NtvTxn

Cold for 3.5 years now!!! Beats the heck out of being hot I guess!!! LoL

Pray that good restriction continues. At 3.5 years, I am still amazed at how good mine is, and I HOPE that it never changes!!! Congrats on your decision to become a loser!!!

I've never heard this, I was told by my doctor that he doesn't want his patients to EVER eat more than a cup of food at one sitting. At 3.5 years, I still cannot eat a cup of food at one sitting!!! I track everything, every day. I also weigh daily and weigh and/or measure my food when I'm at home. Our stomach relaxes and I think mine was at full capacity and hasn't changed since about one year out. I hope it never does. I was at a support group meeting last night and this PhD doctor that speaks to us monthly said that we CAN stretch our sleeve but it isn't easy to do. I've never heard a 'limit' as far as how big it can stretch to. I have met people at meetings that have gained a large portion of their weight back, but they had started or rather stopped doing things we need to continue for ever. Be careful over the holidays, enjoy, but track your calories. A year ago I gained about 6 pounds over a 2 month period, I was still within two pounds of my doctor's goal, but six pounds over MY goal. I knew I was up, I was still doing everything I should as far as tracking my food and all that, but my calories went up eating slider foods.....easy on, not as easy coming off. About double the time getting rid of it. NOT FUN, but possible. I am not doing a repeat this year!!!

Hey there! I am 3.5 years out and believe it or not, I do not find it challenging, at least not yet. I still try and under eat my sleeve, meaning, I know how much it can hold and I TRY and eat a little less. If I ever feel full, it's too late, I'm miserable. I have not gained any weight back, my doctor's goal was 150, I wanted to be at 145 so I could have that 5 lb "pad". I feel good and find it easy to bounce DAILY between 142 and 145.5. I am still doing what I started doing in the beginning....I weigh every morning, it's a control issue, I'm sure. I am finally in control, food is not. I weigh and/or measure my food when I'm at home. I log it all on my fitness pal and last but not least, I attend support group meetings. All of this is my new life, as natural to me as breathing. I know there is no end date, this is forever and I had to incorporate things into my life that I could/would do forever. As far as eating smaller portions, I cannot eat more than a cup of food at one sitting, actually, I cannot eat a full cup, probably 2/3 - 3/4 cup, depending on what I'm eating. At 3.5 years out, I can eat a LOT more than I could in the beginning, so making choices and keeping track of my calories is imperative, I cannot become complacent. Good luck to you, you won't believe what your life is like on your one year anniversary!!!

I was told the reason was because it could be painful with the possibility of taking in air. I did not experience any pain, less air if anything. I 'confessed' when I went in for my three month visit and it was no big deal, i still only sipped, sipped, sipped in the beginning. The further out you get, the bigger your sips until you can eventually drink just like before. I was really worried about getting enough liquids in, the straw helped.

Drinking through a straw was the only 'rule' I broke - and I did it early on. I can drink much more through a straw, so it was week two when I started. It helped me a lot and I didn't get as much air as I did drinking without one. I use a LOT of ice and I was taking in quite a few air bubbles, I think it was because of the amount of ice I use. Anyway, I have never had any issues using one.

It is not correct, it tells me I should have 1500'ish, (slightly over) and at 1500 calories per day, I'd gain. I need LESS than 1300 really....more like 1225 - 1250 to maintain. I manually enter my caloric and Protein numbers. MFP is not taking into consideration we are WLS patients. I've been maintaining successfully for 3 years, you'll get the hang of it!!!!

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Skinny - the string bean we all know or have known in the past, but I guess everyone's definition is different. There is always somebody skinnier and always someone richer, right???!!!!! If you figure out how to "feel" normal sized, share that with the rest of us.

Unfortunately our surgeons operate on our tummy and don't finish up with our head. I have been at goal for 3 years, maintaining for 2.5 years and STILL do NOT see myself like others do. I've been in size 4's and 6's for a few years now and I still will hold a pair of jeans up, fresh out of the dryer and think "NO DAMN WAY can I get my fat @$$ in these" and then I do.....I never have to lay down on the bed to button and zip them. I'm called skinny, tiny, thin and still, the fat girl inside giggles and wants to ask, "Are you talking to ME??" I don't know if it will ever change and I don't know if the fear of waking up 25 lbs heavier will ever go away. A doctor told me though "A little paranoia is good" It's nice being normal sized, even if we don't feel like it, we can look around and in our head, we know we aren't the biggest girl in the room. You are not alone, I think the head games are something we all struggle with. We are women, we critique ourselves and focus on the thing (s) that bother us. Others don't even notice and that's all we see. Take heart, you are more than likely the ONLY one seeing what you do!!! Good luck and happy Thanksgiving!

I made the decision at 2 AM, literally. I got up to go to the bathroom and decided then. That was Dec 2009, I started researching the lapband the following morning, I couldn't wait to start reading. It didn't take long for me to change my mind on WHAT surgery to have. The sleeve, forced portion control, that is what I needed. I wanted to read everything I could and I was cash pay, so I had to deal with that. I had to find a doctor in Texas and make arrangements. Everything fell into place and I had surgery six months later. I really was ready in four months, but I already had a beach house rented for recovery.....but that's ok, it was worth the wait and I was more than prepared.

They WANT everything to go smoothly so insurance will cover your surgery. Wear jeans, layer a shirt under a sweater or sweatshirt. Keep your shoes on. I have a friend who works in a hospital, HER doctor told her to wear her heaviest stuff. Eat something salty the night before, that should ensure you retain some water!! Good luck!

Yes i did go through this....my daughters and husband were all freaking out - people don't know what to say, and if they're use to seeing you big, then to you, you're pencil thin. In my case, I WAS and did not see it until I needed to gain a little back. Say "thank you, I'm almost there" or "I'm finished" unless of course you want to talk about it.

Laughed out loud!!!! They're are all funny, but the ammo shortage really cracked me up!! To entertain myself I thought up bad answers to frequently asked questions posed to WLS people: "Is the food OK?" (asked because you ate so little) Oh, yes, I haven't had food this good since the Turkish prison. "Isn't weight loss surgery the easy way out?" Yes, it is. I was going to shoot everyone smaller than me to make myself look average but there is an ammo shortage. You wise guys got any?