Kindle

Obviously, make sure you are getting plenty of fluids as well as all of your vitamins. Personally, I had a lot more energy as soon as I started adding pureed fruit (mangos, peaches, berries, bananas) to my protein smoothies.

Good luck! And check out @@CowgirlJane 's posts. She's been very successful with her revision

What Stevehud said.... And here is a link to an article that should be a mandatory read for anyone considering WLS, as well as a regular reread for veterans.... http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/357439-bariatric-surgery-only-makes-your-stomach-smaller-otherwise-youre-exactly-the-same/?fromsearch=1

.....I started my preop diet. I consider this my anniversary date rather than my actual surgery since I lost 22 pounds on the preop. Since surgery I have lost over 100% of my excess weight and have kept it off for over a year. I don't measure or track my food. I don't own a scale. I never obsessed over numbers or details. I just stuck with mostly Protein and veggies while I was losing and stayed away from the "white carbs". For maintenance I simply eat a healthy balanced diet including protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains. I make healthy choices (most of the time) and my sleeve helps control my portions. I still indulge in sweets, Desserts, alcohol, bread, rice, potatoes, etc, but definitely in moderation. I still drink Protein shakes and eat Protein Bars. Although I don't officially track, I do keep a rough tally of protein and fluids and usually exceed 70g protein and drink 64-100+ oz of fluids every day. I take my Vitamins every day. I have bloodwork checked annually as recommended by my surgeon. I don't excercise but I have a physical job and active lifestyle. It really has been a pretty easy journey. So here's a recap some of my favorite year 1 NSVs.... I can cross my legs. I can even cross them in a car and under a table. I can hop up into my saddle without having to find a rock or log to climb on. I feel so relieved that my horse no longer has to pack my fat ass around the mountains. No more knee, ankle or foot pain. I lived on ibuprofen and tramadol before surgery. I am now completely pain free. I can also squat down and kneel effortlessly without my feet going numb or needing a table or chair to heave myself back up. I can sprint up stairs or hike up a hill without getting out of breath at all. I've been on 15-20 mile hikes with friends and I am always out front, waiting for them to catch up. I can shop in regular stores. I can order clothes online and I know they will fit and look great. I now dress to show off my body, not to hide it. Now for year 2..... Maintenance is boring. NSVs are few and far between. Everything is just "normal" now. Spent most of the year finding and keeping that balance between what my head wants and what I know I actually need. I rarely weigh myself, but I will step on the scale at work after an especially carby weekend or vacation. I go back to strict protein/veggies or even full on preop liquid diet if I pop even one pound above my bounce range. I know I have to nip any small gains in the bud before they become big gains. But this year also brought about the biggest NSV of all. It has nothing to do with my weight, it's all about my head and it's one I would love to not have experienced. My best friend committed suicide 7 months ago and every day since has been a miserable struggle with the grief, anger, despair and confusion. The victory in this is that I haven't buried my emotions with food and alcohol. I spent over 1 1/2 years drinking and stuffing my face after my brother died 4 years ago. In the end that only impeded my ability to heal and made me even fatter and more miserable. I learned that you have to feel the pain before you can over come it. So this time I'm feeling it all. And it sucks. I will never stop grieving either my brother or my friend, but maybe some day I can start living again, rather just going through the motions. Anyways, thanks for reading this extended post, and good luck to all you newbies. My advice is don't get wallowed down in the "now". Don't be overwhelmed by the details. Life is more than just carbs and protein and minutes at the gym. You chose a chance at a new life. The first few months are just a teeny tiny period and simply part of the process you have to go through to get to that new life. First photo collage taken December 4, 2013 and December 4, 2014 Second set taken this morning.......I just had my gallbladder removed 8 days ago, so that's what's up with the new scars and my belly is still a little swollen from surgery. I also got a new tat last February - a tribute to my brother who was a wonderfully talented musician.

I ate pickles and olives as soon as I was OK'd for regular food.....about 6-8 weeks out. One of my fav snacks is a pickle, cream cheese, ham roll up.

Lol. I think surgery just "agrees" with me and I probably have a very high tolerance for pain. Was back to work 2 weeks after having two vertebrae in my neck fused. Was skiing by 3 months. Just last month I Had my gallbladder removed. Surgery at 8:30, discharged at 12:30, stopped at the grocery store and cleaned the house for 3 hours when I got home. My medicine cabinet is packed with expired pain meds I've never needed to take. I walked around with a broken back for 3 days before going to the doctor back when I was in college. Dunno but definitely not Wonder Woman.....my boobs are way too droopy!

So what's better....getting your Protein from a 100% whey Protein shake (which, BTW, is the best, most efficiently absorbed form of protein there is) or not getting any protein at all because you can't eat solids just 3 weeks after having your stomach cut along it's entire length?! I just never understood the nuts and surgeons that don't encourage protein supplementation since it is such a vital part of healing, not to mention preventing hair loss down the line. I am 2 years out and STILL drink a protein shake every day. And since Soup agrees with you, go ahead and add unflavored protein powder. Or puree some bean with ham or split pea soup as they have a decent amount of protein by themselves.

I don't think you should have any problems. I had surgery on a Friday. Went shopping and Hung out with my sister sat and sun. I had no problems doing everything for myself. Travelled by myself via airplane on Monday. Drove myself home 5 hours on Tuesday and plowed the driveway when I got there. I live alone and was able to take care of the dogs, cats and horses by myself. Had one day of relaxing before going back to work on Thursday.

BTW, here is a comparison of bougie sizes.....not much difference, really

I also had a 32Fr bougie with the staple line oversewn to make it even tighter. Never had any issues and still no GERD at 2 years out. Love my teeny tummy.

I was on liquids for three weeks, then pureed and didn't start soft food until about 6 weeks out. Even at that progression I only ate a couple tablespoons/day. But I was still able to get in 60-80g Protein through shakes and by adding unflavored Protein powder to Soups. Perhaps your sleeve just doesn't agree with your surgeon's timetable. There's no reason to transition so fast. If solid food makes you vomit then just stick with liquids. Have you tried broth or cream soups or pureed soups? Perhaps your tummy would tolerate warm, non-dairy items better. Lactose intolerance is another biggie after surgery.

Getting 60-80 Grams of Protein and 64-100 ounces of Water are the only things I was ever concerned with. I never counted calories other than a few spot checks just so I could speak the "language" of other patients on the forums. 600 calories the first couple months 800 calories at 4 months 1000 calories at 6 months 1200 at 8-10 months maintenance of 1400-1600 somewhere around 14 months postop These weren't purposeful calorie "goals", just basically the calories I was able to comfortably consume at the time, given the type of food I was eating, Even though I wasn't counting calories, I made an effort to NOT restrict my intake. I didn't want my metabolism getting screwed up from an extended low calorie diet. I always just ate when I was hungry and just until satisfied, not full. I've Never once checked grams of carbs or fat along the way.

Just a reminder of how important it is to ALWAYS take your supplements AND follow through with bloodwork every year, no matter how far out you are. From a 2013 "Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases" journal about long term VSG results..... "Over 5 years of follow-up, 77.9% of patients developed Vitamin D deficiency, 41.2% had Iron deficiency, 39.7% had zinc deficiency, 39.7% had a vitamin B12 deficiency, 25% had a folic acid deficiency, and 10.3% developed anemia. These deficiencies occurred despite routine supplementation, in a higher rate than we had expected" Another study performed years ago (that I found before I decided to have surgery, but can't seem to locate at this time) showed that up to 90% of gastrectomy patients developed deficiencies within 10-20 years. That study showed the same specific nutrients were involved as well as Calcium for women.

I was still on liquids at 2 1/2 weeks so it wasn't an issue. But hydration and Protein are more important than the quantity of solids at this point. For the first couple months I just had a 24-32 oz protein smoothie in the morning and killed 2 birds with 1 stone. Even now, two years out, I typically drink 20 oz of decaf coffee or tea before my first food of the day, which is a Quest bar around 10am. Then a protein smoothie for a midday snack. (I don't get a lunch break at work). So basically I get 45-50oz of Fluid and 40-50g protein before I really eat any actual food. Most of my "meals", including fruits and veggies and solid protein happen after 5 or 6pm You will eventually figure out what kind of schedule works best for you.

Women often have crazy cycles after WLS because of the hormones getting released, and it is usually temporary until your body stops pouring out the estrogen from your fat stores. But it is kind of weird that you are bleeding after an ablation. I had an ablation in 2008 and have not shed a drop of blood since. Even after my VSG. The cramping, I understand because technically, we are still cycling. But where's the blood coming from? You may want to consult with your surgeon, or better yet your OB/Gyn. As for pain Meds, talk to your surgeon. I am allowed NSAIDS as long as I take a PPI and carafate while on them, but not everyone is off the same thoughts.

My surgeon picked a goal weight for me of 160. No idea where he came up with that number. I picked a goal of 150 because that was what I weighed when I was in my 20's and very fit and athletic. My body, however, chose 140. Guess who won? I actually remember thinking I would be OK with where I was at when I was 170. The extra 30 pounds were a nice bonus! Goal weights are usually just random numbers thrown out there. Just keep on plan and look at this as a lifetime challenge because it is. Your goal weight is not the finish line.

Quit eating sugar and junk and the cravings for them will go away. Go back to strict protein and veggies for a couple weeks. This is how I get rid of the carb cravings whenever I start to feel out of control. It will clear the junk out of your system and empower you mentally to be able to adhere to your meal plan.

I had lost 17 pounds at 6 weeks, too. I was still 17 pounds down at 10 weeks. Now check out my ticker.... 10 pounds under goal and maintaining 2 years out. The rate at which you lose has nothing to do with your ultimate long term success. Just get in all your protein and water, stay away from simple carbs, and put the scale away for a couple weeks. Relax and Enjoy the NSVs

Sip sip sip from the time you wake up in the morning till you go to bed. Keep a drink within arms reach at all times. Some people keep a timer and drink 1-2 oz every 15 minutes. Do what it takes to stay hydrated. It is your number one priority at this point.

UGH! I hope I haven't stretched my sleeve....I wonder if there is a way to tell? If so, do you know if it will go back if I get strict with my diet? I'm seeing my doc on Tuesday so I will definitely ask those questions! I've only lost 12 lbs in 14 days post op and it bums me out when I hear people have lost more! But don't get me wrong, I'm SUPER excited for your loss so far!You absolutely have not stretched your sleeve. Your incision isn't even healed yet and it would split wide open before it would stretch. And it will NEVER stretch with fluids or even purées. It would takes weeks, if not months of consistently overeating solids to even begin to stretch your sleeve. And as for weightless your expectations are way too high. I was thrilled when I had lost 17 pounds at 6 weeks out. Not to mention you have a very low BMI so are not going to have the kind of total pounds lost that most people that post on here see.

Won't know till your surgeon gets in there. But I Would be totally up front with him with what you have been eating. And remember, cheating is only hurting yourself. And the more you cheat, the easier it is to cheat next time. Self sabotage is a big problem early on and ultimately leads to an unsuccessful outcome. The mental part of WLS is a hundred times harder than the physical part. You are going to a professional for surgery, you may find it necessary to go to a professional for the psychiatric part, too. And just for a perspective of what's in store, here is a link to the best advice I've ever read concerning WLS...... http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/357439-bariatric-surgery-only-makes-your-stomach-smaller-otherwise-youre-exactly-the-same/?hl=%20babbs

My insurance doesn't cover WLS or any complications of WLS. I went to Mexico and was self pay, knowing full well any complications would bankrupt me and leave me unemployed. But I also researched the hell out of the surgeons down there and went with a FACS certified Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence at an International Center of Excellence. With a complication rate 1/10 of the US average and having performed over 12,000 bariatric surgeries I felt very comfortable with my decision. But the financial aspect is just one more risk we self-pays have to figure into the equation if pros vs cons.

Be thankful you can drink so easily. No you aren't doing any harm to your sleeve....liquids flow right through your sleeve into your intestines. Meeting both Protein and fluids goal this early is excellent! I couldn't tolerate plain Water either. Same with artificial sweeteners and lactose. But shakes, Soup, juice, sports drinks, etc, went down just fine. All of these intolerances passed after 4 months. If 100 people had WLS you would get 100 different versions of what WLS is like. All of them are normal....for that person. So relax and enjoy YOUR journey.

My belly was so swollen it stuck out like I was pregnant. Took almost three weeks before I could fit in my jeans. I just had my gallbladder removed and same thing....swollen pregnant belly. But the swelling went down after a week with the gallbladder.

How long did you stay? Surgery at 3pm discharged at 9am next day pain level? Almost none. Minor discomfort, never took any pain Meds energy level? Tired but not bad. Watched TV all night (I can never sleep after anesthesia). Went shopping and walked 2 miles the next day before taking an afternoon nap what were you able to do physically vs. what did nurses have to help you with? The volume didn't work on my TV remote so the nurse had to change it manually. She also brought me Water to sip. That's about it. Abdominal muscles were fatigued, but not so much I couldn't get up and around on my own. Walked the halls a bunch with the other gals that had surgery that day. Did you have someone stay overnight with you or were you alone? I was alone. Facetimed with my sister who was back at the hotel. What items were helpful to bring? iPad, phone, Chargers Were you able to wear your own clothing or did you have to keep on the hospital gown? Arrived in sweats, t shirt and crocs. Wore hospital gown while there and left in same clothes I came in.