Foxbins

I'm 16 months post-op. I am 4 lbs under my weight "limit"--I have promised myself I will not weigh more than 140. I weigh myself every day and although I eat anything I want, mostly I want protein, which helps! If I hit 139, I cut back a bit on calories and take more frequent walks. It's kind of a balancing act, but one I have seen my skinny friends do for years. Now it's my turn.

I told no family members or friends. I told my personal physician and the surgeon who removed my gallbladder. I was on Atkins before surgery and I ate nearly the same way afterwards. When people asked me how I did it, I said I was on a high-protein diet. I suspect everyone is waiting for me to start gaining again as they watched me go up and down the scale over the years. They'll be waiting a long time!

I am 16 months post-op and have never regretted my choice. I thought bypass and DS were too drastic for someone with less than 100 lbs to lose, and the Lap-band had terrible complication and reoperation statistics. I am so happy I chose VSG.

I am 16 months post-op and things are going well. I have changed my shopping and eating habits and now primarily eat Protein and vegetables. I eat very few starches or processed foods. I still measure my food and weigh myself every day; if the scale is up, I cut back a little and take a few more walks. It's not difficult for me right now to maintain. Negatives--When there is something I really want to eat, I have a tendency to eat too fast and end up spitting for an hour. I am trying to get better as it's my problem and other people might not do the same thing. Also, I gave blood twice in the early post-op months and have spent the last year trying to get my Iron reserves back to where they belong but they refuse to go up.

Just my experience, but for a couple months post-op I either felt like I couldn't pee unless I sat there a long time and pushed, or I didn't have to go all day. Part of it was due to the anesthesia, which took quite a while to work it's way out of my body, and part was my body holding on to water to facilitate fat metabolism. Weird.

It's water weight from the IVs you had in the hospital and your emotions are on a roller-coaster after surgery anyway. It happens to most everyone. Go to bed, drink your clears for the next week, and weigh yourself in 7 days. You will do fine.

Even if you lose under your personal goal, from what I have read of people 24-36 months post-op, there is sort of a "bounce-back" of weight gain--usually between 7-15 lbs. I don't mind being a little under goal because if it happens to me I will be right where I wanted to be in the first place. Being under goal by 13 lbs, I don't feel skinny; I feel slender. I'm 5'8". I stopped losing at 14 months post-op as I added in more food and higher-calorie Snacks. If you can't finish a snack, put it away for later. I often do. Also, I keep snacks in the car and my purse so that I can get in more calories when I am away from home without eating junk food.

Do you want it to stop? Add some good fats to your diet--guacamole, nut butters, almonds, walnuts. Add a protein shake made with whole milk. It may take a little time to achieve a balance of calories in, calories out but if you are journaling your food intake and add about 100 calories a day back into your diet per week, after a few weeks you will level out.

I continued to lose. On my one-year anniversary on 1/13, I weighed 148. I weighed 137 this morning. If I am busy and forget to eat I can easily lose a pound or two. I continue to adhere to "protein first," small portions, I eat very few processed foods and almost no starches. I try to keep my calories up with almonds and nut butter, sometimes a supplemental protein shake. I don't believe there is a magic time when weight loss stops but I do believe it becomes way harder over time to mentally keep to the protein first rule, especially if you have a family who is eating normally.

I tried to stop at 3 months and couldn't, but when I stopped at 8 months everything was fine. No reflux since I stopped.

Just my opinion, but I think you need to eat fewer calories. Losing weight through exercise alone, without calorie restriction, is really difficult. Eating what you have been doesn't seem to be working for you. Also, I'd journal your food intake--calories add up fast, especially the small amounts that you might not realize you are eating. Plus, is there a place where you can have your body mass calculated? A BodPod or a dunk tank? That would give you a really good idea of your resting metabolism and how many calories you need to eat to maintain your weight (I'm guessing that it's 1200-1500!) In the meantime, maybe cut back on junk food or nutritionally empty calories for starters and go back to dense protein first and green veg to fill up.

There are so many-- Walking into any regular department store knowing that I can fit into anything they have--if I don't buy something it's because I didn't like it, not because it was too small. Crossing my legs the way magazine models do--calves and ankles touching--and having it look good. Throwing away food because I'd rather be thin than eat it. Learning to serve myself tiny portions because that is all my body needs. Skydiving and not being too fat to jump! Having an acquaintance refer to me as "small" when in grade school I was called the Jolly Green Giant because I was tall and chunky.

I'm 16 months post-op and somewhere I stopped sipping and started drinking. I can't glug down more than about three mouthfuls at a time, but they are certainly not sips. It's one of the ways I started to look "normal" around people who don't know I had surgery.

I heard that it was difficult after a LBL to get in and out of bed and a number of people have rented recliners to sleep in the first few weeks if they didn't own one already. Best wishes for a swift recovery; I'm thinking a butt lift is in my future but haven't really made a firm decision.

I'm 16 months post-op and scallops, shrimp, and crab are my main proteins. I tolerate fish, chicken, and pork pretty poorly, all three need a lot of food lube (some kind of sauce or gravy) to go down well, but I'm great with steak or lamb (go figure!).

I am 16 mos post-op and did low-carb (less than 40) all the way to goal and then added in veg and some fruit. I have lost 95.5 lbs. I wanted to change my eating habits and my taste buds and it appears I did by sticking to such a rigorous plan. Now I always eat protein first, almost no white carbs or sugar and I don't miss them a bit. Some people can eat carbs but for me, once I have more than like 100 a day I want more and more. It's a slippery slope for me and just easier to avoid them as much as possible.

I had my surgery in Almater Hospital and there was blood available and an ICU if I needed them; however, I have never heard of anyone here requiring a transfusion after VSG. I am not saying it doesn't happen, just that no one has posted about it that I recall. I got a shot of heparin in the abdomen after surgery or immediately before, I can't remember exactly now. Whatever meds they put in my IV for pain worked perfectly as I was not in pain--sore, but not too bad. I could drink in tiny sips the day after surgery. You will do fine I'm sure.

No regrets, no issues--look at my ticker! From a size 24 to a size 6. I am so happy; I don't find it difficult to eat protein first and remember my vitamins.

My gallbladder hurt like heck. My VSG, only when I tried to turn over in bed. I took Vicodin for six days after gallbladder, no pain meds after 3 days with VSG.

Mamabear is right. I stuck to my dietary plan and ate 600-800 calories with few carbs and moderate exercise until I reached goal. I still do that 95% of the time although I allow myself flexibility on special occasions. Every day was a special occasion when I was fat but now I realize that how I eat most days has lots more influence on my weight than the one or two meals a month that are off-plan. I also don't keep trigger food in the house and can usually talk myself out of buying it in the store. I weigh myself daily and cut back if I am over 140 (it's only happened once). Keep up the good work and you will eventually get to your goal too.

I am 57, female, and 16 months post-op. My BMI is 20.8 but I am sure my body fat percentage is fairly high for my mass because I also have fat left behind in my abdominal area, around my knees, and in my butt (boobs too but I want them to stay!). My original goal was 150 and now I am 137. My family is all tall and skinny so I suspect that I kept losing because there was some genetic component at work as well as dietary.

I went to Mexicali for my surgery. Ernesto, Dr. Aceves' driver, picked me up at the San Diego Airport and drove me to Mexicali, drove me to the hotel, drove me to the hospital, drove me to the pharmacy, drove me back to the airport. The hospital is a stone's throw from the border, it's not like you are in the middle of nowhere, you're in a city and you're not going to be walking around alone, nor does the car have a sign that says "Rich gringos inside." You will be fine, you will not be kidnapped. Research will not help counter any of the prejudices that your well-meaning friends have. I will say, that of the hundreds of people who post on this forum and others, no one, NO ONE, has reported any attempted kidnapping..

It sounds to me like something you ate irritated your sleeve and now it's acting up. It has happened a couple of times to me and I just go back to protein shakes and other liquids, no solids at all, for a day or two and then eat something I know won't bother it--for me, that's seafood. I have a scallop or two at each meal, eaten really slowly so I can monitor how it is sitting, and then the next day I'm fine.

I would have said to your friend, "Thank you for your concern. I have researched the risks of travel to Mexico and they are extremely low for the travel I am considering. I'm sure all will be fine."

Not scheduled (mine was done 16 months ago) but you won't get lost and the driver will pick you up right outside Terminal 1 baggage claim in San Diego. Dr. Aceves and his team will take good care of you. I had no pain, no nausea or vomiting, and got to goal in 10 months. Good Luck!