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My best results pre-op were when I limited carbs to 40-40 grams per day and overall calorie intake down to 1,800 calories. You can lose a pile of weight prior to surgery and you'll feel so much better for it, too. No need to wait until surgery to begin losing.......doing so now is outstanding. Great job.

For what it's worth.....I've had zero complications and zero issues with my sleeve surgery. It was a breeze and living with it is very easy. Weight loss has me feeling better about every aspect of my life. The experiences that I've had are mirrored by everyone else who posts on my bariatric center's private FB page. Smooth and trouble free. The only place I see negative comments about the surgeries is here, on BP. Maybe the folks that are having great results just don't post very often....I don't know. You said earlier that you are certain that this surgery is the best choice for you. That means you've done all the hard work already.....which was making that decision. That is the hard part. You've done it. Finished. Now all that is left is for you to roll along and have a textbook surgery and enjoy the results.

What is it that you fear about the surgery ? Not strong enough in what ways ?

I had 3-4 Premier Protein or Pure Protein shakes a day for the two weeks leading up to surgery. I had 2-3 Premier Protein shakes a day for the four weeks after surgery. No regrets and I'll do it again if I need to accelerate weight loss. There is entirely too much complaining among wls patients in general about the liquid diet. We chose to have surgery to help us address being morbidly obese. It takes effort on our part. If we can't do the liquid part of it.....then I'd submit we aren't ready to commit to the surgery and embrace the changes we'll each need to make.

Never had any type of burning. Never had gas pains, either. Zero complications.

That's what eating cards can do. Avoiding them altogether is easier for many people.

Safety is a wide ranging topic. Listening to someone berate their sleeve because it allowed them to eat a 20oz steak early on post-op raises some safety concerns for sure. The urge to comment on this dangerous act was compelling, although I'm quite sure someone became butt hurt over our lack support of that behavior. It's a fine line between coming across as being supportive Vs a jerk. I'll do my best to be positive and helpful but I'm not going to lie.

very interesting !!!!!!

Slow and easy. Very slow and easy. You'll learn.

You can do anything for a short burst like 3 months.......especially if something as momentus as your surgery approval hangs in the balance. Commit to it and get the results. It is within you grasp if you truly want it to happen.

Good. Spitters are quitters. You should own what goes past your lips. Unless that shyt has sugar in it.

It's all gonna work out. You will be shipshape in no time and ready to howl at the moon. Stay on your eating plan for each stage and rock the weight loss. It's going to exciting for you. Have fun with it. Great times ahead.

Was it tough cutting out the carbs? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Not when I simply stopped 'em altogether. Eating meats and small amounts of cheese during my meals kept me from being hungry in between meals.....this was during the time pre-op that led me up to my last two weeks before surgery. Cool. How far along are you on your journey? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I had my sleeve in mid-October 2015. I'm finding I am craving SALT more than sugar. One would thing that after five years, I would have a handle on this ,but I find that "Craving" is different from hunger (which I do NOT have). The one thing that helps me from woofing down an entire bag of Lays is to eat some salty cheese, such as Feta. Any other suggestions???? Hmnnnnnnn. Sugar is my main enemy. Salt, I no longer really fear, therefore I'll have some salty foods. I typically don't add salt but I do use rubs and such that have salt as a large component. I don't fear it and I don't spare the rubs. Maybe I should, though. I'm finding I am craving SALT more than sugar. One would thing that after five years, I would have a handle on this ,but I find that "Craving" is different from hunger (which I do NOT have). The one thing that helps me from woofing down an entire bag of Lays is to eat some salty cheese, such as Feta. Any other suggestions???? My go to is pork skins barbecue but I know that everyone doesn't like those. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App Pork skins are great !!! The vending machines at work stock Dabo's hot & spicy pork rinds. Good alternative to the other stuff in there for my goals as they are zero carb and have decent Protein (and fat for days, lol). I love 'em.

Only if I eat or drink too much or too fast. Anything with bread often gives me hiccups......which is a great incentive for me to avoid the junk. Nothing in bread that my body needs that I can't get in a better form.

Bariatric Advantage works great for me in all their chewable offerings. Flavors are good....no bad aftertaste.

Trust and believe that you'll be saving money post-op. You'll only eat three small meals per day and it'll mainly consist of the meats you already eat, but none of the side dishes. The portions will be 1/4 cup in size and working up to a full cup by 6 months and beyond. The Vitamins can be expensive, however, my surgeon was okay with Flintstones chewables with Iron, B12 chewable and calcium citrate chewable. Shop around for best bulk pricing.

Was it tough cutting out the carbs? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Not when I simply stopped 'em altogether. Eating meats and small amounts of cheese during my meals kept me from being hungry in between meals.....this was during the time pre-op that led me up to my last two weeks before surgery.

An egg, a slice of deli ham torn up and mixed in and a teaspoon or two of salsa thrown in and cooked. Great flavor.

You should call your surgeon and discuss this with them. There is a reason they put you on the 14 day diet and not a shorter version. They would be the best to answer such questions. I was given pure hell by mine for chewing gum, too. Bad thing was it was three weeks prior to my VSG surgery on the morning of my EGD.....doc caught me chewing gum, lol. I laid off it for a few months but have it now if I want.

The only time I slime is when I eat faster or more than my sleeve will tolerate. Those first couple months really required me to go at a very, very slow pace during "meals" which for me at 3-4 weeks were still shakes and at 4+ weeks were softer meats.....like flakey fish. Even today....If I exceed the pace and/or volume then I'll get the slimy reaction.

I drank Diet Dew right up until the day prior to my VSG surgery. I haven't had it since due to the carbonation. I truly don't miss it. There are many flavors of Diet Snapple that are excellent.

Telling or not telling can be a stressful decision for some folks. How about just keeping it quiet for now.....have the surgery.......begin losing a good deal of weight.....find your stride with your new life and then decide whether or not to tell later on....once you are on course towards your goal weight.

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch My anxiety wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I cried before going back to the holding area, but once they gave me anti-anxiety meds, I was feeling great, and I barely even remember anything after being brought into the OR. I gotta admit, the first 24 hrs were pretty brutal. The vomiting/nausea was awful, and they tried 4 different meds for it. The day after, it was a lot better, and now I just have awful acid reflux which I'm on meds for, and I know it's normal to suffer from it. So, would I do the surgery all over again? ABSOLUTELY! I'm not even a week out, and I already feel a huge difference. I guess there's other things my fiancé and I can do lol. But seriously, I'm definitely not feeling up to it just yet. Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App Don't worry........you will most likely be tapping into a whole new level of animalistic urges as the weight falls off. Your fiancé may wake up thinking his member was used as a scratching post by the neighborhood cats. Rest up and recover. It'll be Game On soon enough.

I really appreciated my program's simple approach. It was very, very simplistic and effective. 3 meals a day at that point. 1/4 sized meals of protein growing to 1/2 cup in size those first 4 months. chicken, steak, fish other seafood. No Snacks. Lots of Water in between meals. Vitamins. It allowed me to lose weight and not be food focused. Some of the plans I see people suggesting or living with would have me thinking about food all at the time.