BigChrisATX

Surgery Date: 9/17/12, weight before surgery: 430 lbs, weight as of 10/9/13, 256 lbs. 174 lbs GONE!!! I will say this, and it does make me nervous. I do have to eat A LOT more calories than is recommended for a man a year out from VSG surgery. Currently I eat about 1800-2000 cals a day made up of 5 small meals a day. I also work out 4-5 times a week and burn 400-600 cals each time I work out. If I don't at least eat 1800 cals a day I am 1. Hungry, and 2. stall with weight loss. The weight loss has slowed to about 1 lbs a week now. I still can only eat limited amount of food at each meal, but I'm worried that because I eat so many calories that I could gain weight back (not to mention fall into old habits). Have any of you had these experiences as well?

Starting weight: 430 Weight at Surgery: 415 Current weight: 265 Total lost: 165 20 lbs from my goal! I really can't believe I have gotten this far!

Update: Surgery Date 9/17/12 Pre Diet Weight: 430 Weight at Surgery: 415 Weight as of 3/26: 298 132 lbs gone for good! The weight is coming off slower now, about 2 lbs per week. And I have had to pick up the intestity of my workouts, but so far I'm feeling great! I haven't been this small since high school! I do have a question for everyone. My surgeon's nutitionist is very reluctant to give out what your daily intake on calories should be at this stage (6 mo. since surgery), but he did tell me 1800-2000 calories per day. That seemed kind of high to me, so I wanted to see what information everyone else has received regarding this topic.

UPDATE Surgery date 9-17-12 Weight before pre op diet (and heaviest weight): 430 Weight day of surgery: 415 Weight 1-6-13: 326 (I need to update my tracker) Total lost: 104 I'm really stoked about my weight loss! I have had to deal with some stalls for a few weeks here and there, but the weight eventually drops. I have really only been walking 2 times and week though this week I'm starting a weight training program. I have been avoiding most sweets and carbonated drinks, but really I'm eating all the foods I was eating before but in much smaller portions. Also I'm happy that I don't have the lactose intolerance that some VSG patients can end up with. My goal is to be under 300 lbs by my birthday in March! I wish everyone else the best of luck!

I was sleeved on Sept. 17th and my doc recommended no alcohol for 1 year, and definately no beer.

Since my surgery I have been taking chewable vitamins. At this point, just the thought if them makes me gag. I'm still getting full on very little food. When were you able to start swallowing whole pills with liquid?

Sleeved 9/17 Weight at surgery: 415 lbs Current weight: 365 lbs 50 lbs gone!

I'm about one month post op and can eat normal foods now. My bariatric nurse advised me to stay away from drinking regular milk (whole, 2%, 1%, skim) and dariy products (with the exception of light cheese) because with the sleeve patients tend to be come lactose intolerant. I have read posts here where people have incorporated dairy in their diet. Were any of you told this as well after your surgery? And are any of you now lactose intolerant because of it?

And I'm nervous as Hell! I'm not even wanting to drink anything today. Here is to good thoughts for tomorrows surgery!

I have UHC as well. My surgeons office did all the communicating with them. Weight loss surgery was an approved benefit through my employer, and since my BMI was higher than their thresh hold I was approved quickly. However, I did need to do the 6 month physician supervied diet and the psych consult before hand. What I would do is look at the benefits UHC provides through your employer. If you see weight loss surgery as a benefit and you are above their BMI thresh hold you should be approved. If you don't see that benefit, it will be more difficult to get approved.

...where can I get one of those trackers?

Thanks everyone!

Thanks for all of the well wishes! I didn't have any major complications BUT something did happen that I didn't expect, hiccups. I caught them my second day in the hospital and I can tell you that was one of the worst experiences in my life! Everytime I would hiccup, it was like Tyson was taking body shots and the pain was paralyzing. I had to stay in the hospital an extra day because of those damn hiccups. Did anyone else have this issue? Other than that I'm up and moving! I'm done with clear liquids and have moved to full liquids, and can move to soft/pureed foods on Friday. And the good part, I'm 30lbs down from last Monday! I hope everyone else who was sleeved 9/17 is doing well!

Texas, Hook'Em!

I was sleeved last Monday. I had the feeling to the first day I was able to drink liquids. I can now take decent drinks of either hot or cold liquids. It does get better!

I'm in the middle of my second week of my pre-op diet. My surgery is Monday (Sept. 17). From what I have read on the forum, a lot of people are on a liquid diet for 2 weeks. My diet is bascially an Atikins diet, with liquids only the day before surgery. Have any other doctors suggested this diet? I can say that I have done my best, but I have cheated a few times. I have lost 17 lbs since I started.

I feel like I'm coming down with something. I can't tell if its just bad allergies (everyone has them in Central Texas) or if its a cold. Has any one here had their surgery postponed because they had a cold or other illness?

I am set for Sept. 17th. I nervous and excited at the same time! And I have to be on the pre op diet for 3 weeks!

My surgery is Sept. 17th.

I just wanted to introduce myself. While I'm excited for the sleeve, I very nervous as well. Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated!

It was a date a chose for business and personal reasons. As long as I'm able to have a taste of Thanksgiving turkey (knock on wood) I will be good!