lsereno

I've been at goal for more than 1.5 years. I have a treat daily if I'm in goal weight range. I like pretzels ( 1 oz.), kettle corn (small oblong glad ware container - about 2 cups), graham crackers ( 2 sheets with 3 Tbsp Peanut Butter or two laughing cow lite cinnamon cream cheese wedges). I usually have my treat after dinner. Some afternoons I have a treat too. Or maybe 1 oz. Special K crackers or chez it's. On the healthier side, Snacks include fruit ( 1 small apple, orange, or whatever is in season), soy latte, 3/4 c. Special K Cereal with 1/2 c. Soy milk, 1 c. Greek yogurt with Splenda and 1/4 cup fruit, low fat ham wrapped around a cheese stick. I also have 1 or 2 drinks once or twice per week. Occasionally, I have a more calorie laden treat or one that I eat when out, such as a small piece of cake 2"x2"' cupcake, donut or two, 1/2 c. ice cream, or 3 pieces of candy, such as Sees or mini candy bars. Even less often I have popcorn at the movies ( I can eat a lot of popcorn, but try to stick to the small bag), fried food, or a more calorie dense meal. Lynda

You look fabulous GG! Love seeing you and the family. Mr and Mrs Butter look great too! We don't dress up for Thanksgiving, unless you count the apron, and I don't mean the one that needs to be surgically removed! Lynda

I second the miss the latest topic under the sub forum. I have to dig to see content and I don't like it. I'm lazy. So I mostly post to threads I've already written in, check the vets forum and at least once a day I look at new content. Even the new content is not as great for me because there is lots of Lapland and RNY specific posts included. Lynda

Yeah, some days I look in the mirror and see a fattie. And that's after over a year and a half at my goal weight, which puts me at a 21.8 BMI. I found it helpful to look at myself in a three way mirror, or in multiple reflections so I'm not staring at myself head on. I had to learn to walk more erect, (my weight had kinda hunched me), walk and sit with my thighs closer together and my arms closer to my side. Also, to realize I could fit down an aisle even if someone ekes was in it. I'm in a small top and size 6 pants. They still look too small to me. Lynda

congrats! Hot Frank should be your new name :-) Lynda

call your doc and ask if is ok if is finely chopped. In bigger bites, the strings are a problem. Lynds

After you're through ogling that cake, head over to Shelly's blog for some tips and recipes for the holidays. http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2013/11/eggfaces-10-tips-for-surviving-holidays.html Lynda

For those of you very early out, I suggest jazzing up your Protein drink with a little holiday flair. Add a little nutmeg to vanilla to make it reminiscent of eggnog. Or add Torini sugar free pumpkin pie syrup. Maybe a nice butternut squash Soup. I'm 2.5 years out and at goal. I will be having a little of everything I like on Thanksgiving. The following days, I will eat the leftovers that are more healthy, mostly the green Beans, turkey, and sweet potatoes. And I will be drinking soy lattes with the sugar free pumpkin syrup. Lynda

Here's what I like to get and give: Cute tea towels, holiday themed if appropriate. Candles in pretty containers. Food that will not spoil, such as chocolates, nuts. Their favorite wine or liquor. Flower arrangement. Lotion set for women. Lynda

I pack my leftovers in baggies, squish them flat and freeze. I use the ice cube trays for broth and juices. Lynda

The good news s that eventually it settles down. After more than a year and a half at goal, people rarely comment. I still get an occasional comment or zinger but for the mist part, people have moved on. Lynda

For cool drinks in the first weeks after surgery, I liked Lipton diet green tea with citrus or Water with a splash of OJ. I also liked minute maid 15 calorie lemonade. I drank premixed drinks thinned with eater. For warm drinks, I preferred SleepyTime tea or chicken broth. Lynda

I enjoyed going to face to face support groups to meet people who had different types of procedures. Lynda

i measure out portions of chili and put them in baggies. Squish flat and freeze. They thaw out fast and make an easy, quick meal. Since my sleeve, me and the freezer are good buddies. I freeze almost everything because I just can't eat it before it goes bad. Lynda

I tried to find more info about the medical advances at Rockwood Clinic, but on the surgery description page, http://www.rockwoodclinic.com/services/bariatrics-(weight-loss-surgery-center)/surgical-options, it only lists details for bypass and in their "what Patients Should Know" PDF flyer, it says the only do bypass at Rockwood: http://www.rockwoodclinic.com/media/16234/patient-focused%20faq%20v3.pdf However, the "October Information Session" PDF for Deaconess and Rockwood, http://www.rockwoodclinic.com/media/86126/informational%20flyer_october%202013_evening%20session.pdf, says they do all three types of surgery. I expected to find surgical details on their site since they are using a newer technique for VSG, that, as far as I know, no other doctors are using. Lynda

One thing I haven't seen addressed is that with VSG the pyloric valve is preserved. That's one of the reasons that firm Protein first is an important post op rule and that people can eat tons of slider foods, such as popcorn and Cookies. I don't want to spend a lot of time explaining what the valve does. There's a lot of info out there if you google it, including a grossly funny tube video. I've been very happy with my sleeve. In march, I will have two years at goal. Lynda

For me, the trick is to keep trigger foods out of the house and to eat right most of the time. The only hard rule I have made and kept post op is no waking up and eating at night. Preop I could squeeze in a lot of calories that way. Everyone is different. Shelley of eggface blog fame had to swear off sugar and bread carbs. It works for her. Lynda

my advice? Make it for a party. If the party is at the other persons hone, don't bring the leftovers home. If it's at your home, get done cute containers and left overs home Iwoth your guests. I would not leave it in the house. Lynda

Hi all, I thought I had joined this group earlier, but looking through the posts, I see I didn't. I'm a middle boomer, 1956. I'm married 33 years with a blended family of three kids ( all grown) and 6 gran kids. I've been retired since 2007. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I was raised. My family moved here when I was in first grade. I was not overweight until I hit my 30s, but once my weight started going up, I never got control of it again, despite years of weight watchers, hiring a trainer, a liquid diet, and Alli pills. I joined VSG in December 2010 after deciding to pursue WLS in November 2010. I'd been lurking for about a month. I originally thought I wanted a lap band, but after learning more on VST and other sites, I decided to become a sleever. For those interested in the Kaiser Fremont process: I met with my primary care Dr. in Nov. and he signed me up for the next Overview meeting in Santa Clara. Because of the holidays, that was Jan. 11. After a couple of hiccups (correct weighty wasn't documented and Dr. misunderstood my request for referral), I was referred to Kaiser Fremont Bariatric program and attended Orientation there on Feb 13. I read the book we received in that meeting and began taking the Vitamins and following the 1200 diet immediately. Also, at the end of Orientation, I scheduled by next appt for 3/3. At the 3/3 appt. I met with the nutritionist, who was pleased with my diet, vitamins, ,and exercise routine, the surgeon, who reviewed by med history and declared me a good candidate for the sleeve, and the program coordinator, who explained the next steps I need to take. Next steps for me were a chest xray, EKG, tetanus shot and anemia blood test (all other tests are current), and attending at least one F2F support group meeting. After I was within 10 lbs of goal I got an appt with the psych. When I lost 10% of my weight, my surgery was scheduled. It took about another 6 weeks after that before I had the surgery. During those six weeks, I practiced chewing a lot, sipping slowly, and I gave up coffee. I had a undiagnosed hernia, which was repaired during surgery. Post-op, I developed severe lactose intolerance. At more than two years out, it's not completely gone, but I can enjoy the occasional ice cream or latte. I hit onderland on June 22, 2011, a little more than one month post op and goal weight on March 25, 2012, about nine months post-op. I've been maintaining goal within 5 lbs. since then. My blood pressure dropped enough that I was offf all meds for a few months, but it slowly crept back up and I now take medicine again, although not as much as before. I also no longer take cholesterol medication. My hair did thin beginning in month 4, but by about 18 months out, it was thick all the way to end again. I was cleared for coffee at three months, and the occasional drink at 6 months. For me, WLS surgery has been a life changer. I love life at goal. Lynda

I weigh daily too. When I was in weight loss mode, I only tracked my weight weekly, even though I weighed every morning. I am still am addict. If I only weighed once a week, I would eat more earlier in the week and then starve for a day or two before weighing. I wish that weren't true, but it is. Lynda

I can see were gonna have to start calling PdX butter, based on his cooking. Sorry butter, I guess we'll change your name to 6 pack after your successful surgery. Your pic looks great. And, I don't use butter in my green Beans because they are loaded with BACON! Besides eating, we make Christmas crafts, play games, drink too much and watch Christmas movies. Lynda

I took my nicer clothes to my in person support group meeting. I gave away most of my clothes at the beginning of the season for them, so it was more likely they would find a good home. I gave what people didn't take to my favorite charities. I just realized that I still wear one item of clothing from preop. My long purple robe. It's so fuzzy and warm. Hubby hasn't said it looks dorky on me, so I'm keeping it. That robe, socks, and one pair of pants are all that remain of my former wardrobe. I keep the ants as a reminder of where I came from. Like the saggy skin wasn't enough:-) Lynda

Well Ido get hungry, but looking for healthy, low cost ways to fill that need. That's why I wondered if it kept you more full than Swiss miss. Tonight after dinner I had two wedges of laughing cow light cinnamon cream cheese, spread on two graham crackers. About 200 calories. Lynda

LauraVen, does it taste much better than say the no sugar added Swiss miss or keep you full longer? I get enough Protein earlier in the day, so I need to justify the extra cost before trying it. Lynda

Well I'll jump in the pool for VSG. I am 2.5 years out and I've been at goal for over 1.5 years. With VSG, your stomach can stretch some but not all that much once it has finished healing ( somewhere between 6 months and a year most people reach their lifetime capacity. ) Weight regain generally occurs from eating too often and eating high calorie "slider foods". If your stomach stretches a lot, the surgery wasn't performed correctly (it happens). Rules about what to eat, when to eat it, and how much to eat vary widely, but it's generally no drinking 30 minutes after meals, Protein first, and never more than a cup at one time. Alcohol is allowed after 6 months in many programs. Many programs don't require lifetime Vitamins (mine does), but some people do develop Vitamin deficiencies. Most people can eventually return to eating anything they did before surgery, just less of it. For me, greasy foods, spaghetti with meat sauce, dairy, and tortillas still bother me and at 2.5 years out, I'm guessing they always will. I have my blood tested annually for a wide variety of vitamins. With VSG, you can take anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs. Welcome everyone! I'm especially looking forward to meeting a few more long term vets. Lynda