PdxMan

If you are wanting to know how to ignore me while you are using the website, see instructions HERE. I guess this doesn't work for the app, though.

Atkins, for sure. Lost 45 pounds in 4 months miserable as all get out. Introduced carbs back in and it was all over. Gained 50 pounds in about a month.

Yeah, I tried to progress like everyone else, but it just wasn't comfortable. I was hating the thought of eating. But I could eat soups. When I was at 3 weeks, I had the same exact soups I mentions above, but I pureed them with a hand blender. As time progressed, I pureed them less and less until at about 2 months, or so, I wasn't pureeing them at all. It worked for me.

I was making an analogy. No, this isn't AA, but some folks here struggle with food addiction, which has root cause similarities. You are asking me to grow up? Where am I being infantile? Since I cannot see the forest, perhaps you can enlighten me as to where I was off base? Seems you are trying to be a little self-righteous here. Might want to take a time-out for some self-reflection yourself.

We have to remember that just because a person is not morbidly obese, doesn't mean they do not have issues with their relationship with food or how they see themselves. Years ago my sister had an adjacent hospital room with a woman dealing with anorexia. I was 15 years old and saw her in the hallway. She was emaciated. Hate to use the analogy, but the only way I can describe how she looked was akin to images you may have seen of POWs or holocaust victims. I had noticed that she would always be sitting in a chair and not laying in bed. In the hallway, I asked her why and she said that people burn more calories sitting up rather than laying. I asked her why she need to burn more calories and she said because she was fat. She died a week later. Yes, this is an extreme case, but "normal" weight people have issues with food and self image, too. As others have posted, this is her issue. Don't make it yours.

Two months out I was still eating a lot of Soups. chicken veggie, lentil with ham and veggies, turkey chili (with veggies). I think in the grand scheme of things, I progressed slower than others. It took me a little while to get used to the new eating routine of taking smaller bites, chewing more, taking time between bites. I was such a carb fiend it was difficult for me to see life without them. I couldn't have tuna, because you have to have that on a cracker or on a croissant ... right? If I am having stir fry, it HAS to be on rice ... right? Oy! For me, this worked until I could come to grips with some of my issues with food. I eventually was able to eat tuna with some cheese cut into it. I enjoy stir fry without the rice now (or just a tiny fraction of what I once had). Who woulda thought? I'm guessing you have been cleared for all foods, so just be sure to start with your lean Proteins first, then your veggies. It can be disheartening to look down at that piece of chicken and think, "Really? Is that all I am going to eat?" Don't push it. You can always grab another bite an hour later.

I took up walking, which turned into a few shuffles, then a light jog and eventually resembled something called running. Actually did several races 5K to 15K and even won my age division in several. Unknown to me, there was an athlete trapped under all that fat. Like you, I started walking a lot. I then decided to jog between two telephone poles, then walk to the next one. Then, ran two poles, walked one. Ran three, walked on. 2 months later, I was able to run a mile before needing to walk. 6 months post, I ran my first 5K. Never looked back until a blown 4/5 disc sidelined me. I'm just now getting back into the game. I did a lot of classes at the gym: spinning, HIIT, abs, but running was my mainstay. I got a heart rate monitor so I would work out to my level of fitness instead of exercising for a certain period of time or running a certain distance. I found as I continued to exercise, my endurance and abilities increased, so, if I ran two miles, I soon was not putting in the effort I had to even a week earlier. So, with the heart rate monitor, I would keep my heart rate between 145 and 155 on daily runs. During races, I would keep it between 165 and 175. Doing this, I knew I was always putting in a good effort, even if I only had time to run a short distance. I was hyper-focused on my nutrition, too, feeding my body what it needed to maintain my exercise.

Have you even read my posts? Where was I being a smart mouth? And from this post you are rising above this? Sorry, but as I mentioned in one of the posts, which it doesn't look like you read, if someone walked into an A.A. meeting with a light beer wondering if it was OK for them to drink it, I am not going to placate them unicorns fairy dust. Folks, we're all grown up here. If you want a smart alec response from me, it would have been along the lines of why someone would post a picture without actually asking a question leaving the door wide open for the reader to interpret their meaning. It would have have gone on complaining that someone has such little regard for everyone's time on VST that they will spend 2 seconds posting a picture and then wait for everyone else to submit well thought out, kind, loving, validating responses. Respect. And you're trying to preach to me?! Yeesh! You can't see the forest for the trees.

Hey Laura, You don't want one of my backrubs ... I'm back for 24 hours and already getting flamed ... you just can't win for losing, can you? BTW, I love your new avatar. Looking good.

I am not annoyed with them at all. Quite the opposite, actually. I remember the demons of wanting to eat the way I wanted to. I still battle those demons as I mention in a recent post regarding a cruise I just went on. It is difficult to make these changes which we developed over a lifetime. But you have to know some folks are looking to validate behaviors down deep they know they need to change. If you were at an alcoholic's anonymous meeting and someone who was struggling walked in with light beer asking if it was OK to drink it, how would you respond? Sometimes it's tough love.

Dehydration is a great way to go. Check out THIS site.

Another one looking for a backrub ... sheesh. So then, you are telling us these are nutritionally relevant? This reminds me of the lady who asked what she could order from Dairy Queen at 3 weeks post op. If you are looking to validate the same old behavior, sorry, I am going to tell you my opinion. If you cannot see that as a contribution, then you have some of your own baggage to deal with.

There's a forum for that HERE. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/46-pregnancy-with-gastric-sleeve-surgery-vsg/ It is suggested to wait before getting pregnant. The folks in the linked forum can tell you all about it, but know that many sleevers have great success with pregnancy.

Without any text, I have no idea what the OP is looking for, that is why I asked. I don't know their background or if these are something that serves some other purpose. Why do you say they are obviously new at this? If you believe they are seeking advice, how was I off base? My response may be viewed as harsh, but if you really look at it, it is advice based in love. So many folks get the sleeve and then can't figure out why they can't lose the weight they thought they were going to, even though they haven't changed their eating habits. Now, I know that not everyone get sleeved to get skinny. Some people just want to lose enough weight to get off of their blood pressure medicine or insulin injections. That is fine. But the OP gave us no hint or clue what their motivation for posting a bag of chips was. If you view my response as condescending, I would question whether it is something you are internalizing and not seeing my response objectively. BTW, there are many folks who have been sleeved for months and then join VST later in the VSG life ... As many folks here know, if you are looking for backrubs, I am not the man to give them. I share my experience, strength and hope that we all can achieve the goals we set for ourselves.

Not sure if you are looking for validation to eat c@rp or if you are looking for a way to satisfy old habits of eating junk food and disguising it as something healthy because it has the word "Veggie" in the title, therefore, it must be good for me ... If you got the sleeve to change your relationship with food, then change your relationship with food. These are not the answer, nor the crutch.

Hmmm ... don't understand why this would change that. I would ask him to explain deeper. I had bad reflux and the sleeve has actually cured my issues. I haven't taken a PPI since. I had a hiatal hernia which my surgeon repaired during the sleeve surgery, so ... I would question your Drs experience.

Yup, what they said above. Here was and still is my routine: Take a bite half the size I took prior to being sleeved Put the utensil (or food) down Chew at least 40 times Swallow Evaluate how that bite felt (about 1 minute) If I feel OK, repeat, but if I am on the fence, I stop You can always have another meal 30 minutes later, so don't feel like you have to eat like you used to. After all, isn't that part of what got us in trouble in the first place? If we want to make a change, then we have to make a change.

Also, don't be afraid to question your doctor. They are not gods. Ask them to explain their reasoning. I, for the life of me, can't understand why, 2 years post op, I wouldn't be able to take an anti-inflammatory. While absorption does take place in the stomach, they are also absorbed in the intestinal tract. If your doctor is concerned about stomach absorption, then take a coated tablet so absorption is delayed. Again, I would question any doctor who said you can NEVER take NSAIDs again.

At 6 feet, my goal was 200, but I blew right past that, so, I set 190 as my goal. Well, that came and went and I just decided not to have a goal. My body would find it's "Happy Weight". Well, I got down to 175, then 170 and then after a life event, I saw 159 on the scale. Eeesh! I was too skinny and was looking gaunt. I increased my calories and now bounce between 175 and 185, which I am happy with. Long story longer ... I think we can get to whatever weight our bodies are happy with as long as we follow the guidelines. If you get to 200 and are happy with that, start going into maintenance mode by adjusting your eating habits. If you still have that spare tire as I did, keep following the guidelines strictly and you will continue to lose.

NSAIDs are anti-inflammatory analgesics. Immediately after your procedure, your stomach is quite swollen for awhile and this swelling actually aids in the prevention of leaks along your suture (staple line). So, if you take NSAIDs, you may cause the swelling to go down too soon before the body has had time to create the scar tissue permanently sealing your stomach. It is not a permanent thing, just for the 6 weeks or so post-op until your suture line has completely healed and scared over. As always, talk to your doctor about when you are able to start taking them. I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV or the internet.

It just makes me crazy, though, when I read a few of a the complication stories and a poster states, "If I would have known this was a possibility, I would have never been sleeved." Really? You agreed to have 85% of your stomach removed permanently and you don't know what the possible complications are? Denial is one thing but ignorance is something else.

Milk of Magnesia was my friend post-op and for the next 2 weeks.

Welcome to the forum, IMO, you have come to the right place for your research. You will get a wide range of opinions and experiences here, for sure. I was sleeved just over 2 years ago and long story short, it was the best decision I ever made. Ever. Above getting married and having children, which, I love them all, dearly, but this was a decision that was FOR ME and was life altering in ways I cannot even fully describe. From my experience and research, and knowing that the sleeve is still relatively new, I believe the medical community are trying to be conservative with estimates of weight loss expectations. They have been doing GBP for years and have all sorts of data to be able to make estimates off of. It has been the "Gold Standard" as they say. But, propeller airplanes were also the "Gold Standard" until they weren't anymore. Sure, they have their place, just like GBP does, but IMO, there is a new sheriff in town and their name is VSG. Far fewer complications (although there are complications, so be sure to research), no malabsorption issues, no restrictions on foods (except raw coconut and whole celery warnings, read about bezoars) I can pretty much eat anything and everything, just far smaller quantities. I lost 120 pounds and unlike my previous diets, it has never come back. I truly believe anyone can lose as much weight as they need to with the sleeve whether it be 50 pounds or 250 pounds. It is all about following the guidelines. You cheat your sleeve, you won't lose ... it is as simple as that. Keep researching and ask questions here and other WLS forums, but I think you'll find VST pretty cool.

Also, just to add ... I had my surgery July 8th, 2011 ... over 27 months ago ... and STILL have excellent restriction. Sure, just like everyone else, I can "eat around" the sleeve by not following the guidelines. But when I follow the guidelines, with Dr. Umbach's sleeve, I have excellent restriction and can maintain being at goal with relative ease.