meggiep

Hey there!

I had the VSG on May 9th 2011 and m in maintenance now for almost a year. Having watched You Tubes avidly during my preparation (and now too) I started a video record of journey pre-op that continues to today. I received an email from someone who found me and thanked me for making them as I helped support and guide her as she prepared. I realised that I have forgotten what a great source of help it can be and decided to return here, the place that also fed me my support and inspiration back then, to give the link to anyone who might need my help!

Know that I am happy to answer questions personally and that no question is silly, and also there are never too many in a day. I am mentoring someone through surgery locally and sometimes hear from her ten times a day.

The VSG is the best thing I ever did besides having my son and marrying my current husband lol.

I have been to the edge of the regain abyss and back too, and that can be a source of support.

Good luck to all of you about to embark on this journey!

http://www.youtube.c...ser/meggieprice

Hi All:

Thank's to whoever started this thread. I have found it very insightful. I had surgery in April 2011. In the first year I lost 107 pounds. I still need to lose about 25 more. In the last three months I have not lost a pound, and in fact have gained 5 pounds in the last month (vacation plus no exercise). I am shocked by both how fast the weight goes back on and how easy it has been for me to "eat around the sleeve."

In the past two weeks I have tried to get back on track. 10,000 steps per day, 1200 calories per day. I do have some emotional eating issues, particularly around "dessert" type foods after dinner (chocolate, ice cream, pop corn). I find myself just thinking about food all the time in the evening. I am trying to figure out how to handle those emotions without stuffing my mouth!

Overall, I am thrilled with the sleeve. The reality is sinking in however, that wanting to overeat will ALWAYS be an issue for me. However, two years ago I was over 265 pounds and had several co-morbidities. I am in a MUCH BETTER PLACE today and I am grateful.

I attend a support group weekly, sometimes two. I owe a lot of my "success" to those others who are fighting these issues with me.

THANKS for listening!

Sugar is totally my trigger too and I finally realized that I need to give it up to maintain . The first few days are tough but then I feel much better- on an even keel, good energy, and no cravings. As I have mentioned in other posts, I am at goal (for 12 weeks now), work out a TON, and got to my goal the low carb way. I am determined to maintain this loss!

I was in a habit of having a little sugar (ie a couple of cinnamon bears lol) before Zumba, for example, but it triggered binging for me. When I gave it up I was much better.

That said I know there will be sugar in my life at times, I just need to plan for it and then get right back on track afterwards. Luckily I have a very strong will and have so far found it relatively easy to get back on track- probably because I know I will have treats sometimes, and also because being size 8 for the first time in my life is a huge treat in itself!

Anyway I really recommend you detox from processed sugar and I think you will be at goal with that help.

Good luck!

re: the fruit posts, now that I am at goal and because i work out 20 plus hours a week, I allow a lot more carbs including fruit. I still find it impossible to eat a banana after the fear of its 30 carbs was so ingrained during my extreme losing phase! But hey- summer with its peaches, nectarines, melon- YUMM!

HOLY MOLY! 12???? YOU ARE BURNING SOOOO MANY CALORES! AWESOME!!!

I think the most I've done in a week is 3 classes! But with 2 classes of pilates as well...YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you say...Transfer Addiction lol! I do 12 Zumba, a stepping class, two Water aerobics classes, and a Water pilates class a week. AND I walk three miles a day...

Part of it is being disabled with nerve pain in my back and knees and seeking ways to work out. I have also been looking for work for a while and a friend said "If you can't find work then work at something to feel productive" and I chose working out ...big time!

I have a total crush on Zumba! Before my sleeve I could only do Water classes- and then in November, six months out, I ventured to try Zumba. I loved it! I have to be careful as I have nerve damage in my back and knees. I don't jump, for example. I now do TWELVE classes a week!

From my post in the thread a ways down below this one:

" Ok everyone here is what I came up with for the wonderful RIcotta Bake' date=' so delish on purees or anytime I think! I could see adding a layer ofr ground turkey when I am on a fuller diet.

Anyway, this nutritional info based on using full fat ricotta cheese, regular parmesan (I used shredded from Costco) a large egg, and low fat mozzarella cheese, as well as my particular fave vodka/marinara sauce for the topping . It is also based on dividing the complete dish into six servings, which is about perfect for my 1/4 cup ability here at three weeks. So if you want to eat more, multiply my totals x 6 and divide it into the number of servings you want it to be.

Obviously if you use low fat cheese all the way around it will change. Like Eggface I prefer full fat for the most part though I don't mind low fat mozzarella I am all about the flavor!

I use Spark People to feed the ingredients in and create the recipe and then got the nutritional data- easy! Hope this helps anyone obsessed with having the right thing to log every day like me!

Serving = 1/6th pan

Amount per serving

Calories 160.7

Total fat 10.9 g

Cholesterol 74.0 mg

Sodium 335.8 mg

Potassium 74.0 mg

Total carbs 3.1 grams

dietary Fiber 0.3 grams

sugars 0.9 grams

Protein 11.5 gram "

Since them -I actually changed the recipe for me- half the parmesan, a 1/4 cup more mozzarella, and 4 ounces of ground beef under the Tomato sauce now that I eat meat. It is still my favorite go to Protein tasty meal.

[/quote']

Replying to bring this up again!

Looks yummy! How did you make that?

Btw I posted the nutritional info for this based in the ingredients I used way back months ago...eggface doesn't do nutritional stats and during my weight loss phase I was a strict counter. I also made this with 8 ounces of ground beef on top under the cheese....YUMM! Search for ricotta to find my stats....

Unjury chicken Soup was a mainstay for me getting to goal. I used 16 ounces of Water to make it a bit less salty, and to add to my liquid count! I also made chicken stock from chicken , celery, and carrot, and froze the strained liquid into ice cubes and added one to each Unjury broth I made to add more robust flavor. I will continue to use Unjury chicken broth when I am low on Protein for a day.

I read this with interest as I reached goal eight weeks ago and now of course am hyper critical of the small areas I wish would be different ;-P

I have been lucky in that I have some pouchy skin at belly and midriff, and some bat wings, but not much else. Considering the 120 pounds lost I feel fortunate! I also have worked out, and continue to work out, a LOT. I think that has been a major factor in keeping the loose skin at bay. Certainly at my age, 59 next week, elasticity is supposed to be much worse.

The one thing i noted is that it is almost impossible to follow the suggestion to not lose too quickly as by nature WLS causes a much more rapid weight loss. I think that is why we are all particularly susceptible to this issue.

I will give a scrub a go just to see if it helps. I do know that as I have always gotten at least 64 ounces of Water in, and for the last few months 96-128, my skin is very soft and feels good for the most part. I get my Protein, work out a TON, and use sunscreen.

I have hopes that six months from now some of this will be better! I can't afford surgery.

I would love it if everyone was to weigh in with their results in trying some of these things...

The other thing of note is that I never thought I would be one to even care about a little loose skin as I have never been particularly vain in that way. But lo and behold, now that I look good and feel so good and wear a size 8 I do care in a new way. It makes me laugh at myself.

Thank you for taking the time to post a well reasoned, well written, balanced message. It sure sounds like there is something salvagable from this mess I've gotten myself into. Would you mind sharing the fb sites that have helped? I ditched fb for many reasons but would reactivate to find these helpful forums.

I shared your msj with my niece, who is looking to become sleeved herself, and she too hopes this becomes something we can look forward to in our lives.

Thanks again!

I am glad I could provide something somewhat positive for you as my hear hurt for your situation in not loving your sleeve and yet I also see myself in that as I would call it a love/hate relationship!

I will PM you about the Facebook groups as they are private and by invitation.

xoxo

I just read this whole thread and boy have things changed since my rosy post in the third month after surgery.

I am now a year and almost a month out- and I am 2 pounds under my goal weight, or at any rate my doctor's goal, which was 162- a normal BMI. I myself am playing with the idea of aiming for 155, not quite sure why other than the fact these last few pounds have finally been coming from my belly- the place I most want it to go away ;-P,

Back at the beginning, when I first posted, I had never gained. Not true now! I definitely fluctuate normally up a pound or so . When I say normally, this is besides the times when I embark on what I can only describe as lost weekends, lost weeks even. That kind of binge eating still bedevils me and I have gained as many as 8 pounds in 12 days. Luckily as soon as I eat clean for a few days the weight leaves, probably because it is mostly Water weight as one of my favorite binge foods is buttered movie popcorn which we get free from our son the manager at a movie theater.

I continue to work hard on my emotional issues to do with food- somehow I still tend to do things as "on" or "off" the plan and I really want to stop doing that! I want to be able to live life, have a treat here or there, and not be feast or famine. However, I have finally gotten that I am best served emotionally and physically, by not eating processed sugar and having that be the only rule now that I am essentially in maintenance. I allow myself everything else, and when I do that I maintain and do not feel deprived on a basic level. It feels like being a normal person. It is what I need to do.

I will admit that I do not like this fact. I had hoped to could get to the point of popping a cinnamon bear or two before Zumba, for example, without it springboarding me to downing a large amount of slider ice cream, chocolate, etc. And that just is not the case for me . I do occasionally rail against the unfairness of it all.

What helps me be ok with it? I never in my adult life have ever been smaller than size 16. I was size 24-26 when I started this journey and my goal was to be size 16 again if I possibly could.Right now people I am a freaking size EIGHT! I work out a TON, and so I now am very fit, I have long toned legs that I love after hating my legs my whole life. I love being in this body and having gone from being told I would soon be in a wheelchair and not being able to do anything but deep water classes to rocking 11 Zumba classes a week, walking three miles a day with my husband and our dog, and basically being a fit active attractive alive woman.

Yes, I too sometimes moan about having to sort of but not exactly diet the rest of my life. My sleeve, Thumblina, is a great tool but is not perfect as she allow too many slider foods of exactly the wrong kind. But in the end, yes, I totally love my sleeve.

By the way- I cannot stress enough the importance in my life of support. I belong to several Facebook groups that are so important to my success that I can hardly even articulate it! One of them does challenges every other month, and was directly responsible for me getting to goal. One of them is aimed at emotional work, getting to the bottom of why we became obese and how we can change the things we do to sabotage ourselves. Some of the people I have met in this way are in my heart forever.

ANd thank you everyone who complimented me. I am now on the scary road of maintenance lol! I actually do want to lose another five pounds but am very happy where I am.

Congratulations! Any advice for new sleeves like myself. I had surguery on May 1st

I can only tell you what I did- I followed the "rules" strictly for the first six months- less than 40 carbs a day, 60-80 grams of Protein, more than 64 ounces of Water, and working out every day or nearly every day. Then, as I added more and more working out and basically got addicted to it I added carbs and calories as I got tired and realised I needed more. I also recommend reaching out for support- lots of it! I am in multiple Facebook groups and I join challenges in them all the time- accountability is everything, and so is support when the going gets tough. Most importantly- when you do blow it, binging, whatever form that takes for you- forgive yourself and move on! I was not perfect- an eleven day long lost weekend comes to mind lol. Keep on keeping on and move as much as you can! Good luck to you- I care!

YOU LOOK AMAZING! I just posted that I got my approval today and I'm petrified but looking at your progress makes me calm down a bit!!!!

It is the best thing I ever did! You will love it.

Meggie, I follow you on YouTube and cried this morning when I watched your surgiversary video. What a journey - and as I commented at You Tube a while ago, your journey convinced me that I too can do this, I am not too old to turn it around!

Thanks for the inspiration.

I am so glad I inspired you! We are never too old to come alive again! I look YEARS younger now, and feel it too. MWAH!

Wow you look great! You spoke at my orientation meeting, and that helped me decide on the VSG. I went into the meeting set on getting the Lapband, but you spoke so positively about your surgery I changed my mind right there. Congratulations, I hope I can be as successful as you have been!!!

I am so glad that you saw me! Speaking there means a lot to me. Do you come to the support group? I would love to connect with you more! I go every month. xoxo

A year ago yesterday my life changed forever! I made the best decision I ever made besides marrying my darling third husband lol. I had a VSG with Dr. JOhn Feng of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation- my hero.

I started this journey at 280 pounds, depressed, reclusive, hibernating and in constant pain.

Last week I hit my surgeons goal of a normal BMI and 118 pounds lost....WOW! Still losing and am not sure where I will end up.

I went from that reclusive existance to doing nine Zumba classes a week, 8 Water classes, walking three miles a day with my husband and dog. I am toned, energetic, ALIVE!!!! Alas the pain is stil there but the lightness of being helps so much.

VST was such a wonderful support for me, and though I have gone on the many Facebook pages that give challenges and daily support, I will always come home to this Forum!

How is this going CW? I too was found to be low Iron and have not had my recheck yet. I have heard iron is the toughest one to get back up once it is low. IN addition to taking iron I have really stepped up iron rich food- artichokes, oysters, yes liver too lol.

47? Young 'un! I am 58 too and though I have been somewhat blessed with much less loose skin than many, I am bugged by the skin that I do have on the tummy not to mention the droopy boob situation. If I ever can afford it I will most definitely deal with both- and this kinda blows my mind because if you asked me this last year when I had surgery I would have said NO WAY. Now that I am at goal and loving how toned most of me is, the part that isnt is just not making Meggie happy! In addition, my legs and hips are so much smaller than my stomach that it keeps me in a bigger size and then the leg and butt of pants are saggy. URK! Yep girl- DO IT!

Dang it! I missed seeing the mysterious fabulous Crosswind! I came her on my one year surgiversary to check in and look for my old friends and you are the first one I looked for! I NEED to see these pics! Not fair! ;-P

I have a friend who had her sleeve on December 19th and is not too computer savvy. She has had three bad flares of her gout since the surgery and it is really hampering her progress as she cannot exercise!

The pharmacist who filled her rx for gout medication noticed she was buying Protein powder and said that was probably causing her gout. Does anyone know about this? She asked me to do the research on my groups as she knows I have a lot of support systems. (Yay for that!)

The thing is- if she is not able to eat a lot of Protein ...well that wont work either!

Before my sleeve I did four Water aerobics classes a week, all I could do with my many physical issues. I have nerve damage in my back and knees.

About five weeks post sleeve I had a surge in energy. I had been walking a few blocks every day and it got longer and longer until now my husband and I walk our dog 3 miles a day. Then I started adding pool classes as I got more and more addicted to exercise ;-P I came out of the pool to try Zumba and now do six zumba classes a week!

Weekly in order of when I do them in the day

Monday Zumba followed by 2 /12 hours of Water aerobics 3 mile walk

Tuesday 3 mile walk Zumba one hour water aerobics

Wednesday 2 1/2 hours of water arobics 3 mile walk Zumba

Thursday 3 mile walk ZUmba followed by water class

Friday 2 1/2 hours water arobics 3 mile walk ZUmba

Saturday Zumba 3 mile walk

Sunday (kinda my day of rest lol) 3 mile walk

I have become an exercise junkie, I admit it. In ZUmba I am very careful of my back and knees and do not do some of the moves but always sweat and have a great time. I have a crush on Zumba!

Aw thanks! I am very happy with how it has gone though it has slowed way down now. I work out a LOT- and that keeps me in a good place even when I carb it up. I can't even believe how active I have become!

p.s. No wonder you have been tired! I was reading back in your posts since I was last here and noticed you mentioned when you lowered your calories you would be unable to move- low Iron will do that! I am about to have all that stuff tested...

Always so happy to see you here! Of course I am not often here and may be you are ;-P...

Anyway I take the Bariatric Advantage Iron...it is a better form that is much easier to digest. It is chewable and as mentioned, the aftertaste is a bit gnarly! However, I find it not only easier on my stomach but it also does not cause Constipation as far as I can tell!

Congrats!!!

Thank you- and ....YOU start your wonderful journey...today!!!!! Hooray!

I can't believe it myself- the time has just flown...sometimes I wake up and remember all over again!

I love my sleeve, it is the best thing I ever did.

There are EXCELLENT doctors in Mexico. I hate when people have this uninformed opinion about another country.

I totally agree! I had my surgery here in CA with a fabulous surgeon, Dr. John Feng, who has done sleeves for over 10 years. He trained in NY with the man who originated the sleeve. I trusted his experience and skill. However, I would never think that there are not surgeons in every other country of similar experience and skill. I can only ascribe this sort of attitude to ignorance and gently encourage anyone who feels this way to expand their minds to see that we in the US are not actually the center of the universe! In fact, so much of our medical system has to do with fear of lawsuits and monetary influence from the drug companies that I fear we have lost our way just a bit.

Based on this quote from Dr. Watkins the same is true not only for plication but for all WLS

I can only report that when I asked my surgeon about plication he said that he will never do them. He believes it is a mistake to fold the stomach over , increasing risk of erosion and other complications. He believes ( and I restate this as this is just his opinion!) that this surgery will not be widely adapted and will not be the great thing it sounded to be to me. I was really attracted to it at first myself!

i think one of the best parts of the VSG is the way it makes your body produce less grehlin which in turn makes you less hungry. i would find it so hard to still have a huge appetite but have a small stomach. i would compare that to being on a diet. torture for me!

Also, re: grehlin- at my last support group meeting it was reported to us that generally grehlin production resumes full force after an average of two years with the RNY but has been reported to be much more long lasting with the sleeve. As one of the lucky ones who is never hungry I cherish this particular side effect and was happy to hear this!

I have not been hungry since my surgery date- so whatever choices you all make- I pray the same for you!

I recommend a bariatric Vitamin also as Flinstones don't have enough of the right things for us. The reason we need Vitamins is the small stomach means much less acid, and much less time.surface in the stomach for food so Vitamins are not liberated from our food in adequate quantities.

I myself use Bariatric Advantage. I get my multi and Iron from them in chewable form. I get my Calcium (you need 1000-1500 mg a day taken separately from your iron) from costco and my B12 from Trader Joes. B12 MUST be sublingual as we cannot process B12 in our stomachs anymore- so a chewable or swallowed form will NOT work.

I am part of some awesome Facebook pages for sleevers- let me know if you would like to join one or all of them. They provide daily, immediate support.