PdxMan

What soups are you trying? It is common to have lactose issues, so try to stay away from cream based soups for now. During the pureed stage, I made smoked ham, lentil and veggie soup and chicken veggie soup. As I progressed, I pureed them less and less. I added other soups as the days went by and pureed them as much as I needed, but I stayed with broth soups.

Did you have sleep apnea? I had a CPAP for 10 years prior to surgery and was hoping to be rid of it post-surgery. Whilst I do not have the apnea events as I did prior, I find that without it, I feel the same as you. I can fall asleep, but do not feel fully rested the next day. So ... I use my CPAP. Pre-surgery, my setting was 14.5. I changed it to 4.5 now and it is working for me. Would love to not use it, but I loves me a good night sleep!

When were you sleeved? This is a very normal side effect of rapid weight loss. I started losing around month 6 and it continued for about 3 months. It will grow back, have no fear. Search the site for hair loss. It is a very popular topic. Many will suggest shampoos or tell you to increase Protein. For me, I was meeting all my protein numbers, taking Vitamins, exercising, taking Biotin ... doing everything suggested and I still lost hair. Some people don't lose, but I believe they are quite the minority and have the genetics most don't. If it gets too bad, wigs are a great option! This too, shall pass.

I was 45 when I had my VSG (07/08/2011). I belonged to the local health club and could do the cardio and weightlifting when I went, but by no means was I an avid participant, but I had maintained some minor level of athleticism over the years. My goal was to lose 100 pounds and be right around the 200# mark. I had sleep apnea and the Dr was ready to put me on meds for HBP and diabetes. I told him I was going to opt for WLS and to re-evaluate me in a few months. 6 weeks post op I started running and hitting the cardio classes and weight room at the gym. I lost 120# in 8 months going below my original goal weight and have been maintaining since. I turned into somewhat of an athlete running races (5k, 8k, 10k & 15k) averaging 7 minute miles and placing top 3 in my age division and winning my division most of the time. Until I blew a disc between 4/5 and have had two surgeries in the past year. I have been doing P/T and have just recently started back on the elliptical at the gym. I was cleared a few months ago, but it was still too painful. I am hoping to run my first 5k in December. Through this all, with the help of the sleeve, I have been able to maintain my goal weight. I think the most challenging aspect has been meeting the nutritional needs of a VSG athlete. With the restriction, it just isn't possible to re-fuel your body like you used to. In my signature, I have a few blog posts (outdated) which touch on this. plus some thoughts on clothing I have found useful as I got back into exercise. There is a forum here addressing fitness and exercise HERE. Good luck and keep reading and posting!

I started pretty much EXACTLY where you are. My surgery was 07/08/2011. 200 pounds was my goal weight, but 8 months post op, I was at 185. When I was at 200, I still was carrying too much fat, so I didn't go into maintenance mode until then. I bounce between 180 and 190 now 2+ years later. Sizing was a wild trip. My clothes fit fine for the first 40 pounds, which was so disappointing. But then, things started changing. Middle of September, I was in a 40 pants. 2 weeks later, 38. Month after that, 36. Two weeks later, 34. Shirt sizes dropping just as rapidly. I now wear a medium shirt and a 32 pant. It is difficult to wrap my mind around, but that is the reality. Thinking you will be an XL with a 40 waist is big man thinking. I can pretty much guarantee you will be much leaner than that. If you go to my gallery under my profile, you can see my before and after pics. Have you read THIS thread?

I was with my mother and 3 siblings, so everyone knew about my surgery. My mother still makes the comments, "I don't see how you can survive with the amount of food you eat." My retort is always, "I know, isn't it amazing how little we actually NEED to survive?" I did have lunch with other folks and only once did someone mention something to me. I was eating some Red Snapper with asparagus and au gratin potatoes. I ate about 3 bites of fish, two spears and about 3 bites of potatoes. I was conversing with everyone at the table, so it wasn't like I finished 5 minutes after the food arrived. I still practice putting my utensil down in between bites to ensure I eat slowly. One woman commented as to how incredible her beef goulash was and offered me a piece of meat. I accepted (it was incredible) She offered me another and I said that it was delicious, but I was full. Of course, she looks at my plate and says, "But you've hardly eaten anything." I usually just make some excuse as I usually don't want to have to go into the background of my issues with food, but since I knew I would never see these people again, I told them that I had a VSG with a brief explanation of what that was and that my portions were a lot smaller now. She said, "Hey, whatever works for you. I think that is great," and that was the end of it. Now, I didn't avoid the buffet as there were times, like when my brother and I were at the hot tub until 1:00 AM, we did a drive by the buffet and I grabbed a couple pieces of cheese and two Peanut Butter Cookies. I also did two lunches up there where I had curried chicken one day and pork chops the other. I guess, the bottom line was that I had a lot of anxiety before I went on the cruise. I am a food addict. I love food and food loves me. Has this changed with the sleeve? No, not completely. The surgery was on my stomach, not my head. But my sleeve gives me a tool to help me manage my issues with food. Again, the sleeve has fulfilled what my expectations for the surgery were. Not restrict what I can eat, just the quantity. It is still up to me to make the good decisions, but it is nice to have this tool keep me in check.

Coughing blood is very serious. I would head to the emergency room. This is not something to mess with. Are you OK with the consequence if it "doesn't get better"?

There are TONS of threads on this forum with this topic, so if you want even MORE information, do a search on the site. Searching from a web browser is easier, in my opinion. My first thought was to go with the bypass. As you mention, it has a great track record. When I got my sleeve, just over two years ago, there wasn't much information about long-term success, so that had me concerned. But I always felt my issue was the over-eating. I usually ate healthy meals, I just ate a large portion. I was also a big grazer. The bottom line, for me, is I loved the feeling of being full. To me, the sleeve just made sense. Remove 85% of my stomach so I cannot eat as much. Get that full feeling sooner so I don't consume as many calories. Sure, over the next two years or so, it is going to stretch a bit, but only a tiny bit. When I asked my surgeon about it, he likened it to a new wallet. At first, it is nice and tight, but over time, it will stretch a bit, but nothing like what the bypass can do. With the bypass, the stretchy part remains so it is possible to stretch that pouch back to a much larger size. That is not possible with the sleeve. I did not want the malnutrition issues, either. Plus, the bowel obstruction issues, I think, are more common than reported because only the serious cases get reported. I have talked to many GBP patients who have this issue. No thanks. For me, the sleeve has been exactly what I wanted. I am over 2 years out and still have excellent restriction. I do still graze, but no where near like what it used to be. Far more controlled. I still like the feeling of being full and the sleeve gives that to me. I have lost all of my excess weight (yes ... 100%) and live a much healthier lifestyle now. There is nothing I cannot eat or do. I just returned from a cruise where, as you may know, I was surrounded by food. I was able to partake and enjoy it all like a "normal" person. Truth be told, I actually lost 3 pounds, if you can imagine that. (needless to say, walked a lot on our shore excursions and was at the on-board gym almost everyday) I think the sleeve will become the new "Gold Standard". Keep researching and asking questions. Good luck!

Milk of Magnesia was my friend the first 2 weeks post-op. Took it everyday whether things moved or not.

Putting the utensil down after each bite was suggested to me as I was one who would scarf down any meal. Large bites, not chewing enough and going for the next bite ASAP was my old routine. I put the utensil down, now, and chew way more than I used to. It made such a difference. I can also better feel when I am full and need to stop before I take that one bite too many. It was hard to learn, but it has been working for me.

I know I am able to "eat around my sleeve" by knowing which foods go down easier where I don't feel the restriction. It took me awhile (at least 6 months) to learn which foods did not give me restriction. Perhaps revisionists have already learned how to eat around their band and carry the habit earlier into their sleeve life. I don't know, but that would be my guess if it were true. I believe our success in reaching our goals, assuming we were sleeved correctly, are directly related to how close we follow the guidelines.

There is a whole forum devoted to just this topic HERE. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/13-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/

Finishing my first cup right now ... mmmm ... coffee ... good. Started back 1 year post op.

I also am in AA, and in my neck of the woods, if someone came in with a drink we would pull that person off and make sure they had everything they need to help them. We wouldn't do it with kid gloves on, either. In my original post, I asked what the OP was looking for by posting a picture of chips. Did I do it in a sunshine and lollypops way? No. I am direct. I believe working in fluff does nobody any good. Just like alcohol, people are dying from obesity folks. I take my journey with my sleeve very seriously. I understand everybody else has their own journey, but it is difficult for me to stand by and smile if I see someone potentially sabotaging themselves one more time. I'm sure this post, too, will be read cynically, but all I can say it that it is based in love and concern. I hope if someone here sees me sabotaging my efforts they will be strong enough to point it out directly. I'm a grown up ... I can handle it.

I have a Garmin Forerunner 410 which I found on Craigslist for like $75. Works great. It synchronizes with my computer after my run wirelessly before I even get my shoes off. I can review my run as I enjoy my protein shake.

A heart rate monitor will help you with this. There are many charts to reference, but here is one I found out in the GoogleVerse. Using the HRM will assure that you always are in the zone for what you are looking for.

Then why not post that? "Hey, I saw these chips at the store and would love some crunchy texture. Has anyone tried these? What do you think? Any other suggestions?" As far as I know: You could have just finished the bag (something I used to do pre-op) Your doctor/NUT suggested these You tried them and they were great You tried them and feel horrible You got a free bag from a WLS website give-away We have absolutely no idea why there is a post with pictures in it. We have to make assumptions and if we assume incorrectly, we get flamed. Keep posting, reading and learning. We are all on this journey together. I wish the best for you, but know I will continue to share my honest, straight-forward experience. If I am not your cup of tea, I gave a link above to ignore me.

If you are wanting to know how to ignore me while you are using the website, see instructions HERE. I guess this doesn't work for the app, though.

Atkins, for sure. Lost 45 pounds in 4 months miserable as all get out. Introduced carbs back in and it was all over. Gained 50 pounds in about a month.

Yeah, I tried to progress like everyone else, but it just wasn't comfortable. I was hating the thought of eating. But I could eat soups. When I was at 3 weeks, I had the same exact soups I mentions above, but I pureed them with a hand blender. As time progressed, I pureed them less and less until at about 2 months, or so, I wasn't pureeing them at all. It worked for me.

I was making an analogy. No, this isn't AA, but some folks here struggle with food addiction, which has root cause similarities. You are asking me to grow up? Where am I being infantile? Since I cannot see the forest, perhaps you can enlighten me as to where I was off base? Seems you are trying to be a little self-righteous here. Might want to take a time-out for some self-reflection yourself.

We have to remember that just because a person is not morbidly obese, doesn't mean they do not have issues with their relationship with food or how they see themselves. Years ago my sister had an adjacent hospital room with a woman dealing with anorexia. I was 15 years old and saw her in the hallway. She was emaciated. Hate to use the analogy, but the only way I can describe how she looked was akin to images you may have seen of POWs or holocaust victims. I had noticed that she would always be sitting in a chair and not laying in bed. In the hallway, I asked her why and she said that people burn more calories sitting up rather than laying. I asked her why she need to burn more calories and she said because she was fat. She died a week later. Yes, this is an extreme case, but "normal" weight people have issues with food and self image, too. As others have posted, this is her issue. Don't make it yours.

Two months out I was still eating a lot of Soups. chicken veggie, lentil with ham and veggies, turkey chili (with veggies). I think in the grand scheme of things, I progressed slower than others. It took me a little while to get used to the new eating routine of taking smaller bites, chewing more, taking time between bites. I was such a carb fiend it was difficult for me to see life without them. I couldn't have tuna, because you have to have that on a cracker or on a croissant ... right? If I am having stir fry, it HAS to be on rice ... right? Oy! For me, this worked until I could come to grips with some of my issues with food. I eventually was able to eat tuna with some cheese cut into it. I enjoy stir fry without the rice now (or just a tiny fraction of what I once had). Who woulda thought? I'm guessing you have been cleared for all foods, so just be sure to start with your lean Proteins first, then your veggies. It can be disheartening to look down at that piece of chicken and think, "Really? Is that all I am going to eat?" Don't push it. You can always grab another bite an hour later.

I took up walking, which turned into a few shuffles, then a light jog and eventually resembled something called running. Actually did several races 5K to 15K and even won my age division in several. Unknown to me, there was an athlete trapped under all that fat. Like you, I started walking a lot. I then decided to jog between two telephone poles, then walk to the next one. Then, ran two poles, walked one. Ran three, walked on. 2 months later, I was able to run a mile before needing to walk. 6 months post, I ran my first 5K. Never looked back until a blown 4/5 disc sidelined me. I'm just now getting back into the game. I did a lot of classes at the gym: spinning, HIIT, abs, but running was my mainstay. I got a heart rate monitor so I would work out to my level of fitness instead of exercising for a certain period of time or running a certain distance. I found as I continued to exercise, my endurance and abilities increased, so, if I ran two miles, I soon was not putting in the effort I had to even a week earlier. So, with the heart rate monitor, I would keep my heart rate between 145 and 155 on daily runs. During races, I would keep it between 165 and 175. Doing this, I knew I was always putting in a good effort, even if I only had time to run a short distance. I was hyper-focused on my nutrition, too, feeding my body what it needed to maintain my exercise.

Have you even read my posts? Where was I being a smart mouth? And from this post you are rising above this? Sorry, but as I mentioned in one of the posts, which it doesn't look like you read, if someone walked into an A.A. meeting with a light beer wondering if it was OK for them to drink it, I am not going to placate them unicorns fairy dust. Folks, we're all grown up here. If you want a smart alec response from me, it would have been along the lines of why someone would post a picture without actually asking a question leaving the door wide open for the reader to interpret their meaning. It would have have gone on complaining that someone has such little regard for everyone's time on VST that they will spend 2 seconds posting a picture and then wait for everyone else to submit well thought out, kind, loving, validating responses. Respect. And you're trying to preach to me?! Yeesh! You can't see the forest for the trees.