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Chris, Thanks for sharing. And may I be the first of the VSG girls to tell you you look HOT! And so much happier. What a journey it's been for you. Part of what helps me be less afraid of a complication is that people seem to get over even the worst case-scenarios and thrive. You are living proof that even with complications, it's well worth the pain, effort, and cost. I only hope that at one year out I can inspire someone as you have inspired me. Lynda Edited to add: P.S. Unless you want to weigh about 60 lbs. at goal, it's time to update your ticker :-)

Hi all, I lost more than I expected this last week, so I've changed my Halloween Goal to 159 from 162 . That's 2 lbs. per week. My new goal puts me at a new first two numbers: 15! And I'll be within 25 lbs. of my final goal. Halloween Goal: SW-177.............CW-175...............Halloween Goal-159 Sept 2: 175 Sept. 9: Sept 16: Sept 23: Sept 30: Oct 7: Oct 14: Oct 21: Oct 28: Halloween:

I see you didn't get a reply. Sorry I didn't go thru the VA, but I do suggest you try reposting your question in the General Sleeve Surgery or Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) Surgeons and Hospitals. The General Sleeve Surgery topic gets more traffic. Lynda

I agree with Kelly. You're not getting enough calories and you should be able to tolerate more than a few bites of soft food. Lynda

Sassygirl has given you rock solid advice. If you are worried about your rate of weight loss, I suggest tracking your food intake, including calories, Protein, and carbs. At 7 weeks on my program, I needed 600-800 calories per day, 65 grams of protein, and I tried to keep carbs low (not really an issue because I really only had room for protein). For Water, track all day so you can step it up earlier in the day when you are falling short on your goal. Mix it up and have water, soy milk (7-8 grams of protein per cup!), diet drinks, and tea. I put a dry-erase board on my fridge and I use it to track my protein and Fluid intake throughout the day. For exercise, switch it up. Try an exercise class, exercise videos, exercise program for a game console if you have one, or joining the gym and meeting with a trainer to get a personalized workout (many gyms will give you one free session with a trainer when you join). Lynda

Cindy-Lynn, I've been thinking about a bracelet too! or a neck chain that sits above my collarbones. I love sparkly stuff and a tennis bracelet would be fabulous! Lynda

Hi, I'm with Kaiser Fremont and I the receptionist told me Kaiser will accept you into the bariatric program even if you had your surgery somewhere else. Give them a call or get a referral from your primary care doctor. Even if you have already had your surgery and you are healing well, the Kaiser Bariatric program has a lot to offer. Each Kaiser Bariatric program is a little different, but at the Kaiser Fremont one, we have post op appts at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 yr, and then annually. Extensive lab work is done and checked at the 6 month appt. And there are nutritionists, psychologists, and a medical doctor familiar with bariatric issues available as needed. As for regrets, I agree with other posters; time will help. The first weeks are the roughest. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and rapid weight loss! Lynda

Debbie, I remember how frightened I was when I discovered that I could eat bad stuff and in fact, it went down easier than the protein I had been struggling with. I suspect it took you quite a bit of time to eat that stuff too. My way of dealing with the fear is to make plans for how to deal with overeating/bad eating: First, I am honest with myself. I am going to have to be responsible for what goes in my mouth every day. And that if I choose to have bad stuff on a regular basis, I won't get to goal and weight will creep back until I probably weigh what I did to start with. It happens. Knowing that I will have to make that choice helps me face it now, while it's easier. At only three months out, it is still easier to not overeat or eat bad stuff. I'm hoping getting these good habits now will help me later when I can eat more. Second, I set myself up for success at home. I'm careful to keep foods I like that are healthy at home. I don't care if they cost more or they are a pain to find and I have to drive around to get them or order them online. And I don't buy stuff I like that is bad for me. Not that it's not here: hubby loves snacks and he buys stuff, but it's easier to resist if he gets it. And few of our favorites are identical, so mostly it's not my favorites that get brought in. Third, I do enjoy eating out or going to parties. But I eat only a bite or two of the bad foods and I eat protein first so there is less room. Also, I concentrate on having fun instead of the food. Fourth, I'm not currently tracking what I eat (except protein), but if my weight loss slows or stops or if I hit goal and my weight creeps up, I will return to tracking. Finally, if all else fails, I plan to ask for sessions with my bariatric program psychologist. That's what they are there for! Who knows if I will succeed at getting to goal and staying there as the years go by. But if I don't, it won't be from lack of planning :-) Lynda

I don't look that different to myself, but everyone else is looking bigger :-) Lynda

Lisa, Congrats and get used to your new knicknames: skinny-minnie, boney-moroni, and hey slim! I can't wait to join you at a normal BMI!! Lynda

Well hello pretty lady!!! You look fit and healthy and a least a decade younger than your 50s. Thanks for sharing your pics! You look great and I see your BMI is a healthy 20. I'm aiming for a BMI of 21.8 and I'm 54. 40 lbs to go! Lynda

Kaiser Fremont guidelines were to wait three months. I did wait but now enjoy a small coffee or soy latte (8 grams of protein!) almost every day. Lynda

Hey Megin NOLA: Thanks for the tip about feeling extra chilly when the weight is coming off! I will be thankful the next time I just can't get warm and watch for a nice dip in the scales! Lynda

You'll probably be able to eat between 1/4 and 1/2 cup at 10 weeks. Say 2 oz. of steak, and a couple of bites of something else. For example, I'm 15 weeks out and for dinner tonight I had about 1/3 cup of clam chowder (carefully avoiding the potato and celery chunks) and 3 large coconut shrimp with most of the breading torn off. I didn't eat the bread, french fries or coleslaw that came with dinner and I have three left-over shrimp for lunch tomorrow. Lynda

Fern, Congrats! I can't even imagine how it feels to see the goal number on the scale. I know you are enjoying life and this moment-- you've earned it! And I'm looking forward to hearing how maintenance is going for you. We need a Hall of Fame for those who have reached goal. I know it would inspire me to see all of you: Tiffy-kins, Little Miss Diva, and Fern. I know there are others out there! Lynda

Another great week! I really don't know what's different. I'm eating the same, drinking the same, and this week I'm down 3 lbs.! I'll take it! GOAL!!!!!!! I lost 2.7 lbs. this week and hit my Labor Day Goal and a mini goals I'm under 180, so I've lost another 10% of my total body weight. Next up for that goal is 162! My Labor Day Goal is 179. Today I was 178!! Under goal and more than a week to go!! Lynda Labor Day Goal: SW-197...............CW-175...............Labor Day goal-179 July 4: 197 July 8: 193.7 July 15: 191.6 July 22: 189.5 July 29: 186.3 August 5: 183.6 August 12: 182.9 August 19: 180.7 August 26: 178.0 Sept 2: 175 - 4 lbs. below goal - yeah! Labor Day!:

I gained 8 lbs. from the IV Fluid from my day before surgery weight (16 lbs. from my morning of surgery weight). It took 8 days before I got to my pre-op weight. Lynda

Congrats! 100 lbs. is such a major victory - I know you must be feeling so much better and enjoying your new, smaller size. I can't wait to join you. I have about 22 lbs. to go. I expect to get there sometime in November. Enjoy your trip to Portland! Lynda

Congrats! And think of the money you're saving: less body wash, lotion, and shave cream for your new, svelte self :-) More money for new clothes! Lynda

I'm jealous! My scars are small, but I'd prefer to just have one in my belly button! They are doing this procedure on some patients at the Kaiser South SF Bariatric Center. I've seen it called spider most often. Try searching the forums for spider and you might find some people who have had the procedure and can fill in more details for you. Lynda

Hi all, My goal for Halloween is based on losing another 10% of my body weight and averaging about 2 lbs. per week. I lost a little faster than than over the Labor Day Challenge, but I expect my weight loss to slow in the next two months. I will update my weight every Friday. I weight every day but I only log my weight on Fridays (except for the final challenge date) to keep myself sane. My Halloween Goal also includes reaching the following goals: 174 lbs.: I've lost 80 lbs. (32 pre-op and 48 post op) 172: I've lost 50 lbs. post op 169.9: My number starts with 16. I haven't weighed this since the mid-90s. 164: I've lost 90 lbs. (32 pre-op and 58 post op) 162: My Halloween goal and I've lost another 10% of my body weight (from 180 to 162) and I've lost 60 lbs. post op!!! The next 10% will take me to 11 lbs. from goal: 146!!!!!! Halloween Goal: SW-177.............CW-177...............Halloween Goal-162 Sept 2: Sept. 9: Sept 16: Sept 23: Sept 30: Oct 7: Oct 14: Oct 21: Oct 28: Halloween:

I used a one ounce medicine cup as my glass and a liquid measuring cup as my pitcher. I drank one medicine cup every 15 minutes while i was awake. Yes it does get better and it is so worth it! Lynda

Hi HDubSleevery, I've tolerated decaf coffee well since the first week after surgery. I use Starbucks Via Decaf Italian Roast. One of my fav Protein shakes is 1/2 C. plain soy milk, 1/2 C. Starbucks Via Decaf Italian Roast, and 1 scoop Gold Standard whey Protein French vanilla. I am cleared for caffeine now that I am 3 months out, but I still drink the decaf if I'm having it in my evening protein shake. Lynda

I do. Our gas bill was sky high the month after surgery. Since then, I just dress warm. I also resort to drinking hot water, warming my blanket in the dryer for a few minutes (feels great!!) and lingering in a really hot shower. If I get up and move around enough, I warm up, but if I am just sitting still reading or on the computer, I am cold. I know I will need extra clothes this winter, but I am waiting to buy warm stuff because I don't know what size I will be. I plan to wear scarves, undershirts, and boots this winter to help stay warm. I'm hoping the chill goes away as weight loss slows. I will put up with a lot in return for averaging more than 2 lbs. per week in weight loss! Lynda

My surgery date was 5/17. Today's menu: Breakfast: Yogurt smoothie (3/4 C. Plain Fage 0 Greek Yogurt, 2 strawberries, 1/2 c. Water, 1/8 C. orange juice) Mid-Morning: Shot of espresso in 6 oz. plain soy milk, chugged 2 oz. soy milk Lunch: 1 oz. Mongolian Beef, 1/2 oz. Ooolong Tea Marinated Sea Bass, 1/2 oz. salmon burger, 1/8 C. brocolli and spinach (Left-overs from dinner last night) Dinner: 2 oz. smoked pork chop, 1/8 C. Veg-All canned vegtables Planned Late Night: 1 C. soy milk with 1T. sugar free carmel syrup That gets me to 60 grams of Protein, somewhere between 600 and 800 calories, and it's pretty light on the carbs. Lynda