NtvTxn

I totally agree!! It's forced portion control, they remove about 85% of your tummy! It's not a 'pouch' they leave you with. I agree with whoever said, it is a tool, not a magic bullet. You can drink calories and end up not being as successful as is possible if you use common sense! If you're lucky, your hunger will never return, I don't know of anyone whose had their hunger return like before. It's a new hunger, more of an empty feeling. You can ignore it if you want to. No big deal. I still don't have a real hunger!

I confess that I worry that I'll wake up having gained it all back. (i'm obsessive about weighing, but it keeps me on track) I confess that I don't 'feel' as thin as others say I am. I still look in the mirror and see someone larger. I confess that I LOVE shopping now, although it took a LONG, LONG time for me to go to the right dept. For ages I would walk through the women's dept. I confess, I do NOT exercise. I should but I'm a bum! I knew I'd have to make life changes to lose weight, I have the attention span of a five year old, if exercise was how I lost it, there would be a bigger chance I'd gain it back as soon as I lost interest. I do not recommend this method, but it's worked for me thus far. I confess, secretly in my mind, I am the food police. I look at other's plates in restaurants or wherever and wonder if they realize what they're doing to themselves. Even if they aren't large, it's unhealthy!!! I love 'Stella' my sleeve. Yes, she has a name!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Life is good, shopping is fun and sex is better than it was 20 yrs ago! I still know it is possible to regain, although i don't think there is any way to gain it all back. Surely not!!!

You CAN have cheese enchiladas again! My favorite at our TexMex restaurants here in Dallas!!! I didn't have one until I reached goal, but once I was maintaining, that's what I order occasionally. At first I could only eat half wtih about a TB of refried Beans, now I can eat a whole one, still with just a little beans and/or rice. Along with my husband, we order corn tortillas and I use about half of one to 'dip' into the salsa ahead of time. I seldom eat any chips, when I do, I break off a bite at a time and total will eat 4 or 5. You can have a glass of wine once in a while as well......once you get the hang of maintenence, you will see!!! Shopping will be as much or more fun that eating, I promise!!!

I don't like buffets for several reasons. I didn't like them before surgery and sure don't now. When it's an all you can eat buffet, we tend to think we want to 'get our moneys worth'. At 26 months out, I can only eat about 3/4 cup of food....unless it's $2.50 I will NOT get my moneys worth! I don't think the food on a buffet is as good....and most important, I don't have a say at all about how it's prepared. When ordering I always ask if butter is used at all....and ask them not to use it. That is the most important thing I can think of. Oh, and I can ask to have whatever without cheese or light on cheese. Just different things we can do to try and leave off un-necessary!!

At 6 weeks you should probably start getting back to a more normal, a NEW normal diet. You've had the majority of your stomach removed, so that early out, I suspect you'll be able to eat about a third of an egg mcmuffin.

My doctor said that there are certain Proteins they prefer, I guess some sort of 'whey' Protein powder is best....maybe, but he said find what I can actually consume and stick with it. The bullets did it for me, I never had hair loss, or any hair issues at all. I lost weight remarkably well and felt great. The first week I TRIED to do the whey shake but it was taking me three hours to get a little over half down, by that time it was warm and needed ice....which would melt and make MORE shake for me to drink. I was not getting anywhere near what I needed protein wise or liquid wise.....I had no time or room for Water or anything else. The hospital had given me a 'goodie' bag when I left. All sorts of samples, Calcium, protein, including Isopure, YUCK, whey protein powders, different brands and flavors and lastly, a protein bullet. It was the last thing I tried and it's what I stuck with.

Hold your nose and just take a couple of sips in the AM, Noon and PM. Rinse your mouth afterwards, just like a kid, but it works!!!

I bought ones from GNC, brand is IDS Sports, they were 42 grams of protein. I bought a case on line, after trying a few of them, I liked the blue raspberry the best, the fruit punch was not too bad, the grape was very strong! I didn't mix them with anything. Are they good? No, but with just a few oz to get down, it beats the heck out of gagging down a protein shake!! They aren't big and I wanted to just 'get one down' every day. A sip here and a sip there! They saved me!!!

I hated, HATED the protein shakes. I took three different ones back to GNC, thank goodness they have that policy!! I tried all of them, or so it seems. I learned unflavored does NOT mean unflavored, it just means it's not choc, strawberry or vanilla!!! What saved me was the protein bullets from GNC, 42 grams in about five oz. I'd sip a little in the morning, a little at noon and finish it up before bed. I'd hold my nose and rinse my mouth afterwards, but it was easy, EASY compared to those nasty 'milkshakes'!!!! I'd make up the rest with my food. I drank two cups of skim milk each day, that's another 16 grams of protein. Almost my daily goal. As soon as I could I started eating 1% cottage cheese, 13 grams for 1/2 cup. I could not eat that much for ages, but I started out low. Bagged shrimp from Wal Mart is something else I've kept on hand since about six weeks after surgery. Tuna, packed in Water. I add 2 TB of Lite Mayo. Sometimes I add an egg and pickle, but with just the mayo, half the can is 1/4 cup, that is a ton of protein, just like cottage cheese, it's 13 grams! Fish is my favorite meat since surgery, it's 'soft' and goes down easy. I can eat more fish than pork, beef or even chicken. I like to cook chicken in the oven in a can of 98% FF cream of mushroom Soup. 1 can of soup and almost a can of water. Makes good gravy.....chicken is nice and moist!! These are the things that come to mind, I hope some of it helps!! Oh, do NOT forget eggs!!!! GREAT protein with an egg!

Just a suggestion - something I did from about a week out. I started each day and ended each day with a cup of skim milk. I started keeping glass glasses in the freezer, just because i LOVE cold milk. I'm over two years out and i still do this!! It is 'liquid' and it's 8 grams of protein!!! You're doing great, I couldn't wait to stop drinking those little protein 'bullets'!!! Ugh!!!

I felt restriction immediately. When I was just eating sugar free jello and broth that first two weeks, I could only eat about an eighth of a cup of broth at one sitting and I was 'full as a tick' as we say in Texas!! The jello, I could eat very little as well. I'm sure everyone is different. I still weigh or measure my food, and I still use an on line food log.

Hey 'Less' Dr. Davidson was my surgeon too. My bougie is a 32 and I had NO hunger for about the first eight or nine months, now I have what I call my 'new hunger'. Maybe slight hunger occasionally, but it's really more of an empty feeling. I eat because I enjoy it, it tastes good, I know I must and it's a social thing! I feel like I eat like a naturally thin person now. It's great!! I have no idea how much stomach Dr. D removed, I haven't gone for my two yr check up, I need to call and make an appt. Maybe I'll remember to ask him when I go!! I reached goal pretty quickly, his goal in just under five months, MY goal, (five lbs less) 5 or 6 weeks later. How far out are you? Oh, I was told at the seminar or maybe by his nurse that about 85% of the stomach is removed. Forced portion control, I love it!!

I tried most, if not all of what has been previously mentioned. NOTHING helped, not really......for some reason I realized I needed insoluable (sp?) fiber.....the absolute best thing I've found is Whole Wheat Shredded Wheat. I eat it dry as a snack, 1/2 cup once a day, if I need or want another snack, a nice crunchy one, I'll eat another half cup. It's changed my life!!! Once in a while I'll eat it as a cereal, but with milk I can only eat a fourth cup. Good luck, I hope this helps!!

A couple more things! READ LABELS!!!! Look at calories, fat and sugar!!! Salads are fine if you are using FF dressing, otherwise, the calories add up fast with the dressing, cheese, croutons.....not to mention some who put bacon of some sort on it as well. Beware! I keep a bag of frozen chicken and also a bag of shrimp on hand. Both easy to cook and both high in Protein. A can of tuna with 2 TB of Lite mayo is 13 grams of protein per 1/4 cup. I put the tuna on Special K crackers. 17 is one serving, you probably won't eat 17. One can of tuna makes 1/2 cup. More in protein and more than 2 servings if you add an egg and a couple of pickles. 1% Cottage cheese, I call it the Breakfast of champions. 13 grams of protein per half cup I believe!!!

Hi Sannah, I lost 23 lbs prior to surgery. I did this in two months, I was shocked. The doctor wanted me to lose between 15 and 20! I totally cut bread OUT OF MY DIET when we were home. When we went out to eat, I would NIBBLE on a small piece if brought to the table before the meal. I totally stopped eating chips and salsa at Mexican food restaurants. The 'hot sauce' is the best part, all you need is something to 'dip'. After my husband got a stent in his heart, he started getting an order of corn totillas to replace the fried chips. I did the same thing, except I would make ONE tortilla due and not an entire order of 4 or 6! I totally cut chips out of my life prior to surgery. I am not an exercise guru, but hubby has an Airdyne bike and I started riding it a LITTLE prior to surgery. Not a lot, nothing like he does, but I'd ride it for about ten minutes 3x's a week. When you go from nothing to 3x's per week, even ten minutes is an improvement! I have never been a 'coke' girl, so no sodas was nothing to me, IF You drink them. Stop, even surgar free is not good for you and carbonated drinks are a no no, so now is the time to stop. You said you drink FF lattes....you need to ck the sugar. Unless it's SF and FF, it's probably something you might want to consider them off limits. Things like that are a 'treat' AFTER you reach goal. That's all I can think of, I thought of my two months prior to surgery.....from the time I commiteed and went to the siminar until the day of.....my chance to start making life changes. You can do it!!!! Good luck!

Karen, First of all, if you're going to a surgeon experienced in sleeve surgery, he'll removed about 85% of your stomach!! As barbaric as it sounds.....it's wonderful. Forced portion control. I had my surgery in June of 2010, so I'm just over 2 years out. I had no health issues, my BMI was 36, but I fought to maintain 228 lbs. I have to admit, a lot of my determination was pure ol' vanity. I wanted to be able to go shopping because it was fun, not because I HAD to have a new pair of pants or a new shirt. I hated shopping. My goal was to A) Not lose my hair and get into a size 8 I managed to do both, keep my hair and lose weight!! I'm going to try and answer your questions and give you anwers that were important to me! I started taking Biotin a few months PRIOR to surgery. I've NEVER had a hair issue. I managed to lose 23 lbs before surgery, more than the doctor even required I lose, then I lost another 60'ish between the day of surgery and Nov. I reached my physician's goal just under five months. When I saw how easy and how quickly I was losing....I got to a size 8 lickity split....I readjusted and decided I could lose more! I wanted 5 lbs under the doctor's goal, which I accomplished before Christmas. Right at six months out. I kept losing and was kind of freaked out, I couldn't stop. After talking to the dietitian I started adding a couple of Snacks into my diet and gained some of the weight back. I had gotten down 18 lbs under Dr. D's goal. I maintain without much trouble. I stay between 145 and 152 and I do not deprive myself of anything. I am not stupid, but i don't do without. If I creep up a lb or two more than I like, then I just adjust calories for about a week. I had NO HUNGER for months and months. Now what I call my 'new hunger' is more of an empty feeling, I know when I can or need to put something in there!! Losing this weight is THE easiest thing I've ever done. It just happens. We were told at the seminar that this is 'not a diet', it's a way of life. Well, until I reached goal, I treated it as the most important diet of my life. When you are NOT hungry, it isn't that difficult. Pain after surgery was minimal. I used a flat pillow to prop under my tummy for about six weeks afterwards. I sleep on my side. I used pain medication for a little less than a week after leaving the hospital, and ONLY at night. During the day for about 10 days, I used a heating pad whenever I was sitting or laying around. A heating pad is a must in my book!! I had a hard time getting in my fluids, I started and ended EACH and EVERY day with a cup of skim milk, that does count as water!! It's good Protein and liquid!! I spent months watching the color of my urine. I hated it, but finally a nurse told me they 'prefer' Water but tea, coffee, all those things count. Life has been much easier since then. I usually drink water only when I eat out....sadly!! I like to add some lemon and one of my Stivia packets. It's not lemonaide, just refreshing. I am not a lemonaide fan. For me, NO REGRETS, no buyers remorse, EVER!!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I was realy for this, I love it. I'd initially thought about getting the band, but after research and all, I knew it was not something I'd be happy with.....the sleeve is so easy! Nothing has been re-routed and there isn't a foreign in my body! Follow the 'rules' and stick to it. There are ups and downs, and that is normal. I still weigh or measure my food when I'm home. I keep an on line food log, you'd be surprised how easy it is to eat over what you should, calorie wise.....and I like to keep track of my protein. I weigh twice a day, I've been doing it since I got home from the hospital. The first time is so I'll know if I'm on track, at night when I weigh, it's a game. I guess what I'll weigh in the morning!! My doctor wants us to weigh daily, he said it is much easier to get back on track if you've gone up two, three or four lbs vs ten lbs!! Some folks never weigh unless they're at the doctor's office, or at home, once a week or once a month!!! Seriously??!!!!! WEIGH and WATCH IT. Yes, YOU will be up and down during the losing phase, we all are. I'd lose two lbs, go up a lb, down a lb and then finally the two lbs would be off for good. On to the next lb or two....same thing. I brought it up at a support group meeting (GO TO THEM!!!!) and found out that the one that were maintaining had done the same thing. Yay, I was normal. I did not let it get me down when nothing changed in my diet, but I was up a pound!!! It is what it is. I knew that I was eating 500 - 650 calories per day, I KNEW the weight would come off....and it did!! I got down to a size four....A FOUR!!! My goal had initially been an 8!! I was thrilled. I can still wear a four but right now, a six is more comfortable. The four was just exciting, I've never worn a size 4!! I attend a support group meeting almost every month, they are great, you get good info from others, and it's nice to give encouragement to folks who are newbies!! I hope I've answered everything, if not....just ask!!! Good luck, you will love your sleeve!!!!

I find it hard to believe, but I DO KNOW you can drink your calories via alcohol, cokes, milkshakes.....I guess if someone came out of surgery and did every possible thing WRONG....it's possible. Anyone that stupid is destined to fail. 50 lbs in six months is good. I lost 23 prior to surgery and another 55 in six month. I continued to lose, ending up at one time, 18 lbs below my doctor's goal weight. This is a GREAT "tool" - forced portion control. The perfect solution!!

I hated the protein shakes.....i would nurse one for hours. Totally disgusting!! I got a 'sample' bullet, along with other products, when checking out of Forest Park Medical Cntr. It saved me. 42 grams of protein.....I can't remember the amount, maybe 5 oz. I'd sip a little in the morning, at noon and late in the day. I'd hold my nose and sip, then I'd rinse out my mouth, just like a kid, but it worked fine. I was able to get the rest of my protein in with skim milk (a cup in the AM and a cup before bed) and then whatever I ate.....I usually went over my protein goal. I was so glad to start getting in all my protein with food.....but these were life savers!

I wanted to lose 60 lbs, I was self pay because my BMI was 35 or 36. Many thought I did not NEED to have surgery but my one friend who had WLS is the one who convinced me I would not be sorry. She was right....never even one regret, it's the best decision I've ever made!! It was far better than I'd hoped/prayed it would be. I was down 50 lbs lickity split....and kept going, at one time I was down TOO much, almost 90 lbs. I've regained some, I went to low.....but now I go between 77 lbs and 84 lbs lost. I am sure you'll lose MORE than what you want to lose at this moment.....you'll love it!!!

I do not miss shopping in the women's dept I do not miss shopping because I HAD to have something, not because it is fun just to try on different things I do not miss being uncomfortable in an airplane seat and being scared I'd need an extender. I never did, but the fear! I don't miss hiding behind others when pictures are being taken I don't miss being or at least feeling like the largest 'girl in the room' there are more....but these came to mind right away!

I suffer from migraines, high was 17 in one month, usually 10 - 12. For a month after surgery I had NONE!!!! It had to be because I was eating very little....very little variety and very healthy!! Slowly but surely they came back. I'm on a new preventive and am keeping them at about 8 per month....but I had high hopes that surgery would 'fix me' Good luck, I really have no advice!

first of all, whiskey will hit you quicker, and also, KEEP IN MIND, you can drink the weight back....alcohol or milk shakes. Both should be very limited. I've been constipated since surgery! I've tried everything!! I'm twenty-six months out and just discovered something that helps. It will be a while before you can have this, but I buy whole wheat shredded wheat and eat it as a snack once or twice a day. A half cup - 1 cup a day. Be sure and count the calories. (I highly recommend measuring and weighing food....and keep an on line food log. I'm still doing both) I had two goals, lose weight and do NOT lose my hair. I've accomplished both. I never lost hair. I started taking Biotin several months before surgery (5000 mcg per day) and I'm still taking it. It's good for your nails too! I was lucky, my stomach is flatter now than it's ever been in my adult life! I am 52 and have stretch marks from pregnancy, but all in all, saggy skin is not a problem. My biggest issue is flabby arms. I suspect I could lessen this but it really isn't a huge deal to me. Good luck.......until you reach goal, treat this as the most important diet of your life. That's what I did. Nothing sweet or fried for about six months, but I did not miss it....losing was so exciting!!!

This all sounds crazy, in my humble opinion. If anything SOUNDS too good to be true, chances are, it is.

BTW - sex gets better and better, I'm not sure if it's because you just feel better about yourself or what.....but it's never been better!

I waited two, almost two weeks. I was losing weight and feeling GOOD!! Don't flex your tummy muscles though.