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!
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