Dawn306

Pejela, Thanks, it's always good to know that I am not alone, and that I didn't pour my heart out for nothing. My surgery is one day after yours. Wishing you the best of luck! I am going to Tijuana, flying from Saskatchewan, Canada on Wednesday. You will be a day ahead of me. Are you going to Tijuana too?

It's going to take our surgeon's work and our ongoing efforts and smarts to make our "after" photos the state we remain in. You've got that right! Cheers to us!

Wow, and ditto, and holy cow!! I agree with most of the reasons why we all haven't posted our pics. And Holy cow for those of you that did post pics in this thread! Whether or not you are at goal, you all look wonderful! Dub, I too have a set of before and after pics from one of the many times I lost weight. But, here I am again. We all are doing what we know is going to work for us. I start my sleeve weight loss journey August 12th. Congrats to all of you who are already doing so well! I hope to be able to do as well as you all. In fact, you all inspire me! Thanks for being here, and for sharing!

Hi Catherine, I felt the same way a couple of days ago when I read that same post! I was already kind of panicking, and that just made it so much worse! But, I think that person didn't think it through, and that is her biggest issue. She goes on and on about how to lose weight "properly" with diet and exercise. Right, like we all didn't try that a dozen times already? I also have the education that she talks about (mine is a Masters of Science in Kinesiology), but I have been around long enough to know that the same ol' same ol' just doesn't work for everyone. I had gotten into that field because I wanted to research more about weight loss and why it doesn't work for everyone, but the peer pressure was overwhelming. You can't be in that industry and go against the grain. You have to learn what they teach, and then spew it back at every client you have. This is what this person is doing. Sure, she did the whole fitness and diet thing and it worked for her. Yay for her. However, because she is sleeved, she has the advantage of not gaining it all back. She is what? 21? A baby! I thought I had the world by the tail when I was that age too. I was always able to diet and exercise to get back to my healthy weight - at that age. In my 20's, easy peasy! In my 30's, well, a little more work, but I went to WW and became a lifetime member! Woo hoo! And then I had an injury that didn't allow me to exercise, that I was on pain killers for for months. Over the next two years I had two surgeries, and gradually, gradually, I gained it all back, plus more. But wait! There's more! Long story short, I lost that weight again using a low carb diet, gained it again, lost most of it on WW again, then gained it all again, and have been trying, unsuccessfully to lose weight for the last two years. I just go up and down. I'm in my 50's now. That is why I have decided to get the sleeve. So that my weight loss will be permanent this time. I know many of you can identify with my yo-yo dieting throughout my life. But this is what the poster of "why getting the sleeve was the worst thing I have ever done" is not able to identify with. She hasn't spent 50 or 60 years fighting with her weight. She made a quick decision and then after is regretting it. But her regret is only there because she is not aware that all the exercise and dieting in the world doesn't work after a while. She is lucky. She won't have to live her life constantly beating herself up because she gained weight again. She just doesn't have enough experience to know that. But we know that. And we know that we are on the right track to making our next weight loss journey a truly lasting successful one. Right?! Oh, and BTW, same goes for the mister know-it-all who did only his pre-op diet and then backed out of the surgery and started exercising and eating right...yada yada yada...you know the one.

@@Daisee68 I love chocolate shake with a banana and a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. Blend with ice in blender and YUM! What is PB2? I've seen a few people mention it.

No problem. But don't go overboard adding all kinds of stuff to the smoothie. It's kind of cheating......but the rule with full liquids is if you can drink it and don't have to chew it, then it's allowed. You don't want to have too many calories at this point either, so I would say only do a smoothie once in a day. You technically could drink milkshakes too, but our common sense tells us that would not be a healthy choice. So, go with your common sense and keep it healthy. Good luck to you too. When and where is your surgery? Mine's August 12th in Tijuana, MX with dr. Ponce de leon.

With full liquids, you have tons of choices. You can pick up some of the Premier Protein shakes at costco, and have one of those. I like to use it as a base for a smoothie, with a banana and some ice and a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. You can have broth - lots of the tetra pack broths and stocks are quite tasty. With salt added. You can have milk and buttermilk and yogurt drinks. Could add some vanilla yogurt to the smoothie too. Tomato juice, V8, clamato with non-alcoholic beer, juices, even diet pop if you want, but we will have to give up carbonated drinks after the operation. I've run out of ideas, but with a full liquid diet, you have lots and lots of choices. Oh yes, and Jello, and popcicles, since they go back to Water once you eat them. I'm doing that too, and haven't found it too terrible for the first day. Then I have to do three days of clear liquids before surgery. That will be the hardest, I think. Let me know how you are doing in a few days!

@@Teesaa Me too! I have IBS and fibromyalgia, and my husband is more concerned than me. He is afraid that it will contribute to all the things that give me grief now. I just hope for no complications and no leaks, and hope for the best.

I have IBS and I also was told to use probiotics. It doesn't seem to matter which ones I take. I can say that I didn't notice anything with all the various pill style ones I have tried, but then I tried Kefir (in the milk cooler), and I did notice I had a lot less gas and less stomach upset. Kefir is a fermented milk product, and the unflavoured tastes like buttermilk. I have also used the flavoured (tasted like a yogurt drink but a little more sour), but I have since moved to the unflavoured to avoid the sugar.

Do you get full liquids, or do you have to stick with clear liquids?

Thanks Babs, I do know about the slower weight loss that happens with age. Post menopause for sure made a big change in my body and my metabolism. Thanks for your response. You are doing great! I will take inspiration from your success!

Hi, I know what you mean. I was trying to keep my upcoming date a secret for the same reason, as some good friends had expressed their very negative opinion of it when we were discussing it a while back. But please don't worry. I was second guessing myself badly yesterday, but then today I spoke to my neighbor's daughter who had hers done about 6 weeks ago in Mexico, and she is really happy she did it, has no regrets and no problems. So I am trying to be positive about it again. You chose to have this done for a reason. Think again of those reasons. That will help put you on the right track again. From what I have read on the forums here, it is hard, and you have to be prepared to work at it. But if you do, you won't regret it.

Hi all, I'm 58 and tired of being fat. I'm scheduled for surgery August 12th. I had a bad day yesterday, and almost backed out. Nerves, I guess. Do we have a harder time of it, or more side effects, or do we heal slower than younger folks? My neighbor's daughter got her sleeve about 6 weeks ago, and she has had no problems and no regrets. I sure hope it will be the same for me!

Hi all! I'm scheduled for August 12th with dr. Ponce de leon. Flying in same day. I have been stressing, but think I'm OK now. Anyone else scheduled for the 12th in Tijuana?

Thanks LoreLu for your encouragement. I have posted in a couple of forums, looking for some support and encouragement, since I really had a day of panic and regret yesterday. Yours was the only response that I got. So, thanks again! I'm still a "go" for August 12th.

AvaFern, you barf twice a day?? That makes me wonder why I want to do this (scheduled for August 12th). How do you handle that if you are out at a restaurant? Or at a friend's house? I would want to hide myself away so no-one knew I was barfing! I don't have as much to lose as some of you - I have to lose 60 pounds or so. So I am wondering if weight loss is worth barfing twice a day. If you had to do it again, would you?

I'm August 12th too. Have started my pre-surgery diet of liquids for 2 days, then liquids with salad, then liquids with chicken, then liquids with salad and chicken and rice. Then, three days of liquids only before surgery. I've been doing the "Oh, no, what have I done?" thing a lot lately. Tried to see if I could get my air miles back if I cancelled my flight - answer was no. Arggh! Slipped and had an oreo blizzard last night. It was sooo good. Just the thought that this surgery is permanent - I might not be able to have ice cream ever again - just the thought is scarey. I want to lose the weight, but I want to still be able to have ice cream. It's so hard! Have been trying to eat a lot less lately, and I'm so hungry! I really hope that the hunger is less after surgery. The doctors claim that it is. I had never heard of Grehlin before (the hormone that causes hunger and is in the stomach). Has anyone else?

Thank you for the bio Alex. It somehow is nice to know that you also struggled with losing weight all of your life, as did I, and, I imagine, many others reading your articles. It gives you more credibility, at least in my mind. Thanks for this, and thanks for starting this site. It has been extremely helpful to me. You must feel satisfied with your job, and good about yourself, because you are doing something that is close to your own heart, and that also helps people. Great job!!

Alex, I wonder if the doctors in Mexico (who advertise on this site) are up to date on this procedure? Do you know if they have any experience with it? I would be afraid of the balloon moving, and blocking off the entrance of food into the stomach from the esophagus. Or what if you go on a plane, and the decreased pressure caused it to expand and block it? My BMI is 32, and I am booked for gastric sleeve (self-pay). My husband is afraid of long term complications. I wonder if this balloon would be a better option for me?

Thanks for posting this, even though you say it's been beat into the ground. I haven't gotten my sleeve yet, and have only been following the boards for a few days. hair loss is one of the things I am afraid of the most. I already have very fine hair, and any thinning would be very noticeable. I see how much weight you have lost! That is fantastic! And you are exercising like crazy. I wonder if you should cut back a bit on your exercise? Maybe give your body a chance to get used to this new weight.

Hi, I wondered the same thing. I have a pre-op diet that is first two days liquids, then next day add a salad, then next day add cooked veg, then next two days add rice and chicken, then repeat. But only liquids for last three days before surgery (tea, Jello, vegetable broth, fruit juices). But, there is no mention of Protein powder. Maybe we only need the Protein Powder after the surgery? Can any of you who have already been sleeved tell us what to expect in terms of diet? One of my biggest questions is: what do I take with me when I go to Mexico for my surgery? Do I have to bring protein powder? Juices? Anybody know?

My date is August 12th. It sounds like we all have different pre-surgery diets to follow. Mine is two days of fluids, then I add a salad on the third day, then salad and vegetables, then add rice, then add chicken on the last two days. Then I repeat. But fluids only for the three days prior to surgery. What is everyone else doing?

Hi, I am also in Regina, Sk. I am pre-surgery - getting my surgery in Mexico so that I can skip the waiting. I am curious to know what kind of help you are getting from the bariatric program? Is it the same old "eat less and exercise more" kind of bs? Cuz we all know how well THAT works! But seriously, I would love to know what kind of diet they want you to follow, since I don't get any pre-op assistance at all. I think I have to do fluids only for a week before surgery, but that's all.

That's very encouraging. Thanks @@Mbstas!

Thanks for your response. What kind of diet are you following now? I wonder if part of feeling better is due to eating a healthier diet?