PdxMan

It's just not as simple as that ... sorry. Your body is an amazing machine which is going to try its hardest to keep fat reserves. After all, it has been keeping them for years (assuming, like me, you have been obese for years). It is going to try its hardest to not give it up. Starvation mode they call it and if your body is functioning properly, it is not going to give it up easily ... not without a fight. So, we have all heard that 3,500 calories = 1 pound. This is a general guideline. So, if you burn 3,500 more calories than you take in, you lose 1 pound. Consume 3,500 calories more than you burn, you gain a pound. Again, know that your body is going to work against you, though. Notice that I do not say 1 pound of fat. Your body will choose what is easiest to convert at that time, fat or muscle. So, this is one of the reasons why maintaining an exercise routine and getting your Protein in is sooo important. I thought I did a pretty good job with protein after about a month post op. I was exercising like crazy, but I still lost a lot of muscle. I lost a lot of fat, too, though, and I am getting my muscle back, but it is work, for sure. So, there you have it. 3,500 calories is the number. Also, if you are on the eliptical machine (stair stepper, treadmill ...) and it says you burned 500 calories during your workout, know that you most likely did not actually burn 500 calories. These counters are notoriously off on the high side. Google it if you think I am lying. All I am saying is don't make a spreadsheet with your daily intake/expendature and *calculate* what your weight will be in a month based on what the exercise machines tell you. I guarantee they lie.

This is an interesting question, for sure. What does it mean ... to reach goal? I started at around 300 pounds and my goal was 200 (or whatever amount it takes to loose my moobs). I thought that was kind of pie-in-the-sky, but why not? Well, I started exercising a lot and was pretty anal about following the sleeve rules and hit 200 after about 5 months. I still had some belly fat, so I reset my goal to 190. That number came and went after a few more months (moobs gone, btw). So, I wondered, too, what was going to be my final weight? I eat whatever I feel like, but know that I eat pretty well. I am not a saint ... I had a bowl of Reese's PB ice cream tonight (1/2 cup). So, what is life like? I eat whatever I want. I don't worry about my weight at all. I did weigh myself the other day and I clocked in at 175. I figure my body will find the weight it is supposed to be. I don't count my calories or my carbs. I didn't get sleeved to be a slave to a diet. Just the opposite, actually. So, my suggestion is to not set a target that you feel you have to reach and if you don't, you're a failure. Let's not beat ourselves up. Just do the best you can to follow the guidelines and find the foods that work for you. Find an exercise routine that works for you and do it ... a lot. You're body will find the place it needs to be and you will be heathier for it ... physically and mentally.

I believe your Dr was referring to early on in the journey. No rice until the staple line has completely healed over and fused. At 20 months out, your staple line is stronger than your stomach wall, so, it won't rip open. I occassionally will have rice, but that is only because it is already mixed in with whatever I may be eating, avoiding it as much as possible. It is not for the whole expansion thing, but rather it is a volume of food which is, for all intent and purpose, nutritionally void. Would I rather eat 2 ounces of rice or two ounces of carmelized onions ... 2 ounces of meat ... 2 ounces of [fill in the blank]. It is difficult for me to justify renting out that much space for rice when there are so many better choices on my plate.

Love to help, but need some more info ... When was your surgery? What are you eating now? Did you recently transition to a new eating stage? Are you on a PPI? How is your Water intake?

Dumping is a thing which happens with gastric bypass, not VSG. With VSG, a bagel will be fine after some time from surgery. Pretty much all bread products, for that matter. They tend to swell in your stomach, so you feel the restriction quicker. I pretty much try to avoid them as they are pretty much nutritionally void. I would rather have the space used for more nutritional options.

Yeah, it takes a bit to wrap your mind around it all. It is hard to believe a person can actually function on these portion sizes, but we can. Not only survive, but thrive! Like SuperSweetUms says, after awhile, it becomes second nature.

I'm a year out and took my 7 year old out to Breakfast the other morning. I had one egg over medium, 1 piece of toast (thick) and 1 piece of bacon. I couldn't finish it. I ate the whole egg, but about half of my toast and half of the bacon. But ... I was satisified. My stomach felt full (the new full) and I wasn't hungry an hour later. It is a change in lifestyle, for sure, but you adapt.

Saggy Skin - HERE is a link to a stickied post. Liquid and doo doo - Not NEARLY as much. What goes in, goes out ... know what I mean. It doesn't last long and then it is just the opposite. Everything takes awhile to find its groove. hair loss - IMO, it is a nutrition thing and it is almost impossible to completely avoid it. Shampoos are not going to help and I don't think there is a way to supplement everything you need to avoid it. Some have, but a far greater number have had some form of hair loss. Talk to your Dr about a pre-op. It is based on many factors, such as your BMI and your surgeon's comfort level with dealing with your liver while operating. Even if not ordered to, I would still suggest doing a small pre-op diet to shrink your liver. Afterall, do you want your Dr to knick your liver while they are in there? Your taste buds do change after surgery due to ketosis (look it up), but it will return. Careful of cross-addictions, though.

I have some bad news for you ... The sleeve is not going to keep you out of the Burger King drive through ... or McDonalds ... or Dairy Queen. I know this is going to come across as harsh, but that is not my intention. I'm just a tell it like it is guy, so, I hope you can see that. The sleeve is not a magic bullet to keep you from eating bad foods. It is ONLY a tool to help you eat less. I am a year out and I can eat anything, and do, in small portions. It is EXACTLY what my expectations were. The sleeve is not gastric bypass where dumping syndrome occurs with too much sugar. It is a restrictive procedure. The quality of the food is determined by you. Early out, most people have swelling and sensitivity which gives them the impression their sleeve rejects foods, but this passes with time and the responsibility to make good food choices lies solely on the person. You are most likely a person whose swelling reduces quicker than most. This means you are going to have to transition into the mode of responsible eating a little sooner than most. Sorry ... honeymoon is over. Time to get to work on making the best food choices for your body.

You also have to remember that whenever you are not supposed to think about something, you begin to see it everywhere. In actuality, their behavior has not changed, but your perceptions have. Just breathe deep. It will be all good.

Exactly. It is a minor bump along the road and is not permanent. Just keep remembering that.

Yeah, that was me, too. Thought I dodged a bullet until ... Thinned out pretty good, too, but it lasted about 3 months. I'm back to full, thick hair again. Just a little bump along the way. All good

Like Tracy says, I am incredibly happy that I had the surgery, but the first few weeks are hard, make no doubt about it ... and not for the reasons you might think ... For me, it was what I call the fundamental change in my relationship with food. I had to come to grips with the reality of not being able to go to a buffet and eat to excess. Going into the surgery, I knew things were going to change, but then there is the ACTUAL reality of it. I sometimes used food for comfort and now that was no longer an outlet. Bottom line is everything changed for me and there is some adjustment time needed. But, once I got through it, I began to enjoy my new relationship with food and feel relief that I no longer have to abuse food the way I used to and lead a healthier life.

Yes, you Sure you can. I take the jar to work and by the time lunch rolls around, it is thawed enough to pour into a bowl or on a plate, toss in the microwave and it's good to go. You can also just take the ring and lid off and microwave it in the jar as well. It is glass, so, no problem doing that, either.

Yup, I freeze it in 8 oz or 16 oz mason jars and take it for lunch. Makes life soooo easy.

You are in this serious ketosis until you get your carbs & calories back up. To what levels ... that is individual, for sure. There are a lot of pros and cons about ketosis and whether it is actually a good thing. You can still lose weight without being in the mouth-tastes-like-a-cats-behind mode. Not as fast, but there is also a school of thought that prolonged ketosis can cause liver/kidney damage, so ... I would rather have slow weight loss and not be on dialysis (sp?), but we all have our own goals and decisions, for sure.

Hello all sleevers and pre-sleevers alike. It took me awhile before changing my avatar to a picture of myself but I decided long ago that I would post before and after pictures after one year out. So, here they are. It has been one of the most incredible years of my life without a doubt. So much has changed, besides the weight. I truly hope that everyone finds their way on their own journey and keeps doing the right thing. How did I get to goal? I kept doing the right thing. I don't drink with meals unless I am calorie/carb loading for a race I eat my proteins first, then my veggies I exercise Sure, I cheat occasionally with a cookie or ice cream, but I do not go overboard. I take time between each bite and chew well. I stop eating AS SOON as I begin to have the *full* feeling. Also, I do not do the low carb thing. Just the opposite, to be honest. A month post-op, I has such little energy that I talked to my NUT who suggested I increase my carbs. It worked wonders for me. It spurred me into exercise and running. As I expended more energy, I increased my carbs. I did this with veggies. Carrots, beans ... the good kind, although I do have a fondness for crackers. (not so good) IMO ... low carb = low energy = low exercise = (s)low weight loss Increase the first, and you increase the rest Thanks to all who have shared their hope, strength and encouragement. MORE pictures in my Gallery

I also was sleeved by Umbach. Had a great experience and at a year out, my restriction is still great. I think he does a great job. Doing well?