Lissa

Congrats!! This ties in perfectly with the commercial I just saw on TV for Progresso soup where the woman calls and says her skinny jeans fit. The guy says "Okay" and she asks for a woman to talk to!!

I made beef stew tonight. It's been cold here in FL, you know, under 75 degrees, so I thought it would be yummy. And it was!! I made a small pot of it, but I now have beef stew for days. I know I'll be dividing this up for the freezer!!!

Pink, You have to psyche yourself out with positives instead of negatives. You WILL stay on track. You WILL lose weight. They will NOT cancel your surgery. Why will you stay on track? Because you know that this surgery will make your life infinitely better than it is right now. I had tons of co-morbidities, and they all jumped on my all at once last summer. I've been big, obese, fat, whatever you want to call it, since I was 23. But, I'd been a "healthy" big, if that is even a term. I was healthy big right up until I got pneumonia, and then I looked the grim reaper in the eye three times in three months. There is no better time than RIGHT NOW to take care of your weight issues and make sure you don't have visit with Mr. Death until you're old and gray.

Lyra, It sounds like you are doing things just right!! I recommend a therapist to everyone, mostly because none of us would be obese if we didnt' have food issues, IMO. Good luck on your journey!! That first step is often the hardest, and the first step is admitting that we can't do this alone!

Cattracks, The weight loss is what inspired me to stay faithful to my post-op diet!! It was incredible watching those pounds just melt away! If that's what it takes to keep you on plan, go for it!!!

Capt Derel, I'm sorry you don't have good success with your machine. It definitely takes some time and effort to get used to the sleep machines! I thought I wouldn't be successful, but a dear friend gave me some tips on using the machine, most of which I passed on earlier in this thread. He even takes his when he goes hunting and uses it in the tent! My doc says when I lose 20% of my weight from the date of the sleep study, he will take me off my machine. I'm almost scared for that to happen at this point! I know that I'll be asleep in minutes once I put my mask on at night. I hate to lose that instant sleep inducer.

I agree! Awesome NSV!!

Measure your food and only put 1 or 2 ounces on your plate. Undereat your sleeve for a bit. It's really hard to tell how full you are so early post-op, so you almost have to rely on measuring to keep from making yourself hurt. Also, be sure to wait 30 minutes after you eat and stop drinking 30 minutes before your first bite. It really does help keep you from getting so full so fast. I'm sure you're being careful to stick to foods that are already mushy and not relying on your teeth to make them mushy, right? I tried a bite of chicken in the mushy stage, thinking if I chewed it enough it wouldn't hurt and I was wrong! Also, be sure to take tiny little bites of your food, even if that means eating with a baby spoon. Good luck!! It does get better!!

Amazing!! Great job!!

Could you do a little cheese (mini babybel or laughing cow wedge) or part of a Protein shake around 4pm? That would give you one more opportunity for some protein and boost your calories a little. The cheeses are both small, so they shouldn't prevent you from eating dinner. I actually try to put my biggest meal at lunch time rather than dinner. Of course, biggest meal is relative, hmmm? IIRC, though, I was around 450 to 600 calories a day at your stage, too. As your tummy heals, you'll be able to eat a little more and meet the Nut's goal, but just do what you can on the protein and concentrate on getting your liquids in your tummy. good luck!!

Great tips from everyone on avoiding denser foods right now. As for the liquids, some people find that warm or ice cold drinks go down easier for them. Try warm broth (a little protein), very runny refried Beans, lightly scramble an egg (you will probably only be able to handle half of one), make a very loose Protein shake with milk (or soy/rice/almond milk if you're lactose intolerant like me), runny instant mashed potatos, or baby food meat all go down pretty easily. Ice chips, SF popsicles, SF Jello, decaf coffee and decaf tea all count as liquids. Water with crystal light, mio drops, or some Protein powder all go down okay. Special K has a protein water that's flavored. You probably won't be able to handle 1/4 cup of anything for awhile yet. You will learn what your sleevie will tolerate fairly quickly, but don't push it to accept new things. Try one bite of a new thing and let it sit in your tummy for half an hour or so. Once you are sure it will stay down, then try some more of it. Tuna is fairly tough on a new sleeve, so it might just be the tuna that caused problems. Also, be very, very, very sure that you are chewing your food to applesauce consistency before you swallow. That will make it easier for the sleeve to accept that new food. Good luck!!

My personal tips from experience on how to get used to the mask: 1. Try wearing it for a little while before bed to get used to the mask and to keeping your mouth closed. Even if it's a full face mask, keeping your mouth closed makes sleeping with the mask easier, IMO. 2. Ask your tech to set the machine to ramp up, especially if you're on a high upper number. Mine is 22/12, but it's set so that it takes 30 minutes from the time I turn the machine on before it reaches that high number. 3. Buy some Biotin gel. It helps keep your mouth from drying out while you're learning how to keep your mouth shut while sleeping. 4. Put the mask on before you turn on the machine. Then start breathing out when you hit the power switch. By the time you take a breath in, the machine will be ready to push air at you. 5. Hold your hand in front of the mask, near the nose hole. Feel the air coming out? That means that you WILL be able to breathe even if the machine goes off for some reason. 6. Lay down immediately for sleep, close your eyes, get comfortable, and then concentrate on something else. Count sheep, recite the alphabet, tell yourself a bedtime story. You'll be asleep in minutes and wake up feeling more rested than you've felt in forever. 7. Keep a bottle of Water near the bed so you can get a drink as soon as you wake up. Even with the biotin gel, I'm always thirsty when I first wake up. Oh, and before you ever put the mask on, make sure you know how to pull the tubing off the front. It comes off easily and goes on just as easily. Also make sure your tech shows you how to clean the mask, tubing and machine. I'm totally clausterphobic, but I have worn my mask every night since 2 weeks before surgery. As soon as I started using it, the swelling in my legs went away totally and I have feet again! I also stopped snoring and quit falling asleep during daytime driving. I attribute my amazing increased energy level post-op to having the bi-pap. At this point, I "need" the bi-pap to fall asleep at night and I'm usually out within 5 minutes of putting my head on the pillow. It is worth getting used to the machine..and, if your doc is like mine, once you lose 20% of your body weight from the day of your sleep study, s/he will take you off the bi-pap machine!

My DH actually told me that if I'd just eat less I wouldn't need this expensive surgery. So, I got him a quote from a funeral home for a full funeral. My medical expenses last year, just in co-pays and out of pocket for docs, were as much as the surgery. Now that I'm down 81 pounds, he's my biggest cheerleader. He's still a jerk and I'm still not living with him, but he's bragging about my weight loss to anyone that will listen, and some that won't, I'm sure! LOL

If you're already having problems getting in enough liquid, and your doc allows coffee this early, please be sure the coffee is decaf. Caffeinated drinks prevent absorption of Water by the body and actually act as a diuretic, so they pull water out of your cells. Good luck!!

Bryan, Yes, there are possible complications with VSG, just like there are possible complications with ANY surgery. There are several long-timers here who had bad complications immediately post-op, and there are several newly sleeved people who have had complications. While no one wants complications, the risk is fairly low (unless it's you, of course). And, all of the long-timers who had complications have said that they would do the surgery again. I'm not sure how the newer people who have complications feel about it, but all of their complications were caught very early and treated quickly. My pre-op research showed fewer complications and better outcomes from those complications with the band than the other WLS surgeries I researched, including gastric bypass, RNY, and lap band. Many people who had lap bands initially seemed to not be very successful and a lot of those ended up with revision surgery. I cut to the chase and had a sleeve. IMO, it's the best option on the market today. Good luck to you on your journey!!

Chew and spit is just another form of food addiction gone wild. NOT a good practice to get into because it can lead to worsening of our eating disorders. As for licking the flavoring off a dorito, that's a little weird. It definitely would point me in the direction of therapy...and, since you don't know me from Adam's houseplants, I DO see a therapist to deal with my own food addictions and other issues. Good luck with your journey!!

Wow!! You've had a long road, but were very lucky to survive the accident! As for pre-op diet, eat what your surgeon tells you to eat. Everyone's diet seems to be different. Mine was liquids only for two weeks, but I've seen tons of variations. Maybe once you have the surgeon's guidelines we can give you specific ideas for each category. Good luck!!

A SF pudding is basically a slider for me, too. I can eat a whole one quite easily. Once you're working on denser proteins, you'll feel the fullness. A chicken breast is a couple of meals for me and breakfast, even now, usually is a single fried egg and one sausage patty. I made bacon the other morning and a couple of slices were all I could eat. You will feel the fullness from regular foods once you start eating again.

Good? Nope, FANTASTIC!! You really need to get the fluids in so that you don't end up becoming dehydrated. My doc actually said it's more important to get in the liquids than the Protein, especially early post-op. Once you do start getting in your liquids, you may see a bit of regain because your body is hydrated properly, but don't let that discourage you. Getting in all the fluids you need helps with continuing weight loss and flushing out all the hormones and toxins that have been stored in the fat deposits. Good luck!!

Tomato and citrus juices were on the no list for me until at least 3 months out. I can handle about 4 ounces of them at a time now, but I waited because of the acid in them. I certainly didn't want to irritate my staple line!

I'm 4 months post op and the hungry feeling has returned, but only when I haven't eaten in several hours. Some days I do eat almost constantly, but I've finally figured out it's because I'm missing nutrients when I do that. Yesterday, for instance, I wanted something crunchy all day. Finally, I ate a few baby carrots that apparently made my body happy, because the hungry feeling went away. Post-op, there is definitely a learning curve to eating. I need to add more veggies into my routine, obviously. Of course, I also worked in the yard nearly all day yesterday, so my body probably wanted the carbs for energy. It's not rocket science, but sometimes it feels like it!

Wow, did someone actually PM you to accuse you of this? How horrible!! I did read a thread where someone's spouse thought that people had been paid to endorse their doctors, but I chalked that up to ignorance of the board for that person's spouse. I'm one that thinks my doctor hung the moon, too. I wouldn't be alive if I hadn't had surgery. For me, it was the best thing I ever did and I adore my doctor for making the rest of my life possible. AND, I paid HIM, not the other way around!

I was raised on the clean plate club, too! Just thinking about that brings back memories of the chart in our classroom. Of course, back then I ran all day, rode my bike everywhere, played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. I needed all that food just to live. Nowadays, I drive my car and don't participate in any sports, no wonder I ended up obese! My solution has been to eat off smaller plates. I use the saucers from my dinnerware and I use tiny silverware to eat. That makes me keep my bites small. I'm bad about cooking too much food, but working on getting better. I actually bought some tiny pots at Bed Bath and Beyond that work either on a burner or in the oven. I also got myself a small 1.5 quart crockpot. I made Beans in it a few days ago, and just keep the crock part in the fridge so I can dish up a half cup or so at a time. When I eat out, I ask for a box when I order and put at least half of the meal in the box right away. I also try to order foods I don't cook often when I go out. I'm not going to fix a whole slab of ribs for just me, so I'll order a rib dinner and have food for several days (lunch and dinner). I find that I'm more adventurous with food these days. I'll try something completely different because I know I'll only eat a few bites. If I hate it, I leave it at the restaurant. If I like it, that gives me a new Protein source!

Welcome, Elizabeth!! How cool that you and your sisters are taking the journey together!!

Smith, the chocolate milk is a great jump point to start prepping the older kids for your after surgery changes! I'm sure you know that, but it's a good place to start saying little things about it. I'm glad you're not considering backing out. I think that being nervous helps us make sure everything is handled before surgery. Lissa