Rani

My sleeve surgery is scheduled for Aug 18th. I'm a single mom of a 6 year old and want to teach him to have good eating habits and a healthy relationship with food. I know my body does not do well with carbs... I gain weight just looking at them - lol. So, my doctor's and NUT's post-op orders for high protein/low carb eating was not a surprise and something I know I needed to do, even if I didn't have surgery. Paleo has piqued my interest since a girl friend suggested it several years a go. I was just a bit confused by it for some reason - possibly the simplicity. Anyway, the other day, I came across a Groupon offer for a meal planning site (emeals.com) that makes planning, shopping and cooking very simple, affordable, and seemingly fool proof. They have a variety of different eating styles/plans to choose from and Paleo was one of them. This prompted me to read about it yet again and it seems compatible with the VSG post-op way of eating. Of course, I'll be eating much smaller portions than the recipes I'm sure, but that's just lunch the next day. :-) Because I plan to continue supplementing my protein intake with my Unjury shakes, I plan to modify it to include dairy. Another factor is that, while I wish to teach my son good eating habits, I don't want him to feel he is being punished or "missing out" while his favorite food is cheeseburgers and fries. I already limit his fries (teaching him moderation instead of forcing denial - what my mom did), and while I've been adjusting what I eat in preparation for surgery, I've been slowly decreasing his sugar intake as well. So, I don't plan to have the foods neither of us should eat in the house, but I also don't plan to be super strict on what he's "not allowed" to eat. I hope in time he will simply choose to eat better, ultimately, isn't that the best we can do for our kids? So, I'm hoping to hear from other post WLS peers who choose or have considered Paleo. (P.S. I'm also planning to incorporate HCG injections to discourage muscle loss and encourage adipose fat loss. I will NOT be following any of the HCG diet protocols. ...but that's another topic I'll post soon in another forum category.)

I absolutely agree that you should choose what you feel is best for you. I suggest doing a lot of research on both. You can even find videos of procedures on YouTube, as well as video blogs from others who had the different procedures and get their take. I found this website through one of those blogs and I'm so glad I did. In my research I found you can gain weight back with either of them, although it is easier to get past one hurdle (reduced stomach size) than two (reduced stomach size AND malabsorption). Ultimately, it boils down to how ready you are, how much work you are willing to do, and how honest and accountable you are to yourself. It's great that you're open to hearing why others made the decisions they did for themselves. I know that always helps me consider things I may have not otherwise have thought of. I considered WLS several years ago, and after all the research I did I was not comfortable rerouting my plumbing with the Bypass/RNY. I felt the Band was too problematic and it was my opinion it wasn't worth going through it all just to have to have it removed anyway. But... now, the sleeve is established enough to have been tested and perfected and I am much more comfortable reducing the size of my stomach (the first half of the RNY) without bypassing and rerouting my small and large intestines. They were put there for a reason - lol. According to medical websites, the weight loss rate is in the short term is slightly higher for the bypass, but in the long term it's about the same. So for such a small difference (between 10-15% of your EXCESS weight - not total weight), I think it's worth a little extra dedication. Besides, I'm expecting to keep very good records to remind myself how far I've gone as well as motivating reminders why I started this to begin with. I'm much more motivated now than I was the first time I considered this because I weigh more (highest 374), my health has gotten worse, and I now have a son as a single mom who depends on me. But, again... I decided the sleeve was right for me because of the risks I was and was not willing to take as well as knowing what will keep me going to reach my goals. Good luck on your path.

Hi. I started this process with an online info course in late March and had my first appt with the surgeon on April 20th. I finally have all my various approvals and had my pre-op consult today. They gave me two potential surgery dates: Aug 13th or the 18th. I'm frustrated at how long this has taken so I'm glad to have at least an idea of a date but also I find myself a bit nervous at the reality. The fact that I have to wait almost another month increases my anxiety. The red tape in this country is ridiculous. It was required by my Dr. that I obtain a therapist while going through this process but I find that absolutely useless. This is my first post here but I've gotten more help and peace of mind reading forums and watching YouTube videos from others who have gone through this than a therapist who knows of someone and keeps sharing the same stories with me of her interaction with that person. So thank you all for being here. :-) Thea