emily_0192010

Hello! I was wondering if anybody is familiar with Dr. Eric Pinnar here in Jax, Fl? I have heard some wonderful things about him and his team in Virgina/D.C but I was wondering specifically for his team in Jax. I recently attended one of his seminars and was very impressed. I have not yet met his staff and am curious what the general opinion is! Thanks!

So on monday evening I can start with my surgeon's version of mushy foods. He said it was pretty much anything that does not have to be chewed. He suggested tuna salad, egg salad, ham salad, etc, but he said they must be like mushed to a puree stage. So I am thinking it has to look like baby food. Please help me come up with some ideas!! I am on this for two weeks! I really can't stand tuna, and the idea of pureed tuna is just revolting. Egg salad I will definitely try since it is one of my favorites and I will try the ham salad (any recipes out there?) for sure. But, two weeks. What else can I do? Thanks!

I am a year out now. For the first few months I didn't do much except walking and regular daily running around. I was already losing fairly steadily and at the end of the day i didn't feel like I should add it in. Two months ago I started weight training, following the New Rules of Lifting for Women, and I LOVE IT!!! I have had to work very hard to increase the amount I eat (I am still at 1000 cals max), focusing on Protein. I do not think I could have done this a few months ago to be honest. When I don't get my max amount of food, I can tell when I am in the gym. It just isn't as great of a workout. I currently weight lift 3 times a week. Each exercise day is a full body workout that lasts from an hour to two hours depending on which one I am doing. About once or twice a week I will add in some cardio, but I prefer "high intensity interval training" over just plain running/etc. Basically I jog for a few mins, then I walk, then I jog, then I walk, etc.

It is amazing the variance we see with our sleeves!! I am a year out and I still could not do 4-6oz of liquid at a time. I can do 2, maybe 3 if it is a warm liquid!

Hello to all my fellow sleevers and future sleevers Today marks my one year surgiversary! I cannot believe that I am this point already! Since beginning my journey I have lost 129lbs. I went from a size 24 jean to a size 4. I am in a "normal" BMI. I have had plenty more “ups” then “downs” and I can confidently say that this was the best decision I have ever, and will ever, make. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could. I recently started weight lifting and even though my weight loss has drastically slowed down I am losing body fat and my shape is shifting as well. Tonight I spent some time at a seminar and they were presenting some new research data surrounding the sleeve. I am thrilled! The stats concerning weight loss at the year mark, and three year marks are showing equal if not better than the by-pass. I am thrilled that I (as well as all of you) had the foresight to stick with our guts (tee hee) and chose this surgery. I have learned a lot as well, not just about health and fitness but how to handle situations in life as well. I am currently in the process of switching surgeons; mine left the practice he was working in and I am not comfortable with the other partner. I was chosen as the “patient of the month” for September for their office and I wrote a testimonial for them. It’s a little bit long, but I figured you can always skip it if you would like I cannot say when my weight started to be a problem; it was just always there. I was always overweight, always on the chubby side as a kid and as a young teen. In high school my weight simply was not on the forefront of my mind. I had the birth of my sister and then a year later my mother was in the hospital for an extended time. I had other things to focus on. I was not completely oblivious that I was overweight; I had tried various diets ever since middle school but of course they never worked. It was my reflection that shocked me into realizing just how out of control my weight had become. At the mall one day I noticed the reflection of a very large woman in the glass. I noticed her size compared to the others around her. Then she moved when I moved and I realized that it was me. I did not recognize myself and that realization shocked me. Being overweight had never really affected me before. I was the bookworm, not the athlete. My weight didn’t stop me from reading. My weight didn’t stop me from learning. It didn’t stop me from hanging out with my friends or babysitting. It didn’t stop me from doing the things I loved. I just never grew to love the physical side of life. People’s opinions about the way I looked never mattered to me. Because my weight never stopped me, I didn’t really ever care. Not deeply at least. My reflection though, that hurt me. I found myself caring. I found myself caring a lot. I am a smart person. I knew that it could not possibly be healthy to be that big. I knew that I was only doing damage to myself. I started asking myself questions. “How can I be a role model to my sister when I didn’t take care of myself?” I realized that I was slowly but surely taking away my own dreams. During all the yo-yo’ing I did in my teens I had thought about weight loss surgery. Being the over-analytical person I am, I researched it and the cons always outweighed the pros and I never went past the research part. At the time my reasons were valid. I didn’t have the money. I didn’t have insurance. I wasn’t old enough. It was too drastic. I was healthy just overweight. I was too busy with school. The list could go on. But then it changed. Everything worked. It mattered now. I had no reason not to go for it. When I started my physician supervised weight loss I was at the highest I had ever been. I may have been able to say that I was reasonably healthy, but I would not have been able to say that in five or ten years. That was when my motto “here’s to starting my twenties out right” started. I didn’t want to wait until I had those problems, until it was so far out of control I would have lost everything. I wanted to start really living my life. And I did. I don’t hold myself back and limit myself to my books anymore. I run, I play, I smile more, I laugh more. I’ve known all along that the surgery is just one tool that I am using to help achieve a healthy, fit body. My weight loss journey is not over; it might never be over. But with my sleeve, along with my support team and my family I know that I will continue to be successful, happy and healthy. Thank you especially to everyone on VST... this was my rock during the first few months and I continually lean back on here when I need support and encouragement! I'm going to add new pics soon, just realized they are still all on my phone :tongue2:

Congratulations!!! That is a pretty big jump

Gas-x, the ones that dissolve on your tongue could help. The other ting is lots and lots of walking. It helps displace the gas and get it out! At one day out, this is definitely very normal and often the most uncomfortable part of the entire process. Hang in there! It will get better! Oh, if you start getting shoulder pain from the gas, sometimes a hot water bottle on top will help.

Have you had a chance to peruse the "non scale victories" page? I think that will ease your mind a bit on whether others feel that way or not We all do!! They may vary, but each of us have ones that bother us. It is amazing how awesome it feels when you realize that you have stopped worrying about those. It is even better than hitting number goals!

What I've learned is that every surgeon's diet is different. Mine was super low carb for 2 weeks, and then Clear liquids two days before surgery. At this point I would stop eating and start being more strict,because you don't want to risk this. It will be even more difficult in some ways after surgery because you will incapable of eating, but still able to smell and see everything. (((hugs))) I know how difficult it is, but do your best!

I think it really only depends on how much you are "swallowing", if you are swallowing an entire mouthful at once you are putting a lot of pressure on your new tummy. I personally could not swallow as the pressure in my chest hurt too much. I also found I was more likely to get in my required 65oz if I sipped consistently instead of swallowing. If it isn't hurting you, and you are getting in your water than I say do what feels best, but make sure to listen to your body!

The one thing that is guaranteed to take you life at some point is your weight. It may not be tomorrow, or in a few years, but it WILL steal years off of your life. I was at a seminar this week (went with a family member) and the new STATs on the sleeve are amazing. The surgery itself is safer than having your gallbladder removed. The complication rates are extremely low. The anesthesia risk is there, of course, but it would be if you were getting your wisdom teeth removed or having a c-section, etc. You are allowed to be scared, of course, everyone is at some point in this process. You have to make sure you are 100% confident in your surgeon, talk the anesthesiologist too (you may have to request that). Follow your pre-op and post op instructions to the letter. This might be considered to be an "elective" surgery, but realistically is is not. You need this to gain control over your life. To be healthy and to remain healthy for your boys. (((hugs))) You are going to do great!

My surgeon was Dr. Pinnar in Jax, Fl. He worked with Dr. Cywes. At this point Dr. Pinnar is not practicing with him anymore and is in the process of switching (so i have heard). I'm not comfortable with Dr. Cywes so I am switching as well, into Dr. Webb's practice most likely! I have been talking to the coordinators at Memorial and just need to get my records moved over. Congrats on your one year as well!!!

Congrats Liz!!! Welcome to the Losers Bench You will start to feel better soon!

Hello Congrats on doing so well already! I was sleeved for a different reason, as I am not at that stage in my life yet (I'm 21), but many, many, many people do! I was told (cause they tell every female patient) that ideally you should wait until you are passed your year mark before pregnancy to ensure that you are at optimal health and have no problems getting in all of your nutrition. I just hit a year out and I can still barely eat 3 ounces at a time! A pregnant woman needs to eat! As for the gap, my sister and I are 15 years apart. I think in the end it doesn't really matter.

I was on full liquids once I left the hospital, but honestly I couldn't handle anything. The first week I focused on hitting my liquid mins and getting in what Protein I could. If you are really worried you could try beneprotein (you have to order it) or Bariatric Advantage has a protein elixir (like a syrup) that you can either take straight or mix into your Water. The amount of protein isn't high, about 10 grams per serving, but it is better than nothing! As for being allowed to try the chocolate ones, I highly suggest just calling your surgeons office and asking. They won't mind

Isn't that amazing how these things kinda just sneak up on you?? You have done an amazing job!! I am about equal right now. About a pound off from losing more than what I weigh. That's an entire person! High five

Oh no!! Hopefully it hasn't settled into your chest. At the least the worst thing that can happen is that you have to push your date back... at least it won't be cancelled 100%. It still would stink majorly, but chin up! Don't be dismayed until you have to be.

Protein shakes CAN be really confusing!! This is what you should consider... 1) How many grams of protein are you aiming for? I aim for a minimum of 20g protein per serving. 2) How many carbs are you limited to? I choose low carb so I aim for under 10 per serving. Ideally under 6g. 3) Do you want a shake with added Vitamins? These are great! GNC sells some in a premade shake that fit all of my requirements. 4) Type of protein. After a year of trial and error and research I have come to the conclusion that 100% whey protein is the best. It is absorbed the most effectively. But, it is only "best", really any source of protein is "good". 5)Price. Some Protein drinks have better quality protein than others. I have learned that it can make a difference, but you have to do what you have to do. I cannot afford the expensive ones, though I have learned to save and buy my protein in powder form, in bulk. 6) Taste preference. There are some protein drinks that I just cannot get down. For me, I have learned that these are any shake that contains soy, and then some random ones that I don't understand (like muscle milk lol). For post-op I would suggest staying away from the slimfat/atkins type of shakes. I don't think you will get the protein you need. Also, they are pretty expensive if you look at cost per serving!

Sounds like you are doing wonderful!! Day 2 was the hard day for me. Great job on the drinking well, that is always the toughest part! Welcome to the Loser's Bench

Welcome to the loser's bench!!! You will do great And of course you will be able to maintain. It is a huge transition, but it becomes "normal" to you. Especially after the 6 month mark when you are fully healed.

Thanks Yes I did keep losing in those date ranges, I am still losing! (Just very slowly). I would say I lost about 30 lbs between 6 and 12 months. I stalled out a lot and was in a pretty stressful situation at the time. I have also started weight lifting, so even though my numbers haven't changed too much, I am still losing body fat. At this point I pay more attention to my body fat % over the numbers. It helps a lot

I wouldn't mind watching! LOL... but I'd be worried about how high the spinal would have to be and the side effects... don't think I'd want to risk paralysis for this. I've wondered similar things before because when I would read descriptions of the surgery it always says "usually performed under general anesthesia"... I always wondered what other forms of anesthesia could be used.

I love meatballs!! They are GREAT for me post sleeve as I pre-make them and then they are quick on the go. I haven't though to add to cheese to them, I might do that as it would up the Protein. When I make meatballs I add greek yogurt to them! You cannot taste it, but it adds protein AND it keeps them moist and keeps them from falling apart Oh, and I make this with ground turkey. I mix it with the yogurt and the spices, then let it sit for a few hours. It really absorbs the flavor of the spices YUMMY!

Hello Not sure if you check your private messages, so I figured I'd shoot you a line here as well. Would I be able to pick it up on Sunday or maybe Saturday night? I pm'ed you my number, as it might be easier to keep in touch with text/calls. Thanks!!