PdxMan

Turkey Jerky from Trader Joes was a staple item for me.

I was sleeved By Dr Umbach in Vegas (baby!) but live in Portland, OR. But hey, I'm going to be there at the end of this month for a conference. If y'all get something going, I'd love to drop in.

It was pretty funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik1bdoufPt0#t=30

I was on a shake/lean and green diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery. I could have a Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch and for dinner, a salad with a lean protein. Mostly it was tuna or chicken with all sorts of veggies in the salad. If I got hungry later, I could have another Protein Shake. The main point was to shrink the liver before surgery as it sits on top of the stomach. It is what my surgeon requested of me. It was difficult at first, but after a few days, I found my groove. Carbs are quickly converted to glycogen which is first stored in the liver, so that is probably why your NUT suggested going a little heavier with the protein. Also, if you are ever walking out of an appointment with your NUT or surgeon not understanding something completely, be sure to stop and ask them to explain in better detail their reasoning. You always want to try to conform to your medical teams directions so if there are any problems, they know exactly what you have been doing. Good luck with your journey!

Huh?! Wow, where are you coming from? Talk about getting defensive. Woa! And am so glad we won't be hearing from you again on this. So, if you read my thread over there, I asked her why she only posted a picture. I asked her what her intention was. I pointed out several scenarios as to reasons why someone might make a post such as hers, but again, she gave us no direction. You made assumptions of her intentions and my intentions. Shame on you. You know what they say about people who make assumptions ... how true. As far as it being a food I would not necessarily eat? Why are you making that assumption? I eat chips. Even the really bad nasty ones. Had me some Honey Mustard Pringles last night. I also had about 3 Snickers minis. This is my journey as it is hers. Again, she posted no text with her pictures and I was asking for clarification. If you read it in a cynical manner, that is your issue. A cynical person will read things in a cynical light. How did my post serve me? (scratching my head) Getting high and mighty while complaining about me getting high and mighty? Thank you for proving my point. As far as going back and forth with you, enjoy your own mental games. I am not low enough to go into a battle of wits against an unarmed man. VST is just like home with my kids ... the older and more experienced I am, the dumber I get.

Yes, the German Red Cabbage is for when you are post-op a bit. This has: Ground turkey Red cabbage Kale Onions Apples Balsamic vinegar Cinnamon Cloves Sugar Salt Pepper Talk about good and good for you. This is one of my favorite meals, but I wasn't able to eat it until about 7 months post-op. I will also use chicken sometimes. I make huge batches in the fall (right now) and can it in quart jars. I pull it out throughout the year, add the cooked ground turkey and jar it in the freezer. I then grab one as I leave for work. It will take me about 30 minutes to eat this, ~ 7oz by volume. There are few things in life finer.

I am well aware this is not a response to any one in particular and I'm afraid my post has put you somewhat on the defensive. That was not my intention, but just to relate some history of this very topic and my interpretation of how the moderators have responded. While it is not a response to a thread or individual, it is directed at folks who you deem to be seeking self-serving ends. That would be a pretty large kettle of fish, there! Again, I believe the moderators are looking for an open forum where anyone can post anything about everything. Sure, as I have said, I totally understand what you are saying. It makes me crazy, too, so I take breaks or just stay in the Vet's or Men's Room. I try to stay away from the, "How many jellybeans can I eat 1 week post-op?" or "Do I really need to get my Protein in?" posts, but like you point out, I am guilty of not being able to keep my mouth shut and post something cheeky. I am not immune to allowing my frustration bubble over. Again, I am just relating my personal experience with these types of threads over the years. This is a topic covered MANY times. I'm not attacking or flaming you ... We are a diverse community here and I have to remember that.

Sounds good. FYI, I was self-pay and had mine done in Las Vegas (baby!) for $10,400. My local self-pay was $35,000. I would highly recommend my surgeon, Dr Umbach.

Oy! That would take hours! I have no idea what their concerns would are. If you search the site, there are many posts regarding why people choose VSG. Compile everything from those posts would probably get you what you are looking for. There are also threads about why people choose VSG vs Bypass, too, which would be helpful.

Do a search on this site for ketosis. It is quite common. Acetone begins to be secreted in your mouth and makes everything taste like a cat's rear end. Once you up your carbs, you will drop out of ketosis and food will taste "normal" again.

Ground turkey with red German cabbage.

If they want someone to talk to who had the sleeve over two years ago, you can have them call me. I don't have all the answers, but I have a few. If you go to my profile and go to the gallery, you can see my before/after pictures. PM me if you want to proceed.

I believe BtB was referring to the thread directed from the pinned thread at the top of the Rants and Raves forum. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/52406-vst-rules-keeping-the-forums-a-safe-place-for-everyone/ Madam, you are a relative freshy here at VST, so you have not lived through the highs and lows of the dozens of other threads which have addressed this topic over the many, many months. This gets to be quite a heated topic and the moderators are quite passionate (rightly so) about it. The fear is that someone who is on the fence about something they are struggling with will not post because they are afraid of getting a response such as this. Not everyone has the same background or personality. Some are meeker and more sensitive whilst others are more straightforward and bold. The moderators are trying to create an environment which is conducive to all. I totally understand where you are coming from. I just came back from taking a several month break from the site and within a day I was getting flamed when a member only posted a picture of chips. I didn't understand the point and was direct. Everybody then climbs on me including several people on this thread who are agreeing with your post. We are the most dysfunctional family I have ever seen here at VST, but we do need to try to work together. Don't be afraid to take a break once and a while. It does me good, perhaps it can work for you, too.

I started this process wanting the band, too. I was thinking, what if I need my full stomach later? Then, I played the tape all the way through ... to the end. food was a friend, a comfort. I just wanted to break up with my girlfriend, not decimate her! Right? But, just like the good advice any friend would give you, I couldn't go back to my old ways. It was killing me. Slowly. I had to take control. The only reason I would need my full stomach is so I could go back to abusing food the way I was accustomed to. I needed help to permanently change my relationship with food. The sleeve was my solution. I am over two years out now. Yes, I still struggle with my issues with food, wanting to eat a bag of chips ... grab a tub of ice cream ... comfort myself in all the old ways I used to. But the sleeve doesn't let me. Sure, I can have bites, but the sleeve limits me. The sleeve is like putting a breathalyzer on your phone that won't let you call any of your ex's if you have had anything to drink. You want to, but it won't let you.

I just gotta add a few comments. If someone really thinks they have it figured out ... they are delusional. If someone got the VSG and doesn't think they have issues with food, I also believe they are delusional. If I use the word addiction, that creates a shat-storm so I will say "issues with food". Those who can go the full route by facing the truth that they are addicted to food are WAY ahead of the game. Food addiction is something to be managed. Some days are better than others. Some demons scream louder than others. Those who deny this drive me crazy. Denial ... the fastest way to not reach your goals. I'm over two years out, been at goal for over a year and a half and was panicked at the thought of going on a cruise and being surrounded by food just a couple weeks ago. I don't have my demons beat, by any means. As soon as I think I do, I'm in trouble.

Huh!!?? OMG, Laura or myself make the smallest of peeps regarding this same topic and all we get is self-righteous and how we should be more sensitive and supportive from you ... You know what makes me crazy? Is someone who will criticize on one post, then turn around and do the exact opposite on another. BTW, Madam, you are spot on. This is one of the leading reasons I take breaks from the site from time to time.

Oh yeah ... just wait. Soon you'll be complaining about being cold all the time.

Just to echo Momonanomo, everyone's experience will be different based on a countless number of things. I was outpatient. In at 7, out by noon and back at the hotel (Golden Nugget in Vegas, baby!) Took a 4 hour nap and then took the wife out. Next two days, walked all over Vegas. Flew home Monday to Portland, OR and back to work half days on Wednesday. Full time the next Monday. I had no complications and have a desk job.

Well ... hate to say it, but in a way, he is absolutely correct. He may be a little more clued in than you think, or are willing to admit. Why don't you think you will be able to go out afterwards? I go out to dinner all the time. Went to a restaurant the day after surgery, as a matter of fact. Had the broth from French Onion Soup. When I go out with my wife now, we split a meal and usually have a doggy bag. You will still be able to do the things you used to do. Your breakup from restaurants won't last long.

It also depends on how active you are or want to be. You need carbs for energy and folks who do low carb often complain about not having energy. As Sonya suggests, talk to your NUT. They are going to know you best.

Woo Hoo! Congrats!

To the OP and everybody else wondering about not following this guideline, I just have one more nugget to add. Again, I am only speaking from my personal experience. Pre-surgery, I always drank with my meals. My stomach was quite accustomed to this and settled quite well. Related to drinking with my meals or not, I was able to eat large amount of food. I didn't have to chew well and I could eat rapidly, no problem. Now, post sleeve, food didn't go down quite as easily. It was difficult to learn to slow down ... chew well ... take smaller bites. I was not accustomed to this. When I ate, often it felt odd, sometimes like a lump in my throat. Drinking made everything slide on through. Ah ... that feels better. I don't have that icky feeling anymore. The pressure is off of my throat and my stomach doesn't feel weird anymore. Well ... being full after a few bites is new to us. Of course I can have a third bite, right? I haven't eaten hardly anything! Take a drink ... everything feels better ... I can have another bite. No problem! I can eat and drink at the same time! Woo hoo! I forced myself to not drink and what was true for me was that I began to understand what the new full feeling was and that the pressure I was feeling was the restriction my new sleeve was giving me. This is a good thing and exactly what I wanted. I don't want to find ways around my sleeve. I want the restriction and to eat few calories. I have to give my stomach time to heal and work my hiney off to reach my personal goals. Sometimes, the issue with residue left in the throat is because I didn't chew well enough or I took too large of a bite or didn't wait long enough before I took another bite. This whole eating thing is a multi-headed monster. I had to work against all of them, not just pick and choose. I knew the sleeve was not an easy journey. I love the naysayers who say that I took the easy way out by getting the sleeve. Ya ... right. It isn't easy. It takes work. As I like to say, nothing changes unless I make a change. If I keep doing the same thing and expect a different result, well ... who's fault is that? I had to make a change and I am so glad I did.

I did forget to add that I also eat it with a cheese and a cracker, so ... I love a Trader Joes Social Cracker with tuna and a piece of sharp cheddar. mmmm ...

I referred to myself as a being somewhere between scooting and jogging.

I had a filet mignon the other night. It was a five oz piece and I was able eat about four oz. Tilapia, I can do about 6 oz. Canned tuna fish, about a third of a can. 28 months post surgery.