Rev Me Up!

I think all sugar free stuff is OK to use, as long as you are getting in nutrients with it. I, personally, can't stand the taste of faux sugar. Also, I found that my sweet tooth disappeared after surgery. Everything seemd too sweet.

I would take the multiple burps as a sign to stop in the very beginning. Since you are on liquids, you may never really get full. If it slides right through, you don't have a chance to feel fullness. Just keep sipping and you won't hurt yourself. And, don't worry, when you start solids and mushies, you will be shocked at how quickly you fill up. I could only get down the equivalent of 2 tablespoons of food - and that took 20 minutes!!!! You'll take 3 bites and feel like you just scarfed down Thanksgiving dinner :-)

HI Vicki- A lot of the answers depend on your situation. Skin: you didn;t metion how much weight you need to lose. The more weight, the more likelihood of sagging skin. I did not have as much to lose as others, but my skiin sags from my pregnancy 7 years ago. I was obese and pregnant and my stomach and boobs are the worst sagging areas. I am not too upset about it, but I wil never be able to wear a bikini, no matter how small I get. Dumping: a reaction your body has to too much sugar. Generally, you don't have that problem with the sleeve because your intestines and everything are intact. This is a gastric bypass issue, I believe. That does not mean you won't have weird reactions to food for a while. I still can't eat ice cream, but that's OK with me. I eat other sweet things with no problems. Lack of results: Hasn't been a problem for me, but there are some active threads out there about it. You have to try and keep perspective with your weight loss. There will be times when you are not losing (stalls) but they always pass. Keep your mind focused toward the long term result and don't get too addicted to your scale. Energy: I had terrible energy problems, but I also didn't do Protein drinks or anything like that. Most people report having a great amount of energy after the surgery. Most important to stay hydrated and do everything you can to stick to your doctors plan 100% side affects: right after surgery there are all sorts of weird sensations. I felt like I had morning sickness all day long. Nothing sounded good to eat, everything smelled weird. It was a real challenge to get in any protein. But, my experience is different from others. Good luck!

Hi- I think most of the change comes from inside of you. You won't even realize that you are smiling more, carrying yourself with more confidence, etc. People react to that more than anything. In my personal life I have been very fortunate not to lose any friends. My husband has always been supportive and the only change in our "personal" time really comes from me being less inhibited about my body. Good luck!

I made up my goal. I took a weight that was in the middle of the healthy weight range, based on my BMI. I also kept in mind times in my life when I was slimmer and did a reality check on the healthy weight number. You may want to consider having a lower weight to aim for - you are going to be shocked at how the weight will fall off of you :-) Good luck!!

I am full of successes this month. I think I was in a plateau and I didn't even realize it because I lost another 3 pounds this week and suddenly all my size 10 slacks were hanging on me. Got some size 8 retro flare slacks from Penneys and some size 8 slacks from Sears. They all zipped and look great! I even found some size 8 bootcut jeans that fit. Size 8 pants. Seriously, sweeter words have never been said...

it is really common to stall around 6 months. my advice would be to not worry about the pounds lost by a certain date. you may stay around this weight for a little while until your body readjusts again. i slowed from months 6-8 and have suddenly started losing again. as long as you stick to your program, it will happen!! take a vacation from your scale for a couple of weeks, if you can.

Go slow!!!! I used a baby spoon for a couple of months to remind me how small of bites I should be taking. Also, I couldn't eat more than about 3 bites - and that took me 20 minutes!!! Chew until it is liquid, and then swallow. Also, eggs and Beans may not be good ways to start. Easiest for me were: cottage cheese, very mashed sweet potato with salt, yogurt, soft cheese. That's all I ate for a while. I still can't eat refried beans without feeling queasy after (bummer, because I love it), and eggs were off limits until about 6 months. Even then, I could only get down about half of one. Take your time and don't do anything that is uncomfortable.

I can confirm the dry skin chage. I used to use acne control moisturizer. Now I can use the heavy Oil of Olay and my skin eats it up. I also started using a neck firming cream by Bare Escentuals. I really like it. The lack of padding and the dry skin can make the wrinkles appear more easily, but moisturizer is my friend. Looking forward to SPring so the weather isn't battling so much with my dry face.

I parted with my band in March... and I don't miss it!!!!! I think that former bandsters are very good sleeve patients. We are so used to the weird eating rules that the sleeve rules seem quite easy. So happy for you and hope everything goes well. The band SUCKS.

So sorry to hear this!!!!! Make sure with your doctor that you don't have a stricture or other physical problem. Otherwise, I can echo the advice here with one addition: drink full sugar drinks. If you are getting almost no nutrition, you need the full sugar / salt drinks and popsicle to keep your body together. Pedialyte popsicles are an awesome recommendation. There were some days that the only way I could get any liquid in was via posicles. Fruit pops, old school kool aid type pops, pedialyte pops, anything I could get my hansd on. Keep them going throughout the day and you will get at least some liquid and calories in. ALso, I agree with the PPI. I was on one for months and never had nausea / vomitting. Good luck and keep us posted!

I honetly hope that this remains true for you in your heart. At the end of the day, those numbers really do not matter. You have to be happy in who you are. I think a lot of us have learned that the weight loss alone will not guarantee happiness. So happy for you and your success. Now you have to find another part of your life where you can kick ass and take names! Wishing you all the best---

Cool post! The interesting part of the journey for me has been the need to buy new clothes. I didn't really treat myself to clothes very often before because things didn't look good on me. That has been a huge change. I love to buy clothes :-) It is the one thing I will save up for. Nothing makes me happier than to put on all my new, smaller stuff. Totally, shallow, I know. Also, I have been spending a little more money on getting massages. Now my muscles hurt from exercise rather than carrying around extra body weight. I am so much more patient and happy for my family as a result of these little indulgences. They totally see the difference.

I am a low BMI patient - started at 31. I have recently shot past my goal. I am about 9 months out. So far, I have no regrets. I'm not saying the journey was easy - it is mentally very difficult. You will have to face each and every one of your food demons in a real and emotional way. You won't be able to eat the things you want sometimes. You won't be able to mindlessly chew on something in front of the TV. You will be surprised at how some of these things will get to you. I've lost 64 pounds and I am absolutely thrilled with how I look and my health. I think that the surgery affects us low BMI folks a little differently. I have struggled a lot with fatigue and have not exercised like I should because of it. This is a somewhat drastic answer to a weight problem, but is permanent and the results are fantastic. I was never good at dieting. This is the only way I was ever going to lose that weight. Good luck to you in your decision!

I love cruises - and how cool to have a kid-free, hubby-free vacation. You gals are going to have a great time!!! If I remember right, the buffet will usually have an omelette station for Breakfast, assorted yogurts, and cheeses / meats. Stick to those and grab a yogurt to stash in your purse for a mid morning snack. The cool thing about a cruise is that there is so much variety. in my opinion, the only tough thing will be telling the waiters repeatedly that you don't want all the food when you are at dinner. I remember cruising before the sleeve and having 2 dinners beause they kept bringing them out. Find your favorite things and enjoy them. You girls will be so busy, there won't be time to graze. Focus on the activities, buy some spa time, and take some tours. Make sure to have a snack in your bag and you will have an awesome time. Have fun!!!

Holy Moly, I can't imagine an aggressive Europe schedule that soon after surgery, but it looks like you are making the best of it!! I was dead-exhasted for 8 weeks after surgery - no way I would have been a good travel companion. The best thing in Europe are the breakfasts, no? All the cheese, meat, and yogurt a new sleever could ask for!! I did a work trip to the UK at about 3 months post op and I would raid the Breakfast offerings and stuff them in my purse for later. I took a yogurt for breakfast, a spare yogurt for later, and a packet of hot Cereal that I would make with hot milk in the office. Peel the meat off a sandwich, toppings off of a pizza, or order a tapas plate and I was good to go. String cheese was another purse-staple. BTW - oatmeal, hot meusli, or whatever you can find may help your constipation issues. I religiously ate at least one meal of whole grain hot cereal a day in the first few months. Bon chance!

Ha!!! Nice post :-) I eat 5-6 times a day and as I get further out from surgery, some of those mini meals are not very nutritious. I eat Chipins (chips made from popcorn) if they are in the house. They are my cryptonite.

Sounds like your calories are in a good range for being 3 months out. My only advice is to put the scale away for 10 days or so and try not to worry about it. The scale does not define all of your success. Think about the inches you have lost - that is amazing!!! At several times on the journey your body will hang on to Water for no particular reason, but your body will start re-distributing and inches will be falling off of you. If you know you have multiple stalls you may want to only weigh yourself once every 2 weeks. And never, ever weigh yourself during that TOM. That's just torture. Take yourself shopping and marvel in the new small sizes you fit into :-) Good luck---

I think it depends on the person. Some people go a little crazy if they have white carbs (bread, Pasta, potato, rice). I have also found that I don't have room for anything after my 5 bites of dense Protein. In fact, I am having a terrible time getting in veggies because I don't have the room. Because of the capacity issue, I always eat protein first. My carbs are usually whole grain crackers that I eat with cheese. I also don't do anything sugar free - just don't like the taste of fake sweetener. However, I found that sweet things don't appeal to me anymore. I would rather eat dark chocolate than milk chocolate. I do find that when I restrict carbs too much that my brain gets really foggy. I add in some good whole grains and I feel a bit better. Just my experience. Final note about white carbs: I have found that they all give me pretty bad heartburn so I don't eat them. Seems like my sleeve has taken care of that problem for me - at least for the time being :-)

The holidays are tough. Don't worry about the gain - think of how much we all used to eat before the sleeve. 1.5 pounds is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I think that next year will be easier for you. This is the first holiday since the sleeve and you are still so early out. After a few more months go by it will be easier to eat and you will be more used to your portions and you won't have as much emotional attachment to it. Keep reminding yourself that there will be another Thhanksgiving next year and you will be in a completely different place emotionally and physically by then. Turkey Day is not gone forever :-) You will be able to enjoy your favorites (end even discover some new ones) and enjoy them in reasonable quantities again. Hang in there---

Hi- I didn't do the Protein drinks because I couldn't stand the taste. Do your best to get the fluids in and get protein where you can. Drink milk, drink liquid yogurt, keep eating the cheese and yogurt. I also added in thin sliced deli meat with cream cheese rolled up in it. When you can graduate to meat, the protein numbers really go up. Don't worry about the scale right now. Calories in vs calories out = you will lose weight. Try to stay away from the scale for at least a week at a time. Especially in the first month. There is a stall you will experience in the first 3-5 weeks that really bums a lot of people out. Better to focus on liquids and protein and leave the scale alone if you can. Just do your best!!! I never got in the liquid or protein that was recommended. My side affect was that I was really tired for the first couple of months. I don't think it was the right thing to do, but it was the best I could do. If you try your best, it will be OK. If you are tracking calories and not hitting your targets, try eating smaller portions more often. I ate 6 or more times a day for several months. Even now I eat 5 times and sometimes more. Just make sure they are nutritious :-) Good luck!

It is hard for me to remember when food started to feel better. Even now, if it is the wrong food, or I don't chew, or I eat too fast/too much it is uncomfortable. There are a couple of major milestones that seem to change how we feel. 3 months is where you can eat the 2 bites and feel less weird. 6 months is where you can eat a bit more and more variety. In the first several months I ate 6 times a day. I portioned everything out into baggies in the morning. I ate yogurt, cheese, and meat. I would have a little oatmeal for Fiber and always take my Vitamin. This helped me get closer to the goals the doc set for me but I think I was around 600 cals per day for at least 4 months. Eating was not a pleasurable experience. It was something I did to survive. I would get weird hot flashes when I was eating. Sometimes I felt like my body would rush all the blood I had to my stomach when I ate - my heart would pound. It will pass, but you are also learning good lessons during this time. I am about 9 months out and I still eat 4-5 times a day because I eat really small meals. Ice cream makes me sick. Bread gives me terrible heartburn. Dark chocolate is my new favorite thing, and my love affair with chicken continues... If I eat too fast, my stomach will be unhappy. I never drink anything after I eat, because it feels horrible. These don't seem like "problems" to me now because they quickly become a habit. Hang in there!!

I would go see a dermatologist to get a professional opinion, especially if you have never had skin problems before. I know my skin has changed drastically, but it doesn't look bad. I went from having the occasional breakout and using the lightest face cream possible to having really dry skin. I have to use a heavy cream (I also use neck firming cream on neck and chest) to keep from looking wrinkled. My skin looks good if I keep up with my moisturizing regimen. So, yes, the skin changes. But, it soulnds like that change can be different for everyone. Maybe your dermatologist can recommend a good facial regimen for you as well (peels, etc.) I know a lot of people would tell us both that we should probably drink more Water. I really suck at that :-) Hope you find a good answer...

The first couple weeks are pretty tough. Everyone experiences them differently. If you need an IV, go get one. You don't want to jeopardize your health. I could not drink much at all - Water, Soup, anything. The Protein made me gag and to this day I can't drink a Protein Drink. Here's how I got through the first few weeks: - heating pad. I had that thing by my side at all times and I slept with it too. Even after the discomfort stopped, I slept with it as a security thing for a couple of weeks. Totally helped. - Change up the liquids. I know we are not supposed to have sugar, but I was starving myself badly because I wasn't drinking anything at all. So, I switched to full sugar gatorade. I would dilute it because the flavor was too strong, but I got some electrolytes and some fluids and I felt better. I also started drinking milk. As soon as possible, I started drinking liquid yogurt and not the sugar-free kind. Your doctor may not recommend that for you, but that is what I did to maintain my health. I should say that something that tasted good one day would taste terrible the next, but I kept trying so that I could stay hydrated and nourished. - My doc said no Vitamins for the first 2 weeks so I didn't worry about it. - ACID REDUCER!!!! You must take one. I had dissolvable nexium from Mexico. Ask your doctor what you can have that blocks the acid production. I took this religiously for several months. In fact, in the second month I was taking 2 a day. These will save you!! The side affect for me: water tasted terrible. I finally realized that was why I had such an aversion to drinking water in the beginning - my acid reducer changes my tongue somehow. However, you need to take the acid reducer so your stomach can heal and you don't damage your esophagus. - Try to treat each day as a new experience. This part of the journey really sucks. I was dead-exhausted for 8 weeks because of the lack of protein and calories I took in. It was horribly depressing and I thought I would never get through it. After this, you will feel better. You will have different hurdles as you go along (head hunger, anyone?). This is by far the hardest part. Do everything you can to stay hydrated, it will help. You will make it!!!