tried getting in to see nutritionist but can't get an appointment for another 3 weeks. The good news is that there is a support group at my dr on thurs. The nutritionist is going to be there so hopefully I'll get some guidance. Just wanted to see what others were eating.

And keep drinking more fluids. Sometimes headache is a sign of dehydration

@dar. My dr actually didn't have a Preop diet. I know that's really rare. As long as we stay at or below our original weigh in I didn't have to do anything. How much longer do u have on it? All I can say is it's good prep for the first 3 weeks after surgery which I found extremely hard. I was begging my dr to let me go from the full liquid to purée phase at my week and a half visit. I didn't think I could choke down another Soup,pudding or yogurt! It will be the first in a long road of really hard efforts. (All worth it) For those people who say weight-loss surgery is the easy way out have no idea what they're talking about. You're doing a great job though stick with it and it will all be worth it. Just think the more you lose now the less you have to lose later

I don't have issues w gulping liquids but to answer your question .... When I've eaten too much/too fast/too big bites it feels a little uncomfortable right between my chest bone and just under that. I usually rub that area and like the person said before. Take long slow breaths and walk around. Last night, for the first time it was a whole new level. I Basically had to burp and then threw up a little.. Gross I know but we are all about honesty here...., that felt better so when it happened the second time a few min later I didn't fight it. I just let it come back up. I don't plan on letting any of that happen again any time soon!!!! It was so uncomfortable, thankfully I was home!

I haven't been able to stop watching food network and I would consider trading my own mother for a piece of pizza right now. Lol. No I'm serious. ????. It doesn't help that I'm hungry almost all the time. I eat and I'm full so fast. I feel like I go from full to starving and there is nothing in between. Clearly I need to figure out a better eating schedule.

I was on 4 diff bp meds. I'm 1 month out and 30 lbs down and they took me off 1 med last week. (And another they removed the diuretic part pre op) my pressure was in the 120/70 range when he took me off. It's only been a week so I can't tell u what result it's having yet. Hoping to have them all taken away as I loose more weight.

I'm having the same issue! Was sleeved on 12/9 and had my first throw up incident. I find the only way I can control the way I eat is if I take a bite then get up and do something in between bites. I know that's totally against what the "proper" eating rules are.

@jennifer. Good luck!! Be patient with yourself the first few days may be rough but they will pass. I was sleeves 12/9 outpatient. This first month was a long one but I'm so happy to be on the other side. Hope all is well! Keep us posted on how u r doing.

Hi all. My surgery was Dec 9 and I have "only" lost around 30 lbs. I say only bc I know a whole bunch of folks r probably going to jump on my back saying you couldn't do that pre op etc etc. I started out at 318 day of surgery. I had an issue w an incision so I was really limited in my motion for the last month. So 30 lbs according to my dr was what he considers average for the first month. He said about 10% of starting weight is what he likes to see. He just gave me clearance today to start working out so I'm hoping that I can get some more off.

Hi ladies. I'm in north Caldwell. Looking for local support groups as well

Hi all thanks for volunteering to lead this and for getting it going. I am actually from northern NJ but could not find any closer groups. I found that really surprising. do you know if they are planning on starting anything new in NJ? i was sleeved on December 9 and am doing ok but would love to have a support group with veterans who i could run issues by and with others who are going through it at the same time as I am.