easymack63

HW - 296 SW - 283 CW - 215 I had surgery on 10/14. I think 68 pounds in 4 months isn't so bad, but I'm also in a stall right now. For almost 2 weeks now I've been gaining and losing the same 5 pounds. Annoying!

I was skinny for a hot second when I was 16, but even then I was a size 12. From there it was a steady increase until surgery, which I had at 28. I don't regret it, not for a minute. I wouldn't do it earlier, but I am SO thankful that I did it when I did. I look forward to having healthy pregnancies and running around with my kids. I want them to grow up in a house where food is fuel, not emotional support. I am so glad I changed my life just in time.

I went through Kaiser Options at Panorama City. If it is the same in Downey, you will have a 1.5 hour class once a week for three months. Before each class you also weigh in and have your blood pressure taken, if that's a concern for you. The classes themselves are run by either a behaviorist or a nutritionist. You learn all about the surgery and the diet and Vitamins and everything you will need to know post-surgery. They also get you started on a diet right away by giving everyone suggested calorie maximums per day. The goal is for you to lose at least 10% by the end of the 3 months, but that isnt completely mandatory. You will need to turn in workout and diet journals every week. There will also be appointments with a bariatric doctor at the beginning, halfway, and end points. He will request some labs and such and, after you finish classes, approve you for referral to a surgeon. After you are referred to a surgeon (probably at Kaiser West LA) you will be completely done at Downey and actually meet with the surgeon, who will have his own requirements for labs and possibly additional weight loss. Phew! I started Options in June, finished classes on September 2, and had surgery on October 14, 2014. That's a little faster than most people because I was in a huge rush and very flexible about surgery dates.

I'm in Santa Clarita but would love to come if it was somewhere in the SF Valley.

I feel similarly grumpy but am having trouble finding the silver lining. I am almost 3 months out (in a week it will be 3 months) and I've lost 46 since surgery... but, like you, I feel like it happened mostly all in the span of a couple days and most of the time I'm stalled out. Plus, while 46 is nice and all, I need to lose something like 120 pounds so that's barely a flash in the pan. Sigh.

It is, unfortunately, a sign of dehydration. Drink more water. My surgeon told me that urine color is a good way to judge your hydration levels. Lighter is, obviously, better.

I'm sure this will be an unpopular response and full of bad advice, but I drink. Before surgery I could drink a LOT. Now, just past 2 months out, I have had drinks twice. Always just straight hard liquor without any sort of carbonated or sugary chaser/mixer, and I probably have half as much as I did before surgery in order to feel exactly as drunk, but I have done it. I always feel the first shot burn all the way down my throat and into my tummy, but I haven't noticed any other effects. Also, weirdly, I usually lose weight the day after. This I think is because the temporary increase in calories convinces my body its not starving and to let go of some fat. I don't think what I'm doing is probably a good idea, but I'm answering honestly. I'm young too and its a big part of how I socialize.

I think you're doing great. Tomorrow will be 2 months for me and I've lost 39.5 pounds since surgery. The first week I lost 16 and since then its been slow and not-so-steady.

Tomorrow will be 1 month since my surgery - and I know there are several of you out there in the same boat - so I thought we should check in and compare stats. I'm 5'8", starting weight was 296, surgery weight 283 and weight today is 258. I'm eating between 600-800 calories a day, less than 50g of carbs, and at least 60g of Protein. I dont exercise yet, other than some light walking, but I plan to start soon. In less concrete news, I feel great. I've been working since 2 weeks out and not really experiencing any more exhaustion than usual. My hunger is starting to pick up the last couple days, but I think that has to do with hormones more than anything else. My only complaint is constipation (sorry, TMI!) but its not the worst in the world. I'm a little disappointed with my 25 pound weight loss in the first month, but only because I lost 16 pounds of it in the first week and since then its been a slow slog. How are all of you doing?

I completely relate. I was sleeved 10/14 and, with the exception of the one night I was in the hospital, I have had almost no discomfort. I've never taken my nausea medicine even once, no heartburn, no dumping, etc. I have yet to eat anything that upset my sleeve in any way. I'm eating 2-3 ounces of fish or chicken at a time with no issue whatsoever. The whole thing makes me really nervous. So far I havent eaten anything bad, but Im afraid that once I do try it and my sleeve doesnt yell at me it will be harder to have self control. Plus I feel like my weight loss is REALLY slow. I lose 16 pounds in the first 8 days - obviously not slow - but in the three weeks since then I've only lost 9. Sigh.

I got sleeved on 10/14 and I already feel like I messed everything up. I am so disappointed in myself. In the first 8 days I was still on just liquids and I lost 16 pounds. It seemed great! Then I made some bad choices. I had some nibbles of a cheeseburger (meat only) and even a little bit of Jello shots on Halloween (not enough to get drunk). I am on soft foods but have had things like 1/4 of a piece of toast with my cream of wheat or 1/2 a piece of bread to make a mini crab dip sandwich. I also eat Protein bars already, just slowly and chewing VERY well. Are these things allowed? Am I screwing up my healing? I havent had any repercussions from it, which is scary. Im also worried that I eat too much. Like today I had a Protein shake with a whole cup of almond milk, 1/4 cup crab dip with 1/2 piece of bread, a string cheese, 1/4 cup of fat free refried Beans with a little cheese and sour cream, and a Protein Bar. 700 calories and 63 grams of protein, but is it too much? Am I stretching out my sleeve? I always feel like I could have even more! And to compound things, when I weighed in last week I had GAINED almost 2 pounds! I think I've lost it since then but still! I just feel like a mess, like I cant even do this right and Im not actually going to lose any weight. Like Im going to be one of those people who just falls flat on their faces right after surgery and never even has a honeymoon period. Please tell me that's not true.

Thank you so much for responding, everybody. I think its mostly just what Isaac420 and Lexie said. First of all, I'm adjusting to all of these huge changes and dealing with the uncertainty that comes from that. Then also I find it SO difficult to just let it go. I mean obviously not 100% let it go, but I have spent my WHOLE LIFE worrying about what Im eating and obsessing over it. Now I find it difficult to just sit back, follow the guidelines (more or less), and trust that things will work out. Also thank so much Zane's Mom - it is such a relief to hear that there are people here who don't always make the perfect decisions and work out for an hour everyday and rain judgment down on those who cant manage it. I really appreciate it.

Im doing a good job with Water. So far today I've had 55 ounces and still going. I have an appointment with a nut and bariatric doctor soon and plan to discuss this stuff, but to be honest I dont see what they or anyone else can do for me. It all comes down to me making the choice about what to put in my mouth. I think what I wanted from posting was to know if you guys think these are real problems or if I am imagining them. I mean obviously I know the burger and booze were not great, but Im primarily concerned with the amount of food Im eating. Is that normal? I'm on the soft foods menu, per my doctor.

I lost 16 pounds in my first 8 days after surgery, then I weighed in again today (13 days out) and I've gained a pound! What the heck!

I got home yesterday. Like you said, in a lot of pain. Trying to get in protein and water but I'm not sure I can. It took me almost 2 hours this morning to get down 8 oz of isopure. I have constant tummy discomfort but I can't tell if it's gas, nausea, hunger, overstuffing my sleeve, or just from surgery. Any tips?

I'm getting surgery through Kaiser Southern CA, so I had a huge preparation process for this. I started taking weekly classes in June and finished in early September. During that whole time I was doing pretty well - writing down all my food, eating ~1300 calories a day, and trying to up my fitness. I joined a gym and go about 2-3 times a week. Unfortunately, since my classes stopped, that's probably about the only habit I've kept up. I haven't gone completely off the food addicts deep end, but I stopped writing down what I eat, I stopped weighing in, and I know I've gained some of that weight back. Not as bad as it could be, but some. Compounding that, now, is the fact that I am having my surgery in exactly one week - October 14. My surgeon doesnt require ANY kind of pre-op diet (I almost wish he did!) so I am getting this desperate feeling like I only have one more week to eat the foods I love. I know that's not true and I'm trying not to let that sabotage my behavior even more, but I guess I'm just really nervous. I want this for myself so badly. I want a normal relationship with food, but I don't see how to get there. I am so afraid that I will go to my pre-op appointment tomorrow and my surgeon will delay my surgery because I have gained weight. I am so scared that the deep down eating urges I am trying - with limited success - to fight right now will never go away or be lessened. I'm just really scared. And not even about the actual procedure, weirdly.

I'm going in on 10/14 too. It seems like there are a lot of us!

I do a lot of lurking here - not a lot of writing - but I just got my date yesterday and its October 14! I'm so excited and a little bit nervous. I feel like I've spent so long preparing for this that I know what to expect, but also I've never had surgery before so I couldn't possibly know what to expect. I just hope I don't have buyers remorse afterwards! Also, how long are you guys planning on being out of work? Im giving myself up to 2 weeks and hoping I dont need that much.

I just started this whole process - VSG expected sometime around November 2014 - but I already have several non-scale goals: Ride a horse without feeling bad for the horse Wear a dress/skirt without worrying about my thighs rubbing together so much its painful Not feeling like every moment is an epic battle not to eat a bunch of fast food. Achieving a sense of normalcy with a healthy lifestyle. Not feeling self-conscious when I step off the elevator because I know it is going to bounce after I leave Buying clothes that are NOT from Lane Bryant (side note: why do designers think that larger people only want ugly clothes? we want the same clothes as other people - only bigger!) Wearing high heels comfortably Crossing my legs without moving my whole body around I will be so happy when these things happen.

I am just starting this journey and today is my first Options class at Kaiser Permanente Panorama City. Anyone else? I am so excited and nervous to get started. I just finished reading the post-op meal plans proposed here and thinking about how incredibly different my life will hopefully be in a year. So many rules and regulations... good thing I'm pretty good with structure.

Hi all, I'm new here - just started the process toward getting a sleeve with Kaiser Permanente in Southern CA - but I'm already wondering about food options. I know that, even now, I sometimes get in food ruts and make the same 4 things over and over and it gets old. After the surgery my food options will be so limited anyways that I dont want to feel further limited by my lack of creativity. Help me out. What are your favorite things to eat? Especially in the first months before I can really eat with my family again (but obviously with portion changes and carbs left out). And if anyone else is doing Options at Kaiser in Panorama City starting next week - hi!