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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member AnnieG's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Annie
    Surgery date
    10/05/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Ryan Heider
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Last Activity
    11-29-2020 11:18 AM
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    1,572
    Said "Thanks" 3,565 Times
    Was Thanked 1,143 Times in 760 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 271 Times
    Blog Entries
    2

    Cool Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    1. It takes a village; without each of you, I would not have been successful in losing after my sleeve, and certainly not in maintaining for almost 2 years (most of my weight came off rapidly and early.) SO many thanks to each of you.

    2. Diet - I no longer have a diet; being self-pay may have made my choices easier since the per pound cost was bigger than Kobe steak. I made the decision that this had to work for me and for my family. Healthy foods come to my house. The things that are temptations do not. Fortunately, I bake and my husband's sweet tooth is taken care of, but I bake things I don't find tempting. I weigh every day, and track my food every other day -- and if I see an "up" on the scales, I go back over the day to see what might have been different. Then I adjust. Still protein first but working on plants as food. And yes, the occasional exception or Annie would be a dull crabby girl.

    3. Health - Just no comparison; from 17 meds to 4, from BMI of 39 to BMI of 23; resolved diabetes, resolved HBP, resolved high cholesterol, resolved joint pain, and more energy. I actually feel like I'm living my life <3

    4. Hair - I did have hair loss, but it was more the transfusions than the sleeve. It has come back (way whiter than I remembered, lol) and it's still curly. I found wigs worked well for me; I've lost hair 3 times in my life, so maybe it wasn't as difficult as if I was really young and cute, and/or dating.

    5. Tips - READ all you can about the sleeve; find those folks who are successful long-timers; avoid negative people! (Including family members) or just stop them when they start. DON'T compare your journey to anyone else's, or your results to theirs. Your body is highly individual; your eating triggers are as well. For instance, I have a genetic mutation (MSH2) that puts me at high risk for 7 types of cancer (I've had 5); I also have celiac disease and was diagnosed when I was 8 years old by biopsy. I have a tendency post sleeve for extremely low blood sugar (like low 50s). So the things I do to accommodate my particular circumstances will probably not be like what works for you. It doesn't make me right, or you wrong. It makes us who we are.

    6. THE TOOL - The sleeve won't change you. It won't change the things that may have contributed to weight gain. It is a tool, a running start, to a better, effective way to relate to yourself, the world, and food. Many long-timers have said they found counseling to be another effective part of the surgery. I find that as well; I also journal prior to making an impulsive eating choice. Sometimes I realize I'm upset, or tired, or thirsty.

    I know I'm preaching to the choir, here. But I just realized I've been within 2 pounds up or down of my goal for the past 18 months! I'm so tickled.

    Again, without y'all, I wouldn't have made it!
    [I]HW: 240 lbs SW: 199 lbs GW: 140 lbs

    1 MO = 167.0 2 MO = 156.4 3 MO = 148.4 4 MO = 140.6
    5 M) = 136.0 6 MO = 130.0
    1 YR = 122.0 2 YR = 140.00 2.5 YR = 139
    Happy with my weight; happy with my size; over-the-moon with my health!

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  3. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  4. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member Sandown64's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Sally
    Surgery date
    01/21/2020
    Surgeon
    Mr Hamouda
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Last Activity
    11-01-2020 04:45 PM
    Location
    Herne Bay, Kent, England
    Posts
    66
    Said "Thanks" 28 Times
    Was Thanked 34 Times in 30 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 2 Times

    Default Re: Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    Congratulations to you Annie, you have done a marvellous job and have given yourself every chance for a healthy and longer life. Keep up the great work as I understand (yet to experience) that maintenance is the hard part !



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  6. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    06/27/2019
    Surgeon
    Dr. Burpee (that's right)
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Last Activity
    01-02-2021 08:41 AM
    Posts
    107
    Said "Thanks" 146 Times
    Was Thanked 91 Times in 61 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 55 Times

    Default Re: Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    Words to live by. Literally live by for those of us (probably most of us) who had or have weight related health issues. Thank you Annie for your ongoing wisdom and this wonderful post.
    Reason: Typo correction

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  8. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member KiwiGal's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Lisa
    Surgery date
    09/04/2017
    Surgeon
    Stephanie Ulmer
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Last Activity
    05-24-2021 09:49 PM
    Location
    Auckland New Zealand
    Posts
    1,417
    Said "Thanks" 797 Times
    Was Thanked 909 Times in 702 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 750 Times
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    Such great advice Annie.
    I agree that without everyone here it would be a totally different journey for me.
    You are all just great!



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  10. #5
    sraebaer
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    Default Re: Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    You did great! Proud of you!

    I'm sad that I wasn't able to get off any of my medications. Heart disease runs in my family, thanks dad. I even had to go on a SECOND cholesterol drug this week. Craziness. I guess I should be happy to be alive, as dad died at my age. Still can't sleep but no sleep apnea. Had a sleep study and I did wake up 49 times. There's more, but all minor stuff.

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  12. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  13. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member kenson's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    01/13/2014
    Surgeon
    Dr. Karl Strom
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Last Activity
    06-29-2023 07:07 PM
    Posts
    1,354
    Said "Thanks" 43 Times
    Was Thanked 726 Times in 509 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 51 Times
    Blog Entries
    27

    Default Re: Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    Good stuff Annie!!!
    You have been such a superstar with your sleeve. You continue to come to the forum to encourage and support us all. Thank you for all that you do!



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  15. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member AnnieG's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Annie
    Surgery date
    10/05/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Ryan Heider
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Last Activity
    11-29-2020 11:18 AM
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    1,572
    Said "Thanks" 3,565 Times
    Was Thanked 1,143 Times in 760 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 271 Times
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Wednesday Thoughts - - 2 1/2 years post sleeve

    Quote Originally Posted by sraebaer View Post
    You did great! Proud of you!

    I'm sad that I wasn't able to get off any of my medications. Heart disease runs in my family, thanks dad. I even had to go on a SECOND cholesterol drug this week. Craziness. I guess I should be happy to be alive, as dad died at my age. Still can't sleep but no sleep apnea. Had a sleep study and I did wake up 49 times. There's more, but all minor stuff.
    We get a lot of a'gifts' with genetics, lol. I do take a shot every 2 weeks for cholesterol, based on strokes and failed triple bypass. But my goodness, vertical is great! Or still above ground, as a very old friend used to say.

    I did have apnea, and had a horrible machine, but grateful it's gone! And lymphedema also gone.

    I think as I approach 68, I'm working on gratitude more, and it helps. By the time you hit 50, life has normally thrown a lot of things your way. By 60, I think you resolve a lot of old things (or process them better).

    I am fortunate with an amazing network of women in my "real world" life, with a "Las Vegas" rule. Always good to have that safety in place.

    Since I do genealogy, I know our family stats - in spite of genetic mutation, average in dad's family is 93, mom's 96. Big families, great numbers. So far among the cousins, our oldest is 91 -- youngest is 60. Looking forward to the BEST ahead.

    And you guys are among the best in my life.
    [I]HW: 240 lbs SW: 199 lbs GW: 140 lbs

    1 MO = 167.0 2 MO = 156.4 3 MO = 148.4 4 MO = 140.6
    5 M) = 136.0 6 MO = 130.0
    1 YR = 122.0 2 YR = 140.00 2.5 YR = 139
    Happy with my weight; happy with my size; over-the-moon with my health!

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