pumpkin07

I'm in my 4th month, and my weight loss has slowed, not stopped, but slowed and I think it is because of snacking. I finally 'feel' my sleeve which is good b/c in the beginning food was really getting lodged in my throat more than my stomach. But ooooooh yeah when you get that sleeve full it is not comfortable. I think my challenge is always going to be keeping the Water intake up and not snacking on high fat foods. Sweets are not as appealing, but I suddenly find myself grazing in the evenings. Now I'm trying to get full and leave the kitchen alone. But I can see there are some habits I'm still going to have to work on leaving behind with the sleeve.

I bought a digital at costco and I love it. I notice it doesn't change every time you step on it. And it is a good 6 lbs heavier than my analog scale. Actually at first I used my analog scale and then I had to totally redo my ticker to adjust for using the digital scale. Best wishes to you - mine was like 24.99 at Costco and is beautiful. When my friend had her bypass surgery I bought her one and called it flowers and brought it to the hospital. She loves hers too.......

Wow...you are so awesome. 100 lbs in 5 months. That must be some kind of record. I am soooo happy for you, truly I am.

I'll be honest...almost none of this type of food works well for me anymore. Nibbles in small amounts, maybe a slice total, b/c it is all kinda dry, the sauces don't work out as well in my sleeve But I'm okay with the little bites as long as it is more of an appetizer and not the meal.

Bought some board shorts at Sam's to wear over my swimsuit - size MEDIUM....I wore the tags all night.

I always hope Oprah or Dr. Oz will talk more about weight loss surgery, particularly the sleeve. But I did hear Dr. Oz once say he did not have a problem with weight loss surgery for people with appetite control issues. It is a very proactive thing to do with a good doctor's advice. It is unusual to eat 7 lbs of food, you are right. Wow. I really pray for you to find the right doctors to lead you to the right decision for your health concerns..... This surgery, like dieting, is no 'piece of cake'. But...I see "Ruby" struggle on her show with self control, and I am so proud of her accomplishments. I don't follow her all the time, so I may have missed it if she ever addressed weight loss surgery. But I find myself wondering why she does not get a sleeve or similar. It must be hard to constantly fight cravings and know if you cheat it could leave to a major landslide that, for her, could last a few years. I believe once your stomach is all stretched out your appetite hormone is increased, and that it sort of leads a person to sustain a high weight. So in that way, to me 'forced' calorie restriction via a sleeve is a good solution. I wouldn't say a simple solution, but for me easier than what I see Ruby going through on her show. Food addiction is tough to give up without restriction, at least in my life that is true. I think sometimes we gain weight during bad times, and that even though the bad times have passed, we now have created a new problem that doesn't pass so easily. Problems sometimes start for one reason, but continue for another. I think that was the case for me anyway. I am happy in my life/marriage, etc. but definitely the weight didn't just fall off b/c I was happy. I admire you for being proactive and just like others want to make certain your doctor has your best interest at heart.

There are definitely people I've avoided over the years b/c of my weight. I imagine it felt good to feel that confidence. You and I are like the same beginning/current weight loss I noticed, and 40 lbs is huge to me. It isn't bringing me to my 'high school weight', but it is a big huge difference from 220ish.

I'm 4 weeks behind you at 10 weeks and hit the big FORTY today yeeeeeehaaaaaa! I really hope I'm also hitting the FIFTY at 14 weeks. But if not, it has still been a really great ride. I would have told you I'd NEVER reach goal. Now I'm slightly optimistic it just might be a possibility........I never lose weight, this is terrific. I've had 2 stalls on my way, but it gradually continues to melt away a pound here, a pound there, here a pound, there a pound, everywhere a pound pound!!!

I love swimming and waiting for my salt Water pool to warm up so I can get swimming. But a bigger pool would also be great to get big laps in.....tempting.....I'm a water bug. Your weight loss is amazing. I haven't lost that much that fast, and I have not exercised. So you are inspiring me.

This is my favorite thread too. I have so many NSV's in my life. At this point I am so happy I did the sleeve. I hope and pray it was a good decision for life. I love when you wake up in the night and discover a bone you forgot you had. It has happened to me with my ribs, my collar bone, and the bones in my forearm. I am waiting for the moment it is my hips. I love that my fat tummy is shrinking inward little by little and that my skin is okay so far. My funny story the other day was I was getting a massage, which I do not treat myself to quite often. My massages are a bit painful b/c I wait until I'm totally stressed out instead of going as often as I need to. And I think every time I go I'm a bit smaller and the massage gets closer to the bones and it just kinda hurts, a good hurt, but hurts. I let him go as deep as he can. So he was sort of massaging around my ribs and I winced and he asked if it tickled. I was like no it hurts. He said, "did it hurt before in your other massages?" I was like "No, I don't think I had any ribs to massage last time!". We both laughed. Another kinda funny NSV is that sometimes I have a good day and someone will look at me. I'm like all turning around behind me trying to see what they are looking at. It IS just plain weird, this crazy sleeve thing. And then yesterday I was at work in an office I don't go to a lot. This big girl just freaked out on me. She was like "AGH! WHAT! Where did you go? Where did it go?" She was just astonished. It was hilarious b/c she was totally in shock and not expecting it. My husband has a big b-day coming up. I bought a SLEEVELESS hawaiin-ish t-shirt dress that just has small straps. I have not shown my shoulders in a LONG LONG time. It was also probably one of my last Lane Bryant purchases b/c it was a 14/16 and so I have to find somewhere else to shop for the next size down. That was bittersweet b/c it is easy for me to find everything there. But it will be a little while before I'm out of there. Anyway, I know we all have these moments. It is totally cool, this crazy sleeve thingy. And I am enjoying it so much. I feel like I've shaved a lot of years off my life, and I'm also going back in time to days when I was more comfortable with myself and my body. My only regret is......that I gave away all my small size clothing about 3 years ago. Darn!

For sure she needs to talk to Robert or Garth Davis in Houston (Big Medicine /TV show). They did not do my surgery b/c I didn't know about them but a friend of mine went through 6 mos to prepare for her surgery and she got the best care ever. I wish I had gone there instead. Matthew St. Laurent is very good too.

It is weird how I became a seed/nut lover since the surgery. It seems to be such a great snack. How can you buy sunflower seeds toasted/roasted in the shell without so much darn salt?

I think gosh, you lost like a bunch of weight and you body is going..."What the?????". So realize your body needs a chance to adjust to all this and then you will suddenly start losing again. I think I stalled about the same time, then lost like a lb a day for a while, then gained a pound right after 2 mos from surgery and stalled again for a week. Then lost the lb, then another lb, then another lb in like a week. I think it is kinda cool and I just keep telling myself...."self...you are not eating much so the weight has to keep falling off". I like the little stalls b/c it gives me time to readjust emotionally to my new weight and anticipate the next change. I notice the physical changes happen a lot towards the end of a stall. Last night I knew I was losing again b/c I found my collar bone protruding. When I lay in bed I noticed my tummy pooch is now narrowing itself. I remember discovering my ribs at the last stall and that was cool. I remember pinching my waist and not finding a roll and that was so cool. I mean, definitely there is still a couple inches there but hard to grab now. Just enjoy the physical changes as well as the scale moving. Myself, I am waiting for the day that I turn sideways and there is NO hangover of my stomach. OMG that is a dream. I'm hoping my skin will continue to shrink itself. So far so good. But THAT damn hangover tummy roll is the biggest test of all. Have fun with this...you will not remain fat b/c you are not eating enough to remain fat. This is cool...enjoy the journey.

wow.....I have to say they are concerned about you and uninformed, but also, wow just a little manipulative. If my friends did that though I would have to really stop and listen to their concerns. Bc my friends are true and true. I did have one person against my decision but she was very respectful in how she voiced it. We were kinda food buddies too, going to lunch together, etc. We haven't discussed it much since then we just stay off topic. Her concerns though, they were valid. It was a big risk, maybe too big a risk looking back and realizing how serious complications can become. But no one was so disrespectful to me. I have to say I would listen to my friends concerns, but also really look at their motives and see if they are tried and true. But once you go for it, I hope they support you.

One good point with this surgery is that it does not require a lot of will power to lose weight. My husband knows I have very little success with dieting, but that was what was different about the sleeve than a diet - it is a tool to lose weight that controls me, instead of me having to control it. This surgery requires a short pre surgery diet that we all manage to survive perfectly or imperfectly, it requires the money or insurance to pay for it, it requires the guts to go through it, it requires the money or insurance to pay for complications if you happen to have some, it requires some cooperation with your own healthy recovery, and most importantly, it requires a really really great surgeon with a very proven track record of success. AND some support from family and friends is nice as well (not required, but wonderful if you have it). I am one of those that has very little patience, time, or history of success with diets. A long standing track record of failure with dieting. Yet with this sleeve/tool I eat as I did before, although less and differently. But /I don't have to have willpower to be moderately successful. The tool does its thing, you eat less b/c eating more doesn't work, and you win. So for me that is what makes it worth the investment and the risk. Something to think about.

I think in a way that our husbands do need support from their social network as we go through this. My husband told more people than I figured he would b/c he was upset and worried. Try to understand...

I understand. I've been there before too. You are smart to not write him. HIS LOSS.....who needs a guy that doesn't check on his girl after her surgery??? Not you!!!

Whoa what a cool story. That is really neat that your mother in law joined in. How cool. Best wishes you are doing great.

Well first of all I am so happy you are on foods. YEAH! You know I'm always telling everyone to boil a chicken...so boil a chicken. Can you eat broth with some slivers of overboiled chicken in it? If it were me I'd try to get the Protein in very natural ways, but gentle. If you need something crunchy...how about trying something that is crunchy but dissolves before you swallow it like lay's chips low salt or pringles...that is what I'd do. I had crunchy stuff pretty soon and I did better with that than with THICK stuff like tuna salad or refried Beans (had to be pretty thin) or even baked potato. If it is thick it is scarey to me. But finally, let me address your weight loss. I mean, one hell of a way to lose it of course Stacie, but let me tell you that you are over half way there and on some level you have to be loving that...or you will be soon.

They will throw you on the table in about 5 minutes once they know you have the money. lol But the thing is, you do miss out on so much of the nutritional training and psychological preparation. I regret that part. I had one session of each, it wasn't enough. I think that effects your outcome, so something to think about.

I'm hungry in my stomach. Doesn't feel a lot different than before surgery to me. Like right now my stomach is empty, I feel it, and I want to eat. I don't want sweets or bad things as much, but still those cravings are there. But a little bit satisfies me.

Sounds to me, honestly, like you are not thinking clearly. You cannot risk your health by making your own decisions at this point. It sounds like if you continue to go this route you are going to get very sick. Do not risk this. Things have not gone perfectly in your recovery, so please do not be in denial about that. You have developed complications at your incision site and also with your gallbladder. Do not deny it! Get back to that doctor and call the surgeon! I know you do not want the surgery, but honestly, you are not in a position to call the shots here. Do not risk your long term health because you do not 'feel 'like having surgery again. I'm just trying to tell you this based on what you wrote. I am not a medical professional, but I think you need one to respond.

The thing is, everyone needs sweats and just run around clothes, and it was always such a shame I could not just pick them up at Sam's bc the XL, and if they even had an XXL it was also too SMALL. Plus I'm short and it is hard to find petite women's sweats that fit. And who wants to hem a pair of SWEATS??? Not me!! Yesterday, 5 weeks out of surgery, picked up an XXL capri sweats at Sam's Club and said, "ooooohwwweeeeee these are big". Then grabbed a XL pair of sweats/capri cut and walked off with them to purchase. Stood in a long line and kept looking at the pants and finally realized..."Holy CRAP, this size is still too big." So then I HAD TO walk ALLLLLL the way back over there (with a big smile on my face) to get a size LARGE and took them home and they fit JUST RIGHT. Even if they shrink a bit they will still fit fine. SEVEN BUCKS, WOO HOOOOOO. Not to say a large would fit in every style, but second time I've bought something since surgery and both times it was NOT in the women's dept. THANKING GOD FOR THAT. I can't wait to be able to buy some petite low waist JEANS that are not Women's Petite...but not yet. My husband and sons sing "Pants on the Ground" after I've worn my jeans for a while. They get really baggy. But like someone else said, the waist isn't falling off. I'm still a bit swollen around the belly so until my bottom "row" of fat" deflates I'm trying not to wear new pants that are too snug there.

Well lookey here Sam, it takes time. And your body does stall a few weeks after surgery. And then you'll suddenly have this week in which every day you lose a lb and it is really fun. I did that and now I'm up a lb. But most people seem to lose 10-12 lbs a month so I think you've done great. Weight loss didn't stop, your body just needs a minute to hold onto your fat. But with the calorie restriction it can't hold onto it forever. Be patient, stop weighing. Weigh only one day a week and record it and you will see progress. If you weigh the other days that is just for fun.

Great Job - I am sooooo happy for you. Keep up the great work. This sleeve has been a real solution to your weight problems. You are almost there. Wow. In 7.5 months and the girl still has her hair. You rock.