SparkleCat

Good Evening! I plan on having VSG in April and am already trying to adjust my diet so it won't be such a shock to my system...eating lower carb, more Protein, lower fat etc. I also have very high cholesterol so there are some "heart healthy" foods that may not be sleeve healthy There are a few foods that I am curious about...foods that I generally think of as healthy, but am not certain if they are sleeve friendly Avocado/ Guacamole - One of my favorites! Good Fat, Heart Healthy...I can eat it by the spoonful! Would the fat content of this diet staple (for me anyway!) make it a no no? I was looking forward to Guac and Avocado being a big part of my post-op diet Sweet Potatoes/ Yams - Another food I was looking forward to having during my soft food phase...also a substitute for white potatoes...but is it too much starch? Corn Tortillas - I know flour tortillas will be out...but what about corn? Enchilada? Street Taco? Quesadilla? Coconut Oil/ Olive Oil - Two comparatively healthy oils Spice - I am a Texas girl who lives in Green Chili country (Colorado). I love me some spice...Pork Green Chili, Texas red Chili, Jalepeno, Chipotle, Cajun Spice....I have always loved strong flavors...tangy, sweet, spicy, sour. I am worried my new tummy won't be able to handle it. I can deal with a month or so of bland food...but not the rest of my life! Thank y'all so much for the info and guidance! I am so ready to get started and am becoming and WLS information sponge!! Sorry for the double post! Can't figure how to delete the duplicate!

Hi Jenny! I'm also in Colorado (Denver) and hope to have surgery in April/May with Dr Brown at Prespytarian St Luke's. Love connecting with other Coloradans!

I wish I could help! If you find a good resale shop, let us know! I will say I, unfortunately, had to get a size up (eating WAY to much after quitting smoking and prior to surgery) and found that there are some pretty good after holiday sales out there...I got a pair of dress pants at Target (size 16) for $6 and dress sweaters for $5-$7. Good Luck!

My Dad is supportive, but very nervous about, my decision to be sleeved....I've been able to answer most of his questions, but this one I didn't know the answer to....will also ask my surgeon, but wondered if y'all had any insight? "I wonder if the permanent location of the titanium stomach staples might become places where infection could be more difficult to remove or where to body might be more likely to encapsulate an infection" Any info would be appreciated!

I decided to get wls about 4 months ago, started doing research, talked to friends and family and decided on getting a sleeve in December. I had my consultation in January and will begin my insurance required 3 month "diet" February 4th with surgery hopefully happening April 29th. Since that consultation I have become an eating machine! I can't go an hour without putting something in my mouth. I am running out of clothes that fit and I really don't want to buy larger clothes before having to buy smaller this summer. I am also becoming less social, less comfortable and more introverted the more I gain. I am sure it has a lot to do with my quitting a 25 year smoking addiction on December 20th along with "saying goodbye" to uncontrolled eating, but it needs to stop. I had lost 50 pounds about 3 years ago and really came out of my shell and started embracing and living life....I have regained that weight and am, once again, becoming that person I thought I had left behind forever. I am going to attempt to change my diet now to include more Protein and cut out sugar and high carb foods...but it seems like a herculean task right now. Did any of y'all make the decision to change your life with wls surgery only to start eating like a crazed person right after that decision? Were you able to reign it in? Still successful Post Op? I am concerned that if I can't control this I won't be able to be successful after surgery...that I will never be able to eat like a normal person.

And we are having dumplings, spring rolls and since I am pre-op, am indulging in Colorado micro brews for good Bronco Mojo!

Go Broncos!!

Thanks Shell! Hoping I have hit the end of the freak out...I just took some "Before" photos and am pretty horrified...I can see a difference in my weight and belly fat from just a few months ago! I really do think I am ready to turn this ship around. I think you are right...I had to "eat my fears before they ate me" (Love that!) I believe my fear of continuing to live the sad life of an obese person is greater than my fear of change.

Thanks Y'all! I know I should be more concerned about losing weight with the Mirena...but, honestly, I'm not. I thought long and hard about the Mirena and feel it is the best option for me until I hit menopause, which will probably happen in the next 5-10 years, so if I lose weight a little slower, I'm okay with it. I can't imagine the low hormone dose will completely overcome a teensy tiny stomach and complete overhaul in my relationship with food.

I have been overweight the majority of my life and about 3 years ago I lost 50 pounds (using HCG)...moved to Denver and really started to blossom...I was confident, felt attractive, comfortable starting conversations and making friends and more importantly, to me anyway, was that I wasn't thinking about my weight all. day. long. Over the past 2 years the weight has started to come back on (it always does) and all those new clothes I bought no longer fit and I am, once again, hyper-aware of my body, my flab, my rolls...that exuberance and confidence I felt was quickly retreating and the familiar self loathing was coming back. I finally decided that I am completely weary of the struggle...I just can't do it anymore...hating myself for every bite, judging myself for every roll and stretch mark and complete missing out on life. That small taste of what life would be like living as a normal sized person, was addicting...I need to get back there. What's interesting is that at my lowest weight I was still a size 12 and weighed 182 pounds..I was completely comfortable in a 12...It will be interesting to see how I handle being smaller than that...I don't remember EVER being smaller than a 12

I'll fess up...I enjoy a cocktail or two (sometimes up to 4) a couple of nights a week...whether mimosas at brunch or a trip to one of Denver's many breweries. I know I am going to have to give up bubbles...so no beer or bubbly which I am just fine with. I also am prepared to give up alcohol for several months prior to an after surgery. However, I just got off the phone with my sister who is coming up for a visit this summer and one of the things she and her husband are looking forward to are brewery tours and festivals that will, of course, involve alcohol. I know I will have to be careful about how much I drink as it will effect me quicker than before and with less (I'm thinking similar to moving to altitude). I also know that most drinks are empty calories that can and will lead to weight gain if you over indulge. My question for you wonderful post-oppers is how many of you gave up all alcohol for 18 months as many Surgeons recommend? And if you didn't what was the result? Am I going to be the designated DD for the next two years?

Thanks Y'all! My doctor recommended not drinking until your weight had stabilized because alcohol supposedly effects sleevers more intensely. The woman who did my psych eval. did say that if I chose to drink prior to make sure I had someone I trusted with me the first few times to make sure I didn't get too loopy. For now, i will probably play it by ear...I definitely don't want to sabotage hard work...but also want to continue to live my life as normally as possible after surgery. (My social worker also said I "think too much"...so I should probably go with the flow on this one a bit

Ha Ha!! I LOVE this post!! Honestly, hair loss is one of my biggest fears...especially since I'm already starting to thin because of my age and heredity! I am terrified that my hair will fall out after surgery and never grow back! So thanks for both a giggle and hair hope!

I hope to have the surgery at the end of April on a Monday and have asked off for that entire week...so basically Surgery on Monday and back to work on Monday. I have only had one other surgery (breast reduction) and recovery was pretty speedy...so I assumed this would be the same. After reading some of the replies here I am a little worried...I can't imagine being down more than 5-6 days...I don't know what I'd do with myself! My job is pretty sedentary...at a desk and on the phone most of the day, I have to make a point to get up and take a walk around the office so I have *some* movement each day.

Wow!!! Amazing transformations! I gotta say, both of you look so much younger in the after photos...one if my fears of losing weight is that I will look older (loose skin, more wrinkles)....y'all give me hope Post-ee's...keep those photos coming! Such wonderful inspiration for those of us starting our journeys!

Hi Colorado! I'm in Denver and just started the process of getting a sleeve hopefully in April. I am going to Dr Brown...so far I like him...straight forward and a lot if experience. Slightly nervous that I haven't seen any more if his patients on here. I have, unfortunately, spent this week eating like a crazy person...I need to reign it in and prepare for a new life

I can't wait for this summer! I know I will only be a few months in...but I am looking forward to going to a Colorado Rockies game and not feeling squished in the seat. Being on an airplane and not feeling like I have to cross my arms and squeeze my legs together the entire flight. Tank Tops!! Shorts!! Buying clothes somewhere other than Old Navy and Lane Bryant!

I think you are right about this forum! As soon as I made up my mind about getting the surgery and found out what needed to be done in order to have the surgery, I searched for an online community to help me through the process. While it is a wonderful place for support, information and inspiration, it also makes me want to speed up time and get this party started! I am nervous about going through this alone...my family is in Texas and friends in Denver don't really understand why I am doing this ("Let's just join a boot camp and eat better!"), so I love this community, but, like you said, time seems to stop here Best of luck to you Sophia! When is your surgery date?