Advice to those contemplating VSG

[BajanSleeve 244]

Just short of a few days from 5 months since my VSG surgery. So far I have lost 55 lbs. To be honest with you I could have lost more than this by now but my commitment level to exercise and to eating what I should not has not been as it should. I am not ungrateful for loosing 55 lbs, dont get me wrong, but I know i have also eaten crap that if i did not do that I would be at a better weight loss bracket. You really have to be fully committed BEFORE you start this surgery and I only realize it now. I had some misconceptions about the surgery and thought that it would 'carry' me more without the level of personal responsibility and commitment it actually takes. I thought that my appetite would be next to nothing but immediately following the surgery I felt starving. My appetite never really waned but its true that you do fill up quickly - thank God for stomach restriction! I still cant eat most meats and I do not have 'meals' yet per se, I like Soups, but I do get calories in by things that are called slider foods. A cookie, some chocolate, some ice cream……..all no nos for weight loss. So while I have lost a lot of weight and look quite different already (2 people I ran into last week actually did not recognize me!) I am doing better in changing my eating habits still compared to what I used to. And my glucose levels are MUCH better but this TAKES WORK!

You experience weight loss plateaus,. At 4 months I reached a particular weight band and I have vacillated in the 5 lbs up and 5 lbs down range for 2 months now. Its SO FRUSTRATING! I am able to eat a lot more than before so around 4 months you have to really make an effort to restrict your calorie intake.

I brought WAY TOO MUCH stuff before surgery LOL I am a type A person and like to be very organized. I bought too much post surgery medication. I bought lots of bariatric surgery paraphernalia like food measuring devices and things that I have never used once. I did use the waist binder for 2 months and was glad I bought that but not even the GasX strips work. Seriously, I bought so many of them and they don't really work. What works is a nice HOT cup of tea! Gas comes right up. All this bloody GasX strips I have and wayyyyyyyyy too many antacids. I need the antacids but I bought TOO many. I only get acid reflux occasionally. Buy things AS you need them.

Don't by bra's in advance anticipating weight loss. Your boobs change shape and cup size. I made that mistake. I am no longer a DD but a D and I bought smaller back sizes at DD and now the cup is too big!

Edited October 29, 2018 by BajanSleeve

[elcee 3,341]

This is so true

WLS is a tool not a magic wand. I have a friend that thought it was, she didn’t educate herself beforehand, she didn’t change her eating habits , she ate ahead of her schedule etc and she lost very little. Now a couple of years later she is bigger than when she went for surgery.

Personal responsibility is very important.