BigDogVSG

How is everyone doing? I'm fine' date=' lost 2 lbs this week, so I'm happy for a total of 36 since 3/8/13.... Kinda slow, but that's ok <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Still in the midst of a 6 week stall. Nut and doc assure me it HAS to come off. We'll see.

I miss everybody <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. I lost a lb this morning. I'm a very slow loser' date=' but someone on here gave me some advice to drink only Protein Drinks for about 10 days...yay or nay???[/quote']

I'd say nay with an asterick*. :-)

That worked for me when I started to lose weight before the surgery, but I could never go back to,it, unless I made the shakes myself. I've never had an off-the -shelf shake that was better than mediocre. But the ones I make myself are pretty good.

I wouldn't resort to gimmicks, but just eat the way you are supposed to. Eat whole foods, Protein first, and work out with some kind of really difficult strength training 3X each week. Them, be happy with 1-2 pounds per week. We really both need to get away from daily weighing I think, because we both know deep down that you just can't physiologically lose a pound of fat day after day. I think the initial spectacular results of the sleeve kind of blind us to the fact that even starving, or fasting people can't lose a pound a day for very long. It's just not sustainable.

Those are the things I have done, and they have all really helped:

1) Stop weighing in daily and be happy with a pound a week. A pound a week still gets you 52 pounds in a year, and now with the sleeve we actually have the tool to do it!

2) Relentlessly work to build up muscle mass. I think this is so much more important than "cardio."

3) Don't eat the crap you know you're not supposed to. My big pitfall has been ice cream...so easy on the stomach during the first few weeks after surgery, and I kept losing weight, but not so now! Time to get real. I have really enjoyed working with my nutritionist and exploring foods I never would have dreamed eating before the surgery

Good luck, and keep at it!!!!

Aaron

Well guys' date=' my one lb a day was WONDERFUL while it lasted, but now a week with no loss. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> anybody got any more wt loss tricks??[/quote']

Just remember, it couldn't have lasted. That kind of loss just isn't sustainable. I seem to have entered this phase of about one week of plateau, followed by a few days of pound-a-day loss...maybe that's the new normal now? But a pound day for weeks and weeks on end is probably something only the massively obese with hundreds of pounds to lose experience.

How many calories and how much Protein were you instructed to have?

I'm supposed to have 1,500k per day, with 188 g of protein.

My doc and nutritionist both said carbs don't matter, only total Protein and total calories, but a 5 week stall leads me to think otherwise, at least for me. I think carbs do matter and lowering them just a little in exchange for fats has moved me back into the weight loss column also.

Finally broke into the 250s after a 6 WEEK PLATEAU! That was discouraging, although it is true that I still lost big-time inches during the plateau. Sleeved on March 11th and had dramatic results for the diets three weeks, and then it slowed to a crawl, then stopped. So I'm pretty happy just to be moving again. I also changed up the mix of nutrients by slightly lowering my carbs and that seemed to do the trick.

Anybody out here have guidelines that are working for you with regard to levels of carbs and fat? I use MyFitnessPro every day religiously, and I'm always hitting my Protein goal, but I wonder if I can get better results by mixing up the ratio of carbs and fats. My doctor has put me at a 1500 calorie goal, and a protein goal of 145 grams. Has anyone experimented with any of this?

I took four weeks off from work. I always naped. I am now 6 weeks and I'm back to work fulltime and walking. By 8 pm I am exhausted. I do really well getting in my Protein and fluids.

Boy, that sounds exactly like me. I only took a week off of work, and that was a huge mistake. The first 4 weeks I slept a lot, probably at least two naps per day. Now at 7.5 weeks I feel pretty good most days and I'm constantly on the hunt for tasty edible Protein. I think if I eat another store-bought Protein shake I'll gag.

I've been in a 3 wk long stall!!! Have tried everything to break it. I was sleeved 3/8/13 and have only lost 17 lbs total. I feel terrible about the scales' date=' but I have lost inches. I've been reassured that the scales WILL eventually move again...can't happen soon enough for me!!! But, today has been a better day, trying to change my mindset <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> everyone says 6 mo from now this will be just a dream....[/quote']

I'm in the same situation. Lost a pound a day for 3 weeks, then got approved by my doctor to go to soft food Protein, and had a 2 week stall, followed by about 5 pounds, now another 2 week stall. But, I have to say, my clothes are all fitting slimmer, and I've been tossing a lot of stuff I was wearing 2 months ago.

My doctor said, "Don't worry, it will all come off." He actually upped me to 1500 calories to help,with my fatigue, and it has really helped. I actually feel like I'm at about 90% of feeling good.

It is really cool to just not be interested in much food. I really do feel like it has been a permanent change.

I was sleeved March 4th and lost 22 lbs in my first 3 weeks. This past week and a half I haven't lost a thing. Just gaining and losing the same couple of pounds over and over again. Maybe it's because of soft foods but I don't know. I'm getting my 60g of Protein but definitely not getting all of my Water in. I'm also hungry now' date=' mostly in the middle of the night. My daughter will wake up for a bottle and I'll have to eat a few spoonfuls of yogurt to go back to sleep. Definitely can't wait for the scale to start moving again.[/quote']

Me too, EXACTLY! Lost a pound a day for three weeks since surgery on March 11th, then nothing for the past week...total straight-line plateau!

Sherrie/skinnyminded.

I came on here just now looking to see if it was normal to be feeling hungry at just under 3 weeks... I can't stand to eat my shake in the morning and I feel full easy .. but it

doesnt last.

I was sleeved march 19 and post/pre I am 18 lbs down.. I am so worried feeling hungry like this is not normal.

For those who were sleeved in early march... how was it at weeks 3 and 4 for you?

I am in the dreaded and predictable "3-week plateau." I was sleeved on March 11th, lost a pound a day for three weeks, then, for the last week, zero, zilch, nada. Can't wait to get back to the previous pace, or even justo consistent loss. I've read a lot about the plateau, somI knew it was coming, but I still don't like it.

Big Dog... Thank you for posting. I keep reading how great everyone is doing, and I've been struggling. I'm only a few days post op, but there has been a lot of pain and I was starting to wonder, What did I do?!? I'm hopeful that every day will be just a little bit better.

Hey, lilmiss-

You just take it one day and even one hour at a time. I know that some people don't have that much pain, but that was not my experience. This is real surgery that brings on real pain and requires significant rest to heal, along with all the re-learning to eat that we are all facing. We are also dealing with chonic near-dehydration and other insufficiencies, os we are juggling a lot both physically and emotionally right after surgery. I think I myself truly underestimated how much rest I would need each day just to get through the day.

I think you need to remember that almost everyone who has gone through this has reached that moment where the healing really begins and you start to feel normal again. You'll get there!! Just pray and take it easy as much as possible and seek to get through each hour and each day. It WILL happen!!

Hello, fellow March Sleevers-

I was sleeved on March 11th, two weeks ago today. I thought I would post and tell you that this morning was the first day since the surgery that I woke up feeling something close to normal. Even last night I had some bubbling and frothing that I haven't had since the day after surgery, but finally I feel like I'm getting clear of the body aches and the whole post-surgical blah. Maybe I'm also pretty excited about transitioning in one week from high-protein liquids to something closer to real food like a soft-boiled egg. I am pretty sick of Protein shakes! Anyway, I've lost 20 pounds since the surgery, and 34 pounds since the decision to do it, and I'm excited for both scale and Non-Scale victories. I'm just so glad that a day has come where I don't feel like yesterday's garbage. Light at the end of the post-op tunnel!

I got sleeved on the 5th and it wasnt that painful the first few days. after i came home i started to feel the pain, specially the gas pains. Swallowing is a totally new experience. If i take a sip thats to big the pain i get in my chest from pain is so bad.

I cant wait for it to get better. Its not that i regret it, oh no, it just that its like learning to eat all over again. I have started to write down none scale victories. I want to exercise again, i want to play sports again, and most of all play with my kids without feeling tired

.

Wow, that could have been written by me, word for word. Its really nice knowing other people are experiencing the same thing! I was sleeved on the 11th and have had precisely the same experiences...still totally worth it, but I am looking forward to healing from the surgery and moving on with real life. Thanks for the post.

I was sleeved on the' date='12th and in ready for the next phase man!!! You'll be fine hang in there pray for healing in Jesus name[/quote']

I have the body aches too, almost like the flu that comes around each day, but, I have to say, I was sleeved on the 11th, and though my recovery has been slower than what I wanted, I do get a tiny bit better each day. It'll all come in time, just try to be patient.

Mine came off two days after being home.

I was sleeved on the 11th. Did great for two days, then caught some kind of flu bug and had pretty bad body aches for about 3-4 days. Getting used to this new way of drinking ( sips only!!) and learning how to do it without all of the burping and gas pain. After 8 days, I finally feel like every day is a little better, although it is easy to overdo it. I am still pretty dependent on regular pain medication. If I work at my desk for a few hours, and forget my medication, then my body just shuts down and says "time for a nap!" I've also learned that the thing I need most in the morning is Water, otherwise it's pretty easy to get dehydrated. I've also learned that hiccups are the worst possible pain.

I'm looking forward to getting past all of this post-op pain and discomfort, but I have lots of great moments, too. I lose 1-2 lbs every day, and it seems that my appetites have permanently changed. Eating has become a necessary duty, like stopping for gas, but I feel like my relationship with food has truly changed for the better.

I look forward to eating soft lean Protein, like sashimi and fish.

I tried the warm shower and that did the trick. I don't have any other symptoms besides just feeling weak in the bladder, but since the shower worked I'm thinking it is likely still residual after-effect of the anesthesia.

I got sleeved 4 days ago. I'm getting in my 64Oz. of Water daily' date=' and peeing every 3 hours or so. I am having problems urinating. My "stream" is not very strong, and when I push hard, it feels as if something inside my "weiner" moves. I know it's a result of the catheter, but wanting to make sure it is normal & will go away. When?[/quote']

I'm having precisely the same issue...4 days out from surgery, and it is really hard to urinate. It's in there, in my bladder, it wants to come out, but it's like there is a clothespin on it or something! I'm hoping that its the after effects of a catheter, the anesthesia, and some dehydration. Des anyone have a rough idea or experience indicating when ill be able to pee normallly? I had no trouble peeing in the hospital, in fact I about filled a half-gallon container.

I am 4 day post op as well. I have found that drinking Water right when I get out of bed, and not worrying about food for a couple of hours, really helps my feelings of dehydration. I feel like I am so used to treating dehydration with food that I am having to seriously relearn this signal.

I think you are right in that, right now, this close out of surgery and for the next few days or even weeks, getting proper amounts of Water and Protein are the whole ballgame. Hopefully each day is bringing less swelling, more healing, and a greater outlook on the future. I haven't watched any Youtube videos of those who have been through this who say the first week is a picnic! Hang in there!!

That is great info, thank you, and it confirms that I am probably doing something too quick or too much. Thanks for the hint. When is your surgery?

Not sure how to describe this. I'm three days out from my sleeve, and one curious and annoying side effect is a kind of light, bubbly reflux, kind of like a frothing. Tis obviously tells me I'm full, but does anyone have insight into this one?

I also had surgery the same day (March 11th) and Tuesday the 12th was rough. It seemed like every time I tried to swallow anything I was also bringing down a cubic gallon of air with it. Walking helped, and only drinking while I was standing up helped. I think some of the discomfort in swallowing comes from residual air left in the stomach and abdomen. It has been better today.

I am a 47-year old business executive who has struggled with obesity for 28 years. I have never in my adult life been not obese or morbidly obese. I reached 400 lbs in August of 2000, and began to somewhat serious about exercise and diet. I lost about 30 pounds on my own, but then suddenly lost 40 pounds with almost no effort, although I was very tired and thirsty all the time (you guessed it, Type II Diabetes).Since the time of my diagnosis I have been through many, many diet routines, and have lost between 40 and 60 pounds each time, but nothing ever really changed on the inside. This especially drove me crazy because, as a business executive, I focus often on breaking out the spreadsheet, figuring out the problems, and rationally coming to solutions.

I attended a seminar from Dr. Pennings in Post Falls, Idaho and heard two things I had never heard before, which were the real clinchers for me. The first was a discussion of the hormone grehlin and the stomach's role in producing it, what it is supposed to do, and what happens when that gets out of whack. This really spoke to me because I had always felt that there was some kind of overpowering urge to eat in ways that could not possibly be good for me. A true addiction. The 2nd thing I heard that night was that a person with my current co-morbitities had the same mortality rate as an otherwise normally healthy 47-year old man with no other co-morbidities who had just been diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer. When I asked the doctor what the requirements were for a person with Stage II colon cancer, he said, "Surgery."

This was all on the heals of my parents both having very severe health problems in their early seventies, Suddenly I could see that the path I was on was surely a pathway to pain, worse health, a loss of time with my wife and children and early death.

All of this together made me face the fact that I had to have surgery, and use it as a tool to achieve my goals, instead of viewing it as the final option for those who had failed in every other way.

I am only two days out from VSG surgery, but am very hopeful and confident in the future.

I was just sleeved on March 11th!

First 2 days were tough, but I am doing so much better today. I feel hopeful Here is my story so far:

I am a 47-year old business executive who has struggled with obesity for 28 years. I have never in my adult life been not obese or morbidly obese. I reached 400 lbs in August of 2000, and began to somewhat serious about exercise and diet. I lost about 30 pounds on my own, but then suddenly lost 40 pounds with almost no effort, although I was very tired and thirsty all the time (you guessed it, Type II Diabetes).Since the time of my diagnosis I have been through many, many diet routines, and have lost between 40 and 60 pounds each time, but nothing ever really changed on the inside. This especially drove me crazy because, as a business executive, I focus often on breaking out the spreadsheet, figuring out the problems, and rationally coming to solutions.

I attended a seminar from Dr. Pennings in Post Falls, Idaho and heard two things I had never heard before, which were the real clinchers for me. The first was a discussion of the hormone grehlin and the stomach's role in producing it, what it is supposed to do, and what happens when that gets out of whack. This really spoke to me because I had always felt that there was some kind of overpowering urge to eat in ways that could not possibly be good for me. A true addiction. The 2nd thing I heard that night was that a person with my current co-morbitities had the same mortality rate as an otherwise normally healthy 47-year old man with no other co-morbidities who had just been diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer. When I asked the doctor what the requirements were for a person with Stage II colon cancer, he said, "Surgery."

This was all on the heals of my parents both having very severe health problems in their early seventies, Suddenly I could see that the path I was on was surely a pathway to pain, worse health, a loss of time with my wife and children and early death.

All of this together made me face the fact that I had to have surgery, and use it as a tool to achieve my goals, instead of viewing it as the final option for those who had failed in every other way.

I am only two days out from VSG surgery, but am very hopeful and confident in the future.