PdxMan

I know not everyone who gets WLS is addicted to food, but as my last comment on this thread: I totally understand what you are saying Madam, but I know, in a group of alcoholics, the person who walks in with a bottle of vodka is going to be popular and the person who says, "Hey, maybe we should put that away" is going to be demonized. I'm OK with that. If my message resonates with one person, that is all that matters. To those who find me high-minded, I apologize. My comments are not related to you. But there are those out here in the forum who truly struggle with food issues and sabotaging their efforts. I wish everyone well on their own journey with VSG. God bless.

Again with the defensiveness. It would seem you have no ability to read my responses objectively. Nowhere am I asking you to police your own thread. In my posts I have talked about issues with food, not necessarily food addiction as I know that causes a lot of people distress, but Montery, if you believe eating once a day is not having a poor relationship with food, then that is your own story. I am not here to judge. I merely pointed out that having a population of people who may have issues with food possibly glamorizing their dirty little secrets could potentially be a dangerous thing. To them, a newbie reading this thread and someone researching VSG. If you honestly cannot see this, then God bless you and good luck on your journey. If, for some reason, you find yourself in a forum dealing with sex issues, I would post the same type of response to a thread, "Tell us who you banged since joining the forum" As far as my tone, you are the one who is reading it with tone. http://www.wired.com...s/2006/02/70179 This applies to pretty much all forms of electronic communication, not just email.

You will find your way. The first month was the most difficult for me. Food wasn't appealing, I couldn't use food as a comfort, I was irritable and when I did eat something, it hurt and tasted like a cat's rear end. Good news is that you will find your groove ... clothes start fitting looser ... people look at you in the eye ... women hold the door open for you ... And then you're like, "Wow, this is cool" and you get re-invigorated and re-committed to your journey. Just stay focused and try to follow your medical team's suggestions as closely as you can.

You just don't get it Madam. Your thread is nowhere near your original post, but your pride has blinded you. I am not judging anybody. As I have stated in other posts, I have my cheats, too. We all do. Hopefully nobody goes into this thinking they will never be able to have their indulgences. But if you cannot see the thread has strayed into what appears to be an enabling thread, then well ... The responses on this thread are quite distressing as new folks and those researching the sleeve may interpret this as validation to resume previous poor eating habits. Many folks here go undiagnosed with eating disorders and issues with food and it would appear the thread has jumped track from your original post and intent God love you, Madam ... I am not your or anybody else's enemy here.

I believe this to be a normal reaction. The reality is often much different from the expectations. I think a majority of people have a point of where they say, "OMG, what have I done!?" What matters, though, is how long that lasts. For me, it was about a day, then I pulled up my big boy underwear and dedicated myself to this journey. Others, can't get past it and wallow in self-pity for longer, usually accompanied by an ice cream shake from McDonalds.

I did not miss the point of the thread ... I think you missed the point of my response. Are you unable to see the point of my response objectively? You seem to frequently think I am attacking you, but nothing could be further from the truth. So, let me ask you ... how well are people responding to the last paragraph? Like you said, it was patently clear, but can you not see that the responses have strayed away from the original post? Have you been reading the responses, even? Madam, I am not attacking you or your original post, so please don't get so defensive. Objectivity, please.

A couple years ago, I believe, I made a comment about how I feared as the sleeve gained popularity, there would be less research done by folks researching this option of WLS. They only know that their friend did it and lost weight, so they are going to do it to. They never address the issues that led them to being morbidly obese and then are shocked when, post-sleeve, they cannot abuse food the way they used to. I'm afraid this is only going to be more and more prevalent as more and more people blindly get VSG. I jumped blindly into the Atkins, South Beach, Cabbage but could easily pull the escape cord. That is not an option here. You have to know that when you get the VSG, you are going to have to make a fundamental change with your relationship with food. If you are not ready to do that, then you are not ready for the VSG.

So, I understand this is a venting thread AND this is something done RARELY and not a habit, but remember, people only change when they make a change. Bottom line folks, I don't want to see any of y'all crying 6 months from now that the scale isn't moving, yet these same behaviors are continuing. If someone is struggling with weight loss 6 months from now, I'm going to point them to this thread. Just like I wouldn't advise an alcoholic to just have a shot on a rare occasion, IMO, this is a dangerous thread. Yeah, we don't have issues with food, do we? OK, y'all can flame me now.

No, it took me to the seminar schedule, but the only thing happening while I am there is the Blossom Bites (Post-Op) seminar which, I am assuming, is the post-op diet planning on Oct 29th.

Soups were my standby. I pureed them well, then as I progressed, pureed them less and less until I didn't puree them at all. Be careful with cream soups as some people find some lactose intolerance issues for a bit post-op.

Yup, thanks. Nothing but the post surgery diet plan, it appears. Oh well. But if anyone wants to get together for a Protein shake, I'm buying!

Give THIS thread a read. I think you will find many, if not the majority of folks have a pretty smooth experience, but they just don't post about it. As far as the pre-surgery diet, different surgeon have different plans, so it is difficult to compare. Without the assistance of the sleeve, being disciplined to follow the pre-op diet can be difficult compounded with the stress that you are about to have 85% of your stomach removed ... I'm not going to kid you, for some people, it can be a difficult time. Myself, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired so I was quite determined to get the sleeve and would have walked across hot coals to get it done. The first 3 days of the pre-op diet were the hardest, then I found my groove and all was well. Good luck and keep posting your thoughts and questions. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/96538-confused-feel-the-same/

I believe 68 is the upper limit for VSG, but confirm with your surgeon.

Oct 26th-30th. I looked for the schedule online, but couldn't find it. Could you provide a link, please? I'm staying at the MGM. If we got 4 of us together, I could expense a meal as I'm sure 4 sleevers could probably share one entree!

My surgery was in Vegas ... outpatient. In at 7:00 am, back at the Golden Nugget by noon. Took a 4 hour nap and then out and about for a walk. Went to a nice restaurant with my wife (nothing for me, thanks, my stomach is a little restless), then played blackjack for about an hour. Back to the room about 9:30 and slept great. Next day, walked no less than 5 miles out and about Vegas. Laid out at the pool (with a towel over my belly area) and read. Took a nap. I agree with Ms. I believe the majority of folks fly right though this procedure. As the OP pointed out, because of the folks having issues, you hate to post these easy-breezy stories because you may come off as bragging or some other negative interpretation.

8 oz of chicken pot pie soup. Basically, the insides of a chicken pot pie sans potato. Delicious. Protein ... veggies ... what's not to love about that?

I have the solution to the evil scale problems most people have. Don't use it Yup, it is that simple, yet oh, so difficult to do. At about 4 weeks post-op, there was a post from someone who was complaining that their scale said they were 0.3 pounds heavier in the afternoon vs. that morning. In all caps they wrote: "I knew I would fail at this!!" I was just like, Woa! That could so easily be me. Obsessing over every single pound and agonizing over what I was doing wrong. I decided to weigh once a month after that. Releasing that stress, I believe, helped me stay focused on my program and away from self-defeating thinking and sabotaging behaviors as I was prone to on other diets. Wait to weigh yourself at the Dr appointment. You may be surprised at how well you do. And what is the risk? Do you really think you will do worse if you don't weigh yourself constantly?

When are his meetings? Maybe I'll go when I am there next.

I am usually with the wife, so I have a bite or three of whatever she wants. Occasionally, I will order something, but never a sandwich as I try to stay away from breads now. Soups are a standby staple food for me. Early out, I would ask them to puree it for me, which was no problem. Fish is always a great option, though it doesn't go home in a doggie bag well. chicken and veggies always work and warm up well the next day.

I think you have to remember that people who have issues are the ones who post about them. Those who had a vanilla recovery, really don't make the post such as yours. It's like product reviews. Hey, I bought this knife and it cut a tomato just like it was supposed to! Nope, you hear from the people who had problems: Hey, I bought this knife and it won't even cut a tomato. Then when I tried to wash it, it fell apart! What did I do wrong?! I knew this knife would be a failure!

Big fan of Premier Protein. Vanilla and Chocolate. They have $5 off coupons at least once a year, so be sure to stock up!

As Endless says, you will be fine. At 11 weeks, almost 3 months post, you will not be sick, but rather fit as a fiddle and enjoying your new lifestyle.

I was with Dr Umbach in Vegas (baby!). For the outpatient option, he charges $10,400. I prefer not to be in hospitals, if at all possible. There are sick people in there. (and I wasn't sick!) I highly recommend Dr Umbach. PLUS, you get a little time in Vegas. Plan it sometime in December when it is cold as all get out in NY.