Babysteppin

I think Chipotle is a pretty good fast food place...fresher & less processed ingredients, and no fried stuff either The burrito bowls are great because you can watch how they're putting it together, and direct them on how to make it. Leftovers also wrap up nicely for later.

PB2 is delicious! It's basically just roasted peanuts that they grind and dehydrate into a powder, but they press out 85% of the oil from the nuts so it's got way less fat calories. If you just add a tiny bit of water to the PB2 powder, it turns into peanut butter! Also great blended into shakes, puddings, etc.

I can relate with feeling embarrassed about regain. But I'm sure your medical team would want you to come in so that they can help. They'd rather see you with extra pounds, than to NOT see you at all and have you struggle alone! But yeah, it'll probably still feel a little embarrassing...but try to remember it's just the 'pride' talking, and to not let it override your worthiness of receiving help. Hang in there...I know you got this one.

I always wondered about the differences on here with people's pre-op diet instructions too. The surgeons in my doctors office won't even give patients a surgery date until all of the preop weight is lost! Somehow that frustrates me, and it'd be more motivating to me if I had a date, and was working on getting the weight off for then. Ah well...hopefully all these little things will become a distant memory for us soon enough!

I know without a doubt that I want this surgery, and I've been mulling it over for looong enough to know that I'm making an informed decision. But for the life of me I am SO scared to go through with it!! During the whole pre-surgery process I just haven't been able to shake the underlying fear...and I can't help but worry I'll chicken out at the last minute. I think it's even been making me procrastinate on doing the final preparation, which is losing the pre-op weight...I mean, it's only 12lbs which I could totally shed in a heartbeat because of my high starting weight. Yet the only way the surgeon will give me a date is to do it. Can anyone else relate, about wanting the surgery completely, yet being completely afraid to go through with it at the same time?? Any fellow procrastinators or self-saboteurs out there? :ph34r: Eeek, don't know how to just get over it and do this thing!

...And on a lighter note: eventually none of us will require a bariatric body bag when the time comes! (Umm...I 'think' that's on a lighter note anyways.) Heh Heh

Thanks Mezanne, you're right - it'll help to just keep reminding myself of all the reasons why I pursued surgery in the first place. There are a lot of 'em! I've had surgery once before, so thankfully I kind of know what to expect out of that part. For me, I think I'm more scared of the "after surgery and beyond" part. I mean, there's no going back once it's done! I'm hoping the benefits will outweigh the sacrifices...and more than anything, I hope my body reacts well to the sleeve and doesn't cause any lifelong woes or random horror stories. So far in my lifetime, I've made a few different doctors say to me: "hmm...I've never seen anything like this before." Greeaat. I seem to attract medical weirdness....and it better not happen with my sleeve!! lol

Thanks everyone. For starters, it's a relief to know that my fears are normal and that others have been there and it didn't stop them from going for it in the end. Maybe another one of my problems is that I've been comparing myself too much to people who've been confident and seemingly "fear-free" during the whole process, thinking: "Why can't I be like that? Does it mean maybe I'm not cut out for this because I'm freaking out this much?" Whatever. I think maybe I just need people to remind me over and OVER again about how good this will be if only I take the chance! You guys are great, thank you.

I can relate with how you might be feeling. I think sometimes the hardest part is just "getting your head" back in to things. I haven't had the sleeve yet, but I had lost over 150lbs once...only to gain it all back. Just like you, I know "what to do" to get back into it...but it's a matter of getting my mind and motivation back in the game. Try not to beat yourself up about a 7lb gain...we all stumble here and there. Something I try to do is to say to myself: "I've stumbled but I can be RESILIENT. I deserve to give myself a chance to turn this around". Maybe it sounds hokey, but I think it helps So often I catch myself turning to the "all- or-nothing" way of living or thinking too...Either, A) I'm doing ALL, by food journaling/exercising/making thoughtful choices, and feeling like a 'success' because I'm losing...or...I'm doing NOTHING, by going back to the junk food/stop exercising/being complacent, feeling like a 'failure' only because of one or two initial slips that sent me into that all-or-nothing mentality. (Again, that's just me, of course!) But maybe you might be feeling similar too sometimes(?) If that's a part of your challenge as well, maybe it's good to put your situation into perspective. You've lost 90 lbs. (not too shabby.) Sure you've gained 7lbs...but news flash: you're not perfect. No one is And +7lbs over 2 years is probably a heck of a lot less than gains you might have had before the sleeve...aaand that's still an 83lb loss that you've triumphed in protecting!! It's never too late to start losing again. You're resilient, and you got this one.

Ahh, I had no idea. Makes total sense though. Thanks!

Geesh, now those are some things for me to look forward to! lol. I'll have to pre-order some Proactiv!! Glad to hear that your body is starting to normalize though...it must be a relief! Thanks for sharing

I've been curious about the same thing. Having a hard time finding many long-term stories, or long-term data online about how VSG is working for folks who are say, 3+ years out (a.k.a long after the 'honeymoon is over') I've read plenty of stories about folks who've had the RNY...folks who are even 10 years out. But I almost think because the VSG (as it's known today) is a fairly 'new' procedure, it's just harder to find the same kind of information/stories. Here's hoping! Congratulations on your own weight loss! Sounds like a wonderful success to me!

Now that's a beautiful thing. Can't wait till I look like that!

I don't know if it's happened to many other pre-op folks, but I had the EGD and they ended up finding a stomach ulcer and inflammation of the lower esophagus. Boo I have to have another EGD in 2 months to check things out again. I'm hoping this won't be permanent, and that I'll be healed up so that I can still have the VSG. I took the news hard, because I was finally almost ready to get submitted to my insurance and losing a bit of weight. So I went right into my usual 'all-or-nothing' way of thinking these past 2 weeks...and I ate, and ate,...and ate. (Really good for the ulcer, I'm sure.) Not happy to admit it...but it is what it is, and I just gotta move forward. So I'm taking the Pepcid to help reduce the stomach acid, and trying to take the natural/homeopathic route as well. Found out there are some roots and herbs that can actually help strengthen the lining of your stomach and esophagus: marshmallow root, licorice root, chamomile flowers, and cinnamon bark are a few. So I just got some wonderful loose herbal teas from www.mountainroseherbs.com and I'm gonna give them a shot. This post is totally a venting/admission-of-guilt rant. I hope I don't seem too crazy....but I'm just so thankful for the great support on VST that allows me to even think about getting things off my chest. Would love to hear from anyone that maybe has had a similar pre-op experience.

Thank so much. What you said helps me put it into perspective. Especially in realizing the fact that I'm not the only one on these boards who isn't "perfect". Silly! I'm hoping I'll still be a candidate for the surgery when all's said and done. I wanna join the VSG club and learn the secret handshake! heh heh

I wouldn't be necessarily be overconcerned, because I think everybody is different - in that they lose at different rates, and comply or don't comply with the lifestyle changes to different degrees. If your client happened to have gotten the Lap Band, I've also heard that it is just unsuccessful for some patients right from the get-go. I'm still pre-op, so I can't tell you about 'my' own experience....but from all the research and doctor's visits - this is my best guess!

I can really appreciate what you're going through. I had my egd last week and they found an ulcer....so now I need to wait another 2 months just to get another egd, *hoping* that it's healed by then. So feeling the same way you are, about having come so far in the process and then be disappointed by a setback. But just wanted to say that you're not alone, and that this disappointment will turn back into joy sooner than it seems. One way or another, that sleeve is GONNA happen girl!

I'm varying a bit from the topic about 'telling people'....But I cannot WAIT until my surgery, and being able to achieve this type of empowerment! That's wonderful LeaveItToSleever!

I just had my EGD last week, and they also made a 'surprise discovery' of a small ulcer in my stomach wall. I think most places will send out a letter advising of the results and recommendations....but since I was told to schedule a follow-up EGD in January, I called the office today (3 business days after procedure), and they were able to share the biopsy results over the phone as well. So I'd say, just call the office a few business days after the EGD, because it's better than the waiting time for the 'ol snail mail. Also, sometimes MD's are a little behind on the administrative side of things. Good luck!

Oy!...then that wisecrack about yogurt totally wasn't funny!! womp-woommp :(Would you care for me to drizzle some more lemon juice into that papercut George? Cause I can, you know. heh heh.

Oh that's good that you have some time to rest and adjust more to your sleeve. The liquid-only phase must be challenging! I know it probably seems like it's taking forever, but before long you'll be moving on to the next stage....yogurt! Yay!! (Hey, gotta find the humor in things.) But seriously, before you know it, all these food stages will be a distant memory and you'll be feelin' totally kickarse.

I went through 2 magic bullets!! I must be too rough on them or something, LOL. I just bought the Ninja Pulse. It's one of their more affordable models, and it comes with 3 large travel cups, plus a large blender bowl. I highly recommend. You can make SNOW with the frickin' thing!

I got myself one of those individual blenders, where you blend right in the drinking cup. Just stick a straw in, and I'm feelin' pretty 'grown up' myself! heh heh.

Oh, yeah, you must be tired! Are you able to take enough time off from work/responsibilities, etc? In any event, hope you are able to rest, rest, rest!

Sounds yummy! I prefer homemade over RTD's any day. I think you're getting fuller faster, because there is more 'volume' to the shake...whereas the RTD's are thinner, and so they take up 'less volume' in your stomach, and move through the digestion process quicker. Homemade shakes have the best of both worlds....deeffinitely better tasting, and keeps you fuller longer. (But I have to admit, RTD's can still be good in a pinch!)