Caitlyn_Cat

Given the high cost of mailing things these days, you might want to check out your local GoodWIll store. You'll be dropping sizes quickly for a while and will need to overhaul your wardrobe frequently. GoodWill is dirt cheap.

You're in the midst of the traditional if dreaded 'three week stall'. Most of us experience this. Keep to the plan and this shall pass. LIke it's been said above, measure yourself weekly. Even when we're not losing pounds we typically lose inches.

This is absolutely one of my pet peeves. Another is when people use 'your' instead of 'you're'. And don't even get me started on text-speak when typing in a forum. Argh!

My surgeon said to expect hair loss, a lot of it, in the first 3-9 months, but that by a year things will be much better. He was right on all accounts. One of the practical pieces of pre-op information we were told was to not color, perm, or otherwise treat our hair for the first year, minimum. It adds too much stress to the hair and will cause more problems than it solves.

You did this to get healthy. Smoking is quite simply one of the worst things you can do for your health (heart attack, stroke, skin aging, decreased immune response, poor wound healing, bladder cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer). There is no gray area about this. No 'few hits are okay.' If you are serious about making a change for your health and are willing to go so far as to have a huge part of your stomach cut out, you need to quit smoking. This is very blunt, and I know it.

Doesn't sound like the nurse made a threat, just that she was telling you how it is. Best of luck. Things do get better!

The pre-op medical diets are a pain, but I will say this: I learned an awful lot going through the dietician and exercise classes. I had my diet changed all around before surgery and by the time I was a post-op and allowed to eat regular food again, it was easy to return to the new, healthier diet I eat and resume the exercise I had started. I will now admit to the wisdom of pre-op preparation, although I agree 6 months is an awfully long time.

Almost 11 months out and I would ABSOLUTELY do this again. I did have some post-op reflux issues that got pretty bad for a while, but my doc got me on a antacid regimen that works great. I'm active and I'm THIN for the first time is decades. Wish I'd done this sooner.

I've been blessed with a sleeve that will tolerate almost anything I put in it, as long as I eat in moderation. I eat chicken, hamburger, flank steak, pork loin, pot roast, ham, salmon & tilapia. The quantities are very small, often only 5-6 bites, and then I'm full. I am careful to chew, although I no long have to chew things to a mush. I also keep a small supply of deli meat on hand and sometimes have two pieces of ham or roast beef for dinner, which is also very filling. By choice, I have meat once a day at most, and have discovered the pleasures of Beans as a great Protein alternative for lunch or dinner. I make all kinds of Soups (lentil, 15-bean, navy bean) and let them thicken so they are very hearty. When I need a 'crunch' fix I turn to Kashi Cereal. I'll have a cup of their Go-Lean with only 140 cal and 11 grams of protein (no milk by choice). Sometimes I'll do this for lunch, sometimes for a snack. For treats I'll have a few pieces of Cheddar cheese, or a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. Both are fairly high in calories, but also protein and good fats. It is a good trade-off for nutrition and also filling. Like I've said, I really don't like exercise, but since I now actually works for me, I stay motivated. I do an hour a day, sometimes on an elliptical, sometimes 1/2 elliptical, 1/2 treadmill. Once in a while I'll join a Zumba class. I do need to add structured strengthening to my regimen. I do it hit-or-miss now, but since I've reached goal I know I need to build some muscle to fill out saggy skin. Thank goodness for iPods! At least I can listen to some distracting music while I sweat.

I also get hungry ~ 2 hours after eating, but I've learned to plan for this and pack healthy Snacks to munch on. I focus on quality Protein for Breakfast, lunch and dinner and ALWAYS eat on a schedule. For midmorning and midafternoon if at work I have a cheese stick, or a high protein Kashi granola bar, or a small helping of Peanut Butter (get these at the cafeteria). At home I'll have a cup of Unjury's chicken Soup (very protein dense). It's the protein that fills you up. If you are eating sweet carbs, it's no wonder you are perpetually hungry! Quite simply, you have to make the hard decision that your health is more important than your sweet tooth. That's not to say you can never have sweets again, but you MUST limit them to very special occasions only. Some of us do swear off white-carbs (candy is included here) as they are trigger foods. Only you know if you are that susceptible to candy being your downfall. If it is, get all the sweets OUT OF THE HOUSE. For myself, If I've done well during the day and have exercised, I treat myself to cheese for desert. Amazingly, after 11 months, my sweet tooth has dramatically decreased and I really don't miss sweets, but I also do not tempt fate. More hard-won advice is to not drink Water 15 minutes before or 30 minutes after. That will also help you stay full. Also measure yourself monthly. Often when we are not losing weight we are losing inches, and that can also be very motivating. Exercise! You must do this to keep your metabolism up and out of starvation mode where you body tries to hang onto every gram of fat as you lose weight. I used to hate exercise, but now I do it faithfully every day. I still don't like it, but i can see that it works and allows me to eat more now that I'm approaching maintenance. You might want to check with your doctor to see if you might be confusing heartburn or GERD for hunger. The sleeve DOES work, but it's a tool, just like the RNY or the DS. You made a good decision and have kept your pyloric valve which you will be very grateful for in the future, but you must work your sleeve. I'm down to 120 from 235 lbs pre-op and reached goal at 9 months. Best of luck.

Protein bars can have a fair amount of sugar, which can continue the cycle of carb hunger. Might want to check that out. I've found Unjury chicken soup powder is a good snack filler that gets the protein in with minimal calories and really does blunt the hunger.

It is also a good habit to start regular measurements of waist, hip, bust, arms, thighs. It is very common amongst us to see lost inches even if the pounds have stalled. I measure monthly and have kept a spreadsheet since surgery 10 months ago. The change is amazing. Along with calories, I cannot emphasize enough that exercise is just as important. You do not want your body to be convinced it is in starvation mode with only 600-700 calories a day coming in. Regular exercise of whatever form you find works for you will help keep up the metabolism and help for muscles mass, and muscles= more calories burned per weight compared to fat.

I agree with the above post, and want to add that a food diary is invaluable for keeping track of what exactly you are eating and the breakdown of carbs/fats/protein. There are several online sites. I use MyFitnessPal and have been very pleased. Remember: Protein, protein, protein! Also, are you not drinking anything for 15 minutes before and 30 after each meal? That's important to keep that sense of fullness and not flushing out the food. Keep up the exercise. And you might want to measure yourself. Often we are not losing pounds, but are losing inches. Good luck!

I'm 5'5" and was 223 lbs when I started out and 195 lbs at surgery. I'm 123 lbs now at almost 10 months out. My BMI has gone from 39 to 20. For me, along with a high protein/low carb diet, the key has been regular aerobic exercise. It kills the appetite during and for an hour afterwards and keeps the metabolism kicked up despite being in 'starvation mode.' Lightweights do very well with a VSG, but you got to be willing to really rock this tool!

Er... why use one at all? It's just begging to develop skin cancer sooner or later.