thinoneday

I'll be dead by then anyhow so whatever. . . anyhow, to answer your question, just like some of the others. . . I'd rather be dead then fat again. . . which i'll be, so there is no problems here! ha

"OMG what is three years out like? I've been on a freak'n clear liquid diet since essentially 3/5 due to a leak and abscess. How in hades do I advance my diet is all I keep thinking? (after the fear of another leak, I am scared y'all.... honestly scared). I cannot fathom what 'normal' is like - going to dinner with my family and what? Just eating less?"
I'm so sorry to hear about your complications. For right now, do as your doctor tells you. . he is the expert and will see you through this. . it's very normal to be afraid about the next step, but do as he/she (doctor) tells you even with the advancing of foods. . .it's going to take time, but don't rush things, go slow and heal. . .
Later on, when your well and able, you will be able go out with your family/friends and eat/order whatever (just remember to get a to go box at the same time) You can enjoy life just like "normal" but your going to eat a lot less. . . forget buffet though, those are a waste of money now, but going to a sit down restaurant is wonderful. Now you will actually be able to focus on good company, good talk, and family/friends time instead of focusing on eating. . . it's great.
There definately is a light at the end of the tunnel and after you travel your journey for a bit (remember this downside is only temporary) it's going to be great. . .you'll weigh less, be able to do stuff you've had a hard time doing before (ie: for myself, i'm so proud i can now ride horses, climb the stairs without dying, walk for miles without noticing, pick weeds without fainting from bending down, etc) and definately eat less. You'll be focused on life and not food and its so nice to actually love yourself again. . .

Nope, I didn't have to do a pre op neither. . . I was soooo happy cause I don't think back then i could have stayed on it. . . I was a horrible dieter 3 years ago. . . am now too, but at least i have this wonderful little (expensive) tool which keeps me on the straight and narrow! hahahaha. . . good luck to you all

Hi, what i was told one day was that your body usually stops (stalls) where you started gaining weight. So if your weight gaining started at 150 lbs and your at a stall there, well just be patient and it should eventually break. I was in a 7 MONTH stall then lost 10 lbs and that was it. . . no more. . . but the person who told me about the body was so right, I started gaining weight when I was 200 lbs (weighed 222 lbs at 12 years old) and it seems that 200 lbs is where my body is comfortable right now. . .

You will both do fine! You get back to "normal" really quickly so don't worry. . .I'm 3 years out and doing well. . .

You will both do fine! You get back to "normal" really quickly so don't worry. . .I'm 3 years out and doing well. . .

Was it yummm??? Good, don't worry it's not going to hurt you in any way, shape or form. . . but now that you did that and you realized it was wrong, i'm sure you won't do it again right? It's tough with this sleeve, especially to think about what we shouldn't be doing. . we were given this great tool, but unfortunately we weren't given too much instruction or training on our new ways of thinking. . . this is something we ourselves have to change. . . good luck!

I'm out 3 years and have lost 150 lbs. . . don't know how many inches. . . went from size 4XL to L and from pant size 32 to 18. . .I love it. . . I don't look sickly or anything, have lots of loose skin, but hey, not going to be a super model anyhow. . . . love how i look in clothes and am soooooo very happy that i finally can cross my legs, ride those horses, and fit in a plane sit without asking for an extension. . . .

Had mine in 2009, 3 years ago. . . and I'm doing wonderfully. . . lost 150 lbs and am back to "normal" eating, haven't gained a single pound either. . . feel and look terrific. . only problem, which i had before surgery anyhow, is malabsorption problems with Vitamins. . . other then that my physician, surgeon and myself are very pleased with all the outcomes. . . good luck!

I totally agree with Diva, let your body be the judge. . . mine stopped losing at 2 years out. . i'm out now 3 years and feel and look good. . . that is most important to me right now as well. . . good luck

I lost 53 lbs in 7 weeks. . and a total of 150 lbs in 1 year. My hubbie thought that i was going to die. . . he was so upset cause the weight was flying off. . . then i went into a 7 MONTH stall . . . now that was something to complain about, but whatever, I wasn't gaining and that is what i worried about more. . . then it stopped and i lost an additional 10 lbs and that was it. . . . now at 3 years out i have surpassed my doctors goal for me, and feel so much better about myself. I fit onto things i could never fit before, like airplane seats, horses, bicycles, etc. . . i can walk up several flights of stairs without thinking i need a breathing apparatus (LOL) and so on. . . don't worry, it'll stop eventually. . . your body gets to a point and just stops. . .good luck and keep up the EXCELLENT work!

I lost 53 lbs in 7 weeks. . and a total of 150 lbs in 1 year. My hubbie thought that i was going to die. . . he was so upset cause the weight was flying off. . . then i went into a 7 MONTH stall . . . now that was something to complain about, but whatever, I wasn't gaining and that is what i worried about more. . . then it stopped and i lost an additional 10 lbs and that was it. . . . now at 3 years out i have surpassed my doctors goal for me, and feel so much better about myself. I fit onto things i could never fit before, like airplane seats, horses, bicycles, etc. . . i can walk up several flights of stairs without thinking i need a breathing apparatus (LOL) and so on. . . don't worry, it'll stop eventually. . . your body gets to a point and just stops. . .good luck and keep up the EXCELLENT work!

SPEEEDDOOOOS SPEEDOOOOSS SPEEEEDOOOOS !!!! or budgie smugglers

Hi, just like Lan2K, I too will be getting together with a therapist. . I've been told that a therapist during the "journey" is a good thing along with a support group. . . any help will be definately looked for, like ya'll on these forums. . your a great inspiration and great ears, I will definately continue with this! Depression majors sucks, I had it super bad when I was in my 20's (I'm now 47) I even attempted suicide (as you see it didn't work! I'm greatful) I was in therapy, hospitals, lots of meds. . . finally I just said "STOP IT" and repeated it over and over and over everytime I would start feeling blue, I told my shrink I was stopping all meds on my own, he warned me against it, but I did it anyhow. . .I hated that detached head feeling everyday. . . guess what! I'm drug free, I don't get depressed anymore and when those feeling creep up I yell as loud as I can in my head "STOP IT! WHATS WRONG WITH YOU" Then I go right away and concentrate on something else, my weeding, a book, crocheting, a HOT shower (always works, one day I took about 4 HOT showers, I was very clean) I'm ok now though and feel that I've won that battle, with this new transformation, I will definately seek the care of a therapist though, cause I can see where it could hurt someone. . especially if your not used to getting looks from men, whistles, etc. . .good luck all!

Well, i'm going into my 3rd year and let me tell you if soda stretches/ruins the sleeve then my doctor did a damn good job of sewing it together cause nothing has stretched or gotten ruined here. . . I love my soda and always have. . . it's a good idea to kind sip it slowly of course and let it go down all the way, but hey stretching and ruining isn't going to happen. . cause it doesn't just stop, it keeps going down. . . good luck!

yup, i have 12- 1300 calories daily. . . but then i'm out 3 years. . i'm maintaining beautifully, not gaining at all, not losing either mind you. . . but he doesn't want me to lose more. I did go 12 lbs under my goal weight. . . so i'm good. . . but for you being out only 2 weeks that is alot of calories. . 600- 900 calories is good if that. . . good luck! don't eat too little, cause that will stop your weight loss in it's tracks. . .

Yup it sure does move. . eventually. . . I was in a stall which lasted 7 MONTHS! Horrible frustration, but it eventually moved. . .i guess it was the body's way of trying to catch up with the surgery. . hehehe. . . i was glad it moved. . not much, just 10 lbs but that brought me below goal. . . and I've been there ever since. . no gain and I'm now 3 years out. . .

I have lost a total of 150 lbs and because I am 6'0 tall, very large boned, and a woman I am still discriminated against. I've even been asked if I have giantism (now that is painful) I don't have any features which point to giantism, I am beautiful only large boned. In the beginning it was my weight (360lbs before surgery) combined with my height that scared folks. . . now i'm slimmer (size 14/16) but still tall. . . I can't do anything about that though. . .but it still hurts. . . totally understand. . . my mom used to tell me "oh honey, remember what you let out, the shorter ones have to take in". . .my mom has some good ones! hahahah. . .

How exciting! Keep up the excellent work!

Have you tried to google Amazon.com? I don't know if you can get stuff shipped over to the UK from it, but it may be a good try. . . if I can't find something, or the stores have run out, I can always find it on Amazon.com. . .good luck.

i completely understand, I went through a phase like that too. i'm 3 years out now and still crave sweets every now and then. . and I have them, but in moderation. . .then I make sure I don't misbehave for the following week or 2. . . this practice has kept me in maintaining stage. . so that's good for me. . . as long as i'm not gaining beyond a certain point, I am as happy as a clam. . . we are human after all right? good luck and your loss is excellent! Keep up the good work!

I'm 48 and am lovin' my life right now. . . no worries at all. . .great hubbie of 33 years, great daughter, good job, bills under control, no major debts. . . good weight loss and feelin great! yahoo. . . life couldn't be better!

you don't want to know!

I totally agree with Iwishfit, slower is better. I'm going into my 3rd year and for the past year have maintained my weight. I've lost all of my weight that the doctor wanted me to loose, but sure I wish i could lose 30 lbs more. . .will I? probably not, cause of my frame and structure of my body. . .am I happy, YOU BETCHA! At least I don't weigh what I did before and can do so many more things that I could not do before. . . but of course, I'll keep working at it to see what can be done to lose that extra few pounds, but i'm def not going to kill myself doing it. . . if i loose, i loose, if not then not. . . good luck!

Here we go again! Diva, Susan, and/or Alex????