SKCUNNINGHAM

I went to see the nutritionist yesterday for my 6 month followup. One of the topics I talked to her about was what level of carbs I should aim for each day (to get her opinion). She said I didn't need to count carbs, only to track the sugar grams. Does anyone do this? If so, how many grams of sugar do target for each day?

The sleeve is a tool to help you change your life. You still have work hard - make the right choices, don't eat the wrong foods (milkshakes, etc) that just slide through the sleeve, exercise, take your Vitamins, get in all your Fluid - etc. This is a lifetime committment. So think hard about having the surgery. This isn't the "easy way" no matter what the uninformed think. Good luck with your decision.

Congratulations to you and your husband. I am happy for you both. You look wonderful - you are lit from within. Enjoy the new house and the birth of the baby.

I too was craving salad and raw veggies. Listen to your doctor - he's telling you this so you don't stress out your stomach while it is still healing. When you do start eating veggies - pick the easier ones to digest to eat raw (tomatoes, cucumbers). The cruciferous veggies (broccolli, cauliflower) I still don't eat raw - I eat them cooked- and I'm six months out.. I ate asparagras (cooked) too soon, and gave myself stomach pains for 2 days from it. And, after having trouble twice from too much raw celery - I now limit myself to one rib raw. (cooked doesn't bother me.) I don't eat much raw salad greens - a little goes a long way with me.

Of course follow your doctor's instructions - but if I had had trouble holding things down, I would go pretty slow moving from liquids to pureed foods.

First of all, make sure you are getting in your fluids - at least 60 ounces per day. Then, you need fiber - you probably aren't getting enough from what you eat. I use benefiber packets - one or two per day. You can take up to three per day. Then I use a capful of Miralax in a smoothie - usually 5 days per week. It is not a laxative, it is a stool softener, and is gentle and harmless. I also use a tablespoon of flax oil in my smoothie. The more you exercise - the more regular you will be. Some people have great results with coffee. I don't drink coffee - but Chinese food is a sure cure for me to get my system moving. Don't compare your pre-surgery normal to what your new normal will be. You are putting less volume in so there will be less volume coming out. You are eating less fiber and fat, so that greatly reduces the output, also.

You really look phenominal in that LBD! You are the epitome of a confident, sexy babe! I bet you distracted the other gamblers at the casino from whatever game they were trying to play.

There is a very good resource here on the forum - a wonderful woman whose screen name is Tiffykins. She has been sleeved for around a year and a half to two years and has been very successful. She posted yesterday in response to a topic titled "how much should I be eating?" I am going to quote from her response: " Measured portions, specifically 2-4oz should be your target meal size. That's by volume for the most part, you could do probably 6oz yogurt and other super soft/liquidy type foods. Personally, I would not be eating hashbrowns or any type of white carb during the losing stage, but that's just how I chose to lose weight. You might not get a full signal until it's too late, then you'll be puking or hurting. I didn't get a "full signal" for months post-op so measuring was my key to not overeating. I was prescribed 600-800 calories, 60+gr of Protein and no more than 30-40gr of carbs per day. Measuring foods gives you a few things; 1) Staying within a set dietary guideline 2) Won't leave you hurting or puking 3) Will teach you to undereat your sleeve Eating until full or stuffed helped get me fat. I was specifically told to undereat my sleeve, to measure, and to stop looking for that full signal because if you constantly overeat it is not changing any of the habits that led to us having surgery." Look for her on the site, and check out her content. She is a great source of good data from a person who has "walked the walk" and lost her weight. Good luck on your journey!

I either buy myself something, or pamper myself in some way, or take time just for myself. So I might buy myself a piece of clothing that fits, or a piece of jewelry. I am a fan of manicures and pedicures - so I'll do that for myself. Or I schedule time to go have a girls lunch with a friend. I am trying to figure something to do for myself when I hit goal. Haven't decided yet.

Any chance of your wife having the surgery? That would be a great shared experience for the two of you. If not, I would recommend marriage counseling ASAP, or individual counseling for your wife. This unresolved jealousy could destroy your relationship. The statistics of divorce after weight loss surgery are not good (but divorce statistics in general are not good).

I like to calculate the % of my excess weight I have lost and the % of my starting body weight. It is great fun to see those numbers go up and the weight numbers go down. Congratulations on passing the 10% milestone.

You should have great success with the sleeve. I am 54 and am six months post surgery, and I love my sleeve. My doc had me start Famotidene (pepcid) as soon as I got home. I also started prilosec at about 6 weeks after surgery - when I started real food (after the mushiies stage). I didn't take any pain meds once I left the hospital (after a 1 night stay.) The doc gave me some, but I don't like pain meds. I found that a heating pad and wearing an abdominal support belt 24 hours a day helped me immensely on the discomfort. I wanted to get the pain medicine and the anasthesia out of my system as quickly as possible - and one of the reasons is I don't like how they slow down the functioning of my intestines. Good luck with your sleeve. This forum has been a great source of support for me during this process.

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm The link above is from the Metropolitan Life Insurance company - it is their official height / weight tables. It lists the target weight ranges for women assuming 3 lbs of clothing wearing 1" heals. It also lists the ranges by frame size (small, medium and large). If you don't know your frame size - it also tells you how to measure and determine that - by using the distance between the two prominent bones in your elbow when your arm is bent at a 90 degree angle to your body. So first, determine your frame size. Then, find your target weight range from the chart. Determine how much weight there is from where you started to both the top and bottom of the target weight range. That would be the high and low numbers for how much excess weight you started with. My surgeon told me a VSG sleve patient usually losing 85% of their excess weight in the first year. So take 85% of both your excess weight numbers and subtract that from your original weight. That will give you your high and low numbers for how much weight you will probably lose in the first year. Here's an example using my numbers: I started out weighing 253. I am 5'4 barefoot Using the method described on the link, I measured the distance between the two bones in my elbow at 2". This means I have a small frame (hard to believe). Going to the chart for height and weight, a 5'5" women with a small frame should weigh 117 - 130. That means I was carrying between 122 to 136 pounds of excess weight. (253-130=122, 253-117=136) 85% of these numbers are 104 and 116 pounds projected weight loss at one year (85% *122=104, 85%*136=116 both numbers rounded up) So my goal weight for one year is most likely between 137 and 149. Hope this helps.

That is a wonderful NSV! That is a landmark! To me it ranks right up there with not having to be weighed at the feed store, not having to use a seat belt extender, and not having the slats fall out from underneath the bed when you lay down on the mattress. BTW - I take two measurements - I measure my "belly" - which is what I call the largest part of my stomach / apron. I also measure my "hips" - which is where the widest part of my butt is - and it is (now) just below where the apron ends. I even lifted up the d**n apron to get this measurement early on. I take that measurement to let myself know what my hips would be if I get the apron removed. (I can dream, right?)

You look great! You have a beautiful hour glass shape. Way to go! How did you set your goal weight? I still have 35-ish pounds to lose and wondered how you picked your number.

Your progress is amazing. You look wonderful! You have rocked your sleeve!

In my six months since surgery, I have occaisionally moved up a pound, then lost it back then lost down further. Those are the only gains I've seen.

My name is Sharon. I will be 55 this Christmas. My highest weight ever (last year in September) was around 263. I was 253 when I scheduled my surgery with Dr. Nick and 241 when I had surgery. I am 168-170 now. My goal weight (I think) is 135 - but I may decide to stop at 140 - depends on how I look and feel and at what weight I can maintain without living in the gym 6 days a week. I have been waiting to start participating in this forum until I got this close to goal. I need a push to persevere the rest of the way. So I have lost approximatly 83-85 pounds in 6 1/2 months (including the 2 week preop). I started out in 24W's and had just moved into 3X tops. A guys 2XL T shirt was tight on me. Now, I wear mostly 14P pants and XL or L tops. My waist is still proportinately too big compared to my hips, or I would be wearing 12P pants. I am broad shouldered - not big bosomed (I am a B+cup size - I was only a D 80 pounds ago). At goal I will probably be in 10's - maybe some 8's - depending on how small I get my waist. My body is built in a way that I don't think my skeleton would wear a size 4. Unlike most of you on this thread - I have not been a faithful hard exerciser these last six months. I was enjoying Zumba classes, and working out on my elliptical - then I sprained my ankle cleaning fat clothes out of my spare closet. I haven't done anything but streching for 3 weeks while I have been wearing my boot cast. One more week and I will be out of it (fingers crossed). My plan (post boot) is to exercise for 45 minutes-1 hour a minimum of 3 days a week. Zumba, cardio and body weight exercises (squats, lunges, and core exercises) and maybe incorporate some light weights. My time frame is this - I want lose 15 pounds by October 15th, then the next 15 pounds by January 1st. At that point I will determine how low I want to go.

My name is Sharon. My highest weight ever (last year in September) was around 263. I was 253 when I scheduled my surgery with Dr. Nick and 241 when I had surgery. I am 168-170 now. My goal weight (I think) is 135 - but I may decide to stop at 140 - depends on how I look and feel and at what weight I can maintain without living in the gym 6 days a week. I have been waiting to start participating in this forum until I got this close to goal. I need a push to persevere the rest of the way. So I have lost approximatly 83-85 pounds in 6 1/2 months (including the 2 week preop). I started out in 24W's and had just moved into 3X tops. A guys 2XL T shirt was tight on me. Now, I wear mostly 14P pants and XL or L tops. My waist is still proportinately too big compared to my hips, or I would be wearing 12P pants. I am broad shouldered - not big bosomed (I am a B+cup size - I was only a D 80 pounds ago). At goal I will probably be in 10's - maybe some 8's - depending on how small I get my waist. My body is such that I don't think my skeleton would wear a size 4. Unlike most of you on this thread - I have not been a faithful hard exerciser these last six months. I was enjoying Zumba classes, and working out on my elliptical - then I sprained my ankle cleaning fat clothes out of my spare closet. I haven't done anything but streching for 3 weeks while I have been wearing my boot cast. One more week and I will be out of it (fingers crossed). My plan (post boot) is to exercise for 45 minutes-1 hour a minimum of 3 days a week. Zumba, cardio and body weight exercises (squats, lunges, and core exercises) and maybe incorporate some light weights. My time frame is this - I want lose 15 pounds by October 15th, then the next 15 pounds by January 1st. At that point I will set my final goal. This is a great sub forum - I really appreciate the support it (and all of you all) offers. Thanks a bunch!

The scar tissue you are referring to your friend had removed are what are called adhesions. To quote from an online source - www.adhesions.org "An ADHESION is a type of scar that forms an abnormal connection between two parts of the body. Adhesions can cause severe clinical problems. Adhesions occur in response to injury of various kinds. For example, non-surgical insults such as endometriosis, infection, chemotherapy, radiation and cancer may damage tissue and initiate ADHESIONS. By far the most common kind of ADHESION is the one that forms after surgery. ADHESIONS typically occur at the site of a surgical procedure although they may also occur elsewhere." Sometimes people form adhesions, sometimes they don't (I am speaking in general, not specifically about sleeve patients.). If you form adhesions and they cause you pain, a surgeon can go in and remove them. I had adhesions form NOT from surgery as a result of "female problems". After years of trying other ways to correct the situation, I had a hysterectomy. The surgeon removed a BUNCH of adhesions, along with everything else. Five years later, adhesions had formed where my female parts had been, and I had surgery to remove those. I was day surgery, I went in on Friday - had them removed and was back at work on Tuesday. I have not had adhesions form after other abdominal surgery (gallbladder)- so I am not particulary worried I will get them after my sleeve. If they do occur, I will have the surgeon go in and take them out. Hope this helps.

I was considering the band (reluctantly) as my insurance didn't cover the sleeve when I started the 6 month pre-op diet. Luckily, the insurance coverage changed to include the sleeve. This surgery was my first choice. It was the right choice for me - I don't regret having it for one minute.

On Saturday or Sunday, get a notebook or do it at the computer - plan everything you are going to eat the next week, and when. Plan all your meals, your Snacks, your Fluid intake, etc. Make it work with your schedule (work, whatever). Make it total the calories, Protein, carbs - whatever you are counting. Work in things that fit with what you should be eating but enjoy (think of them as allowed treats). Then, buy what you need to execute the plan. Don't buy what you shouldn't be eating. Every day - follow the plan. It will eliminate you making a choice or thinking about what you eat. Make a bargain with yourself - you get a gold start for each day you follow the plan. When you get ten gold stars, give yourself a reward (non food related). Get a massage, a manicure - something to pamper yourself. Do this for a few weeks to build your habits. I've heard it takes 30 days to build a habit. You might think this is childish - the gold stars and rewards - but we are all children in the respect we are having to learn good eating habits.

I have had success (short term) with following a plan - then I fall off the wagon (whatever wagon it is) and revert back to my bad habits. That is why I wanted a permanent solution - which is the sleeve. To me, it's kind of similar to having your tubes tied versus remembering to take birth control daily. If I had given birth to a child each time I blew a diet (rather than just gained the weight back) I would have birthed a crowd of children.