Bambi

If I knew then what I know now!!!!!! I had my VSG in January and had all of my favorite meals, Snacks, treats, etc....Well, I wanted to post and tell everyone considering surgery it's not necessary to eat everything in site and think you will never ever eat all these foods again. Last night, I went out to dinner to a German restaurant. Anyone who knows German food knows that it is heavy, full of fat and just filled with flavor...It is not for the dieter. Added pressure was the owner spotted me and hubby and started fussing over us and brought us all kinds of extra special fat laden foods.... Well, I am here to say, I enjoyed a little bit from every dish and was thrilled to tell the waiter to wrap most of the appetizer and main course up....Due to the sleeve, I knew I could have a little taste of everything last night and then some more today.... It was very clear to me this morning when I woke up, that this is truly the way thinner people eat. And NEWBIES there's no need to binge on last suppers before surgery (and trust me I did it) because you can still have smaller portions of your favorite foods and enjoy it just as much if not more!!!! Good luck to everyone!!!

I did switch my insurance in January and had the surgery January 27. I had no problems with switching or payment. I didn't have any pre-existing conditions, other then hypothyroid, so I can't answer that part of the question. Good luck and as most everyone else says on the board - I'm so glad I did it...Down 80lbs in less then 6months.

Great job!

Thanks! I've got a longer road to normal, but I'm chugging along....Just need to amp up the exercise....That's my biggest downfall!!!

Mini - my sleeve sister (same date)...Congratulations on your success and your normalcy.....GREAT JOB!!!!

Mirrors have never been my friend and it takes me a long time before I begin to notice the weight difference. The one thing that made me jump for joy was when I could feel my hip bones while lying down in bed. Now my morning ritual is to feel my flatter belly and hip bones before I get up and start my day. I see it as a physical and mental ritual to remind me that my body is changing and to motivate me for the day ahead.

Yay! for you!

I haven't taken any extra biotin pills, although there is biotin in my multivitamin. In addition, when my labs came back after the 3 month mark everything was fine, however, the vitamin b levels were high so the doc said I could stop taking the extra B vitamins. All other vitamins, etc.. were great...So, not sure if the extra B vits and the protein are helping, but I'm saying my prayers....

I'm 3.5 months out and waiting for the hair loss...So far so good...I target 75 plus grams of protein daily and take all my vitamins...My doc said keep getting all the protein in and hopefully I won't lose hair...We'll see....

Dr. David Buchin in Lake Success, NY (affiliated with NS-LIJ hopsital). He's located on the Queens/Long Island border. He did mine. Great surgeon, follow up care and wonderful bed side manner....I highly recommend.

Best of luck on your journey!

Fantastic!!!! It's great to see the progress of all of us January newbies. You look marvelous!!!!!!!!!!

The Gordons grilled salmon is great too....They really are the perfect portion size..although I could probably eat 2 of them.

I love both and was eating SF Popsicles with wild abandon when one day I noticed there are 4 carbs in each SF Popsicle and 11 in each SF Fudgicle. Sounds insiginificant, however, when you eat 4 SF Pops a day the carbs add up. I have been losing, but it was in very small increments here and there and a lot of intermittent stalling was taking place. I have limited my SF popsicles to one a day and swoosh the scale is moving daily now.... The only reason I never noticed the carb count is because the tear strip on the box went right through the nutrition label. I told myself, "oh there aren't any carbs in SF pops, everyone is living on them during the liquid stage", well I was wrong and have now chaned my ways..... Be aware of the hidden carbs.....

You look stunning !!!!! Hard work pays off!!

I use the unjury unflavored in chocolate pudding...It works for me, no flavor, no smell and no aftertaste. You just need to stir it really well until it disolves. I love the unjury chocolate and vanilla....the chicken soup I found to be very salty tasting....The only thing I haven't mastered yet is putting the protein in hot liquids...The temp can't be above 130 degrees, otherwise it clumps....

I'll be 4 weeks out tomorrow and I have lost 14.5 pounds. The other 20 was on the pre-op, please don't get discouraged....I eat 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast, 4 oz. of tuna with a little mayo and relish for lunch and 3 nice size meatballs with sauce and some shredded cheese for dinner. I also will have greek yogurt and sometimes a shake depending no my protein levels for the day. I get at least 64 oz of water a day. Hang in there, try to exercise and just keep trying.....

My doctor told me last week mine is 38. Seems to be a good size for me, I can eat, but not too much!

I would bring lots of bottled water, maybe some individual crystal lite packets and string cheese. In addition, you may want some pudding in the individual ups. You don't have to refrigerate any of this stuff... have fun..Don't forget your vitamins!!!!!!

Ish - just curious, does your 24lb weight loss include pre-op weight loss?? My does, I lost 20lbs before surg and almost 11 since...seems a bit slower then I was hoping.

Ok so here was breakfast this morning...2 eggs, 1 slice cheese and 3 brown and serve turkey sausage.....I'm full, but certainly not needing to lay down and undo my jeans full.....Seems like a lot of food for me to be eating, however, it is 25g Protein, 195 calories and 6 carbs.... I'm not going to worry too much about it, but I really do think it's odd that I can eat so much and others can barely choke down a shake.... Thanks for all the reassurance!!!

Mini - I'm with you. I honestly feel like I am able to consue too much. For breakfast I can eat 2 sscrambled eggs with cheese and still want more and know I can eat more. Lunch - 3 meatballs and 1/2 cup of sauce, Snack - a shake and dinner - 1/2 cup of turkey chilli along with 2 tsps of sour cream, 2 tsps of guacamole and 2 tsps of salsa....I was full afterwards, but I'm just so surprised since my doc told me my stomach was small to begin with, so my sleeve is really small....I suppose I'm a medical miracle....LOL

I just started my 3rd week. Honestly, once you hit the end of 2 weeks you will notice a definite change...You're soarness will be gone, your energy will be back, you will be on mushies, and just happier about everything.....hang in!

Every docs diet plan is different. I started mushies today, my doc had me on liquids for the first 2 weeks and today thru week 7 I'm on mushies. It's a nice feeling to chew again....It's been 4 weeks in total without chewing....

Patience- I didn't exercise at all during pre-op, but I'm not advocating that...Plus, I am mucher heavier then you, so the pre-op was helping me just get rid of all the extra water I had been carrying around....High protein, low fat, low carbs.....tons of water and you will be there for sure