HighHeelShoes

There will always be more Christmases with all the same favorite holiday foods you're used to but you will never have another chance to get this right. Get it right Now. The amount you ate is about what I might eat now 2 yrs post-op, but I would never have dared at 6 days out. And trust me, once you start breaking little rules, you break more rules and it's all downhill from there. I'm currently fighting back some recent weight gain that I know is due to completely poor food choices. A chip here and there was no big deal or a 1/4 c of dessert on an occassion. But then every third day was an occassion, then every stressful day at work was a occassion, now the people at the bakery know me by name and I'm up 15 stupid pounds and the thing is-chocolate tasted gross for months after surgery but I almost forced myself to eat it because I felt deprived on some level. But I wasn't and you aren't either. Trust me, some day you will get to Sample and taste all of those foods again, but not now and not altogether as a mini-feast. You survived this ordeal but Stop It Right Now-the disappointment you feel now will not even compare if you sabotage this amazing and severe step you have taken. If I could undo all the cheetos and macaroons of the past 2 months I would-my life would be the same but my clothes would fit a hell of a lot better. I didn't need them and I don't. Catch yourself now and put it an end to it, letting this be a lesson and not an "well I did it the one time and it was okay so . . ." One time makes two times okay and three and so on.... Anyway, congratulations on surgery and stick with the liquids. If pudding is a trigger then get rid of it.6 days out of surgery I was eating 1/3 cup of pureed bean Soup at the very most or a 1/3 scrambled egg...

I wish I felt that energetic a few weeks out! I feel like I was chronically dizzy and exhausted for 5 months. Now--a year out--I feel great

I don't actually have any pictures of me from my top weight (273), but surprisingly, I have videos, so I took stills for comparison. One year later and down 100 lbs! I'm singing in those pics, btw!

I don't actually have any pictures of me from my top weight (273), but surprisingly, I have videos, so I took stills for comparison. One year later and down 100 lbs!

I was sleeved last August and have since lost about 90 pounds. Ive gone from a size 24 to a 12. But I seem to have GONE UP in cup size! Does this make any sense? Is it because my boobs are saggier? I'm so confused and having so much trouble finding a decent bra. I used to be a 42 D. I recently got fit for the same Soma bra I currently own (which is stretched out). The woman measured me as a 38 B. But then I tried on the B, C, D, and finally the 38DD and I felt like I was still spilling out of it. Since then, I have tried on 38 and 40 D's and DD's and I can't find a single bra where I'm not spilling over the cups and getting that 4 boob look-even with full coverage cups. I'm getting super frustrated, because I was not expecting this. How can my cup size have gone up after losing 90s pounds? Anyone? Help.

Men.

Yeah . . . I think my body shape has changed. I had some XL shirts that I wore about five years ago and even thought I'm mostly wearing L shirts now, these particular, stretchy shirts just don't look right anymore. I think theres a little loose skin business happening around my lower stomach :/ Oh well. Better than size 24.

7 months: Started at size 24/XXL, am currently 12/L

Find a better doctor! If it's really just a 9 pound difference . . . and you've gained 7-maybe just go back with some quarters in your pocket. Sort of kidding. I know this must be really hard. I know that INSURANCE companies typically won't cover unless you meet certain parameters-mine was BMI of 35 w comorbidity (I actually take beta-blockers and was hoping that my minor heart palpitations would qualify as a comorbidity, but they didn't) or a BMI of 40+, which ended up happening anyway and then I qualified. But doctors should be able to do it with a lower BMI. In fact, i believe it is a safer surgery-they ask you to lose weight prior to surgery anyway. Inevitably, people will end up lower prior to surgery if their diet is successful. My pcp did help write papers so I would qualify for surgery, but said similar discouraging things about how I wouldn't be successful with the sleeve if I couldn't lose weight on the pre-surgery diet she gave me. "How do you expect this surgery to help you?" I remember her yelling at me while I cried and her assistant kept sticking me with a needle and failing to find a vein to draw blood. Anyway. Guess what? If we could all lose weight with diets, then none of us would have gotten surgery. That is the whole point of surgery. To help people who can't do it alone. Otherwise, why would anyone do it?

I started teaching a difficult class of students with emotional disabilities about 3 weeks out and was exhausted and light-headed all of the time and frequently had to work through lunches. For people in other work settings, I would suggest setting timers for all of your Vitamins and mini-meals. I forgot mine a lot throughout the day when I first started working. Once things become routine, and they will, it becomes easier. For example, during English, I would drink Water. I ate lunch when the students ate. I used to eat string cheese during Math-I ate string cheese A LOT because it was so easy to pack. In fact, I still do. Protein shakes I kept under my desk and switched to protein-rich food as soon as I could. I couldn't set timers because my students had sensory sensitivities, but I do in the evenings and on weekends between meals and drinks. I still forget things here and there, but the helplessness and terror I felt after my mom wasn't there to help with recovery anymore is long gone. You'll be fine at work. I hard-boil about a dozen eggs on Sunday and bring two with me every day-one of them ends up being my Breakfast. I also keep a package of light string cheese on hand at all times. I think at 7 weeks I was eating those things. I'd grill up a bunch of chicken at the start of the week and wrap 2 oz of it up in foil and stack them in the fridge so they were portioned and ready-to-go for lunches.

I came back heavier, too. Gas, fluids,-what everyone else is saying. Nothing to worry about. Momentary setback, if you can even call it that because those pounds will start flying off. Congratulations and good luck with your recovery.

I never had the soiling myself when asleep.. but I've definitely had some untrustworthy gas moments during the day-especially early on after surgery when I was having lots of liquid and Protein shakes. I'd be running to the toilet during the last swallow. I switched to string cheese instead of Protein Shakes and other binding foods. Bananas are good, too. I'd be careful with the broccoli-that stuff is notorious for getting the system moving. Sometimes people just get diarrhea when they drastically change their diet. And if you think about it proportionally, broccoli probably makes up like 30% of diet-which is a lot. I've also had the aspirating stomach acid/vomit in the middle of the night and it was TERRIFYING the first time it happened. Now I just take an antacid and avoid eating right before bed. It has only happened when I eat before sleeping. I think the first time it was something with hot sauce...bad idea.

It's normal to hit a 3 week plateau-I did, too. Just keep doing the right things. It Will Happen. Scientifically, it is a guarantee. I know it can be scary and frustrating when you've just made one of the biggest life decisions ever and you fear that it may not work for you, just like everything else before. IT WILL. There isn't a rush anymore. It will all happen eventually. Treat yourself well and enjoy each day. Have faith. I know I didn't lose as fast as others, but I did lose and continue to steadily lose. In the past 3 months I have only lost 10 pounds, but I know I have lost major inches. Your body may just be in shock and holding onto the weight for a little bit. Don't let it get you down. There is nowhere to go but forward and no choice but eventual success. Good luck and stay positive.

8 Months Post Op! I swear, I look at the first pic of me, which is not even from my highest weight, and I feel like I can't breath. I feel So Much Better. Even laying around feels better and moving is a breeze. I never imagined life could be this way.

Good luck! Liquid diet is the worst. After you recover, it's all easier from there. I hope your surgery and recovery went well. You should be feeling more like yourself these days

I honestly have no idea how people keep it quiet. I mean, at my new job, I didn't tell anyone, but thats because no one knew me before-but there are so many times when I set a timer and can't eat and drink at the same time and unless I lie or fabricate an illness or digestive problem, people always ask and wonder why I eat 4 1/2 bites of food or have to sit and wait to eat when hot food comes out. You have to get over the "cheating" thing-for me, its really a fear that Others will think that I cheated, not that I think I have. After you go through it, you'll realize it isn't cheating at all. You made a harder decision than any dieter, one that forces you to make the right choice All The Time. A commitment to Never cheat again, really. F the naysayers. Not everyone is wired the same way and you firmly chose a solution that will change your life. You'd be cheating yourself if you went through your thirties obese and miserable and never experiencing the freedom you could have had...and you'd always wonder and regret not doing it. I realized that I was tired of wasting time and missing out. I Could Not Be Happier. But I think it is obvious-at least to those with whom I am close. If you do manage to keep it secret, let me know. I don't know how people would do it without lying.

Hi! I had my surgery August 13, 2014-So I guess I'm at 5 1/2 months, more or less. I'm down 73 pounds and I'm about a half pound away from the hundreds-weird!! Also-my before pics are kind of ridiculous haha

Honestly? Tons. 7 grams of Protein each-I can eat 2 for a meal/snack and will sometimes do this twice a day, basically replacing a Protein shake. I don't have huge variety in my diet which I need to work on, and please, if you have a reason why I should avoid the cheese, let me know, but I pretty much live on eggs, lean protein, fish, cheese and sometimes 2 or 3 melba toast. I might add in a tbsp or two of vegetables like spinach but I find when I'm in a rush-running out the door to do whatever I throw 2 string cheeses in my bag. I'm absolutely never constipated so ( I know this thread is old) but string cheese is my fav food and I find it convenient, protein-packed and delicious.

August 13th!! Im so nervous and i feel like i still have a million more doctors appts before then!