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I try to keep it low carb, atkins southbeach etc. this really works for me. I am a junk food junkie too. I try to give myself treats to reward myself. If you continue eating it your weight loss will be slowed. Its so hard to give up these things, but I had to tell my self that i didnt go through surgery to keep eating those things. for breakfast i usually eat a scrambled egg and 2 turkey link sausages, lunch 2 pieces of turkey breast lunch meat and a 1/2 slice of cheese, and dineer a piece of protein and some veggies.

My surgery is April 27th with Dr. Garcia in Tijuana and I'm ecstatic!!! Do ya hear me?? Ecstatic I say!!! lol And even a little nervous, but not about the surgery itself, but what my body will look like in the aftermath. I've been over weight since I was 11 will be 30 this month and I've grown so accustomed to my plus size body. I know how to best cover up this roll or how to squeeze and tuck this or that in. I know what clothes to wear that flatters me best. Yes, I said flatter. Even at 340 lbs flattery can be found lol. Basically my being overweight has turned me into a control freak. And I don't know what this new body's going to be like. I know that I'll be happier and healthier because of the weight loss. But physically I'm without a clue. I have to become confident and accepting of my body all over again. This took me so long to do in the first place. Maybe I'm over thinking it? I don't know. Either way this surgery has been a long time coming,12yrs in fact and I will embrace it the best way possible. I need this. I need to become healthy and have some semblance of a life again and to give myself a fighting chance. Right now I'm 340.2 lbs as of this morning but my highest has been 350+ The plus? I have no Idea. The Dr's scale didn't go beyond that... frightening. So I thought it best to post in this group. I would like to get down to 140-150 lbs but I would be fine with 160 lbs. I know 140 lbs seems low, but I'd like to give myself a bit of a cushion in case of weight gain. Okay so here's my stats. 5'6 HW: 350+ CW: 340.2 GW: 140-160 LBS

I just bought a new Protein shake powder. It has 30g of protein, 9g of carbs (4g sugar) and 170 Cals. I just noticed that each shake also has 2.5g of Creatine. I am lifting weights so maybe it will be beneficial. I usually have 1 shake per day. Just want to see people's thoughts and opinions about creatine.

First question : I'm about 4 weeks post op and have hit my first stall. I have lost 21 pound so far but that was all in my first two weeks. I haven't lost any weight in the last two weeks. How long will this last, and what can I do to jump start it? Second question : I must admit I haven't be exercising as much as I should. I brought a treadmill and low and behold there were no screws to put it together, so right now I'm In the process of waiting for the company to send me new screws but I don't want to sit around and wait to much longer. So how long did u guys wait before you went to the gym? I don't wanna just go to get on the treadmill I will like to do other exercises as well. My doctor said at this point I can lift up to 10 pound. Thanks in advance guys!

I looked into WLS a few years ago, but my insurance didn't cover it, so that was that. A couple weeks ago, my wife told me that someone at her work is having WLS and that her insurance covers it. I've always had her insurance as my secondary insurance, but it never occured to me that they would cover it even if mine didn't. I called the clinic that her co-worker had hers done at, and inquired about my insurance situation. Sure enough, if my primary insurance doesn't cover, the secondary will. That clinic is out of network, but told me that they will bill as out of network, but then for my co-pay they will only charge me as much as if I was in-network. I made an appointment. I completed my paperwork and faxed it in a few days ago. I was scheduled to have a phone appointment tomorrow, and then a meeting with the surgeon a week from tomorrow. The clinic called me today and said they had a cancellation tomorrow and wanted to know if I wanted to move my meeting with the surgeon to then. I'm super excited to meet with the surgeon tomorrow and get my process started. I'm hoping that my secondary insurance doesn't have a 6 month process the way a lot of them do. As for my story, I've been overweight a good portion of my life. When I was 17, I was helping my dad move an 1800 pound safe off a truck and it fell off the truck and onto my foot. It resulted in a 10 day hospital stay and amputation of my foot. Even with that, I've always been active but a few years later was north of 300 pounds. A few years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and also borderline high blood pressure. I've been trying, without success, to get some weght off to keep my diabetes in check. A year and a half ago, I woke one morning with incredible pain in my back. I went to my PCP, who told me essentially to quit being a baby and go home and walk it off, and if I wasn't feeling better in a few days to a week, then come back and see him. Later that afternoon, I went to my chiropractor, who advised me that with my symptoms I should go to the ER. I did and was diagnosed with cauda equina, which is essentially when a disc ruptures and presses into the nerves in your back. I was immediately transported to Swedish in Seattle (about an hour and a half away) and that night had surgery on my back. My neurosurgen told me that if I hadn't had surgery within 72 hours, she is pretty confident I would have been paralyzed. I ended up with some significant nerve damage in my legs, but I was lucky because I seeked out prompt medical attention so I can still walk and have use of my lower extremities. I do still have a lot of nerve pain in my legs, and right now my neurosurgen is trying to address that. Every day that I have to be able to walk and play with my kids is a blessing however. Now I'm hoping to get rid of this weight so I can be even more active and involved in their lives. Wish me luck at my meeting with my neurosurgen tomorrow! I do have my reservations however, because I'm going to Puget Sound Surgical Center, which, for those of you who have been following, is where iggychick got her sleeve done. However, her doctor was Dr. Billing and I'm meeting with Dr. Crouthamel. It will be interesting knowing iggychick's story, how forthcoming he is when I ask about complications, not only his, but of the clinic as a whole. It will show me how trustworthy Dr. Crouthamel is.

how soon after surgery can you lift weights

My DH used to use the CPAP machine and when he lost his weight he hasn't needed it anymore. He even used to carry the thing on trips he loved it so much. BTW, don't forget to pack the cord....

WOW... what a great achievement... congrats on your weight loss!!! Of course you can get that last bit off... not that you need to!! I bet you feel amazing! Can't wait to join you in the 150s... =]

I just woke up in a panic. What if I do not make it and die on the table? I have this extreme fear and I do not know where it comes from because I use to take gobs of painkillers just for fun and couldve died thousands of times. I think that is just the problem, I have always had anxiety but I covered it up while using and its just been there at times pretty raw in the last 7 years but I talk myself through it. I had 2 major hip surgeries in 2002/03 and I was out on the table for prob 5 hours. But this is elective, I am choosing to do this. I keep trying to talk myself out ofthe surgery by saying Oh I am not that bad ( big) yes I am. I am 5'5 andprob 245 since I have not weighed in lately. I do not have any co morbidities ( legs hurt, back pains etc) this is me trying totalk myself out of it. I just read up on the surgery and made me feel better, it said it is realativly safe and fatalities are rare. I do feel better but how do I shake this? I have been praying and praying. I know some one you all have little kids and mine are 28 and 13. I want to be here for my 13 yr old but If I keep at this weight in 5 years , as I am healthy now it could turn and I could have other issues. Damn I hate anxiety. I couldve slept another hour but due tomy stupid roving thoughts I am up now. Anyone else go through severe pre op anxiety? How do you talk yourself down? Thanks for letting me vent.

Most often a drop in blood pressure for a post op vsg is due to one of two things. Most commonly it will be from dehydration. Even a moderate dehydration can cause the lightheadedness and dizzy feeling. Especially when you stand up. The blood rushes down to legs( which is why drink fluids and lay down and put feet up) it gels get that blood moving back to your heart and brain again and the fluid will help with the volume which will help raise the pressure so that your heart can deliver the blood to all the arteries, etc. Another common reason is if you are on blood pressure medication, sometimes after a a significant weight loss or drop, all of a sudden your blood pressure starts to bottom out after taking your meds and you need to have doc adjust dose or discontinued.

hello friends....why is Protein so important....how many grams in a day should we have.. i am not loosing weight....depressed... need to work out more..and eat more protein. please motivate and guide me...

Welcome Carol! I think all of us who have struggled and failed with weight loss have a hard time believing that this would work for them...I am still having a hard time believing it and can't imagine myself reaching my goal but it is working just like they said it would! This is a great place to get your questions answered, hope to see you around.

There is no doubt that yoga is really beneficial for losing weight and gets rid of various diseases. Yoga is gaining popularity day by day in all around the world. Yoga is very effective for losing weight within a short span of time. Few months ago I had joined the yoga classes and it was very interesting to learn new yoga techniques, I found it is a great way to get relaxed and keep body stretched.

Diamond Dallas Page is a retired professional wrestler who maintains his health through yoga. He says that all throughout hs career, he has never lifted weights in his life. He has several yoga videos on Youtube and has a website too. http://www.diamonddallaspage.com/ It Ain't Your Mama's Yoga!

I think Yoga is great to relax and stretch your body. Yoga allows people to maintain their youthful flexibility. It is interesting to know that yoga has other affect such as it helps to lose your weight and well being.

If you have 4.5cc in your band, sounds like you probably have a 10cc band.. if so, it can take 7-8cc to get good restriction. Hang in there, 17lb loss is still a great achievement, you're not gaining! 17/4= roughly 5lb a month.. not bad at all.

Mine went away completely after the early weight loss from surgery. Are you walking more? PF is the worst...

I think that greatly depends on the person. I have insulin issues so for me any non veggie carbs make me gain weight. Others can tolerate a lot. If you want to know where your best spot is, count your carbs and get the sticks you pee on for atkins, they will tell you when you are in the fat burning zone.

Bougie is simply a measuring tool used by most surgeons as a guide when they staple off your stomach. It is NOT the end result size of your stomach once the swelling subsides. It is inserted down your esophagus, and removed before you are in recovery. Here is a chart of bougie sizes, the most common are 32-40french. If you zoom in on this page, you can see the difference between a 32 and 40 is a mere 2.3mm. Not much difference at all. Surgical technique, each patient's own anatomy, and surgeon experience will ultimately determine the end result of the sleeve capacity. http://www.medovations.com/pdf/Esophageal_Dilatation.pdf I have a 32fr. My surgeon uses the same size on all patients unless there is a pre-existing condition to warrant any larger. Nothing smaller than a 32 is used by our program. It's all about that particular surgeon's experience with his patients, and success/fail stories. I personally would not allow anything larger than a 40fr. If my surgeon wanted to use larger, or refused to budge, he would not be my surgeon for long. The larger bougie sizes that were used in the past have shown a higher incidence of weight regain at 2-5 years out.

My doctor and I traced my battle back to some blisters which turned out to be excema. The blisters altered how I was walking and that led to extra strain on the PF. That became about a year of drugs, stretching, night Splint, physical therapy, 2 cortisone injections, and shoe inserts. So I would look at how you are walking-your gait. Weight loss may have changed your balance or the way you move and that is causing the PF problems. Stretch as much as you can as often as you can. And I wish I did the first cortisone injection when the Dr first suggested. I wanted to try other methods first but that cortisone really made a difference.

hey all- So I have been only on the site for a short amount of time. You all are an inspiration to me and lots of other people. I have not had surgery yet however started the motions for the insurance. I hope to be sleeved late may early June. I have been toting with the surgery, Do I need it? Can I do it on my own? All questions I'm sure everyone has asked themselves. Of course I need it I have 140lbs to lose. I Am an extremely motivated person and work really hard once I make goals but this goal is just at of my reach. So with starting my pre-op 3 month nutrition visits! I have been working my butt off to try to get my weightless going. It's been the same struggle I have always had. My revelation came this morning when I stepped on the scale and gained weight after eating amazing everyday/ all day but last night I was hungry at 8pm and had some pineapple. Yes, it was late to eat but I didn't have a hot fudge Sunday, I had pineapple! When I saw the scale go up this am, that was it, surgery is for me! All my doubt and questions if I should go through with it are over. Now I want it to be next months and not 3-4 months away. Thanks for all your stories and motivating words!!!

I was a bit anti-surgery before my family and I attended the information seminar. I thought that the mortality rate for bariatric patients was sky high, but I was incorrect - actually, my surgeon went over the statistics and numbers - and as it turns out if I sat in the chair and did nothing at the BMI I was at, my mortality chance was a whole lot higher than if I had surgery. He also discussed the statistics regarding weight loss and keeping it off - which as we all know with traditional diet and exercise programs the percentage of successful losses of all of ones excess body weight are very small - like 1% of the population, whereas with bariatrics it has exponentially higher success rates. I have done everything and have not had the success I have always sought so I am looking forward to having the tool of a sleeve to increase my own odds of success

Hi, I'm scheduled for June 11th.....finished with everything pre-op, except for my dr. appt....my family asks me am I scared, I tell them I'm more scared about what will happen if I dont get control of my weight than this.... you will be ok, and if you need any questions answered, just ask!

As the days get closer to surgery date the more nervous I become. I have struggled my entire life with my weight. I am 41 and have fibromyalgia. Constant pain is awful but with hope that I get some weight off I will feel better. I have sleep apnea also. My husband is very supportive. It I have not told any of my other family. In fear of the judgemental. Comments I will receive. I went into a GNC type store last night to get sample protein shakes and the lady in there says I don't understand why you don't just walk to lose the weight. I was very offended. I am glad I have this forum to have people go through this with me and be supportive. Thanks.