VSGAnn2014

LOL! My intro lecture group wasn't that bad ... but it was the kind of crowd for which my surgeon had to emphasize that he wouldn't do WLS surgery on patients without their own teeth who didn't wear dentures. Thereafter, one couple grumbled loudly about how much they hated wearing false teeth and left.

As others have said, I thought I knew a lot about nutrition pre-op. But it wasn't enough. What I focused on before WLS was calories and fats (by which I mean low fat foods). I certainly did not eat enough Protein pre-op. And I ate too much sugar (ice cream) and and too many slider foods (particularly chips), which are nutritionally worthless and screwed up my body's insulin production. I have come to appreciate post-op far more than I did pre-op that all calories aren't the same in that my body responds quite differently (weight-wise) to Proteins, high-fiber carbs, sugars, and (probably also) fats. My current challenges are to: * Eat more colored veggies and low-sugar fruits -- and a greater variety of them * Eat more plant proteins (Beans, nuts, seeds, etc.) * Drink enough Water (not just liquids) * Eat fewer sugar treats (ice cream is feeling dangerous again) * Eat more "healthy" oils What I do well is to: * Take my Vitamins / minerals / supplements daily * Plan / track daily what I eat and drink * Eat enough animal protein Good topic!

I believe you have won, hands down, the prize for nastiness and name-calling on this thread. I have quite a few more options than not responding if I don't like your name-calling and insults. One of those other options is asking that this forum's owner ban you. And I chose that option.

You don't want help. You don't want to give help. You are just here trolling people. Every message board is a community. You're not a pleasant community member. You're the kind of person that everybody in a neighborhood would want to move out. Seriously, dude. Don't you realize how unsocial you are?

@@Alex Brecher and other mods ... please ban this a**hat. S/he's continuing to violate all the forum rules and making the joint a lot less pleasant. Thanks.

Chances are, he sees this / thinks of this as a cosmetic issue for you, not a medical issue. Or maybe you see it that way, too. So frame it differently -- take him to a lecture. Help him understand that in five years you'll be 50 pounds heavier. You'll have X, Y and Z comorbidities. Those will cost $XX,XXX more to remediate. I get the feeling you two aren't married. If that's the case, why can't YOU pay for it? If you don't have the bucks, could you get a loan?

Certainly, people (in general) treat the obese and the normal-sized differently. Get ready for it.

I look way younger since I lost 90+ pounds. What others said: your age, how much you lose, your genetics, your skin care regimens, your hair stylist's skills, and (of course) your aesthetician and your plastic surgeon. FTR, I haven't had any surgery or injections yet. But I very well might. I had a hospital hallway consultation last fall with the area's leading plastic surgeon who said I had to finish losing weight and maintain my weight for a 12 months before he'd even put a needle in me, much less use a scalpel on me.

P.S. Here are some crackers that offer more nutrition than club, saltines, etc.: Wasa multigrain crispbread cracker - 60 cals, 2 grams fiber, 2 grams Protein Doctor Kracker Three Seed Flat Cracker - 100 cals, 3 grams fiber, 5 grams protein

All those crackers, reduced fat or not -- Ritz crackers, club cracker, saltines, wheat thins, and many other kinds of crackers -- are just baked white flour. They're the poster child of "slider foods." Yes, they go down fast and easy -- down the esophagus, down the stomach, and right into your intestine, leaving plenty of room for more crackers. That's why they're called slider foods. The more of them you eat, the more you'll want. Pretty soon, you'll have eaten 200-300 calories a day in crackers alone. No nutrition, not even any Fiber. Just carbs and calories. Just sayin'.

Sorry @@Elode ... I never watched that show. Really sorry.

@@Elode ... is that an old picture of you?

First thing I would focus on is ... are you really READY to lose weight again? It's always very difficult (for me) to commit to weight loss if my head isn't in the game. Once you are committed to weight loss it's not complicated or mysterious. You know what to do: Eat lots of Protein Eat 3 meals a day Eat protein first. Drink 8 glasses of Water daily Minimize starchy, highly processed carbs. Track what you eat / drink (I can't lose weight if I don't do this) Exercise more and regularly (including walking / cardio) Eat slowly, chew well Don't drink with meals Don't graze Remove from your house crap food you shouldn't be eating. Put a weight ticker up here and be accountable for your results If you have emotional triggers consider therapy / counseling and build some healthier responses

Uh, no. Not at all. (Where do these stories come from?!) Had my gall bladder out 4 weeks after my VSG surgery. Lost 10.4 pounds Month One post-VSG surgery. Lost 11.8 pounds Month Two post-VSG surgery.

I want to ... * Stay in the 140s. :) * Not worry at all about my weight. * Spend more time (happily) in the gym. * Keep wearing 8s. * Enjoy our retirement with my beloved hubby. * Continue to be full of gratitude for VSG surgery and how it's given me my life back!

One of my (nearly useless) nutritionists once said (pre-op), "Oh, as a bariatric patient you'll find grocery shopping easy. It's no different than planning your husband's meals." I LOLed!

It'll be no problem. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery.

@@jayali ... I applaud you! IMHO, it's necessary to your long-term success to learn and know (not guess or wonder) how much you are eating and how nutritious / slimming / fattening the things you're eating and drinking are. It's necessary not just for your weight loss, but also your ability to maintain your weight loss. Measuring your food is important. You're already on top of that, I see. You should check out online tools like www.myfitnesspal.com that can do all the calculations for you. You can enter your food on your smart phone or via laptop. I don't think I'd have been nearly successful as I am without this amazing tool. FYI, I've lost 90+ pounds and am 7 pounds below goal right now. My first WLS anniversary is coming up in a few weeks. Very best to you!

Fate? Good luck on changing your life if you think "fate" is in charge of your decisions. I'm serious.

To the poster formerly known as @ChunkyLover ... I will offer an observation: Your "sarcastic cynical way" (which came across to many here as insulting and minimizing) could well be a barrier to addressing your own eating / weight issues and very probably some interpersonal issues. This is a forum where most are struggling with the same issues you have. It's a place where you could also be honest and authentic. If you tried that, you might discover (and uncover) some different, more successful ways to address your own issues. Very best to you.

@ ... you're nothing if not inconsistent.

It's not just the big things, but also the little things. Last night at a community event I walked and stood for two hours without sitting down even once. And didn't realize what I'd done until hours later. Just incredible!

Why be so swayed by others' opinions -- your mother-in-law's or WLS forum strangers'? Along this journey you'll have to rely on your own mental strength and ability to resist negativity of all kinds. You gotta be a bit tough and you certainly have to be committed to your own success long-term to make this work.

Thing is, no one requires an IQ test pre-op. Lots of WLS patients eat post-op like this clown does. Bless their hearts.

Yes, most folks stall about that point - 2, 3, 4, 5 weeks out. Google "three week stall." Don't worry. Be happy. Keep doing what you're supposed to do. If the stuck scale freaks you out, don't weigh.