Dub

You are gonna do great. The liquid diet and the post op healing period where liquids are really all I wanted worked wonders to help me forget about food. I found that I didn't miss it and enjoyed the weirdness of living off the Protein shakes. One look at the label of the Premier Protein and the Chike brand powders that I was using was enough to convince me that drinking the 3-4 shakes per day was giving me everything i needed to thrive. Even now.....I'll get in a "stall" period where the scale doesn't move to my liking for a few days......and a few days on liquid diet will resolve it and get things amped up again. It's a tool that has served me well beyond the early days and one I'll use for life. You are gonna do great.

Thanks......I'm sitting down and relaxing a bit before getting ready to go in for a long night shift. Guess what's close at hand ? Yup....a big ole cup of dark roasted Community coffee brand with Splenda & Premier Protein (vanilla) mixed in. Ah......what a great way to start my "day". Coffee is an integral part of my life. I no longer smoke cigs, even though I do enjoy a cigar on certain occasions..... I no longer drink diet or regular sodas........ I only cuss on certain occasions that arise daily........ I'm well mannered in traffic.....except I believe the speed limit is more of a suggestion than anything else..... I've made significant progress with becoming a solid citizen.........but I will retain certain vices.....the ones that bring me great pleasure and are small scale evils......such as coffee. FWIW, I'd have told my surgeon to piss off had he not okay'd me to enjoy the mean Beans again. Lucky for me he condoned the stuff once my turbo sleeve was good 'n healed. Now....were this a day off......I may even do something totally crazy.....replace the Premier Protein with Kaluha or Bailey's Irish and get this party started righteously........

The fact that your PCP is an ass is reason enough to move on to a better doctor. The fact that he is an ass doesn't mean what he said isn't true, though. I am pleasantly amazed every few weeks at the health improvements I've seen since losing some of the weight I am working towards losing.

Diet cranberry (5 calories per serving) and Tito's (or other quality vodka). Another one is the 5 calorie per serving margarita mixer and any 100% Blue Agave silver tequila.

Space out your shakes at even time intervals for when you are awake. Stay super hydrated in between. Keep in mind at all times that this is for your safety.....shrink your liver....you taking an action to better ensure a great result with your surgery. We've all been there and understand. It's a short timeframe. You will lose weight at a really impressive rate during this timeframe. Great way to glide into surgery already losing weight. It's all going to be great. You can do this....it's only a short time.

I crushed or chewed mine up the first couple weeks.

I have been enjoying strong coffee every single day since my three month postop appointment with my surgeons approval. It's created zero problems.

oSeems like a bad idea. Don't torture yourself like this.

I've had a few surgeries over the years........the days after each were sorta cruddy. It's to be expected. They were to repair torn or broken parts. The WLS has more cerebral implications, though. Nothing physically was broken.....just how I chose to use it. It took a while to get my mind wrapped around the changes I'd just made and that a better life awaited me if I chose to support my surgeons efforts. The temporary aggravation of more liquid diet didn't help my spirits, but I knew it was just a short phase while my new stomach healed. Fast forward a few weeks and my outlook was extremely positive. It's remained that way, too. This surgery has deeper commitment of action and effort for me than a knee repair or some other routine patch up of an injury. This particular surgery just prolonged my life and improved the quality of it if I so chose to follow the simple instructions. It gets better folks. The first week or two are simply that.....a first week or two where you are healing. Deep breaths and relax. You'll feel spectacular very soon.

You'll get there. Off to a great start.

Yes. I work in a manufacturing plant staffed with 1,800 people. I've been there since the plant was being constructed. Folks at work know me well. They've seen me grow to my highest weight. They've seen me limping around with one injury or another over the years. Since last October they've seen me lose weight, yet again....only this time the loss has been steady....and fast....and gone lower than with any other attempt. They approach with wide ranging comments at least a couple times a week. I've chosen to be 100% open about the wls and what it's has been like. Some of them are very curious and have desires to have wls as well. I spend much more time and follow up with them later on to help answer any question I can and refer them to the areas Bariatric Center of Excellence. Outside of coworkers, I've had similar conversations with family and neighbors. IT's a positive aspect of wls....being able to share with others and hope either they or someone they are close with can benefit from this, too.

Exactly! It sounds like her coworker is bitter about the whole thing because he knows he's at risk. I know I surely was in the months leading up to my decision to have wls. I was pissed at the fact that I"d lost 120 lbs a couple years before and felt great....only to have to sideline it while recovering from a gym related accident that led to surgery.....and failed with my diet and exercise afterwards and gained it all back....and more. Now....very glad to have made a positive move with the wls and I have been open and honest with everyone about the methods I employed to get here. It's lead to some serious conversations with a few people who've gone on to chose wls as well. These folks that went to wls knew it was their time and sought me out. They mainly had questions over the logistics of the procedure, billing and how daily life differs now.

You will likely experience scale reading stalls or even slight gains throughout the weight loss process. Most wls patients seem to. Stay on track with your plan and keep on searching for ways to exercise as much as possible. Don't get discouraged and keep evaluating your adherence to your plan. Stick with your scheduled visits with your surgeon and maintain contact with your nutritionist. If the scale doesn't cooperate in ways that you think it should....then challenge your nutritionist on refining your plan. Don't accept results that don't make you happy.

I'd love to incorporate more plant based foods into my diet but am still trying to burn weight off and maintain my Protein levels. I'd like to learn more about what you eat for protein and still stay low carb (Fiber carbs are fine with me).

Yup. I remember the last few weeks leading up to surgery. I was a bundle of nerves and had weird and irrational hangups. All that went away the very first hour I was post-op and recovering from surgery and had my first lap around the hospital under my belt. It's been great ever since. If loose skin is resultant....then there are ways to deal with it when the time comes. No worries. No need to ponder it for now is how I've approached it. Getting the dangerous weight off has been the most important priority.

Outstanding !!! Hold a pillow to your abdomen during the ride home. You've done great.

Two months is plenty of time in my opinion.

Same thing with my surgeon. The endoscopy was almost like a practice run of the surgery itself.

Much less.

Nutritionally void foods that do nothing to help you during weight loss....they are easily eaten....and overly eaten. They get past restriction easily. Examples: potato chips, mashed potatoes, mac'n'cheese, ice cream, fat & sugar loaded milk shakes, etc.

Fear of being sick all the time ? FWIW, I've yet to get sick since having my sleeve. Losing the weight, exercising and taking Vitamins has had a great impact on how much better I feel. What is is about VSG that makes you think you'll be sick all the time ?

Very sorry you lost your friend. It does put you with a tough decision. Likely the other coworker knows he's at risk and anything you say may not make a dent in his resolve to live as he is.

I had these feels the first couple days home from the hospital. Not since, though.

During the VSG procedure the liver has to be lifted up and held out of the way so the surgeon's tools can access your stomach. It's important to shrink the liver prior to all the smallish tool used to lift it will not damage/bruise/tear the liver.

@@Dub they even put your picture on the label? if I try the drink will they put my picture on mine? LMAO........one day being a bull.