Just starting, question about sleeve

[SAD HATTER 122]

I have my first appointment set. I will be discussing sleeve vs RNY with my surgeon. I am leaning toward sleeve, because the digestive tract stays in tact. I am 350 pounds and 6 feet tall. I was wondering how you losses went. I have talked to some people that followed their drs instructions and just had a really hard time losing. Then I have talked to people that had crazy good results. Any advise?

[Slimsoon1988 123]

Welcome!

From my research, I found that results vary. There is a Success Story Discussion page on this app. There you can read different stories and see pictures of folks who have gone through this; I find it to be very helpful.

Know that this surgery is not a cure but just a tool. If you follow your surgeons orders and stick with Protein first you'll lose.

[samuelsmom 670]

The answers to your question will be extremely variable as this is multifactorial. Some of the factors include age, medications, activity level, medical conditions, gender, and metabolism. I think it safe to say that if you follow the program post-operatively you WILL lose weight, however, the speed of that loss will be variable. Good Luck!

[SAD HATTER 122]

Speed isn't really an issue. I am more concerned with long-term success and health. I am wondering if there are any sleevers that wish they had done the RNY? and if so, why?

[JamieLogical 8,708]

I want to state for the record that having a hard time losing does NOT equal bad results.

[bikrchk 1,313]

My BMI was 37 at consult, (Sept of 2013, when I count from), so I didn't have quite as far to go, but I had as good a sleeve experience anyone could hope for and have had great results reaching my first goal, (top of the healthy BMI range and health problems gone) within about 8 months. From there, I just kind of continued doing what I was doing until I was the size I wanted then added calories to enter maintenance. I'm 5'6" and settled in around 142 in a size 4 jeans, 6 dress. If I go down to 135, it wouldn't hurt my feelings but I'm not gonna kill myself to get there either. At 1.5 years out I still have restriction. I still do Protein first, at least 75g per day and maintain my exercise habit of 4-5 days per week. Good habits are key. The tool still works, but I still struggle with "eating crap" like most folks. As long as I keep the "crap" to a minimum, its all good. If I get too sloppy, it shows up in my weekly weigh in. If I hit 145 I dial it back the next week or 2 till I'm back where I belong. I imagine this is how naturally slender folks do it, I dunno, but it works for me! And yes, I considered R\Y but decided that long term, the side affects might be less with the sleeve. I guess I'll never know for sure, but I'm not disappointed with my decision at all!

Edited February 17, 2015 by bikrchk

[SAD HATTER 122]

That actually helps a lot, that you still have restriction. That is a big fear, that I will lose weight, then the feeling of fullness, or the restriction, will fade, and I will start being really hungry and over eat again.

[Elode 8,093]

I'm 15 weeks out and down 52 lbs. it really hasn't been hard for me at all. I've stuck to the plan the only thing I need to do is start exercising. @@SAD HATTER

[SAD HATTER 122]

I have been exercising for about 5 years. Sadly, I am still fat... You would think doing several rounds of P90X and Insanity and all that other crap would mean I was losing, but no. Hunger always kicked my butt. Weights is my favorite thing to do, and kickboxing. I used to run about 6 miles a day, but now my knees hurt so bad that I can barely jog for a block. So one of the things I look most forward to, is being able to run. To throw on the earbuds, and run all my stress away. just me and the road after everyone else goes to sleep. It has been 14 years since I considered myself a runner. And I miss it.

[Elode 8,093]

@@SAD HATTER If you already like exercise then you should be golden! I like it once I get going it's the get going part I have issues with. I am one of the "lucky ones" that has 0 hunger. I use to ALWAYS be hungry like you I would exercise and be starving so I would eat....lose cause for me. Now I never feel any hunger so I track everything I put in my mouth to make sure I eat enough and the right things..it's a pretty awesome feeling I must say weird to get use to after years of hunger but lovely!!

[SAD HATTER 122]

Oh the horrible agony of defeat after working for 3 months, 6 days a week, at a hard core program, only to realize, that you ate too much and didn't put a dent in your butt. I was eating healthy, but eating way too much. Dang hunger.