Katie713

Kaiser in Los Angeles requires the 12 week Options Program, then referral to the surgeon if you meet the criteria, which is participating in the program, keeping food logs and losing 10% before surgery. Perhaps your Kaiser program is not so stringent??

How long until your doctor/nutritionist wants you to move to stage 3, pureed/soft foods? This makes a huge difference in your energy level and nutrition. During this stage hot cereal (thinned out) is great with some non-fat milk, a few teaspoons of cottage cheese with canned fruit like pears, refried beans with melted cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy & canned (very soft) chicken, yogurt.

Please check out this thread: If You Had The Choice - Would You Do It Again? Also...check out the profile and posts from Kat1 who had surgery with complications in Mexico, including surgeon's name and outcome of notification of complications once state side.

My surgery only took 35 minutes. I had no drain tube whatsoever. I healed up quickly and have not had any complications. The doctor said that surgery usually takes about one hour, but that surprisingly, I was very easy to operate on. I guess I was one of the lucky ones!!

After six weeks you can start trying new foods. I can eat a flat bread sandwich but most other breads I cannot tolerate. I am 4 1/2 months out and I can eat about 1/2 of a 6" flatbread from Subway. Good luck!

Ha Ha...my license says 240 and I was low balling that....and now I'm at 197, I never thought of it until you mentioned it! So cool !!

I think we kind of grieve our old relationship with food. It takes time to process this grief. I started this process last Fall 2011 while I was doing 6 months of pre-op supervised diet before qualifying for surgery and choosing foods wisely to meet calorie goals and weight loss required (10%) and keeping food and exercise logs that had to be reviewed with weekly weigh ins. I had to be accountable if I wanted the surgery, and ultimately, to change my life and no longer be one of the fattest women in my circle of contact. I have always loved myself, but my body seemed to be that thing I was ashamed of, privately it was my own hell. So, this conscious choice to change became paramount. I had to commit, and go through these changes. I'm a foodie at heart and I love to go out like you do, and I love to try new foods, love cooking too....so I had to find what worked for me. Buffets are tough, and of course there is no way to eat enough to justify the cost, but I guess it is paying to just be there hanging out with the people you love and picking at this and that. At the Japanese seafood buffet, I load my plate with steamed clams, as you can kind of take your time with them, but in actuality you are eating very little. Then I might get a bit of sushi (1 or 2) and some tender beef with veggies like bean sprouts, onions, mushrooms cooked on the teppan grill and just eat it slowly, savoring each bite. At the Mexican buffet, a bit of salad, two tacos (I eat the meat, leave the tortillas) and maybe a little refried Beans - a skinny margarita. At the Outback I order the scallops skewer, have package the salad with the dressing on the side immediately, and I take that home. I skip the rice, and ask for steamed veggies - and the skewer comes with skewered veggies too, nice and tender. I can eat about 1/2 of the entree, slowly...and take the rest home, but I take my time, enjoy the conversation, maybe sip a little red wine. During the week work, I take all my breakfasts and lunches to go - I pack my own lunch and track my intake on myfitnesspal.com. I make sure I get my Protein in and my liquids, and I take a nice long walk at work as well. Dinners at home are usually fish or chicken, or steak and veggies, then I allow myself a Weight Watchers frozen dessert in the evening....if I need a snack I might eat a cheese stick or a few nuts. You don't have to give up who you are. Just make better choices and relax into it. You can so do this!

Imborderlon....your surgery is just around the bend. Are you on a pre-op diet right now?

Allnewme...almost mushies! Its good to make progress and it will feel more natural. Crock pot meals are wonderful for that stage! Also you might want to try the ricotta bake...in a ramekin put meat sauce on the bottom, then ricotta mixed with an egg and parm, then more sauce and top with motzarella and more parm and bake until browned and bubbly. Sooo good just like lasagna. I love cottage cheese with canned pears still have that for breakfast some days. Glad you're doing so well!

CreateHealth....glad you're doing well post op. I was going to say, I still look forward to going out and you have to be a little creative about what will work, but remember you can always take a doggy bag home. Also you can share with your hubby...if he can do an add-on its a perfect size for our little tummy...maybe have a little bite of an appetizer or soup. If dinner comes with salad and an entree I have them box the salad with dressing on the side for another meal. Mainly, relax and enjoy and don't stress over it.

Just wondering if those of us who are already in menopause are sensing that losing weight even with VSG is more of a struggle than if we had done it at a younger age? It is so delightful to me to be past that time in my life and when I read of those who are struggling with that "TOM" and the associated Water retention/weight gain, I am grateful to not have to deal with that on top of the challenges of our new way of living. I do feel that my metabolism is slower that it used to be and I am a slow loser, but slow and steady and I feel better than I did in my 30's as I am much lighter on my feet and I feel more like my younger self. Interested to know what your take might be on this....

Thanks for chiming in Coops & Dorrie....sweets are not my nemesis, its crackers/carbs. I am not giving up by any means on my weight loss journey, I just have to be stricter with myself. I did not buy any triscuits or wheat thins this week, and was focused on keeping carbs under 40 grams, and its a head thing I'm sure. I need a good support system like you all to help me stay on course.

I remember my PCP telling me not to stress out about the surgery and that frankly if I didn't do something to lose weight, I would probably end up hospitalized for another reason, i.e. a heart attack or stroke. For me personally, I have always done well with surgery, 3 c-sections & gallbladder removal so I knew I tolerate anesthesia and surgery well, but I did tell my adult children that if for some reason I didn't make it out of surgery, that at least they knew I was finally doing something proactive about my health. I was ready to accept the consequences of complications, because I was at my personal last straw with my weight. Its such a personal decision, but I have always tried not to let fear stand in my way. My surgery on 4/6/12 went well and I hardly had any pain, I was released the next day, and feel fantastic today. I don't regret this decision at all. I am proud that I was strong enough to go thru with what I set out to do.

In the beginning I had no appetite, but at 4 months out, I do get hungry, and it feels normal and I am easily satisfied. I do get head hunger and real hunger but I am aware of the difference and I plan my meals for the most part.

CreateHealth.... Welcome to the Fifties forum. I was 56 when I had my surgery on 4/6/12 and I sailed through it without complications. I feel great, better than I have in decades!! Good Luck on your journey...don't hold back if you have any questions!!

So Kat are you basically on full liquids & mushy foods right now? Are you able to tolerate yogurt or cottage cheese/ricotta cheese yet? Blended soups? Are you able to get your protein/fluid goals met yet?

What lies behind us And what lies before us Are tiny matters Compared to what Lies within us - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You still probably have swelling. Over time this should improve. Go slow.

I went through Kaiser West L.A. and had surgery 4/6/12 with Dr. Zelada. This is a fantastic facility and I had top notch care there. My surgery went really well and I had no complications. I had a private room after surgery and the nurses were all great and I was very impresssed with the cleanliness and professionalism of the all staff that worked there. Good luck!!

We have a new Sprouts store near where I live....I'm going to check this out!! I need a good unflavored whey Protein to add to soups and morning vegetable/fruit smoothies! Thanks!

Congrats! Excellent work!!

I started at 6 weeks - when I was released to regular foods. They are chewy, not soft.

Joe...I have a similar list Went to a concert to see my favorite artist and could not fit into the seat properly and so had to squeeze in sort of sideways and was in pain all evening. Standing in line for a ride at Universal Studios with my grandson and not being able to even get on the ride - he rode alone and I had to wait at the exit Seeing a picture of myself as I really was - at the end of my rope Huffing and puffing when walking, even from the parking lot to my office right accross the street Never feeling full - no matter how much I ate. Thank God I found out that I qualified for WLS with Kaiser, I had been praying for a way to change my life and the option presented itself. I am so pleased with how much better I feel and look!!!

You will find the days fly by....you just have to work thru the stages of eating so as not to overwhelm your new sleeve! Sample of what I consumed in stage 1 and 2 Stage 1 - Clear Fluids Decaf vanilla Chai Tea and my PPI Isopure Clear Protein Drink Crystal Light broth - chicken and Beef Iced Tea SF popsicles SF Jello Stage 2 - Full Liquids Tea & Crystal Light Protein drinks - Chocolate/Vanilla Creamy Soups - strained Thinned out hot Cereal like Cream of Wheat SF pudding & SF Jello SF popsicles & SF fudgesicles pureed and Mushy are the same thing and stage 3 eating... Hot cereal Soft eggs (poached, scrambled) Cottage cheese, Yogurt Refried Beans with melted cheese Soups Chili Beans Vegetables cooked until soft Ground meats (I never ate baby food like foods...I just cooked regular food and made sure it was very soft and chewed well) Good Luck!!