cindymg

My profile was taken by a good friend while we were on a trip to New Orleans just a couple of weeks ago. Down nearly 60 lbs at 5 months post op. Here's my profile pic before and after.

I got permission to skip puréed from my surgeon's office since I had never had any problems -- no vomiting, no nausea, no complications. Started with super soft food, scrambled eggs, Greek yogurt, cream soups, moist chicken, mashed potatoes. No fresh fruits or veggies, only well-cooked mushy veggies. No bread, crackers or other carbs.

GasX strips worked for me. Take several at one time. Walking also helps. Just walk around your house if you can't get outside.

I think you need a Protein burst. Do you have Greek yogurt? I mix the plain with sugar-free blueberry preserves and some Splenda. Gets me protein and a little fruit sugar at the same time. Or you could do the same with cottage cheese. I know. Not the same as a snickers bar, but it is long-lasting energy, not that quick high with a dramatic thud in about an hour. Plus for me sugar is a trigger food. I don't want just one sugar thing -- I suddenly find myself wanting all sugar things. Hang in there and Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Go try on your old clothes. That should cheer you up. Always works for me. I agree that solid (soft) foods will improve your outlook greatly. I think you will see a big difference!

I used to be a breadaholic too. I gave up sugar about 12 years ago, but needed sleeve surgery because of course I learned to substitute others things, like bread, for my former sugar addiction. I think you'll find though that after surgery, your tastes change. I am 5 months post op and haven't had any bread yet. To me now it just sounds like something gummy that is just going to get stuck -- both going in and out (sorry, TMI, I know, but constipation was a real problem in the early days). 'Course this doesn't mean I don't think about bread. It was my favorite thing. Went for Italian with friends last week. I sat and watched them dipping the white, fiber-free, pasty Italian bread in olive oil and all I could think was "that's 300 calories per slice, and I don't want have to put that in my MyFitnessPal food diary." Give yourself a chance. You might find that your bread addiction goes away, or is not such a problem after sleeve surgery. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I am 5 months post op and was just whining yesterday that I've only lost 6 lbs in the past month. Better than having gained 6 pounds though!

Are you taking your vitamins? How about B12? B12 deficiency can cause the problems you describe.

Fish oil. Take fish oil. The post op diet doesn't contain enough good fats and that causes hair loss. And itchy skin. GNC carries a fish oil called Coromega. It is a gel pack and alot easier to take than those big pills.

I am 59 and nearly 5 months post op. Someone else on this site wrote last week that you don't see too many 70 year olds carrying around this kind of weight. That really struck me because I have looked and am not seeing them. For me, my diabetes was so out of control that I was in danger of losing my feet. Now my sugars are under control, I'm nearly 60 pounds down, and I feel fabulous! I have a new chance at seeing 60, 70, 80!

I shop. And I exercise, enjoying how much easier it is now that I am not lugging around nearly 60 pounds. Plus, I enjoy my friends when I go out. First I find myself going out a lot more (someplace to wear my new clothes). I think that's partly because I am not so depressed anymore and put myself out there more. And second, while my friends are finishing their meals -- and sometimes mine -- I am enjoying the conversation. I think you'll find lots of things to do once food is not occupying every free moment, and you simply can't eat as much as you used to. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I don't actually like to cook so I eat out all the time. Or go to a place like Whole Foods for the salad or hot food bar. Generally I order something with grilled chicken, turkey, a lean hamburger without the bun. Steak is a little tough for me to eat, so it is a rare choice. Boston Market is one of my go to places. Chicken or turkey market bowl in a to go bowl. Eat half there; take the rest home. I take a lot of food home. Ruby Tuesdays knows how to cook vegetables just right and have good, moist chicken. Most restaurants have healthy choices if that's what you want. Even Denney's (although food quality leaves alot to be desired). And, as long as I am not traveling, I always get a to go box.

No depression here! Just pure joy and excitement for my new life! Don't listen to the naysayers. They will always be around trying to pull you down, keep you in the place that THEY want you to be in. It's your body, your life. Do what is right for you! Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I wasn't really hungry on liquids -- just sooooo tired of them by week 3 post op. I really couldn't stand pureed foods (the texture) so since I had never had any complications, nausea or vomiting I got permission to go right to soft, really soft foods. I ate lots of cream Soups, Greek yogurt, s/f pudding, scrambled eggs, soft cheese, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes. Plus rotisserie chicken cut into tiny bits. Boston Market became my go to place because their chicken is really moist. Good luck on your journey! It's going to be amazing!

Your psych is a referral from your surgeon? That's good -- at least he should be open minded about VSG surgery. My psych eval was easy. My guy was a referral from my insurance co, as my surgeon's psych didn't accept my insurance. When I told the psych I was having weight loss surgery, he blurted out, "oh my God, why? You're such a tall, beautiful woman! Why would you want to do that to yourself?" Then I told him about my high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and out of control diabetes that was starting to cause numbness in my feet. He got on board then. Anyway, all he really wanted to know was a) did I understand the changes that were coming and could I handle the post op diet and lifestyle; and was I doing this for myself and not being forced into it by someone else. Then I took the MMPI exam which I'm sure showed me to be whiny doormat who let people walk all over her. And that was it. He pronounced me a good candidate and sent in the report. I really should go back and show him that I am still a tall beautiful woman -- just 58 lbs lighter! Are you in the city or suburbs? I'm in the city and had my surgery at St Joseph's hospital. I got all of my pre and post op Protein shakes, broths, smoothies and soft foods from a great chef, also a sleever who has started her own company. Send me a private message if you want her name and website. Her food made this whole thing easy for me.

I'm totally stealing this!

To each his/her own. Personally, I tell anyone who asks -- and people are really starting to notice now. Think I will have a button made up that says, "Why yes, I had weight loss surgery." Then I am going to hand out cards that show a picture of the VSG and a description, because if one more person asks me if I had a lapband I'm going to lose it! This is so different for me. I've been dieting for 40 years. And in the past I've always kept diets to myself because I always knew that I would regain the weight as fast as I lost it. I was always on my way up or down. So, now I am committed to succeed, and owning up to the surgery is part of that commitment. Plus I think the more people that learn about VSG surgery, the less stigma there will be about weight loss surgery in general. This is my opinion. You have to do what is comfortable for you. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I'm afraid that I have turned my food addiction into a shopping addiction. Okay, I've always had a shopping addiction -- you should see my shoe collection! But now I have so many more choices. I can walk into any small boutique and feel like I can find something. In the past I would wander into those boutiques and pretend I was looking at jewelry or scarves, but I always felt like I didn't belong. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a big gal. 5'11" and shoulders like a linebacker. I still buy L or XL, and a size 12 pants. But I never thought I would wear anything smaller than a 14, so I'll take it. I am trying to construct a winter work wardrobe right now. I buy and return a lot right now. I keep getting the long, flowy things I have used to hide behind in the past. But what I want now are the more shaped, fitted clothes. So I am learning, and damn it's fun!

I tell everyone about my surgery, and order what I want in restaurants. Sometimes friends apologize over restaurant selections -- especially buffets -- cause it's such a waste of money for me. I always assure them that I am there for the company, not the food. And, I'm am starting to notice how one of my male friends always manages to sit next to me, so he can finish the 2/3's of my meals that I don't eat. Too funny!

Hmmm. Interesting. I have noticed some friends have been distant. They seem to be the ones that are having weight problems. The friends I have that are normal-sized, or losing weight through things like Weight Watchers seem to be closer. Guess I'll pay attention now.

Just keep telling yourself that statistically you are far more likely to die in an automobile accident on the way to the surgery, than you are to die as a result of the surgery. Despite some of the dramatic posts you read on this site, most of us breeze through the surgery. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I'm 59, and unbelievably this was my first ever surgery. I expected to have every complication. As an out of control diabetic, I figured I would have all kinds of problems with bleeding and healing. Didn't happen. The only pain I had was the first evening in the hospital when it hurt to cough or laugh. I went home after 1 night. Never took the pain meds they gave me. I've had no pain, no nausea, no vomiting, no complications at all! I told my surgeon that if I didn't have 5 funny little marks on my tummy and an inability to eat very much, I might think the surgery never happened. Despite some of the dramatic stories by others on this site, most sleevers don't actually have any complications or much pain. We just don't post as often. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I only had one puréed meal. I couldn't stand the texture. So since I had never had any complications, no pain, no nausea, no vomiting, my nut let me go right to soft, soft foods. I ate mashed potatoes, lots of cream soups, well cooked veggies and really moist chicken/turkey. And Greek yogurt, soft cheese, s/f pudding.

You can so do this! I thought I would never get used to not drinking and eating at the same time, or within 30 min, but I did. Finish a meal, set the alarm on my phone and think about something else. I find the thirst actually passes. I often forget to get something to drink even after the alarm goes off. Here's another trick: finish your meal with something moist. I've been known to grab a small container of applesauce, or piece of fresh fruit. Even just a few bites helps. Or, I've been known to have a sugar-free lifesaver or mint. That stimulates your saliva and helps the time pass. I was reminded today about the effects of drinking too soon after eating. Running out the door full after a protein-dense lunch. I grabbed a s/f Vitamin Water to take with me, then absent-mindedly took a swig. Oh, the pain! I had forgotten how uncomfortable it was to be that full. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I've lost weight many times, and had lots of clothes altered. The thing is though, even altered, they are still my "fat clothes." I feel it holds me back. Go for the new life, and the new suit.