lsereno

Use the Search Box in the upper right corner of this site and search the Forums for Checklist - there are some good ones people have already created. Here are a few of my tips: Don't buy a lot of food/drink ahead of time. You might not like/tolerate it after surgery. I developed lactose intolerance and couldn't use the pudding, cottage cheese, and milk I bought before hand. And I bought two six-packs of Jello and a big box of popsicles, but couldn't stand them after surgery. If you can, buy the unjury chicken Protein. It is the best tolerated post-surgery. You must buy it online, so I recommend getting a canister before surgery. I bought two nightgowns. After surgery, I couldn't tolerate having anything around my waist. I bought a few inexpensive measuring cups. I used them like a pitcher and drank from a one-ounce medicine cup the first few days. One medicine cup every 15 minutes. Lotion and lip gloss. My skin was stretched from all the fluids they pumped in via IV. Get stuff out before surgery, so you don't have to bend down to get the blender, etc. I set up my Protein powder, measuring cups, meds, and so forth on a serving tray to keep them corralled. I'm a neatnick and messes get on my nerves. Be sure to do the search. There are a ton of other good tips in the checklists that have been posted before. Lynda

Are you drinking at least 64 oz. of fluids a day? I rely on Colace stool softener, extra Fiber through food or supplements, and glycerin suppositories if things get really backed up. I do exercise 6 days per week and I think that helps too as another poster noted. I'd bring it up with the Dr. Pooping a brick is not good for the ol' rear end. Might as well bring it up now before you get hemorrhoids or other problems. For example, after finding and repairing a hiatial hernia during my VSG surgery, the Dr. told me it could have been caused by straining to poo. Lynda

I'm so proud of you! You didn't have a hysterical melt-down. I might have! Be kind to yourself. You are doing a great job of making it through a super sucky time. Next summer this pain will be a distant memory and you will be a lot COOLER at your new, lower weight. I'm wishing for a miracle-cooling trend for you tomorrow. Lynda

Should be working. Try it again now if you are still having the problem. If it still doesn't work, try clearing your browser cache. For instructions, google "clear browser cache" and your browser and version, for example "clear browser cache" internet explorer 8 Lynda

I've been waiting all day to see how others reward themselves, but no one has replied. I haven't purchased any rewards for myself so far. It's been rewarding enough to fit into clothes I had outgrown, clothes I had bought and never been able to wear, and finally- new clothes in sizes I haven't seen in years. I've also been able to wear shoes I had to quit wearing as I gained weight and my feet hurt more and more. I also love looking at myself in the mirror and seeing my thinner face and body. This last week I wore a tucked in shirt for the first time in more than a decade! And I can finally feel the difference when bending over, sitting down, and sometimes even just walking. I always had rewards set up for myself in previous diet plans (mostly Weight Watchers) because losing weight was such a struggle and took so long. I had a mini-rewards for every 5 lbs. I can see myself doing that again as my weight loss slows, which I know it will as time goes by and I get closer to goal. Sometimes it would be something small- a new lipstick, perfume, or lotion. Sometimes something bigger like a new tech toy or a new purse or pair of shoes. As my final reward, I'm really looking forward to a new wardrobe when I get to my goal weight. Right now I am getting by with just a tiny selection because I know I will be shrinking out of them soon. Lynda

Congrats! Lynda

At three months, I had lost 42 lbs. I lost 48.25% of my excess weight. The percentage of excess weight loss will vary with what the person's goal weight BMI is. For me, I have set my goal at 135 lbs., which will put me at a BMI of 21.8., pretty close to the middle of the normal range for my height of 5'6" My starting weight on the day before surgery was 222, so I I had 87 lbs. to go to my goal weight. Lynda

I walked for the first six weeks then went back to working out with a trainer. I was pooped early out and just tried to walk 4-5 days per week, slowly building up to a walk of 2-3 miles at least twice a week and at least 1/2 mile to a mile a couple of days per week. I've seen a lot of people do a lot more, but I just didn't feel up to it. Lynda

Does your plan allow Protein drinks? In the weeks following my surgery, I had two a day to get my calories up to 400 per day and my protein at the right level. I'm down to one a day now and hoping to be on all food shortly. For the liquids, try the Water at room temp or hot. For me, I could tolerate liquids chilled or hot. Room-temp make me sick. I liked Sleepy Time tea in the evening and watered down Crystal lite earlier in the day. Best wishes in these early weeks--they are the hardest! Lynda

Ill be 4 months out on Sept. 17, and just in the last week have I felt like I have most of my pre-surgery stamina back. It's been a slow, steady improvement from needing a nap after doing very little, to needing a nap after a strenuous morning, to needing an easy day after a busy day. I still don't feel strong enough to tackle big projects like an all-day cleaning marathon or long, busy vacation. At first, I thought it was because I was older, but I see a lot of people in their 50s and older who bounced back quicker than me. My doc said it takes some people up to 6 months to get their strength back. After I heard that, I quit worrying. I am doing a good job of getting my fluids, Proteins, and Vitamins every day, so I know it's not that. And I exercise for 30-45 minutes 6 days a week. When I get that super-tired feeling, I try to indulge myself if at all possible, because I feel it's my body sending me a message. Lynda

Tiffy-kins: Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I owe a huge debt to you for the courage to have this operation and the ability to focus on success on my journey. Great idea for the affirmations and I am going to put some up today! Coffeetx: I've found I can eat bad for me foods too. But I'm with Tiffy-kins: just because I can doesn't mean I should. I usually talk myself out of it by eating my protein first. Once I get the required amount of protein down, I don't have room for much else. And I don't want to lose my hair or have protein-related health issues, so I'm usually pretty good. But I fall off the wagon occasionally. I just tell myself, the difference between me and a non-successful person is that I climb back on the wagon and keep going! Lynda

Today, I was getting dressed for a day around town and as I pulled my size Medium tissue T by Mossimo for Target over my size 10, fit 4 Merona for Target jeans, I didn't like the way my shirt looked outside my jeans so I finally thought, how will it look tucked? I tucked it in and it looked -insert drumroll here- GREAT!!! It's the first time I've worn a tucked in shirt with pants without a jacket to hide the bulges since the mid 90s! Yahoo!!!!! And I still have 42 lbs to goal. What next - a belt? And I wore it all day with sandals and at the end of the day my feet were not screaming for mercy! With nearly 50 lbs. less of me than last summer, I can actually wear the cute sandals I have in my closet instead of my uber-support shoes. Do you think my family will notice if I just wear this outfit night and day for the next week or so while I cackle madly with glee while wagging my tushie around and swinging my sandal-clad feet? I love you sleeve- I don't care if I have to eat more Protein than I want, swallow handfuls of supplements twice a day, and force down a Protein Drink every night- you are worth every bit of it! Lynda

Congrats Diva! The girls look great on you! Lynda

Congrats and thanks so much for sharing. Our height and surgery weight are about the same. It's so helpful to see what I might look like at a healthy, normal BMI. I can't wait! Lynda

Second the back of the hand for IVs. I have small veins too and that's where they put mine for this and for another operation I had many moons ago when I broke my ankle. Lynda

Right after the surgery, I tolerated the unjury chicken Protein better than any others. Many here love the Isopure protein, but I did not like it. It tasted funny and left a weird feeling in my mouth. Also, I developed lactose intolerance. It took me a few days to figure that out and switch to soy milk in my Protein drinks when I went to full liquids. The symptom was gas pains and diarrhea. I still had diarrhea after switching to soy, but it was much less frequent and the gas pains went away. The first few weeks are the hardest! Hang in there and welcome to the losers' bench! Lynda

Irene, So glad you are feeling well enough after surgery to be posting and hanging out on the boards with us! Haha- the new girls will add a little to your weight. Those IVs are cruel to the scale - I weighed 216 the morning of VSG surgery and 230 the morning after I got home from surgery. It took 8 days to dissipate. Lynda

You're making me feel better! At 178 lbs and 5'6", I have size 16 pants ( baggy), size 10 pants (fit good), size 12 pants ( can't even pull them up!), and two pair workout pants in large. One pair fits great and one is baggy. Same kind of thing with my tops: from 1x down to medium, with varying fits. At least my bra and undie size seems consistent! Lynda

At 14 weeks out, I can't eat that much. So my 2 cents is try to find out how long therapy might take and consider doing them in tandem. You can continue to work on the therapy as you prepare for surgery and during recuperation. One area of concern with that approach is though I can't eat a lot at once, I could eat a little all day long if I chose. I'm working hard to only eat the three meals and one Protein drink my plan recommends and to eat protein first. So for me, there is no room for a binge right now. Lynda

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-183.6...............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: Labor Day!:

Lookin' good! And less then 30 lbs to goal to go, you lucky duck! I still have 42 lbs. I can't wait to have less than 30!! Lynda

Hi fellow nifty fifties! I'm 54. Like others, I wish I had done it years ago, but I would have to have went self pay. I'm one of those whose weight crept up over the years, so just this year I was heavy enough (BMI of 40 or more) to qualify under my insurance. Also, I wouldn't have wanted the operations they had available back then. I'm happy with the VSG, but the RoenY and others still scare me. My weight loss has not been as fast as some on the list, but I consistently lose every week. Start of pre-op diet (2/15) weight was 254. Day before surgery (5/16) was 222. Weight today is178. So that's a total of 74 lbs. My skin is springing back pretty good. I expect to have some saggy skin, but it's hard for me to tell how much is from being mid-50s and how much is from being overweight. I'm lucky to have elastic skin and have no stretch marks to speak of. Still waiting to see if I will have the tummy pooch and arm and leg fat flaps that some get. I'm still carrying fat in these areas, but I've got a little more than 40 lbs. to go till I'm at my goal weight (135). I picked that weight because it puts me in the middle of the normal range for my height, 5'6". I may need to adjust it up or down a bit. I have taken longer to recuperate than many on the list. I used to think that was my age, but I see many my age that are full of zest. I still poop out faster than I did pre-surgery. At my three month appt. the Dr. said some people take up to 6 months to regain their stamina. I have arthritis in my hands and had hoped the weight loss would make that better, but they are about the same. My feet ache less, although they still bother me if I am on them for a long period. Maybe because I wore heels constantly when I was younger. I think I wore out those fat pads on the bottom of my feet. My blood pressure meds are reduced, and I am hoping to lose them altogether soon. I have an appt. to see my primary doctor and I hope to lose the cholesterol med too! My hair hasn't thinned yet, but even if it does, my head is smaller so maybe it won't be so noticeable :-) Overall, a huge success! I can't wait to be at goal and eating like I will for the rest of my life. I'm still eating a max of 1/2 cup at a time unless it's a liquid, like Protein drink, Soup, or yogurt smoothie. Lynda

I went through Kaiser Fremont. My surgeon was Dr. Hahn and I really like him. Dates for my journey, including first surgeon consult and surgery date are in my SIG below. Which Kaiser facility will you use? Each one has a slightly different program. Lynda

Haha funny you should ask that today. I pulled my pants out of the washer today and thought - who left these here? Oh wait - they're mine! They look way too small for me (the mental me that is) but they fit perfectly. I'm sure I will catch up eventually, but I'm not there yet. I see every roll and dimple when I look in the mirror. I do notice the difference in my face, but not as much as others do. Lynda

I'm about 14 weeks out. I weigh every morning and I see slight differences each day, as much as 2-3 lbs. up or down (Today's weight was 178 and change, yesterday was 177 and change), but I'm down every Friday, which is the only day I record my weight. I have lost every week since the surgery. Lynda