Lissa

Awesome! I'm thrilled for you!!

I love this post! It's exactly the thought process I'm working on with myself. I know that I will eat certain foods until I'm literally sick of them (cheetos), so I have to keep them out of the house. I know that if I allow myself to get hungry, I will eat something I shouldn't, so I carry Protein bars with me. I know that I will choose almost anything over plain Water, so I keep orange mio drops with me. It's about small choices that add up over time. We all have to make them all day long, and it's our responsibility to make the right choices. No one can do it for us. We must choose the right things each time. Okay I still want my cheetos...but no one said this would be easy...just easier than without WLS.

Great job! I would like to add that some surgeons (mine included) ban straws either temporarily or permanently after VSG. I am now using one again, but when I was early post op, straws made me feel gassy. YMMV

Wow! That is amazing! Congrats on reaching goal (almost)!! Three pounds is nothing!!!

FavoredOne, I feel ya on the cheetos!! I agree that putting yourself on a schedule is almost a requirement. I eat at pretty set times and I carry premier Protein bars just so I can hit my times on busy days. On slow days, I just do the best I can to eat real food instead of the bars. Early post-op it is difficult to get in all the Water and all the protein, but you need to keep experimenting. The mindset does change. I am literally at a point where food either is or is not protein. I'm hitting a sea change right now because I'm trying to add in some good carbs in order to be able to work out without feeling exhausted halfway through. Weights, calisthenics and cardio every day have pointed out the deficiencies in my diet, so I'm having to rework things to make good carbs a healthy part of my diet.. Unfortunately, cheetos aren't good carbs! Just keep trying to find that balance where you can eat your protein and get your water in daily. It does take time, but letting your calories stay below 300 a day is going to stop your weight loss because your body really will be in starvation mode. Not getting in enough nutrition will also lead to more skin damage and most of us are trying to minimize the impact on our skin, I think. Good luck!! It does get easier with time.

The pre-op liquid diet is the toughest part. I didn't think I could live with doing that for two weeks pre-op, but I knew I wouldn't live a year without doing that liquid diet. Afterwards, I didn't really care that I was on a liquid diet, because I couldn't put a lot down at a time anyway. The liquid diet definitely helped break my sweets addiction and detoxed me from a lot of things, including caffeine. So, while the diet sucks, it pays big dividends. At 7 months out and down 90 pounds, I'm thrilled I managed to do the liquid part of this journey!

Oregondaisy, That was my question: How are they extracting this collagen from beef and from what part of the animal? I couldnt find anything on that, but the fact that it was listed as bioengineered really threw me for a loop. Are they growing special cows for this product and adding some gene to them that makes them higher in protein? If so, wouldnt someone be selling and advertising special higher-protein meat?

Toyier, You may want to post your own thread for advice. You'll get more people to answer your questions. Also, there is a pre-op forum here that has tons of great information for the pre-op folks! I have no idea how much time you're going to need off work. A lot depends on what you do for a living. I only took 8 days and went back to work the same afternoon that my drain was removed. However, I have a pretty non-physical job. If you have to do lots of walking, bending or carrying heavy weights, you may need more time. Feel free to PM (private message) me if you like, but I'm betting most of your questions will be answered in that pre-op forum. If they aren't, just hit me up with your questions and I'll get back to you asap.

I'm not sold, although I did just do some quick research. I don't see collagen as an ingredient in the online listings, which is good, because collagen is not readily available to the human body. I did see hydrolosis (extraction by chemical reaction with water) and bioengineered (adding a gene to something to produce desired characteristics). I'm highly against bioengineered foods for me. You may want to do some more research on this product and make up your own mind. The reviews I read on several websites all said that the users thought the taste was good and felt that it contributed to their muscle gains, most also felt that the dye in the product discolored their bowel movements and that the product foamed too much. Hopefully some of the exercise experts will answer this question. I'm interested in the answers.

The pre-op liquid diet. Everything else has been gravy!

Oh, yeah, the ricotta bake is awesome!! Non WLS people adore it as well. It tastes just like lasagna without all the carbs. I need to make some of that in the next few days!

Looking younger is always awesome!! I'm loving fish now too. Salmon and tilapia are staples, along with pre-cooked frozen shrimp. I'll make a stir fry of one or the other and chow down.

Samuel, I can relate to your story! I'm so glad you made the decision FOR yourself. You will be amazed at how quickly you start feeling better. I thank God every day for giving me this gift and I hope you'll feel blessed by your higher power as well!! Congrats and hang out here. Let us watch your journey with you, please? Good luck!!

You look fantastic! I'm not sure where you're going to find 20 lbs, but I hope it comes off quickly for you!

I am starting to "get" that, Blackberry juice. I just rode an extra mile on the exercise bike cause I could. THAT is bizarre! For me, anyway! I've been high energy since I stepped off the recovery room bed, it seems. I'll walk places just because I can now. I walked the Orlando Ikea not once, but twice yesterday...after riding 7 miles on the bike, and I wasnt too tired to go play in the pool and hot tub last night. Yeah, I have a little more energy these days than I did pre-op...but only a little!

Ah, YorkieFan, you may have answered why I don't have constipation issues. I eat dark leafy greens quite a bit. I always have loved collard greens and broccoli. While on Coumadin, my doc told me not to change the amount of them I eat, so I eat a little bit of them every day, just like I always have. That explains a lot!

Oh, I'd be counting that as an NSV and a SV!! You're doing great. Keep on rocking that sleeve!

The NSVs keep me going especially when the scale isn't moving. As LilMissDiva says, I don't wear a scale around my neck! People see the clothes you wear, not the number on the scale!!

look at you! You're rocking that sleeve! Go Girl!!! I agree with you that inches come off during stalls... and it's a great feeling! Sometimes we just have to take those pictures and LOOK at what our bodies are capable of doing, even when the scale isn't moving!!

You're taking a dangerous chance. The post-op diet is designed to protect your new sleeve while it heals. You may not feel any pain from eating solid foods because your sleeve is numb, but you could be doing damage. Please get back on track with the prescribed diet and allow your sleeve the time to heal. I know that it's tough to stick with liquids and mushy foods, but it is best for your sleeve. Believe me, you'll be back on solid food soon enough and this will really just be a vague memory.

Using laxatives can be habit-forming. Try adding in some Water and, unless it's prescribed by your doctor, ease up on the Iron pills. I drink decaf coffee and that seems to work pretty well for this issue. Iron is horrible about stopping up the works, though. I don't take any more iron than is in my multi-Vitamin and, so far, I've been okay on my labs. Good luck!

Stick to your plan and be patient. Look for the NSVs and make sure you are taking your measurements. I lost my first size while I was in my first stall. Good luck!!

I had a lot of soreness in my arms when I first started with the weights. It lasted for about a week, and then gradually got better. My legs are usually somewhat sore when I hit the bike really hard, but it doesn't last a long time. Definitely not overnight. I've noticed that I don't stay sore as long when I eat some fruit or good carbs just before I hit the gym. Hopefully one of the exercise gurus will weigh in on this one.

I think you'll win...because men lose much faster than women. All that core muscle you have will stand you in good stead as well. Remember, I've seen your pics from your body-building days. Unless your wife was a bodybuilder as well, you've got the advantage. I'm rooting for her, though, since I always vote for the girls!