former_vbg

I am only posting this as someone who would support a support group in the KC area. I do not have the time to lead the group, but I would do everything I can to support the group leader in their role, and of course participate as my schedule allowed. I will be 3 yrs out this June!
Great idea Alex!!

I don't know how I missed this thread, but what a great idea!
I'm 40 years old, single with no children. I have 2 younger brothers (13 and 15 yrs younger than me- same parents). My youngest brother just graduated law school. I'm excited, yet nervous for him due to all of his debt. I have a B.S. in Computer Science, and 2 classes away from finishing my MBA. I am also teaching undergrad college classes. In the next few years, I hope to walk away from corporate America all together and start up an equine therapy facility for handicapped and disadvantaged kids. I absolutely love volunteering and the deep satisfaction I get from helping others! I am also an aspiring writer. I look forward to the day when I can leap out of bed excited to spend my day helping kids discover things about themselves they never knew existed and improve their quality of life at the same time.
I also have a small farm where I have my horses, cats and until recenty my dog who passed away. I show Arabians at the National level and love not being the "fattest girl" in the show ring!! I take care of everything on my own, although there are some things I have to hire when I don't have the skill or tools to do it myself. I grew up as an only child for 13 years in a rural area of SW MN on a small hobby farm. I was sort of a tomboy growing up, and that has pretty much carried with me into adult hood. Most people that know me from my "day job" don't recognize me if they see me in my "farm work attire/ hair". I enjoy mowing the pastures on my tractor, fixing fence, fishing, camping, etc. I hate cooking, house cleaning, laundry and all that domestic stuff. I've been close to being married a few times, but it was just never right. No regrets really, but it would be nice to find someone who compliments my life one day. I'm fiercely independent, grew up not being able to depend on anyone else for anything and just learned that if I wanted something done that it would be up to me. It seems guys I meet in "the city' disappear pretty quickly when they realize how much work is involved in taking care of a small farm. The guys I meet in the rural setting I live tend to assume that since I work "in the city" that I can be their sugar momma. Seems to be no happy medium. I plan to maybe try start dating again after I have reached maintenance, so we will see.
I have been overweight pretty much all my life. I was what you might call a pudgy child until about the age of maybe 11 or 12 and then the weight started creeping. I remember watching t.v. commercials advertising miracle weight loss drugs and tried desperately to try and figure out how I could get those pills. I never was successful, but I remember so vividly how desperate I felt at that age. The teasing was horrible. I felt like such an outcast, and so it just became a vicious circle. The more depressed I became the more I went to what I felt was my only friend- food. I would sneak food all the time. Eating just to eat. Even though I felt disgusted with myself when I would feel bloated, it was sort of a weird feeling -- maybe like a high. Not really sure how to describe it. I knew it was bad, but I didn't feel like I had any control anymore. By the time I graduated high school, I was somewhere around 200#. My first year of college, my weight skyrocketed another 30#... The next few years are a bit of a blur, but I think by the time I graduated college, I was around 300#. Somehow I was successful in getting my career started, but within the first year, I remember seeing an ad for WLS. There wasn't near the information, support groups, etc available out there that there is now. I had the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. It was basically the lap band, but instead of using fills, they used a mesh to create a small balloon near the esophagus to create a smaller stomach. I was actually quite successful and lost weight quite easily. It was actually successful, although I missed reaching my goal by about 20# then. It wasn't anyone's fault but my own really. The weight came off quite easily. I got within 20# of my ultimate goal, but I allowed a man I met to get in the way of staying true to myself due to his lifestyle habits of junk food and such. I'm not blaming him, but it did teach me that this time around I am very diligent about not letting anything or ANYONE get in my way.
So, I actually did "reasonably" well over the next 7 to 8 years bouncing around between 160 and 180#, lose/ gain, you know the drill. It wasn't until I started working at a job that about sent me over the edge in stress that things started really getting out of control. I put on 30# in one year there working for one of the most insane boss's of my life. I was there 2 years, which was 2 years too long. I never honestly thought having another surgery was an option. I started sinking into more and more of a depression and relying on my "friend" food to get me through each day. It wasn't until a friend who had the lapband surgery a few years ago made the comment that she knew some people who had had more than 1 WLS. So, my research began and I became determined if not obsessed to have another surgery and finally get control over my life once and for all.
The day before my sleeve surgery, I weighed 271#, am 5'3 or 5'4" depending on which Dr.'s office you ask. I think I'm 5'3" from what I can determine on my own. Anyhow, I had my first WLS a little more than 14 years ago which was the vertical banded gastroplasty. I'm now 16# away from reaching my final goal, and I feel incredible! I love people commenting how thin I am. I do have lots of loose skin, but considering the alternative of staying fat, I will deal with it. If plastics are ever in the future, that will be great. If not, then I will deal with it. I love riding my horses, love feeling "normal" and I look forward to the next half of my life living healthy!!!

Thank you. I wasn't planning on using that many calories. I just meant that it was helpful to know under normal circumstances where I was at. I figured I would be eating between 1,100 to 1,300 on the non-fasting days.

So, I've been looking up various foods I typically eat to get the caloric / health label information because I tend to remove as much excess packaging on things after I come home from the store to conserve on space in the fridge so looking up is my only option right now until I can make it back to the store to look at these items myself.
I'm guessing I'm going to have to change my choice of butter, or at least make sure its the lowest I can buy. I'm not sure I can handle that butter spray even though its zero calories. Then, I got to thinking about what I drink everyday which is diet pepsi cherry flavor. I drink that like many drink coffee. Yes, I know there is lots of debate about whether we (those who have had WLS) should be drinking that- not going there, I don't believe it triggers anything for me. My issues are stress and properly managing it w/out using food aka carbs/ comfort foods.
I would like to hear from anyone who does drink diet sodas and is on this plan and what their experiences have been. I am going to TRY to drink more Water, but that will just have to be a work in progress thing.

Yum!!

Good grief, never mind then. I was just looking to get support from others who are doing well, experienced, just getting started, etc on this plan. I've done my own googling on this but hearing what works/ didn't work for others was all I was looking for.

Please give us a little more information. Things like:
1 What was your start weight?
2. What is your goal weight?
3. How are you measuring your food? Carbs? Calories?
4. Based on how you are measuring/ monitoring your food intake, how many carbs/ calories are you taking in on a day?
5. What kinds of foods are you eating? Give us some typical examples.

Loved your story! I think everyone here can relate to the loss/ regain scenarios you described and the frustrations it all entails.
I just wanted to tell you that I can tell from reading your post that I really think you will do well and I look forward to the day when you can come back on here and post a NSV (non-scale victory) about being able to glide under one of your race cars to fix something with little or no blocks needed because you were so thin!
My little brother loves race cars also. Don't ask me what kind but if I were to guess I think they are Sprint cars. He goes to Indiana for some national event there every year.
Best of luck to you!

Loved your story! I think everyone here can relate to the loss/ regain scenarios you described and the frustrations it all entails.
I just wanted to tell you that I can tell from reading your post that I really think you will do well and I look forward to the day when you can come back on here and post a NSV (non-scale victory) about being able to glide under one of your race cars to fix something with little or no blocks needed because you were so thin!
My little brother loves race cars also. Don't ask me what kind but if I were to guess I think they are Sprint cars. He goes to Indiana for some national event there every year.
Best of luck to you!

Loved your story! I think everyone here can relate to the loss/ regain scenarios you described and the frustrations it all entails.
I just wanted to tell you that I can tell from reading your post that I really think you will do well and I look forward to the day when you can come back on here and post a NSV (non-scale victory) about being able to glide under one of your race cars to fix something with little or no blocks needed because you were so thin!
My little brother loves race cars also. Don't ask me what kind but if I were to guess I think they are Sprint cars. He goes to Indiana for some national event there every year.
Best of luck to you!

Loved your story! I think everyone here can relate to the loss/ regain scenarios you described and the frustrations it all entails.
I just wanted to tell you that I can tell from reading your post that I really think you will do well and I look forward to the day when you can come back on here and post a NSV (non-scale victory) about being able to glide under one of your race cars to fix something with little or no blocks needed because you were so thin!
My little brother loves race cars also. Don't ask me what kind but if I were to guess I think they are Sprint cars. He goes to Indiana for some national event there every year.
Best of luck to you!

I'm not sure when you had your surgery but the weight most CERTAINLY can come back on. This is ONLY a tool and a tool is only as good as the person using it. That said, if someone wants to drink their calories or eat slider foods, then the tool will not work as intended. If you eat the dense Protein and healthier foods then yeah you are going to keep things under control.
It requires ongoing vigilance and the further out you get from surgery the more difficult it can become. Maybe not for everyone but for lots of people. The same thing for those who did not lose near the weight they hoped in that first year or yr and a half from surgery are going to have a MUCH more difficult time reaching goal. It's just a fact and if you read the stories of people who have gone/ are going through that, you will see them talk about their struggles.

I'm so sorry to hear this. When did you have your surgery? How much total did you lose when you were at your lowest? Was there something major that changed in your life that triggered this? Have you tried doing the 5 day pouch test? If not, you can google it and find plenty of sites that explain how to do this. It's helpful for people to try and get back on track.
I have struggled myself. I had my surgery a little more than 2 yrs ago and my lowest was 121 as of last summer. I lost my job in Jan this past year and my weight got up to 151. Fortunately I have started going back down and am now 139 and continuing to go back down. I've gone back to focusing on just dense Protein and uppinc my exercise. Not saying its easy because its not. Just offering some suggestions and that your not alone in your struggle.

You are absolutely right in everything you said. I say that as someone who JUST in the past couple months is able to say I can wear size 4 slacks and size 5/6 jeans and let me tell you- it is absolutely freakin FABULOUS!!! That moment when you realize that you need yet another smaller size and you question in your head, "how can that be...?" and then try that smaller size in the dressing room and you want to throw a party bigger than New Years Eve right then and there, shouting from the roof tops that YOU MADE IT!!! I say this, because that WAS ME!! Unfortunately, I was shopping alone as I usually do, but it was still great! And, you know what, I did call friends and they celebrated right with me!!!
Everyone will have their own goals, but I sincerely believe it is ok to want the things you mentioned. Being able to slip into tight spaces because you are so petite. That sliding past crowded seats to sit next to the empty window seat won't bring sighs of despair from those you have to glide past, but rather maybe a few glances at your slimming figure!
You go for it! Enjoy it and Celebrate IT!!!

You are absolutely right in everything you said. I say that as someone who JUST in the past couple months is able to say I can wear size 4 slacks and size 5/6 jeans and let me tell you- it is absolutely freakin FABULOUS!!! That moment when you realize that you need yet another smaller size and you question in your head, "how can that be...?" and then try that smaller size in the dressing room and you want to throw a party bigger than New Years Eve right then and there, shouting from the roof tops that YOU MADE IT!!! I say this, because that WAS ME!! Unfortunately, I was shopping alone as I usually do, but it was still great! And, you know what, I did call friends and they celebrated right with me!!!
Everyone will have their own goals, but I sincerely believe it is ok to want the things you mentioned. Being able to slip into tight spaces because you are so petite. That sliding past crowded seats to sit next to the empty window seat won't bring sighs of despair from those you have to glide past, but rather maybe a few glances at your slimming figure!
You go for it! Enjoy it and Celebrate IT!!!

You guys crack me up! No, I'm not insulted Lissa, you gave me a good chuckle. Yes, my screen name was in reference to my original WLS that I had 14 yrs ago come this March. The "VBG" could easily have stood for "very big girl", cuz I was. I love saying I WAS cuz while I'm not yet thin, I'm getting much closer!!
Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about the procedure. It was actually very successful for me. As of this morning, I weigh exactly the lowest weight I reached when I had the VBG surgery and I don't blame the surgery for not reaching goal. I think it was a combination of things.
First, there wasn't ANYTHING like there is now with regards to the support post-surgery from the Dr.'s or support groups. I think I went in for one follow up, maybe two at the most a few months after surgery and never saw the Dr. again. I didn't think anything of it. They didn't tell you Protein first, not sure they knew. My highest at the time of that surgery was 305#. I got down to 162 within I think maybe 6 or 7 months, it's been so long ago my memory has faded a bit on some of those specifics. The other thing that happened for me was I was so thrilled with the attention from men that I got involved in a long term relationship with someone who ate lots of junk food, and was fortunate that at most he had a small to medium sized gut as a result. He didn't really take seriously my requests to eat more healthy around me, and consequently I just gave in to those eating habits. I kept the weight off for a few years actually, but then started bouncing back up close to #200, then I would drop back down to the 170#'s and then back up.
The reason for the "failure" of the surgery persay is more about me thant he surgery honestly. I'm not one to go to the Dr. unless I have a serious pain or whatever, just not a complainer. What had happened over time was that I had developed inflammation in my esophagus which could have EASILY been resolved by a reflux medication. Instead what happened is that my esphagus would make it difficult for the "good / more dense" foods to go down. I started gravitating to the slider foods because they wouldn't come back up. The inflammation wasn't everyday, nor every week- just intermittment and so it just became a way of life for me. I never said anything to my PCP all those years. I really wish I had, I may not have shot up to the weight I got to this time around.
To answer your question on how the VBG procedure is done/ was done is they used either a silastic band or mesh and create a small pouch at the top of your stomach very similar to the lapband. The basic difference between the lapband and the VBG is that it was permanent, where the lapband required fills. I don't believe there was ever anything metal used to create the band- but I suppose some surgeons may have done that but it wasn't common. My original surgeon used the mesh and so when I had the sleeve, it had become embedded into my tissue and so my surgeon for the sleeve simply cut tightly around the mesh because it is still in tact and not really an issue. In some cases, the silastic band was able to be removed for people who had revisions.
When I had my Upper GI done prior to the surgery, I was diagnosed with Esophagitus Stage C on a scale of A through D. And, A being good, and D worst. Basically, it's based on the amount of inflammation you have. Fortunately, after I started taking a PPI, that feeling of food getting "stuck" on the dense foods went away immediately. Only problem was that by that time I was well overweight "again". Could I have just stuck to the same program those of us who have had WLS now and lost weight? Probably, but when I started researching all the changes with WLS, I REALLY liked the idea of having my ghrelin removed so my appetite would be significantly reduced.
I couldn't be happier with my Sleeve!!! My cravings for sweets and sugary things are pretty much gone, and that is a huge deal for me. I think with this being my 2nd time around, I am older (40 yrs old), more in tune with my body, WAY more knowledgeable about weight loss surgeries and I understand much better that this is a tool- not a cure. I don't remember if I thought my first surgery was a cure, but I don't think I realized that even though I had that surgery, I would still have to make the life style changes a LIFE LONG process. I have every reason to believe that I will be able to maintain my loss, and even if I go through some bumps in the road that I will be able to keep things managed before they get out of control.
Feel free to post here or PM me if you have any other questions.

Yes, that's how I know I am not welcome. I had my surgery in Denton, TX. There aren't nearly as many WL surgeons in KC as there are in the Dallas and surrounding areas. There are probably 4 or 5 reputable ones and outsiders are not allowed.

Girl you are SOOOO right! I know that despite how hard I worked to get this weight off that it could come back pretty quickly if I don't watch it. I'm still struggling to get the 12# that I have put on from reaching goal. While I'm thankful I have a tool to help me and w/out this tool, I would be in a bigger world of trouble. That being said, I'm still having to work hard to get this off. I've been out of work since January and I go from being really good for awhile and then I go through a series of job rejections which sometimes triggers an emotional thing where I revert back to old habits. I still make myself weigh everyday. I know that doesn't work for everyone, but I feel that is the only way for me to stay accountable. Denial is how I got where I was and I need to know where I stand everyday whether I like the # or not.

Girl you are SOOOO right! I know that despite how hard I worked to get this weight off that it could come back pretty quickly if I don't watch it. I'm still struggling to get the 12# that I have put on from reaching goal. While I'm thankful I have a tool to help me and w/out this tool, I would be in a bigger world of trouble. That being said, I'm still having to work hard to get this off. I've been out of work since January and I go from being really good for awhile and then I go through a series of job rejections which sometimes triggers an emotional thing where I revert back to old habits. I still make myself weigh everyday. I know that doesn't work for everyone, but I feel that is the only way for me to stay accountable. Denial is how I got where I was and I need to know where I stand everyday whether I like the # or not.

Don't ever quit worrying about it. That's like throwing caution to the wind and for me, that would be a quick 10 lb gain.

That is awesome! I'm in the same boat as you. I have about 15# to lose right now to get to my original goal weight of 120#. I had actually gained 18# and like you the clothes I had worn at goal weren't fitting so well. It's easy to slip and think it's still ok but its not. There is also part of the old me that gets into this "I'm always gonna be fat" mindset, so you feel like giving in or up/ whichever.
Like you said this was just a tool. I never forgot that, but the first year or so, it was so much easier to drop the weight. Now that we have moved well beyond the "honeymoon" phase, it can get frustrating when the scale doesn't move as quickly. My schedule doesn't allow for me to visit a gym, but I live on a small farm outside the city and so with Spring here, I hope that more activity gardening, mowing and working outside will give me some of that extra activity I need to facilitate getting those #'s off. It won't give me the cardio that I really need, so I will just have to be extra diligent with my food selection.
Ahhh.... I wish we didn't have to work so hard at this but we do. That's just our new "norm".

That is awesome! I'm in the same boat as you. I have about 15# to lose right now to get to my original goal weight of 120#. I had actually gained 18# and like you the clothes I had worn at goal weren't fitting so well. It's easy to slip and think it's still ok but its not. There is also part of the old me that gets into this "I'm always gonna be fat" mindset, so you feel like giving in or up/ whichever.
Like you said this was just a tool. I never forgot that, but the first year or so, it was so much easier to drop the weight. Now that we have moved well beyond the "honeymoon" phase, it can get frustrating when the scale doesn't move as quickly. My schedule doesn't allow for me to visit a gym, but I live on a small farm outside the city and so with Spring here, I hope that more activity gardening, mowing and working outside will give me some of that extra activity I need to facilitate getting those #'s off. It won't give me the cardio that I really need, so I will just have to be extra diligent with my food selection.
Ahhh.... I wish we didn't have to work so hard at this but we do. That's just our new "norm".

This couldn't be further from the truth. All a person has to do is DRINK their calories and that can come in MANY forms... soda, McDonald shakes, and lots of other things.

VBG stands for Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. I had that WLS 15 yrs ago, worked for a number of years actually. You can read more about it at this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_banded_gastroplasty_surgery
It's good to get lots of peoples opinions, just remember you will got lots of variations and that's not bad. Just combine that with your own research, your Dr./ NUT's advice and develop your own strategy. There is no right path on this journey. There are basic guidelines and it sounds like you have them.
The people that come across all high and mighty "know it all" attitude just need to be taken with a grain of salt. Perhaps they mean well, or maybe they really think they are an expert. Either way it is a journey and it sounds like you are well on your way.

This couldn't be further from the truth. All a person has to do is DRINK their calories and that can come in MANY forms... soda, McDonald shakes, and lots of other things.