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Mashed potatoes was on my post op soft foods list. I still eat them today, at 4.5 months out. They are easy on my tummy. Like with any carb, I watch it. But I find them very filling. So I generally eat 1/3-1/2 a cup and they are satisfying.

For my first 3 weeks after surgery, I went from my bed, to the couch, back to bed again. I tried to make sure I showered and dressed everyday, and that I moved some. A "daily walk" might just have been a walk around the drugstore. Once I started on soft foods, I found my energy returning. During my first real exercise walk I thought I might have to call a cab to take me the 6 blocks home. But I made it, and every day I got stronger. Now I am 4.5 months out, walk 4-5 miles every other day and have energy to burn. Hang in there. It gets better. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

So I'm thinking the answer from most everyone on this site is NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! 'Course it does mean I have to participate in life instead of sitting on the sidelines watching. Can't hide behind my fat anymore. Oh well . . .

While my BMI was a bit lower than yours before my surgery, my diabetes was so out of control my surgeon was really worried about complications. I prepared myself for every complication, convinced that I would have them all. But I had absolutely NO COMPLICATIONS! I didn't even have any pain. I laugh when I tell my surgeon that if I didn't have 5 funny little scars on my tummy, and the inability to eat very much food, I might think the surgery never happened. 'Course the proof is in the 58 lbs lost and diabetes and other co morbidities resolved. My point is that most people have absolutely no complications. The greater risk statistically to your health is actually in the drive to the hospital. You wouldn't let the drive to the hospital deter you from surgery, would you? Then, don't let the small risk of complications deter you either. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I bought a Tory Burch sweater tonight. That's why I had the surgery -- so that I could shop in the regular department without feeling like a fraud. The salesperson told me, "oh, you only need the large." Not the XL, or the 1x or 2x size. Truth be told, I actually bought the XL, 'cause I am insecure about my lumps and bumps. But it was a regular size, and beautiful! Okay, that's the vanity reason. The real reason for the surgery was to save my feet. After years of out of control diabetes, I was starting to lose the feeling in my feet (diabetic neuropathy). So I figured it was either 85% of my stomach, or my feet in a few years. And I am much too much of a shoe addict to lose my feet.

Go for a walk. My theory is that if I just keep moving I can outrun the depression and panic. Works for me every time, no matter what the problem. The other thing that helps me is to go try on my old clothes. When I see progress, no matter how small, it reminds me why I went through the surgery. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Before my surgery, I was on what I called "the dead man walking diet" -- you know, the every meal is my last meal syndrome. Drove my already out of control diabetes to such a high that my surgeon almost cancelled the surgery. He was worried that I would have all kinds of complications. Surgery went ahead, absolutely NO COMPLICATIONS. I am 4.5 months put, down 58 lbs, diabetes and other co morbidities resolved. And I feel fabulous! Not recommending that you follow my dead man walking diet. It makes withdrawal during the preop liquid a nightmare. Start now eliminating sugar and caffeine from your diet. It will reduce the withdrawal symptoms that you will have during the first three days on liquids. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

You do know that VSG surgery doesn't actually remove any weight -- except maybe the 2 lbs your stomach weighs. All the weight you lose is through -- wait for it -- diet and exercise! VSG is just another tool to help you. You can absolutely tell people that you are losing weight with diet and exercise, because it's the truth. For me, I tell anyone who cares that I had weight loss surgery (then of course I have to educate them on sleeve surgery because all most people know is bypass or lapband -- grrrrr!) Most people are so concerned with their own lives, they don't really pay much attention to my stuff. But, I have to stick with the same story for everyone. Not bright enough to remember to whom I said what.

I think being afraid of bread (pasta, etc) is a good thing for me. When I went to soft foods, I decided meatballs sounded good. They came with spaghetti and I had a few bites. Big mistake! HUGE! Now I have a fear of Pasta too. Good riddance! What nutritional value do any foods made with white flour have? Last night I went for Mexican food. chicken fajitas, no rice, no Beans (not that refried beans aren't good for you -- I just don't like them.). Passed on the fried tortilla chips, but I did have two small corn tortillas. Big mistake! I have been sick to my stomach all day today. No more tortillas for me! One more thing I don't have to eat anymore.

I'm 4 and a half months post op, and haven't vomited once. Not everyone has that problem. Follow your surgeon's diet, chew well, eat slowly, don't drink 30 min before or after eating and you should be fine.

I'm not much on body shots. But my face shows my 58 lb loss the best.

Oh yeah, and the salt in the broth will give you energy and help you feel better.

I abandoned the no-straw rule a couple of weeks after my surgery. Frankly, I am really clumsy and I need a drink with a lid and a straw to keep from spilling it down my front. broth Soups count as liquids. Can you tolerate chicken noodle Soup strained? That's what I used. I don't really cook, so I would go to a restaurant and ask for chicken noodle, or French onion soup -- just the broth, please. They always were very nice and gave me only the broth. Good luck to you.

I slept in sweat pants and sweat shirts my first 2 months post op -- in the middle of summer! It's better now, but I still get cold. But, to me that's one of the benefits of the surgery. I've spent most of my life sweating, always hotter than everyone else. So it's great to always be the first one to reach for a sweater.

My A1C was 10.7 before my surgery (too many food funerals), but I lost 16 lbs on my 2.5week pre-op liquid diet, so I talked my surgeon into going ahead with my surgery. He was afraid I would have all kinds of complications, but I haven't had a single one. At 3 months post op, my A1C was 7. I am now 4.5 months post op, and my daily sugars are around 100. Hoping my A1C will be 6 at my next check.

I take Magnesium capsules for leg cramps. It was hard to find a Magnesium capsule that I could swallow after surgery (most were big, dry pills). Whole Foods has a magnesium capsule by Country Life. You can also get a pill called "Leg Cramps" by Hyland. Avail at most drug stores, Walmart and Whole Foods.

Look at it this way: if you don't start eating real food soon, your body will think you are trying to starve it to death, and it will start holding onto its weight. So the 1-2 lbs daily loss will come to a screeching halt. Food, especially Protein, is necessary for continued weight loss. Follow your surgeon's program to the letter. Concentrate on getting your protein and fluids in. You'll be fine. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Spent the weekend at a friend's 50th birthday celebration in New Orleans! What fun! Mostly I shopped. Looking at pictures posted on FB, I saw this woman in some of the group shots and asked "who's that?" Oh my, it was me! And I look happy and comfortable, instead of awkward and out of place. Here's a new shot and and old pic.

I started losing hair a couple of years before my surgery. I was able to stop the hair loss then with Revita shampoo and conditioner. And by taking lots of Fish Oil. Revita is expensive, but worth every cent. The shampoo reduces the shedding; the conditioner thickens the hair and helps it regrow. I am now 4 months post op and am just now noticing a few extra hairs in the shower drain and in my comb. But not bad. I credit the Revita and Fish Oil for reducing the hair loss.

Or gallbladder, or appendix or a hernia, or constipation. But I agree with other posters, go to the ER!

I use the Bariatric Advantage Caramel Calcium Chews. They taste like Kraft caramels, but are sugar-free. Yumilicious! It's my nightly treat.