LivingProof

When you can turn on your side in bed and just let your knee fall beside your leg and there's some space in between. No more hiking your knee up to your rib cage!

I was June 18 and in a two-week stall for a time there. Then, this past week we went to San Francisco for a family wedding. I walked A LOT more than I thought I would--5 miles around Fisherman's Wharf all told one day--averaged 3-4 miles the other days. Eating? I had little bites of appetizers or parts of things, stayed close to the protein stuff--4 bites. I discovered I love S'bucks iced coffee, and generally tried to be good, but I'm not gonna lie, I had a couple of bites of wedding cake. So, I was good, but not perfect. Got on the scale last last night when we got back from the airport. Gone 6 days. Down 3 pounds. Maybe mixing it up a bit helps. Also, I was SO HAPPY to be in SF and at this wedding. My husband and I used to live there--so re-connecting with old friends and the family was fab. Just saying taking time out of THE DREADED STALL--focusing and fretting about that--to have some FUN probably didn't hurt. Total down now--31 pounds.

Hope all the June 18ers are in fine form! I've been following my surgeon's orders not perfectly, but as near to perfectly as I can (can't always get all that Water IN). It took me 12 minutes to walk 1/4 mile today--that's my speed....and three of these days I just couldn't walk any of the 30 minutes I'm supposed to be doing. I got on the scales this morning and was totally SHOCKED!!! but in a really, really good way. Mostly, I feel pretty good since surgery. No pain meds, but I still get that "I must have done a thousand sit-ups yesterday, but I've completely forgotten it." And I've got Heartburn--like, WHERE did THAT come from? Just wanted to share the (mostly) good news--and send out a word of encouragement to those who are going through these early days. :-)

What a great group this is! And....some of us are in the season of venting. I'M ONE OF THEM!!! June 18. Down 28#. And yeah, okay, I KNOW that's a lot to lose, but I HAVEN'T LOST A POUND IN, LIKE, A MILLION DAYS. Okay, at least 7 days. WTF? I do NOT do well when I cannot see a relationship between EFFORT and REWARD. I've been putting in the EFFORT (until today--see WTF above), when it's like, um, let's see, I'm drinking this water, walking in the park, chucking down 65 gms of protein...why????? My incisions are TINY. I had almost NO pain. I can drink 4 swallows before my body says whoa. In other words, DID I REALLY HAVE THIS SURGERY--or did the surgery schedule get just a tiny bit tangled that day? I AM NOT HAPPY.... :-( (thanks for letting me vent....)

Hello fellow tall girls, I'm 5'9" and hoping to get below 175. Anything after that is gravy. I look at those pictures of Kate Middleton--she's 5'10" and weighs 120 pounds--and think, gee, she looks great, but, I gotta face facts: I'm never gonna be the Queen of England--and I'm never gonna be that size. I was going to say, I'll keep losing til I'm happy with myself--but I'm 1 month and 1 day past surgery--and I'm pretty doggone happy right now!

I'm ONE MONTH out today!!! June 18 was my surgery. I'm down 26# and (mostly) feel great. I'm still on a full liquid diet--protein shakes, strained soups. Jennifer, thanks so much for sharing about your gall stones. I'm seeing my PCP every three weeks for the next 6 mos. He wants to keep on top of BP meds and thyroid numbers. Now I know to ask him to test for liver function. I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I'm so glad you shared it with us. I'm walking 30 min. most days, drinking a solid 32 oz. of fluid, and trying for a solid 64 oz. All in all, a great month.....

I was sleeved on June 18. I was on milk, Water, and broth for two weeks. Then, two weeks on Protein shakes. I'm just starting Week Four--so I'm jumping into some cottage cheese and hummus. Sounds yummy! I've lost 25#. One problem: the 64oz. I've tried water, Gatorade, and SF Kool-Aid. Has anyone tried anything else or any tricks? I struggle every single day with this.

First, thanks for posting this! I haven't been back to Mass since the surgery--three weeks ago today--and it never occurred to me that receiving the Eucharist might be a problem. So, now I have a plan. A blessing until October! Thank you again.

Hello, I'm June 18. I'm doing pretty well, I think, but I'd sure like to be able to get that 64oz. down. I've tried plain water, Kool-Aid, Gatorade. Anybody have some suggestions? This is when I miss my carbonated friends. Well, let me just say it, I also miss my alcohol friends. I'd give a lot for....you know....fill in the blank. I'm down 25#. Maybe not the fastest loser out there, but I'm absolutely delighted. Maybe struggling a teeny, tiny bit with humility these days. I'm so doggone proud of myself for having done this! I haven't told anyone but my husband and best friend. They keep secrets. I didn't tell anyone else because no one else needs to know. AND...it's kinda tough to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Good luck, everyone!!!

Hi, Everyone! I was sleeved June 18--I'm down 25# so far--and for the most part, I feel great. I do have a sort of "sinking spell" after I take in a protein shake or really ANYTHING with calories. Does anyone else have this? I've told only my husband and best friend. I trust them not to tell. If anyone asks, I say I had "scar tissue removed," which is partly true. I had an infection some years ago, and my surgeon did have to remove a little scar tissue. Why didn't I share with everyone? Um, well, I think I'm going through A LOT of changes--mental, emotional, physical. Why should I add social to that list? Also, let's face it, once it's out, it's out. It's tough to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Just a thought. I'm still on protein shakes, a tiny bit of soup, and no-cal drinks. As for the drinks--trying water, Gatorade, SF Kool-Aid. So far, nothing grabs me. It's a struggle, but I keep trying. Good to hear from all of you!

Hi, Everyone! My surgery was June 18, and I have, unbelievably, lost 18 pounds! Just had to share.... No complaints here, except heartburn. Big complaint. Any suggestions? One thought about tummy settling: one of my surgeon's bariatric team members suggested cocoa. You can have this even on the "clear liquid" phase. It works--but be careful! That caffeine will hit your system and keep you awake FOREVER. (I learned the hard way....) Best to everyone!!!

I was a HUGE frappuccino fan....also, just huge. :-/ I heard about CHIKE coffee Protein powder. I decided to order it direct from the website (you can also get it on Amazon) and it arrived this morning. Here's what I did: 1. 1 cup skim/1% milk; 2. 1 scoop Chike; 3. Maybe 6-8 ice cubes. Tossed all that in the Vitamix. I gotta be honest here.....It's not as good as a Starbucks Frappuccino. IT'S WAAAAYYYYY BETTER! And, 20 gms of protein to boot. Just saying. :-)

Bye-bye.....

I've never posted a link here, but I'm gonna try. This is easy to make....and it tastes SO MUCH BETTER than the stuff I shoveled in when I was on my feeding frenzies. I did this just as the recipe says, but I bought beef short ribs and some stew beef to use. I put everything in a sauté pan to brown--beef, garlic, carrots, onion, celery. Also tossed in one cup of red wine. Simmered 2.5 hours. Gave hubby the innards and I am in heaven with this broth. I made a BIG batch so I can freeze in smaller containers and add to mushies when I get there. I'm a June 18 girl. I'd never made anything like this in my life! It's easy...and oh, my.... http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Beef-Stock-355050

twinmommy, I'm waiting the two full weeks post-op on clear liquid. I'm glad I am--it's letting my tiny tummy heal while I learn how to sip and go slowly. My surgeon told me to do this for TWO WEEKS POST-OP so... I'm living on broth (recipe for killer broth posted this morning here), skim milk, and lotsa water. My surgeon told me that, with swelling for the first two-three weeks, the interior of my stomach is the width of a pencil. A pencil. Yikes.

Wow, you go, Lamb! After this, I'm thinking drinking protein shakes and sipping an endless amount of water--I was sleeved six days ago--will seem like heaven. Like, 64 oz.? That's all I've got to worry about today? Congrats! Love your spirit!

Royboy, let's face it, in some attic, somewhere, is a picture of you looking a little portly. I kinda hate that you're doing so well while being so very naughty. But, then there's this other part that, I'll admit it, is turning slightly green. A nice shade of green, mind, but I can't live green. Geez, back to protein and water for me.....

That is so cool! Hubby is also joining me on the juice phase.

Quick question here: I was sleeved the 18th of June, so I'm on Day 6 post-op. My experience is that no matter how slowly I sip, how small the sip, or how much time between sips, at the end of the second sip of whatever it is.....bleah. I get that too-full, over-stuffed, I'm-gonna-be-sick feeling. Then, a couple of minutes later, it's gone. Seriously, nobody has to wait, like, 5 minutes between sips, right? :-/

June 18--and on the other side!!! Doing (mostly) the happy dance....

June 18 here--and happy to meet everybody!

I was sleeved June 18--so I'm living into Day 4. I'm on Clear liquids and I'm supplementing some with Protein powder added to skim milk. So, pain. I remembered something my surgeon said to me when he was checking me out of the hospital. He pointed to a white board marker when I asked what size my new stomach is now. Then he said, 'Of course, there's internal and external swelling for two to three weeks. What you're dealing with inside your new stomach is a space about the width and length of a PENCIL." That's stuck with me when I'm sipping along. A pencil. A PENCIL. It's kept me out of a lot of pain. Just thought I'd share.... Hope everyone is well!

Hey cyber girl, I'm June 18 and also in Atlanta. Where are you and who's your surgeon. For me? Roswell. Paul Macik. He is GREAT.

There's a great Veteran's Forum on this site for VSG. Check it out. Short answer to your question: from what I've read you will have some long-term issues if you make them for yourself. If you play dumb about what and how much you eat, if you don't exercise, if you over-exercise, in other words, if you don't partner with your doctor and be responsible for your health. As for big scary things that just jump on you after a few years....not so much. I'm like you. I did a lot of research before doing this. It was the right step for me. I hope you will find the best path for yourself. I can understand why you're asking some great questions! They're ones all of us should ask,even if this is our first WLS adventure. We all need to make as informed a decision as possible. Good luck to you!

June 18 here. So, two days out and feeling okay. I'm learning (by trial and error) to slip S-L-O-W-L-Y, and when I get it wrong I get a quick education. I'm feeling emotionally like I'm on my way to the finish line. For the first time, I think I've got a chance to be beautiful. Just once in my life I'd like that. I'm walking some--tomorrow I'll try to go further and faster. One real downer: I have a headache. Not a big hairy scary headache, but enough. Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm thinking it's just getting off caffeine and sugar cold turkey. I'm two days into this headache. Congrats, everybody!