Shan

I don't have time to read all of the replies so forgive me if this is repetitive. I had an epiphany at one point, and discovered that if I even so much as take a sip of liquid while I'm eating...my food comes right back up. I can drink as much as I want before that first bite, but once I take a bite, I can't take another sip until 30 minutes after the last bite. At 6 months out I can eat pretty much whatever I want, but the no sipping while eating rule is still absolutely necessary or up it comes. There's nothing wrong with eating cheese, whole milk, and peanut butter at this point. If you can't tolerate meat, don't eat meat. Your number one goal needs to be getting at least 5 - 600 calories a day. After that you can work on meeting your protein goal. If you're not able to keep anything down, I'd definitely check with your doctor to make sure you don't have a stricture. Good luck, girl! The first couple of months are rough, but once you figure out how your sleeve works...it's so rewarding!

I had my sleeve on Nov 2, 2010, and I've lost just about 70 pounds now. I've gone from a jean size 20 Lane Bryant to a 8 Old Navy. Yesterday at church I had a lady ask me if I eat anything and told me I look like I'm about to blow away. I still look in the mirror and see myself as pretty darn fat. I have HUGE arm wings and a fat/skin apron on my gut that makes me have a huge bulge in my stomach area no matter what I wear. I don't think I'll ever feel particularly thin until I have surgery and get that excess stuff removed. Won't be doing that until at least the beginning of next year, and even then it will depend on my husband's bonuses. Don't get me wrong...I do feel like I look thinner...but still fat. If that makes any sense at all.

I've been overweight, obese or morbidly obese since I was 10 years old. I've never weighed in the normal range in my entire adult life. So for me, normal is my first goal. For my height I would need to get to 136 to hit a BMI of 24.9 which is just inside of normal. I think 130 would keep me to a point where I could fluctuate 5ish lbs and still stay in normal range. So 130 is my goal. I don't want to be teeny...just normal.

I don't think there is a normal or not normal for VSG. Everybody varies. I've found that if you just keep doing the right things through the stall...your time will come. I'll have weeks where I don't lose a thing, but when I look back over the months I have consistently lost between 10 to12 pounds each month after the first month (20lbs the first month). Sometimes it's frustrating to see that some people lose 100 pounds in 4 months, but you know what...this is me. Gotta say...I'm QUITE pleased with my 67 pound loss! I've gone from a size 20 pants and 18/20 shirts from Lane Bryant to a size 8 or 10 depending on the fabric pants and medium or large shirts depending on the cut from Old Navy. If you do what you're supposed to do...it will happen. It might not be as quickly (or as slowly) as someone else, but you will be successful! Chin up.

You should start a blog! Your writing deserves to be read on a wider scale. Pretty soon, life will be more normal...I promise. Hang in there for a few more weeks, and you'll have this down pat.

I'm 5 months out and 65ish pounds down and mine is almost completely gone. It was quite substantial so I'm happy, happy!

Honestly, chips and salsa are my appetizer weakness as well. The bread doesn't tempt me, and I can avoid other appetizers by simply not ordering them. But the chips and salsa...ughh! Sometimes I can just skip them, and it's fine. Then other days (today for example) I just can't stop myself. My little trick is to pick through the basket and get the smallest chip I can and load it with as much salsa as possible. I also chew really slowly and wait a couple of minutes before going back for another. I do try to offset the rest of my day by eating hardly any carbs at all.

I really like Powerade Zero. I've been drinking that to replace the sodas. Before it started getting hot where I am (90 yesterday) I loved drinking green tea, but I don't like cold tea, and hot tea is not for hot weather in my humble opinion.

I had my surgery on 11/2/10. At an appt on Sept 21st my surgeon told me that I'd not be able to drink diet coke at all after surgery. So, I gave up the DC cold turkey as of that day which means I hadn't had any for a little over six months. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to test the waters again. Now I'm right back to my old habits of drinking 1 or 2 a day. Sometimes that's a can...sometimes it's a medium from McD's (never ever eat the food...just the diet coke). Now as habits go, I don't suppose this is the worst one to have as far as weight loss is concerned, but I have to admit that I feel really guilty. As of yet, I haven't seen any negative effects from drinking it. I REALLY like DC so it's how I treat myself. Other people get a starbucks, I drink diet coke. With all of that said, what did your docs say about drinking diet coke after surgery. I realize now that I never asked my Dr. what the problem is with drinking it so I have no idea what the ramifications may be. I can't imagine that it would stretch the sleeve as I don't drink with food ever, and so I would assume that it just goes on through. I am concerned that the sweet drink is causing me to crave carbs, but I think the Powerade zero that I drink would do the same. At this point I'm just trying to make a decision for myself. Am I or am I not going to drink the diet coke. I've enjoyed the heck out of my diet coke for the last couple of weeks, but I think I could give it up permanently if I thought there was a really good reason. What's your take?

I think I'm going to give it up again at least until I get to the maintenance phase. After I posted this I got to thinking, and I haven't lost ANY weight in the last two weeks. I think the diet coke might be the beginnings of a slippery slope back into old habits for me. Don't get me wrong...I still don't eat a whole bunch or anything like that, but I've been more lax for sure. Had a cookie the other day. Haven't been monitoring protein at all, etc, etc. I think I needed a mental health break from the all sleeve all the time channel, and I've had that, and I'm ready to get back on plan. I REALLY appreciate all of your input, and I'm definitely looking forward to maintenance when I can treat myself. Just don't think I'm quite there yet. :decision:

I eat peanut butter all the time. ALL THE TIME. A lot of times when I'm crunched for time 2 TBS of PB is my go to breakfast. It's real food, fast, delicious and has a nice amount of protein. I don't limit fat or protein...just carbs. Now, I don't eat a meal and then 30 minutes later go for the PB for dessert. It IS the meal. Works for me!

YW! It really is so good. And if you want to get REALLY tasty, marinate the chicken in lime juice, salt, garlic and cumin before you cook it. Mmmmm. Now I'm making my own mouth water. Guess I know what's for dinner tomorrow.

I actually avoid chips and salsa, specifically because it is so EASY to get down. Those chips chew down to nothing and are a major slider for me. Salsa on the other hand, I eat often...spicy, not so spicy, it all goes down well. My favorite thing to eat is a chicken breast sauteed with olive oil in a pan until just browned on both sides. Then while the chicken is still in the pan I put a nice big spoonful of fresh pico de gallo on top with a slice of monterey jack cheese on top of that. It goes in a 350 oven for 15 to 20 minutes. I eat it with a little gaucamole, and I usually can only eat about 3/4 of a small breast or 1/2 of a large one so I have leftovers. Yum! Another thing I really enjoy is to cook up some lean ground beef with taco seasoning. I freeze 1/4 cup servings of seasoned meat in snack size ziplocks to heat up whenever I want taco salad. When I want some salad I just put some greens in a kiddie bowl and throw on my 1/4 cup of meat, some grated cheese, whatever other veg I want, a big spoonful of salsa and my dressing of choice. Quick, easy, low carb, and delicious! When I'm at a mexican restaurant I usually just eat some of my husband's fajita meat, or order something similar to the chicken with pico dish I make myself. I think that as time goes by, you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how easy it is to find great WLS friendly options just about everywhere you go.

Oh gosh...for some reason some people just think they know everything. I've actually had a LOT of positive feedback with people saying how good I look, etc. The negatives for me have come from people feeling the need to comment on my clothing, and how it's too baggy, not stylish enough for a skinny girl like me, etc. First of all...I know my clothes are a bit baggy, and I do go once a month and get new pants and a couple of shirts. EVERY MONTH. I'm not going anymore than that, because I don't want to waste my money. As for the style...who the heck do you think you are? Yes, it's an adjustment for me to learn how to dress my new body, but criticism isn't particularly helpful, and it's just RUDE! Another major annoyance for me is the "food police". I am VERY good about eating mainly Protein and vegetables. It's extremely rare for me to even go over 25 carbs a day. If I'm at a church banquet and I choose to have a two inch square of a dessert...I don't need you to come over to me and go "Awwwww...that's not allowed. Tsk Tsk Tsk!" At 33 years of age, wife and mother of three...I got this. I don't need your advice on what I'm eating. At all. Ever. The bottom line is that people will always feel the need to throw out their personal opinions. Smile, nod (or tell them to shut their piehole if it's called for) and move on with your life as scheduled.

I'm definitely in the get some clothes that fit well camp. Even if you just get a few basics on clearance somewhere. I was at a birthday party last week and a few of my friends called me out on my too big clothes and told me I needed to go shopping. They were right. The problem was that in my entire adult life I've only ever shopped at Lane Bryant. The last time I went to Lane Bryant...everything was too big for me. Yes, that's a great thing, but my fear was that LB's women's sizes would be too big, and the "regular" store clothes would still be too little. FInally I bit the bullet and decided to try out Old Navy. I had been wearing a Lane Bryant size 14 jeans so I tried on Old Navy's 14 and 16 jeans and a few XXL tops. Waay too big! What??? I skipped out of that dressing room and got some size 12 jeans and a few Large tops and they all fit. I ended up buying two pairs of jeans and four tops. You'd be amazed what a difference it makes in day to day life to have clothes that fit and show off your new figure. Compliments left and right, and it's such a blessing to be able to look in the mirror and SEE how different I look. Before now I didn't really think I looked that different. Now I can see for myself how skinny I'm getting...and I LOVE it!

Were you drinking caffeinated beverages regularly pre surgery? If so, you might be experiencing caffeine headaches. If that's the case they should fade away as your body gets used to going without.

I eat lots of chicken...baked, chicken parmesan, chicken salad, chicken teriyaki, etc I also eat quite a bit of lean ground beef in the form of burgers with spinach, avocado, cheese, spinach and pickles (no bun), chili with lots of veg, meatloaf, taco salad with ground beef cooked with taco seasoning, lettuce, spinach, avocado, salsa and whatever lowfat dressing I want(no shell, just a bowl). I eat tuna at least twice a week with some lowfat miracle whip, and celery in it...sometimes with a few crackers, sometimes not. I eat eggs and egg whites in the form of omelets, scrambled, and hard boiled. I found a Protein supplement called nectar that I really like. I get the strawberry mousse flavor, and blend it up with Water, two frozen strawberries and a little stevia. Then I top it with sugar free whipped cream. Quite tasty. I eat a ton of cottage cheese with strawberries, blueberries and a bit of stevia. I also keep a variety of lowfat cheeses around to grab when I'm in a hurry. I eat Peanut Butter or almond butter as a treat. Sometimes if I'm dying for a goody, I put two dark chocolate chips in my tablespoon of peanut butter. Another time I was dying for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but obviously bread and jelly aren't great options. I just took a tablespoon of Peanut Butter and threw in five or six blueberries. Got rid of the craving and it was a perfectly acceptable snack. I keep small packs of beef Jerky around for the times that I really have to run, but have forgotten to eat, which happens often since surgery. It does have a lot of sodium and nitrates so you have to be careful with that, but if you really need a high protein snack...it'll pack a punch at around 15 grams an ounce. Organic is also an option if you're worried about nitrates or hormones in your meat. I also eat a lot of greek yogurt. I used to eat the DELICIOUS fruited varieties, but they can have a lot of sugar. Now I eat the no fat, plain kind and add my own fruit and stevia. There really are a lot of options out there once you get the hang of it, but it is so hard in the beginning when your stomach is picky and nothing really tastes all that great. This blog has been mentioned on here a ton and for good reason...it is PACKED with great ideas. Just browse through and you'll find a ton of high protein recipes for everything from casseroles to Protein shakes, to protein ice cream. Great resource. http://theworldaccor...e.blogspot.com/

I'm exactly four months out and I would consider myself an average loser. I lost 20 lbs the first month and about 11ish pounds each month after. I've already reached and gone a pound and a half over 65% lost. I don't have any doubt at all that I'll reach my goal weight. VSG works. No doubt about it.

I started at 39, and I'm now at 29. I'd like to get below 25. I've never been considered "healthy" in my entire adult life, and I'd really like to hit that mark.

I have a very, very slow metabolism. I've never been a huge eater either. My twin sister is a registered dietitian with strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, weighing in at 115, and that's at her heaviest. She's been around me my whole life, and even as an RD has always commented on how little I eat and still maintain a heavier weight. With all of that said, our stats are pretty similar and I am definitely losing. I lost about 20 pounds the first month. Since then, I've lost about 10 pounds a month, but even that's starting to slow down a bit. I do have to be very careful about what I eat. I try to keep my carbs at less than 20% of my total intake, and I also exercise at least 30 min a day, 5 days a week. I'm certain that if I didn't carefully monitor calories and exercise regularly, I wouldn't lose. I think that's just the way it is for some of us. I accept that, and I know that even if the sleeve doesn't make the weight magically fall off...it does help a great deal by taking away the desire to eat, and the ability to eat any large quantity at all. The bottom line is that there is no cut and dry formula for sleevers. A lot of people lose a ton of weight, and don't have to exercise at all...or only exercise when they reach a plateau. Some people eat 500 calories a day, and some eat 1100 calories a day. Some people say they're never hungry, some people say they're just as hungry as they were before surgery. The key is to figure out YOUR sleeve. Keep food and exercise journals along with a record of your weight loss. Compare and contrast those journals and see on paper what works best for you. Read other people's stories, but understand that your sleeve might not work exactly like their sleeve. This is a personal journey...embrace it! :hug:

Definitely! Just be sure it's the smooth variety. I still use PB if I'm having a really low calorie day and need a boost.

Absolutely no regrets. Love the sleeve and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I'm 3 months out, and I can take several large gulps of water and be fine as long as I haven't eaten recently. I drink from straws, too.

Woohoo! That is totally awesome! Going down in size is even better than losing pounds in my humble opinion. I can't wait for the day I reach goal weight, and I can finally do some serious shopping. Right now I own two pairs of pants, because I'm too cheap to buy any more knowing that I'll lose out of them soon. Isn't it exciting! In high school I weighed about 285. When I was in my early 20's, I lost over 100 pounds on my own to get down to 165 which is the lowest I've ever weighed in my entire adult life. One marriage and three kids later, I ranged from 205 to 220 depending on the season (Summer - 205, Christmas - 220). I saved two clothing items from my 165 days. A pair of size 14 jeans and a pencil skirt, which were my first and only regular store (non lane bryant) clothing purchases. The other day I tried them on, and they fit comfortably...almost a little big! What a moment! I can't believe I'm back at my lowest weight ever...and even better...I'm going to smash that former record into the ground!