JenC

Any of the research I've done has said no NSAIDs with VSG and my post surgery instructions from my doc are no NSAIDs.

My starting BMI was 35.

Happy Belated Birthday Chris! The sleeve is the best gift I ever gave myself...hope you feel that way too! Good luck on your journey.

AmaZING ReSUlts! You have rocked your sleeve, you look great!

Are you looking for a spanking or support? Only you can decide if you are ready or not. But consider this...If any of us had full control of our eating we would not have had the need to have this surgery in the first place. So no, you're not the only one. Be assured you will have a much greater ability to make better choices after you have your sleeve. Try to look at the pre-op not as a test of your will or ability to control your food/fat/calorie intake. Try to look at it as something you are doing to help ensure a successful surgery for yourself. Many docs require a pre-op to shrink the liver so it won't be enlarged and in the way during your surgery...endangering you. I don't know your body weight or condition of your liver but your doc will when he opens you up and since you're going to be on the table it would probably be best if he/she was able to proceed. Some docs don't even require a pre-op with a lower bmi. Mine didn't. Thank goodness, because before having the tool of the sleeve I eventually gave up on every diet I'd ever been on. Tommorow's another day...just get up and try again...that's all you can do. Luck to you!

Can't answer the Jello question, every doc is different, but whoa...that's a mighty handful of pills you got there. As for the sick of sweet stuff question, I was happy to mix it up with unjury chicken flavored broth...20grams of protien that kept me feeling full with a nice savory flavor. The more protien the less hungry you will feel. And sometimes getting enough protien in the beginning is hard. Also it sounds like had surgury pretty recently if you haven't been released to jello or creme of wheat. Maybe your hunger is stomach acid? Are you on Prilosec, Nexium or Omneprozal or something like that. When we first have our surgery our stomach continues to produce enough acid for a whole stomach not just our little sleeve so many docs have us on a PPO to reduce the acid that is often confused with hunger. I feel hungrey when I'm actually thirsty sometimes. Again in the beginning getting enough Fluid can be a challenge so we confuse it with hunger. Maybe you know all this....good luck with those pills

I've never read about increasing risk of kidney stones...gallbladder stones for sure are often said to be caused by rapid weight loss. I had to have that nasty nasty gallbladder out about 3.5 months after my wls surgery. The pepper flakes sound like a question for your doc, I would definately call him in the morning. Hope you have a night without any pain or discomfort. Luck!

DISCLAIMER: This is my personal opinion. I don't believe your goal is unrealistic. I think if you look around this site at individual profiles you will see plenty of folks with stats similiar to yours that have achieved healthy body weights. What I mean by that is they are no longer "by the charts" or BMI (Body Mass Index) considered over weight or obese. If you look up your BMI and take into consideration your height your goal is much closer to a healthy weight. You may in time even revise your goal. Some stats say that you may only achieve 80% of your desired loss and some say that you can achieve 100% of your desired loss. Depends who you talk to. My surgeon suggested to me that 100% of my goal was achieveable with many people reaching 80% of the goal in the first year. Again some lose faster, some more slowly based on habits and down right determination. I have not read anywhere so far that sleeve patients will always be slightly overweight..that would have totally bummed me out. I'm not to goal yet but I think you will be encouraged by many folks on the site that have reached/exceeded targets. If you look at a BMI chart (and not everyone believes they are the be all end all) for your height a normal body weight would be 130 lbs. So targeting 150 is not unreasonable. Even if you thought about it this way...I want to be a healthy weight. To be that I should weigh 130lbs. If I can only achieve 80% of the needed loss of 150lbs I could lose 120lbs and then weigh 160. I've always answered the question "what's your goal weight" with "I want to have a healthy body and weight" Of course I always have the number in my mind but if I preface it with that who could disagree? Skies the limits with this tool. You get to decide what you do with the gift of the sleeve. Good Luck, don't be discouraged...you will get there! Again, just my opinion

Once your Doctor has released you to eat raw vegetable or lettuce...usually refered to as "solid foods". Check with your Doc. Now...when will you tolerate salad is another matter. I ate greens at 5 weeks out. Iceberg lettuce did not go so well.......but I found that dark leafy greens where just fine. The problem with salad at an early stage is that it takes up room when you should be ensuring you get your protein in first. So if you've managed to get the essentials in then... have at it if your doc says ok. Remember to be smart about what you put on those greens because toppings and dressings can be a whole load of fat that we just don't need. I'm loving infused vinegars and greek yogurt concoctions on salad these days. I know what you mean about wanting salad, I love my greens too!

The optimum time for a recovery/protien drink after workout is within 60 minutes...the sooner the better for greatest benefit. You might want to do some research about "fasting work-outs" there is plenty of research and writing out there about the benefits of fasting before a work-out and the positive effects it has on using fat stores...loosing more weight. Much of the talk says that even a few fasted work-outs a week are a good and beneficial mix to get improved results. Of course it can effect your performance during work-out and you might have to go easier than you would having "fueled" before exercise or you'll find yourself "bonking" (just not being able to get through it). But even with the decreased performance during the workout you may experience greater benefit.

Not! Put the money away you would have splurged with and save it to buy new "little" girl pretty panties later...believe me you'll need'em in a smaller size soon! Our whole lives up until surgery have been one food funeral after another. Enjoy your new beginning

These are just the top 3 things I noticed today...because almost everyday I realize additional perks I never dreamed of. 1. Today my husband said my size 10 "skinny" jeans look way to big! I never thought I'd wear skinny jeans in the first place! 2. When I was rolling around sweating on my purple mat doing (yes actually doing) p90X today I noticed I have really nice knees. 3. That I can do this again tomorrow and have the power and the tools to sustain all the yummy thoughts and feelings I felt today! Okay so #3 is pretty much a constant for the last 7 months... I Love My Sleeve!

Most gyms will have a trainer or at least some sort of assistant there to take you through the weight resistance machines and get you set up with the maximum weight to start and number of reps. When they take you through write down the weight settings and reps suggested in a little note book, garanteed you won't remember what they said the next day. They usually do this for free to minimize injury and damage to equipment and to help maintain individual membership. People "drop out" as they get frustrasted and don't know what to do with the gym equipment. Mention to the receptionist your need to learn the basics of the gym or "it just might not be worth being a member anymore"...they'll likely get you some assistance to get started. Good luck

I still have to "make" myself do it daily...I'm not quite at the point of loving it....but your thread just inspired me to get off this chair and get on the treadmill and put my miles in. Thank you!!