Bryan Whitson

I've read about people being able to eat a pretty fair amount in one sitting a couple years post op... Is this true? After I get to goal I would like to be able to have regular portions and maintain at around 2000 to 2500 calories a day. Also, can you actually gulp or guzzle down water? One guy said he can eat 2 slices of pizza, and have a diet coke but then he is very full... Would you be able to do the same? Not that it should be a regular thing, but I'm curious to know.

Hi everyone, I'm new to VSG talk and I'm grateful for forums such as these to help people along in the process... I just started my pre-op diet 2 days ago and I'm scheduled for a VSG in Tijuana, Mexico on Nov 9th. I currently weigh about 440 lbs and the surgeon and my care coordinator told me I can have 2 or 3 atkins Protein shakes a day and a salad with protein (chicken, fish, egg, etc.) with lowfat dressing, olive oil and vinegar or fat free dressing. They want me to do this for 3 weeks prior to surgery and it hasn't been easy at all. I'm not allowed to have caffeine either, which is driving me effing crazy! I've had a headache and lots of fatigue for a couple days, I have a hard time concentrating and I keep worrying that I'll never get to enjoy food again. Last night I cheated a little bit and had a spoonful of Peanut Butter, I hope it doesn't negatively affect my results. I use to be a smoker "years ago" and for the first time in a very long time I'm craving cigarettes, but I know better. I wonder if the occasional piece of nicorette gum would negatively affect my pre-op diet? I was also prescribed some pain meds "vicodin" for a knee injury and pain, but now I'm afraid to take them because I'm not sure if they'll affect my liver prior to the surgery. Are there any post op VSG patients out there who can comment on their progress, what it's like to eat after the procedure, if they eventually get to eat things like pizza or chinese food again, whether or not they had fears about not being able to eat normal foods again, etc? Thanks, Bryan

So, I'm 1 week post op and I'm mourning food and the prospect of ever being able to eat more then dainty portions again... I'm surrounded by people who are of normal builds who can eat a whole plate of food or a cheeseburger and fries and still maintain their normal size. It frightens me to think that I will never be able to finish a cheeseburger or indulge and eat a whole plate of Thanksgiving food. I understand that my size and lifestyle prior to the sleeve wasn't normal either, but I have serious anxiety about never being able to guzzle a bottle of water or finish a sandwich again. Is this just the price I have to pay? Will I ever be able to do these things again? Ultimately I would like to be at goal weight and maintain with about 2000 to 2500 calories a day like a normal human being and be able to actually gulp down some water after a good work out. Will this never happen? Please refrain from flaming me, only supportive, informative and non-judgmental responses please.

Im about 10 days post op with my VSG and I have some inquiries. I've been reading up on a lot of different forums about stomach stretching and capacity and I was wondering if you really can stretch out your stomach? My doctors stated that you can, but I've read a lot of conflicting information. I was also told that carbonation adds to the stretching, is this true? If so, I've always liked flat diet coke better anyway, haha. Another thing I've been reading is where people are all bummed out and upset with themselves if they eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or 2 slices of pizza in a sitting, considering they're still likely under 1200 calories a day, what's all the fret about when things like this happen? I personally look forward to being in the maintenance zone and being allowed to indulge a little now and then, not often of course, but people flame the bejeezus out of those who do and admit to doing so. Anyway, these are my observations and questions after frequenting many of these forums and I still haven't had any conclusive answers. Let me know what ya think...

So, I asked my Surgeon if I could have only 65 to 70 percent of my stomach removed rather then the standard 80 to 85 percent. He said he will honor my request, but would like to talk about it more during pre-op. Has anyone else made requests like this? I know a lot of folks are completely happy and okay with the much smaller sleeve, but the idea of it taking me 25 minutes to finish 1 packet of oatmeal or 10 minutes to finish an 8 oz glass of Water is pretty extreme... I know I'll probably get flamed for this, especially considering my current size and the fact that the lifestyle that led to me being over 400 lbs is pretty extreme also. I'm aware of all of this and I'm aware that it may make it more difficult to lose weight... I'll lose weight regardless, it's still 2/3 of my stomach gone. I'm sure that and a high Protein, low carb diet along with the modified VSG will suffice. I'm curious to know if others have asked for a modified surgery or what you might think about this. Thanks, Bryan

I wish we had a surgeon or doctor to post on here as to whether or not a 70 percent removal versus an 85 percent removal will still be effective? I just don't want it to be so restrictive I read an article that compared weight loss between those with a 54F bougie and those with a 32F bougie and it claimed the stats were virtually identical. Did anyone have a bigger bougie or pouch size? I know one person stated that their mother had a 75 % removal and that it was very effective. Ughhh... I guess I just need to speak with my surgeon about it... Any further feedback is appreciated : )

So, because I don't want to do the sleeve surgery the same way most others do it means it won't work for me? How do you know? I absolutely understand the risks of being morbidly obese, and the extreme health effects that it causes. I also understand that this is an extreme surgery, I would have to be an idiot not to. Maybe I'm ready to lose weight, but not have a super restrictive sleeve versus one that's a little bit larger. Couldn't it be beneficial both ways? I'm very active for a big fat guy and I like to work out and lift weights, so I'm trying to take this into consideration also. Why does it have to be super restrictive or not at all? Couldn't there be a more comfortable middle ground such as 70 percent removal versus 85 percent?

It's not that I'm scared about the idea of not having the capacity to eat as much as I currently do, it's the idea that I will be relegated to such a super extreme version of this. Taking 30 minutes to eat 2 oz. of meat and a 1/3 cup of veggies seems pretty absurd "no offense." The thing is, I do have poor eating habits and unfortunately I'm a quantity eater. I would just like to have a smaller stomach that limits me, but not to such an extreme amount.

I'm scheduled to have my VSG on Nov 9th in Tijuana and I'm fearful that I wont enjoy food anymore or look forward to having meals. This was and is such a big part of my life and our culture, I can't imagine not even wanting food... Also, will I be able to drink caffeine eventually?

So, I'm having surgery on Nov. 9th and I keep getting anxiety about certain things, so I was wondering if some post op sleevers could help relieve my anxiety and give me some insight? First I was afraid I will never enjoy food again, which I found out is an irrational fear, as the majority of sleevers it turns out still LOVE food, just in smaller amounts. Now I'm afraid I will never be able to chug Water again. I know this is a stupid fear, but I like working out and I love being able to slug down some water after a good lifting or heavy bag session. Will I ever be able to drink water normally again? Also, I got in a bit of a debate with a pre-op sleever who was telling me that I will not be able to gain muscle mass after the procedure has been completed. He said that I can maintain, but I would never be able to get the nutrition and calories needed in one day to gain muscle or make up for my caloric deficit once I start exercising more and working towards a goal of mine which is to fight in 1 MMA match. Is this true, have any sleevers gained more muscle then they had and kept the fat off? Anyway, please let me know what you think... I would really like to know that someday I will be able to drink water normally again after the procedure.

Thanks for all the feedback and honesty everyone. I'm still struggling with my anxiety during this preop diet. Hopefully it will subside once the procedure has been completed. I just hope I don't completely lose any desire for food... We'll see.

I think people just want to know that someday they can have a little BBQ and Cheesebuger now and then, but in more normal/smaller portions... I think it's a fair question, and I think it's kind of presumptuous to think they'll fail because of it. Besides, isn't it ridiculously difficult to stretch your stomach back out?

Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback... I guess I'm a bit of a food addict, so the idea of not being able to enjoy eating touches on some anxiety I have concerning the issues.

Hahaha, I know... You would of thought we would have been smart enough to wait until after the holidays. Turkey and stuffing sounds amazing right now as I suck down an atkins "wild berry" shake!

Have you already had the procedure or are you planning to?

This is reassuring : )

The idea that people don't enjoy food after the procedure is something that bothers me. Food is such a big part of my life and the culture of my family and so forth... Do you miss it at all? I would like to still be able to enjoy food after the procedure, but just in smaller amounts. I'm a bit of a foodie and I can't imagine not ever looking forward to, or enjoying food again.

Do you still enjoy food or look forward to it though?

I understand the whole "I don't use food for entertainment anymore" concept. I guess my issue is fear of never wanting or enjoying food again. Even super skinny people enjoy the occasional burger or pizza and enjoy going out and looking forward to a tasty meal now and then. Also, as far as caffeine goes, I have no issue with being addicted to it. I love coffee and tea and after my sleeve is healed I'm hoping I will be able to take great pleasure in those vices once again. I think it's absolutely amazing that you can run 2 1/2 miles and that you enjoy life more now. Hopefully soon I'll be in the same boat : )

MiniMo, I like your view on the matter, I might just adopt it : )

Are you concerned that you may never desire food again, or do you think this is just a byproduct of a healing stomach? I've read some experiences from other people who talk about how they still like food and enjoy it, but it took them a bit... the idea of not even liking food bothers me.

When did you have it done? Does it bother you that you don't look forward to it or enjoy it? Do you have other vices in place of the food? Do you look forward to tea or coffee?

Thanks... Im hoping it's a positive move in the right direction. It's kind of silly that I'm such an obsessive fatass that my biggest concern is being able to enjoy or look forward to various foods down the road. The idea that I can't eat a normal meal is frightening to me for some reason.

Ughhh... I cheated tonight, again!!! This time pretty bad. I had a spoonful of peanut butter, a dill pickle, a couple spoonfuls of fat free cottage cheese and a cheese stick. I added up all my calories and Im still under 1200, as I only had two protein shakes and a salad with tuna on it before my ridiculous splurge. I keep tricking myself into thinking it's okay to eat all this stuff cause it has almost no carbs, no sugar and lots of protein, but I'm thinking part of the reason we have to stick to the plan is to also adjust to no solids eventually. The lack of caffeine is driving me crazy still, but my surgeon approved taking the pain killers for my knee. Are there any post op VSG'ers who can let me know if it gets easier or how they coped with the pre-op diet?

How funny, my procedure is on Nov 9th. I arrive in San Diego on the 7th and Samuel is picking me up on the morning of surgery.