lsereno

My surgeon used a 40 bougie. I asked him because I had seen it discussed here. And I've lost 19.2 BMI points and if EWL is calculated based on the high end of normal BMI, I lost more than 100% of my excess weight. Lynda

OMG How did I miss this thread till now? You can't ever drink from a straw again You can't have port again (I love Port and it's the first alcoholic drink I had post-op.) Everyone who follows a 800 calorie or less diet during the first 6 months trashes their metabolism for the rest of their life. You can't eat <fill in the blank>. You can't drink <fill in the blank>. You won't lose unless you exercise. Lynda

Oh and I had the Protein shake for Breakfast and then after dinner. So a typical day early: Protein shake for breakfast 1-2 oz. meat and a bite of veggies for lunch and dinner Protein shake around 8 p.m. Lynda

Early out I had two Protein shakes a day and I made them with Soy Milk to get another 9 grams of protein. I like the GNC Gold Standard Whey. It's 24 grams of protein in a scoop. So with the Soy Milk it was 33 grams of protein for each shake. After a while, I was able to cut back to one shake per day and finally I was able to eat enough to get enough protein without a shake. I also ate greek yogurt (23 grams per cup), moist chicken breast (7 grams per ounce), crab meat, shrimp, and fish. Lynda

Ha ha! That's a relief! And we will fit in the seats on the boat too! Lynda

Thanks Leann! I'm looking forward to the day I can mark ten years at goal. Lynda

Hi Leanne, I posted the article. Here it is so others wont have to dig: http://img2.timg.co....1_151963966.pdf Regain is an issue. As others have said, it's a life long struggle, but it can be done! WLS has a higher success rate than any other method of losing weight and keeping it off. Start thinking now of how you will maintain long term success. For everyone, that is different. Some need additional counseling to deal with issues that lead them to overeat. Some need to add exercise. Some need to weigh every day. Some give up certain non-necessary foods. And follow those who are successful! Our fearless leader on these boards, Alex, is a good example. Shelly (eggface blog) is another. Here's to life on the goalies bench! Lynda

For me, it's not wasting the "Hail Mary" I made when I decided to get weight loss surgery. It's remembering that WLS was my last, best chance to get healthy and now that I am here, I must be vigilant to keep the gift of health I have been given. That means taking care of myself by eating right, exercising, drinking enough fluids, taking my Vitamins, and getting needed medical tests and vaccinations, It also means addressing issues that affect my mental health. Lynda

I think about food a lot too. I'm really hoping that it will be like when I quit smoking and the urges will fade over time. Not that they have disappeared. More than 20 years later, I still get the occasional very strong urge to smoke. And we all know food is harder because you can't just give it up. But some people do choose to give up certain foods. For example, Shelley of http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ does not eat carbs. I'm not ready to say no permanently to any foods, but I recently read an article, Freedom from French Fries, on Gretchen Rubin's Blog (The Happiness Project) that talks about how saying no permanently can be easier than controlling how much and when: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2013/01/want-to-be-free-from-french-fries-or-why-abstaining-may-be-easier-than-you-think/ For me, the key to maintaining is to weigh every day and take action IMMEDIATELY if I am out of my bounce range. I originally set that for 5 lbs. over goal weight, but I think that is too much, so I've changed it to 2 lbs. over goal weight. My weight does bounce a bit due to salt and whatever, but I'm post-menopausal, so I no longer have the monthly bounce range. So for me, 2 lbs. is enough to say time to cut back on the Snacks. I know maintaining the weight loss can be done. But it's not easy or there would be more long term successes out there. Lynda

Vicki, Glad the issue is identified and you will have a quick resolution. Lynda

Call your Dr. and discuss. Could be anything from eating too fast to gallbladder to stricture. Dr. will be able to ask the right questions to figure it out. Lynda

Not sure of your dietary restrictions, but here's some stuff I enjoyed at three weeks: low fat lunchmeat Turkey Chili Anderson Split Pea Soup No sugar added applesauce Moist chicken mixed with a little BBQ sauce Turkey meatloaf (found it in the deli case at Walmart) Crabmeat Shrimp Lynda

I had the same issue and even today I have more restriction first thing in the morning and kind of stretch out my breakfast. I stuck with Protein shakes or yogurt shake (greek yogurt, splash of OJ, bigger splash of Water, 2 strawberries and Splenda) till I was 6 months out or more. Lynda

Congrats!

Since it's two hours later I don't have a good answer. I would check with the doc and see if he/she thinks it is something to be concerned about. I had problems and had to take tiny sips slowly, but it got me right away, not two hours later. Lynda

Let us know Vicki. I will be thinking of you. Lynda

Ruthie, Do it for those that want to see you in a few years. Do it for the person you will be next month, next year. Do it because you deserve to feel good. Do it because you love yourself. Throw out the food in the house you know you should not be eating. Put your workout clothes out the night before and set your alarm. Buy the healthy foods you should be eating and put them in convenient locations. Lynda

I eat a snack 2-3 hours after a meal when I want one. Lynda

For me the biggest difference is the change with vertical sleeve is permanent. I will always have a smaller stomach. Yes, I could eat enough junk to gain all my weight back, but I choose not to. It was a lot harder to make that choice with a stretched out stomach that demanded to be fed. And it's a lot easier to stay at a weight than lose. I told everyone it was a choice my Dr. and I made for my health because it has the highest success rate for keeping the weight off. Lynda

Thanks! I'm saving a spot for you on the goalies bench! Lynda

I exercise and I exercised before WLS. I am not an exercise nut. I began exercising because I just couldn't take the weight off with Weight Watchers alone. I didn't lose any weight because of exercising pre-op, but I felt better. Before WLS and till I got to goal I worked with a trainer 2-3 days per week and walked twice a week. After I got to goal I quit working with the trainer and began taking exercise classes 2 days per week and walking two days per week. Now I'm walking four days per week, but I want to go back to taking an exercise class again this fall. I exercise first thing in the morning. I simply will not do it later in the day. Lynda

Probably you can drink faster as soon as you are able. For many, the most they can handle is an ounce very 15 minutes at first. Lynda

Hi fellow 50s! I've posted here, but it's been awhile. I'm 56 and have been at goal weight for 14 months (BMI 21.8). I was sleeved two years ago. Pre-op, I took three BP meds and a cholesterol med. At first, my BP dropped so much I was getting light-headed and I got to go off all meds. As time went by, my BP crept back up and I am back on two BP meds but at least they are lower doses and I haven't had to go back the the third BP med or the cholesterol med. Lynda

In the long term study I found, some patients experience growth of a neofundus. Maybe you were sleeved correctly, but this neofundus may have grown since then. Here's an article with pics: http://img2.timg.co.il/forums/1_151963966.pdf The mesh is a different issue. Mesh hernia repairs are tricky. If you can get a second opinion, that would make you feel better. Lynda

Ha Christine, Finally someone has gained more than me in the hospital! I gained 16 lbs. Pretty sure they didn't want to see me for dehydration in the first few days :-) Lynda