former_vbg

That is really cool!!!

It's all good.

I told doggzzzzzz to Stop it because he WAS attacking me. I did not accuse you of attacking me, I only asked for documentation to back up your statements because you state your opinion as fact. As I said, in all the time I have been a member here, this is the first time I have ever encountered such vicious statements on here. I have liked coming here because of the support, information, etc. People can have opinions, but they should not state them as facts. I have done enough of my own research, I don't need to do any further. And, btw, dogzzzzz has been blocked and reported to Alex.

You need to STOP right now! I have never until now gotten upset at anyone here on this site until this type of RUDE and UNCALLED for posting. Look at my ticker and tell me whether I've been successful or not. more than 110# lost in 7 months! I don't care what you do or anybody else- but don't ram your theories down someone else's throat. I simply stated a FACT that not everybody has issues with drinking before/ during/ after eating- period. WHat you do is your business. What I do is MY business and you nor anybody else has the right to condem me for it. PERIOD! Now STOP!

Congratulations!! I know how hard you have been working! Final stretch is within reach!!

If this is directed at my post, then post some published studies that state drinking while eating causes damage to the stomach, stretching, etc. Your post comes across as rather high and mighty without anything to back it up. As I said, my surgeon doesn't believe drinking sips with eating causes any problems and he has been around a long time doing this.

Please don't speak in absolutes as if this is for everyone. As noted, there are some of us that have been quite successful and do drink with our meals and have not had any issues. Speaking for myself, sipping small drinks is all I can manage, but I DO drink before, during and after and do not have issues. I also have not experienced any stretching of my stomach because I am taking very small bites, and chewing well. My surgeon didn't have any issues with drinking with meals as long as I was getting in my Protein first, small bites and chewing well.

I do agree. Sometimes a little tough love is in order. It can be done with tact certainly, but I know if I come on here and I'm talking about eating foods that are counter productive to experiencing weight loss or maintaining, I WANT someone to give me a kick in the pants. Will it be tough to read? Sure, but I respect people who tell me what I NEED to hear, not what I WANT to hear.

Normal eating is making healthier choices overall. Keeping in mind what your NUT or Surgeon has told you, but for the most part realizing that high Protein choices will be what fills you up quickest and keep you full longest. Moderating that with other healthy choices like fruits and vegetables. And, if you are far enough out from surgery and IF you think you can control yourself with something off program whether it's sweets or something that doesn't fall into the protein, veggies or fruits, then in moderation and understanding that too much of that will affect the progress of weight loss. It's a delicate balance, something that each of us has to figure out for ourselves since we are all different. Furthermore, men tend to lose weight more quickly than woman when following this regimen, plus if the men have more physically demanding jobs, that is even more helpful for them.

In case you thought I was taking it personally, know that I wasn't. I was only wanting to share that controlled cheating once you have gotten further down (as you mention) with the right way to eat, that cheating is likely to happen but that we must be able to keep it in check. We are on the same page! :-)

I also take small sips of something to drink with eating, and have pretty much all along. I take VERY small bites of the food. It actually helps me. Now, if I take too big of a bite especially of something dense, I can't drink for 20 or 30 minutes. I'm not advocating to against your NUT or surgeon, but just sharing that it hasn't been an issue for me as long as I'm taking very small bites and chewing well.

I have to agree with pretty much what has already been said. I know someone who had the surgery right around the same time as me and she was around the same weight as me (maybe 15# higher) and while I realize age and medical issues can and will affect everyone differently, but this person just has one excuse after the other why they can't eat this Protein or that protein, or can't get to the gym. I try to be supportive, but I just don't understand why this person won't take the surgery more seriously. I care about her very much, and I'm not close enough with this person to really have that "come to jesus meeting" with her. I don't dwell on this, but I just wish there was something I could do to help her realize she is her own worst enemy with coming up with all the excuses and then being depressed at the scale. Sighhh..... I regress..... Oh, I did want to add that I have cheated a few times, but not only does the sleeve keep me in check, I also don't go overboard. Sometimes it is actually a concious thing on my part when I hit a stall to confuse my metabolism. Then, I get RIGHT BACK to the program.

Reporting in. It's been 2 weeks since I reported my weight loss, inpart because the website was down and also I heard one person got a virus shortly after the site came back up so I was a little leary of coming back. Anyhow, down another 5#!!! I'm only 1# away from my V-day goal, so I'm going to change my goal to 154 and see if I can make that. Surgery weight: 271 Starting V-Day Challenge weight: 179 Current weight: 161 Valentines goal weight: 154 Final goal weight: 135

All I can say is "ditto" what Lissa and Coops have said. Was curious though if you would mind sharing your results so far. How much further do you have to go? When you start getting closer to goal, it can take a little longer too. I am noticing that myself. I have just under 30# to go, although, I may try to go a little further since I still have so much loose skin and see if that helps. I hate having to wear things like spanx everytime I want to wear a nice blouse or to keep from spilling over my jeans. It just makes me feel fatter than I am... Keep the faith!!!

You guys crack me up! No, I'm not insulted Lissa, you gave me a good chuckle. Yes, my screen name was in reference to my original WLS that I had 14 yrs ago come this March. The "VBG" could easily have stood for "very big girl", cuz I was. I love saying I WAS cuz while I'm not yet thin, I'm getting much closer!! Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about the procedure. It was actually very successful for me. As of this morning, I weigh exactly the lowest weight I reached when I had the VBG surgery and I don't blame the surgery for not reaching goal. I think it was a combination of things. First, there wasn't ANYTHING like there is now with regards to the support post-surgery from the Dr.'s or support groups. I think I went in for one follow up, maybe two at the most a few months after surgery and never saw the Dr. again. I didn't think anything of it. They didn't tell you Protein first, not sure they knew. My highest at the time of that surgery was 305#. I got down to 162 within I think maybe 6 or 7 months, it's been so long ago my memory has faded a bit on some of those specifics. The other thing that happened for me was I was so thrilled with the attention from men that I got involved in a long term relationship with someone who ate lots of junk food, and was fortunate that at most he had a small to medium sized gut as a result. He didn't really take seriously my requests to eat more healthy around me, and consequently I just gave in to those eating habits. I kept the weight off for a few years actually, but then started bouncing back up close to #200, then I would drop back down to the 170#'s and then back up. The reason for the "failure" of the surgery persay is more about me thant he surgery honestly. I'm not one to go to the Dr. unless I have a serious pain or whatever, just not a complainer. What had happened over time was that I had developed inflammation in my esophagus which could have EASILY been resolved by a reflux medication. Instead what happened is that my esphagus would make it difficult for the "good / more dense" foods to go down. I started gravitating to the slider foods because they wouldn't come back up. The inflammation wasn't everyday, nor every week- just intermittment and so it just became a way of life for me. I never said anything to my PCP all those years. I really wish I had, I may not have shot up to the weight I got to this time around. To answer your question on how the VBG procedure is done/ was done is they used either a silastic band or mesh and create a small pouch at the top of your stomach very similar to the lapband. The basic difference between the lapband and the VBG is that it was permanent, where the lapband required fills. I don't believe there was ever anything metal used to create the band- but I suppose some surgeons may have done that but it wasn't common. My original surgeon used the mesh and so when I had the sleeve, it had become embedded into my tissue and so my surgeon for the sleeve simply cut tightly around the mesh because it is still in tact and not really an issue. In some cases, the silastic band was able to be removed for people who had revisions. When I had my Upper GI done prior to the surgery, I was diagnosed with Esophagitus Stage C on a scale of A through D. And, A being good, and D worst. Basically, it's based on the amount of inflammation you have. Fortunately, after I started taking a PPI, that feeling of food getting "stuck" on the dense foods went away immediately. Only problem was that by that time I was well overweight "again". Could I have just stuck to the same program those of us who have had WLS now and lost weight? Probably, but when I started researching all the changes with WLS, I REALLY liked the idea of having my ghrelin removed so my appetite would be significantly reduced. I couldn't be happier with my Sleeve!!! My cravings for sweets and sugary things are pretty much gone, and that is a huge deal for me. I think with this being my 2nd time around, I am older (40 yrs old), more in tune with my body, WAY more knowledgeable about weight loss surgeries and I understand much better that this is a tool- not a cure. I don't remember if I thought my first surgery was a cure, but I don't think I realized that even though I had that surgery, I would still have to make the life style changes a LIFE LONG process. I have every reason to believe that I will be able to maintain my loss, and even if I go through some bumps in the road that I will be able to keep things managed before they get out of control. Feel free to post here or PM me if you have any other questions.

Probably a little weird NSV, but I get such satisfaction over being able to take one hand and in a claw like manner hold my other wrist touching with my thumb and middle finger with a little room to spare. I also like touching my collar bone being able to feel bone. No, I'm not anything close to underweight, it's just that it was covered up by so much fat before, it's nice to see the new "me" emerging. Something fun is I'm taking a day trip tomorrow and have realized that the jean pile I went through over Christmas to change out the original fat jeans to the not so fat jeans, that now some of those are too baggy. I don't like tight jeans, but hate baggy jeans. So, I now have a new pile of jeans that don't fit. I'm wearing a pretty solid size 10 now which is awesome! I still have my brand new size 6 and 4/5 jeans from my last journey nearly 14 yrs ago that I fell short by 20 or 30#. I'm happy with my progress, but will be doing the HUGE happy dance if I'm able to fit into those babies! Oh, and one more since you guys brought up grocery store stuff. I was at Walmart last week getting a few things. I was in the soda row trying to get some liters of Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry which was on the top shelf and all the ones at the front were gone. I couldn't reach the ones in back and some guy noticed I was struggling and he says, "here, let me throw you up there to reach those". I about did a double take to see who he was talking to. "THROW me up there?" I couldn't look that thin, not yet for someone to even suggest that. Talk about make my day!! :Banane55:

I tried to edit my earlier post. I mispelled breading- typing too fast and I meant to say when So, I understand when you say your sleeve IS sensitive. Gosh darn it, hate it that this site won't let us edit our original posts.... anymore.

You will know really quickly if you are lactose intolerant. If you are going to the bathroom #1, that is not a sign of being lactose intolerant. Now, if it's diarrhea, different story. Basically, if you eat something with milk in it and your stomach starts to cramp up within 5 to 10 minutes (at the most 20 or 30 minutes), and then you find yourself with diarrhea right afterwards- that is your body expelling that out of your body ASAP. I hope that helps. If you want to test it, try drinking a little milk- you will know pretty quick.

I'm glad to hear you are taking off the breaking from the mozzerella sticks, I don't recall seeing that in your post. Just suggesting that Protein first will help you in the long run. Your sleeve (mine was too) very sensitive for the first few months. In fact, about month 3 or 4, I realized I became lactose intolerant. I suspect it will be temporary because I can handle very small amounts of food that has milk product, but I tend to stay away all together because when my stomach doesn't like it, I am in the bathroom within 10 minutes. So, I understand when you say your sleeve isn't sensitive.

Just a word of caution. Things like mozzarella sticks, nachos sort of fall into the "slider foods" category. What that means is that it will not fill you up- it will "slide" through your sleeve pretty quickly. I don't know what your NUT or surgeon recommended for you, but my suggestion for you is to really try to focus on your Proteins as MUCH as possible. This is what is going to fill you up QUICKLY and you will stay full for a long time. I know you said you could only eat 1 1/2 mozzarella stick, but it isn't exactly Protein. I'm only saying this because I care and I would hate to see you in a month or so frustrated with not having the kind of weight loss you are looking for. The honeymoon phase of weightloss fades quicker than you know. I'm glad you are feeling better though!

So, what did you do to break your stall?

Hey there- congratulations! I know you have been working really hard! Keep it up!

Congratulations! You are doing great!! I look forward to when my # starts with "13.." I don't think I have seen that number since junior high- sad to say. I graduated highschool somewhere around 200#. I didn't tend to weigh myself very much, was just too depressing. Was easier to stay in denial that way. Keep up the great work. Hopefully I will be behind you before too long!

That's going to be different with each Dr. My Dr. did 2 different leak tests but all before my surgery was completed. There wasn't one done once I got to my room. I would ask your Dr. when he does them.

Thank you so much for sharing that information. I'm getting close to goal, but money isn't there even if I wanted to do plastics now. I also know I should wait awhile to be sure my weight has stabilized before doing plastics. I do have a question though for you. I have seen one Plastics Dr. and asked her what I could expect in terms of things being firm or taunt say from a breast lift (don't need augmentation) or a tummy tuck. Her answer was rather vague and said she wouldn't really know until after she got in there to do the surgery. That didn't seem like a good answer to me. If I'm going to be spending thousands of dollars, I want to know what I can expect. It's great to see pics of other people, but I want to knwo what I can expect for my body. I'm not after trying to be some beauty queen, far from it- but I have a friend who had a tummy tuck and I wasn't overly impressed with the results. Yes, her tummy was flatter, but had pretty good muffin roles going on. She had gotten to goal, but don't know if she could have lost a little more weight if that would have helped. I've noticed that my belly "overhang" gets a little less the closer I get to my final goal but I know I will still have some or maybe a lot- just don't know yet. I'm just curious if your surgery doc was able to tell you what to expect in terms of firmness of the skin where he or she is doing the surgery.