karoberts17

Thanks for this especially the part about this not being the "easy way out" but the most effective one. I'm six months out, 77 lbs down and people notice. Boy do they notice. I have chosen to be completely honest with people when they ask what I did to lose the weight. I know everyone has a personal opinion on this but I feel if I wasn't being honest I wouldn't be doing somone who could benefit from the procedure any justice. I have though for a couple days been struggling on how to reply to the "easy way out" comments without coming off as an a-hole because I still want to plant that seed that this is a great tool for weight loss. As for the watching part my 7yr is the biggest VSG food cop ever. She is always calling me out on my food choices which in turn forces me to make better descions. In the process her recognizing that the potato chips I'm reaching for are bad has her making better choices for herself as well. She has become my favorite "health food guinea pig" buddy. And, I'm need to apologize to my husband. Until today I hadn't realized my hormones were being weird at all. Looking back though, I think I owe the mister a back rub and an uninteruppted day of video games....maybe two.

I get that way a couple days before my period and a few days after. Everything is gross or disgusting. I usually stick to a stage 2 liquid diet on those days to make sure I'm not skipping Protein and staying hydrated. Upside I almost always have a bump in my weight loss that week. Sent from my SM-G920I using the BariatricPal App

My hair started to fall out at about 4 months, I'm 6 months out. I'm an overachiever on my Protein intakes so I knew that wasn't it. I was told by my doc that it was going to fall out no matter what and the Biotin would help with the regrowth but was not a preventive measure. My hair is naturally curly, crazy thick, and was down past my bra strap. I had golf ball size clumps falling out in the shower and my style started to look bad because of the thinning so I chopped it all off. 10 inches worth. The clumps are now quarter sized and I leave strands of hair everywhere. Lol. I'd say in the beginning while it was still long it felt like 10,000,000,000 on the scale of severity but it really was more like a 4. The new cut really disguises the thinning. After I did mine two other women in hospital where I worked that are a few months further out than me did the same thing. All though their hair is already growing back a new cut does wonders to hide the thinning. We buy new clothes to showcase our new and improved selves so why not a new do?

Don't do it. One month post up I went from a 40D to a 36C. Four months post up and I'm hanging on to a 36B....barely. Since the girls have become a distant memory I've become a fan of bras on clearance and the cheap ones from Wally World. And, ALL are pushups so it looks like I actually have boobs. Save the $200 and go buy you some sexy, flirty, frilly unmentionables when you hit goal.

I bought cute pj tops and bottoms. One shirt said "This Diva is Downsizing" lol. I did it because I hate feeling "sick" so as soon as I could shower the first night, I was in pj's. It was the same way with all three of my c-sections, the only other times I've been in the hospital. I did bottoms making it easy to look at my incisions and the nurses unhooked my iv for my shower so getting on a bra and tshirt were no biggie. Take pj's or a nightie and if you feel like it put them on if not stay in your gown. Noone will mind if you take them and don't wear them. Good luck. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Exactly. Well said. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App Exactly. Well said. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App Exactly. Well said. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App Exactly. Well said. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I'm a switchboard operator at a VA hospital and I was back to work 3 days post op. I was in the hospital for less than 24 hrs and went to the mall the next day. Now I'm by no means normal compared to most but it was normal for me. I knew I didn't want to be in the hospital longer than a day so I was a star pupil and made sure I walked, stretched, turned and breathed every 30 minutes to get the gas out. I stopped my pain meds (with approval) a few hours before discharge and didn't take a prescription home. Once I got back to work I moved around in my office and took things slowly. I was tired more than usual for about two weeks but I'm sure that was more due to my clear liquid diet. That being said request your time. If you decide you want less after surgery and are ready to go back do it. If you need more then take it, do FMLA and borrow leave if you need it. No one is the same at recovery and it's better to be prepared than not. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I have Fed BCBS in Texas and walked into my Bari doc's office with only a BMI of 39/40, my weight of 267 and hypertension. After my first round of blood work they found my cholesterol levels to be a little high which gave me my 2nd comorbidity. Through the 6 months pre-op (I dragged my feet) I was tested for and diagnosed with GERD and sleep apnea. But, had I not dragged my feet after my fourth monthly visit we could've submitted to the ins. for approval with only the hypertension and cholesterol. In the end it took less than a week to get my approval. Find a good dr. with a good staff so you can see where you stand from the very beginning. A good insurance coordinator will tell you if you could qualify early on. If you feel like a road trip Dr.Davenport and the staff at the MCH Bariatric Services in Odessa, TX are phenomenal. Good luck. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

My first NSV was being able to cross my legs but the funniest, also a toilet NSV, was about 30lbs in and I looked down and could see my girl parts without having to move my stomach. I literally laughed which had my husband questioning if I was ok. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Fruit is fruit so I guess we need to avoid all fruit?Wow! Smart-ass much? The question was asked by someone early into their wls journey if they should eat carbs and I said no. A 1 cup serving of whole wheat pasta has 37g of carbs, white rice 44g while that chocolate cake I had for my 7 yr old's b-day had almost 60g in one slice. But my grilled chicken at lunch had no carbs and Eggface's ricotta bake only has 5g and a generic cup of mixed fruit has about 15g. As you can see even if you cut the portions of the pasta and rice they are still high in carbs compared to the foods most are allowed to eat in the first year, fruit included. The point I was making and maybe it didn't come across to an intellect such as yourself is why choose food that wasn't helping you lose weight before? Why eat it now especially when you're in the losing stage and not the maintaining stage? I learned the hard way. So ya fruit is fruit but it's better than rice so eat that instead and stop being so rude. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Even if you get the go ahead don't. My two youngest had birthdays in the last month and that meant party food and cake and even though my portions were sleeve sized I hit a stall. Yep 3 days of cheating and I've been stalled for almost a month. Portion size does not matter when it comes to carbs. Cake is cake, Pasta is pasta, rice is rice. Your body doesn't care if your tummy is little or big it's going to hold onto those carbs for dear life. Just say no. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I'm from Texas so I live on sweet tea, of course it's decaf and sweetened with Stevia but it works. I also do one Isopure a day. And, I never and I mean never leave home without a cup and some flavor packs. Not just CL either anything sugar free will do, I found A&W root beer flavored the other day. That way when we stop for drinks or gas I can get ice and a Water or if I'm feeling really fancy a diet lemonade from the fountain drinks. As crazy as it sounds I also only go to big convenience stores like truck stops because there is always more options. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I waited until 2 months post op to tell my mom about my surgery. Add that to my pre-op and it was 8 months of "secret keeping" because I knew how'd she react. Her words when I told her "shame on you". I wasn't surprised and only mildly hurt. She has struggled with her weight her whole life and her health issues were one of the big reasons I got my surgery. I know at some point, probably the next family holiday, that it will come up and I'll have to defend my choices to my family because they don't know. Thankfully I've been armed by my team with the knowledge to educate the nay sayers and if they still want to be Negative Nancy they can be. I'll be on the other side of the room perscription drug free, not diabetic, in shape and sassy in my size 8's enjoying the company of those who are happy for me. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Yes! Someone please say it gets better. I'm from West Texas and spicy food is the only way I know how to eat. My pouch has been a cranky SOB since surgery and I'd hate to have to give my Texan card because I can't eat Mexican food or real bbq. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I started soft foods yesterday and while I didn't cry I couldn't sit still in my seat. After my morning appointment I met my husband at a Mexican restaurant near his work for lunch. After agonizing over the menu because what I really wanted was enchiladas I settled on grilled fish and a side of Beans. Oh and salsa of course. My husband kept laughing at me because of how excited I was. I literally clapped like a child when my plate came and I have to say, that was the best thing I'd eaten in the last 49 days. It was still amazing last night for dinner and today for lunch. Just go slow, take small bites and listen to your pouch. When it says it's done, it's done.

Hi y'all, I to was sleeved on the 8th. Female, 39 yrs old, HW 263 CW 232 GW 140. I've had no issues what so ever and really thought my Dr didn't do the procedure. It wasn't until I was in week 3 post-op and I tried cottage cheese for the first time that I felt my restriction. I literally said out loud "Oh there it is!" My husband thought I was crazy for talking to myself. I've had regrets usually around dinner time with my family, I am terribly uncomfortable with the compliments and the whole reason I did this was to be healthier, which I am. I am currently off all pre-op meds and my CPAP only one month out. Even if I didn't lose another pound I'd call it a success just to be off medication.

I only told my husband and a handful of people. I haven't told anyone in my family and probably won't. My mom and her battle with her weight were a huge determining factor on why I had the surgery. However, I won't be telling her anytime soon because I don't want to hurt her feelings. In the end the bariatric coordinator at the hospital said if you don't want to tell anyone just say "exercise and eating right" because really it's not a lie.

I had surgery last Monday and was at the mall on Wednesday and back to work Thursday. Now this is just me and I know everyone is different. I did everything the doctor said to do. I walk a lot, every two hours. I stretched, coughed, turned, and breathed to get rid of the gas pain. I set up my 64oz of liquid including 16 oz of Isopure every morning so I know what I have to finish by day end. And, although I could drink plain Water all day because I like it I add in a hot tea into my 64oz to mix it up. But, what I really attribute my short "recovery" too is my mental outlook on it. I didn't want to be laid up for weeks, my family needed me and I needed our routine to get better. The thought of being out of commission worried me more than the actual surgery. I went into my surgery with the attitude that I was only staying one night and only taking off three days from work and I did just that. I won't lie I am tired earlier in the evening than before and it is taking me longer to walk a mile then it used to but I'm doing it. Do what feels best for you, none of us know your body or your tolerances and don't forget your mind game it could be your strongest tool going into your procedure. Good luck!