VSG AJH

I've also chosen to be discreet about my surgery. I've told a very tiny number of close friends and my husband, but no one else (and only those because in case I needed some help with kids the first few days out or had complications). I'm almost 50 pounds down at 7 weeks out, and people are saying things like, "you look great!" One lady said I looked thinnish, and someone else commented that I was melting. Fortunately, I've been able to laugh it off and change the subject or deflect the attention in some other way, so I've been able to remain private without having to lie. I'm eating regular foods again, just in smaller portions, but not such minuscule amounts that I'm drawing attention to myself. People have seen me carting around a 64oz. Water bottle and walking for exercise, so I'm sure many people just assume I'm dieting. I don't see any reason to correct them. Eventually, I imagine I'll be more open with people, but not while I'm still working to figure my baby sleeve out. I don't need opinions and objections, nor do I want to be scrutinized. If you don't want your private business to be public knowledge, don't make it so. It is absolutely possible to avoid the topic without being dishonest. Something I absolutely will not do is directly attribute my weight loss to anything besides the specific hard work I'm doing. I did answer one person's questions by saying something like, "I've made some big, drastic changes." Not specifics or details, but an entirely true statement. I will never try to profit from my WL or directly attribute it to anything else. For example, someone I know participated in a WL contest where she was given three months of free personal training, nutrition advice, etc. and she worked really hard and lost about 50 pounds. Now, though, she sells Advocare and implies that she lost weight strictly by using those supplements. Perhaps they were a part of a bigger plan, but so were the hours and hours of free training and bootcamps and nutritional counseling and diet monitoring and accountability that not everyone can afford. Her hawking some magic product on this side of the weight loss seems unbelievably dishonest. Don't be like that, but do feel free to mind your own business while encouraging everyone else to mind theirs. Best of luck to you!

I'm seven weeks out, and within the first month, I had to pick up some smaller clothes from the thrift store (don't want to invest a lot in transitional sizes). At about 5 weeks post-op, I pulled all the 22/24/26 and 1X/2X/3X out for donation, and left in the 18/20 and L/XL. Had to go out again this last weekend for a few more things as the 20s are now too baggy on me. I picked up a 16W pants to move into, but they already fit! Need to go out again for more 16s, and maybe some 14s and 12s.

I used Miralax in my brand new baby sleeve. Much more effective for me than M.O.M., and gentle with no cramping or anything. I mixed the Miralax with 8oz. of Powerade Zero and sip, sip, sipped it down. (It was tasteless, by the way.). Also took a Colace so when it was time to go, it would be easy to go. I've since purchased a Squatty Potty, which is surprisingly helpful, and I haven't had to rely on medication to stay regular.

I found these Protein crisps at Sprouts today. 120 calories, 12 grams of carbs, and 10 grams of protein in 47 (yes, 47!) crisps. $3.29 per bag.

The water is critically important. You should've been drinking a minimum of 64 oz. before surgery, and you should be drinking that now. Remember, all decaffeinated non-carbonated fluids count towards that goal, so a serving of broth, a decaf coffee, a glass of Crystal Lite. It all counts. Proper fluid intake revs up your metabolism, and dehydration is awful.

Amazing difference! You look great!

The savory soups I ate both pre and post of were the Pacific Organics boxed soups. My teo favorites were Cashew Carrot Ginger and Curried Lentil. They're about $3/box, and they make several meals each post-op. Having something not sweet to eat was awesome when otherwise taking in lots of Protein shakes. PB2 is a dehydrate, defatted Peanut Butter powder.

Ok, I'm only seeing lean mass there. Holy cow, what an awesome difference. You've really bulked up! I agree -- 235 looks good on you.

Wow, Justin -- your skin is holding up. You look great!! Way to go!

I agree with rensterness -- protein and water are key. I'm 6 weeks out, and at my latest weigh-in, I'm just under 50 pounds down. I make it a point to get in every ounce of water daily, plus I take in 85g protein daily on average. Never less than 60g, sometimes as much as 100-105g. My nutritionist says this is why I'm losing like I am, and although I don't think I'm losing spectacularly or abnormally, I don't necessarily consider myself a slow loser at this point. Similarly to rensterness, I also keep my carbs/sugars in check. I take in many more calories than other sleevers I see around here (about 850 daily), but I keep my carb count between 50-65 daily. My nut feels like my calories will drop a bit when I'm no longer on soft food and adding things to my protein to soften it. Either way, she and I are both pleased with my progress.

Give him a couple of months of watching you balancing eating and drinking, tracking fluids and macronutrients, working out just enough to lose but not enough to stall, using products to prevent hair loss and improve skin tone, etc. Hopefully, he'll have eyes open enough to see you deliberate over every single bit that goes into your tiny tummy, and he'll recognize that this is FAR from the easy way out.

I absolutely have this! I'm closely monitoring calories and other nutrition values, and at 6 weeks out, I'm still getting used to my sleeve. I'll track a calculated portion, and though rationally I can see that my weighed/measured meal was between 150 calories or so (the same value as the small snack of yesterday), the feeling of fullness wracks me with guilt. This is an interesting process to say the least.

Checking in. I was sleeved 12/03/13, and as of this morning, I'm down 48.6 pounds. 31.9 pounds since surgery. Surgical Consult Weight: 267.2 SW: 250.4 CW: 218.6

Hey there -- I'm a little over six weeks out, and down a little over 49 pounds. I've not had one moment of buyer's remorse, and that's likely because for me, this surgery has hardly been a disruption. I took liquid pain meds for about 4 day post-op, and I had the typical muscular tenderness around my largest incision until just before three weeks post-op, but nothing that left me incapacitated. That tenderness disappeared right before the 3 week mark, and other than having restriction when I eat, I don't even feel like I've had surgery. I, too, very much disliked the full liquids stage just because I missed chewing, but I had zero trouble straight out of surgery taking in all of my Water and 85g of Protein per day on average (never less than 60g, and only occasionally 100-105g/day). During full liquids, I found some easy-to-prepare savory Soups in which I mixed unflavored Protein powder. Additionally, I've enjoyed the same unflavored protein powder mixed with water and Crystal Lite. I've also been drinking Premier Protein shakes cold and plain or mixed with a tablespoon of PB2. So, so good.

Good morning! My weight today was 218.6, so I'm down 4.1 pounds since last Friday, 48.6 pounds overall. For those who saw my question last week: I saw my nutritionist for my six week post-op visit on Wednesday, and I expressed my concerns about my calorie intake (about 850 daily). She said my calorie intake is a bit high in relation to other patients fresh out of surgery, but my protein intake is also high (85g daily). She said she's pleased with both my protein intake and progress, and the fact that I'm feeling great, eating well, losing regularly and haven't stalled yet. She said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Whenever I'm on an entirely regular diet and not mixing things with my food to soften it, she thinks my calorie count will naturally go down.

I am six weeks post-op, and I'm mom to six kids, ages 13, 11, 4, 2, 2 and now 7 months (was 5 1/2 months old when I was sleeved). I'm home with everyone full-time everyday -- we homeschool and don't use daycare or have any family to help. My surgery was on a Tuesday, so my husband took off that day and through the weekend. By Monday, he was back to work, and I was on my own again. We all survived. I wasn't allowed to life and carry my 26-pound baby for three weeks, but by 2 1/2 weeks, I had to out of necessity on a couple of occasions. I could hold him, change diapers for the younger three, homeschool the older three, make meals, do bedtime, etc. I needed help only with the lifting and carrying and at bathtime, but I was otherwise good to go, and the time I needed help was short in the grand scheme of things. Don't be consumed with Mommy guilt. It's okay to take time to take care care of yourself. As of this morning, I'm 47.4 pounds down, and I feel so great! I have 80 or so to go still, but I already feel like I can keep up with my littles so much better. I'm so pleased with my decision! Best of luck in making yours!

I too had gastritis. I didn't know a thing about it until my surgeon told me three weeks post-op. Evidently, it was in the report from my gastroenterologist, but it was a non-issue and didn't prevent my surgery. I had benign colon polyps four years ago, and I think the change in eating and weight loss post-op can only help those.

My sister has Hashi's and a goiter, and though I have diagnosed Hashi's, I do not have a goiter or any significant thyroid swelling. Once after a pregnancy loss, I developed two thyroid nodules, but they resolved. I hope you get some answers. If your tests come back positive, do insist on a T3/T4 supplement like Armour, and do take anything like Synthroid or Levothyroxine. They're really quite useless. Stop the Thyroid Madness as mentioned above is a good book and Facebook page.

I have Hashi's. It's an autoimmune thyroid disorder that can affect the whole body. I agree with the other poster. You need to get a full thyroid panel + antibodies to get an accurate idea of what's going on inside. Current studies suggest an elimination of gluten can significantly improve Hashi's. Google Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for more information.

Thank you for posting! I'll have to try it!

I'm like clmftw -- when I'm overfill, I get pressure in my chest, or I get a sensation that I might throw up if I take in anymore. If you're not feeling that yet, don't worry. I'm only now at 6 weeks out regularly beginning to sense that fullness and am really having to slow down to not overdo it. I read somewhere else on these boards about nerves waking up in there around 5-6 weeks post-op, and I think that might be happening with me.

The OP always has that option, but she's posting on the clothing exchange section of this website. People come here to look for available clothes. It's a valuable service.

Stick to your guns. My mom was just like this, and it drove me insane. She didn't start making positive, mature changes until I set similar boundaries and stuck to them. When she realized she was only punishing herself by trying to punish us/me, she started being a more respectful person, and our relationship improved dramatically. That improvement is reason enough to hold on.

This is such an interesting thread! I'm actually having problems with my feet and have been in AFOs since before my sleeve. When my podiatrist last measured my feet, they were a 12EE (double wide), but when I was cast for therapeutic shoes last week, one foot was a 10.5 standard, and the other was an 11 wide. Not quite six weeks out, and I'm already experiencing foot changes. Wonder what my feet will be like in 80 pounds or so!

This (plus staying super hydrated and keeping up with my protein goals) is what I'm trying. I bought a natural brush on Amazon, and have been following YouTube tutorials. I'm still early out -- six weeks post-op on Tuesday -- so it's way too early to tell, but I feel hopeful!