One Month Gastric Sleeve Surgiversary

[Shae 44]

I am 30 days post-op today so I thought I might post about the things I have learned about myself in the past 30 days.

1. I am way stronger than I ever thought I was. I can walk past foods that I never could before and be happy about passing them up rather than dwelling on a missed opportunity.

2. My love affair with food is an addiction that I will grapple with for the rest of my life. However, I am no longer controlled by my addiction because I control what I eat and my sleeve controls how much.

3. I lost a part of me when the surgeon took out 85% of my stomach. Her name was Fat Lady or Fat Girl and her name only came out of MY mouth. I would joke about her as a defense mechanism. I got divorced from her and will never see her again.

4. I lost my best friend, my confidant, my protector, and my crutch: large amounts of food. I went through a grieving process and went through every stage. However, I went through it and didn't get stuck in it. "This too shall pass" was my mantra.

5. No matter how well prepared I thought I was, I was not prepared for most of the things that I have gone through in the past month. You think you know how to tell when you're full - nope. You think you know how to sip - nope. You think you know how to judge a measure of food - nope. And the list goes on.

6. I did this for me. I am happy with my decision and it was the right one for me.

Here are some sleeve specific things I have learned:

1. You will probably need a PPI at least for a little while.

2. Crushed pills are the nastiest thing ever so try to find liquid versions pre-surgery.

3. Too much Protein is just as bad for you as not enough.

4. Too few calories = no weight loss

5. If you don't walk and move around, it takes longer to feel better.

6. Don't compare your weight loss with anyone else's.

7. You don't have to finish what you served yourself. You can save it for later.

8. The "slimies" suck. One more bite WILL hurt.

9. Let your food settle in your sleeve for a while before laying down (yuk).

10. Miralax is your friend! Take it every day and all will be well.

11. People who have never been overweight are ignorant of what you are going through, even those who try desperately to be helpful and understanding and supportive.

12. It will get better!

It has been a rough ride so far but I wouldn't trade it for all the chocolate or Dorito's in the world!

Shae

[Lissa 2,631]

Shae, I think that's an awesome list! You're doing well with your sleeve and it does just keep getting better every day!

I agree about being able to walk by food and not want to have some of it. When I'm satisfied, that's it. No more, "Gee, if only I could have a bite or two of that."

Thanksgiving will be interesting because I'm planning to visit family after we do dinner here. My family should be Italian or Jewish with the way they push food on you, so I'll be practicing my "No, thank you" a lot that day!

[Shae 44]

LOL! Me too! My family usually takes the "That's all you're going to eat?!?" approach.

I can see it now... They will tell me that they feel sorry for me because I can't enjoy Thanksgiving no matter how many times I tell them that I am enjoying myself. Then they will turn it around and claim that I don't like the food they serve because it's not good enough and on and on and on. I think I will have a great laugh once we get home.

Oh well, I'm losing weight, not my sense of humor.

Shae

[Lisa821 29]

Love your list!!!

I'm 16 days post op and I can relate to us thinking we know "how" to sip etc. I have realized that when I'm not crazy hungry all the time, I choose healthier things to eat because they taste good. Like two days ago I tried canned peaches with cottage cheese for the first time in my life AND it was goood! lol! At my office someone brought in a cake and I thought, my peaches taste better than cake and I really meant it. WEIRD!! My biggest struggle right now is getting enough Protein and fluids. Therefore I continue to be exhausted all day, every day. Ooofta!

Thanks for your post! Loved it!

[Soon2BMiniMommy 92]

Ah, Shae. You are SO wonderful and I love reading your posts. You could have written the above about me!! All of that is so true! It's amazing the stages of change, grief over food, etc, I have gone through in just 4 weeks! Even more amazing I truly feel I already have a pretty good handle on it - like you said, I will always have food issues,but now I know I'll be okay! It was touch and go for a couple of weeks there I am going to mark your post as a favorite and read it quite a bit for a while. Thank you so very much...

But I do have to admit, since you mentioned it....I am missing my Doritos!!! I may have to have a few in a couple of weeks. Like I said before, I had this surgery to be normal and not feel guilty about every morsel that goes in my mouth. I love your quote "I am no longer controlled by my addiction because I control what I eat and my sleeve controls how much." I know I can have four of five Doritos and be satisfied now where before it would have been the whole bag. That is a VERY empowering feeling of freedom :dance:

[sleeve 4 me 910]

Awesome post! Congrats!

[Shae 44]

Thank you Chris! :blush5:

My husband's family lives in Tacoma. Next time we are planning a vacation up there, I will let you know! Maybe we could meet in the middle somewhere in Seattle. :seeya:

[GetInMyBelly 80]

How could few calories in the first month be a bad thing? There's no way I can get more in personally in this first month, but I don't understand how it would stop weightless as u say.

[GetInMyBelly 80]

?

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Congrats on your first month being sleeved... it's really all down hill from here. Soon you will even forget you had surgery and life will just be a dandy.

Whoohooo!!!

[Shae 44]

How could few calories in the first month be a bad thing? There's no way I can get more in personally in this first month, but I don't understand how it would stop weightless as u say.

Your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to everything. You know when your body does this because you feel dragged down, tired, moody, and possibly a bit depressed. I went through it, tracked my calories for a few days, and realized that 500 - 600 calories a day was not enough for my body. I added a few calories by having a little less Protein, more veggies and a few complex carbs. I got up to about 800 a day and felt great. In one week on the increased calories, I dropped 9 lbs whereas on the 500 - 600 calories, I gained a pound. Sounds insane I know, and had I not experienced it myself, I would have called it a bunch of hooey!

Shae

[MegInNOLA 531]

Shae, I really love this post. Great list!! Keep rocking it, my friend, and you'll be at goal in no time!