Jenopolis

This is such an interesting question. I didn't purposely tell a lot of people beforehand, and I have never mentioned it at work because I don't talk about personal stuff at work, it's kind of a formal office. That said, since the surgery, many people have asked me for my "diet secret", and I am always open and say, I had weight loss surgery. You asked about what bad things people can say-- they don't say "bad" things in my experience, it's more of a "ohhhhh, so you took the easy way out" kind of thing. Which annoys me because it is NOT easy, the first few months are horrible, and even now, 8 months out, I don't eat sugar, bread, or any other simple carbohydrates. I don't drink fizzy anything, I take a gazillion vitamins day and night, and I measure my protein and fluids every day to make sure I don't lose muscle or get weak and light-headed. Is it worth it? Hell yes! I've been following diet rules for years with nowhere near these results, so following the rules and actually losing weight is a dream come true. And most people just tell me "you look great" and move on, no big conversation wanted or needed. But the only bad I can think of is the perception that you don't earn this weight loss-- which is silly and totally wrong, but whatever. Whatever you choose, there is no right or wrong way to do it, imho. Also-- I think you'll be pretty damn happy with your life and weight loss, so that cushions the blow. Good luck!!

Thanks for everyone's perspective and support! You guys are great, it's just so good to hear from people who have been there. Update: a couple months later now, and I've lost over 100 pounds, and I do get comments. Nothing that makes me uncomfortable, mainly a "you look great" here and there. Not necessary, I know. *I* am happy with how I look and that's the important thing... but obviously good to know I'm not the only person who sees the new me in the mirror!

5 months post op. 1. Don't underestimate how much time and help you will need in the beginning. I thought that since I recovered from the surgery so quickly, I would be fine to go back to being a mom/employee/wife/member of society right away. I ended up being tired to the point of depression trying to keep up with everything. You are basically going through withdrawal for weeks, living on protein shakes until you want to throw them at a wall and erase the memory of that fake sweet taste from your life forever. And you have little energy for handling life, especially if you are a person who is used to handling a LOT of balls in the air, which is so many of us! So take the time off, ask for help if you can, and be gentle with yourself. 2. IT WILL GET BETTER. I had major doubts about that for the first weeks. I hated life, and hated that I had the surgery, and thought I was doomed to be a freak who couldn't even eat meals with her family anymore. Ummmmm. Yeah, none of that turned out to be true. 3. Be strict with yourself and build discipline, follow your doctor's orders, but allow yourself regular "treats" so that you don't ever REALLY feel the urge to mess up. For me, the treats are those flip Greek yogurts with crunchy things, or Pure Protein Crunch Bites, a bag of Skinny Pop, or even just a big cup of hazelnut coffee-- I feel like I can love life when I can have those things on the regular! And I still get all my protein and water in, so I know I'm doing okay and my weight loss is good. Most importantly, I stay away from bread and fries and cupcakes and the things that could really do me in.

Congratulations, sounds like you have done amazing! I do think that our bodies get plateaus where they feel "happy", but you will push past that eventually if you keep trying as hard as you are. But do you need or want to? I think it's probably best to go with what your BMI is and what your surgeon says, and of course what you think looks and feels good. If you are a healthy BMI and your surgeon is happy, then I don't see why you would need to keep going unless you really want to.

So-- I have lost 70 pounds now and four sizes, and apart from my husband, mother, and brother/sister-in-law, nobody-- not one person!-- has made a comment about it. Not even a vague "looking good". It is so bizarre to me! I still have 40-50 pounds to go, but I see a huge difference when I look in the mirror. Did this happen to anyone else? I know this is not why I had surgery, I'm not in it for the glory or vanity, but... weird, no? I thought someone would have noticed and/or suspected something by now...

Everyone here has great suggestions! I just wanted to say hang in there-- the first couple of weeks were SO HARD, and I was hating my protein shakes by the end. I didn't get enough protein in consistently until at least a month out, and it all worked out fine. Be gentle with yourself, keep sipping water, and recognize that you are doing great.

I agree with the people saying if you don't use butter, it should be fine. (Once you are totally healed and it won't hurt staples, etc.) I enjoy a single size bag of Skinny Pop once in a while, when nothing else will do. Never more than once a week, I would guess, though I haven't been deliberate about it. The single bag controls my portion, so I don't eat more than I think I am. I haven't noticed any impact on my weight loss, it is still going very well. That said, I am far enough out that I can handle that PLUS still get all my protein and liquid in, which I am guessing is the most important part. A few weeks ago that wasn't the case. But my thought now is, as far as treats go, popcorn has very few calories, so if it doesn't interfere with liquid or protein intake, why not? I have tried those quest chips, too, and they are okay. Kind of like baked lays, but not as good. (That's right-- baked lays are GOOD in comparison.) But the crunchy is there, and I like the BBQ flavor.

So funny you ask this, I was sleeved on 5/17 and just had my first cup of coffee this week. I stayed close to home that morning just in case... but it was fine. My NUT has coffee/caffeine on the no go list for life, but I am refusing that little piece of advice. I follow everything else in my diet to the letter, but if my tummy can tolerate coffee, I am not going to deny myself this forever. I talked to some other sleevers, and haven't met anyone who had weight loss problems as a result, just a few whose tummies are too sensitive for it.

I didn't have that exact problem, but the first month my body was all messed up, and energy levels were out of whack. Sorry you are going through this-- the first month, IMO, really does suck! Once you are cleared for more and more foods, I think it will get better. The variety in your diet and eating food for energy instead of shakes really helps things along. Good luck!

Yes, that happened to me for weeks... I would say I wasn't myself and didn't have any energy for about 3 weeks, which was infuriating and depressing. In the very beginning, Powerade Zero helped me, when I couldn't fit the right amount of liquid into the day-- it gives you more than plain water does. And other than that, I found that it didn't really improve until I was on real food, after my 2 week appointment (which happened at 3 weeks). I am almost 7 weeks out now, and on a full diet (proteins, veggies, fruit-- no bread/pasta/potatoes) and my energy is even better. I know it's not helpful right now, but I think we have all been there, so don't feel alone or give up. You will make it through this! It sucks. Be kind to yourself, and remember-- LOW EXPECTATIONS are key right now. No big ambitions for the day, let yourself take it as easy as you possibly can.

Good choice, I think that's the safe bet. I was struggling like heck with energy levels for the first 5 or 6 weeks, not to mention that vacationing while you are still on all protein shakes and purees could be really logistically annoying for you and potentially hard not to sabotage yourself. I'm 7 weeks out now and just NOW having my first vacation, and proud of myself for keeping up with the family all day every day. You could have tons of energy, but why take the risk? I feel like nobody warned me that even though the physical healing can be quick, the constant grind of shakes and fluids can crush your energy and spirit a bit. Good luck with your surgery!

Congratulations! You are doing so much better at meeting your fluid and protein goals than I was at that point. I had that hunger too, and still do. I am almost 7 weeks out, and on the full texture diet, so I can eat small amounts of actual foods but I still I get so head hungry sometimes. But it's nothing compared to what it was at the beginning, when all I could eat was liquid or near-liquid! That was really hard to get through. It's like, without chewing or having any meals to mark time, it makes the head hunger worse. So I think what you are going through is pretty normal. Anyhow-- hang in there!! I am still struggling at times, but with each week it does get better. It reminds me of what people said when I had my son-- the first two weeks are brutal, then every two weeks it gets just a little bit better. That has proved pretty true so far, for me anyhow.

Oh no, I know that feeling. The first few weeks were rough for me, too. I think that we are really not fit for "normal" life like running errands and leaving the house for a while afterwards. But with kids, what are you going to do, right? What helped me was accepting that this was okay, and not asking myself to do more than absolutely minimally necessary. I think normally as a mom and if you work, etc., you take care of so much, and it will just exhaust you when you are fresh out of surgery and eating almost nothing. Your body is in shock. That was SO frustrating for me, feeling like I couldn't keep up with my life without failing at the damn fluid/protein goals or feeling weak and sick. Even if you can't stop doing everything, maybe you can really lower your expectations for now and be gentle with yourself. It will get better eventually, I think, when you are on regular food and you start to get some energy back. And if you need to leave the house, as you will, try to find the one thing that doesn't make you ill-- Powerade Zero, or whatever drink you favor-- and take it with you, so you have one "trusted" source of fluid. I love Powerade, I swear it gave me so much more energy in the first weeks. Good luck! It really sucks in the beginning. I'm sure you are doing great, and it may take a while, but it WILL eventually get better and you will feel more normal.