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Gay male 46, with an extremely supportive husband. We have been together 18 years married 2. SW 282 CW 270 goal 180. The Sleeve for me today went really well. Able to eat jello, drink broth and isopure. All staying down. I do have discomfort but not crazy pain. Been on several walks today. Also an amazing nurse recommended ice packs on tummy area. Feels really good.

VSG surgery is less than 24hrs away and my emotions are all over the place. I don't know if I'm scared, nervous or excited. My life is about to Change [emoji1] Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Today is my birthday and my ONLY wish was to cross the double-century mark! Well.... Happy Birthday to me! I did it! After a 3-4 week stall, I thought I would NEVER get here, but I was patient. I understand now it is a marathon and not a sprint. I say to you all, those pre-op, recently post-op, or anyone who is struggling... as long as you stick to the program, it is worth it. The goals, they happen! LOVE to you all!!!!

Lol Berry mine on my big incision is bugging me so bad that I dreamt the night before last that I dug it out and it pulled the whole (dramatically long and stick straight lol) stitch line out and I bled EVERYWHERE and was running around the dream trying to hold myself shut. [emoji23][emoji23]

This is what I do now. No carbs. Small protein meals every 2-3 hours.

My four week pre-op shakes and food is supposed to start Thursday Sept 14th ready for surgery Thursday October 12th. I actually kicked it off 15 days ago just to familiarise my adaption. I did have a "blowout" for my sister-in-law's 60th 9/9/17 ... beer, smorgasbord, cake, etc. Already down 6.9kg (16-17 lbs) ... caused my surgeon and dietitian much pleasure.

My NUT/Surgeon will not give me calorie goals. I'm sitting at about 1200 calories a day at 9 months out and still losing. 10 pounds from goal so slowly upping my calorie intake. I've asked my NUT several times where my calories should be and she just told me to make good choices and it won't matter.

Thank you for your concern! But I promise, I'm just fine I eat as much as my sleeve allows - pretty much every two hours. From what I read on these boards, I seem to have a much smaller sleeve than most - which is fine with me! I'm doing great, running half marathons, all my labs are normal, and I don't deny myself a shared slice of cheesecake on date night, haha. It's not so much "caloric restriction" as it is "I eat almost all the time and this is what my sleeve can hold"

1 month post op and this experience has not been anything like I thought it would be. I didn't think I had unrealistic expectations. I did a lot of research and have spent way too much time on social media. [emoji6] I knew I would have a rough go mentally for a few weeks and planned on having lots of nausea and struggling with eating. Ive had no issues with my eating (of course its all been liquids to this point.) But I didn't realize the depth of the mental/emotional aspect. It's hard to face your own demons and accept the fact that "this is where I am" and now it's time to fix it. I thought I had done that while deciding to have surgery. I didn't. I also thought the weight loss would be steady for the 1st few months. I thought stalls would come around month 3. Mine hit WEEK 3. In fact I've gained 2 lbs this week. I'm still on puréed food. I've heard you're still losing even if the scale doesn't move. But I'm not. I take my measurements 1x a week. I've lost 1 inch from my stomach, chest, hips and legs over this last month. Don't get me wrong - losing is losing, but again, I thought I would see it quicker for the 1st few months. It seems everyone talks about how much energy they have and how much they LOVE their VSG. I have NO energy what so ever. It's overwhelming for me. I want to be motivated and excited for all that is ahead. But I feel like I'm failing. Like I'm doing something wrong... I'm trying to trust in the process. I'm trying to focus on drinking (no where close to 64oz yet) and eating protein. I'm gagging down Milk of Magnesia. I am walking for 40 mins everyday. I'm trying to stay positive. I really am. Some days it's hard. Really hard. Venting is done. [emoji5]

Craving sushi? You likely will not be able to tolerate your favourite sushi rolls because of the rice and seaweed wrap, however there are several other equally satisfying options on every Asian-style restaurant menu to consider. Indulge in an order of tartar or sashimi. These rice-less options are easier to digest. Don’t be afraid to ask if your favourite sushi rolls can be made with a cucumber wrap instead of the traditional seaweed wrap. This is often a ‘low carb’ option on sushi menus. Order a side of edamame beans. These soybeans are not only a good source of protein, but they are also rich in fibre. Try a protein rich Asian soup. Asian-style restaurants often have a traditional soup with eggs, tofu, chicken, and/or shrimp. Prioritize the solid pieces and leave most of the broth behind. Salmon or tuna salad. Most sushi restaurants have a simple green salad with a seared piece of fish and a flavourful salad dressing. Sandwiches & Wraps· Choose a sandwich on toasted bread. If it is a large sandwich, remove the top piece of bread. Great options include: chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad and deli meats. Wraps are also a good option. Opt for baked chicken rather than crispy chicken. Breakfast egg sandwiches Choose a breakfast wrap or a toasted english muffin sandwich. Skip the bacon and sausage. Salad Almost all restaurants now have a green salad with chicken. Again, opt for grilled chicken instead of crispy chicken. Other high protein options include: taco salads, chickpea salads and bean salads. Chili Whether you choose the vegetarian or meat version, chili packs a lot of protein. They are also very easy to digest making them the perfect option if you have recently transitioned to solid food. Here are some other helpful tips to challenge those old fast food habits: Skip the combo option… yes, even if it’s cheaper! Don’t order a drink. You will be less tempted to drink and eat at the same time if you don’t have a refreshing beverage staring you down during your meal. Eat in the restaurant instead of in the car. If you are driving and eating, food is more likely to block. You can’t be mindful if you are multitasking! Choose foods described as: grilled, baked, sautéed, broiled, steamed, boiled, etc. more often. These cooking methods are lower in calories. Many corner stores and gas stations now have ‘grab and go’ options in their fridges such as sandwiches, salads, protein shakes, yogurt parfaits, etc. Next time you get gas, make a mental note of 3 appropriate meal options you could choose if you were in a pinch. Bon appétit!- Lisa & Monica