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I could not tolerate milk postop (gave me sharp pains), but I could eat Greek yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and whey protein just fine. After about 4 months my intolerance resolved and I could drink milk again with no problems. I also could not tolerate artificial sweeteners and plain water, but after 4 months I had no issues with them either (although I prefer the taste of real sugar, stevia, honey or monk fruit over the artificial crap)

What's your big hurry? I had "only" lost 17 pounds at 7 weeks postop and I was thrilled. My rate of loss did not keep me from meeting and even passing my goal. Weight loss is not a competitive sport. You have the rest of your life to "win".

Same here. I even had to take MOM just to go every 3 days and it was super hard....even caused bleeding. Once I started adding insoluble fiber to my shakes and yogurt, I've had regular, soft daily BM's. For me, soluble fiber like Metamucil and benefiber did nothing. It had to be insoluble fiber. I currently use a mixture of ground flax seed and Now Foods apple fiber.

I could have done the beach, restaurant and club thing (no dancing), but the paintball would have been tough (at least the way we play)....maybe save that for the end of the 2 weeks. I was out shopping the day after surgery and walked a couple miles every day. I flew alone and then drove myself home 5 hours and plowed my driveway on days 3 and 4. Laid on the couch day 5. Ran errands, grocery shopping, haircut and laundry day 6. Back to work at a physical job day 7. I was tired, of course, but had no problems.

Geez, you guys sure have a lot of assholes in your life! I tell everyone that asks about my weightloss that I had surgery.....friends, family, clients, acquaintances. The responses I get are support, congratulations, and curiosity. I answer their questions and they share some of their weight loss stories or how they "knew someone who hasn't done as well as me". I'm proud of my accomplishment and they are happy for me. Then we move on to other topics with warm fuzzy feelings about going to Mexico for WLS. Thumbs up for conservative, rural redneck eastern Idaho!

Here are some of the non-meat/egg/poultry things I eat.....Refried beans. Cottage cheese. Cheese. Fish. Crab. Clams. Baked beans. Split pea soup. Bean and ham soup. Thai stir fry made with Tofu. Edamame. Grilled veggies. Protein ice cream and Popsicles. Roasted soy beans. Mixed nuts. Greek yogurt. Kashi Go Lean Cereal. Protein smoothies. Bananas. Apples with peanut butter. Spaghetti squash. Oranges. Blueberries. Peaches. Seaweed salad. Quest bars. Natures Valley Protein bars. GNC Go Lean Bars.

If we are going to bring reality shows into this "scientific" argument, then what about Naked and Afraid? They may eat a few hundred calories total over 3 weeks. They are expending thousands of calories each day just trying to stay warm, build a shelter, gather firewood and Water and looking for food. Often too weak to barely stand up. And most only lose 15-20 pounds in 3 weeks. Compare that to how I lost 22 pounds in 2 weeks on my preop diet taking in close to 1000 calories/day. That along with my previously mentioned stall certainly discredits your theory. Like someone else said, physiology is different than physics.

I'd like to see the mathematical equation that explains my longest stall..... Between weeks 6 and 10 post op, I was very nauseous from an antibiotic I was taking and I could barely eat or drink anything. In fact, I had to spit out my own saliva because just swallowing that made me gag. I had to get IV fluids 3 times for severe dehydration. I was maybe consuming a couple hundred calories a day and STILL working 40-50 hours a week, feeding horses, shoveling snow, etc. I actually GAINED 3 pounds in that month, but dropped a whole pant size. How does physics explain that? Our bodies are amazingly adaptable, and I'm frankly quite surprised that WLS patients lose as fast as they do, even with the stalls.

So sorry for what you've had to endure. I guess if you really want the sleeve, you may try and consult with another surgeon who specializes in revision surgeries and see if they have any other options. Although I can imagine there's a lot of scar tissue that may not hold up to healing properly with a VSG. but definitely go with whatever option is safest for you.

Yes

Hey @@Alex Brecher why did this thread get moved to local support groups? Shouldn't it be in the Mexico and self pay subforum? Posters are not necessarily from the same locale. And since it got moved, my link is broken and it's no longer showing up under my notifications.

At 3-4 months I could still only eat a couple bites of anything. 1/2 quest bar stuffed me. At 17 months out, I can easily eat a whole quest bar with room to spare. I can consume around 1/2 cup of denser protein or solid veggies, but up to a cup of something like yogurt or soup. I can drink an unending amount of anything, and I can take regular gulps, not just tiny sips.

Three things..... That I love food and always will. That I can actually deal with life without drinking several cocktails every night. That I look hot in Cruel Girl Size 5 slim fit jeans!

Since VSG can often create GERD as well as make existing GERD worse, the DS is probably your best bet. People that develop severe GERD after VSG often have to convert to DS. BTW, did the plication relieve your GERD?

I don't count calories or track or measure my food. However, since lots of people do, I took a few spot checks along the way so I could "talk the talk" and here's what I got.... 3-4 months - about 800 calories 6 months 1000 calories (Passed goal at 7 1/2 months) 8-10 months 1200 calories 10-17 months - 1400-1600 calories (Still maintaining 10 pounds below goal)

Like deedadumble said, if you don't add an international plan, I'd definitely suggest turning your phone to airplane mode or you will get charged for incoming calls and text messages. I did not get an international plan, but could still email and use FaceTime and iMessages for free when connected to WiFi.

Unles your nut has been obese, had WLS herself, and lost what her stupid textbook charts said she should lose, then she has no business lecturing you about your progress. I'm sorry, but "Book learnin" does not an expert make. At this point Just get in your Protein, Water, Vitamins and don't worry what the numbers on the scale say. And unless your insurance requires it, there's really no need to ever go back to the nut again. I managed to lose over 100% of my excess weight AT MY OWN PACE with absolutely zero postop consults with a nut. This is YOUR journey, not hers.....DONT BE A STATISTIC! BTW, in my opinion, 25 pounds in 2 weeks is excessive weight loss. I had "only" lost 17 pounds at 3 months post and I was thrilled. Glad I didn't have a nut making me feel bad about myself.

I had some clothes up to 3 sizes below what I was wearing on surgery day from all my previous weight loss attempts. Once I went through them, I would buy a couple pairs of pants and a shirt or two from the thrift store as I continued to lose and drop sizes. My old tops were easier to wear than pants even when they were too big. I would let my jeans get quite baggy and cinch up my belt before I bought another pair. I didn't buy new clothes until I knew my weight had stabilized about 9-10 months postop. I did keep one pair of 22W jeans for posterity's sake and my current size 5's still seem like doll clothes when I go to put them on!

I'm 17 months postop, I was self pay and I haven't had one minute of therapy. But I still managed to follow my doctor's preop and postop diets to a T, lose over 100% of my excess weight, and maintain below goal for over 9 months. Perhaps it's the self pay part that gives another level of accountability for postop choices.... This was a huge financial AND mental commitment I was happy to make. And, BTW, if I was going to do something like have a piece of cheesecake for dinner tonight instead of something containing Protein, I would just DO it. I would not ask any of you for permission. LOL !

I had a very narrow window that I could take time off work for surgery. (I own my own business and Jan/feb is the only time of year I'm NOT working 60+ hours/week) so even though I was self pay it took almost a year, most of which was spent researching online, sending emails, asking questions, reviewing medical journals, and reading books. February 2013 - decided to have WLS and spent day and night researching types of WLS May -decided to have VSG, so more research, questions and interviews with surgeons both in the U.S. and Mexico August/September - decided to have surgery with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center October - booked surgery for January 2014 November - decided to incorporate surgery time off over the holidays so I I wouldn't have to miss so much work. rescheduled surgery for Christmas time. December 20, 2013 - Surgery Day....only had to miss 3 days of work!

Thanks guys, this is definitely a change for me considering how I handled my brother's death. I spent over a year in a drunken stupor and gained 50 pounds. I figured I need a plan B this time around since none of the food or alcohol made me feel better anyways. I guess I've just resigned myself to the fact that I am going to feel this way no matter what. it takes all my willpower to just get up, go to work, and try to function when all I want to do is curl up and cry. (Actually had an anxiety attack, couldn't breathe and nearly passed out in the shower this morning). Continuing to visit and post on BP is one of my many attempts to try and be "normal". His wife has arranged for counseling for their son and both of us are looking at grief counseling for ourselves. I thought losing my brother was hard, but a suicide takes all this shit to a whole other level. For the first time in my life I've encountered a state of mental anguish that I just don't know how to begin to deal with. (Other than to keep cleaning....it's my new obsession!) Sorry for the hijack but Thanks for letting me rant.

My orders were No drinking 5 minutes before or 45 minutes after eating. The reason for this is the Fluid will wash the food out of your sleeve and you won't feel full for as long which may lead to grazing and eating too much because you're hungry all the time. There are actually YouTube videos that demonstrate how this works. In the beginning this won't be a problem. Your tiny tummy will get full so fast on so little food that drinking too soon will actually make you vomit. But as time goes on, it often just becomes a new habit you don't even have to think about. That being said, once I was in maintenance and well below goal I quit following this rule. My tummy had more room for both food and liquid after about 10 months and personally, I get hungry every 2-3 hours whether I drink or not. The key is just not to overeat. But in general, the no drinking rule is something that should be followed for life.

Get rid of the pain in my knees and ankles...check Have normal BP....check Hop up in the saddle without having to find a rock or log to climb on....check Look hot in jeans and boots...check Walk and hike and ski and climb hills and stairs without getting out of breath...check Be able to shop for cute clothes in regular stores...check Feel good about going out in public and know I'm not the biggest one in the room....check. Look hard and ripped in a sports bra or tank top....check Never have to be on a diet again....check!!!

I'm expecting the pain but what I'm worried about is will I ever be able to eat normal again -- go to a restaurant with my husband, eat at holidays etc. I'm not talking about eating BIG. I realize that restaurant eating will mean eating a very small amount of the food. I guess I'm just nervous because right now I'm thinking of all the things that I would love to just have a bite of. (I'm on Day 8 of the Pre-op liquid diet). Yes you will be able to go out to eat and have a good time at holiday parties. I go out all the time and the only difference from preop is my bill is less and I take home leftovers. I party with friends and family and for the first time in my life, I'm one of the sober ones. I eat whatever I want in moderation. And yes, I do drink and eat at the same time. At 17 months and maintaining well below goal, I've found many of the "rules" for success aren't necessarily written in stone. Of course it took almost a year to get to this point and find MY new normal, yours may be quite different. Be patient, follow the rules in the beginning and find what works for you in the long run. There are actually dozens of "right" ways to work with your WLS.

3 people. 1 friend (who actually had bypass, not VSG), 1 client who also went to Mexico and 1 daughter of a client who had it here in the U.S. Her dad (our client) hugs me practically every time he sees me because she is doing so well, getting healthy and feeling so good about herself. Claims I "saved her life".