lsereno

I'm about 18 months out and have been at goal for 6 months. It took a while, but I can eat anything I ate pre-op. I choose to avoid a lot of pre-op choices to keep my weight at goal, but I occasionally enjoy them. For example, candy. I rarely eat it now, but I do occasionally. Same with chips and garlic bread. I am able to enjoy spicy foods, greasy foods, super sour foods, etc. I drink with a straw, especially at night because I'm too lazy to sit up in bed to get a drink.
I love the sleeve!
Lynda

If you have a PF changs nearby the oolong tea marinated sea bass is so good. Served on a bed of spinach. it was my first restaurant meal post-op..also like using the Chinese flavors at home. Just a splash of soy and a litte sesame oil can take chicken or fish to a yummy new level. Add a little splash of orange juice too.. Yummy

I don't look that different to myself, but everyone else is looking bigger :-)
Lynda

I don't look that different to myself, but everyone else is looking bigger :-)
Lynda

I don't look that different to myself, but everyone else is looking bigger :-)
Lynda

I'm at Kaiser Fremont. My home Kaiser is Kaiser Santa Clara.

I met with my Dr. in early November. I attended the next Overview Class, which was in early January. After a few hiccups, I attended the Orientation class at Fremont in mid-February. I met with my surgeon, a nutritionist, and a program coordinator in early March. During March I took the required tests and shots (x-ray, EKG, anemia test and a tetanus shot) and began attending support classes at Kaiser Fremont. In late March, I called to schedule my psych appt when I was within 5 lbs. The appointment was about a month out, but I was able to take a cancellation appt within a couple of days. I also completed and mailed a short test that showed I had read the booklet provided at the Orientation meeting. All I have left to do is lose 4 lbs. The psych told me it can take a few weeks for the Dr. to review the file and call to schedule the surgery. I plan to call when I have reached my goal weight, which I hope will be one day next week. Because my schedule is very flexible, I hope to get a surgery appt fairly quickly since I can take a cancellation appt if one becomes available.
The book provided at Orientation class has been very helpful. I photocopied the pages I needed most:

I took the Vitamin page with me to shop for Vitamins and referred to it when filling my pill holder the first couple of times. I posted the sample pre-op diet on the fridge. I refer to the sample foods page when planning my meals. I start each week with a blank diet journal page and fill it out at each meal. I took the Protein powder page when I shopped for Protein Powder.
I am doing well at preparing for surgery.

I am taking 20-30 minutes to eat each meal and following the pre-op diet very closely, with a little cheat about once a week. I am taking the Vitamins.< /li> I am working out 5 days a week. I have given up coffee. Thank goodness I quit smoking 20 years ago! One less thing to do before surgery :-) I have tested Protein powders. I have attended a support group a couple of times and plan to continue (Kaiser Fremont, 2nd and 4th Friday evening at 6) This week I am concentrating on sipping my Water throughout the day. I have bought a pretty carafe that holds 48 oz. and I have started using a smaller glass. The psych recommended setting the glass down between sips to prevent gulping the Water down.
I am so grateful to Kaiser for having so much education about the process and how to prepare. I am still a bit scared, but all the prep helps me feel like I am doing everything I can to be successful.
I don't know how to move this topic, but it is a better fit in a forum besides the post-op one. I only saw it because i was looking through post-op questions to get a better feel for issues I might be facing in the days and weeks following surgery.
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

I froze my homemade broth in ice cubes. Each cube is about two ounces.
Lynda

Hi MLD,
I was sleeved at Kaiser Fremont on 5/17. I followed the pre-op diet with small cheats once per week for three months and lost 32 lbs. I did feel hungry when I first started it, but after a while I didn't. I really love Kaiser's approach to WLS with lots of planning ahead of time. I felt healthier and more prepared, which made me a lot more comfortable about having such a radical procedure.
Good luck on your journey!
Lynda

Hi Leanne,
I posted the article. Here it is so others wont have to dig:
http://img2.timg.co....1_151963966.pdf
Regain is an issue. As others have said, it's a life long struggle, but it can be done! WLS has a higher success rate than any other method of losing weight and keeping it off. Start thinking now of how you will maintain long term success. For everyone, that is different. Some need additional counseling to deal with issues that lead them to overeat. Some need to add exercise. Some need to weigh every day. Some give up certain non-necessary foods.
And follow those who are successful! Our fearless leader on these boards, Alex, is a good example. Shelly (eggface blog) is another.
Here's to life on the goalies bench!
Lynda

Thanks Leann! I'm looking forward to the day I can mark ten years at goal.
Lynda

Hi Leanne,
I posted the article. Here it is so others wont have to dig:
http://img2.timg.co....1_151963966.pdf
Regain is an issue. As others have said, it's a life long struggle, but it can be done! WLS has a higher success rate than any other method of losing weight and keeping it off. Start thinking now of how you will maintain long term success. For everyone, that is different. Some need additional counseling to deal with issues that lead them to overeat. Some need to add exercise. Some need to weigh every day. Some give up certain non-necessary foods.
And follow those who are successful! Our fearless leader on these boards, Alex, is a good example. Shelly (eggface blog) is another.
Here's to life on the goalies bench!
Lynda

The question is: Can you maintain the loss without the sleeve? For me, I couldn't lose weight period. I got under 200 using hypnosis, but even with weight watchers I struggled to get to 200 and my weight crept up again quickly. I had a raging hunger that I could not control. Over three years out and more than two years at goal and I have no regrets.
Lynda

The question is: Can you maintain the loss without the sleeve? For me, I couldn't lose weight period. I got under 200 using hypnosis, but even with weight watchers I struggled to get to 200 and my weight crept up again quickly. I had a raging hunger that I could not control. Over three years out and more than two years at goal and I have no regrets.
Lynda

The question is: Can you maintain the loss without the sleeve? For me, I couldn't lose weight period. I got under 200 using hypnosis, but even with weight watchers I struggled to get to 200 and my weight crept up again quickly. I had a raging hunger that I could not control. Over three years out and more than two years at goal and I have no regrets.
Lynda

The question is: Can you maintain the loss without the sleeve? For me, I couldn't lose weight period. I got under 200 using hypnosis, but even with weight watchers I struggled to get to 200 and my weight crept up again quickly. I had a raging hunger that I could not control. Over three years out and more than two years at goal and I have no regrets.
Lynda

The question is: Can you maintain the loss without the sleeve? For me, I couldn't lose weight period. I got under 200 using hypnosis, but even with weight watchers I struggled to get to 200 and my weight crept up again quickly. I had a raging hunger that I could not control. Over three years out and more than two years at goal and I have no regrets.
Lynda

Hi MLD,
I was sleeved at Kaiser Fremont on 5/17. I followed the pre-op diet with small cheats once per week for three months and lost 32 lbs. I did feel hungry when I first started it, but after a while I didn't. I really love Kaiser's approach to WLS with lots of planning ahead of time. I felt healthier and more prepared, which made me a lot more comfortable about having such a radical procedure.
Good luck on your journey!
Lynda

Uh I ate straight salt from my palm more than once post op before I could eat much. Love my salt!
Lynda

Thank you for sharing your story. Self care, not self destruction is a powerful thought that will help me. I can see why you've got writer in your username!
I took some cognitive behavior therapy sessions a few years back and they have been helpful to me. I have also found that regular exercise is key to avoiding depression. I still don't like exercise, but I do it anyway!! I'm still on a learning curve about emotional eating. I just read an interesting article about nighttime eating, which is still a problem for me. It mentioned that many eat at night to decompress from the day. Duh!! Understanding that little factoid will help me recognize that behavior faster.
Can't wait to see your practical tips next.
Lynds

I don't look that different to myself, but everyone else is looking bigger :-)
Lynda

oh where to begin. I've got two years plus on many people here.
I drink with a straw all the time (but I didn't for the first few months)
I had to have a come to my senses talk with myself that I can no longer drink more than two drinks in a couple of hours since I weigh a lot less than i used to.
I count my caffeinated coffee toward my fluids for the day.
I hate taking my Calcium and have to talk myself into it. (It doesn't fit in my pill holder so it's an extra step to count them out and take them.)
If it's on the no list, I have eaten it, including celery, coconut, spicy, you name it.
I ate Pork rinds for months and counted the Protein until someone mentioned that the Protein in pork rinds is not absorbed so it doesn't count.
I had to reset my bounce range because after getting to goal I spent some time eating enough crap to sink a battleship.
Lynda

Tracking and accountability help me. I write down everything I eat. I look up nutritional data before eating stuff. I call my mom each evening and discuss what I've eaten that day. And I stock up on low cal, no cal, and high Protein foods along with calorie free drink options. Like right now, I wanted homemade popcorn, but I looked at the calories for oil and butter, and decided to have something else. Then I came online here to cheer myself up. So now, I will have ak-mak crackers and low fat string cheese. And admire my skinny jeans that fit!
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Tracking and accountability help me. I write down everything I eat. I look up nutritional data before eating stuff. I call my mom each evening and discuss what I've eaten that day. And I stock up on low cal, no cal, and high Protein foods along with calorie free drink options. Like right now, I wanted homemade popcorn, but I looked at the calories for oil and butter, and decided to have something else. Then I came online here to cheer myself up. So now, I will have ak-mak crackers and low fat string cheese. And admire my skinny jeans that fit!
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm from San Jose. I attend the support group at Kaiser Fremont the second and fourth Friday of each month (except this month we are not meeting on the 10th). The Kaiser support group is free and open to all. I'd love to meet up with other VST members before or at the support group.
Lynda