BigDog Bryan

It's getting near the time to consider the next steps in my New Life. After 140 pounds lost and approaching the first major milestone of 250 lbs, the time to consider Plastic Surgery to clean up the sag-bag that is forming just over my beltline. While getting back into the gym will help to restore my muscle tone and strength, the aesthetics are quite another matter. I am not debating what to do. I am, however, asking about what to anticipate in terms of recovery time and where the scars are going to be (my scars do NOT fade away, so I want to know where my badges of honor will reside). Thanks in Advance

1 - Arrive at the Gastro Office 2 - Put on the "suit" (Surgical Gown) and get the IV started 3 - Meet the Anesthesiologist 4 - Roll into the room 5 - OUT COLD 6 - Wake up in Recovery - ALL DONE

I had VSG on October 20th, 2015. In just over 16 months I've lost about 140 pounds. It comes to about 35% of my peak body weight, and I could not be happier. I chose VSG so that my digestive tract would remain intact, so that I don't have to worry about malabsorption of Vitamins and/or Medications that I may require later in life. The ONLY change that I would make would be to have the surgery sooner. I feel as if my clock has been tout 12 years, and I can go into most any store and buy clothes. I can sit down in a booth at a Diner, and my waist size starts with a "3" for the first time in decades. I suppose I would be further along after a Bypass, but going from a 5X to a 2X in a year+ seems plenty fast for me. Hope that this little testimony helps you. Congratulations on choosing to take back your health and All the Best, no matter which way you choose to go.

My rule is as follows: Tell people to Inform Them, NOT to Affirm You. This is about YOU more than it is about anyone else in your life (including your spouse/partner and/or children). Your decision is one of courage and conviction, not convenience. Tell the people who you believe should know and will be impacted by your immediate recovery phases (Surgery, Phase 1 & 2 of the post-op diet). Anyone else is a matter of personal comfort.

Try going back to Protein Shakes to take the edge off of the snack thing. Since the Protein hunger, it should help you by making your overall intake a bit healthier.

Pain Management requires at least 2 things: 1 - Attitude going into your surgery: Your mindset before the surgery is a crucial part of your post-op experience. Go into your surgery EXPECTING to be successful and victorious. There is a well-worn axiom "If you think you can, you're right! If you think you can't, you're right!. Now choose". Work to be as positive as possible in order to increase your chances of a smooth recovery. 2 - Perspective of alternatives: As uncomfortable as the day after your surgery may be, it's NOTHING compared to the series of painful compromises and surgeries that accompany a long-term weight issue. Choose this recovery over surgery for an amputation down the road (I have seen this in my extended family, so this is no idle threat to our health). Embrace this as the corrective step needed to reset your health and embrace YOUR future. Keep your eyes on the Long Game.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I have experienced this victory as well, and it is SWEET to see! Be sure and assured that this is a barrier that you will NEVER see again - do Enjoy your each victory on your journey

Enjoy the Flavors, not the Volume. It is an ongoing education for each of us to learn what it means to be full and what a "full meal" looks like now. The learning NEVER stops, but being able to sit at a booth in a diner NEVER gets old!

This is what happens VERY often in a stall. I have lost a pants size (it seems to be the lower body that loses the most inches) without the scale moving at all. It seems to be a part of the periodic adjustments that your body makes to its new stomach and energy levels. Check the "Embrace the Stall" thread to see more.

Keep it QUIET, since she is so opinionated. You don't need ANY negative energy going into the surgery and in the first 3+ weeks of recovery. When you get back to "regular food" you can revisit the topic. Until then, let her wonder about how you are losing so much and feeling so much better!

I experienced a similar problem with AmeriHealth (they said it was a Gastrointestinal Procedure - like a Colonoscopy). I wound up switching providers to Horizon Blue Cross in order to get my Sleeve done. It took about 2 months to get everything switched over, but it was the only way for me to get what I needed. There were hassles and a few phone calls that had me praying for forgiveness afterward, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I have said this before, and it may apply here too. Tell people about your surgery to Inform them, NOT to Affirm you. If and when you are comfortable, you can share with others. I have been amazed at how many people are either thinking about WLS, or know someone who is considering it. I see it as a chance to counter the negative junk out there about WLS failures and complications. If you tell no one, it is your choice and NO ONE should condemn you for your silence. Just be comfortable with who you are and who you will become once the surgery succeeds for you!

My max weight was close to yours, but I am 5'9" - so I get the feelings at the start. The answer to your questions is "YES". VSG creates a physiological change in you that takes your "willpower" out of the drivers seat. The removal of the hunger hormone will show you very clearly what the difference is between head hungry and hungry. You will have all you need to overcome it, between this forum, your surgical team, and the changes in your body and mind. One of my favorite stories goes like this. The NUT asks a group of pre-surgery clients how long it will take to drink a 4oz cup of Water. The answers vary from 5-30 seconds. The NUT then tells them that the day after the surgery, it will take 15-30 minutes - and it will feel like that's as fast as they can do it. NO ONE believes this. The days after my surgery, I am recovering and existing on water and Italian Ice. As promised, it takes me 30 minutes to drink a cup of water, and the cup of Italian Ice (Lemon) takes about 5 hours to "finish". This is NOT a diet as you know it. This is a BIG change to your capacity and desire for foods. This is a decision that you will be VERY HAPPY that you made. God Bless.

Tip #1 - STOP WEIGHING YOURSELF SO MUCH. This is a process, not an event. Your loss will be over time, not overnight. Know that your body will periodically stall for a time (usually a short time) while it adjusts to changes in your diet and caloric needs. Give yourself permission to live and enjoy each day. You need a new relationship with food, not a new fear of it. Tip #2 - RELAX. In the early months after surgery, you will lose weight "on twinkies and chicken" as one VSG veteran told me last year. Your journey is at its beginning, enjoy the changes. Tip #3 - Change is more than pounds. Even when you hit a stall, you might still lose inches. I hit a 3-week stall and lost 2 inches off my waist in the same timeframe. Victories are all around you, look for them and Celebrate them.

I vividly remember telling my NUT that "I miss chewing" on many occasions during stage 1 & 2. Keep your eyes on the prize, buy yourself a pair of jeans in your new/next size, and remember that you CAN and WILL get to puree foods SOON. the Soft Foods stage will be exciting because it re-introduces texture and variety to your diet. Also, remember that rushing things can be painful (usually IMMEDIATELY), so take your time. Remember that you are building a new relationship with food, and it needs to be a deliberate and intentional process. There is amazing freedom in being able to Taste and Enjoy without a fear of "running out" of anything. I still revel in being able to sit down in a Diner at any table! Embrace EVERY victory!

There are FAR More success stories than there are failures. People may not want to brag about hearing that someone lost 100+ pounds and are healthier than they have been in 25 years. Generally speaking, you will find that MANY of your friends do NOT have the courage to make real and lasting changes in their own lives. When you talk about your surgery, you may be reminding them that they are unable to change their own lives, so they are MUCH more comfortable keeping you from showing your courage and changing their little world that you are a round and controllable part of. Change scares people, whether they realize it of not, so don't let their fear change you! You have already been through a LOT in your life, and you DESERVE a chance at a healthier life going forward. The liberation of coming off of medications after surgery (went into the hospital on 4 medications, came out on 2 - and the remaining doses were reduced to their lowest levels) is an immediate boost to your psychology, so embrace it. When you tell anyone that you are having this surgery, do it to inform them, not to affirm you. God Bless

Remember the following phrase when you speak to your PCP - "You work for me.... I don't work for you". With all of their knowledge and education, they are in fact vendors providing a service. If their rejection of your plans is based on nothing based in science AND common sense then get another vendor. It is not always easy to do, but that is no reason to tolerate care that is less than you deserve. Your BMI alone makes this a viable option for you, and your PCP should be happy that you are NOT putting your head in the sand on this issue. Your previous doctor clearly had another motive to refuse to help (surely there is a substantial cost to their own diet program that they wanted you to sign up for). DO THIS FOR YOU!!! Feel GREAT about your courage and don't let ANYONE turn you around

It sounds like gas related pains. Are you taking a heartburn medication (Prilosec OTC or some Omeprasol product) daily? It is VERY important to get this first thing in the morning every day for at least the first year after surgery (I still take one - habit I guess). Also, check with your surgical team to see if there are other things you be doing or addressing. It will get better for you, and your new life will begin again!

Protein and Patience. Stalls DO happen to everyone, it's just another part of the journey. For me, it was an increase on my daily protein to about 80 grams per day that helped me break through after about 3-4 weeks (your results WILL vary). I had a 2nd stall broken by emergency surgery on my hernia (NOT a recommended method) and a 4 day liquid & IV diet in the hospital. Log your food and review your food diary to see that your nutrients are complete and sufficient on a daily basis, and stay with it. You will get through each barrier with the same persistence that it took to have the surgery in the first place. Stay Determined!

Begin by telling him that you are following his courageous example of making a life change for the better. Thank him for showing you how to be strong and committed to do what is necessary to be a healthier and better you. Also remind him that you are his child, and this is how the determination that he taught you has bloomed in your life. Remind him that he didn't ask your permission to become sober, but you are SO PROUD of him. Also remember that you are his "little girl" and he may be dealing with the reality that you are now a grown woman (not always easy for us fathers of you twenty somethings). Don't forget to thank him again for the courage to change, and give him a kiss no matter what. BTW, my story for you - I has the surgery 14 months ago and I am down about 130 pounds, and pants have shrunk by 14 inches, and I am off of all diabetic medications. My shirts (were a 5X) are no longer "Big and Tall", and I can sit in a booth at a diner. I call that a success story for you to use as you see fit

First off, CONGRATULATIONS! There are a host of revelations coming your way as more changes occur. The next revelation will be that you will become a size that you don't have ANY clothes for. You will see people that don't recognize you at first glance. Be VERY Excited and embrace the Journey to the RESET in your life!

No Condemnation here - just a bit of cautionary advice. Pregnancy comes with a host of changes, and one of them is a HUGE spike in your need for Protein intake. You are not "eating for two", but you ARE nourishing for two! Increase your protein intake a bit, and speak to your Nutritionist as soon as you can to develop a plan for your new dietary requirements. Make sure that all of your doctors are on the same page as your pregnancy progresses, and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

This is a decision that requires a level of courage that a LOT of people don't have. Change in general is not always welcome, so there will always be resistance from someone in your life. We ALL commend you for taking the step to change the trajectory of your life. Those who are fighting you are doing so from their own fear, not their love for you. Don't make their fear your problem - you will be the ONLY ONE on the operating table, and their words will probably become even angrier as your success becomes more evident. This is an important life lesson for you - not everyone in your corner is truly with you. The same thing will happen when your career takes off and you start making more money than some of your current friends and extended family. The same thing will happen when you get a house (your first, or the first that is bigger than theirs). Not everybody wants to see you succeed on your own terms. They want your life to be on their terms, and not according to your own life journey. Be Excited for yourself !!! Doing the right thing means that life will work out for you JUST FINE.

I advise ANYONE to look at percentages, not pounds! I lost 15% of my goal weight loss on the first month, then it slowed down a bit. I hit a stall after about 4 months, but it broke after 3+ weeks of Protein intake and walking. A second stall was broken by emergency hernia surgery in July. As of now (14+ months out), I have lost 60% of my goal, and the rate is still about 10-12 pounds per month. Seeing huge numbers can be discouraging if you think you should have lost 100 pounds in 6 months because you read about someone else and their journey. I would not have lost 130 pounds so far if my goal was to lose 150 pounds total. I've had MY numbers because of where I started, not because there is a magic schedule that calls for 50 pounds in 6 the first weeks, regardless of where you start at where you want to go. Everyone is different, but ALL of us are healthier for the decision to have the surgery and commit to the Real Changes that it demands.