lyndynojo

My doctor didn't give me any "never again" foods. I am about 14 months post op and can eat a few bites of anything, but like the above posters bread is only a bite or two and I'm done with it. I do occasionally drink diet soda, but find I don't crave it like before. I also can't stand the taste of plain Water. I use sugar free crush in orange, strawberry or grape flavor. Also sugar free hawaiian punch. Spicy food doesn't bother me at all so it really is what your own stomach will tolerate.

My doctor said he took all of the stretchy part out and that it will not stretch. After about 3 months all of the swelling has gone down so maybe thats why it seem larger.

My doctor didn't give me any "never again" foods. I am about 14 months post op and can eat a few bites of anything, but like the above posters bread is only a bite or two and I'm done with it. I do occasionally drink diet soda, but find I don't crave it like before. I also can't stand the taste of plain Water. I use sugar free crush in orange, strawberry or grape flavor. Also sugar free hawaiian punch. Spicy food doesn't bother me at all so it really is what your own stomach will tolerate.

While I don't think anyone should disregard their doctor's orders, I do agree with the stop obsessing part of your post. What I mean by that is for instance: 1.) We don't have to worry about dehydration more than we did before forever, just for the first few weeks post op when we still have trouble getting fluids in. I see people on here at a year out worrying about not getting all of their fluids. I'm 14 months post op and I drink just like I did before surgery, sometimes a lot, some days not much at all. It never hurt me before to only get 30 oz in a day why would it now. 2.) We don't HAVE to eat Protein first forever just in the weight loss phase because let's face it we are put on a high protein low carb diet, yes diet by our docs to lose the weight. I chose to have this surgery so I could eat like I did when I was thin in my younger days and that is a little of this and some of that but not 4 servings of anything. When I really started trying to diet to lose the 10-15 lbs I had gained in my late 20's is when I really started gaining weight. If I wanted to stay on Atkins I would have just done that and not had surgery, at least then I could have eaten a whole steak and not just 3-4 oz. lol Anyway that's just my two cents worth take it or leave it. lol

My surgeon said he took almost all of the stretchy part of the stomach out and what is left is very non-stretchable (is that a word lol). He did say to wait at least 3 months if I wanted carbonation because it is not good to have the pressure on the staple line while it is still fresh. He also said no sugary drinks, diet only.
Some people on here refer to a utube video where a man is putting a balloon over a carbonated drink and showing it blowing up the balloon but this isn't realistic since the stomach isn't a closed balloon. Believe me you will definately burp any air out of the tummy.
Ultimately you have to decide for yourself what to do. I do drink coke zero.

I have done exactly the same thing. I had my surgery june 2011 and lost from 240 to 165 in 7 months. I am really happy at 165 and in a size 8 or 10 so I maintained for about 6 mo or so then started snacking on not so good stuff. At first I didn't gain but then I went up 10 lbs and my clothes were all too tight. On the 12th of this month I cut out sugar and staying below 1000 calories and I've lost 9 lbs already. You can do it! It is really hard at first to break the habit, but that's what it is a habit and once you get back on track you will feel so much better. Let me say I've never done low carb. From the start I've eaten whatever I want just smaller portions but started saving the leftovers and eventually fininshing the whole plate. I have also never exercised, I know, I know i really need to. Any way I think I'll lose another 10-15 just to be under my goal so hopefully I won't be in this place again. I hope this helps. I'm right there with you girl!

I haven't had anyone say this to my face, but if they did I think I would just say "So what, I also drive my car instead of walk everywhere." This has been easier for me than dieting and knowing that I would fail in the end ever was.

My doctor said he took all of the stretchy part out and that it will not stretch. After about 3 months all of the swelling has gone down so maybe thats why it seem larger.

Your tummy has not stopped working. It works as good as ever, if you use it the right way. You want to get to goal? Get back on the wagon. I am 2 1/2 years out, got to within 5 pounds of my goal, stalled out then gained 22 pounds. As of Jan 2013 I got back on the wagon, tried three different methods to get the 22+ off, and the third one is working the best. 5:2. NOT for people under a year out, people who are pregnant or that have eating disorders and are prone to being underweight. ... in my opinion. Like Georgia said, do some research, we have posted some stuff here, and there is more on line.
As a newbie, I asked every question in the book. I also spent a lot of time researching, and still do. I have made mistakes, but learned from them. I have learned how to (mostly) not panic. Slow and easy. For the long haul. Leave hate out of it. Get informed, patient, accountable, honest. Get moving, make myself into the person that can get healthy and stay that way. Develop a support group.
Yes. I tried to pay it back for the first couple of years, and never left this forum. About a year ago I just didn't feel like I had so much in common with the newer members. I needed support for myself and my struggle, and newbie advice was full of hubris and "I have lost this 20-30-100 pounds FOREVER" and "what am I doing wrong? I haven't lost any weight in a week! or two, or three..." I understand this. I said it too, but I needed someone to talk with who has the same experience level that I have...its not the same as early on. As others have said, Easy to stall, Easy to gain, Hard to lose, Easy to eat more, Hunger. The good part is the restriction is still there if the tool is used well. The honeymoon is a very exciting time, don't forget to enjoy every day of it! I still am so happy I got the sleeve, and it still serves me well. I love the Vets group, and they give me lots of support and I hope I do the same for them. Really, I think having a slightly isolated think tank of vets can be very useful for people closer to the surgery. When I was early out, I totally looked everywhere for people and research about people 3-4-5 year out... not much at that time. We can be that reality check. We are not everyone, I don't know what everyone else is doing that were on this forum years ago when I started here... some are coming back and its nice to see them, some are working thier a$$es off still, others, who knows. My Docs assistant said 50% of his sleeve patients hated the sleeve. She was surprised I liked it so much and was doing so well. What the F&%@? I just find that hard to believe, but thats what she said. You have to be a fighter. You have to get rid of your ideas about hating diets, hating weighing, hating counting calories and weighing food, exercising. Loving life and living a different way can be rich and good and it can work. "Dieting" is a small price to pay for a greater life! Learn to be grateful for the chance to turn things around. I am now 8 pounds from my lowest weight post sleeve. 13 from goal. Im almost there at 2 1/2 years. I am optimistic I will get there this time. It might take a while, but I have not given up, so it is still possible. Then there is maintenance.....which is pretty much more of the same forever (or maybe its not! Only the future will tell!) Good luck to you all, and welcome to the Vets forum soon enough....

Really? I just read this and my mouth is hanging open... I'm not sure what you are looking for as far as "advice" here but your husband spying on you, In my eyes is the least of your problems, in my book. Putting aside all of the dysfunction in this relationship. I'm just a little... Ok a lot freaked out that you say you caught him MAKING DRUGS and you continue to stay there with your 15 month old child??? I don't give a f**k if he "worships you like a goddess" you need to get your child away from a dangerous potentially deadly situation.

I'm wondering if after having the surgery some people are realizing that it's not easy like they thought it would be. I will admit I use to think that if I could just have WLS I would magically get thin and my whole life would be different and better and I would never be fat again. LOL Well that ain't so! You still have to work at it, thin doesn't change everything in your life but your size and you certainly can gain weight again. It's just a thought.

Yeah I heard this all the time too. Even the nurse taking me back to get ready for the surgery said that. Now that I've lost the weight those same people are the very ones say "OMG you look so good! You don't even look like the same person!" LOL

I was driving home yesterday from a trip and started thinking about this. For those "vets" out there - how many of you battled "hunger" from the start and how did you control/portion what you ate? I know I've read from many that they experienced hunger all along (I DID NOT but NOW do experience strange hunger where I can seemingly never be full/satisfied?) So was it a lot like dieting along with VSG since you still WANTED to eat?
Just thinking through what all of the sudden has made my body shift to this new "phase." 3 years out in June - I eat well for a month or two and then drop the ball and eat junk but even when eating "clean" I am hungry ALL THE TIME! Protein does not in the least slow down the seemingly "bottomless pit" feeling.
I really, really, really (did I say really?) want to get BACK to my lowest goal weight of 150 and even down 5 lbs or so from there but I sabotage myself constantly. For those of you familiar as Paul said, "... for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
I am very frustrated and sad. I truly didn't want to be CONSTANTLY thinking about food, worrying about food, snacking on food at this point. I STILL can eat only small amounts of PURE protein/food and that might hold me for a couple hours so is it JUST matter of willpower or what now? Anybody else out there in this situation? Help!!!!

I totally agree! My fave is " I've only lost 10,20,40 pounds or whatever in 4 weeks, whats wrong with me......really cause I don't think you gained 50-150 pounds in 4 weeks so why expect to lose it that quickly. You certainly don't lose that much quicker that you gain. We all just want a magic bullet that's going to make us skinny.

I'm wondering if after having the surgery some people are realizing that it's not easy like they thought it would be. I will admit I use to think that if I could just have WLS I would magically get thin and my whole life would be different and better and I would never be fat again. LOL Well that ain't so! You still have to work at it, thin doesn't change everything in your life but your size and you certainly can gain weight again. It's just a thought.

Um, yeah. I experienced quite a bit of pelvic bruising until I learned my new body and found that I can move differently. Who knew hips and what-not could actually hurt so much? And how do super skinny women actually DO it with all those bones jutting out? It simply can't be comfortable...

You may have lost some muscle, but even if you didn't you'd feel weaker by losing all the weight...it's simple physics. You can't use your weight to throw other weight around anymore. You can't "put your weight behind it" like you once could. And the padding....heck yeah. Who knew toilet seats were so friggin firm? I can't even enjoy a good magazine anymore.
And let's not even talk about how cold I've been all winter. It's getting ridiculous. It's May and I'm still wanting to light the fireplace....in Texas.

My motto is "if you can button it, you can wear it!" lol

I get popcorn. I don't see anything wrong with it. I get a small, I account for it in my fitness pal and move on.

I totally agree! My fave is " I've only lost 10,20,40 pounds or whatever in 4 weeks, whats wrong with me......really cause I don't think you gained 50-150 pounds in 4 weeks so why expect to lose it that quickly. You certainly don't lose that much quicker that you gain. We all just want a magic bullet that's going to make us skinny.

I totally agree! My fave is " I've only lost 10,20,40 pounds or whatever in 4 weeks, whats wrong with me......really cause I don't think you gained 50-150 pounds in 4 weeks so why expect to lose it that quickly. You certainly don't lose that much quicker that you gain. We all just want a magic bullet that's going to make us skinny.

I'm wondering if after having the surgery some people are realizing that it's not easy like they thought it would be. I will admit I use to think that if I could just have WLS I would magically get thin and my whole life would be different and better and I would never be fat again. LOL Well that ain't so! You still have to work at it, thin doesn't change everything in your life but your size and you certainly can gain weight again. It's just a thought.

My motto is "if you can button it, you can wear it!" lol

Down here, it's called coke.
Me: "what kind of coke do you have"
Waiter: "coke, sprite, dr. Pepper"