My Thoughts.....

[Tex.man88]

I am new to these forums. I know everyone is different and ever surgeon is different so I wanted to post a few words of wisdom from having had this surgery over 1 year and 4 months ago. I do this for those that are going to have it done and those already done what to see and expect. While I am sure I will think of and add some things and again everyone is not the same.

1. Goals while we all want to lose weight please do not become a slave to the scale. The weight will come off the sleeve is a tool to make that happen but if you slow down or plateau then do not worry about the numbers on the scale. Look at other victories. Believe me there are going to be a lot of them and most are not going to be the number on some scale somewhere.
a. Some of mine just so you know.
i. Walking 1 mile without stopping
ii. Running 1 mile without stopping
iii. Running 1 mile in 12min or 5miles per hour
iv. Running 2 miles
v. Running 2 miles at 12 min a mile or 5miles per hour
vi. Running 3 miles
vii. Running 3 miles at 12 min a mile or 5miles per hour
viii. Wearing Size 38 Jeans down from 48/50
ix. Wearing 2XL Polo shirts down from 5/6XL
x. Sitting in an airplane sit comfortably
xi. Able to take my shirt off in a pool
xii. From 23neck shirt to 17
Xiii. NO MEDICINES AT ALL
xiiii. No High blood Pressure all my other numbers are perfect but BMI.

2. Find a happy medium on exercise work to start out slow and increase it will only help you tone up and keep from getting a lot of lose skin. I tend to do mine during lunch since I cannot eat a lot anyway and this tends to keep me from going out to eat with co-workers and spending needless money on food I do not eat or should not be eating.

3. Eating out I found buffets to be pointless and expensive. I have not done a buffet since before my pre-op diet. I do go and order and eat whatever I want. Sometimes I will order like Chinese lunch special and will eat that for lunch, snack, and dinner. Remember if you go out to eat and they do not have Child menus or anything worthwhile on it seems lots of places have nothing but unhealthy junk then order what you like and eat what you want and box and take it home for lunch the next day or dinner.

4. GET YOUR PROTIEN IN. This is major important part of this protein builds lean muscle so make sure you get your protein in.

Remember this is not the end all is all to make you skinny. It does require some work has it is a tool. While it just helps you stay on track you need to put in some skin has my uncle use to say all the time.

Every time I got to my Surgeon I Thank him. This has changed my life the care and understanding and the attitude he had help me make this choice and it has save my life.

[shelbyz]

words of wisdom, thanks!!

[purplelace70]

I love your blog. Thanks we always need to hear the words of wisdom from those who are there.

[Hopefloatsup]

Thanks so very much for sharing. I am just starting this journey. Right now for me, it is one step at a time into my future. Hugs Judy

[aboutime4me]

Terrific post and thanks for your thoughts. It's great to hear from someone more than a year out of surgery. I know we're all curious as to how people have lost and kept the weight off after so long a time. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said in your post. It's not about the numbers...our sleeves are a tool to be used properly and we've got to take the responsibility of making the right changes and choices in our lives. There are so many other benefits in our lives other than the scale numbers. Since this is for the rest of our lives, we have to live normally and enjoy it.

Here's to all of us, for our courage, fortitude and all the changes we've made in our lives for the better. Here's to our health, happiness and all the future days we've added to our lives!