MBird

I think it's a great practice to cut crap out of a healthier diet and just eat that sort of thing once in a rare while and in small, very small portion. I left the Facebook group because all anyone did was post about the crap they wanted to eat rather than truly healthy recipes. It got old and it was totally obvious how so many had eating disorders they didn't want to address. So sad to me and I'm far from perfect but try at least.

I kept my hunger at bay with protein. As soon as I slacked on that, I felt hungry and to be honest, when I lost 119, the hungry feeling was welcome, I knew I was not eating too much. It's natural and normal to feel some hungry. I feel like a lot of people are not eating right, or have head hunger, or don't realize being hungry is a bit of a good sign. I suggest OA for anyone who has head hunger.

May I suggest over eaters anonymous? That might sound flippant but honestly it sounds like you have an eating disorder if you're that concerned about what people think when you're eating smaller portions that will ultimately benefit you. It sounds like it's a mental issue with you, that you're craving that full feeling - and if the opinion of others concern you more than your health. Not good at all. The point is to become healthy, to restrict your stomach and make practical choices in the meantime, because the stomach will eventually stretch – but if you're not mentally sound, and you're craving food, and you're trying to fill a void, and you're trying to feel full, and you're concerned about everybody else except your health, then no matter how small they make the stomach it won't work. If you want to have more room to eat, then go see a nutritionist and have them give you a list of portion sizes that you can eat that are more than the gastric sleeve but less than what you eat now, and get on a nutrition program. If you can't do that then get the sleeve the way it's meant to be, and make a commitment to something that will add 20 years to your life – and consider over eaters anonymous, because it helps people with food addictions, all sorts of them. Sadly a lot of people are seeking a quick fix, and not to change their own lives through a conscious effort and hard work – self-realization is never easy but it is a sure path to peace.

I use Bio Chem, the absolute best on the market. I won't touch anything else after my surgery. Right now ( pre op ) I use premier but it has sugar and I won't want that after.

Congratulations! You're amazing, what a fantastic journey for you, and so much more good to come [emoji4]

I'm curious to hear from people who lost 200 or more pounds. I'd love to hear stories, as I find it inspiring and I think, not just me, but others can benefit. Before hand, a major congratulations to those who've lost 200+ pounds, and to all others sleevers too. No matter how much weight we've to lose, it's always a challenge and takes courage!

Congrats!! Keep up the fantastic work! I do both, measurements and pounds go hand in hand.

That's why God invented the internet and Doctors so you can use a tool called google or ask questions before hand. I'm sorry, but it sounds like you need a therapist as well, because anyone that would have such a drastic surgery and not have researched it to begin with, seems as if you fixated on something before hand for some odd reason at the expense of not researching , just as you are now and seem to be focused on all the negative aspects. Sometimes we talk ourselves into things. It seems like compulsive obsession, where you're coming from.

Yes that's exactly what it is, they do have more savvy political skills than "us fatties". The pot people are much more organized and have much more money, and there is visible fiscal benefit right away. It all boils down to money. One can't see a cost benefit for weight loss surgery for Colorado and other states, because it's expensive but one can see a fiscal benefit in the long run, because fatties don't have diseases that will cost in the long run. Pot is a multi billion dollar industry. Hence why they legalized it here in LV. Personally I'm glad, there are health benefits to pot, and it sure beats the heck out taking too many pain killers, or putting up with Tourette's, MS, Epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's and the list is really, endless. It's a fantastic alternative to very expensive medications [emoji4] [emoji265][emoji254][emoji1308]

I'm in LV and started my journey 15th of April 2016 to be approved for surgery. First class in May 2016. Surgery date is June 16th, 2017. It's being done by Dr. Soong. All together 14 months. lol.

Thank you!

14 months since first doc visit to the surgery. I'm due in June on the 16th. Very excited.

The sleeve weight loss is slower, to me that makes it healthier. But you lose the same amount of weight On the sleeve as you do the bypass. There are fewer complications with the sleeve. I've heard of people with the bypass ending up hospitalized because they can't get enough food or nutrition. Also with bypass, you will definitely be guaranteed saggy skin, the weight loss is so fast. Generally doctors suggest the bypass for people 400 and above.

Congrats!!! And many blessings to you!

Small price to pay if that's what they want. I personally could care less since my overall health is more important than nail polish.

It's taken me more than six months, a year, because I had to go through sleep study. A lot of people do not have your knowledge, hence the classes. Even after taking the classes a lot of people are still clueless because they didn't listen or comprehend. It's a good time to lose a few pounds prior to surgery or to start working out. Sure, you've done it before, probably yo-yo'd, I know I have but this time it's before surgery. So it's different. Completely understandable about the frustration but it's about being selfless in a sense so others don't fail. Insurance companies can't weed out who knows nutrition from those who do.

Juices are high in sugar and no good. Unless you make your own veggie juice with a juicer or limit your juice to very small portions and make it yourself. Fruit juices are high in sugar. Pop is no good either, bad nutrition and sugar content is off the charts. Diet pop is as bad as non diet pop, the aspartame can cause weight gain, stroke, and a myriad of other issues. Plus carbonation is uncomfortable for some sleeved patients. Eventually the carbonation will stretch the pouch as well if consumed too much in one sitting, just as regular water can if consumed too close to eating time and in one sitting. Both doctor and dietician said as much regarding all this.

I go between tracking and not, but that's due to tracking for the last ten years. At first, before phone apps, I tracked by hand in a journal, and it was the best thing I've ever done in my life because the information stays in my head. Now I use the Fitbit app, before that I used MyFitnessPal. I have a lot of memory committed regarding foods, my dietician was amazed I knew as much as her. I only track to see what certain food combos regarding weight loss and gain, result in - this helps me understand how my body works. I automatically, due to tracking for years, know how my body responds to certain food combos and foods. Also investing in a scale helps. The scale is important, so is measuring. I personally feel that tracking is crucial, especially for people who have never done it or are just out of WLS. Without tracking we have too many questions about why our bodies are gaining, losing, bloated, or stalled.

I think when our self esteem is low we can often times choose partners who do not have our best interest at heart. Maybe we feel we won't do better. Maybe we had a string of abusive relationships, so we don't know what a positive supportive relationship looks like. Maybe we grew up being told we are crud, so choose partners who echo those negative ideas about ourselves. When we make a choice to take control, we empower ourselves. We decide to draw the line, place the boundaries, make positive choices for ourselves that extend to lifestyle and relationships. Sometimes the people we chose when we were not at our best, become angry. We chose them when we were not at our best, so they most likely are not at their best either. Nothing feels worse than to see the person who was so tethered to misery with them, move forward in a positive direction without them. But, the most important thing to know for ourselves, is we cannot control anybody else's view of our choices. We cannot control their choices or lack of. At the end of the day, we leave it to God or a higher power, or we trust our own inner strength. We only have control over our own lives. Sometimes a partner may be supportive but afraid due to ignorance. We always know deep in our hearts what the solution is, sometimes the answer isn't what we would like to hear. Sometimes the solution a simple conversation with our partner. Deep down we know the outcome either way. Still, to be at peace, to feel empowered, to know our self worth, we have to do best by our self. I wish you peace and courage on your journey. I believe you will do what you know in your heart is the best thing for you.

I'm so sorry you deal with this crud. I chose bad friends years ago and spent the last year ending all relationships. Many returned into my life just to use me a second time. I've finally pushed them out of my inner circle and cut contact. Abusive past, so I chose poorly people who were like my abusers. As a result I'm with one friend who knows and is supporting me. He's a pastor and very loving. I feel blessed, as he is my best friend. I have a roommate too who cares, they will be driving me when I have the surgery. All others, such as family are at a distance. They don't keep in touch. For me it's as if people simply don't care. I'm realizing I have a lot of strength inside me. That I did the right thing to end friendships where people leaned on me a lot but didn't reciprocate. Negativity regarding your choice is their bit. It is Water off a duck's behind. Just be kind in all you do, don't let them bring you down to their level. Just be honest, say thanks, have a nice day, see you. You've the right to choose better, more supportive people. Also the right to be supported. You've done a lot of hard work. Hugs.

I like your enthusiasm but even with WLS, people can and do gain. If someone possesses an eating disorder, they may gain. If someone is not mentally sound, they have a high risk of gaining and even worse, falling into depression. One example, I read the post of a woman who managed to eat four bananas in a sitting and "guzzle" Water after her surgery, then complained she worried she stretched out her pouch. Ridiculous, and the perfect example of a person who will most like fail, even with WLS. It's a mindset with or without surgery. But the sleeve literally cuts away 80% of the stomach AND that's including the hunger hormone, so we have an advantage provided our obesity isn't due to food addictions. WLS is a tool. We still must make a lifestyle change for the rest of our life. As for calories I find from all my experience that the calories they site people ought to eat are ridiculously high. My Dietician and Psychologist even said they couldn't eat 1,800 -2,000 calories and both are active, athletic women. When I was a gym monkey and lost 119 pounds working out five days a week for 2 1/2 hours, I only took in maybe 800-1000 calories. Everybody's body is different. If we are wise we learn to listen our body and understand what its trying to tell us.

Thank you! Not depressed though! I did reply to someone who was I'm actually feeling pretty dandy lol

I wouldn't take the anti depressants unless prescribed by a shrink. Doctors are not specialized in that, in my opinion should not prescribe them for you. They alter your brain chemistry so after two weeks of being on anti depressants your serotonin levels will drop to make room for the fake stuff. This is why getting off the depressants difficult. You'll never be happy again after that unless you alter everything like nutrition, exercise etc, which we all would be better off doing. Please don't take them. Stick with the sleeve, you know what is best for you.