MandoGetsSleeved

1 year post op - ZERO regrets. Hair loss - From about month 3-4 until about 7-8 for me. At around 8-9 months it all started growing back and you would never know it was thinned out some. On the plus side, it dried a HECK of a lot faster than it does now.

Fan-freaking-tastic!! Great job and very motivating.

Interesting article - Thank you. I think for many people obesity CAN and DOES affect income. I have to ask "why" though in many cases. Is it because we were perceived as "fat and lazy" or is it because others do? Let's face it - When you're obese, you often DON'T have the energy or stamina to keep up with someone else who's fit. The other side of that, when you're obese in the workforce, you may try harder so that you're recognized for your work vs. your size. As someone who fell into both of the above categories. I have been successful at work over the years by proving that I could take on just about anything thrown at me. On the other hand, I know there are opportunities that I've missed because of my weight/size. For a period of time, I thought I would like to be on the demo team at work, but self-realized that wasn't a possibility because: 1 - I'm not sure I could physically keep up with other team members, and 2 - I would have looked like &#*% in the "uniform" (everyone matched on demo days). Honestly, I never even applied for the position. Alternately, I proved myself elsewhere and I have risen in the company to a senior management position. Perhaps it would have been sooner had I been thin? I really don't know. Now, as a normal sized person, I do see more opportunities at work, but I believe that's MY confidence rather than what some would perceive as discrimination. One thing I think that happens is that in life, many people are beat up for being overweight and lack self-esteem. They use weight as an excuse to be disappointed rather than just going for it. When I say "excuse", please don't take that as an insult. So many overweight people have food issues because of crappy lives and it's the one thing they CAN control. It's a vicious circle and in no way meant as criticism. I was lucky - I have an amazing and supportive family so my issue was simply that I love food - It wasn't a coping mechanism. I feel like that is the reason my income wasn't directly assoicated with my weight.

Congrats! Onederland is one of the greatest feelings in the world for many of us!!

I have a box of quest snickerdoodle and chocolate peanut butter cookies that I keep for those “snacky” days. I probably have one every other week or so whenever I’m feeling the want. other times (usually at work) if there’s something there that I think I want, usually I’ll just go for it. (Ate a donut a couple of weeks ago and pretty sure I’ll never do that again simply because of the gastrointestinal issues I experienced shortly thereafter.....trust me you DONT want the details!). In the end, you have to do what works for YOU. I’m finding (at a year out), that I can go off the plan and get back on. For me, I didn’t have food issues to begin with (I didn’t eat to soothe, I was/am a social eater who simply loves food and had no portion control). If sweets are going to send you down a slippery slope, I would advise against starting though. (Even the protein cookies)

For me, it just depends on if it was something I actually enjoyed. If it's something that was just "meh", I'll toss it.

WOW! Your stats are amazing and congrats on being so close!! And I think I would feel the same way!!

Hang in there - The first couple of weeks can be difficult to get enough fluids and protein in, but it really starts getting better in the upcoming weeks. Since you seem to be able to get 40oz of fluids in, you could always substitute some protein water for plain water and that will increase your protein intake and keep the other fluids up. At almost a year out, I still find it a chore sometimes to get all of my fluids AND food in, but as time rolls on, it becomes a habit and gets much easier. PS - Sounds like you're doing a great job at one week in! Congrats on the surgery!

I’ll echo kristie, minimal pain post surgery, I feel MUCH better, GERD (it was mild pre surgery) actually went away, I can eat/drink almost anything I did pre surgery in much smaller portions, lots of hair loss going into month 4 or so but you could never really tell and back to normal now, and OH the joy of buying normal clothes! totally worth the lifestyle changes. After about 2-3 months I didn’t feel like I was missing anything except the extra pounds I was lugging around for years.

I'm finding it quite liberating to get rid of clothes that are too large. As I go down a size (especially in pants), I immediately find them a new home (thrift store, church, friends, family) as my promise to myself that this time is going to be different. For me personally, having the 'in case of emergency, break glass clothes' in my closet would make it too easy for me to backslide. That being said, I HAVE kept two particular items for before and after comparison!

Just looked at mine...23 the first month. 11 months later I am down just over a 100lbs. To hell with surgeons “expectations”. Work the plan and the plan works.

Hodgett at Baptist.

Also from Jacksonville. About 10 months out. Sleeved and love it.

As some others have said, if you're still having surgical pain, you should probably contact your doctor. We're all different, but for most, the surgical pain goes away pretty quickly (I never had to take a pain pill after leaving the hospital). With regards to eating and drinking - Yeah, the liquid phase seems like it's MONTHS and at first you feel like you'll never be able to eat/drink normally again. Part of that is true...you'll never be able to eat the portions you once could. We're all different, but after a few months, there are very few things that I couldn't eat or drink. After about a month, I was able to swallow fairly large gulps and can finish a bottle of water in <5 minutes if I'm really thirsty without any pain or discomfort. A few words of advice - When you do start eating purees and then solids - Go slowly - If you eat too fast, it can be miserable. You're probably going to do it.... seems like we all do... If you eat something that doesn't settle well with you, hang in there and try it again in a few weeks.

Congrats!

Flavored Crown Royal is my go to. (Peach, Apple, or Salted Caramel). On ice. No mixers. Alternate Vodka and Diet Cranberry. A good bourbon over Ice. Red wine (I like it super dry). One generally scratches the itch and lasts quite a while.

What a difference almost a year makes!!🎉🎉

It gets easier.... Does it just feel like a quick burn in the upper chest when it's going down? If so, after about a week it got MUCH better for me. At almost a year out, I am just about able to drink like I used to (no odd feeling, just feels like I get full much quicker). I can down a 16oz bottle in less than 10 minutes if I'm really thirsty. Hope this helps. PS - Try and drink as much as you possibly can - Dehydration can make you feel REALLY crappy. Maybe try the sugar free popscicles - For some, the cold is easier to take.

I travel for work a lot and I've found that the 100cal packs of nuts works well - They pretty much stay in my bag (sometimes for weeks/months) and stay fresh. Alternately, many of the suggestions above are generally easy to pick up at a convenience store (boiled eggs, cheese sticks, protein packs with cheese and salami, beef sticks, jerky, etc.) - I rely on those sorts of things when I'm travelling and just need a quick fix. PS - I wouldn't suggest boiled eggs in a hot trunk for days! 😁😁

Here's what I found: https://www.upmc.com/services/bariatrics/surgery-process/post-surgery/diet/soft After Bariatric Surgery - Suggested Food Ideas for Adaptive or Soft Diet Protein Sources All varieties of fish and shellfish Turkey breast or chicken breast (chopped, white meat) Low fat deli lunchmeats Sliced or grated low fat cheese (5 grams of fat or less) Hard boiled or poached eggs Soups (dilute with skim milk or add finely minced meats) Grains/starches Hot cereals Unsweetened cereals softened in skim milk Baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, or yams Boiled pasta, noodles, or white rice Fruits/vegetables Canned fruit (in own juices or water packed) Soft, fresh fruit without skins (apples, pears, peaches) Bananas Cooked or canned vegetables Avoid raw, fibrous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Avoid skins and seeds.

Awesome post Matt! I think everything you said is spot on. And UGH - So sorry to hear about your wife. I can't even imagine how frustrating it must be for her. Fingers crossed something kicks in for her and she's able to enjoy the same success.

Just wanting to share my story and current status at 1 year in. I started the journey in June of 2020 after considering it for years. Having surgery was something that was in the back of my mind for years. I have a co-worker/friend who had gastric bypass about 3 years before me and quite honestly, she is the reason I ended up taking the plunge - Gastric Sleeve was the best choice for ME. Watching her journey and seeing her success motivated me. I appreciated the fact that she was willing to share her experiences both positive and negative. Prior to my meeting with the surgeon, she gave me a ton of insight on what to expect with both positives and negatives. Physically, I knew I was ready for a change. I needed to make sure I was also mentally ready for the change. I WAS! I started with a BMI > 40. I'm currently 80% complete towards my goal. I hoped that I would be at goal by now, but I'm ok that I'm not. Much of that is based on decisions that I've made with regards to how/what I eat and drink. I WILL get these last 20 off and hopefully another 10. I don't know how long it will take, and at this point, I'm not overly concerned if it takes another year. What's my life like now? I can move better,I can buy clothes anywhere, I'm confortable in my own skin (loose that it is!), and I have a newfound confidence in most everything that I do. I eat pretty much anything I want - Just in much smaller quantities. I've been lucky - So far, there's nothing that really upsets my stomach or makes me sick unless I eat too much (has only happened a couple of times). I drink alcohol when I want it - Some weeks I may have a drink or two a day, and then other times, I'll go weeks without a drink. Again, I'm ok with that - it works for me. Some weeks I gain, some weeks I lose. I've been horrible about tracking - However, if I see a gain, I start back just so that I become aware of exactly what is causing it. Again, OK with that. I DO get on the scale often. It works for me. Keeps me accountable. Every once in awhile I get frustrated with the restrictions (OMG, I ordered veal piccata the other day and it was AMAZING - I wished I could eat the whole darned thing at one sitting!!) - However, I choose to look at the upside now on this one - I ate it for 3 days!. Good food choice: NOPE - Worth it: YEP! For those just starting the journey, it isn't always easy - it isn't always fun. For ME, it's the best decision I've ever made for myself. It's definitely not a quick fix and I would encourage anyone who is using food as a coping mechanism to really look deep before you take the plunge. This surgery certainly doesn't "fix" anything like that. it's a tool (and a great one, but remember, the change is only to your stomach, not your brain) - I happen to be one of those people who just loves food, cooking, and the social aspect of it. Having the surgery has allowed me to continue that and still keep me in check with smaller portions. Hope this gives folks some insight into what CAN happen. We're all different and will have different experiences.

What Arabesque said...I’ve had knee replacement surgery before WLS on one knee. Unfortunately, both knees are still trashed That being said, I have severe arthritis in the knees and 13 surgeries on them over the years for various injuries. So...short version..it depends.

Oddball work NSV this morning.... "power suit" vs. comfort. As a manager who often has to deal with a customers management, I was always VERY self conscience about clothing and accessories (expensive watch, jewelry, clothing, shoes, etc.) when I had meetings where I knew I had to project a certain authority. This morning I am having to deal with a great customer, but unfortunately have to give some not so great news. As I was getting ready today, I realized that I no longer feel the NEED to project a certain image with clothing. As an almost "normal sized" person, wearing more "casual" attire (slacks and a polo with the company logo) I don't look sloppy and not put together. YAY - NEVER saw this one coming!!

Freedom. Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy with all the dietary restrictions. For the first time in my life, it's easy to stop eating and drinking. Prior to surgery, a weekend like this would have involved massive amounts of food (as in yesterday we had: lobster mac and cheese, smoked pork, hot dogs, hamburgers, all the sides, beer, and more liquor than you could possibly imagine). Spending the day with famiy and friends would have previously involved me eating all day and a VERY high liklihood of lots of alcohol. Instead, I tasted a little bit of the things that looked/sounded good (one or two bites), had a small cocktail and was very satisfied without feeling deprived. The forced restrictions keep me under control and still allow me to enjoy life without the stress and "shame" of overeating/drinking. Having this surgery has given me the tool that I needed to take control of my life instead of food controlling my life.