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The pre op diet sucks but you get used to it, I even cried the second day LOL, It was very hard for me since I had cook for my husband and my daughter normal yummy foods. I always put inside my head that the diet was for own well being and I got used to it around day 4. You CAN do it You will see that is worth at the end,just think that is only temporary and later you will be able to eat normal The pre op liquid diet is designed to help shrink your liver but also to lose weight They want you to lose some weight before your surgery. Don't stress out. Drink crystal light and broths and eat all the sugar free popsicles you can. Can you have natural apple sauce? What helped me the most with my 2 week pre op diet was that my surgeon told me if they weight me in and I didn't lose any weight before surgery,they were not going to do my surgery . Relax and think that is a new beginning and a new chance that you are giving yourself to live ,to feel happy,to enjoy your family Happy New year!!!

Thanks all, kept me from worrying too much til I got in touch with my surgeon's assistant. She said I probably twisted or turned quickly or wrong and possibly tore scar tissue or upset a muscle. She said to apply heating pad and it should settle back down in the next couple of days. Said to take Tylenol or pain med's. I had got a little brave because I was doing so good ( drove three hours, been in small pool working legs, doing WII) You just get to where you feel so good. Don't knoew if it is the diet, losing a little weight, or just pumped up and excited about losing the weight.

am i the only person who has not lost a ton of weight on the liquid diet? i've been following it to a T, and consuming less than 1000 calories a day, and have only lost 5.8 lbs in my first 10 days. i take synthroid for a thyroid issue and have PCOS, but assumed that with the liquids, i'd be seeing bigger losses. i am so afraid that the surgeon will think i've been cheating, or that my liver will be too large. what gives?

I dont have the answers for you but I wanted to post anyway. I view this crappy preop thing (I am on day 8) as more of a mental change than physical. I know from the doctors perspective it is done to shrink your liver. But for me it is a detox of sorts from food. I have thyroid issues as well and that does make weight loss a challenge. However, I see your 5 pounds as 5 pounds that you dont have to loose later. I think 5 pounds is great and dont compare yourself with anyone else. This is your journey and you should be proud of how far you have come to this point.

Hi, I am scheduled to start the pre op diet around the last two weeks of April. I am trying to figure out how this works. As I understand it, for two weeks I am only having shakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a cup of either vegetables or fresh fruit. No carbs or starchy veggies. The written instructions say "if you need it" I can have a snack of a piece of fruit. Now, after surgery, there will be no fills for at least 6 weeks. During that time I am mostly going to be on liquids and towards the end soft 'mushies". So that is two months of starvation with no assistance or restriction. If I can not lose weight on my own, how am I supposed to get through this? I was recently following a normal carb counting diet for diabetics and every night I went to bed with sharp hunger pains in my chest area. I kept thinking that the pre op diet is going to hurt worse. Herbal tea helps but really, I just dont understand how this works. Does the smaller pouch cause less hunger pangs??? I really need an answer because I am wavering and do not want to change my mind about surgery.

Im a year out and i throw out almost every time i eat, i was getting to where i could eat probly too much of some foods and hadn't lost any weight for a while so i went in for a fill, i cant even hold water down now, i have been throwing up all day, this is the second time i let him fill me too much, i don't know what sensation to look for when getting a fill to know when it is right. And is it normal to throw up?:confused:

You increase your calorie intake, and add more healthy carbs back into your diet. Instead of being in the "weight loss" mode, you switch over to maintaining mode. I need to shoot for about 1000 calories a day now that I'm at goal. I'm still only hitting 850-900, but I am adding in more carbs. Some days, I don't hit my Protein goal of 60 grams, but other days I hit 80. I just started trying to maintain so it's hit or miss. I haven't lost any weight in a week, and actually have been bouncing up and down with this 1.5lbs on the scale for the last week. Some days it's there, the next day it will be gone. Plus, I am back on track at the gym with my strength and weight training program. I should be able to burn the fat, and build muscle. Since a pound of fat and a pound of muscle weighs the same (it's a myth that muscle weighs more, a pound is a pound), I am hoping this will help me tone up, and get rid of the bulky belly fat I still have while helping me maintain my current weight. I do weights 3 days a week, I bowl for 2-2.5 hours on Wednesday, and then I do 1 hour of cardio per week. I plan on starting back doing my Hip Hop Abs work out at home for my cardio because I do not have enough muscle tone for the spin class that I went to. I need to build some strength before I get back into spinning.

One way is to have documentation from your PCP. I have Aetna as well and am finishing up my 3 month requirement. My bariatric surgeon states you don't necessarily need to try weight watchers or jenny craig type programs, but even simple documentation from you PCP stating that you and them have discussed weight loss goals, any recommendations they've given you, your weight history throughout the years, even documentation from you gyno will help. My doc also asked if i've tried certain diets on my own like south beach/atkins and i told her i have and she put that into my list of things i've tried. i also included my visit history of the gym i have been attending for the past 4 years. hope this helps

I had the band first because the sleeve was not an option. I personally would not/will not recommend the band to anyone. Not only because of my own personal horror story, but because the stats honestly just suck. You can check out my blog as I have an entire post with information from the band manufacturer in my blog with their most recent findings that 1 in 4 band patients will need another surgery to either repair, replace, or remove and revise to another surgery within the first 5 years. I chose the band because I refused to have RNY. As for pregnancy, I can't imagine being pregnant with the band. The food intolerances along would make me miserable, and I'm so grateful that I was able to revise to VSG when it was time to say adios to my band. I can now eat a very nutrient dense, balanced diet with my sleeve without any puking, sliming, productive burping, or food getting stuck and then having to wretch it up for a good 20 minutes. My blog also has tons of links for VSG research, and articles along with dietary guidelines, and other bits and pieces I've compiled over the 20 something months I've been researching and living with the sleeve. The post in my blog titled "Just to bookmark this stuff" is the band post, and the one that is more recent is all the research links that I found invaluable during my research stage. We are currently trying to conceive, and I"m only 17 months out and have actually been not preventing for almost 9 months now. We know that my body went through hell during my surgeries and rapid weight loss so we are trying to be patient. BUT, we're still hoping for a big fat positive test in the near future. Best wishes in your research.

Haha, as LilMissDiva said every milestone does deserve it's own thread. Good luck to you pcos_chick... Have you noticed any improvement in your PCOS symptoms with your weight loss?

Happy Birthday!! and congrats on your weight loss!! I can't give u a gift, but I can give you advice, just keep posting haha :-D have fun!!!

hi guys i have not made a post in quite a while i've been reading about everyone and you all are doing great. i'm still no closer to my sleeve but that's another story all together but i digress. i just had a general question for everyone, how much weight did you lose on your pre-op two week liquid diet. i'm just curious any feed back would be greatly appreciated. every one keep up the good work and i am so happy for everyone progress.

You will see that you are eating more, you will know you need a fill. For me, i am eating alot more than i should, so i know i need to get a fill. Congrats on the weight loss!!!

It is very difficult to eat this much protein a day, I struggle daily to get there and do make sure I do on the days I lift weights and work out with trainer. I constantly think of protein on those days and make sure I get at least 80-90 gms before my work out time of 6pm. I have found that fish is much higher in protein, tuna and salmon and they are easily digested. (Hope you like fish) I also add liquid egg whites to my morning oatmeal and some days I also add to my protein shakes for an extra added 10gms of protein. I use the egg whites in a carton. I will say I feel mush better and have more energy since I started adding protein and I also look healthier.

I am 3 months postop and have a lot of excess fat hanging from my upper arms. I have been adding weights (triceps, biceps, press, etc) to my workout routine for the past 2 weeks and am wondering when I might start see some results. I am looking forward to meeting one of my goals of wearing a sundress this summer but will kind of be embarressed with the arm flab. Thanks

I had my surgery 6/12/12 and have lost a little over 75 lbs. I have not noticed that my energy level has gone up at all. I haven't started an exercise program and am leaning towards doing zumba. I just have to wait for the next classes to start. I am at a stand still on my weight loss and I am getting depressed about it. I had noticed that since I am able to eat pretty much any type of food, I had been making poor food choices. With the holidays, it was very hard on me with all the sweets! I am conscious of this, so I went to the store yesterday and purchased more healthy foods for me. What type of exercise program for beginners do you recommend?

Anyone loose weight while eating tofu? Stir- fry veggies? Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevers!Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Better weather is here, and summer is just around the corner, so April is a perfect time to fulfill or renew commitments to your weight and health! Let the fresh air and green plants inspire you to try new recipes and get outside for some calorie-burning fun! First, though, why not read through this month’s newsletter for some inspiration? These are the contents of the April SleevePlicationTalk.com newsletter. Sleever Poll – Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! Stay Hydrated and Healthy! Enjoy the newsletter. Then log onto SleevePlicationTalk.com to talk about it and anything else on your mind! As always, we welcome your comments and feedback, so get in touch any time by sending a private message to Alex Brecher. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Sleever Poll: Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Knowing what you know now about weight loss surgery, would you do it again if you had the chance to make your decision again? Yes, without a doubt! The surgery has been everything I’d hoped for. Yes, probably. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m losing weight and feel that this was my best option. Yes, but I would have chosen a different type of weight loss surgery, not the lap-band. No. I’ve had complications and my health has suffered and/or I haven’t been hitting my weight loss goals. I haven’t had the surgery yet, but I’m looking at the results of this poll carefully to help me make my decision! Other...read my response below! Choose your option, and then explain it in the discussion forum using this link! Staying Hydrated after Weight Loss Surgery If you’re having trouble getting enough Water after weight loss surgery, you’re not alone! In fact, meeting your Fluid recommendations is one of the most common challenges that weight loss surgery patients report. You wouldn’t expect that staying hydrated would be a major concern compared to challenges of eating right and exercising, but it is. Why? You can’t drink fluids during or around meal and snack times. You might not like the taste of water You need more fluid than before because you’re trying to be healthier You can’t drink caloric or carbonated beverages, like juice, soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as coffee drinks and sports drinks You need at least 1.5 liters, or 6 8-ounce cups, of fluid each day. If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. This can delay your recovery from surgery if your procedure is recent. Even if your surgery was long ago, dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. It can also interfere with weight loss by making you feel hungrier. These tips can help you stay hydrated. Get in the habit so it’s natural! Drink 1 to 2 8-ounce glasses when you wake up in the morning, and 30 minutes after each meal or snack. Drink an extra glass of water before and after you exercise. If you sweat a lot, drink a cup of water each 20 minutes during exercise. Instead of plain water, try ice water, water with lime, lemon or a sprig of mint. Decaffeinated coffee and tea and non-carbonated diet drinks, such as diet Fruit Drinks, are good alternatives to water. Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! You know we’re always busy around SleevePlicationTalk.com. We already published The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band and The BIG Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. The book has practical advice for anyone thinking about the lap-band or any weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information from the earliest stages of your weight loss journey through your lifelong diet. It’s available in print and ebook from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Soon, we’ll have Big books for the Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve! Sleeve plication patients can benefit from them, too. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has convinced us to work on another book! This one’s going to be a lifesaver for life after weight loss surgery. It’s dedicated to all types of WLS. The book will have diet tips, food lists, meal plans, recipes, exercise and tips for preventing and dealing with complications. It’ll be a motivational book, too. We need your help to make the new book great! We’re asking SleevePlicationTalk.com members – that’s you! - to share your favorite recipe or recipes to publish in the book. You can submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! We’ve loved reading the recipes that you’ve sent us so far – keep them coming and don’t miss your chance to be published! That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter, but there’s plenty more to talk about on the boards! Thanks for all of your support and feedback – you, our members are what make SleevePlicationTalk.com the great community that it is. Don’t forget to send us your recipes and give us any other feedback! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

It can be related to a lot of things. For women, monthly cycles (even if you don't have a period) will still contribute, most women experience a week or more when they are tighter than other times. It could be from allergies, a slight inflammation reaction. Could be swelling from acid reflux (take something like Prilosec OTC for 1-6 months to retrain your stomach to produce less acid). Monitor what you're eating, your weight, and how you feel each day for three months and you'll see a pattern.

:help: OK, yesterday was Easter (big family gathering) and I did better than I thought I would. Actually, I really wasnt hungry. I had a little cole slaw and a little mac and cheese...then had a little lemon fluff (light crust, a cheesecake mixture and whipped cream). I came home and had chocolate mousse. :faint: Got up this morning and I had to have some bloodwork done so I was fasting until around 11am. I was STARVING...and went into pig-out mode. I had more chocolate mousse, a roast beef sandwich and coleslaw. Did I really need the chocolate mousse??? NO! I wanted to make it out to the gym today..but I have SO much laundry to do. I'm going to at least try to ride the stationary bike at home for a bit. I really hate when I get this way.. I'm starting to see some weight come off... so apparently what I've been doing is working... but then I slip up into my old ways. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Hi Y'all! I'm Amy from Texas, I'm not yet banded but I have my first visit with a bariatric specialist on Januray 4th, 2007. So I have been out scouting around for a support system that looked fun and helpful... this place beats the rest I've seen. I will be going to Dr Richard Collier in Conroe. Al little about me... I am 35, a recently remarried mother of two pugnacious preteen kids (and I say that with love! hehehe no - really they are great, but don't tell them! ). I love creating art and craft projects, singing, dancing, raising ponies, cooking and baking. I am 5'1" and I am starting at about 238 lbs. I figure my goal is somewhere in the 125-130 lb. neighborhood maybe, as that is around where I was in college before all this weight started showing up. I was no skinny-minnie, but that size worked for me. But really my ACTUAL goal is simply to be able to ride my ponies again without being cited for pony abuse!:nervous I am really looking forward to having this procedure done so I can get on with my plans. I think I do have realistic goals for weightloss speed and the amount of effort it will actually take to use this tool. I know, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was my butt! What I am hoping is that, with this tool, I will be able to remove food as an object of obsession and make it what it is supposed to be - a necessity. Trust me I DO know what I'm SUPPOSED to eat (wink), my problem has just been the "wanna" behind it and my T-Rex-like apetite! Hopefully, having physical restrictions put on my intake ability, I can refocus my head on what I need to eat and making the most of nutrition in that smaller stomach space! I look forward to meeting a lot of you on here, so you can help me through my wobbly times and cheer me when I am being a good girl! :clap2: Toodles! Amy

I was banded last year in January. I was 100 lbs overweight, with a BMI of 41.5. That put me in the delightful medical category of "morbidly obese". I live in New York City, and I was referred by a friend to the Weill-Cornell Langone weight-loss center. They have a great staff and they offer lifetime consultation with their nutritionist and their nursing staff. The surgeon was George Fielding, who is well known in the field. He was banded himself about ten years ago, but you would never know it to look at him. He's a poster child for his own specialty! They require a six-week all liquid diet prior to the surgery to de-fat the liver. I lost about 20 pounds before the surgery just from that. He confided to me that he has had patients who decided to forgo the surgery after the liquid-diet weight loss. My previous experience told me that without the surgery I would certainly gain it back quickly, and add some more. The surgery involves only a minor incision and the patient usually goes home the same day. (I had to stay overnight because I have sleep apnea) Since then, I have lost a total of 80 pounds, and I'm a new man. I just had a checkup yesterday, and my doctor took me off my blood pressure medication I have been taking for 20 years. I plan to lose another 20 lbs and then go on maintainence. I had some minor problems along the way, but they were temporary. I had a long plateau after losing 60 lbs. I had to find the "sweet spot" for band tightness. I went too far, and I couldn't eat much of anything. I was losing quickly, but not getting enough nutrition. Once we worked it out, it has been smooth sailing. One of the things I really like about the band is that I just don't feel hungry very often. I went to a restaurant recently and I could only finish about half the portion. (Normally, I would be licking the plate before my wife finished her appetizer ) What I found interesting is that most of the issues which had be worried before getting the band turned out to be either non-issues or a minor nuisance, at worst. There are some foods which won't go down the band at all (e.g. soft doughy bread) but I find I don't miss them at all. It is such a different orientation not to be thinking about food all the time. If you have already had your band, and seem to be in a rut, just hang in there. It took me over a year to really hit my stride.

go girl go...thanks. and good luck on your continued weight loss.