Clementine Sky

Sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing. I tried a recipe for banana "ice cream" that was on The Kitchen a few years ago, and it was really good. I should make it again. You blend a banana into a creamy consistency, and then let it freeze. I really like pancake bites following the very simple recipe of a WLS blogger, The World According to Eggface. Trader Joe's has chocolate covered banana bites that are reasonably low calorie, low carb, and sometimes I'll pop one into the pancake bite cups to make them more indulgent.

I haven't regained much weight since having the VSG in August of 2015, but I can relate to feeling severely depressed and like a major failure. I squandered much of the earlier years of my youth being miserable about my weight, and so self-conscious I became a bit of a hermit. I declined social invitations because I had nothing to wear. I now waste time feeling angry at myself and regretful for having wasting time earlier on, even though I realize how counterproductive that cycle of thinking is. I try to remember that quote about how success is not final, failure is not fatal, it's the courage to continue that counts. Have you discussed this with your surgeon, or even just with your general physician? It might be wise to get some blood work done, including having your hormone levels checked, if you haven't done so recently. It's possible there's an underlying medical condition that is contributing to your cravings and could be treated. I have PCOS and hypothyroidism, but was not on the proper medication for it for a long time. I was taking far too high of a dose of one medication (Spiro) that was causing weight gain. PCOS itself was making me crave carbs. Since starting Metformin I broke a long stall and lost the final amount of weight to reach my goal. It caused unpleasant side effects (nausea, insomnia) at first, but then once I was acclimated to it I no longer had any problems. I also am taking a really low dose of Wellbutrin. I've found that it helps me with depression, as well as helping to curb my appetite a little. A higher dose made me more jittery and caused weight loss, but the lowest dose has still been effective. Maybe something like sugar free popsicles could help you to prevent dehydration when you're having a hard time getting enough water. In my first couple of months post-op plain water would make me nauseous, so I drank a lot of sugar free lemonade and Crystal Light. Peppermint might help to settle your stomach, too. Best wishes!

Anything carbonated has the potential to cause discomfort because the gaseous air can expand in your stomach, and when your stomach is much smaller it can be felt more strongly. I'm 18 months post-op of the VSG and occasionally experience that effect. It's actually carbonated water like Perrier that has the stronger impact. Just the other night I drank half a glass of it at a party, assuming by this point it would be fine, and ten minutes later my stomach was making sounds like a water fountain. It was incredibly embarrassing. I've had Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi a few times without problems, but every once in a while I get the bubbling sounds with it as well. Another reason to minimize how much soda you drink is because it's not healthy for you. The non-diet versions are packed with sugar and calories that can add up quickly, and the diet ones have a heap of ingredients not good for you. I still like Diet Coke, despite that, so I'm not lecturing, haha. I have it very rarely, whereas before surgery it was always on my grocery list, but didn't give it up entirely.

I'd lost 75 pounds by then, and a bit more than 80 now. I went from a tight size 14 / XL to a size 2 / XS. I had long stalls along the way, but they'd eventually break and I'd regain momentum with weight loss. The benefit of losing slowly was no loose skin, and minimal hair loss. Best wishes to you!

Keep calm and carry on. There will always be people who make a hobby out of criticizing and second-guessing the choices of others, and most of the time they lack the qualifications to do so. If the naysayers were physicians who had a depth of experience in treating obese patients, or worked in some other capacity to understand WLS, then perhaps their feedback would be worthwhile. But I'm willing to bet most have never read the articles in peer-reviewed medical journals about the safety and efficacy of WLS, read about why so many insurance companies now cover the expensive procedure (in the long run it costs them less than treating the problems associated with obesity over a lifetime), or read any of the recent articles about it. The New York Times had an article last month about why WLS works when diet fails. They and other major newspapers have had several articles about WLS. If you go to Google, type in bariatric surgery or WLS and click the news tab the articles should come up. Most people who are overweight can lose weight with lifestyle modifications, but the percentage who keep off the majority of the loss is tiny. Though many who have weight loss surgery do regain some of the weight over time, it's typically a far smaller amount. You do what's best for you. Best wishes.

My endocrinologist was the one who first suggested the VSG to me because it's benefitted women with PCOS, and she said that other patients had it done in Mexico. I live in Los Angeles, and the surgeons I consulted with charged between $29,000 to $35,000. Since my BMI was under 35, there was no hope of insurance covering any of the cost. I had the surgery in August of 2015 in Tijuana, and the total cost including two nights at the Marriott was $4200. It was also a far simpler process than going through insurance. I didn't have any hoops to jump through, and was able to schedule surgery for the exact date I needed. I had no complications, very minimal discomfort, and felt taken care of and safe. I'm confident the results would have been the same if I'd stayed in LA and shelled out a fortune. I surpassed my goal. Medical Tourism is becoming increasingly popular, and there are many excellent facilities in Mexico. I would look for another physician who is more open-minded. You can also find out the blood work you need from online resources for bariatric centers, and ask for it to be completed. Good luck!

Oh my goodness. I wish I had words of comfort or wisdom to offer, or a way to reach through the internet and give you a hug. I'd feel precisely the same way in that position. I'm so sorry for all you've been through. I'm not knowledgeable about medical malpractice and am not litigious by nature, but it's something I'd think about looking into. I hope that if you have the sleeve it helps you to attain a healthy weight. I had the VSG in August of 2015 and it has benefitted me tremendously.

For me it was helpful to view the post-op dietary instructions not as a diet, but as a prescription. Your stomach is healing and requires gentleness to avoid problems. I eventually cheated on virtually every diet I ever tried, but I made it through the entire post-op month without deviating from the plan at all. I actually continued with the restrictions for an additional two weeks when I discovered my stomach wasn't yet ready for solid foods. I definitely recommend introducing them slowly. Since fully healing I've continued to try to avoid viewing what I eat as a diet, and instead view it as lifestyle choices. For me, being too restrictive leads to me obsessing about whatever I've forbidden myself from, and then binging. So instead I never put anything entirely off-limits, but instead made unhealthier choices rarer and in smaller quantities than before. I also look for better alternatives to foods I crave. As an example, I love having carbs for weekend breakfasts, and so I bought Trader Joe's Belgian waffles which only have 13 carbs and are quite tasty. As for exercising, I joined a gym but regret doing so because I don't utilize it enough. I live in Los Angeles where we have lovely weather the majority of the year, and I'm happier doing outdoor activities instead of working out in the gym. I bike to work, park far away in a lot or high up in a garage (and take the stairs), and go on hikes. It's far more enjoyable to me. Good luck to you!

I tried the Vitamin Patches and felt mildly nauseous by them, plus they caused some minor skin irritation. I gave the rest of the pack to my dad, however, and he had no negative effects so it's very much an individual reaction. I took Vitamin Code for Women by Garden of Life for the first four months or thereabouts post-op and then switched to two Flintstones vitamins with iron. I'd been taking them prior to surgery but post-op my taste buds were a bit off for a while, so they were far too sweet. Now I like them fine, and my lab work has been excellent. Best wishes to you! All the frustrations are likely going to be totally worthwhile in the end.

I had the VSG in August of 2015 and began noticing more shedding when I washed and dried my hair that December, but it was minimal enough that I was the only one who noticed. It continued to shed a bit more than typical through February of 2016, and then abated. I lost far more hair in 2012 due to a John Frieda product (stay away from the Go Blonder spray!) that caused surreal damage, and in 2013 when the antidepressant I briefly took for grief caused weight gain and thinning right at the front of my head. Both times then my less diplomatic friends bluntly asked me why I was losing hair. When I lost hair after the VSG no one commented because it wasn't nearly as apparent. I am sensitive to Biotin so I never took it. The only Vitamins I was taking at the time were the Garden of Life Vitamin Code for women and Vitamin D. I now take Flinstones with Iron and have not lost any hair. I think the primary reason I lost little hair was that I was losing weight at a much slower pace than many others who've had the VSG. My BMI was low for the surgery (32), and it took me a full year to lose as much weight as some do in four months. I did eventually surpass my goal, though. To add - one change I did make was to stop washing my hair as frequently. I used to wash, dry, and style my hair every day, and that put extra strain on my hair. I wear a shower cap and just wash my hair every third day. I use a little dry shampoo from Lush to freshen it.

You could share this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/well/why-weight-loss-surgery-works-when-diets-dont.html?ribbon-ad-idx=2&rref=health&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Health&pgtype=article

Hi everyone. I'm from Santa Monica, California

*Hugs* I think most people would be riddled with anxiety and more likely to graze. You are probably doing so both out of self-comfort and a way of distracting yourself. If feasible, go on a walk, watch a TV show, take a relaxing bath, read a book, text with friends, engage in a hobby - anything to give your mind something else to do for a few moments instead of worrying. One of my colleagues began using adult coloring books as a way of coping with a distressing health diagnosis. It sounds a bit odd, but it's something that's soothing and keeps your hands busy so you're just munching away. Keep healthy food on hand that you can graze on if necessary. For me, when I'm stressed out having a good snack helps to prevent with grazing. A yogurt that is high in Protein and lower in carbs, like Siggis or plain Fage (add a few berries in) or cheese cubes and nuts can be more filling, so you're less likely to have the room in your tummy to graze. Drinking Water, Crystal Light, tea, and the like might help as well. Once you get your treatment plan I think knowing how you're going to proceed will be a comfort. Definitely talk with your oncologist about having the VSG and your concerns about your weight. Congratulations on your success thus far. You should be proud of yourself.

You might find some useful information in threads about having WLS with low / lower BMI. If you do a keyword search you should be able to find a few, including some recent ones. One challenge more people with lower BMIs often face is obtaining insurance coverage or self-paying. My highest BMI was a 32, and since my PCOS which was the main reason I wanted WLS didn't count as a qualifying condition, insurance wouldn't provide any coverage. I went the self-pay route and had surgery in Mexico, and it was an extremely positive experience. The other fairly common challenge is that you'll likely lose weight at a slower pace than those starting off at a higher BMI. It took me about a year to lose 70 pounds, which was my initial goal, and then I another ten. Losing a bit more slowly did have some perks; I have no loose skin and lost a minimal amount of hair. Most people have stalls at week three, and again at other points along the way. Making sure you're not having too many or too few (not eating enough can cause a stall) calories by keeping track of what you eat, drinking plenty of Water, and staying active will help. Be sure to follow the rules your surgeon gives you, especially during the first month when you're healing. Best wishes!

70 pounds is fantastic. If you've lost that much without really trying, think about how much progress you could make when you put in your full effort. Making an eating plan for the week with three meals and set Snacks can help you from just grazing all day. There's a girl on Instagram who has posted pictures of the simple template she uses and her weekly meals, and I've gotten ideas from her. https://www.instagram.com/fitmissbliss/ You look great now and I bet you'll look even better by your birthday!

You look so beautiful and happy! Congratulations on your success! Toning up is my goal for the year so I'm also hitting the gym more now. Having the crock pot always ready and filled with healthy foods is really smart. I've been the most successful when I've planned out meals carefully and have Snacks ready and readily available. When I don't plan out, hunger will sometimes sneak up and pounce on me and I'll be tempted to just grab whatever is the fastest instead of what's the best. I still don't have the same appetite I did pre-surgery, but that will sometimes lead to me not having meals at routine times if I'm busy and then getting ravenous mid-afternoon. I've gone back to keeping an eating and exercise schedule, and that helps. I really like some of the higher protein, lower carbs / sugar yogurts like Siggi's and the Sweet Cream (which has 11 carbs despite it sounding indulgent) flavor from Liberte (at Whole Foods). Cheese cubes and cashews are another favorite. Keep up the great work.

My BMI was a 32 on the day of having the VSG (I was a self-pay patient in Mexico) in August of 2015 and by December of 2016 I'd lost 80 pounds. In comparison to the rate of loss for other patients mine was at a turtle's speed, but I'm still really pleased. You'll likely lose weight the fastest in the first four months, and then the pace will slow down. Many people experience a stall three weeks post-op, so don't be discouraged if you do. I've stalled out several times going for weeks without losing any weight, and then it's perked up again. Some will feel defeated by stalls and believe that if they aren't losing weight or it isn't coming off fast enough then it's pointless to continue to eat nutritiously and exercise diligently, but that's a mistake. Just keep persevering. Not eating enough can actually cause you to stall out because your body will freak out and think it's starving, so your metabolism slows down to protect you. Make sure you're not eating too much or too little. Using MyFitnessPal to track what I eat has really helped. People seem to lose the fastest with a lower carb, high Protein diet. I tend to be lower carb instead of severely low carb, and aim for a 50-70 carb range. Being more active throughout the day, and not just with dedicated exercise can help too. I started biking to and from work about 6 weeks post-op, and doing things like parking farther away in a lot or higher up in the garage and taking the stairs both ways.

I can't write any harsh comments about willpower because the only pre-op diet I had to do was to not eat solids the day before surgery. I really don't think a small portion of lasagna would throw you far off course. Just get back onto it. Is there someone else who could make the family meals to ease your temptation until after your surgery? If not, then perhaps having a shake right before you make their dinner would help you so you're full.

I began losing more hair than typical when styling and washing it around the four month mark, and it continued to shed for a couple more months. It was only noticeable to me, though. The only reason my husband even knew is because the hair clogged the drain. I lost far more hair due to a horrific product by John Frieda that caused it to snap off and fall out in clumps. I had a lengthy stall, and I think the silver lining of it is that it helped to alleviate the hair loss. Since breaking the stall I've been able to lose weight and meet my goals, but haven't lost any more hair. I did not take Biotin or any other supplements. I do take Vitamin D, which has helped immensely with my hair.

I don't routinely eat cereal, but will occasionally have Weetabix or steel cut oatmeal. I'll pair it with some Fair Life milk (higher in protein) and raspberries.

I strive to keep it under 75 grams of carbs, with the majority coming from fruit, vegetables, and grains. I want to lose 15 more pounds, and my body is being stubborn about it, so I am going to try to cut back to around 40. I haven't been to the gym yet at all this year due to being on vacation, and then sick for over a week. I'm hoping that getting back into gear with that in tandem with lowering my carbs will help me to reach my final goal.

That's a fantastic accomplishment! Congratulations! By the way, I love your shirt.

I'd just posted in a thread about fast food before replying to this one, but perhaps there's another that I haven't stumbled upon. I think it can be difficult to convey one's full intentions on a forum with strangers, though. I had ferocious head hunger the week of post-op and was obsessing about food then. If I'd posted here I probably would have come across as having no desire to mend my ways, a hopeless cause. I craved 1000+ calorie, fat-laden atrocities, and would look up pictures of them and obsess. I didn't succumb to those desires, though. And they fortunately did pass. I did eventually eat fast food, after being healed, but in moderation on a very rare basis. I still made my way down to a size two.

I had the VSG in August of 2015 and to date not a single coworker knows about it. I'm a very sociable person, but it's my preference to keep personal matters private. I started biking to work (perk of living in LA where we have nice weather year-round) two months post-op, and making healthier eating choices, so as I've lost weight they've assumed it was due to those improved habits. Even though you work in the hospital, it seems like there would be some privacy provided for you if you sought it. If you do wish to share, go for it, but if you don't, that's your prerogative.

I've never tried it, but I know root beer extract exists. There might be a recipe on Pinterest or something for a smoothie using vanilla Protein powder and the extract to create something resembling a root beer float.