Anticipation/Reassurance

OK, I'm looking for motivational stories ( to get me through the twilight of my pre-op period )
I'm 44 and having gastric sleeve surgery on 12/28.
I'm at 225.  I've gone from 230 to 150 in my 20s and in my 30s.  I'm one of those people
who can gain weight training for a marathon. Help me believe that this tool makes it easier to maintain

Amy

I don't have a sleeve, but a RNY.  Insurance wouldn't pay for a sleeve for me.  There are lots of folks here with sleeves who have done great, many at goal. All of the surgeries are tools and if you use them, you will do fine.  If you aren't ready to change your life, you may want to re-think.  The tool can't do all the work for you but certainly can be great helps.  Others  can give you more info about that particular surgery but I can assure you, it was the best choice I ever made and I wish I could have done it years ago. 
Good luck and your time will be here soon.

I'm a sleever, and it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Has it been easy, no. With the sleeve, you have to be ready to make permanent changes. We don't have malabsorption to help us out. We have to follow the rules from day 1. We also don't dump, so for the most part, we can eat whatever we want, so we have to be careful about what we eat. I got to goal a few days shy of 5 months and have lost a few since then. But I very strictly monitor what I eat and I work out hard and a lot. I like healthy food, I just ate too much of it. The sleeve controls my portions and helps me get full and stay full, the rest is up to me. But that's what I wanted. I eat pretty much like a "normal person" now. I eat balanced meals, lots of raw veggies, whole grains, etc. And now that I have been at goal for awhile, I allow myself treats. But I still track everything I eat daily, and have upped my workouts as I lost and became more physically able to do so. If you follow the rules, you will be a success!

Hi Amy.  I am only a little over 2 1/2 months out from having the sleeve and so far it has been wonderful!  I can totally relate to what you said about gaining while training for a marathon.  I own a martial art school and have for 22 years, so basically, I work out for a living!  I would teach and train hard and all the while still gain!  But not since my sleeve!  My restriction works very well for me and I rarely ever feel hungry!  It is so awesome to finally watch the scale go down, so the motivation is huge!  I feel so much better teaching my classes and for a 56 year old (young) lady, I can still kick pretty good!  LOL!

The pre-op stage can be difficult, but just keep your eyes focused on that goal and it will be here before you know it!  Best of luck to you!

Beverly

Hi Beverly ... I've spent my life dieting ... even liquid diets with one lean/green meal a day ... so pre-op diet is pretty doable and not gaining weight at Christmas time is making me happy.
Thanks for the encouragement and info about how sleeve is working for you and that you feel going teaching your class (that's important to me)

Amy

I have a sleeve, I'm 53, and I've been maintaining for almost 2 years how.

Does that help?

Yes ... it helps alot, especially since I've read some of your posts about wishing you'd done this on one of your previous trips above 200.  The last time I got down to the 150s (2001), I was bicycle racing and even with a ton of time on the bike, I was seriously fighting (and losing) and
so info about weight maintainence being more doable makes any thoughts about why I'm doing this go away.

Thank you