SandyToes143

This is 3 days post-op and about 5 weeks later. Small changes, but this morning I was able to completely wrap a NORMAL sized bath towel around myself! No gaps either!

I know exactly what you mean! I thought I would feel so different but I have to remind myself all the time because I don't really feel different and I still battle the same food demons I did before. I don't feel hungry, but I don't really feel full either, so it leaves me feeling like I want to keep eating until I feel something. So far I haven't done that. I don't plan on it either. I think I just thought the struggle in the beginning would help me cement some better habits, but I haven't had a struggle, so I have to work on healthy habits all by myself. Good luck!

Yeah, how are you? How did your surgery go?

Idk... purée some things and make some soups. That way it counts for liquid too. Broth counts for fluid and has some calories to it. Definitely focus on liquids for the time being. You will be weak and tired. It's part of the process. Your body is literally starving but it'll adjust and when it does, you won't lose as much as quickly.

Weird! I mean, I don't have the same "full" feeling as I did before surgery, but I also don't feel hungry. I just weigh and measure.

Haha! 😂 I had the same thought! If it wasn't for the scars, I would've thought there was some mistake and the surgery wasn't done!

You just had surgery! You don't need to focus on protein yet. Just be gentle with yourself. At 1 week out, I was eating cream of rice, unsweetened applesauce, and puréed meat and veggies. That was it. Since you only eat about 3/4 of a cup total per day, i just didn't have time for variety. It got much better on the next stage. Almost like normal food! Focus on your water more than anything. You'll never lose as much as you do right in the beginning, so take advantage of the opportunity. Good luck!

At only 4 days post-op, I'd say stay away from artificial sweeteners and be cautious about dairy. Lots of people are lactose intolerant after surgery. If you're bored, try cream of rice or unsweetened applesauce.

Forget the protein powder. You'll be fine. Believe me, that cream of wheat will stick to you.

A LOT of people, (myself included,) have lactose intolerance issues post-op. Try chicken or beef broth instead of the yogurt shake. Also, try puréed meat and tomatoes. If you purée it REALLY well, it's really good and much easier on your healing tummy than so many shakes.

Yes! And you can even mix in a little unsweetened applesauce! Cream of rice works too. Just remember you will only be able to eat a couple of tablespoons. Maybe 1/4 cup, but it'll take you awhile. Thin it out too.

I'm glad you posted this. I think people post good results more because they're feeling good and wanting to share, but I think it's really brave of you to post how you're feeling. I'll say the same thing to you that someone on here said to me. Take pictures. It shows in a side by side comparison. I've only lost 18 pounds in 6 weeks. I thought the weight would come off so much faster in the beginning but since I don't have as much to lose, it comes off slower. I know how you feel. I think you have to think about the fact that you have averaged around -10 per month! That's awesome!

Wow. Kaiser prepared me SO THOROUGHLY! Honestly, I feel bad for you that you didn't have more of a well-rounded experience from your doctor! I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions on here though. I can take pictures of my menu pages from my binder if you want.

Wow! I'm so inspired! I started with a BMI of 43, but since I'm 5 feet tall, I don't have as much to lose as someone else might with my BMI. I am encouraged that you were able to do it so quickly! I am also going through a divorce and yeah, it feels good to be getting myself in order. [emoji6]

The smallest I have ever been in my adult life was when I was nursing my oldest daughter. I was working, pumping, and nursing. The baby weight melted off and I was a size 12 for the first time since junior high. After my second pregnancy, I was up to a size 18. The really strange thing for me is that even though all of the clothes from when I had my first daughter fit, and some even fit better now than they did then, I look in the mirror and I see NO DIFFERENCE! I don't get it! How are these clothes fitting and the scale is going down but my reflection hasn't changed! HW 220+ SW 202 CW 183 VSG 4/12/2017

You look pretty good in your profile picture so I'm smh... [emoji848] Maybe the women you're going for are just superficial. You don't want to date a plastic girl anyway.

Kaiser Richmond has an outstanding success rate and they say NO SHAKES! No soft calories or drinkable calories. 1/4 cup of protein, (there are tons of choices there,) and 1/4 cup of non fibrous veggies or fruit,( no celery, etc,) and only eat 3 meals per day with no grazing. Eat the protein first, chew 30 times per bite, and eat mindfully. You are worth the effort. A support group is a must!

If you sip water all the time, that's perfect! I won't lie to you, it is hard adjusting to not drinking water while I eat, but if I drink as much as I can and then set the timer for 10 minutes, eat, set the timer for an hour, and then get busy, I'm fine and you will be too.

East Bay Area in California

Prayers going out! You'll be ok. It feels at first like an hour is a day and then, before you know it, a month has gone by. Just remember why you started this. If nothing changes, nothing changes. [emoji1360]You got this.

Big time! I knew it was normal, but I just kept asking myself, "Are you really sure about this? This is forever!" The whole time... putting on the hair net thingy, getting the IV put in for the anesthesia, getting weighed for the last time, getting up onto that operating table, and I don't remember anything after that. I had the thought that this was it. I had better speak up if I was going to change my mind. Almost as soon as I was conscious of the thought, I blinked my eyes and I was in recovery, post-op. It was surreal. There have been a LOT of things I have had to learn and unlearn, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Being on the road to improved health is worth never having wine and pizza again or drinking while eating. The sacrifices are all worth it for what I am gaining.

A vitamix is a type of blender that blends so well that it actually heats the food up while you're blending it!

I used a vitamix and puréed a can of tomatoes with a slice of seasoned tri-tip and a little broth to thin it out and added a little seasoning. You could also add some plain Greek yogurt for some extra nutrition.

I used a vitamix and puréed a can of tomatoes with a slice of seasoned tri-tip and a little broth to thin it out and added a little seasoning. You could also add some plain Greek yogurt for some extra nutrition.

I am 36 years old and a full-time single mother to a 4 year old and a 2 year old, (both girls). When I realized it was time to make a serious change is when I went to the doctor after my youngest turned one and I weighed more than I had when I checked in to the hospital to deliver her! I was so hopeless and embarrassed. I just felt like I was at my absolute rock-bottom. I am only 5' 0", so weighing over 220 at my heaviest just made everything so hard. I thought to myself, I am too young to feel this old. All I wanted to do was eat and sit on the couch watching t.v. I have two little girls looking at me for their example of what a woman is. I had recently left an abusive marriage because I wanted to set a good example, so it made sense for me to decide to get my health in-check and show them what a strong, independent, healthy woman is. It has been hard. I had to wean my youngest before I was quite ready and it wasn't easy trying to recover with two little ones, all alone. Some day though, they're going to see everything I did for them. 9 months ago I couldn't imagine running 200 feet. Today I pushed a double stroller and ran my first 5k! I ran the whole thing. I'm down to 184 after VSG April 12th at Kaiser. I got this. 😉