PGee

if you have a friend with a membership to costco, ask them to either pick some up for you or tag along with them.....

I don't have an answer other than wait and see what happens...plus my story... my insurance switched their rules mid way through my pre-op journey.......so I didn't meet their requirements (did the NUT appointments in 3 months, but in much less than the 90 days).....but it went through on the first try....wishing you the best.

When I started eating food.......the liquids went through easier.......I don't think you hurt your sleeve. Congratulations, welcome to the losers bench!

I can't wait to be fat & happy (I'm still obese but happy LOL).......you look great!

My family & I will get together soon for my BD......I was figuring on one bite of cake

I still want popcorn post op.......cheese popcorn........but oh the calories! LOL Good luck!

Similar thoughts crossed my mind today......Apparently when I was larger, I was both invisible and inaudible......Thankfully the one person whose opinion mattered has loved me regardless of my size Congrats on the nomination, that's exciting!

Congrats to all our newly sleeved sisters/brothers! So glad to hear it went well!

Here's the recipe I have for anti-blackage: 1/2 teaspoon Adolf's meat Tenderizer (also contains papaya enzyme) 1 teaspoon lemon juice 4 oz tap Water Sip Slowly over one hour (I don't know what that tastes like, but chewing 1-2 papaya enzyme tablets sounds a whole lot better-----they're not bad tasting, either)

Easy answer: I do not regret it. had an easy time of it for the most part......but it's work.......when you eat such a small amount of food (well, for me anyway), you have to eat with intention and decide where are you going to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to protein/nutrtion. Those first month or two are difficult.....it's a struggle to get in your Water and Protein....can be painful even....but every day it got better until I was healed, and it's been mostly smooth sailing. It's not the easy way out, and whatever struggles you have with food issues or head hunger, you will still have to work on them post op.................BUT this gives you a helping hand.......and for me, it gives me hope. Hope that I will reach my goal weight....

I know this was last night, and I hope everything turned out okay.......You might want to ask your doctor/nutritionist for an "anti-blockage" recipe......I was sent home with one.....unfortunately, I'm not home so I don't have it with me---my phone/internet are out at the house. The 2nd suggestion they gave me for anti-blockage is chewing papaya enzime tablets (found on amazon, GNC, natural food stores)......people with their original stomachs use this to aid in digestion. Hope this helps.

I agree with not investing in protein powder pre-op. One suggestion: order a variety of samples from BJ's Bariatrics, nasua nutrition, and/or Unjury.....then sample them post op and order what you like...... Thought I'd share......tried Pure Protein RTD shakes this morning (frosty chocolate)....found it at Walmart.....not bad......I tossed in a teaspoon of instant decaf coffee for a mocha drink, and I'm calling it good. I have a couple "no brainer" options that I can grab and go that don't require mixing/refrigeration....just in case I have a longer day than planned, running late, or can't stop for a meal.

I was feeling the same way this morning.....finally feel like I have a fighting chance at reaching a healthy weight You're doing a great job, Allan! Keep up the good work, and keep sharing your successes!

Very good post....can so relate, thank you for posting! my mother hid food all the time, ate in secret, and then denied it. As an elderly woman, she still hides food and is still in denial..........early in our marriages, my siblings and I all hid food in our homes and thought it was normal.....thank gooness those days are long gone. After VSG I find going out to a restaurant with a group challenging, because if I don't move that plate away after my few bites, I'd probably pick at the food while everyone else was eating theirs....even if I was full--so that's an ongoing battle, but at least now I will push the plate away. The support that comes from VST and my local group, has helped tremendously. Thanks again!

I just hit the 1/2 way mark this week....it doesn't feel real..... For such a long time being stuck between 240 & 250 pounds, I didn't think this would ever happen--so thankful the day someone told me about VSG Way to go everyone, keep rocking your sleeves!!!!

YAY! That's wonderful! Bet it felt GREAT to see that 10 pound loss, way to go!!!!!

Thanks for the suggestion......I had just heard of this for the first time the other day....

I think 30 pounds in 4 weeks is amazing.....if you want to see my stalls in 3 months, click on this link.....then click on the picture......Most of us are going to see some plateaus......and it's okay, you'll get through them. Good luck! http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/98866-charting-weight-stalls-for-pre-post-ops/#entry1049808

Our recommended diets vary quite a bit......at 9 days out I was still on full liquids (shakes, yogurt)......at 14 days out I was allowed to have pureed foods, 21 days out I should have been on soft foods, but nothing sat well unless it was pureed with a stick blender......a month out I was able to switch over to real foods, but sometimes that didn't sit well, and I pureed a few items. I think somewhere between 2 & 3 months things got much easier......if it doesn't feel good, try pureeing them.........they should be moist. I now use my crock pot weekly, and the moist Protein from there is so much easier to digest...... Hope this helps! Good luck. (PS my tummy stopped grumbling for the most part recently--around 3 months)

Everyone is different, and for some it seems like the weight loss is very quick and for some not so much. Early out I was disappointed in the slow weight loss and began recording my weight. Yesterday I posted my weight chart here: http://www.verticals...s/#entry1049808 At the bottom of the post there is a picture to click on showing my progress....as well as a couple 1 pound gains and stalls I don't know if it'll help, but just so you know, it's not falling off of me, but I do like the overall downward trend....Wishing you the best.

I'm a day late, hope I can join in. CW 185 Goal weight for Thanksgiving: 177

So, I charted my weight.....yes I weigh myself everyday....have done it for years.......up or down, doesn't freak me out......but I wanted to share the graph so any newbies and preops or anyone in the same place as me can see that can have hiccups along the way, and when that happens, if we stay the course, we will get through them....at 3 months out, I still feel like a newbie finding my way. it was interesting to see the stalls...........I dipped to 199, and the next day I shot right back up to 200 the following day, and stayed there for 13 days....in three months, I've had 3 plateaus (hiccups) along the way......and that's okay....it's going to happen to most of us. I'm 1/2 way to goal.......and that surprises the heck out of me........sometimes it doesn't feel real.....I tried on my "fat pants" and couldn't believe how big they were---doesn't seem possible................well, anyway, for what it's worth, here's my process, stalls, gains, and overall down trend......

OMG.....that might be a bad move for me......I probably didn't need to see this LOL......but oh yummie, and happy day for You! I had a taste, yes a taste of a chocolate/bacon brownie last week......I didn't taste the bacon or the alcohol that was in it.....I just had a teeny tiny bit.......but yum yum..........who knew......bacon Jerky? bacon brownies, what next? (don't tell me). That bag wasn't open.....did you try it, was it good?

I'm sorry.....how far out are you from surgery? I have baby fine, thin, curly hair, and everytime I shower it looks like a wig is in the drain, but this has been going on before surgery, so I'm not sure if it's the surgery or just me.......

My doctor said NSAIDS were not allowed for life due to ulcers.. Good luck, and please ask your doctor for his take on this because not all doctors have the same opinion about NSAIDS postop....some okay them.....and perhaps there's something else out there that will work well, too. On a side note, I've lived on advil or alleve for 3 years.......I'm three months out, 59 pounds down, and my knee will be wonky until I have a knee replacement (missing cartiledge, arthritis/bone on bone), but I'm not in pain and haven't taken anything for it since surgery......wishing you the best!