NtvTxn

I understand putting on the four lbs. It happens really quickly, but unlike before, when you don't have real hunger, it is easier to get it off. I'm with ya.....if there is food in front of me, I'll eat it. Since I'm never really hungry, I eat because it's fun, tastes good and 'everybody's' doing it!!! We do need to keep in touch, the time has flown by, I can't believe it will be three years for me, in June. There aren't that many of us here to talk to. My new habits are really routine now. Yesterday I sat in a local Star Bucks at the mall and drank two cups of coffee, I love their pumpkin bread, 390 calories for a piece. I really wanted some, but it is much easier to not give in since surgery. This is something I get when my husband is with me and we SHARE one piece, which puts my portion at just under 200 calories. Not bad at all, I just skip a snack at home. I feel normal, I do not feel deprived EVER. Before surgery, I struggled and deprived myself, or at least I FELT deprived......just to maintain 225 lbs, give or take a few lbs. It was horrible, this is easy, easy! Do you attend a support group? I haven't been since Oct. (we bought a house and with the holidays.....too much) but I love going. It is fun to be there with others, most have had OUR surgery.....and occasionally there will be someone who is an 'old timer' like us, 2+ yrs out!!!! It is nice to be there for the newbies as well, they love to hear how we did it, how we're doing etc.

I did the same thing you are doing. During my losing phase, I had NO bread, nothing remotely sweet, I ate protein a bite or two of veggies at night. Seldom had fruit, they said to treat fruit as a treat. Slowly, after I reached goal, I started adding things back into my diet. There are still some things I CHOOSE not to eat, and some things I'll have occasionally. I think I eat like a naturally thin person.

Total ignorance, in my humble opinion. How can anybody say major surgery to remove 85% of our stomach is 'the easy way out', is beyond me!!!! In the past I'd popped pills and would drop anywhere from 20 to 50 lbs, now THAT is the easy way out. Of course I gained it all back, plus some, EVERY time, but never the less, I took a pill or two. I think what we've done is smart, it works but anyone who thinks it's a magic bullet....they'd be wrong!

Not one minute of buyer's remorse!!! I enjoyed every second since I got out of recovery; a 'journey' - what a wild ride. I love my sleeve, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!!!

I'm 2 yrs and 7 months out and still have a lot of restriction. I get full really easy and I am never hungry. My 'new' hunger is an empty feeling, something I can ignore if it isn't convenient to eat then. I'm 53 and this surgery is the best thing I've ever done for myself. I still have the 'will I gain it all back' thoughts....head games. Will they ever go away??!!! During my losing phase, I was what my nurse called 'rigid'. LoL I treated this as the most important diet of my life. The first year is the honeymoon period and I knew it. Nothing fried or sweet passed my lips!! Since then, I lightened up. I have been eating LF food forever when possible. Skim milk for over 20 years, 1% Cottage cheese, 2% cheddar etc. I do NOT do fat free anything other than milk. I've eaten whole wheat bread for years, I haven't fried anything but an egg in my house for way before surgery, again, years! An egg I fry in a non stick skillet, no grease! I wasn't a 'coke' drinker before, so cutting it out is not a problem. I eat dessert when I want to, I will eat four or five pieces of fried okra or french fries once in a while. I am aware of everything I put in my mouth, whereas prior to surgery, I'd mindlessly eat. There are things I CHOOSE not to eat just because....I.E. Mac 'N Cheese. When I was losing, I averaged 600 calories a day, doc preferred 800, but I was healthy and got 60 - 80 grams of Protein per day.....I had a hard time stopping, so they had me add two or three Snacks or additional small meals per day. I HAD to do that to get in enough calories to put the brakes on losing!! I do good at 1200 calories. I maintain, up and down three or four lbs between 1200 and 1400 per day. I feel good, and never lost my hair. I wanted to get to a 12, would have been happy as a clam if I'd never lost another pound, but it was sooooo easy, I knew I wasn't finished. I wear a 4 or 6 and am down 81 lbs. I've been maintaining for two years.....I added calories to gain a little back, approx 10 lbs. I was too low. I have fun shopping and love not being the 'biggest girl' in the room. My brain is still catching up, I am not sure it ever will totally. I don't feel 'small' or 'thin' and when someone says that, I smile on the inside....I still can invision the chubby me!! Keeps me humble, I'm sure of it!! (Oh, exercise, what's that??!!!)

I'm 2 years and 7 months out. I don't consider anything off limits except the ONE thing Dr. Davidson said 'NEVER' again, and that is soft drinks. No big deal, I wasn't a big Coke girl, maybe a six pack per YEAR....but only fountain with a lot of ice!!! On the other hand, there are things I choose not to eat. Theater pop corn, but my gosh, it smells so good. If I were with someone who had some, I'd eat five or six kernals. My husband doesn't eat it, so I'm safe! Mac 'n cheese, doesn't matter what kind, there isn't anything good for you in macaroni and Cheese Pre-sweetened Cereal - like a kid, I liked Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops and Super Sugar Crisp Milk shakes - Once in a blue moon I'll have an ice cream cup from McDonalds, but cannot eat it all, or a jr. dip from Braum's. When I say 'blue moon', I mean three or four times per year and NEVER until I reached goal chile relleno - full of cheese and deep fried, I just can't Beer 'n Cheese Brats Fried chicken, but I can do an oven fry that is pretty darn good I can't think of anything else off hand, but I am aware of EVERY single thing I put in my mouth. No more mindless eating like before.

My doctor requires all patients to lose 10 - 15 lbs prior to sugery to make sure we don't have a fatty liver when we go in for surgery. I went to my siminar 2 months before my surgery date. I didn't do the two week pre-op appt. because I lived out of state, so I knew what he said I must lose and started to 'practice' what my life would be like. I didn't cut portions a lot, but I cut out ALL Snacks, I cut out all chips and all bread. The only bread I ate was when we went out to eat, and I'd nibble a little on what they bring to the table. I rode my husband's stationary bike a couple of times a week, not hard rides, but I got up to a mile and a half, I rode for ten minutes. Just these few changes and I lost 23 lbs by the morning of surgery. Wow! I started using a smaller plate, (salad plate) and I used (and still use some times) a small seafood fork. You'll be surprised what you can do!

Some would say I'm a little 'obsessive' (WHAT???), some would say I'm a little high strung....whatever! I was self pay, so I didn't have to jump through hoops to get approved. I could have made the decision, done a seminar and had it all over and done with in six weeks or less, I suspect. I made the decison to have A WLS in Dec 2009. First I thought I'd get a lapband......but I started reading, trolling these forums, for all three surgeries, I asked question, upon question!!! I finally chose a doctor in Texas, since that is where we are from and knew we'd move back...besides, it's hard to beat healthcare in Dallas or Houston. I was living in WI and my PCP said, find a center of excellence doctor, and I did. I decided on the sleeve and flew to Dallas for the seminar in April of 2010. Still I could have scheduled it and gotten in within two weeks. Noooooo, I scheduled it for June 11, 2010 and spent the in between time practicing. I lost 23 lbs, so I never had to do the two week pre op diet, they just did not want a fatty liver!!! LoL I did not decide to have surgery on a whim and I didn't do it spur of the moment, I spend MONTHS learning everything I could. I'd do it again without hesitation. I love my sleeve, I call her Stella!!!

I didn't want anything 're-routed' and I liked the sleeve because they permanently remove approx. 85% of your tummy. Portion control is what I needed.....and this is forced portion control. It also removed all or most of the hunger hormone, at 2 yrs, 7 months out, I'm still not hungry, ever. I have what I call my 'new hunger'. It's more of an empty feeling. I can ignore it, but it lets me know that I should probably put something there at some point!! I knew NOBODY who'd had the sleeve, now I know many, many....but back then, I initially thought I'd get banded, but quickly changed my mind. I know a couple of people who've had bands and quite a few who had by-pass. The ones who got lap bands were not successful, neither reached their goal and both have re-gained most of their weight. With the by pass, I know a few that are considering getting the 'rose' surgery. I think that is what it's called....they go in and tighten things up again.....but I think they routinely make poor decisions. Alcohol seems to be the culprit. Never the less.....the sleeve seemed perfect for me, and I've never had a moment of buyer's remorse!!

Mine is a size 32. We were told at the WLS that our tummy, prior to surgery, is about the size of a deflated football. How can this NOT be a success??? 85% is removed...forever! I think you'd have to TRY and fail to do so. I guess if you drink your calories, milk shakes, beer (not to mention this is carbonated), margariteas, drinks high in sugar, juices etc.....eat Twinkies, if you can find them.....ice cream, french fries......I seriously believe it would take some effort!

I agree with everything you've said. I'm 2 yr and 7 months out. I would have been thrilled to hit a size 12 and just stay there, but it was sooooooo easy. I now wear a size 4 or 6, I personally like the 6's best, more comfy, but the 4's look better. I've been here for quite a while, but I still hold my jeans up, or look at myself in a nice dress for church and think NO WAY!!!! When someone says I'm tiny, small, skinny.....seriously, me???!!!!! I am not sure we'll EVER wrap our head around the new us!!! It's still FUN to me, I love to shop, I just look at myself and am in disbelief!! My husband will do the same thing, but I have him point out women who are my size. When I look at someone else, someone he says I'm similar to, I still cannot believe it, but I just have to smile. I did it!!! I wish this had been perfected and available 20 years ago!! I don't go towards the women's clothing any longer, but for a LONG time I did. Congrats......isn't it fun?

I was told no coffee until week six and sadly, I didn't like it at first!!! We are coffee lovers......Star Bucks EVERY Friday after my husband gets off work, so this was alarming!!!! I went and drank Iced Tea until my 'taste' returned. I guess I was about 3 months out and all of a sudden, I was lovin' it again!!! Praise God!!!! Be sure and ask about fruit smoothies. I was told NO fruit due to the sugar and once it was allowed, they said treat fruit as a treat, a couple of times per week. Sugar is sugar whether it is granulated or natural. Just someting to keep in mind!!!

I wonder if we'll ever push the thoughts out of our heads, the ones about gaining it back. Like you, I always re-gained. I make mistakes too, but I don't really think of it like that since my surgeon said, "this is not a diet, it's a way of life" I think I make poor choices sometimes, and sometimes, like when making christmas Cookies and sampling more than I should....I just felt yucky. I'm up five lbs as of this morning, from a week ago. I've had the munchies for some reason, but I just cut out a couple of Snacks and it comes right off. I am upping my Protein a little, that always does it. I've been maintaining for two years, but have been 'stable' for about 20 months. I lost too much and had to add some calories to get back up a little. I'm fine now, I know I could still lose if I wanted to. I am never hungry, are you? I have a new hunger, it's more of an empty feeling, something I can ignore if I choose to. It's weird, but I hope it stays this way forever!

Me too!!!! I'm 2 yrs 7 months out. Went from an 18/20 to wearing size 4, 6 and 8 size jeans from Gap. All depends on the style. 81 lbs less than the day of the WLS seminar and 58 lbs from the morning of surgery. I never had a minute of buyer's remorse, I love it. This is not a diet, after having 85% of my tummy removed, it's my new way of life. I eat normally, and although most would think I eat small amounts, I think I probably eat the size portions we should eat. Last night I had one cheese enchilada, about 1.5 T of refried Beans and the same amount of rice. Over the course of the meal I ate two corn tortillas. To ME this seems like a lot, but not to others who consume a whole platter. I use to be one of them. I still have great restriction.

I am 2 yrs and 7 months out. This surgery is the best decision I've ever made for me. No buyer's remorse, ever!! You look great, congrats!

Pre-op, I lost 23 lbs but was hungry, just like normal. Not so post op. I've not had 'real' hunger since June 11, 2010. It is wonderful. I eat because it is the social thing to do, it tastes good and I know I MUST. I never had the 'head hunger' people talk about. I still graze, I'd broken the habit but was told to start again so I could get all the calories I need to maintain. Wrap your head around that!!!! It is much easier......you'll love it!

Biotin, get it over the counter at Wal Mart. It's good for hair and nails. I started taking it a few months prior to surgery and I still take it. I never lost hair!

All during my losing stage, I'd lose two lbs, gain three and lose two. I'd go up and down for about a week, then it would come off for good and on to the next one, two or three lbs. I weighed every single day, twice a day, but I never let it get me down. At support group meetings I'd hear people further out, some at goal, some not, say this is how it happens. Not a big deal. I did the up and down thing a lot more than I ever 'stalled'. I guess maybe one time I didn't lose anything for a week, then bam, two lbs gone. With 85% of your tummy gone, unless you are drinking your calories and eating no nos, you are going to lose. Enjoy the ride, it's wild! Stay away from snow shoveling!!! You might should call the doctor and let him know. Also, try water with a little fresh lemon and add a sweet 'n low or stevia. It's the only way i can drink it.....and a lot of ice!!

I could eat very little for a long time. I was probably getting 250 - 300 calories the first three weeks. I could only eat and eighth of a cup of Soup at a time or a tiny bit of SF Jello with sugar free cool whip. I am talking tiny, tiny bit of food. I had a horrible time with liquids. I finally had a nurse tell me ANY liquids, so I started drinking iced tea and I'd drink iced water with a little lemon and a stevia. Finally I could get enough, but I was over a year out when I got it. I am fine now, but it was a struggle.

Oh my, at week 2, I could eat an eighth of a cup at a time. Hardly anything. Just a few tablespoons. I was never hungry, I made myself eat something. I worried more about getting Water in than Protein for the first two or 2.5 weeks. I watched the color in the toilet, I did not want to get dehydrated.

Follow your doctor's orders, in my 'Bariatric Bible' (that's what I call it) from Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas, below is a cut and paste on week 2 & 3. Dr. Davidson said NOTHING that won't go through a straw. I added sugar free Jello with sugar free cool whip. Just something most won't think about. I hope this helps. Gastric Sleeve – Weeks 2 and 3 Add cream/blended soups and drinkable yogurts NO lumps, bumps, or chunks! Continue Multivitamin and mineral supplements Use Protein supplements 1-2x per day (goal 40-60 grams/day)