So Cal Kurt

I needed more than the liquid diet and talked to my nutritionist and she let me go to pureed in 9 days and then to soft foods I think around 3 weeks out. I asked first however. Just being able to have cream of wheat and scrambled eggs made all of the difference. Talk to your nutritionist, that is why they are there. Following the program will become your new normalcy. The physical healing is the easy part, the mental game took me months. The good news it does get easier as the months roll on.

I have been following this post and wanted to add something else. Perhaps it's my age (50) and the fact that I am a man, I really didn't see any negativity towards my WLS. Most people my age are fighting age/weight related conditions and I think we tend to look at this for a different reason. I don't agree that obesity in itself is a desiese, it is a condition brought on by underlying issues and contributing factors. Looking back in retrospect, if I could have wad this surgery at 30, I would have been able to avoid Diabetes, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and all of the other obesity related issues that I developed by the time I was 40. I think every one of us has addictive personalities and our over the top behavior is what leads us to morbid obesity. Even if I haven't extended my life by a single minute, I have increased my quality of life ten fold. THe life of a morbidly obese person can't be understood by someone that hasn't ben there. I was fortunate, I am hoping I was able to save myself from me. I am a year into maintenainance, been sitting at between 185 and 190 lbs for the last 13 months. I have learned to live my life again and removed the unhealthy relationship with food that I had cultivated for 48 years. If people don't understand your struggle, surround yourself with supportive people that will. No person is an island and you need plenty of support. Seek face to face support of others in your area that know what you are going through and can share their experiences with you. We learn form each other as we are giving to each other.

I have been following this post and wanted to add something else. Perhaps it's my age (50) and the fact that I am a man, I really didn't see any negativity towards my WLS. Most people my age are fighting age/weight related conditions and I think we tend to look at this for a different reason. I don't agree that obesity in itself is a desiese, it is a condition brought on by underlying issues and contributing factors. Looking back in retrospect, if I could have wad this surgery at 30, I would have been able to avoid Diabetes, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and all of the other obesity related issues that I developed by the time I was 40. I think every one of us has addictive personalities and our over the top behavior is what leads us to morbid obesity. Even if I haven't extended my life by a single minute, I have increased my quality of life ten fold. THe life of a morbidly obese person can't be understood by someone that hasn't ben there. I was fortunate, I am hoping I was able to save myself from me. I am a year into maintenainance, been sitting at between 185 and 190 lbs for the last 13 months. I have learned to live my life again and removed the unhealthy relationship with food that I had cultivated for 48 years. If people don't understand your struggle, surround yourself with supportive people that will. No person is an island and you need plenty of support. Seek face to face support of others in your area that know what you are going through and can share their experiences with you. We learn form each other as we are giving to each other.

I have been following this post and wanted to add something else. Perhaps it's my age (50) and the fact that I am a man, I really didn't see any negativity towards my WLS. Most people my age are fighting age/weight related conditions and I think we tend to look at this for a different reason. I don't agree that obesity in itself is a desiese, it is a condition brought on by underlying issues and contributing factors. Looking back in retrospect, if I could have wad this surgery at 30, I would have been able to avoid Diabetes, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and all of the other obesity related issues that I developed by the time I was 40. I think every one of us has addictive personalities and our over the top behavior is what leads us to morbid obesity. Even if I haven't extended my life by a single minute, I have increased my quality of life ten fold. THe life of a morbidly obese person can't be understood by someone that hasn't ben there. I was fortunate, I am hoping I was able to save myself from me. I am a year into maintenainance, been sitting at between 185 and 190 lbs for the last 13 months. I have learned to live my life again and removed the unhealthy relationship with food that I had cultivated for 48 years. If people don't understand your struggle, surround yourself with supportive people that will. No person is an island and you need plenty of support. Seek face to face support of others in your area that know what you are going through and can share their experiences with you. We learn form each other as we are giving to each other.

I have been following this post and wanted to add something else. Perhaps it's my age (50) and the fact that I am a man, I really didn't see any negativity towards my WLS. Most people my age are fighting age/weight related conditions and I think we tend to look at this for a different reason. I don't agree that obesity in itself is a desiese, it is a condition brought on by underlying issues and contributing factors. Looking back in retrospect, if I could have wad this surgery at 30, I would have been able to avoid Diabetes, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and all of the other obesity related issues that I developed by the time I was 40. I think every one of us has addictive personalities and our over the top behavior is what leads us to morbid obesity. Even if I haven't extended my life by a single minute, I have increased my quality of life ten fold. THe life of a morbidly obese person can't be understood by someone that hasn't ben there. I was fortunate, I am hoping I was able to save myself from me. I am a year into maintenainance, been sitting at between 185 and 190 lbs for the last 13 months. I have learned to live my life again and removed the unhealthy relationship with food that I had cultivated for 48 years. If people don't understand your struggle, surround yourself with supportive people that will. No person is an island and you need plenty of support. Seek face to face support of others in your area that know what you are going through and can share their experiences with you. We learn form each other as we are giving to each other.

I have been following this post and wanted to add something else. Perhaps it's my age (50) and the fact that I am a man, I really didn't see any negativity towards my WLS. Most people my age are fighting age/weight related conditions and I think we tend to look at this for a different reason. I don't agree that obesity in itself is a desiese, it is a condition brought on by underlying issues and contributing factors. Looking back in retrospect, if I could have wad this surgery at 30, I would have been able to avoid Diabetes, High blood pressure, high cholesterol and all of the other obesity related issues that I developed by the time I was 40. I think every one of us has addictive personalities and our over the top behavior is what leads us to morbid obesity. Even if I haven't extended my life by a single minute, I have increased my quality of life ten fold. THe life of a morbidly obese person can't be understood by someone that hasn't ben there. I was fortunate, I am hoping I was able to save myself from me. I am a year into maintenainance, been sitting at between 185 and 190 lbs for the last 13 months. I have learned to live my life again and removed the unhealthy relationship with food that I had cultivated for 48 years. If people don't understand your struggle, surround yourself with supportive people that will. No person is an island and you need plenty of support. Seek face to face support of others in your area that know what you are going through and can share their experiences with you. We learn form each other as we are giving to each other.

Don't let their negativity or lack of understanding dissuade you. VSG is by no way an easy way out but speaking for myself, it is the only way I have been able to maintain a substantial weight loss. This is a tool and nothing more. Once your friends see the changes, hopefully they come around. You might be wise to keep it to yourself and people you know are going to be supportive. You are doing this for you and no one else.

I see people all of the time that I am compelled to say, "there is a better way to live your life". Out of respect, I don't. I do share with anyone that askes though. A few months back at my support group, a woman came up to me and said I was the reason she had VSG. I talked in front of the information session and answered their questions about my journey and what to expect. I have to admit, it felt so good to be a positive inspiration.

I don't think I have ever had dumping although I have had some ill effects from deep fried food early out. Sugars usually trigger dumping in VSG and even at that it is very rare. Dumping can occor in anyone WLS or not. I have always used half and half in my coffee, one of the things I always allowed myself even when I was in the "losing" stages. At this point in time, you will be struggling to get in 600 calories a day so I wouldn't worry about it. Every nut and every Dr have their own opinions. I have come to find that most of them just cut and paste an RNY diet and don't even bother to look at the VSG diet as anything different. I was lucky, my team did and taylored my eating and drinking plan to the VSG and everything worked. Good luck and welcome to the losers bench!

I was on 2 doses each of 1000 mg Metformin and 10 Mg Glyburide prior to my surgery. Also took a dose of actos every day. Morning readings were in the 160s on a good day to 190s on a bad day. I stopped my meds 48 hours prior to surgery, did get a single injection of insulin in the hospital. When I got out, I was advised to check my blood sugar and if I needed it take what I had to. THe second day out, I think my #s were in the 140s and they declined from there. I never did take anything again for my diabetes and haven't since the insulin. That was June 9 2010. By 4 weeks out, my morning numbers were in the low 100s, 8 weeks out the 90s, finally around 12 weeks out after a week of 85s, I stopped taking it. out of habit I took it every few weeks to check and the highest I have had was a 98. I had an A1c taken in November, it was 5.6. (no meds) the last time I had labs, my PCP didn't even order one, he just ordered a regular blood glucose. It was 81. Don't sweat it, your liver dumps glucose when you sleep. It will level out and I would say as long as you aren't seeing anything approaching 180 in the morning, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt you can get enough Carbs in to make a difference. Maybe try some cottage cheese before bed the protein used to help me when I was having high morning numbers. It is a hard adjustment letting go of the glucometer, It was kind of my lifeline but caused me a lot of frustration. BTW, I also stopped my bp meds after a few weeks(maybe 3 weeks out), halfed them first and then discontinued them (under my Dr''s orders) be careful, low bp can be as dangerous as high bp.

Nothing better for a man's ego than an extra 3 or 4 inches of penis. Even if you are in great shape. Just saying. Let your brother try to argue with that!

the stories are as varied as the instruction and opinion of every surgeon. They all have their own opinion, which is right and which is wrong? For me it was all about the weight loss as it pertained to my health. We each have out own path to follow. Myself, I have always loved beer. I haven't had any because I don't do carbonation at all (even at 20 months out) I had a sample of what I thought was flavored water at costco, turned out to be cabonated. I thought I was going to explode after one sip. Everyone is different. Trust in your Dr's instructions unless you have a valid reason not to. In the end, we need to live with our own choices. Choose wisely!

Have you noticed, toss the bun is pretty much universal from everyone that has posted? If you want to have a bun, ask for it extra toasted (crispy) and still chuck most of it. Protein, protein, protein! I rode my motorcycle the Sturgis rally in 2010, 8 weeks after I was sleeved. I was miserable because I was so unprepared.I satyed 2 nights and came home (1300 miles each way). Good luck on your trip, you are going to do great!

Take a cooler and I would opt for hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, ready to drink shakes, cheese, greek yogurt, meats and some crackers. You are too fresh out for things like protein bars. ALso try Fast food burgers(no bun), KFC grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, Grilled chicken and refreid beans from any mexican place. Wendy's chili or their grilled chicken wrap (ditch the tortilla) There are lots of choices. You should be able to find something almost anywhere. Also McDonalds will sell you scrambled eggs ala carte. That with a half of an english muffin (extra toasted) is a really good breakfast. Fruits and veggies probably still give you some problems so I would stay away from those. Also have some Gas-X (or the store brand equivalent) on hand for in the car when your stomach gets gurgley.

Have you noticed, toss the bun is pretty much universal from everyone that has posted? If you want to have a bun, ask for it extra toasted (crispy) and still chuck most of it. Protein, protein, protein! I rode my motorcycle the Sturgis rally in 2010, 8 weeks after I was sleeved. I was miserable because I was so unprepared.I satyed 2 nights and came home (1300 miles each way). Good luck on your trip, you are going to do great!

Take a cooler and I would opt for hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, ready to drink shakes, cheese, greek yogurt, meats and some crackers. You are too fresh out for things like protein bars. ALso try Fast food burgers(no bun), KFC grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, Grilled chicken and refreid beans from any mexican place. Wendy's chili or their grilled chicken wrap (ditch the tortilla) There are lots of choices. You should be able to find something almost anywhere. Also McDonalds will sell you scrambled eggs ala carte. That with a half of an english muffin (extra toasted) is a really good breakfast. Fruits and veggies probably still give you some problems so I would stay away from those. Also have some Gas-X (or the store brand equivalent) on hand for in the car when your stomach gets gurgley.

You are totally normal in your feelings, I asked myselft that same thing many times. In the next few months you are going to embark on a whole new lifestlye. There is going to be a lot of adjustment and you will continue to question if you did the right thing. The mental game is so much harder than the physical. Right now, you are a few days post op. The swelling will go down, you will be able to get your fluids and protein in and you will be feeling physically better inside of 2 weeks. Once you get into the groove, you will establish a new healthy norm. Your body will change, your relationship with food will change as well as the way you conduct yourself in a social atmosphere. The only thing that stands in the way of sucess is how you adapt to your sleeve. Each of us has been given the opportunity to control our appetites and acheive that which we have been chasing for so long. Hang in there. The results are so worth the effort! Good luck and stay strong!

Social situations are the hardest at first. The truth is, no one is watching what or how much you eat. You will be able to find something diet appropriate, eat what you should and everything will be fine. For me the hardest part was separtating the food from the event. It is the company that makes it, not what you eat. Have fun and good luck., You will do great.

In May of 1981, I graduated from MCRD Parris Island, SC at 187lbs. Today, May 31 2011, 30 years later, I stepped on the scale and was the exact same weight. I have chased that number ever since. I stuggled my entire enlistment to maintain the maximum allowable weight for my height (197 lbs). I have not at this weight since shortly after that time. I might not be as green or as mean as I was at 19 but I am just as lean. (perhaps leaner) It feels really good. This was a personal goal that I had set at the onset of my journey. Anything lower from here on out is a new low weight as an adult.

First of all, congrats on sticking to your decision. Citing your health as the main reason kind of says it all. Looking back, I had my last meal the evening of my 2 week pre-op Dr's visit. My liquid diet started the following morning. I had a crappy Burger King meal that I didn't finish, At the end was disappointed that I didn't opt for something of a more fitting end to my lifetime of excessiveness. From my present perspective, the last meal is the end of your old life. Your new life is going to be so much better. A last meal is the bridge to a new life of deprivation. The truth is, you won't really feel deprived. The way I feel now the last meal didn't matter one bit. My new healthy life, free of medication and struggling with physical limitations is gone. The truth is, it won't matter in 6 months one way or another. Follow your Dr's instructions, he is the professional. Good Luck!