PdxMan

is a great video to illustrate this which has been posted on here many times, but is worth reviewing. This is related to bypass, but it is true for any WLS or non-WLS person.

This is not just for WLS folks, but has been recommended for as long as I can remember to lose weight. The stomach is the mechanical part of digestion. Stomach acids and stomach churning makes the food a liquidy paste. When it gets to this state, the pyloric valve opens up allowing this paste to pass into the intestines where absorption takes place. If you add liquid by drinking with your meal, that food will get to the paste state quicker and pass into the intestines sooner allowing yourself to consume even more food. Here is my real-life experience with this. When I was running somewhat competetively, I could only run a maximum of 4 miles before I would run out of energy or "bonk" as it's referred to. Consuming 1,000 calories a day was just not enough to support the level of activity I was demanding from my body. So, I started drinking with my meals so I could get more in. Let me tell you, it worked. I was able to get 1,800 calories in, no problem. My wife would laugh at me as I would do this. She would say, "Open little pyloric valve, OPEN!" ... and it would. I would be full, have something to drink, and 5 minutes later could eat pretty much the same quantity I had just taken in. It worked. I was able to run up to 17 miles before I started having back issues (not related to running, but rather being morbidly obese for so long). I just had my second back surgery a month ago and am in PT hoping to get back to running. During this time of lower activity, I do not drink with meals, so I do feel the restriction sooner and have that "full" feeling longer. Water is not going to cause your stomach to expand. First off, the stretchy tissue has been removed. And if you are eating the right foods, lean Proteins and veggies, those foods don't expand with water. Rice, Pasta and breads, yes, but you shouldn't be eating those anyway, right? You'll get used to it, don't worry.

I have 8oz of vegetable bean Soup and two Girl Scout Cookies (tag-a-longs). Hey, I'm at goal so I can have these.

The hair dye thing is because of the damage to your hair. Hair loss is a know side effect which occurs in almost all WLS patients, so you shouldn't compound the affect by damaging your hair further. Go ahead, get your teeth cleaned. You're going to be smiling more.

Actually, you can. There is a provision for medical necessity and this definately falls into this category. Trust me, your God does not want you to sacrifice at the cost of your health. What is usually recommended is to find another act of penance or charity. Check out #3 below

They are giving you this option? Where are you having this done? I would ask the Dr how often they have had to do transfusions ... that would be the real barometer. I have never heard of doing a transfusion, but if there are complications ... have you had issues with previous surgeries?

A 12 step program has taught me how to live life on life's terms. How to confront my issues instead of drowning them with alcohol. A lot of people think this program is about alcohol, but nothing could be further from the truth. People use substances of all sorts to keep from having to live life head on. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, food ... fill in the blank. I didn't want to feel what I was feeling, so I drank. Food comforted me, too. Some people shop. When you become powerless and there are real life consequences to your actions is when you drop to your knees and say, "Dear god, (fill in deity) I can't do this anymore." Only then was I willing to confront my demons and become teachable. You don't have to believe in this or any program, but just be willing to believe there is a solution. Whatever you use to cope, there is another way.

Yup, just like I had to stop the insanity of what happened after that first drink, I had to take responsibility for my relationship with food. The sleeve and this forum helps me do just that. Keeps me accountable. Just like in my 12 step program, all I can do is share my experience, strength and hope. The first step was to admit that I had a problem and the 12 step is to carry this message to others who still suffer. It is my story. For the person who is reading this sentence right now, it may or may not be yours, too. Only you can decide. I just knew that once I stopped looking for reasons (excuses) why I was morbidly obese and moved into the phase of taking action that my life actually started to change.

Give the Dr who prescribed it and let them know your concerns. See if there is an alternative. My guess is the weight gain is mostly a Water retention thing, but you should communicate with your prescribing Dr. If it is just a water retention thing, I wouldn't worry about it. Do you want to lose weight or lose fat? The sleeve is going to help you lose fat, and that is what I wanted. You will not be on paxil forever and the side affects will wane once you are off of it. I was on paxil about 13 years ago for a short while, never had any weight gain, but the sexual side affects were not tolerable for me. If you search this site for keyword Paxil, you will find 33 threads about it.

Prunes. You actually can develop a liking for them. Really. I was suprised, but I actually do like them. They really are just like big, juicy raisins. If you like raisins, you probably will like prunes.

Costco coupon book. They put them out every month or so. Since I've been in bed with Premier, about 19 months now, they have had them in there twice, I believe. Otherwise, I have not seen any coupons issued by Premier.

Yeah, I love that thread. It's like we are supposed to have some obligation to society about our lives. As I explained in another thread along this very topic, I: Didn't tell anyone I was having a vasectomy to help me control my family size Didn't tell anyone I had lasik surgery to help me control my eyesight Didn't tell anyone I had hemorrhoidectomy to help my ... well, ya know ... Why do I have to tell them my life story? This is my life, gosh darn it!

You should consider yourself lucky. I have heard of pre-op diets here where they were allowed ONLY liquids for 2 weeks. Sorry, I know it doesn't make it easier, but you are on the fortunate side of things. Myself, I had 2 weeks of shake for breakfast/lunch and a salad with veggies and lean Protein for dinner. If I was still hungry, I could have another shake. If you are TOTALLY struggling, you can contact your medical team, but this may be an indication of your relationship with food. Just know that I have heard it mentioned more than once on here where folks have struggled with the pre-op diet, surgeon got in there and closed them back up without doing the sleeve because their liver was too large to work with.

Premier protein shakes from Costco/Sam's Club. Chocolate and vanilla. Once I discovered them, I never had an issue making quota. Ready to drink and $24 a case. When they have a $5 coupon, stock up. They keep fine in the closet.

Don't give them anything to start with. What is the motivation to tell them what is a very personal decision? When people started asking if I was losing weight and how, I told them through portion control and exercise. Very true statements. If it was someone who seemed to know the journey of an obese person, I shared that I had VSG. "Normal" people don't understand the struggle. I wouldn't wish them to know the struggle. But I can't explain my deep-seated issues with my relationship with food to the level they can understand, so why even try. For folks you have already told, and they are pesimestic, just tell them, "Thank you for your concern, I love you, too"

Go pick up the margarita mix. Just don't add the alcohol.

I had the sleeve 07/08/2011. I have lost 100% of my excess body fat. I have a cousin who had the sleeve and he deals with bowel obstructions from having his intestines re-routed. I don't have to. He also has the issues with malnoutrition and foods he can't eat. I can eat anything I want and I have no malnoutrition issues. I lost 100% of my excess bodyfat and he has lost about 75%. My sleeve cannot stretch back to the size of my old stomach. His pouch can, which can allow him to re-gain all of his weight back if he doesn't be careful. Yes, I can eat around my sleeve, but I am going to have to make a conscience effort to sabotage myself. If you are committed to make a change, either surgery will get your weight down, for sure. I just didn't want the complications bypass brings to the table. Yes, there are risks with the sleeve as there are with all surgeries. But for me, the sleeve was the right choice.

Ah! You are so correct. Sorry about that. Uh, it is liquid and your pyloric valve is going to open, sooo ... absorption takes place in the intestines, so I can't imagine why it would matter. After working out, I often would have a protein shake in one hand and a Gatorade in the other. My Dr never said "No", but you may just want to contact yours if it weighs on your mind.

Had to comment on this sentence, though ... The other night I am chatting with an acquaintance who is getting sleeved in March about VSG. He never knew me obese. He was asking about the reasons why I did it and as I iterated though, I said, "We're one of the only groups where it is socially acceptable to ridicule and discriminate against." He was like, "You still identify yourself as being overweight?" I had to laugh. Unconscience or what, I don't know, but even though I have been at goal for a year and have a "normal" BMI, I still can identify.

Thanks! It has been a heck of a journey. Your cousin is absolutely correct. That is an old saying around there. I can only speak for myself. The reason I consider myself an alcoholic is that I can never be "cured". Years ago, I relapsed after having over 7 years sobriety. All it took was one drink and I was back and running. One drink. A "normal" person can have one drink without impunity. I can't. If I could, then no ... I would no longer be an alcoholic. But for me, that isn't true. The mental and bodily obsession takes over. I know this is true today, so I am still an alcoholic. Don't mean to hijack your thread ... back to What got us here.

I also forgot ... As I have shared on many thread here, I am also an alcoholic. In recovery as I will be the rest of my life. I work a program that helps me deal with life on life's terms. Alcohol wasn't my problem ... I am my problem. Alcohol was my solution. food wasn't so different. I still have difficulties in my life and while I didn't always turn to food, I abused it. ... and I could always find an excuse to get drunk and I could always find an excuse to abuse food. A 12 step program has helped me with one and the sleeve is helping me with the other.

Yup, just to echo what Aroundhky says, this is my story. It may not be yours or anybody else's ... or, it may be. One of the things about getting sleeved is being forced to confront my relationship with food. My wife, 135 or so pounds, ate about the same portions as myself pre-op. Or, so I thought. When I made the decision to have the sleeve, I started with the BodyBug and tracked everything. When I TRULY ate her sized portions, I was starving. Having an extra bite here and there went unnoticed by me, but not my waistline. Snacking between meals doesn't really count ... right? That is what I convinced myself of. I had my thyroid tested numerous times convincing myself there has GOT to be a reason for this. I had consultations with dieticians trying to find what would work for me. I excerised, ate nutritious foods ... what is the reason for having a BMI of 40? All of the diets I tried worked for me. I lost 35 pounds on Slim Fast. 40 pounds on Atkins, the list goes on. When I worked a diet program, I lost weight. So, why couldn't I keep it off when I stopped the program? For me, it comes down to portion sizes and snacking. This is why I got sleeved. Now, I eat about a quarter to a half of what my wife eats. What this tells me is even with the "normal" sized portions "normal" people eat, it is most likely still more than what the body needs. Their bodies most likely absorb what it needs and passes the rest. How else to explain how I can eat my amount yet she can eat 4x as much and not gain? Bottom line, I ate more than what my body needed to survive. I wasn't feeding my body, but my taste buds and the desire to feel "full". Is that everybody's story? No, but it is mine. One thing I have noticed, though, is there is an awful lot of threads out there talking about the "full" feeling. I may not be the only one.

Yes, do not drink Protein shakes before, during or immediately after eating "solids". Protein Shakes are liquids.

I never did. If this is happening to you, you may want to call your Dr office. This may be an indicator of something else. Don't just put this off.

Looking at a Google search for powerade zero caffeine shows there is no caffeine in Powerade Zero.