I can't believe where I am! And a question..

[Lulu mama]

I'm weighing in at 182 now. I am 11 weeks out now and I can't believe how much i've lost and how fast! I'm a comfortable size 14 when I was a 20 in April! I'm wearing normal people size 14 shorts haha! My skin isn't as bad (loose) as I thought it was going to be. I still have time for that though. I do stretches and yoga everyday for about an hour. My energy is still kinda low, but I do need to start lifting and tone up.

My problems though are some serious heartburn. I'm not totally sure, but I think i'm starting to lose more hair which suuuuuuuucks!! I am naturally darkish blonde and I dye it black, so maybe I just need to redye it and i'm being paranoid, but I think I can see my scalp more now. EEkk! I'm never hungry though and forget to eat and I feel nauseous a lot when I do. I pop tums like crazy!

Wearing clothes that I haven't worn since high school is pretty awesome though, I have to admit. All my pants are way too big and I need new stuff. Shoes even fit me better! Fortunately my boobs haven't shrank yet! I honestly would be happy right where I am. Maybe like 10 more lbs in the belly area, but I really just need to tone it up and tone my legs and arms.. and butt. haha!


Now for the questions, and I apologize if i've asked this before. But do you any of you post sleevers smoke cigarettes? How soon after surgery did you smoke and did your doc make a big deal out of not smoking or at least tell you not to? Also, about drinking alcohol. How many post sleevers drink and how soon after did you start drinking? And what can you drink? I know probably not beer, but mixed drinks, shots, wine, etc? I'm just curious.

[Amber Like Woah]

I have not had surgery yet, however I did ask our Dr about liquor. You have to be VERY careful of ANY mixed drinks as the mixers and liqueurs have TONS of surge in them. The thing my dr said is to try to stick to clearer liquors and shots tend to be better than a full drink with the lack of room. but she did say just like with water, liquor is a liquid, it will go through you, but those mixers and calories and sugars are the killers! Hope this helps some!

[RRT]

Wholly crap have you lost or what!!! Damn wish I had lost as much. But I will.
My Dr told me not to drink alcohol for a year. Empty calories that I don't need. I agree but when I get to goal I'm having a Midori sour!

[Kimpossible318]

My doctor told me to avoid alcohol because of empty calories AND because it's possible to unintentionally replace a food addiction or comfort eating (emotional eating) with an alcohol addition or emotional drinking.

[NancyN]

About the drinking, what Kim said. The smoking, Why, Why, Why!!! If you've gone this long, why would you want to start that up again! It smells sooooo bad! I am an ex smoker, way more critical than a non smoker, I'm begging you, don't do it! Has nothing to do with the sleeve, you have to quit before, because nobody wants to do elective surgery on a smoker, the anesthesiologist doesn't like it, raises your chance of dieing on the table.

[MysticalMaybe]

Please be careful with drinking. I was told a drink here and there after one year but around 5 to 7 drinks per year. I was told you get drunk off very little and it would ruin your liver faster. Smoking my dr said no smoking ever again even before he knew i didnt smoke.

The reason i say becareful with drinking is because my brothers friend had wls, lost alot of weight then started his old habbit.. drinking. He later died because he abused it... I'm not saying you will I'm just saying dont let it get out of hand.

Alot of people get mad at me for saying it but i just want to let you know that it happeneds and I dont want anything like that to happen to anyone. You are all so special.

Congrats on all your weight loss.. you are awesome!

[Lulu mama]

Thank you guys for the replies. I know it's all bad, I mean thats obvious. My dad had wls and has been suffering from drinking problems since. I have tried a couple drinks but it makes me nauseous so thats why I ask, how long for everyone until they can have a drink. And as for the smoking.. I know it's crazy it's like why would you even want to go back? I quit smoking for a very long time, a couple times in my life, but maybe it is a replacement addiction thing, but I have been craving cigarettes again!! Only in social times though, not during the day. I have tried one but I was paranoid so I havent since then. I realize it's bad for you though, my doctor is very heavily against it because of ulcers. But I have tried to find more information on it and I don't hear a lot about it.

So, i'm just being honest, I was hoping to hear people say "yeah i started smoking again and i'm fine" lmao! Yeah right! Don't worry guys, it's a fleeting thought. Thank you all again though! <3

[sososoph]

I'm a smoker and actually started smoking the day I got out of hospital, although I have cut down from 20 a day to now maybe 5 a day. My doc knew I smoked and although didn't tell me I should start again, he never told me I should stop! As for alcohol, I'm thinking of trying my first drink around Xmas x

[Lulu mama]

Wow you have a carefree doc! Mine is vehemently against it and so is the rest of the office.

[Rose69]

I hope you realize that smoking at social gatherings is how you begin, before you know it you will be smoking all day, every day. The best thing to do is not start.
As far as alcohol, my doctor told me no alcohol for the first year but I had my first drink (a glass of wine) 5 months out on my birthday. I have about 2 or 3 glasses of wine a week. Closer to 2, rarely 3!
Best Wishes,
Rose

[LtWeight]

My surgeon said he will not perform surgery on anyone who has smoked in the last six months and that it makes healing much harder for your body, not to mention more difficult during surgery. I quit over 5 years ago using chantix and I swear by it! I don't even have the desire at all any more. I bet I had quit at least 5 times in the past for up to 2 years at a time and it was always a struggle. Chantix did the trick and I've never looked back, something to consider! Women smokers have a much higher risk of cancer. My sister had annual gyn exams and a couple of times she had pre-cancerous cells. It's a scary thing!

[Kelli D]

Are you taking an acid reducer? If not you should talk to your doctor because this will help greatly!!

[LtWeight]

I agree with Kelli D., I've been on an acid reducer Rx since surgery. I take it 2x's a day for at 90 days. Then we see how I do after that. I've not had any problems with acid since surgery at all.

[MelyNur]

Regarding to smoking my Dr says that if you do after surgery you have high chances to get ulcers. About Alcohol he said no no, cuz your stomach is too small to handle it so you might get drunk very easy is like drinking on a empty stomach hehehehe. And for the hair loss my NUT. keep saying to make sure to drink minumun 70g of protein a day so the protein can help with the hair loss. Congrats on your weight loss!!

[lighterlori'slovelylife]

Please do not undo the progress you have made!! Try to find a healthy addiction. I guess I am a bit sensitive on the smoking thing since I lost my mother to lung cancer from smoking for years....