MINI-Me

Hmmmm ... interesting. I'm bias & I know that. Surgery was the only option for me & it gave me back my life. But, reading this with my bias, I only see bias for WLS bashing. No real facts, only one or two stories of complications. Which, we all knew about before going down this path - there was a small chance we would end up being one of those statistics. Yes, there may be some unknown complications in the future. (I bashed my knee when I was a little girl - healed just fine but in my late 30's and now 40's, gives me a heck of a time!) But, I know I would have died eventually from the weight. My side of the family is very obese - it was just a matter of time for me. Losing my dad before he was 65 was a wake-up call.

WOW! Maybe a bit harsh?!?!?!? Congratulations for losing so much so quickly, but some people's bodies do everything they can to hold onto the weight. Good advice if they aren't adhering, but if they are - this could have felt like a kick in the teeth. As for the topic and orginal question ... For me, I was lucky. I continually lost on 1200 or so calories a day & didn't watch carbs very closely. I figured if I got protein in first, there wasn't really a lot of room left for carbs. It doesn't hurt to try your NUTS plan & see if it works. He/she has seen a lot of people & presumably knows you well. If it doesn't work, then try another path. We are all different & nothing is "cookie cutter" about weightloss.

Is there anyone else in your area that you can consult with? Would you insurance pay for you to go to a surgeon in another state? If so, I'm sure this group could come up with some suggestions for you.

What forum did you read that on? I'd be curious to check it out. Thanks.

Welcome to VST! I'm just over 2 years out & experienced my first gain since surgery over the holidays. I've never had a gastric bypass, but I know people who have. Of the three I know, all have gained back a substantial amount of weight. Mine was only 10 pounds, but it could easily have been more if I didn't recognize the issue and refuse to continue to eat junk. My best advice is to use the first year or so to really retrain yourself to eat "right". Allow yourself some small treats, but don't make them a habit. Learn to cook meat and protein in ways that are very healthy and satisfying. I am a HUGE chocolate freak & have virtually no ability to say no. Unfortunately, I feel very little restriction with candy & I can go through a lot before I feel "satisfied". I'm not saying this to discourage you. Just take advantage of your tool and learn how to eat the right way. We've spent so many years doing it wrong, it takes a while to get it right. And yes, I heard a lot of the same commnents. I reminded people that obese was obese and that I had failed on years of dieting. This was the best thing I've ever done for myself. My signature says that it saved my life - I really mean that. Again, welcome!

Awesome! Great job!

LOL ... I know it's vanity sizing, but .... well, it appeals to my sense of vanity! :blush5:

Congrats ... Very jealous!!! ;0)

wThe WIi Fit was such a horrible thing for me. It has attitude and constantly puts you down when, like you say, you are doing your best. I have horrible knees as well. Walking for me is the best exercise. I bought a second hand treadmill (for $75 on Craigslist) and a shelf to hold my Kindle. I've started before, but I made a promise to my husband (and myself) that I would start again. He is helping me to set it up tonight. Right now, I have committed to 3 times per week for a minimum of 20 minutes. Not a lot, but it's a start. Want to set up a "Schedule" with me & we can be accountable to each other? I have 7 pounds to get off from slipping the last 3 months. WE CAN DO THIS!

I had 3 surgeons in the US willing to do surgery on me (BMI of 32.8) ... Insurance usually requires 35 with comorbidities or 40+ without. Most surgeons just require you to be considered obese by BMI and discuss dieting/maintenance history, etc. Not all are just interested in the $$$ - mine really seemed to care about my dieting failures, my family history, etc. I really appreciated his listening and caring.

I've heard that a lot of people do this ... they chew, but don't swallow (sorta like "not inhaling"?) ... No, you shouldn't make this a habit, but you are DEFINITELY normal. Those first few weeks are hard. You spend a lot of time resting and relaxing which leaves a lot of time to obsess about food. Just take it day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. It will get better and MUCH easier once you move to solids. Good luck!

I don't think it is bad ... lots of room for liquids to go down.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place. Enjoy exploring the city.

I hated EVERY single protein shake I tried. I spent so much money & felt miserable. I finally found UNJURY Chicken Soup which appealed to my salty cravings and added Any Whey Protein (I ordered mine through Amazon) to Carbmaster Yogurt. But a shake, kill me now!!!!!! I know it's hard, but the liquid protein is a very short period - soon you will be getting your protein from real foods & never have to have another protein supplement unless you truly find one you enjoy.

If you can lose the scale, GREAT! However, I know the best advice is to lose the scale, but I just never could. I had to remind myself that the scale fluctuates because my body holds fluids some days and other days I have a good poop! Somedays I believed the self-talk and other days I wanted to throw the scale out the window!!!! But, you are definitely doing great & your body is adjusting a lot in weeks 2 and 3. As another poster said, you are going to look back and go "wow, it really came off quick". It's just hard to believe it when the scale doesn't move.

I would think the ground beef (just a little), cheese and refried Beans (maybe add a little sour cream to help it go down) would be ok for Mexican at one month out. But, what does your plan say you should be eating at this point? Everyone is so different with what works for them at certain points and surgeons are all over the board with what they will allow. At 5 weeks, I was able to eat some meat, but mostly Soups and very smooth fruits and veggies. Have fun!

AWESOME!!!!!!!

My BMI was just below 33. If you look at my profile, you can see my loss per month. Sometimes it felt slow, but looking back, I lost an incredible % in a relatively short amount of time. I really don't know if BMI is a factor in speed, I think bodies just react differently. (<-- So frustrating not to have a one size, fits all package!)

Mine was outpatient. I was in the surgery center for about 6 hours after being wheeled out of the operating room. Loved not having to stay the night in a hospital.

Congrats on your surgery. Another option for sleeping is a recliner. If you have one, have someone help you get in and lay it back. Position pillows to get you comfortable. Made a world of difference for me!

I wished you lived here too ... I think we would be great friends!

You might be surprised to find that what you think is fat is really just a lot of loose skin. I checked into just liposuction and they laughed at me. They told that what I thought was fat was just a lot of skin! Definitely helped my ego. But, made me want a TT even more! Just have to come up with the funds & about 2 weeks of vacation time. Of course, the little one was a much better choice right now. Can't believe I've had him for 3 months now. Love being a thin mom with the energy he needs and deserves.

sorry guys ... I lost track of this thread & never gave information. Here is the surgeon I talked with. I REALLY liked him - felt comfortable from the very first moment we talked. http://www.drwindle.com/

You go girl!

Definitely do not go with a surgeon that will not listen to you. Of course, he can explain his reasons and refuse a certain surgery based on his medical background and experiences. But, don't let anyone force you into a surgery you don't want. My surgeon said that based on my BMI, I was an ideal candidate for a band. When I explained my reasons for not having a band, and wanting VSG, he listened and agreed that the sleeve was the best option for me. Just be willing to have a frank discussion and feel free to move on if you and the doctor do not see "band to sleeve".