NtvTxn

Congratulations on your weight loss. Hey, I am almost 3 years out and some times it still doesn't look like 'me' to me!!! I will still have my husband point out someone when we're out, someone who is my size NOW. It is easier to see the real size when it's somebody else. It is weird, all these head games. I still tend to grab a size to large because loose is how I was so use to wearing my clothes. My jeans are a size 4, some times a 6, depending on the brand. My shirts, a M and dresses are a 6. Those numbers "feel" foreign, surely someone else's??!!!! I thought I'd be happy in a 12, but it happened so quickly, I knew I could go lower. Not only did I get to Dr. Davidson's goal, I ended up setting MY personal goal for 5 lbs less, so I'd have a "pad". Don't under estimate what you can do, it is truly amazing! I am 15 lbs less at age 53, than I was at age 19 when I got married.

Just for the heck of it, I wanted to see if I could still lose. I CAN!!! I maintain at about 1300 calories a day, so I backed it up to 1200 per day and upped my protein to between 75 and 105 grams per day. I dropped four pounds in 2.5 weeks. When I was losing, prior to goal, I started out at about 350 calories, right after surgery and never went over 800 calories when I reached goal. You can do it.....I did not and do not "exercise", I am going to go get some ankle weights to wear around the house and I have a weighted ball that I toss around every so often, but that's it. I have made lifestyle changes. It has been easy to do that since I experience no real hunger. Try upping your protein, lowering you calories a little and if you like to exercise, that is NOT a bad thing!!! Good luck!

"ONLY" 15 lbs in a month??!!! You're kidding, right? OMG, that is fantastic. Chances are it will be much less than that from now on! Be thrilled with each and every pound you lose. Unlike 'before' - will this new tummy you have, every pound lost is lost forever. You didn't wake up fat one day, it happened over time, for me it happened over the course of 30 years, with me losing and re-gaining. On three different occasions I lost 50 lbs, only to put it back on, plus a few to boot!!! Do a happy dance, it's great progress.

You weren't given a guide??!!!! Were you told clear liquids this first week? Broth, sugar free Jell-O, popsicles!!!

I'm not sure why anyone would choose it. I initially thought it is what I would do, but after a little research, I knew I would not and went with the sleeve. My physician and some of the other doctor's here in Dallas are not doing it, or doing it much less because of the problems and high failure rate. He can always go for a revision if he wants to. Maybe we should all send him a note. Congratulate him and then mention what we've done in case he has problems.

I don't know what it's called, but what I get at our local Thai restaurant is a big pile of rice, which I barely nibble at.....and about six BIG shrimp. I get it pretty spicy, it's great!!! You'll do fine.

Just one question, do you think substituting Plain Greek Yogurt for the sour cream would be "ok"? I do NOT like it, no matter what I do to it, but I use it in place of Lite sour cream......some times I will do 50/50 - Greek yogurt and Lite Sour Cream.

I am sure you are under estimating what you can do with the sleeve!!! I know I did, I'd have been happy at a size 12 when I got down to 170, but it happened so fast and so easily, I knew I could go lower. It really is shocking to me, and I've been maintaining for over two years, not difficult at all. Just be open to the idea that you could probably end up in a size 6 if you want to!!!

If he only realized how this will affect HIS life, he would get some pom poms and be on board cheering you on. Sex will be great, you'll feel good about yourself and I'd just tell him....climb on board and enjoy the ride, it's going to be a wild one, and fun, fun, fun - or else you're going to be left out and miss the ride!!! 'Nuff said!

Wow! Good work, isn't it wonderful??

Even though we seldom drink one, I keep two martini glasses in the freezer at all times. EvenEee Even

I reached MY goal in six months for a total loss of 83 lbs. At five to six months out I never went over 800 calories. Early on I got 400 - 550. Right after surgery, about 350 and that was not easy!! I felt great, my labs were good and nobody was concerned about the low caloric intake! I did not eat 'anything I wanted' - nothing sweet or fried passed my lips ever, when I was losing. I limited rice, Pasta and potatoes to near nothing. A TB of potatoes or rice, maybe and 1/8 of a cup of potatoes. A TB of veggies....I wanted to make sure I got my Protein in, I hated the shakes and protein shots. I started getting all 60 grams in with food at 2.5 months. I did not and do not "exercise". I know me, I know my attention span is short and I didn't want to become a exercise guru, lose the weight and then stop....only to risk regaining. I made lifestyle changes I knew I could live with forever. My BMI was just under 36 when I started, I lost 23 lbs prior to surgery. I've been maintaining for over two years now. NOW I eat anything I want, but when you aren't hungry, it's easier to resist when I need to and making good choices are easier now. It's a great tool, no regrets. Oh, I weigh EVERY morning....I log my food on line and I still weigh and/or measure my food when I'm home. My new life, it's habit now.....and it's fun!

I'm almost three years out and still don't get hungry. My 'new' hunger is an empty feeling. It is much easier to resist or under eat!!! I still log all my food and I still weigh and/or measure all my food when we are at home. It's just my new life, it's habit. Early on, the first couple of months, my caloric intake was 350 - 450 calories, they went up a little at a time, but when I was losing, I never ate more than 800 calories a day. Maintaining I need 1300 - 1350 a day. It's easy to go over, hence the logging my food! LoL Good luck, you'll do fine.

Under eating our sleeve is smart. If we aren't experiencing real hunger, you know, the "Oh my gosh, I'm starving" hunger it is much easier to stop ahead of time.

Chocolate martini - I will have maybe a couple a month. It's like a dessert with a kick. Like one of you said, I chose to have nothing alcoholic until I reached goal.

You can't fix stupid.

You're doubting yourself because after years of failed attempts, this is what we do. We doubt, or in MY case, obsess about it working 'this time'. It will, when 85% of your tummy is removed, unless you make an effort at failing, you will lose weight!!! I promise you. All of us worry, I had surgery June 2010, I've been maintaining for over two years now and I STILL worry. For me, this has been easy. I had no health issues and was healthy, so I'm sure that helped, but pain was no big deal. After being discharge I only took pain meds before bed and only for ten days. I took liquid Tylenol and used a heating pad during the day!! Turning over in bed hurt, so the pain medication took the edge off. I can tell you, what did hurt is a sneeze, cough or if someone makes you laugh, that lasts for a week or so, but it is nothing really. I was excited from the moment I woke up in recovery. A new adventure, I've loved every minute of it. I'd read in a forum that a neat thing to do is go buy a disposable camera.....have someone take a picture of you the night before surgery or the morning of....then take a picture every month on your 'date' for a year. After you take the one on your 1 yr anniversary, go have the camera developed. There is NOTHING like laying out those pictures, side by side and seeing the transformation. It is truly amazing, do it!!! I too lost weight, I lost the same 50 lbs three times in 30 years and lesser amounts more times than I can remember. I did everything from Weight Watchers to Phen/Fen. I can LOSE weight, that is not the problem, in later years, not as easily though. It is keeping it off that is practically impossible. Once you go off the diet, then you gain. Now I am NOT on a diet. I feel like I eat like a naturally thin person. I'm still obsessed with food, with making good choices. I eat sweets and other things, but rather than over doing it, I have a normal piece of cake and it is not what I do real often. Life is good, it's a wild ride, and oh-so-fun!!!!

I will be at three years post op on the 11th of June. The no hunger thing is individual. I am one of the lucky ones. For the first year, I had zero hunger, I'd forget to eat if I was busy. At about a year, maybe a little longer I started getting what I call my 'new hunger'. It really isn't hunger but more of an empty feeling. I hope and pray it stays this way forever. I'm never starving, it's something I can ignore if I need or want to.

First of all, good for you, you're logging your food!! At almost three years, I STILL keep track! I also still weigh and/or measure all my food when I'm at home. What is your caloric intake right now? Mine was real low, I couldn't get much in. At this point, you probably aren't even on regular food, are you? It seems like at six weeks is when I could introduce anything back into my diet. At four weeks I was getting about 350 calories a day, when I reached goal I was getting between 700 and 800 calories. It seemed so low, but I was getting all my protein in, I felt good and my labs were great. Everyone is different, but anyone who says "up" your calories, I just do not buy it. That doesn't work prior to surgery and I know in maintenance, if I go over what I need to maintain, I gain. Common sense. Increase your protein if possible and your liquid intake. I say liquid because I could NEVER get in enough water, so my nurse, worried that I'd dehydrate, said DRINK, water, tea, coffee....just drink liquids and make sure they are not sugared up or carbonated. That saved me!!!! You're going to be fine, approx. 85% of your tummy was removed, unless you are drinking your calories and eating sliders.....you cannot help but lose weight, I promise!!

My husband was very apprehensive too. I had NO health issues and he didn't want me to risk doing something that would be harmful. I made it clear that I'd made a decision and would love for him to be on board. I spent six months in support groups and reading every single thing I could find on sleeve surgery. He has become my biggest cheerleader. I have two things to say to anyone who thinks having 85% of your stomach removed as 'the easy way out'. First, big deal. Second, this is not a magic bullet. I do NOT feel like I'm on a diet now, but I still have to make wise choices. Forced Portion Control was perfect for me, and I'm not hungry. Ever. What I call my 'new hunger' started at about 12 months out, it's an empty feeling, something I can ignore. It just lets me know I probably need to put something there soon. When you are not hungry, it is much easier to resist temptation. This is the best decision I've ever made for myself. Not one single minute have I regretted it. Make sure it's right for you, and realize there are a lot of head games we play with ourselves along the way!!!

This is what works for me. I weigh every morning, being up a pound or two is normal, no reason to be depressed....and I log my food and also weigh and measure. It's my new normal, my new life. I think doing these things keep me on top of things and make me mindful of everything I put into my mouth. Not to mention, for me anyway, I don't overeat and feel 'stuffed' like before, I feel miserable, like I want to stretch out, lay down or worse. It is a whole different ballgame!!!

Oh my gosh, YES, there are several. I attend one, once a month @ Baylor Plano and there is one twice a month at Medical Center Plano. Also, a fellow sleever from Forest Park has started up an 'informal' support group that meets once a month, the fourth Saturday of the month, I think. They met this past Saturday, it's the first one I haven't gone to, we just got home from several days in Galveston. So far we always meet at Season's 52 here in Plano. It's located in the 'Shops at Legacy' center. All the ones mentioned are GREAT. I can give you the times, addresses and exactly when they meet if you want me to. Email me, I'll message you my email address!! You'd benefit and I'm sure you'd enjoy any or all of these meetings. C'mon and join us!! - stacy

I agree, I think the ONLY thing they ALL agree on is avoid carbonated drinks!!! My Protein Drink to start AND end the day is ice cold skim milk. Not as high in protein but I love cold milk!!! I say follow your doctor's advice and do what works for YOU, absolutely!!! Have a great weekend!

BTW, I understand 'stress related' hunger. I don't 'feel' the hunger but I know when I'm nervous, stressed.......whatever, out of habit i want to graze!!!

I am so glad I didn't go with the Lapband, initially that is what I was going to do. My friend had gotten one a few years before, so it is what I was going to do....until I started investigating and the upkeep, not losing as well, and all the problems I'd read about on the forums, reviews etc. Hearing your story lets me know, the issues can be pretty bad. I'm glad you're ok. My doctor said this is not a diet, it's a way of life. You cannot and should not drink Protein Shakes from now on. Can you get in a LOT of protein, upwards of 70 grams per day? Limit sweets, including fruits, at least while you are losing. I lived on meat, (pork, beef, LOVE fish) 1% cottage cheese, canned Albacore Tuna, bagged shrimp and eggs. There were other things mixed in, but those were my biggies. I limited cheese and nuts after realizing, although they are protein, they are both high in calories. I recently discovered PB2, the powdered Peanut Butter, it's not as good as Smuckers Natural PB, but it's not bad, I NEED Snacks now, a couple a day to get in the calories I need.....and I really like peanut butter on a graham cracker. This is good, whereas reg peanut butter is 200 calories for a serving, Pb2 is 45 calories! I don't eat chips, not at home, when at a Mexican food restaurant I will eat a few. I do not exercise, never have, I know how easily I get bored and did not want my weight loss be in part, from exercising. I know I'd quit, and I was scared I'd re-gain, so I made life style changes I can live with. 50 lbs, that is nothing to sneeze at, congrats!!! You can continue to lose, I'm sure of it!