Pam_2-06-2017

You look amazing!

Hi there, I had surgery on 2-6-17. I live in a rural environment in Alaska from April to October and in rural Texas in the winter. My Surgeon cleared me to head north 7 weeks after surgery. I was switched to a normal diet but reminded to chew well. I will be coming back for my 6 month followup in August. Then I'm pretty much clear. I will return each year for a checkup with my surgeon and NUT just so they can pat me on the back for how awesome I'm doing;-) I chose the sleeve for many reasons. Primarily because it doesn't change how my digestive system works. There are fewer complications with the sleeve and it is proving to be an awesome tool for me. I have no complications or contraindications from the surgery. It has been a life saver and like many here say, I wish I would have done it sooner. Depending on your disposition going through the surgery can be pretty emotional because there is such a life change that you must experience. And it is self induced so there is no one to blame:-). As an outdoors woman, it was not at all emotional for me. I have more time because I am not so fixated on that next unhealthy meal. My yard and garden are amazing. My walks are pleasant and pain free. I enjoy nature like I never did before. And I've only lost 33 pounds. Imagine what it will be like when I get it all off!!! I can't wait. There are always risks and it is important to be aware of them. But the risks are circumstantial compared to the guaranteed risks of continued obesity. That is what decided it for me. Heart attack today or heart burn... diabetes forever or a little acid reflux. The risk of surgery is there for everyone not just WLS and statistically your chances are pretty good. Especially if your generally healthy. I was self pay. This was great because I didn't have tons of time to second guess myself. My first appt was 1/19 and I was sleeved 2/6. I had considered surgery for many years but thought it was too drastic. I had lost 40 pounds doing low carb and started to regain AGAIN and that was it. I was tired of fighting my body. Decided to do a little fighting back and threw myself for a loop. Through the confusion my body has decided to get in step with my goals:-) Is it challenging? Sure..but I feel like I've finally been given a break. A chance at the life I always dreamed of. I didn't tell anyone but my husband and son about my surgery because I no longer wanted my weight to be the center of everything or the topic of conversation. I didn't want to talk about WLS with friends and family. I wanted to be normal for the first time in my life. Ultimately, discuss with your doctor your timeframe. They can tell you their timeline and you can make it work. Heck, I was wanting this bad enough to come to Texas in August! That's dedication!!! Take care. Hope I offer some positive words for you.

Oh my goodness! 30 pounds and you look skinny already! Congratulations. You are doing amazing!

I'm 2 months post op. At 6 weeks I entered a stall. Thought it broke after a week because I was down a pound but that pound came back. Now I am over two weeks on this stall gaining and losing the same pound. What I'm doing: Carbs are below 25 everyday (these are veggie carbs). Protein is between 50-70 each day. (struggling to get them all without doing Protein shakes everyday) Calories are between 700-800 each day Walking every morning (briskly for 2-3 miles) I don't eat sugar or wheat products of any kind (essentially protein and veggies only, except I make almond flour tortillas (paleo recipe)) I don't really measure my Water but I sip constantly all day in the Yeti cup my hubby brought to the hospital on surgery day<3 Journal everything I eat Hoping some veteran VSGers have some suggestions for me to try. I've lost 32 pounds in the 1st 6 weeks so I'm pleased with my outcome but would like to end this dang stall sooner than later. Thanks Pam

I'm new to VSG so take my advice with a grain of salt. Have you tried back to basics? Protein first, sip water all day, less than 25 carbs, 80-100g of protein. Track on MyFitnessPal to keep account? You still have the tool in place if it was done right. Use it to your advantage. Find the inner mojo you had to lose that 95 pounds. We understand that WLS is not a quick fix. You still have to work the plan and keep it for life. Your a vet at this so you know what I'm talking about. You got what you need to drop those 15 and more. Take care

I'm 2 months out and have lost 32 pounds, I know that it has lots to do with how much weight you have to lose. My SW is 220 and I've been sticking to plan. Dr says I'm right on track. If I dropped 60 in 2 months I'd be over the moon happy! Congratulations!

Crab cakes from the appetizer menu is my go to food. It sits well, I can eat one and offer the other to my hubby. I always order from a la cart or soup menu. I'm two months out and I hate that over stuffed feeling and have finally learned my limit. I can eyeball a 2 ounce piece of meat but still measure at home to keep my portion senses honed:-) My hubby says I've turned into a cheap date and I love it. Chalk this first foray up to experience. You'll be ordering one meal and two plates in no time. Take care

Thank you for all your suggestions. I've been staying pretty hydrated. I'm going to try to up my protein. I've been trying to do it without relying on the shakes. It might be too early to drop the shake. May pick it up again and try to drop it again in a couple months. Thanks all

I'm two months out and just now started to notice a pattern. About every 3rd day I have a BM. Pre surgery it was once a day. I'm eating less than a 3rd of what I did before so I'm good with that. I drink lots of water. Sipping all day but I never really measure how much. I'm pretty well hydrated. That's so important. For those really early out I would guess by my experience that it takes a while to get on a new schedule if you are going to. Early on for me it was scary to think I would have that issue always. Anesthesia and all the protein does it. Now that I can have a bit of fiber it's gotten easier. Good luck!

Just visited with my surgeon today. I was in a week long stall so I thought I was gonna go in there and hear some kind of reprimand that I hadn't lost enough weight! Felt like I was going to the principal's office:-). Well, not so. They made me feel like I just broke through the banner on the football field. I was surprised how wonderful it felt to have people who do this every day so excited and proud of me. -29 pounds in 6 weeks. I know I'm not the best but they sure made me feel like it. I have 52 lbs more to lose. Since I feel great with no complications I was given more advice than medical care. My surgeon told me that family and friends care about me and begin to make comments about my weight loss. Things like, "You've lost too much weight, you need to stop." Or "You're too skinny, you need to put on a few pounds." He said, they're not used to seeing me at a healthy weight and it can be a little scary for them. They're not intentionally sabotaging me but it can. He used an example. If someone you love kept telling you that your haircut does not flatter your face how long would it take you to get your hair in a new cut? Or put you at you're ideal weight in a room with 10 strangers and every one of them will say you look healthy. His advice. I am to listen to one person about my weight then he pointed at himself and said "me". I almost wanted to cry at his sincerity. So why share here? Because it's good advice for all of us. When it comes to your health your Surgeon is the best one to tell you what your healthy weight is. Not you're mm, sister, brother or spouse. Go to your follow up appointments even if it feels like you're going to the principal's office. Take care.

Are you planning on keeping your surgery a secret? Read the rules of the challenge. By posting the question it is clear that there may be an ethical issue with joining the challenge. Anytime I have an ethical question I turn it around and imagine that I was joining a challenge and someone that had WLS was joining. How would that make me feel? If it makes me feel like they cheated then maybe it's cheating. The idea of a free trip is very appealing and if it's not in the rules regarding WLS I would consider joining. Heck there may be two or three WLS challengers and you might have a true challenge on your hands:-) My take is do what makes you feel good when your head hit's the pillow at night. take care

I'm sorry you are hurting:-( It really does get better. VSG is major surgery and pain is to be expected. That gas is the worst. Walking especially helps to move the gas out of your body cavity and into your colon where it can be expelled. And when it is it feels so darn good. I never thought tooting would be that awesome:-) Gas-X just doesn't cut it until then. Expect to be constipated for a while. Between anesthesia and protein it is expected. I went 7 days before I had to take action to get things moving. Others don't take that long. Just remember don't strain! It can hurt your incision points. Start drinking some smooth moves tea now and regularly until things get moving again. I would say that at two weeks I started to feel less like I was in recovery and more like I was starting my new life journey. That was when I moved out of full liquid stage and into the puree stage of the recovery diet. Most people say that healing continues for 6 months before you can consider yourself and your tummy healed from this surgery. I am not that far out so I can't speak to that. Remember...sip, sip, sip... Take care

Does your doc have you on full liquids? If so the yummy! I loved sf pudding!

My doctor said clear liquids the first day. The hospital brought me a protein shake. I stuffed it in my bag for when I was on the full liquid phase. Follow your doctors orders not the hospital. I still don't drink fruit juice as it is pretty concentrated carbs and sugar even if they are natural. I try to stay below 25 carbs and 25g of sugar. All my sugar is from natural sources. Take care

I was blessed with a surgeon that shared this with me. He said that your family and friends love you and want you to be healthy. When they are used to you being so large, you being a healthy weight is not normal. When you stand in a room of strangers you could ask any one of them what they thought and every stranger would say you look healthy. This is an unintentional sabotage that awareness can help you avoid. He said, if a friend or family member told you that your haircut did not flatter your face. How long would it be before you pick a new haircut? Their opinion matters. In this you must be strong and lovingly remind them that you are working hard to be healthy. Appreciate their concern. Lastly he said, the only one I am to listen to is him. My surgeon said he would tell me if I was too skinny. And he finished it up with, he only had one patient lose too much. She was a grandmother that started to love the attention her family was giving her worrying about her weight loss. Stay strong and keep your healthy goal in mind always.

I love to make iced tea out of the fruit teas. All fruit teas have a green tea base so you do get a bit of caffeine. They taste awesome!

I used Gas-X with minimal affect. May have been more psychological than anything. Walking is what helped me most. They pump the gas to swell up your body cavity so they can access the area they are working. This has nothing to do with where Gas-X targets. It eventually gets absorbed into the digestive system where you get amazing relief in the for of flatulence:-). Gas-X may help a bit but really walking is the key. I had Gas-X because I read it was a necessity. They were but not for the purpose described here.

I would worry if you posted how happy you were on clear liquids[emoji12]. Sometimes the obvious must be said just to make us feel better. Here's to the puréed stage where it might not be pretty but oh so much more flavorful[emoji2]. You're almost there!!! Keep up the good work.

You've come to the right place. Posting here will get you a loving answer, and honest answer, a gentle reprimand, a push in the right direction... I could go on and on. These last two months would have been near impossible for me without this support board. It is the place I can come where I know ya'll get it. I read all the time here and get notified when new posts are out. I search for questions that may have already been answered. Love this place and I'm confident you will too. Welcome!

Haven't you ever wanted to be the one that is captioned "Results not typical"? Congratulations!!! You are doing amazing!!!

Thinking about you Fab. How's it going?

I was also sleeved on the 6th of February. Now that I've gotten the all clear to start introducing a normal diet I find that I have some cravings as well. I haven't given in because those stupid craving got me into this mess of bad health. I've done 7 perfect weeks of doing it all right and I'm not stopping now. You can do this too. Don't feed your head, feed your whole body good things. I'm down 31 pounds. Doc says we're right on track. Keep up the good work! Good luck!

Yay! Ya big loser! Welcome to the club. You're gonna love it! Now it's time to just give your new tool a chance to heal. Then watch it work!!! Congratulations!

Katgb, I'm so sorry. Tough call during so much additional change in your life. I'm always so proud to hear of strong women who don't settle. It sounds like your plate is pretty full right now with school and baby. Any words of condolence would fall flat considering the outcome. Think of you. Take care

Hi Fabulous! Sorry you can't sleep. It's exciting and when the decision is made after all that work for approval it's gotta be over the top exciting. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow. Take care and you're gonna do great! Sweet dreams.