oatmealgirl

Nikki, I don't think you were judging and are asking a very valid question. The sleeve is not magic to all, just some. I have been sleeved and suddenly I don't like coffee, sweets or anything for that matter. I realize I'm still in the early phases but there is a woman that goes to my doctor and she and I had surgery the same day in December. She has already blended a piece of pizza during her puree phase! I don't have those cravings so we're all different. As for exercising and eating right, if we could all do that, we wouldn't have had the sleeve. Being thinner makes it easer to move thus, exercise is not such a burden. But don't let these sleevers make you think that's the magic tool either. Your body will do what it will do. It may lose quickly without a day in the gym (I have two girlfriends that didn't do one bit of exercise and lost 120lbs each in 10 months) or it may lose slow and steady. All you need to do is focus on your journey and your journey only. Eat right, when you possibly can, but enjoy your life and you will be successful. I have not had a day where I craved any junk and I eat a low carb, high Protein diet when I eat. But, I don't eat a lot, I'm not interested. People here would like to give all kind of advice about that but, this is my journey, my body and my labs will tell me what I need to change, if anything. I'm having good success and I feel great. That's what you need to focus on. Get a plan for post surgery for successes and failures and keep moving forward. It doesn't matter if they paid for the surgery or if insurance paid for it, a craving is a craving is a craving and they are not wrong for eating what they want. You don't know what they ate or didn't eat the days before or after. This could have been their cheat days. At any rate, focus on your journey, they'll work theirs out in time. It won't be easy so be to them what you would want someone to be to you. I do not plan on going through life explaining my food choices to anyone, and I told everyone about my surgery. Best wishes to you!

You both look fantastic! Fuzzymonkey, you have taken years off your face. Congratulations to you both, you should be proud.

Hilarious, that's a great idea Pac-Woman, I'm divorcing Avenue, Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart for good too! I too am too excited to be able to go into any store and shop. I had a NSV this weekend. I met one of my friends that I haven't seen since the day before surgery and she almost fell off her chair. I'm down 32 pounds now (I need to update my ticker) and she, and everyone else said they see it in my face. Me, I see it there, my boobs, my butt! Thank you Lord, my back no longer hurts. We walked the mall shopping for shoes and then went to see a movie and then went to lunch. It's so nice not to be consumed with food and what I'm going to eat. I rarely think about it between meals.

Yay!! Congratulations, that wonderful. Save me a seat on that train!!! LOL

Hi Everyone, just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I hope everyone is starting to get some "normalcy" back in their lives and beginning to see some loss. Have a great weekend. Cynthia

I was sleeved 12/29, days 1-3 clear liquid, days 4-7 full liquid, day 8-13 purees and day 14 (today!) I started soft foods. I'm feeling great, haven't thrown up. Can drink my two 30g Protein shakes a day and 64oz of Water. This morning I had two eggs muffins that were made with 1/4 cup of egg whites. You know they shrivel up to nothing and I was able to eat almost both of them. So far, my sleeve is such a good girl and she tolerates everything well. The bad: I'm constipated and I haven't lost a pound since last Monday. I'm 11 pounds down post op but last week, nothing, I even went up two pounds. Now, I wasn't drinking my water or eating much of anything because I don't have an appetite for anything. I met up with two of my friends, one has had gastric bypass and the other the sleeve surgery. The one that had the sleeve, who is 120 pounds down a year later, said she was the same way the first month. She said she questioned what she had done to her herself! LOL She also said to remember you've been on a liquid diet for three to four weeks and now when you introduce food or even thicker liquid, your body may hold on to it. She also cautioned me that everyone is different and not to compare my weight loss with anyone else's. She said to be patient, drink your water, because that can be the cause of your constipation, and drink your protein, as much as you can get in of each as that's what will burn the fat. And then, be patient. The weight loss will come once your body mends from this major surgery and you get in a routine and start to move a little more, she said the weight will start to just fall off. I wanted to share this with you as so many of us are feeling the same way and it gave me such peace. We must remember that we just had major surgery just 14 short days ago and I'm back at work already! I've decided to focus on the positives 1. The surgery is behind me now THANK God!! 2. I'm walking with no pain in my legs - Thank God! 3. I'm 28 pounds down (11 post op) 4. I've lost my fat face and neck 5. I can see changes in my body already 6. I have a plan for success Be blessed and stay focused everyone and best wishes on your journey this week and always!

Hi everyone, I'm 10 days post op and I want to eat/drink nothing! I'm down 10 pounds since surgery and I've been really struggling. My sleeve is such a good girl too, she's not sore anymore, I've returned to work and I'm practically myself, except the eating. Okay, so here's the tea: 1. Problem: She doesn't like plain Water solution: I added just a few sprinkles of crystal light and I'm good 2. Problem: I'm Purees and I just can't find anything I want to eat so I'm still eating cream of chicken and tomato Soup for at least three meals. No solution! LOL 3. Problem: I HATE the Protein shakes I was drinking, but am going to try two more tonight; someone suggested muscle milk and Premier Protein any others I should try? I guess my concern is I know I'm still in the healing process but I don't have an appetite, I'm overwhelmed with you have to take this, drink that, eat this. I just want to be left alone!! LOL Now somebody help me please!!! LOL I'm kiddng, I need help, I need to get my appetite back and I don't want to stop losing weight. Thanks for all of your support Cynthia

Hi everyone! I had my surgery 12/29 and I'm feeling good except, I just can't drink another protein shake, I hate them now. I'm scared. I'm tolerating food great, sleeping wonderfully but I've only lost a pound this week. I lost 10 last week. I'm scared. I'm still on soups (tomato and cream of chicken) and cottage cheese. My sleeve is a good girl for the most part, I don't get gas or pain or anything anymore. What are you guys eating? I see the nutritionist on Tuesday and I can't wait to eat eggs. I'm nervous I'm doing something wrong that will sabotage my weight loss. I guess I'm just really stressing over this whole eating thing. It just doesn't interest me anymore. Help!

Congratulations! That is truly awesome!

congratulations on your results and thanks for the wonderful reminder that the scale isn't the only tool for measuring success on this journey. I really appreciate that.

Oh my Goodness Heynowkc, I'm so happy to hear you say that! I feel better. But I'm worried that I wont lose weight, that I'm not eating just Protein, etc. I have my first visit with the nutritionists on Tuesday and I can't wait for some reassurance that it's all in my head. Until then, you've made me feel much better! Thanks.

Thanks guys, I will work on this Protein today and just relax and let my new life take its course. I really can't believe this no appetite for food! LOL I guess I'll enjoy it while it lasts, I hear it fleeting.

I had my surgery, didn't say a word, told some co-workers came back to work. No harm, no foul and non of their business. I would do as the previous posts suggests, ignore the questions. Good luck!

Oh my God, I just read this thread and it was like watching a good soap opera! I couldn't wait to get to the next post! LOL I'm so happy you were approved and as of today, are two days post op hopefully. Please give us an update when you can and I pray all went well!

Congratulations! All the best to you! So exciting!

I see you did use your insurance company. My apologies I missed this page! But I agree with VSG Ann, some things you just can't skimp on. But hey, you live and learn. I hope you're approval is on the way!

Wow, that's scary! What I did was called my insurance company and asked which doctor they recommend I use. United Health Care has a Bariatric department so they recommended my nutritionists and the psychologist. To anyone not at this phase yet, your insurance company can be a valuable resource. Good luck to you Lauren and I wish you a speedy approval!

Wow, there are a few of us getting sleeved at 730am on 12/29 so I'll keep you in my prayers as well. Day four is good so far. I'm feeling better everyday. I'm so thankful and blessed to be on this journey and I can't wait to be sleeved!! We are so close ladies, let's hang in there!

Congratulations! I'm on day 4 of the liquid diet and my advice is to get the premade ones. I can't imagine having to mix and stir right now. Keep it as simple and easy as possible because days 1 & 2 are hard but hang in there. You get this burst of energy day 3 and you'll feel better. My legs and knees have been aching and on day three I put my feet down and to my amazement, no pain!! Also, I don't sit in my family room that's near the kitchen now. My grown daughter and her two children live with me so I have the luxury of not having to cook for a family so that helps. I come home in evenings and go to my room until they've eaten dinner and the kitchen is clean, which is until about 730. Then I come down and spend time with them and it's wonderful. Stay strong, do whatever you have to do to make it through. We've come too far to fail now! Best wishes to you!

Congratulations! That's wonderful. I can't wait!

I did my hospital registration today and I'm done until my last weigh in on 12/26 and then surgery 12/29. For those of you struggling with the liquid diet, I don't know why some surgeons only require one day vs two weeks. My doctor said it's to shrink the fatty liver so that it's as small as possible. Maybe it shrinks enough in one day for some doctors. I wish mine felt that way! LOL Anyway, my struggle ended when the nurse told me he canceled four patients at the hospital before surgery that didn't follow the liquid diet for two weeks and lose, in his opinion, enough weight for him to be comfortable operating on them. Well, that sealed the deal for me, no food is tempting enough for me to jeopardize my surgery. Maybe this will help someone else struggling to kind of just dig in and get er' done! LOL I tell you what though, when I'm driving I have started notice EVERY fast food restaurant or place that sells food now, gas stations included!! I am like wow, did I really eat that much or am I that darn hungry!! LOL But on the bright side, just three days in and my knees, ankles and legs feel like new. I'm so ashamed to realize that I caused this to my body and I apologized to my knees today and thanked them for all of the hard work they've put in. I also promised them that these are the last days they will carry what ever I weigh everyday! LOL It's the little things that get me through! Ha! I hope everyone is doing well and staying focused on the reason we're on this journey, health ... and then our new bodies! Have a great day! Cynthia

Hey, where is everyone? If you're like me, and have started the liquid diet, you're asleep! LOL I'm so weak and tired - day two - that I hope what I hear about day three is true; that whole burs of energy thing! All I want to do is sit and lay, just like a dog!! LOL I'm so excited that being on the liquid diet on Christmas day doesn't seem to bother me anymore. I'm just going to put my head down and go with the flow! It'll be over in no time! Well, I hope everyone is well and just preparing for phase two, THE SURGERY!

Oh my goodness, it's so nice to see people going through what I'm going through. I can't sleep, I dream about "the new me". I have purchased my baby spoon and fork, measuring cups, all kind of Proteins to see which I like and liquid Vitamins. I too have my nutritional visit on December 16th and my pre-op clearance on December 22nd. I'm also stressing about being on a liquid diet for two full weeks. I'm going to do it, but I can't even imagine not eating for two weeks and then another two weeks later! I am however, learning a lot about myself and enjoying this social experiment. I can't wait to see post op me but it's comforting knowing I have company to share the ride with!

Wait for me, my date is December 29th too! I'm so excited I can barely stand it. I will be starting my liquids on Monday, 12/15 until my surgery date, God help me! LOL But I would love to buddy up too.

@greeneyeys604 first let me say you are entitled to say, do and feel however you want so this is not a judgement of you. To that end, when you give an explanation about how you're losing weight, you are leaving out the most important detail and that is called a lie by omission. By omitting the fact that you had surgery, you are lying about how you are losing weight because but for the surgery, you would not be losing weight. Additionally, and again you're entitled to say whatever you can live with, as thesuse2000 put it, if you could do it with JUST the things you mentioned, why have the surgery? If you decide to answer the question "how are you losing weight", you should at lease tell them ALL of the facts. That's where it can seem as though you're being dishonest. If not for the people being honest and upfront about what helped them lose weight, many of us would not have decided to have this procedure. If not for seeing it work for someone else and hearing their "testimony", I would not have decided to have the surgery. I know many people that have had the surgery, had success with it and have no regrets. I too am a leader or "self starter" as you put it. However, this one area, I could not permanently help myself by keeping the weight off. I have lost and gained and lost more times than I can to mention, all in the last 10 years. I was not overweight until about 10 years ago and once I fell in that hole, every diet put me further and further away from my ideal healthy weight. I am an intelligent person and yet, I couldn't "do this" for myself. I really just wanted you to know that you could give someone the gift of courage to do what you're doing, like your one friend did for you by telling all the details. Lastly, to everyone that is open and weight loss surgery thank you for giving part of yourself to others in an effort to inspire and encourage them to brave and save their own lives.