Diane C.

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Hello again!  

Here I am, 2 years out!  I am so very happy that I had my sleeve done!  I know (without a doubt) that if I had not had this surgery I would have gained 50 more pounds.

First of all, I am still at the same weight, more or less, as I was a year ago.  I fluctuate plus and minus 5-7 lbs.  This has caused me some happiness and some concern!  I really wanted to have lost 100 lbs, but I'm at about 55 lbs.  Recently I have come to the realization that somehow or other, I fell through the cracks for follow up!  Where I should have been seeing my doctor every few months, I was out there on my own!  Same goes for the dietician.  One thing I was doing right was seeing a psychologist.  

So, I made an appointment with both my doctor and my dietician.  I do not want to gain the weight back, and I want to lose even more.  So they have helped me figure out what I need to do to move forward.  I looked at what I ate a year ago, and can't believe I was eating GrapeNuts!  I'm shaking my head!  Here is what I am eating now (typical day):

Breakfast - 1 egg, with thin slice ham chopped up in it.  Plus 1 Tbsp grated cheese.

Lunch - home made soup, with chicken, beans and veggies in it.  (I eat the substance and usually throw out the liquid that is left)

Snack - Beanitos chips with plain Greek yogurt (with Ranch powder mixed in)

Dinner - Meat (chicken, beef, fish) plus vegetable.

I snack on grapes, sugar free popcycles, and Adkins bars.

Still a work in progress.  My food issues did not disappear.  But now I have a great tool that keeps me from over eating (sleeve)!  

Did you notice that there were hardly any carbs in my diet now.  I have come to realize that carbs = crack!  I'm so addicted to carbs that I really really have to stay away from them.  So, whenever I'm tempted I ask myself if I want to derail where I ma right now.  So far the answer has been 'no'!

I've also done well with the 'no carbonated drinks' rule.  I don't miss them.  I was drinking a lot of iced tea, with splenda... and found myself very dehydrated.  So now I allow 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning and the rest of the day it's just water.

Right now I am struggling to get back into the active mode.  I was doing so well for awhile.  But I fell off the wagon and boy is it hard to get back on.  But I will!  It's been so hot (over 100 degrees) and that is my excuse.  

I hope that this is helpful to someone.  Best wishes and God bless you as you go forward with your weight loss journey!

Diane
 

I can't believe it's been a year since my surgery!  I have absolutley no regrets whatsoever... so if you are reading this trying to decide if you should get the sleeve procedure, I'd say 'go for it!'.

I have some word of caution - and they are nothing different than the other people who post  have said - mainly that the sleeve surgery is a  TOOL!  You still have to change the way you eat and hopefully the way you feel about food.

I have been stuck for months, and if I'm honest, it is because I have been eating lots of carbs.  The sleeve lets me eat pretty much anything.... so by making poor choices, I've stayed the same weight for months.  But I still don't reget the procedure because I know I would have gained an additional 50 lbs!  

Part of my problem is that the program I went through dropped the ball by not telling me I should have any followup with them... so I've been on my own.  And even though they gave me guidelines, I'm better with accountability!  So I called them and scheduled an appointment and have gotten back on track.  The first week following the guidelines I've lost 3 lbs!  Hooray!  

So remember to get your protein first and that every snack you eat should have a protein component... Whether it's eating Beanito's chips with Ranch (made from FF cottage cheess, pureed), or a proteing bar or shake, or an egg or whatever... No more tortilla chips!  Unless I make them myself and have them with refried beans.... 

So being a year out, one thing that I have really noticed is how the sleeve helps me keep my portions in control.  I travel for my job and eat out frequently.... when I look at what I'm served, how much I leave on the plate and compare that to what I used to do (and what the people I'm with are doing), I am so thankful for the sleeve.   Used to be I couldn't leave a morsel on my plate, and frequently got dessert or seconds.... No more.  And I don't feel deprived about it, like I used to when I would stop eating at the correct portions.  I always wanted more before.  

So if you are thinking about the procedure - go for it!  It's the best tool ever!  But don't forget it's not a 'cure'!  I've proven that... Take one day at time!   

Good luck and God bless you!

Well, I'm obviously not very consistent when it comes to blogging... but I have some things to say at this point.

First of all.... (and I suspected this going into the whole thing)... I still want to eat even if I'm not hungry.  I felt this way presurgury and still have this issue.  But thankfully I cannot eat as much as
before.  In order to avoid going back to my old habits I am seeing a psychologist to help me work through what causes this.  And this has been very helpful.  Because of my job (I travel) I can't go to a local support group, and seeing someone has given me the opportunity to talk through some of the stuff that I'm going through.

So at 4 months out I've lost a total of 62 lbs.  This is from my highest weight.  Since surgery I've lost 35 lbs.  I have been in a stall for about a month now!  In one respect I'm concerned.... that has caused me to finally FINALLY!! start exercising.  I work out with weights 3 times a week and try to do at least 30 minutes of cardio a day.  I feel a lot better since I've started doing this.  The other side of me is not too concerned about the stall because I see it as a way for my body to adjust... hopefully I won't have too much skin at the end of the game.  Plus I need the time to figure out how I will simply 'be' being thin!  I have never been there before.  Right now I'm at the weight I was in about 1999.  I was very active then and dieting and I'm at the weight that I could never seem to break past.  So I am going to work it and enjoy finally getting through this! 

This week I'm going to try fruits and salad for the first time since surgery.  I hope I can handle because I never thought I'd say I was looking forward to veggies and fruit! 

One thing that is thrilling to me is that I can now wear a regular size (16)!  I have given away or sold almost all my plus sized clothes.  I think I even lost weight in my feet because some of my shoes are simply too big. 

What I eat.... a typical day for me is this:
Grape Nuts and skim milk for breakfast.  (Some days I have an egg instead)
Chicken/rice/black bean/cheese dish that I prepared for lunch. (about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup)
Tilapia (2-4 oz) grilled and sm sweet potato with butter for dinner.
100 cal popcorn - snack
Skinny cow fudge bar -snack
And if I'm honest - I will also have some other carb thing (maybe another ice cream or some bread).  This last part is where I struggle.  If I would just stick to the plan, I'd lose more weight... but I am working through this.  I want to conquer this.  I don't want to be the only person who failed with the sleeve!!!  NO! not me!  

One thing that has surprised me since I'm logging all my food now.... How easy it is to be over 1200 calories.  Even when I cheat as much as possible, I don't go over 1500 calories.  Even at that I'd think I would lose weight!  I'm just so glad I got the sleeve because I don't think there is any way I could eat this little with my full sized stomach.  

Anyway.. .my next big goal is to get under 200 lbs.  I'm close and stuck!  So I will walk faster and use that ellipical thingy like there's no tomorrow!  

 

My surgery was on Sept 3, 2010.  Here's how it went down:

I arrived at St Francis at 5:30 am.  My best friend Delia drove me and was there the whole time.  My family came later and are very supportive. 
I checked in and was taken to a room where I was given a paper gown and a pair of socks to wear. 
Later a nurse came in and checked my vital signs, and started an IV.  I'm happy she was able to do it in 1 stick.
My friend and I prayed for the surgery.
Not too much later, I was rolled back to surgery.  I waited a few minutes in the hallway (hospital yellow) while they prepared the room.   While waiting the nurse anesticist (spelled that wrong, I'm sure) came out and asked me about allergies, and checked my airways.
Then I was rolled into the operating room.  Scooted over to the operating table.  I commented that the lights looked like UFOs.  They laughed and agreed.  A mask was placed over my mouth and I was given oxygen.  Then he said he was going to start the anesthetic.  That's all I know until I woke up in recovery room.
Yea! I made it!
I have some memories of the guy next to me in the recovery room, he asked for a cheeseburger which really cracked the nurse up! 
I was taken to a room and was happy to have a private room that was actually pretty quiet. 
All in all the process at the hospital was very good.  Everyone was nice and they took great care of me.

Post surgery:
I came home after one night in the hospital.  Was given an anti-nausea prescription and a pain med prescription.  My sister-in-law stayed with me the first 2 nights. (I live alone)  She was nice enough to cut all my pills in half, as swallowing them whole might pose a problem.
I don't think I've gotten enough water.  I felt yucky when it hit my stomach.  I am currently on day 4, and I hope today will be better.
I have enjoyed the sugar free popcycles and jello. 
Had the runs on day 3.  I was wondering when I'd have a bowel movement, and then came the runs (sorry if TMI).  I think they are over, we shall see.
I have had a couple of moments when I thought "what have I done???"  But I think that's normal.  And reading everyone's posts helps me realize that it will get better.