renee5d

There are many different reasons to keep it personal! I chose to keep mine private, only telling my husband and best friend because my brothers 34 year old daughter died of malnutrition, three years after her gastric bypass. My mom, the queen of worry, blames the surgery, not my niece's nutritional habits. Because of this, I have chosen to keep it hidden. I didn't even tell my kids because I don't want them to be put in a position where they would have to lie to their grandma. Trust me...this was a very difficult decision for me...normally I an a blabber mouth...always wanting to share my story. But I attend support group once a month in a city about two hours away and there, I am free to be open about it.

7 pounds away for me!! Lets do this!!!

Tonight, in my Emile Henry tagine, I threw together: boneless Pork chops cubed butternut squash apples fresh garlic cinnamon curry salt pepper was very tasty!!!

I am 12 weeks out and i had both done. I still have issues with meats and breads are a no-no for me. I can eat all meats as long as i take tiny bites and chew like mad before I swallow! It also takes me a very long time to eat meats because I have to give myself a few minutes in between bites. I will get horrendous left shoulder pain I'd I eat too much or too fast. I bought a cooking tagine that has really help making meats tender. There is a thread here on tagines and some recipes. Definitely a good investment for us sleevers!

me too!!!

Just what I needed to read tonight! I'm only ten weeks out and was feeling yucko because after skiing six hours yesterday, I gained two pounds overnight! I know it will come in time! Thanks for the smiles! Good job on all your triumphant moments and enjoy the ones to come!

I was scared of the surgery too...BUT...I was even more frightened of what would happen if is DIDN'T have it! I knew diabetes and high blood pressure were lurking around every corner. I'm 8 weeks out, 36 pounds down, in a size 16 from a size 20, and loving my tiny tummy!

Don't give up! My insurance does not cover any weight loss surgery....I was self pay. We were struggling financially when i approached the subject of the surgery with my hubby....he looked at me like I had a horn growing out of my forehead! We have two kids in college and my once very successful business went belly-up last year because of the economy! I knew I had the option of a home equity line of credit (very low interest rates right now) or a health care credit card. It was scary to spend so much money ($9,500 total)..but now, looking back, it was the best money I have ever spent! You have to look at it as an investment in yourself! At 10% out of pocket, you shouldnt be paying any more than $2,000 out of pocket....and YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN $2000! Do what ever it takes for your health....I've even sold some of my things on eBay to help pay for this! And...one other thing...at only 7 weeks out and 32 pounds down, I have already saved a lot of money on my grocery bill!

I am 6 weeks post op today...I have been stuck between 229 & 227 for three weeks. Its so frustrating that I have stopped losing this soon out...and being self pay, it makes me feel horrible that I have spent so much money! I too, am trying to focus on the NSV's and I am loosing inches....although not a lot. I would love to hear if there are any folks out there who hit a long stall soon after surgery....but went on to make your goal weight.

I'm in NW Pennsylvania...my VSG package was $14,125. I also had a hiatal hernia repair which the insurance pain $5,000 for, so my final cost was $9,125.

Veda...I am in the same boat. I was sleeved on 11/14/11 and have only lost 5 pounds so far for the month of December. I have lost a total of 28 including my pre-op liquid diet. Its driving me crazy....but I am trying to stay off the scales and pay more attention to how my body feels and how my clothes fit. Things are changing even tho the scales are not!

I was sleeved on Nov 14th and am down 28.5 pounds! I have been walking and I started back to zumba this week. I saw my doctor yesterday and he said I am now aloud to ski and I can start running but only one minute intervals. So today I am starting on the C25K program. Eating is going well, but I am still so surprised at how tiny the portions I can tolerate are! I get severe nausea every now and then, and I'm still trying to figure out why! I am still on the mushy till Monday,then I graduate to soft for two weeks! Its all going pretty fast! And now a word from the not-so-wise.....do not go to morning zumba class without eating first, or you just may find yourself flat on the floor with every staff member hovering above you, yelling garbled words! Just say'n....

I lost 9 pounds on the pro-op liquid diet, gained 8 in the hostal and now I am down 27.7 pounds. Yesterday was exactly one month.

I'm 4 weeks today and have been walking about 3-3.5 miles in an hour for the past three weeks....so I figured I was ready to get back to zumba tonight. I was surprised how sore I started to get at about the 50 minute mark. I just took it very slow and easy the last ten minutes....but it felt great to be really moving again. The hardest part was not chugging my water after class!

I'm struggling with this too,but I have discovered that it really helps if I have something cold and moist, like applesauce or yogart,with my meal!

Hi! I'm about an hour and a half north of Pittsburgh. I went thru Hamot Bariatrics in Erie with Dr Ali. I was self pay and his total cost was $14,125. They have a monthly support group and lifetime support with the nutritionalist. I am very happy I chose them! I am only three weeks out, but feel free ta ask any questions!

Yep...sure is the same! You can also eat the sprouts...I've grown them in an unglazed terra cotta pie plate and use a clear glass pie plate as the lid! Trim the roots and the greens taste kinda like broccoli to me.

I love chia seeds, but I am only 3 weeks out so I cant try them now. I would try making the chia gel first to see if that is tolerated. To make chia gel, just add 1/3 cup chia seeds to 2 cups water and let sit overnight in the fridge. The expansion takes place outside your tummy this way...to be on the safe side!! The gel is good for about a week. Before surgery, i would pour some into a bowl, add cinnamon & microwave it for about a minute...then sprinkle granola on top!! YUMMA!!! Chia is decent source of protein too! I am so glad you asked this question because I have been wondering if I will ever get to enjoy my morning chia too!!

I am 21 days post op and still am very swollen right above my largest incision. It feels like there is a tangerine in my belly! The doctor isn't too worried but wants to recheck it in two weeks. For now, I am keeping a heat pack on it to make it more comfy. And yes....I am still in yoga pants because my jeans hurt!

Lele! I'm doing the exact same thing! I lost 22 pounds the first two weeks then when I started the mushies....nothing...not a pound in 8 days! Then this morning when I weighed in I had gained 1.6 pounds! GURRRRRRR!!!!!!!

I think I'm all ready too!! I have to be on the road by 3:45am, so I know I will be afraid to sleep tonight for fear of over sleeping!! Good Luck LeLe & sis....and also to VSGme!!

my surgery is the 14th too! Are you on a liquid diet? Im on day 7 and still having a hard time getting it all in....it makes me nervous that I wont be able to drink what I should once I'm sleeved!