Clementine Sky

I've had junk food and fast food since having the VSG in August of 2015, but sporadically. I don't think it's audacious to make a thread about it here. Sustainability has been my goal, and for me, not feeling deprived is a significant part of it. Eating a kids meal with fruit instead of fries at Chick-fil-a, or a reasonable meal at El Pollo Loco once in a blue moon, or having frozen yogurt hasn't had much impact on my weight when I'm working out and eating sensibly overall. It does have a beneficial impact on my wellbeing. When something is a forbidden fruit I crave it more, so not making anything forbidden actually lessens temptation rather than increasing it. Other people might feel similarly, or have their own method for incorporating the occasional fast food meal while still being successful. I do stress that it is imperative that you wait until your stomach is fully healed, and that you develop healthy lifestyle habits. If you're going to eat fast food, you can utilize the nutrition information posted on their sites to make better choices.

I had ravenous head hunger during the first month post-op, and though I never actually put any of it in my mouth, I spent a ridiculous amount of time on Pinterest and Instagram food pages consuming with my eyes, haha. So I won't pick up any stones. I've had fast food since having the VSG in August of 2015, but rarely. I grew up loving Chick-Fil-a, so when we finally got a location (now two) in my area, I was happy. They always let me order a kids meal with six nuggets, a fruit cup instead of fries, and a diet lemonade. I also have gone to El Pollo Loco a few times, and Subway once. I look up nutrition stats for the fast food place from my phone, and then decide on my order.

I had the VSG with him in August of 2015 and had a very positive experience, no complications, and have exceeded my goals. Best wishes to you!

I think the concern is that caffeine can be harsh on the stomach and cause irritation, though many people are able to tolerate and enjoy it. I began drinking small cups a few weeks post-op, and when my stomach gave me the green light I gradually increased to my usual amount. Coffee is one of the simple pleasures of my life. This is what the ASMBS stated about it: Q: Do I need to avoid caffeine after bariatric surgery? A: Caffeine fluids have been shown to be as good as any others for keeping you hydrated. Still, it is a good idea to avoid caffeine for at least the first thirty days after surgery while your stomach is extra sensitive. After that point, you can ask your surgeon or dietitian about resuming caffeine. Remember that caffeine often comes paired with sugary, high-calorie drinks, so be sure you’re making wise beverage choices. https://asmbs.org/patients/life-after-bariatric-surgery

I've been consuming caffeine since a few weeks post-op, and I most often order an iced coffee and then add some whole milk. Occasionally I'll order a flat white or a latte. The last coffee I had a major chain was the cascara latte at Starbucks, which was enjoyable. I rarely pop into Duncan Donuts, but was pleasantly surprised by their iced latte!

My period started during my surgery, and was unusually heavy and intense. I actually couldn't ascertain whether my discomfort was mainly from the surgery or from my cramps being so brutal. It felt like cramps amplified by 10, but I didn't feel any other form of pain. I was so grateful I'd brought a heating pad with me. Two weeks after surgery I had my period again. I have PCOS, but my periods are usually still regular. They did normalize by month 2, and haven't been any more a nuisance than before. Whenever I am sick or I travel internationally it also throws off my cycle. I'm sorry you're experiencing such tough cramps. I hope you feel better soon.

14 days into the new year, and I've yet to properly work out. I was on vacation the first week, then got sick on the last day of the trip. The only moving I've done this past week has been from the sofa to the bed due to vertigo being intense. I'm on the mend and determined to actually make use of my bike and my gym membership again! I'd like to lose 10 more pounds, but more importantly to tone up my arms and legs. Women, approximately how many calories and carbs do you consume in a day when you're trying to lose 10-20 pounds?

It's delightful. Having it in the freezer helps to tame cravings for a dessert. Even if I don't end up having it, knowing it's available to me helps to prevent me from wanting to stroll over to one of the three frozen yogurt places in my neighborhood. I also like that you cannot just grab it and have one spoonful after another from the carton because it requires some time on the counter to reach a creamy consistency. In the past the primary reason I refrained (well, at least tried to) from buying ice cream was that I'd just grab it for a bite or two at a time, and would mindlessly consume the carton instead of spooning out a correct portion and actually sitting down and enjoying. With Halo Top I use a measuring cup to get the precise serving after it's reached the right texture, and then put it right back into the freezer to prevent overindulgence. If I wanted seconds I'd have to go through the process of waiting for it to be creamy again. The negative of it is that does get freezer burn more quickly. Or at least in my experience it does. It could be because it stays in the freezer longer for the reasons mentioned above, because I'm having it in smaller portions when my sweet tooth strikes instead of a spoonful every time I open the freezer. We had to throw away the cartons after getting back from Christmas vacation. Whole Foods had it on sale yesterday at our location (Santa Monica), and I picked up Pistachio but haven't tried it yet. I think it will be really good. Thus far my favorite has been chocolate Almond Crunch and oatmeal Cookie. I've also had Lemon Cake, which I liked, and Birthday Cake, which I thought was meh. Decent, but will not repurchase it.

When the "easy way out" has demonstrated superior long-term efficacy, it's smarter to choose it over the "hard way". I don't think rubbing sticks together to make a fire when you're cold is more noble than using a lighter that's available. Our lives are filled with inventions that help us to take a way that is easier than the "natural" ones our ancestors used. When someone has an illness that modern medicine can treat effectively and with minimal risk, we don't just encourage that person to endure it. Or at least we as society shouldn't. Obesity is an illness, and WLS is the most effective treatment for it. Most of us have lost weight the "hard way." Many times. Statistically, the majority of people who've been significantly overweight do not maintain their loss, and for those who are obese the odds are even more pessimistic. Though many people do eventually regain a portion of their weight over time, WLS still has proven through numerous studies to be the best resolution for treating obesity.

I definitely crave crunch. Have you ever tried Trader Joe's crispbread? On their own they're not very tasty but with some cheese or a bit of butter they make a nice snack. They're bigger than a cracker, but low in carbs and sugar. I love them for open-face sandwiches. It satisfies the desire for a crunchy snack, but I'm not tempted to keep eating them like I would if they came in a bag. My husband OTOH thinks they look and taste like bird food, haha.

She's basing her concerns on fears, not facts. There is a personal anecdote out there about someone dying from almost every medical or dental procedure, every medicine or vaccine, or simply from a fluke. The fact of risk isn't nearly as relevant as the probable chance of it. Modern-day WLS has a low rate of mortality or serious complication. You should absolutely understand those risks, but you also have to think about the risks of not finding a long-term solution to obesity. Insurance companies wouldn't provide coverage for WLS if there wasn't substantial proof of efficacy, and if the benefit didn't outweigh the risks. You could show your mom data from reliable sources about the low risk of the surgery and the effectiveness of it. Or just simply try to guide conversations off of surgery as much as possible and focus on other topics. You can't let the opinions of others stop you from doing what it prudent for your own life.

What a horrific experience. I wish you a speedy recovery and much success.

At this point your stomach is likely healed enough for you to tolerate a PB&J. So you can eat it, but as to whether you should, that really depends on how you make it and your overall dietary choices. Dollops of sugar-laden jelly with processed Peanut Butter on two pieces of white bread isn't a healthy option, but there are other ways to make a PB&J that are more nutritious and will have less of an impact, especially if your other meals are high in Protein and lower in carbs. I always make PB&Js when I'm flying because I've been in too many situations where I've gotten stuck on planes for long time periods. (That just happened last week, actually, when I was stuck on a plane for 8 hours due to the shooting in Florida). I get peanut butter from Whole Foods that is freshly made and lower in carbs. There's also a terrific New Zealand brand that I love called Pic's that is really low in carbs and tastes terrific, but it's been harder to find it lately. I'll add a tiny bit of low sugar jam. This past time I made it with Lingonberry jam that has 8 carbs for a tablespoon serving, but used less than a teaspoon. I put it on bread that is higher in Fiber and protein, like Ezekiel's, and I cut it in half and make it into two servings instead of one. For a while that had been my go-to lunch when I was incredibly pressed for time. I had a healthy Breakfast and dinner, and exercised faithfully, so I still made my goals.

You revealed the name of the bistro in your OP. I'm assuming that was unintentional, and due to copying and pasting the review from somewhere else to here. I think there's a time limit on editing posts, but perhaps if you asked a moderator he or she would be willing to remove their name if you wish. I doubt it's against the rules to post it. As I wrote before, I think the restaurant handled the situation poorly, taking a matter that could have been resolved quickly and amicably and escalating it by their reaction to you both at the restaurant and to the review. Everyone engaged in the matter is squandering time in a back-and-forth that at this point is unlikely to have a mutually satisfactory end. If you haven't already received an apology by now, then it's doubtful you will, and you have to make the choice about whether you want to continue to invest yourself in the matter or move forward. I've been in many situations where I've gotten an unpleasant surprise on the bill. When my family and friends were in Russia we were stunned to get a bill for over $100 for Water (which was served in a pitcher, not from a bottle) and soda. We were accustomed to free water and free refills, but realized that isn't the custom there, and so we paid without argument or acrimony. We learned the hard way that in many places there's an additional fee for dining at a casual cafe vs. taking the meal to go, sometimes tripling the original cost. I totally get that at a restaurant in your own area when you're confronted with something you haven't encountered before it's more jarring than when you're in a foreign country and face a foreign custom, but the point is the same. You're now aware that some restaurants do have the split plate fee, and that the waiters will not always emphasize that in advance when you're ordering. So this problem doesn't have to be replicated. You will presumably avoid going back to that bistro, you also don't have to worry about dealing with their attitude again unless you choose to keep interacting. To add - moving on from such a matter isn't giving up on what you think is right, it's about valuing your own resources too much to expend them on something unworthy.

Have you recently had complete lab work done? Conditions like PCOS can substantially increase your craving for sugar and carbs. A Vitamin D deficiency can diminish your energy. I'd systematically rule out any potential medical contributors, as well as analyze your lifestyle habits. For me, keeping track of what I eat and drink on MyFitnessPal has been really helpful with making me more mindful of what I'm eating in a day.

I also had a terrific experience with Dr. Fernando Garcia and his staff. He performed the VSG on me in August of 2015, and I felt like I was taken care of very well. I spent more time with his staff than directly with him, but he was kind and attentive, and willing to answer questions. I had minimal actual pain - mainly just some discomfort. I slept most of the time I was in the clinic, but was well enough to take laps through the hallway. I had a private room so I brought my laptop with me loaded with movies and hooked it up to the TV via a HDMI cable so my parents (who were my support team since my husband was working) could watch them while I dozed. I spent a total of four days in Mexico. I live in LA, so we drove down on a Monday morning and parked at the border parking lot for Tijuana where the driver met us and took us and his other passengers (a girl who was also having the VSG and her sister, who'd flown in) to the Marriott. That night I walked down to the shopping center a few blocks away with my dad, and then just relaxed in the hotel. On Tuesday morning I went to the clinic and had the tests for surgery, and then the surgery itself. I was in the clinic all day on Wednesday. On Thursday I had the leak test (and paid the small fee to get a copy of the results for my personal records), and then was brought back to the hotel. I felt well, so we played tourist, and then went for a walk, and lounged by the pool. On Friday a nurse came to the hotel to check on me, and then my family checked out of the hotel and were brought back to the parking lot. We breezed over the border because we were in the medical lane. There's an outlet mall a couple of blocks away, so we went there and shopped. I felt completely fine by that point. The only mild distress I felt was due to an allergic reaction to the tape used on the incisions. Once I replaced that, all was well. On my last day at the clinic I met with a nutritionist who gave me a packet of information about the eating stages. Several leading bariatric centers, like one at the the Mayo Clinic, have information on their websites about how to eat post-op, and I suggest reading through in advance when you're making your plans. The total cost for me was $4200. That included the surgery and all tests and medications, two nights stay at the Marriott and bariatric meals there (popsicles and broth), and all ground transportation. The Marriott even shuttled my parents back and forth from the hotel to the clinic every day for free (though they generously tipped). I'd consulted with surgeons in LA who quoted me $29,000 to $35,000 for the same surgery. I believe the outcome would have been identical. I lost weight slowly because I had a low starting BMI (31), but I did exceed my goals within a year. I've had no complications; my lab work is excellent; and I've had minimal hair loss and no loose skin. I am extremely glad I had the surgery. I reclaimed my life.

It was a blissful 69 degrees in LA today. When I was little I used to long to live somewhere snowy, because it looked magical to me. I always delighted in playing in the snow when we were on vacation somewhere cold. Now I realize the realities of snow, and how it's not such a wonderland to wake up to a covered driveway and roads. At least you're getting in a solid workout shoveling it. Stay warm!

Wow! You look 28 in your photo! There are a host of factors that contribute to the pace of your weight loss, from your starting BMI to what you're eating (too few calories can paradoxically cause a stall), and your activity level. I also lost around 13 pounds in six weeks. I stalled out for several weeks before I started to drop again. One of the only adverse reactions I had to surgery was having a really upset stomach when I started to reintroduce solid foods at the one-month mark. This caused me to progress through the post-op eating stages more slowly, staying on a liquid and soft foods diet that was really too low in calories and freaked my body out into thinking it was starving and holding onto weight to try to survive. When I was able to start eating solid foods and get into a reliable routine again the weight began to drop. It still went slow. My starting BMI was in the low 30s, and I knew in advance I'd lose more slowly due to it. I did eventually exceed my goals, but it took about 14 months. You might experience silver linings to losing weight slowly, as I did. I lost a minimal amount of hair, and have absolutely no loose skin.

I really don't have a set way of viewing overweight people. When it comes to strangers who are overweight, I give it little thought because it's not any of my concern. For people I actually know, my feelings vary depending on the individual. For some I have compassion because I know it's been a hardship, but for others I don't because they seem to be happy with themselves. They might not actually be, but since they don't discuss their weight, I don't either. One of my friends has been obese since college, and seems far more confident and content with her life than I was when I was overweight. I envy that she hasn't let her weight keep her from shining, the way that I let mine diminish me.

As for medications, I had success at first with phentermine in college (when I was slightly overweight, but not obese), but it then caused insomnia, anxiety, hair loss and a host of other problems. My endocrinologist refuses to prescribe it anymore. The only doctor I know of in the LA area who does prescribe it requires that you come in every week and jump through hoops and pay high fees in order to get it. A friend had tried Xenical and said it was a miserable and costly experience. I'd definitely read through reviews of any medications you're considering in advance to read about the potential complications and side effects. As for the OP's age - I don't think you're too old at all. My friend's 76-year-old grandmother had VSG because her weight was causing such severe pain in her knees and joints, and her diabetes was becoming increasingly severe. She did have it in Mexico after being denied by insurance due to her age, but did extremely well. (I also had surgery in Mexico and had a terrific experience.) She's in her 80s now. She's traveled the world since having surgery, most recently to Ecuador and Antartica. She said she's making up for the lost time when she avoided travel due to a lack of stamina, and the embarrassment she felt flying when she was larger. There are people who live into their 100s, so you could have decades ahead of you. Regardless of how much time any of us have, what's important is that we live rather than just exist. Don't sit on the sidelines when you could be in the game.

I experienced some hair loss about four months post-op (VSG) but it wasn't substantial enough to be noticeable to anyone but myself. It continued to lightly shed for a couple of months, and then stopped. I lost far more hair due to a horrific John Frieda product a few years ago. I also don't have any loose skin from weight loss. I did lose weight at a much slower pace than many others, though, and this probably was a factor.

Once your stomach has healed from surgery you will likely be able to eat most foods, though hopefully in much smaller quantities (as a result of the surgery) and less frequently (as a result of wanting the surgery to be as successful as possible). About three months after having the VSG I was craving a slice of thin crust pizza from Whole Foods, and so I bought it. I had less than half that night, and then the rest over two more meals because I kept getting fully quickly. Over time I was able to eat more, but fortunately even 15 months post-op still am satisfied with far less than I would have been prior to surgery. The last time I had pizza was in November when I was visiting family in Florida and the rain was so fierce we decided on delivery rather than getting out into it. I had two small slices, and was content. For me, having things I enjoy in reasonable portions sparingly has helped me to avoid feeling deprived and binge-eating. I definitely wouldn't try eating pizza or anything of that nature early out, though. Give your body ample time to recover, and your mind enough time to change how you approach eating.

I would have needed to gain a substantial amount of weight to meet my insurance eligibility qualifications for coverage since my BMI hovered between 30 and 32, and then jump through a series of hoops and get entangled in red tape, and my out of pocket expenses actually would still be higher than what I paid for surgery in Mexico. Going through insurance would have cost around $5000, whereas with self-pay my surgery was $4200 which included two nights at the Marriott and ground transportation. I absolutely do not regret having surgery in Mexico. I had an extremely positive experience there, and in the 15 months since surgery have surpassed my goals and had minimal adverse effects (no leaks; discomfort but not intense pain during recovery; no loose skin; little hair loss; and my lab work is excellent). It was also awesome for me because I felt like I was far more in control. I was able to choose precisely when I wanted to have the surgery, and align the timing perfectly with when my parents were coming out to visit (they were my support team since my husband was working) and I still had a few weeks left before returning to work. The process was refreshingly simple. I didn't have to go through nutrition classes or psychological tests, but instead took it upon myself to learn about the surgery and the lifestyle changes I needed to make. I read medical studies through NCBI and medical journals, books from patients, and forums for personal experiences. Several reputable bariatric centers have information on their websites that anyone can access about the post-op eating phases and such, and my surgeon's staff also provided me with the information I needed. I also contacted the patients of the surgeons I was considering to get their perspectives, which boosted my confidence. I had surgery with Dr. Fernando Garcia, and really liked him and his staff. My endocrinologist is the one who had suggested surgery to me because other patients struggling with PCOS had benefitted from it. She said that several had gone to Mexico since they also had BMIs under 35 and couldn't get coverage, and that they'd been successful. I still did have consultations with local surgeons; the surgery through them would have cost between $29,000 and $35,000. Since I live in LA, the drive down to Tijuana only took a morning. We parked at the border parking lot and were picked up and transported to the Marriott. We were returned there after surgery, and I felt well enough to go shopping at the outlet mall a block away, and to stop at scenic spots on the route home. My endocrinologist has provided me with follow-up care. I knew there were risks in going to Mexico, but I also knew there were risks right here.

I had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy in August of 2015 and have lost 90 pounds, going from squeezing into a size 14 / XL to wearing a size 2/4 and S or XS. I surpassed my goal weight, and have had very minimal negative side effects. My endocrinologist had recommended the VSG to me because other women my age and size with PCOS have benefitted from it, and said that some had gone to Mexico because the costs were so high in Los Angeles (I was quoted $29,000 to $35K, vs $4200 for the same surgery a couple of hours drive away in Mexico). My BMI was under 35 so insurance would not pay for anything. I started researching surgeons in Tijuana and reading reviews from patients, and felt confident with Dr. Garcia. I wrote to several of his patients who'd posted about their experiences for more insight. I'm very pleased.

What was beneficial to me was thinking of the post-op dietary instructions not as a "diet" but as a vitally critical prescription. After dieting since age 13, I'd become conditioned to thinking that a diet is something that could be tweaked rather than followed diligently. It's just a Pavlovian response to the word "diet" for me. So framing it as a prescription helped me to change my mindset and realize that it wasn't something that allowed for "cheating" or "treats," but had to be adhered to faithfully because the potential risks were far too high. Since I was self-paying for my surgery in Mexico (my BMI was under the insurance requirements, so they wouldn't contribute a cent), I was sort of a DIY patient. Before the surgery I studied the post-op instructions from bariatric centers at the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Stanford, UCLA, and a few others. They were fairly uniform, though some did allow for some personal tailoring with smaller things such as having very modest amounts of coffee if it was well-tolerated but not anything major (none permitted solid foods in the first week). My own surgeon's instructions were in alignment with the bariatric centers' for the most part. I had fierce "head hunger" post-surgery, craving things that I ordinarily wouldn't even want. It was a battle between my emotions and my reason, but reason won out. I spent oodles of time looking at DK Donut's Instagram page, ha. I never actually considered eating what I desired, though. When I see questions on here about eating x, y, or z that is typically forbidden soon after surgery, I assume the person is experiencing head hunger and not fully understanding the jeopardy they are putting themselves in by following through with their cravings. I'll explain why it's risky and try to encourage finding a way to bear through it, such as looking for fun recipes for each stage on Pinterest to liven things up rather than only having plain Protein shakes for sustenance. I help moderate a forum for my college and am completely used to the same question being asked ad nauseam even though it's been answered thoroughly many times before, so I don't really get annoyed by the repetitiveness. If they did annoy me, I'd just skip over them. I also don't invest my own energy into getting upset if someone doesn't want to follow what I suggest. On such a forum all you can really do is throw your two cents out onto the table, and if the person doesn't want to pick them up, it's not such a loss for you. We're not responsible for the choices others make for themselves.