Kindle

I've got one on my lower back, one on my ankle and one on my forearm. None of them changed after losing 100 pounds. The one on my lower back would probably be ruined if I ever got a butt lift, but that's not in the plan for now. The skin on my upper arms tightened up pretty well, so I don't think a tattoo there would have been an issue. I actually just got a new one (we ran out of time so it's only 3/4 done) under my collarbone and up unto my shoulder. I was originally going to get the new one on my side/ribs, but I've got enough loose skin there I was afraid it would get wrinkly as I get older.

Coconut oil

I like whole food based Vitamins. They contain cofactors and micronutrients that just can't be duplicated with synthetic Vitamin products created in a lab. Most of them also contain Probiotics and digestive enzymes. Garden of Life Vitamin Code and Source of Life Gold are two that I have used for years...even before WLS. They come in capsules, tablets, chewable and liquid. Besides the Multivitamin, I also take Nature's Bounty fish oil/Vitamin D gel cap (most people are Vitamin D deficient with or without WLS) and sublingual B12 (methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin) because after VSG you cannot absorb oral B12. Iron and calcium citrate (taken separately) is also recommended for WLS patients, but bloodwork 6 months out showed my iron and calcium levels were high so I don't take them anymore. It is important to do bloodwork for life so you can adjust supplements as needed before deficiencies become a problem.

I could sleep on my side from day 1. Took 2 weeks before I could sleep on my stomach only because I felt so bloated, not because of pain.

@@Kindle omg those broths sound AMAZING!!! But are they fat free and reduced sodium??? I would kill for some veggies or a salad at least for one meal! I have the Unjury unflavored and the chicken soup flavored broth which I add at least once a day! I was trying to order the cheese sauce but they aren't selling it this year!! What a bummer!!! The broths have 0-1g fat, 25-30 calories/cup and 800g sodium. But unless you have to limit sodium for other health reasons, it does not affect weight loss at all. That's just a misconception. It would only affect Water weight and that fluctuates daily anyways.

Although sodium has its own pros and cons and health-related issues, it has no affect on true weight loss.... Meaning actual body fat. It only affects water retention/water weight. I ate these on my pre and postop diets and actually still eat them. Lost 114% of my excess weight, maintained for over 7 months and lowered my BP to 106/68 without paying any attention to sodium.

Swanson flavor infused broths come in Chinese Hot and Sour, Mexican Tortilla, Ginger Thai, Cajun and Tuscan chicken flavors. I also made French onion soup, minus the cheese and bread. I was allowed greens and some other veggies on my preop, so I added spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, etc to my broths for more flavor. I also added unflavored protein powder to my broths both pre and postop. Unjury made a protein cheese powder that was killer mixed with the Mexican tortilla infused broth. You can also experiment with different herbs to liven up the "regular" beef, chicken and veggie broths.

I am a strong, independent, self-sufficient, intelligent single female who put herself through college, owns a successful business, has a loving family, great friends and has always supported and taken care of herself no matter what size! And if that isn't enough, I have pets that make me feel loved and super special every day.

There was one gal who had surgery same day as me and she had a long flight back from San Diego to NE Canada 3 days postop. The combined flight and drive for her to get home was 14 hours. She was traveling alone so was going to split it up over 2 days...too tired to drive home after long flight. She wore compression stockings (as we all did) and got an aisle seat so she could get up and walk the aisles during the flight. My travel day was much shorter...2 hour flight followed by a 5 hour drive. I'd suggest taking Protein powders that mix well with Water and other foods you are allowed at whatever stage you are in. (I was on pureed food at 1 month out, so I would have brought yogurt, Soup mixes, soft cheeses, etc to nibble on the flight.). Drink drink drink while you are traveling. Like @@JamieLogical said, I wouldn't expect any issues being a whole month out.

Ditto. I felt just fine, but my sister reported that our FaceTime conversation about 4 hours postop was pretty entertaining!

Everyday... 1 fish oil/Vitamin D capsule 2 whole food based multivitamins capsules 3 days/week I also take a sublingual B12 In the beginning i also took 1 Iron capsule and 4 calcium citrate chewables/day. 6 month labs showed iron and calcium levels were high so I stopped taking them. 12 month bloodwork all looked good (actually calcium was still high, but I do eat a lot of dairy). That's why it's so important to keep up with bloodwork forever...vitamin supplements are not a one size fits all.

Ditto here. I live in a rural community with exactly 15 restaurants in the entire county (and this includes the delis in both grocery stores) and there is only one chain restaurant....Subway. So logging meals when I go out would be pretty difficult. I am single and don't particularly like cooking so I'm all about takeout and prepared deli food. (But when I do cook, its actually pretty killer ) Not to mention that I'm kind of a semi-grazer. I don't eat "servings" of anything....its more of a couple bites of many things. Almost every meal is a potluck! NO practical way to track. It maybe would have been doable in the first 4-6 months when I was eating a little more structured and not so much variety, but not at this point, given the way I eat. And here's a toast (Protein shake, of course) to "not normal"

I wasn't hungry (head or otherwise) for the first 3-4 months. Then I started enjoying eating again, but had no cravings or head hunger issues. By 10 months, my old hunger and cravings were starting to make appearances. At 15 months out I fight my head hunger every day. I'd say I'm successful at winning the battles 80% of the time.

Walking, shopping, sightseeing and taking naps day 1 and 2. Flew from San Diego to SLC and drove myself home 5 hours on day 3/4 (had to stay in a hotel 1/2 way home because the roads were so icy.) Plowed my driveway, went shopping and fed horses and dogs when I got home day 4. Sat around and did nothing day 5 (Christmas day). Got a haircut and nails done and worked a couple hours from home day 6. Back to work day 7. But your schedule seems a lot nicer to me. I was hoping to relax for 2 weeks but that obviously didn't happen.... Enjoy your down time!

I started with a BMI of 40. Surgeon wanted me to lose 5% before surgery which would have been 12 pounds. I started my 2 weeks preop diet 2 days early and ended up losing 22 pounds in 16 days on 3 shakes/day and unlimited greens. Made it through 2 Christmas parties, a birthday party and a funeral without a single cheat.

Don't feel bad, I haven't even heard of 70% of the shows listed on this thread....I obviously don't watch enough TV....

What a great trip! Glad you had fun. It's great for the newbies to see just how "normal" life can be.

Followed 100%. Even Started 2 days early because I was afraid I wouldn't lose the 5% I was supposed to. Ended up losing 22 pounds instead of 12! Managed to get through two Christmas parties, a birthday party and a funeral without cheating even once. ???? Program was 3 Protein shakes and unlimited greens. I substituted broth with unflavored Protein powder for one of the shakes each day for a savory alternative. I also dipped some of my green veggies in unjury protein cheese sauce and sprinkled flavored vinegar on spinach, kale, butter lettuce and other leafy greens. All allowable per nutritionist.

I had to chuckle to myself reading @@JamieLogical ’s post about being TOO OCD to log her food. It was eerily familiar. Of course I've gone through the tracking/measuring thing in the past with many different diets. And I was really good at it.... Even made computer spreadsheets for data analysis. But like I said before, I had surgery so I wouldn't have to do that anymore. I know it wouldn't seem like I'm OCD to most of you who have read my apparent cavalier posts about not tracking, not weighing, etc, but it's actually the opposite. I am insanely meticulous when it comes to details. Downright obsessed about them in fact. That's why I was able to follow my preop and postop diet instructions so easily.... Detailed rules to abide by with no real variables. But like @@JamieLogical said, trying to log on days when there are unknowns would make me crazy. Basically, if I can't do it perfectly, I'm not going to do it at all. How in the hell can I log what I eat at a potluck or at the Sizzler buffet I just went to and had a bite or two or three of 8 different things? I know I would obsess over the inaccuracies because I have a Fitbit One and I've forgotten to clip it on sometimes. Knowing my steps for the day are not right stresses me out. I'm not knocking anyone who does do the logging and tracking... Good for you. Do whatever you need to to stay motivated and on track. I'm just wired a bit differently.

I went to the same surgeon as @@JamieLogical and I paid around $7000 for plane tickets, surgery, extra hotel stay (due to flight cancellation) all postop meds and travel/shopping incidentals while in TJ. It was great not to have all the insurance hoops. I have had multiple postop consults with my surgeons office via email and phone calls and they have a nutritionist available for consult. Surgery was 15 months ago, I had a relatively easy recovery, no complications, and have been maintaining well below goal for 7 months.

I put my deposit and plane tickets on a credit card, which I paid off in full within 3 months when I got my tax return. I used my entire savings for the bulk of the surgery cost. I had been saving for two years for a new truck. Instead, I am 100 pounds lighter and still drive a 16 year old ford! No regrets at all. If I hadn't already had that money saved I would have started a savings account ear marked for surgery. I'm not big on buying thing I can't afford, even if it means delaying the purchase....Interest and fees can kill you if you're not careful. Guess that's why I have an 824 credit score ????. But like JamieLogical found, there are some creative financing options out there that aren't too bad.

I only took a small bag with my wallet, contact lens stuff, iPad, phone, chargers, and toiletries with me to the surgical center. We all had private rooms so it just stayed in there while I was in surgery. There was actually double entrance security at OCC....key code to get into the building and key code to get into the surgical/patient rooms area so I felt everything was perfectly safe. Once back at the Marriott, there was a safe in our room for valuables. I kept my passport, extra cash and iPad in there when I went out for walks. My regular luggage was just in the room like any other hotel.

Yes, steroids can cause gastric ulceration just like NSAIDS. At about 10 months postop I had some neurological symptoms in my neck (I've had a previous C5-C6 fusion). My PCP wanted me on a tapering dose of pred since This is what has always helped in the past. I consulted with my surgeon's office and they said it would be fine and advised that I take omeprazole while taking the pred, which I did. I went ahead and took sucralfate as well to double protect my stomach.

I tipped the hotel staff (maid, bell hop, shuttle driver and waiters) a couple bucks each day. I tipped our OCC driver at the end of our trip $20 U.S. Plus all our extra pesos....probably another $10 worth.

I didn't want to eat or drink postop, either. It was all such an unwanted chore. But I MADE myself eat and drink to maintain my hydrations, protein levels and overall health. Finally at around 4 months out I started enjoying food again. Like VSGAnn2014 said, this too shall pass. You will feel completely different in a few months. And then you will feel differently from that a few months later. The first year is constantly changing.