Sandra Nuelken

Same here with two years out. I hate to call it a diet, but rather a new way of eating and approaching food. A new me. I walk 30 minutes each morning and now can do those things I've always wanted to do. It is a fair trade for what I now eat. I don't feel deprived, just better. At 75 I walked the cone of a volcano in NM and daily walked from the Resort to downtown New Orleans, in the heat, and put in several miles a day. This could have never happened before surgery! I am blessed.

I had a band and it failed, slipped, just failed. I had it removed and 6 months later had the sleeve. I've been probably overly diligent about what I eat. I stayed at the stage 3 diet, and I hate calling it a diet as it is a new way of looking at food. It is nutrition it is not a friend, a reward, or a treat. It almost killed me, that is not your friend. I eat 65-70 g. protein. Protein is always first. I tend to have something every 3 hours, grapes, a peach, breakfast a protein drink, lunch 4oz of cottage cheese, now on a peach, dinner 4 oz of protein. Chicken, salmon, tuna are my goto. I also eat other things but not often. Treats are Outshine bars, almonds. If I do drink it is once a week and only once. If there is cake or cookie around I have a bite and savor it. I also log all of my food and keep it below 1200 calories. The days of high-calorie food are gone, I can taste but not eat. I did get a chance to eat homemade ice cream with caramel sauce on it and homemade whipped cream. After 3 spoonsful I was full. You just have to watch what you eat. Carbs bloat my stomach and make me uncomfortable as did the ice cream. Good luck on your journey.

I had two separate surgeries. Medicare covered the take-out, but I had to qualify for the sleeve. It was about 6 months. It went by fast.

I too went from the band to the sleeve. The band had caused me horrible issues to include irregular heartbeat as it was hitting the vegas nerve. I ended up gaining almost all the weight. Two years ago I had the sleeve and I'm so very happy.

I went from Band to sleeve and I've had zero problems.

Year two with sleeve and no problems, prior to this I had the band and it was a constant nightmare, too tight, too loose, then it caused some real problems and had it removed. The doctor said he's had to take a lot of them out.

I walk 30 minutes each morning and center myself for the day.

No regrets, I had the band for about 5 years and then had it out due to complications. I have absolutely no regrets!

I drink protein drinks for breakfast. Then cook and prepackaged my meat in 4 oz packages.

No Gerd or hernia. I had no problems.

I love walking. I can keep up with my husband and don't need to rest! I have hip bones, and sitting on the toilet can get uncomfortable with my boney bum. I don't think about food, I have fallen into eating about the same all of the time. My craves are fruits, grapes, blackberries, and peaches. I dress in layers now to stay warm.

You certainly have a full plate. How about trying a Tylenol PM, at night and when you get home take a 30 minute walk or alone time, then approach the family with love. You have given up the one thing you used to stuff anger, food, and you need a new way to approach it. Rather than getting mad sit down with your family and let them know what you need. Maybe a walk, time alone in your room to unwind, but always keep in mind the needs of the others too. Maybe your hubby could do something he likes to do when you get home so he has something else in his life besides home and children. As a stay-at-home mom, I can appreciate where he is coming from. I hope you catch up on your sleep. Make bedtime a routine and I have found the Tylenol PM a God send. Oh if you are perimenopausal talk to your doctor. I started an anti-depressant then. Your hormones got a bit wacky then and I was always angry with my family.

Just chill and relax It is one of the crazy stalls, your body can't just lose weight all of the time, so it stops and adjusts and then you start losing again. I've had stalls last up to 3 weeks, but that was 18 months out. Just record your weight and you will see how it is drop drop, stop up one down one up two down one then you lose again. It is a journey, not a sprint. How much you lose and how fast depends on how much you have to lose. Congratulations on your success so far!

I was eating 400 calories and I was only watching my protein and liquids. I also quit going to the dietician as I really knew what I was doing. I also knew what was good for me. I'm almost 18 months out and I'm at 650 calories. You might want to cut your dietician meetings.

3 months out I was still on the last week of my post-surgery diet. Like with a baby you add new food slowly. The chicken should be shredded and I bought toddler stainless silverware to eat with. I don't eat at a table with friends as I tend to eat too fast and chew too little. I often have my computer or book to slow down eating. Dense meats are the hardest, I eat a lot of chicken and salmon. If the meat is dry I add cold-pressed olive oil with Italian seasonings or with salmon the lemon pepper seasonings. My meals are very boring as I don't want food to become exciting and entertaining. It is just nutrition. Start slow and don't think that 3 months out you need to eat everything just keep your protein first. Veggies I might eat a spoonful every once in a while. Good luck.

All I know is I lost 20 pounds more than I thought I would I'm very happy with where I am at this point and plan to maintain.

Try eating and drinking slower. I bought myself children's flatware to use when I eat. They are stainless so I feel like a grown-up and eat very slowly. I take 30 - 40 min. for 4 oz of meat.

I drink decaf ice tea with lemon for my water. I'm from the south and sweet tea is our lives blood, but now it is plain with lemon. The protein drink I drink is Ensure protein. I put ice on it and when I was fresh out of surgery it took all day to drink it. Warm chicken broth was a friend too. You need to take very small sips and not a drink of it and nurse it all day. Put the tea, broth, and protein on a table and your goal is to try to make sure that the protein and broth are gone at the end of the day. But stay hydrated.

I haven't had your issues, but I did have the lap band and had issues with it. I was 72 when I had my surgery I had a sleeve done and I'm very happy. I have lost more weight than what I was hoping for and I'm very pleased with the ease of the surgery. It is much easier than the lap band and other than regular follow-ups you have not fills, unfills etc. Don't let age stop your decision. I'm now 74 and walking, swimming and healthy.

When I had the sleeve if you overate protein, pineapple juice helped. But with medicines, I guess something that coats the stomach is better. If any of those meds include thyroid make sure you don't take vitamins within 4 hours of the thyroid. The biotin in the vitamins really affects the thyroid.

I had a lap band in 2009 and now have a sleeve. The weigh I loss with the band was gradually returning and the tubing caused a problem with my heart. I found that recovery from the sleeve to be easy as it was a lot like the band. I am now much lower than I ever got with the band. What I don't have is the discomfort of the port, fills, reflux, and a constant reminder of the band. The choice is yours, but many doctors have found that the band was not a great thing. I had mine out and about 8 months later had the other surgery. Good luck with your decision.

This is almost 14 months after surgery. I am 74, and happier than I've ever been. Walking daily only 30 minutes, but loving it. With work and determination, this is life-changing surgery. You are never too old either. I even had a glass of wine and a piece of cake for my birthday and didn't gain anything. Feeling blessed.

I was told to not drink caffeine so I drink caffeine-free ice tea. If you're taking your vitamins your body has all it needs. Honey is sugar, this is not good for you. I put a slice of lemon in my tea. Watch what teas you drink as you are now taking a slew of vitamins and they may not be friends. My thyroid medicine is affected by them and we are trying to figure out a new schedule.

Why???? I didn't go down the sugar road until almost a year out. Then I could control a bit now and then. You don't need sugar.

I'm now 14 months out and I too am still happy with my 600 calories. I get 70 - 80 g. of protein, and my snacks might be a grape or two. I'm more than thrilled and walking every day for the first time in 20 years. I even bought a pair of "faux" leather leggings and they looked really good on this 74-year-old granny. Love the journey.