Islagirl#1

Congrats! I'm 3 weeks our. The first 4 days I couldn't stand trying to get protein drinks in and just took it very, very slowly. By day 5 something clicked and things became easier. My biggest piece of advice it to walk often - the most painful part of the surgery is just getting all of the gas out that they fill you with. On a scale of 1 to 10 my pain never hit more than a 3, which was a pleasant surprise

Today marks 3 weeks since my life-changing surgery. I'm down 13 pounds from that day, and more importantly, I have a sense of dedication that I've never felt before. I have stayed with the eating plan, and I have walked every day. Fitbit is my new best friend - I've been over 10,000 the past 3 days in a row and I'm tracking everything that goes into my mouth. I know it sounds crazy, but I honestly feel as if my brain had surgery, too!

I am so sorry, but it sounds like he isn't in it for the long run. I've been watching that show "My 600 pound life" and it's crazy to me how many of the spouses are in the same frame of mind. They like the security of having a fat partner, and being needed. However, the passive aggressive part is that they also like knowing they have the upper hand, as the fat partners generally don't feel secure enough to leave a relationship, even a bad one. Good for you for taking control of your life. If you can get him into counseling maybe you can help him through this, but the bottom line is that you need to be your number one priority. Best wishes to you on your journey

Wow! Great work - you look amazing

I agree with the the advice on history of trying. My insurance company was a stickler on that. Bring dates, pounds lost, etc. Especially important will be proof of a diet plan tried in the past 12 months. I'm only 2 1/2 weeks out and I feel so amazing! I know it's only my stomach that was cut but I feel like part of my brain was also changed that day. I see food very differently now, and it's been really easy to eat right. Good luck!

I was sleeved on 1/25 also. I'm 5'10 and my surgery weight was 242. I hit 233 today, 2 weeks out, and I'm pleased with that! People who have more to lose are going to have faster weight loss, and that's ok. Just imagine - have you ever lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks before? Hang in there - it all adds up!

24 pound in 1 1/2 months is amazing! I would be thrilled. Keep on doing the right things and it will start coming off again

i have to be honest. I thought liquids for 2 weeks would be horrible, but I'm feeling so empowered that it really hasn't been hard. I have hope and feel in control for the first time in a loooooong time. I am enjoying every bit of this journey and I'm so excited to shed this fat suit.

Congratulations on your success, and thank you for sharing such a positive and inspirational message

I could barely gag down protein drinks for the first 5 days after surgery. Something changed on day 6 and I'm now able to get 2 in per day. Water is also very easy now. I think part of the issue is that anesthesia makes things taste funny, and the swelling is still pretty prevalent. I was sleeved 1/25 so I am right there with you. It gets better every day.

I'm only 12 days out. The first 4 weeks for me are liquids and then puréed foods. That's a challenge, but the amazing payoff is so with it! For the first time ever I feel like I'm going to get back to the weight I should be. I feel fantastic and am happy that the surgery will give me the tools I need to make the right decisions. The choice is yours - are bad eating habits more important to you or is losing weight? I wish I had made the decision at 26.

Yum! Cauliflower is the new potato : )

I get to have puréed foods Monday, too! I'm so excited. Who knew that puréed foods could be so thrilling? I can't have potatoes because they are on my lifetime avoidance list, but I am craving mashed cauliflower!!

I was sleeved 1/25 too! I am on clear liquids, protein drinks, and plain Greek yogurt for 2 weeks. After that I can have puréed foods for 2 weeks. Hey - good to see another 1/25 person here! How are you doing?

The real you??? That's really sad

I had my surgery 1/25. I'm 5'10 and my weight on surgery day was 242. Everything went well, and I've actually had a ridiculous amount of energy since the procedure. My first 4 days were a huge struggle to choke down Protein shakes, but on day 5 something clicked and they suddenly didn't taste so bad. The bad - I am craving food. I'm not hungry but I crave it in the way that a smoker craves smoking even though they are wearing a nicotine patch. It's going to take time to reshape my relationship with food. I also had horrible headaches Day 2-4, bit that has finally stopped. The good - I feel like I have hope to reach a healthy weight for the first time in a long time. I have energy and feel really, really good. I am excited to step on the scale now. My goal is to get to 150. I know I can do it, because I weighed that for a long time. I find it crazy that I thought I was fat at that weight! Thanks to all who share their stories and advice here. It's so nice to have all this support and motivation.

Scoots - hang in there! Walking and walking and more walking will help a lot, as will GasX. Days 1-3 were a little painful, but nothing that ibuprofen and acetaminophen couldn't handle. The key is to work that has out of your body. That was the worst part for me, too.

My best friend was the first person I told. She is overweight, too, and that's been a big bond we have shared. She has been so incredibly supportive and honest with me. She cried and told me she was facing her own fears of me being thin and her being the fat friend. My hope is that my heavy friends will see that they have options and that I can be a resource for them. I'm only a week out so I have no idea where this journey will take me, but I'm excited

I get the one about people almost thinking I was fat enough all the time. It makes me laugh. I'm tall and my BMI at surgery date was 35.5. I simply tell them that I appreciate their kind words, but that I met medical criteria for having the surgery. Not only was my BMI high enough, but I also have apnea and high triglycerides. I also watched my father almost die from obesity related conditions in the past year, so I'm choosing a different path.

I only needed ibuprofen and acetaminophen. On a scale of 1 to 10 my pain never got higher than a 3. You will do great!

Great story - congrats on your success!

Annette - have you seen a hematologist? I don't have to do anything on a routine basis, including dietary restrictions. The hematologist said the risk of clots is higher after surgery, and that risk is for 30 days, so he prescribed the shots. The needles are tiny and it's no problem. I will say that my surgeon is considering not doing sleeve for Factor 5 patients in the future and only doing bands. She had a patient with a different blood disorder and a history of blood clots have a complication recently. She actually called me into her office to let me know about it and she let me choose whether or not I wanted to proceed with the sleeve or switch to band.

Thanks! I'm so thankful to have found this wonderful place to inspire me, calm me, motivate me. What better network of support than others who are on the same journey!

The part that gets me most is that society judges people so harshly for being overweight, yet many of those same people also do the same when they hear about a person having surgery. We have to stick together - this forum is a great place to get the support you need and deserve. Your sister sounds like she's maybe jealous of the new you

So glad to hear you are feeling better!