Six months later... [everybody is different, folks]

I am finally addressing the "slow down" issue.

I never had the restrictions a lot of people do. My sleeve didn't force me to slow down. Now I'm finally sitting back and recognizing that I really need to do this, to force myself to do this. I need to figure out what full feels like, and give myself time to recognize it.

Just one more thing we "know" going in that, in my case, I'm having to learn later than most people do.

I thought I'd mention it because I, too, was one of those people who panicked early post-sleeve when my experience didn't follow the majority experience.

And I'm the personality that doesn't dutifully do everything I'm told to do and often will wait until I am either forced to, or I eventually recognize for myself, yes, this needs to be addressed. Because after the earliest stages, eating was so easy most of the time, I never had to (or made myself) think about it the way I should.

So now? I'm thinking about it.

What about you? Do you have any parts of your VSG experience that weren't like you expected after reading the boards and preparing yourself?

You have done great nevertheless and lost a good amount and are very close to goal! So congratulations!!! Coz you must be doing something right!!! Yay You!!!

I am similar to you in terms of not necessarily following what I am told until it hits me over the head with a frying pan or something like that. I think the surgery was that frying pan for me. I have stayed happily on plan (easy plan actually... since progression was quite fast so I have not felt deprived at all) for four weeks now. But my sleeve also is not giving me any grief at all in terms of forcing me to slow down or an obvious restriction at this stage. What I do feel is satisfied and happy to be eating a measured protein portion and not feeling hungry or like a freak when eating with friends and family. I have slowed down though. And I do chew things to the right consistency. I find that by doing that I eat my pre measured portion in the same time that it takes others to chow down 5 times that amount! We finish at the same time. I feel normal. They don't feel like I am a freak and are happy to eat with me. I take a doggy bag home when I can and the dogs are happy too. So it is really a win win situation for everyone.

For sure restriction is not what I thought it would be. I thought I would get the old full feeling but that's certainly not it. I get a hic up or two or a sneeze or two and that is my signal. Usually when I stop eating, the satisfied feeling is there and a somewhat full (like a little bubble in the throat) feeling sets in a few minutes later and lasts for a good two hours so far.

Do you feel hunger more now? I still don't. It helps a lot. And I am one who would rather have a chicken leg any day over a piece of cake so I am happy eating protein!

So, once again, congrats and I look forward to your "I am at goal!!" post!

Since I had less to lose than a lot of people, it has not bothered me to have my weight loss slow for various issues (travel, living out of a hotel during house construction, etc.) and now I don't mind that at six months I haven't reached goal, even though I easily would have had I been stricter on myself. These could be famous last words, but I really feel that I will reach it in good time and the slower progress could actually even benefit me. I'm learning a lot about maintenance during the times when I for one reason or another have not stuck to the plan. I also haven't gained more than three or four pounds during those times, if that.

Right now I am noticing certain feelings that may be hunger or may be mild acid, which is one reason I'm forcing myself to slow down and be more aware of what I'm feeling.  But for the most part if I do eat sooner than I think I should need to, it's only Greek yogurt and except on a couple of days when I went way off the reservation in other ways, I'm still staying below 800 calories (what my doctor advised).  Most days I am around 600, though, but having 800 as my stated goal on mfp has been helpful, I think. It makes me feel good when I undercut it by 200 or more calories, and gives me plenty of wiggle room on days when I need or want it.

I realize that if I had more weight to lose, I would have worked harder to stay totally on program, and don't hold myself up as any kind of example. I also realize that I haven't reached goal and maintained, and my thought processes may end up being totally skewed. But for now, everything feels like I'm doing well and still on task, and my doctor is very pleased.  I'm two pounds away from "normal."

I don't get how losing 70 pounds in 6 months is "slow". 

 

And, I am reminded of the old parable "The Tortoise and the Hair."

I have to learn things the hard way, too. I got a lap band in 2010 and learned that it wasn't supposed to make me full. It was supposed to allow me to feel not hungry for 3-5 hours. There is a whole big difference there. I continued to eat until I felt full, sometimes, and then suffered. If I followed the rules I wasn't hungry and lost weight without regain.

I have basically had the same experience with my sleeve. If I eat until I am full I have taken a few bites too many. Then I suffer. I know that this will not continue indefinitely but I also know that if I weigh and measure my food, eat dense protein, etc. I will not suffer real hunger, just head hunger, and that is something wls can not fix. We have to do it. This must be a life long commitment.

My problem is that suffering doesn't stop me.

If I threw up when I got too full (like so many people) THAT would stop me. But feeling discomfort doesn't. In fact, it's why I managed to have a hiatal hernia without knowing it!

On very few occasions was I in such pain that it really caused distress, as in, not being able to sleep and getting up and sitting up in a chair in pain for a few hours until it finally went away.  I went to the doc and he said it could be several different things (including a hernia) but the easiest thing to do first was treat it as acid reflux and see if that took care of it.  He gave me something to take, and I took it, and didn't have the problem again.

But I did have discomfort. I did "suffer." Just not "keep me awake" kind of suffering, "should I go to the ER" kind of suffering. But since (in my mind) it wasn't anything really wrong, just some sort of acid issue, I went along about my business and ignored it.

After I had my sleeve (and to this day) I sometimes find myself walking around with discomfort and suddenly noticing it, knowing it's been there for awhile. Discomfort became so "normal" to me that I don't even notice it.

Another reason why I'm having to force myself to be mindful of my eating.

Wow! You just hit a point that I hadn't realized "......it wasn't supposed to make me full. It was supposed to allow me to feel not hungry for 3-5 hours". That's the approach I need to take with my Sleeve as  I learn to understand it better, and get it to work for me.

 

Great discussion!

I also never got that 'full' feeling, or slow down like many others talk about. I have never experienced foamies, never thrown up. I pretty much can eat and eat like before surgery, just not in quantities it used to be. I still have not learned to control it, 9 months out I have wasted the last 2 months eating crap and now in a horrible self-loathing mood- today finally deciding to do something about it. I dont think your a slow loser, I think your just comparing yourself to people who have started at higher weights and look like they have lost more because of it. Congrats on how far you have come and what you have accomplished.

What self loathing? You are 24 lbs away from your goal weight... You guys just really amaze me... you are doing so well and you are saying that you are not. 9 months to lose all that weight is fantabulous! Not having the foamies or throwing up is superb! Not 'suffering' and still losing the weight gradually but steadily and surely is just magical! It is superb and amazing! So don't self loath - rather congratulate yourself (and stop eating crap!) and you are there in no time at all. It is not a race. This is for the rest of our lives!

Because I hit that weight 2 months ago, I just stayed at it while eating everything in sight... But thank you