lsereno

Deleted. Just read through and saw I already posted on page 2! Doh!

I use the SF caramel and pumpkin pie. I add the caramel to SF instant hot cider to make a carmel apple drink. I add the pumpkin to a soy latte. Lynda

I really like Liption Diet Green Tea with Lemon. When it gets cooler, I like Sleepy Time tea, their Gingerbread Tea, and SF instant hot cider. Lynda

It's the foamies or sliming. Your stomach is so full there is not room for the saliva your mouth produces to go down so it backs up. So gross! I got it from eating too fast or eating too much. Lynda

Hi all, I had surgery in May 2011, when I was 54. I have been at goal since March 2012. I'm 5'6". I started at 254 and I weigh 135 now. Queen: You should definitely do the blog another year. What a gift to see the daily life of a long-term success! As far as pre-op diets go, my plan (Kaiser Fremont) had a diet they wanted us to follow that was very similar to weight watchers. I followed that (with an extra treat here and there) till I lost 10% of my body weight. I continued to follow it for another month and half, till surgery was scheduled. Only had to do liquid diet the day before surgery. I also quit coffee ahead of time, practiced eating slow bites using a tiny spoon and a clock with second hand. Tiny sips of Water, and drinking water over the day instead of gulping a bunch at night to get in 8 glasses a day. Lynda

If you are not a yoyo dieter and if you have learned new habits that you are comfortable with, then I think waiting is a good option. You can always have the surgery later. Medical advances are made that might change how the surgery is performed. Personally, I have great hopes for the studies on how gut bacteria can cause obesity. In a couple more years, you may just have to drink a potion for a few days to change your gut bacteria and successfully lose and then maintain a lower weight. Surgery is expensive, hard, and risky. Yes, it's less expensive, less hard, and less risky than staying morbidly obese, but if you can get there and maintain without surgery, then go for it. And if you find you can't, surgery or whatever option is available then will be waiting for you. I knew I couldn't lose weight without surgery. I had spent several years in weight watchers, hired a personal trainer, and tried hypnosis. Surgery was a life saver for me. But I would never have risked it if I could have taken the weight off another way. Lynda

Not sure where you live, but a party where you make something (pottery?) at a store front where they fire it for you and have all the supplies. We have a couple of different ones here in the South SF Bay Area. If you live where there isn't something like that, maybe a craft party such as scrapbooking or making a fall decor (get a jewelry tree and add leaves made from various fall colored papers and write things on each leaf). Spa party is fun too. Nail polish, facial masks, scrubs, mint tea, parafin dip. Lynda

One other thing. It says I have 13 unread messages, but I don't have any unread messages and from the web browser, I have no messages. I tried looking at a few messages to get the number to go down, but it still says 13. l

I use a mandolin slicer and then a quick sauté over high heat with a little onion and bell pepper. Right at the end, I add some halved cherry tomatoes and cook till they are hot and juices start oozing out. I also add it to spaghetti sauce. Lynda

I'd like to see previews for topics in each section. Now I have to open each one to see if there is anything I'm interested in. So slow! And I'd prefer to only see general topics and VSG topics. Not interested in band or RNY issues. And I'd pay for an ad-free experience. Lynda

As many of you who see my posts in the VSG area know, I'm interested in gut bacteria and how it relates to our health and obesity. A new study found a gut bacteria virus in more than half the population. And that virus may be linked to obesity: http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/07/24/334089538/globe-trotting-virus-hides-in-people-s-gut-bacteria For those that missed my other posts on gut bacteria and obesity: Bacteria from slim people could help treat obesity, study finds http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/health/gut-bacteria-from-thin-humans-can-slim-mice-down.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Gut metabolism changes -- not stomach size -- linked to success of vertical sleeve gastrectomy http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140326142209.htm Lynda

I buy the canned pumpkin puree and mix it in my greek yogurt with splenda and a little cinnamon. Yum! I also make a yogurt smoothie using the same ingredients and enough Water to thin to taste. Lynda

OK, try this link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bies.201400071/abstract You can click PDF to view and downlaod the PDF report or view it as HTML or enhanced HTML. Hope it is the same one. Lynda

I think this may be the same article, from a site that doesn't require a password. It's a PDF, 414 kb. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/bies.201400071/asset/bies201400071.pdf?v=1&t=hzxncpc31743f53f FYE, please confirm it's the same article. Great reading. I'm definitely keeping the daily Greek yogurt and I'll be adding some pickled foods. Lynda

I take all recommended ( by my plan, which is Kaiser Fremont) supplements. I put most of them in pill holders (one for am and one for pm) and leave them in the medicine chest. I take them when I wash my face and brush my teeth. I keep the calcium in a sugar jar in the medicine cabinet. I take three morning and evening and they are too big yo fit in the pill holder. Works for me.. At 3.5 years out and going strong. Lynda

People who don't know about the WLS say "How do you stay so skinny?" People who do know about the WLS say "You're so tiny!" You squeeze behind seats, down crowded aisles and through barely opened doors. You sit sideways in the chair that used to stick to you when you stood up. You stay the same size so long, clothes actually wear out instead of you growing out of them. You are comfortably full on a reasonable amount of food, even years after surgery. Lynda

It is scary seeing those that regain. So far, I've been able to use that to stay motivated to watch what I eat and weigh daily. I know if I didn't, weight would fly back on. I'm still scared of that at almost 3.5 years out. I haven't dreamed I gained all the weight back. I used to dream I was eating tons of bad food and in the dream I felt so anxious but I couldn't stop eating. Thank goodness I haven't had that dream in awhile. Lynda

CJ, I am thinking of you. One of the things I'm grateful for is sharing this forum with you. Take care of yourself. Lynda

So, almost 2.5 years at goal, it finally dawned on me that I need to move the seat up in the car. I've been stretching my leg to reach the pedal and hunching over to reach the steering wheel for more than 2.5 years. Yesterday, the lightbulb went off. With nearly 120 lbs. gone, I'm not so padded on the back side and I have to move the seat up to compensate. Doh! Much more comfortable driving now. Lynda

I attended the support group program affiliated with my baritatric program and found it very helpful. I met people who were pre-op, immediately post-op, at goal, and suffering with regain. I went twice a month pre-op and the first couple of months post-op, then once per month and now very rarely. I mostly go now so people can see that the program works and I am at goal several years later. Because it was affiliated with my program, I knew exactly what to expect in the hospital. And I took my Mom to one meeting because she was so scared for me to have the operation (I also took her to one surgeon appt. - other than her threatening the surgeon if anything happened to me :-) it really helped her get on board. ) Lynda

I was told by my program (Kaiser Fremont) that cigarette smoking can contribute to Ulcers, which are a problem with our tiny stomachs. So they prefer we don't smoke for life. Every program is different. You should discuss with your Dr, particurly the marijuana because if even Doc says no to tobacco, they may OK marijuana. Lynda

Agree with Proud Granny. And are you drinking enough fluids? Nausea and tiredness can be signs of dehydration. Lynda

Try to drink one ounce every 15 minutes. Sip it slowly over the entire 15 minutes. That's how I got my fluids and Protein drinks down the first couple of weeks. Fluids are even more important that protein at first. I've seen many people wind up in the ER for dehydration. It does get better. Commit to the time and effort to heal yourself and get a good start on your postop life. You are worth it! Lynda

Oh! I feel for you! I see people who wear my size and even several sizes smaller and they outweigh me my 20-30 lbs. and sometimes more. Sizing depends on the brand, the cut, and your build. As for when you'll be in a smaller size: soon! I had some old clothes that were too small set aside and by the time I tried them on they were too big. Your 24s were probably tight and are now baggy (just guessing). And after I got to goal, things continued to shift around for a while. I looked very gaunt in the face the first few months at goal, but my face has filled it. Not chubby mind you, but I don't look like I'm aiming for anorexia. Lynda

My stats are mostly in my SIG line, but since that doesn't show on mobile apps, I'll write them here: I'm 5'6" and was 54 when I had surgery. Start weight: 254, day of surgery weight: 222, Goal weight: 135. Got to goal in 9 months and have stayed at goal about 2.5 years now. My before and after photos are in my profile, along with a lot more photos. Click my pic to see my profile. Lynda