iegal

!Happy sleeve anniversary to you, happy sleeve anniversary to you, happy sleeve anniversary dear Becca, happy sleeve anniversary to you. You deserve all the credit and applause. Way to work your sleeve!

Longer than I hoped, but I am a really slow learner. With VSG you may never feel "genuine" hunger again. Other VSG's still experience real hunger after VSG. Today, I say I am hungry but I am just emotionally eating, socially eating or eating because something smells/looks good. Usually I eat according to the clock. At lunch, I am "hungry." At suppertime, I might be the first to ask - "what are we having tonight?" Each one of us is different, or least that is my experience in the SoCal Support group. So you will need to listen to your body and separate real hunger from head hunger. You can do this, give yourself a chance to know the new you.

Welcome to the loser's bench. Sorry you have some pain. Echoing that each day does get better. Please remember to sip often - at least every 15 minutes and walk around. Hugs and cheers for you!

Crazy, a lot of us have the concern of how to stop losing when getting near goal. Your caloric intake is really low. When visiting your surgeon for follow up, is he/she aware of your low calorie intake? What is your NUTs response? No healthy diet consists of calories this low for a long period. Listen hon, to need VSG you probably are an expert at dieting and are acutley aware of what to eat and what not to eat. Now use that knowledge for healthy calorie choices. I know how hard it is to eat. Now you eat for your health, not because hunger demands food. Pick up new habits and learn to eat according to schedule, whether body "wants" it or not. Plan meals and Snacks...sound familar? At 7AM you eat XXXX, at 9:30AM you drink an additional healthy Protein shake, at 12PM you eat XXXX, at dinner your eat XXX, and as an evening snack you drink/eat XXXX. Dairy is where I chose to add calories. Good protien source and high in the right kinds of fats. I nibble on cheese and a cracker or two. Add a Protein Shake for a snack being mindful of high sugar content. Add sour cream on top of ground turkey along with some guacamole to improvise a naked taco or burrito. What is your vice? Indulge every now and then. The beauty of the sleeve is you have to ADD calories! What a dream; I love my sleeve.

What wonderful news! Sounds better than a sleeve date. Congrats!

Congrats on getting a date and your graduation! Yeah, FV hospital is small but it is where your surgeon is comfortable. I am not aware of anyone who has had a sleeve done there. You might want to ask your surgeons office to see who else they have done at FV to relieve any concerns. Please let us know your date. Again, congrats!

Resolve to have the sleeve - if medically safe. Reading your post you get stronger sounding with a strong will and a good mental state. Do not get discouraged. Ask what will it take? What can I do? Know what is in your control and what is out of your control. Control what you can and move towards a healthier you in what ever road you may have to take. Keep in touch, I am inspired already.

Use shot glass size portions with those smaller spoons. Portion everything out before hand. Remember dieting where we planned our meals. Well, you are in the losing phase of this sleeve which requires planning ahead. At a year out I still eat on smaller plates at home and still count my chews. Be the light of every party and entertain those around you during those bites. If you eat to fast you will be the first one done and everyone will watch you not eat as they continue to finish their meals. Learn new habits now so you do not continue bad habits for the NEW you. I love my sleee. Good luck!

So happy for you and ... you look GREAT. Wishing you much success on your next 10lbs. You can do this!

Well - I don't think this is a NSV yet. No divorce or breakup is until you are fully recovered. Sad to hear you are dealing with such drama while trying to get the new you down to goal size. Don't let this problem derail your weight loss journey. Easy now to slide into bad habits so be vigilant. Firmly agree with sassygirl advice - find yourself before even considering a new relationship. When my marriage ended (over a decade of marriage) it took me over 3 years fully heal. Oh, I thought I was good and ended up getting used cause I did not believe in myself. Truly am crying for you. Forge ahead but take time to mourn what was, plan ahead, seek a professional to reflect and learn for the bright future you know can make a reality. Hugs.

So funny - the SoCal support group was just talking about this at our last meeting. I have had chefs come out to apologize and offer to pay for my meals. One of SoCal group members had a great tip. Their surgeon hands out cards which you give to a waiter/waitress which explains you have had surgery. He went on to say many restaurants will allow you to order off the childrens menu. Know he also said in Vegas the buffets will let you pay childrens price. I think Sizzler does too along with many other eateries. Still embarassing to have to "announce" you have had surgery to a complete stranger perhaps better than a battle with wait staff who are mad you are sharing a meal along with only ordering Water plus a take out box. Can you scream cheap? HA HA, I love this sleeve. Here we are worrying about eating out because we eat too little. Today, post sleeve (15 months out) I still enjoy the atmosphere of dining. Yes, the food tastes good and now I eat very small portions. Remember eating before dining so you did not gorge in front of others? Again, I love this sleevie wonder of mine. iegal

Frist of all you need to take credit for what you have accomplished. Know others started you off but you have such an amazing success. Know you are thrilled. God is good. Post later this week when you are in one-derland. Cheering you on to more great milestones ahead.

A big Merry Christmas to you. Now you are on your way to more weight loss. Such a great way to start off the new year with such optimism. Tell us about how losing 100 #'s has changed your daily life? Congratulations!

Aww, thanks for sharing this great story. Yay!

Yay, running free. Wow. Bet you are on cloud nine with pride.

And BAM, there she is in all her glory, size 0. Dang woman, looking good!

Bad new and good news. Yes, I was lactose intolerant too for several months, about 3 or 4 from what I remember. Slowly reintroduce milk or milk products in a couple of months. Good news might be around the corner. Bad news is that is probably not tomorrow. Good news is at least you can try again. Are sleeves and tolerances are everchanging.

Tomorrow is the big day! Anxiously awaiting your first response post op. A lot less of Leslie...yeah!

I think a lot of sleevers experience this after sugery. Are any of you on a prescription strength PPI? This really helped me although my stomach did not just gurgle but screamed loudly enough to be embarassing. Really one mad tummy after surgery. Hope you recover quickly. I love my sleeve, no regrets.

Jump for joy...but hang on to your britches. Soon those will be a thing of the past also. Congratulations on such a great NSV!!!

Sooner than you think, but never soon enough. Sip less than 1 oz, use a shot glass to SIP not gulp. Let it run down your throat. Protein you are getting so far is fine and it will increase slowly. You and I are about the same when I was at your stage. So when does it get better and I assume better=normal? Well, I had VSG surgery as an outpatient so normal was the first day at home. Veda did outpatient surgery too. No pain meds needed since no cathedar, no drain, no staples in the suture sites. I confess I took pain meds once to sleep because I got my days and nights mixed up. At about day 10 I went, wow - amazing difference, like I woke up out of a fog. Energy not back to 100% at that point but improving slowly. The low carbs, low sugar, low caffine made my body mad and lethargic for a long time. Normal? Well, at about six months was as if I never had surgery minus the restriction and lack to desire to devour everything placed before me or on a buffet. I can gulp liquids now but not an entire bottle of Water. Hang in there - things will get better day by day. Send me a message if I can help if any way. Hugs for a speedy recovery!

Speaking in general terms since you do not say who your insurance is now. I don't think insurance will deny you but your surgeon might. WL surgeons tend to want people who really want to lose weight (not that you don't). Gaining weight will not up your BMI for insurance as your weight is measured from your intial appointment. Hang in there Bes and try not to drown your emotions in food. PS - I gained 5 pounds in the waiting process so I understand.

Is fruit on your VSG post diet? Check to see what is okay per your surgeon before trying something like that. I would think too acid for a new tummy plus I know you can't have any seeds like what would be in a strawberry, rasberry, blackberry, etc. for 6 months. Hang in there, new food items will soon be available.

My title is "no regrets" and I honestly mean it and 14+ months out from VSG surgery. Yes, I get cold easily and wear a lot of long sleeves now. I had not totally dealt with my friend, "food overload" before surgery and actually cried in front of a Home Buffet becasue I could not stay for long periods and gorge...once. I missed my old friend food as the salve to ________ (insert any emotion.) I was lactose intolerant for first three months. I gave up In N Out Burger completly and have not been there since August 2010. I gave up all soda and still have not touched the stuff. I wish I had found this site earlier as I joined after comitting to VSG surgery and was in my 2 week liquid diet. Support here was open, honest and my lifeline as I never had heard of VSG prior to my surgeon recommending over LapBand. Do I regret these small sacrafices? NO. Even with minor bumps after surgery, dealing with my emotions, learning new habits, morphing into a new me I would do it over again tomorrrow. Worrying about your decision in normal. The VSG road is not always smooth but nothing worthwhile comes easily. I love my sleeve, no regrets.

With your enthusiasm - you will soon need to change your name to "A LOT LESS OF LESLIE". You are going to rock that sleeve. Hope this weekend passes quickly! Waiting to hear your first post op report. Hugs.