swizzly

No pre-op diet at all. No post-op pain to speak of, very easy recovery.

Old Navy compression line is my favorite. Also, a brand called Marika Magic has some tummy-control leggings etc. that I really like.

I totally agree with this. I got up above 1200 cals per day as soon as I could post-op, cos I didn't want to hose my not-too-awful metabolism. I eat in the 2000 cals neighborhood now as well, with a fairly active lifestyle. I didn't reach my "goal" yet -- but I'm not sure I want to, cos I like where I am currently, so I upped the calories to see how it feels to hang out where I am. FWIW, I NEVER lost my hunger, not at all. It wasn't head hunger or acid, it was just good old hunger. The ghrelin thing didn't seem to apply to me, which was frustrating at first. But then I figured, well, I was hungry before, so I can deal with that. And I have. You can be hungry and still do this!

I'm not smart enough to really *get* this, I admit it -- but my great aunt died when her vagus nerve collapsed (failed?) and led to heart failure. So anything about that nerve makes me, um, nervous LOL. But I remember reading about vagatomy and thinking it was interesting. I didn't realise that VSG impacts the vagus nerve either. I guess I won't go getting all retroactively wound up about it though.

I never used shakes at all, they're hard to get where I live and I can basically only get one kind and I hated it. Plus, my program discourages using shakes, they want you to get all your protein from food, which I've not had a problem with at all. My program also *requires* carbs like bread and potatoes, which I had a harder time eating (potatoes still feel like a rock in there!). So programs are all over the map -- including those that don't use shakes and do recommend adding some carbs in. I've been pretty successful with it so far, I lost pretty slowly I would say, but I'm not bothered about being fast at all LOL. And I enjoy eating and I can eat much more than 3-4 bites now, but still much less than pre-op.

Hey MamaBear -- you can do this!! I just read this book, worth a read in your situation I think: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007KPBHAA/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title Give it a go. And keep posting, we are all here to help you!!! I'm 14 months out and haven't hit goal yet, mostly cos I've been eating total crap for like two months now...so I hear you...

Nadz, you look ABSOLUTE ADORABLE in that picture, just LOVE IT!!! Beautiful. And Janie -- OMG! Loving the sexy kitty costume LOL! GO YOU!!!

LOL...sleeve of steel here for sure! There is no liquids or mushies phase where I am, so I was on normal food from three days post-op! I have NEVER had a problem with anything I've eaten; in 14 months since VSG, I've had one sleeve-related pain when I randomly drank some Water too fast (though I've often drunk faster than that, so I think it was just a fluke). I can eat *anything*, I swear. I have a hard time only with potatoes (like a brick they are) and rice (which I also didn't like pre-op anyhow). Everything else is easy. I don't have to eat slow or chew a lot or any of those proper behaviors...! I feel I had it very easy and I'm very glad about that. Having said all that, for the first few months post-op, I did eat a lot of cottage cheese, yogurt, shrimp, cream spinach, tuna, Beans, mozarella, etc. But I also ate meat, chicken, fish -- no problems. I don't have any issues with sugar or fatty foods either. I'm telling you, I can eat ANYTHING. I've also never lost my sense of hunger AT ALL. I've had it all along. Though to be fair, my hunger was not overwhelming to me pre-op anyhow, so it's not been bothersome to me per se. It's not been a barrier to success, though I'm still about five kg from my 'ultimate' goal. Meh, I'll get there.

I was cleared for it at six weeks, but I didn't actually do anything till nine+ months post-op. One intense WL thing at a time for me...

I wouldn't worry about that too much, I've only ever heard of it happening once or twice in all my various forums.

I don't remember how long it was before I drove (I don't drive very often anyhow), but I just had to post and say that "gibby" is my husband's nickname, and our dog's name.

I started off at 110 kg, had surgery in Feb 2011 -- took me until nearly a year out to get to 70 kg, so be patient, you'll still lose! I'm still losing sloooowwwwly...

I've been successfully treated for acid by good PPIs since surgery, no problems there. But I have never lost my hunger from this operation, not at all! I just posted about this, but I got my hunger back about two days post-op (right after I stopped dry-heaving LOL) and it's been with me ever since. That said, it's totally still do-able, so don't sweat it too much!! I think the stats show that *most* people lose their hunger with VSG, but that is definitely not ALL people.

A bit of pasta, ONE wee Jaffa cake, and a Ribena do not a terrible day make! Just stay on track and treat each day as a new start. :-)

Try Quest BARS!!! Yummy... I've been able to eat a lot, right from the start. And my hunger never went away either, unfortunately. However, I have still been successful with my sleeve -- and so will you!!

Happy birthday, Coops -- you're one of the good guys for sure. :-) <3

Super cute!! You look fab!!

FWIW, I colored my hair throughout the post-op period -- it was already thinning, I didn't want the color to suck too. The doctor and my hairstylist both said coloring it would have no impact on the loss.

I have been at 1000 cals min since about 3-4 weeks post-op, and then it was mostly between 1000-1200 during the first nine months post-op, when I wasn't working out yet. Once I added in three workouts per week (in addition to walking to/from work), I have averaged 1500 cals per day easily. My hunger never went away, but I still was able to do this. I am not a fan of super-low-cal approaches for my own reasons, so 1000 cals was a minimum for me. For a 5'6 woman, I would say 1200-1400 cals per day has been my average throughout the first year post-op. I'm not 'at goal' but I'm a normal BMI and have about 5kg more to lose. I also have always eaten three meals and three planned snacks per day to keep my blood sugar stable throughout the day, just recently I have cut two of the snacks cos I no longer really need them. I have never had a liquid diet or protein shakes.

Mine started falling out at 3.5 months post-op and kept on falling out in large amounts till about 7-8 months out. Now it comes out in only normal amounts and it's growing back in all over my head...in random short lengths everywhere LOL. I highly recommend the Joan Rivers Good Hair Day powder to cover up the scalp that shows through, it helps a ton. And it DOES grow back. Don't be too fussed about washing/brushing it as that won't affect it one way or the other, it's going to fall out a certain amount no matter what you do. No worries, it WILL stop and it WILL grow back in!!

Meg, YOU ROCK!! Congrats on hitting your goal, you have done great!!!

M2G -- you look FAB in that AWESOME dress!!! FRIT FROO!!! Wowser! Candace, also looking curvy and fantastic. I love this thread! So fun and inspirational. :-)

I made this Protein ball recipe out of a few others that I liked -- these little balls pop into the freezer and you can grab a couple here and there. They're really yummy. I made them with PB2 instead of regular Peanut Butter cos it hugely cuts the calories. http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2036888 Yum. I'm going to try the bar recipe, too -- they sound delish. Might cut down on ordering in all the Quest bars too.

Everyone I know (I mean EVERYONE, and there are more than one hand of fingers' worth LOL) has totally lost weight after having their gall bladder out, and these are normal-stomached people. So I wouldn't worry too much about that one. Anyhow going a couple of days on IV fluids and not a ton of food (plus the post-op restrictions on certain things for a week or two) are bound to help. Also, the stones in the remaining bile duct thing is a possibility, but a pretty low one...so go with the numbers on this one and don't borrow trouble! You'll feel much better for having it out!

Oh man, I pay a fortune to have those shipped over to me!! Between shipping and customs, they come to about $4-5 per bar (which is still cheap compared to anything even remotely similar I might find here...but can't find here anyhow LOL). But I don't mind paying it cos they are soooo good. I don't like ANY of the 'new' ones, called "100% Natural" I think? I like ALL the original ones, in the following order of preference LOL... 1. vanilla Almond 2. Peanut Butter Supreme 3. chocolate Brownie 4. Mixed berry Bliss 5. Peanut Butter & Jelly 6. Apple Pie I could eat more than one a day, but I try to control myself...